talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-10--Redfield Allegedly Ordered Evidence Of Interference In COVID Report Be Deleted

CDC director Robert Redfield ordered the deletion of an email showing political interference in COVID-19 guidance deemed damaging to President Donald Trump , according to Jim Clyburn ( D-GA ) , head of the House Subcommittee on Coronavirus .
In a new letter , Clyburn charges that Redfield directed Dr. Charlotte Kent , editor-in-chief of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , to delete a previously reported email in which Dr. Paul Alexander , senior adviser to HHS Secretary Alex Azar , attacks a report on COVID-19 spread among children as designed to hurt the administration .
“ CDC tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , there will be spread and this will impact school reopening , ” Alexander wrote in the now-deleted email , sent in August .
“ Very misleading by CDC and shame on them .
Their aim is clear .
.
.
.
This is designed to hurt this Presidnet [ sic ] for their reasons which I am not interested in.
” Alexander demanded that more information be added to the report or that staff “ pull it down and stop all reports immediately.
” Politico reported on Alexander ’ s email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the CDC .
Kent testified to the committee on Monday that she was on vacation in early August when the command from Redfield came down , but that the email had already been deleted by the time she was looking for it .
She added that she considered the request to delete the email “ very unusual , ” as the email is the kind that usually would be preserved as government record .
“ The Subcommittee ’ s characterization of the conversation with Dr. Kent is irresponsible , ” a spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge the Subcommittee to release the transcript in full which will show that during her testimony Dr. Kent repeatedly said there was no political interference in the MMWR process.
” Clyburn alleged that the deletion request is just one link in a chain of political interference by Redfield and HHS in the CDC ’ s COVID-19 guidance .
Kent also testified that the CDC delayed publishing a report on COVID-19 spread at a Georgia summer camp until after Redfield ’ s scheduled testimony to the subcommittee in July , during which he advocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall .
Redfield and HHS allegedly requested the delay because “ the timing would be better.
” During his testimony , Redfield did not discuss the report , which had initially been slated to be released two days before .
The CDC published the report 15 minutes after the hearing ended .
Clyburn wrote that after Kent ’ s interview , part of long withheld cooperation from the administration that the subcommittee had sought since the existence of Alexander ’ s email was reported , the department abruptly cancelled the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours after Dr. Kent ’ s interview in which she revealed she was instructed to delete a key document , your staff wrote to Select Subcommittee staff that the Department is ‘ cancelling the interviews that were scheduled for this week , ’ baselessly attacking the Select Subcommittee staff ’ s integrity as a pretextual justification for doing so , ” Clyburn wrote .
“ During the interview referenced in the letter , a staff member on the Subcommittee chose to violate basic common practices of attorney-client privilege that protect the interests of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the HHS spokesperson told TPM .
Clyburn ended his letter demanding an interview with Redfield , plus that the originally scheduled interviews with CDC officials be reinstated .
He also requested a tranche of documents related to the specific incidents Kent described , in addition to any others related to the department ’ s obstruction of the subcommittee ’ s attempts to investigate .
“ I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration ’ s political meddling with the nation ’ s coronavirus response has put American lives at greater risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken steps to conceal and destroy evidence of this dangerous conduct , ” Clyburn wrote .

CDC director Robert Redfield ordered the deletion of an email showing political interference in COVID-19 guidance deemed damaging to President Donald Trump, according to Jim Clyburn (D-GA), head of the House Subcommittee on Coronavirus.
In a new letter, Clyburn charges that Redfield directed Dr. Charlotte Kent, editor-in-chief of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, to delete a previously reported email in which Dr. Paul Alexander, senior adviser to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, attacks a report on COVID-19 spread among children as designed to hurt the administration.
“CDC tried to report as if once kids get together, there will be spread and this will impact school reopening,” Alexander wrote in the now-deleted email, sent in August. “Very misleading by CDC and shame on them. Their aim is clear. . . . This is designed to hurt this Presidnet [sic] for their reasons which I am not interested in.”
Alexander demanded that more information be added to the report or that staff “pull it down and stop all reports immediately.”
Politico reported on Alexander’s email in a September story about political interference at the CDC.
Kent testified to the committee on Monday that she was on vacation in early August when the command from Redfield came down, but that the email had already been deleted by the time she was looking for it.
She added that she considered the request to delete the email “very unusual,” as the email is the kind that usually would be preserved as government record.
“The Subcommittee’s characterization of the conversation with Dr. Kent is irresponsible,” a spokesperson for HHS told TPM. “We urge the Subcommittee to release the transcript in full which will show that during her testimony Dr. Kent repeatedly said there was no political interference in the MMWR process.”
Clyburn alleged that the deletion request is just one link in a chain of political interference by Redfield and HHS in the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance.
Kent also testified that the CDC delayed publishing a report on COVID-19 spread at a Georgia summer camp until after Redfield’s scheduled testimony to the subcommittee in July, during which he advocated that schools open for face-to-face learning in the fall.
Redfield and HHS allegedly requested the delay because “the timing would be better.”
During his testimony, Redfield did not discuss the report, which had initially been slated to be released two days before. The CDC published the report 15 minutes after the hearing ended.
Clyburn wrote that after Kent’s interview, part of long withheld cooperation from the administration that the subcommittee had sought since the existence of Alexander’s email was reported, the department abruptly cancelled the rest of the planned interviews.
“However, hours after Dr. Kent’s interview in which she revealed she was instructed to delete a key document, your staff wrote to Select Subcommittee staff that the Department is ‘cancelling the interviews that were scheduled for this week,’ baselessly attacking the Select Subcommittee staff’s integrity as a pretextual justification for doing so,” Clyburn wrote.
“During the interview referenced in the letter, a staff member on the Subcommittee chose to violate basic common practices of attorney-client privilege that protect the interests of the Department but more importantly the witness,” the HHS spokesperson told TPM.
Clyburn ended his letter demanding an interview with Redfield, plus that the originally scheduled interviews with CDC officials be reinstated. He also requested a tranche of documents related to the specific incidents Kent described, in addition to any others related to the department’s obstruction of the subcommittee’s attempts to investigate.
“I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration’s political meddling with the nation’s coronavirus response has put American lives at greater risk, and that Administration officials may have taken steps to conceal and destroy evidence of this dangerous conduct,” Clyburn wrote.
Read Clyburn’s letter here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Report: Barr Tried To Keep Hunter Biden Investigations Quiet Before Election

Attorney General Bill Barr has known about investigations involving Hunter Biden ’ s business and financial dealings since at least this spring , the Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday .
A person familiar with the matter told the publication that the top DOJ official had made efforts to keep the investigations from public view during the campaigns leading up to last month ’ s election even as President Donald Trump and his Republican allies urged Barr to investigate the younger Biden .
It remains unclear exactly when or how Barr learned of the inquiries , but investigators — likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their work and the President ’ s interest in fodder to smear his opponent — tried to keep the cases at a very low profile by taking few obvious steps in the weeks before the November election according to the Journal .
In October , as Biden gained momentum in the competing election campaigns , Trump ’ s Republican allies in Congress dug into a pressure campaign , urging Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden .
Yet the efforts to keep the investigations quiet to avoid appearing to impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department guidelines .
Federal investigators served a subpoena on Hunter Biden seeking detailed financial information in connection with a criminal tax investigation by the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Delaware in one investigation that made headlines earlier this week .
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan had also been looking at Hunter Biden ’ s business and financial dealings , as part of a broader criminal investigation .
Two sources told the Journal that the broader investigation had been going on for at least a year , adding that Hunter Biden was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neither of the investigations implicates President-elect Joe Biden , the Journal noted .
The Biden transition team released a statement saying that President-elect was proud of his son , who had survived “ vicious personal attacks of recent months , only to emerge stronger.
” Hunter Biden said in a statement Wednesday that he took the matter very seriously but remained “ confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately , including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations , comes as President Trump told reporters when asked whether he still had confidence in Barr that he would need to revisit the question “ a number of weeks from now.
” Trump ’ s recent anger at his typically dutiful ally , came after the attorney general told the Associated Press in an interview that the Justice Department “ not seen fraud on a scale ” that reached a level that could overturn the results of the recent presidential election .
On Thursday night , that anger bubbled over as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had unwound quietly ahead of the election .
“ Why didn ’ t the Fake News Media , the FBI and the DOJ report the Biden matter BEFORE the Election , ” he wrote .
Early Friday Trump doubled down on his attacks of Barr in another tweet , saying he “ predicted Biden corruption , ” amid news of the investigations that have not drawn any such conclusions .
He further asserted that Barr “ perhaps knew of the corruption during the impeachment hoax ?
” A Bloomberg News report on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a premature departure , unless Trump fires him during his final days in office .

Attorney General Bill Barr has known about investigations involving Hunter Biden’s business and financial dealings since at least this spring, the Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday.
A person familiar with the matter told the publication that the top DOJ official had made efforts to keep the investigations from public view during the campaigns leading up to last month’s election even as President Donald Trump and his Republican allies urged Barr to investigate the younger Biden.
Trump’s obsession with digging up dirt on Hunter Biden leading up to the 2020 campaign, including a July 2019 call to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into helping, ultimately led to the President’s impeachment.
It remains unclear exactly when or how Barr learned of the inquiries, but investigators — likely quite aware of the potential impact of their work and the President’s interest in fodder to smear his opponent — tried to keep the cases at a very low profile by taking few obvious steps in the weeks before the November election according to the Journal. The probe, which began in 2018, predates Barr’s tenure as attorney general.
In October, as Biden gained momentum in the competing election campaigns, Trump’s Republican allies in Congress dug into a pressure campaign, urging Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden.
But the efforts to keep the investigations quiet to avoid appearing to impact the election’s outcome accord with Justice Department guidelines.
Federal investigators served a subpoena on Hunter Biden seeking detailed financial information in connection with a criminal tax investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware in one investigation that made headlines earlier this week.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan had also been looking at Hunter Biden’s business and financial dealings, as part of a broader criminal investigation. Two sources told the Journal that the broader investigation had been going on for at least a year, adding that Hunter Biden was not a specific target for criminal prosecution.
Neither of the investigations implicates President-elect Joe Biden, the Journal noted. The Biden transition team released a statement saying that President-elect was proud of his son, who had survived “vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger.”
Hunter Biden said in a statement Wednesday that he took the matter very seriously but remained “confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.”
The revelation that Barr reportedly knew of the investigations, comes as President Trump told reporters when asked whether he still had confidence in Barr that he would need to revisit the question “a number of weeks from now.”
Trump’s recent anger at his typically dutiful ally, came after the attorney general told the Associated Press in an interview that the Justice Department “not seen fraud on a scale” that would overturn the results of the recent presidential election.
On Thursday night, that anger bubbled over as Trump tweeted his frustration over the investigation which had unwound quietly ahead of the election. “Why didn’t the Fake News Media, the FBI and the DOJ report the Biden matter BEFORE the Election,” he wrote.
Early Friday, Trump doubled down on his attacks of Barr in another tweet, saying he “predicted Biden corruption,” amid news of the investigations that have not drawn any such conclusions. He further asserted that Barr “perhaps knew of the corruption during the impeachment hoax?”
A Bloomberg News report on Thursday indicated that Barr had no intentions for a premature departure, unless Trump fires him during his final days in office.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Indicted TX AG Insists It’s ‘Ridiculous’ To Accuse Him Of Fishing For Pardon With SCOTUS Lawsuit

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , who is under indictment on charges of securities fraud , claimed on Thursday night that his long shot lawsuit to get the Supreme Court to nullify the election results is not an attempt to snag a pardon from President Donald Trump .
During an interview on Fox News , Paxton pushed back against conservative commentator Erick Erickson ’ s accusation that he was fishing for a pardon by filing the lawsuit , which aims to steal Pennsylvania , Georgia , Wisconsin and Michigan ’ s electors from President-elect Joe Biden with evidence-free claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea what he ’ s talking about , ” Paxton said .
“ I ’ ve been working on these issues for the last year.
” The attorney general insisted that the endeavor was “ just one more ” lawsuit among the several he had already filed regarding election fraud ( contrary to Paxton and other Republicans ’ claims , there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud ) .
“ So this is ridiculous for Erick to make that accusation , ” Paxton said .
“ He has no idea what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , the Texas grand jury indicted Paxton for alleged securities fraud , to which the attorney general has pleaded not guilty .
Additionally , seven of Paxton ’ s former top aides in October accused him of bribery and abuse of office .
The FBI is currently investigating the allegations .

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is under indictment on charges of securities fraud, claimed on Thursday night that his long shot lawsuit to get the Supreme Court to nullify the election results is not an attempt to snag a pardon from President Donald Trump.
During an interview on Fox News, Paxton pushed back against conservative commentator Erick Erickson’s accusation that he was fishing for a pardon by filing the lawsuit, which aims to steal Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan’s electors from President-elect Joe Biden with evidence-free claims of election fraud.
“Erick has no idea what he’s talking about,” Paxton said. “I’ve been working on these issues for the last year.”
The attorney general insisted that the endeavor was “just one more” lawsuit among the several he had already filed regarding election fraud (contrary to Paxton and other Republicans’ claims, there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud).
“So this is ridiculous for Erick to make that accusation,” Paxton said. “He has no idea what he’s talking about.”
In 2015, the Texas grand jury indicted Paxton for alleged securities fraud, to which the attorney general has pleaded not guilty.
Additionally, seven of Paxton’s former top aides in October accused him of bribery and abuse of office. The FBI is currently investigating the allegations.
Watch Paxton below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--SCOTUS Shoots Down TX Election Reversal Gambit Praised By Trump As ‘The Big One’

Texas ’ unhinged bid to overturn the election results in four battleground states will end not in a bang , but a whimper .
The Supreme Court on Friday said that Texas did not meet the procedural thresholds that would warrant the court ’ s review of its lawsuit .
The order is the latest defeat President Trump ’ s allies have suffered in court in their attempts to muck up Joe Biden electoral victory .
After the Supreme Court rejected a similar Pennsylvania lawsuit seeking to disturb those results , Trump promised that the Texas gambit was actually “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to invoke what ’ s known as original jurisdiction — which gives the Supreme Court the exclusive authority to hear legal disputes between the states — so it could sue Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Georgia and Michigan to challenge those states ’ election results .
All four states elected Biden .
But Texas was arguing —by citing conspiracy theories about how the states ’ handled their elections — that the Supreme Court should void those results and let the legislatures determine the electors that would be sent to the Electoral College instead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the merits of those claims .
Rather , Supreme Court said in unsigned order on Friday that Texas had “ not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.
” The order came with a separate statement from Justice Samuel Alito , joined by Justice Clarence Thomas , who took a different view of the court ’ s procedural obligations to review the case .
“ In my view , we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the statement said , though it added that justices would not have granted Texas ’ request to immediately block those states from formalizing Biden ’ s victory and that they were expressing “ no view on any other issue .
”

Texas’ unhinged bid to overturn the election results in four battleground states will end not in a bang, but a whimper.
The Supreme Court on Friday said that Texas did not meet the procedural thresholds that would warrant the court’s review of its lawsuit.
The order is the latest defeat President Trump’s allies have suffered in court in their attempts to muck up Joe Biden electoral victory.
After the Supreme Court rejected a similar Pennsylvania lawsuit seeking to disturb those results, Trump promised that the Texas gambit was actually “the big one.”
Texas was seeking to invoke what’s known as original jurisdiction — which gives the Supreme Court the exclusive authority to hear legal disputes between the states — so it could sue Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and Michigan to challenge those states’ election results. All four states elected Biden. But Texas was arguing —by citing conspiracy theories about how the states’ handled their elections — that the Supreme Court should void those results and let the legislatures determine the electors that would be sent to the Electoral College instead.
The court did not weigh in on the merits of those claims. Rather, Supreme Court said in unsigned order on Friday that Texas had “not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.”
The order came with a separate statement from Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, who took a different view of the court’s procedural obligations to review the case.
“In my view, we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a case that falls within our original jurisdiction,” the statement said, though it added that justices would not have granted Texas’ request to immediately block those states from formalizing Biden’s victory and that they were expressing “no view on any other issue.”
Read the order below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Murphy Baldly Names GOP’s Attempt To ‘Overthrow Our Democracy’ On Senate Floor

Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-CT ) described the actions of his Republican colleagues in much starker terms than most Democrats have thus far during a speech on Friday , painting their refusal to accept President Donald Trump ’ s defeat not as a mere political stunt but as “ the most serious attempt to overthrow our democracy in the history of our country.
” “ Those who are pushing to make Donald Trump President for a second term , no matter the outcome of the election , are engaged in a treachery against their nation , ” he said from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not at the same time love America but hate democracy , ” he continued .
“ But as we speak , a whole lot of flag-waving Republicans are nakedly trying to invalidate millions of legitimate votes because that is the only way they can make Donald Trump President again.
” In a follow-up interview , Murphy told the Washington Post ’ s Greg Sargent that he is acutely fearful that if Republicans ’ actions become any more normalized than they already have been , they “ will steal an election two years from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s grip on his party , and the infectiousness of his conspiracy-mongering , has become startlingly evident since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner a month ago .
Few elected Republicans have been brave enough to denounce Trump ’ s conspiratorial ramblings , much less to acknowledge that Biden won the election fairly .
The Trump campaign — in conjunction with its orbit of celebrity lawyers and loyal Republican officials — has launched one frivolous lawsuit after another in an attempt to overturn the results of the election .
Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly those seeking to toss thousands of legal ballots on the basis of fabricated voter fraud allegations .
But still , the conviction within Republican circles that the election was stolen has seemed to grow stronger , even in the face of such consistent legal defeat .
According to a Quinnipiac poll released Thursday , 77 percent of Republicans believe that there was widespread voter fraud despite an utter lack of proof .
“ Democracies are really fragile things , ” Murphy warned .
“ Ours only continues because we make choices so @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) described the actions of his Republican colleagues in much starker terms than most Democrats have thus far during a speech on Friday, painting their refusal to accept President Donald Trump’s defeat not as a mere political stunt but as “the most serious attempt to overthrow our democracy in the history of our country.”
“Those who are pushing to make Donald Trump President for a second term, no matter the outcome of the election, are engaged in a treachery against their nation,” he said from the Senate floor.
“You cannot at the same time love America but hate democracy,” he continued. “But as we speak, a whole lot of flag-waving Republicans are nakedly trying to invalidate millions of legitimate votes because that is the only way they can make Donald Trump President again.”
“Right now, the most serious attempt to overthrow our democracy in the history of our of country is underway. Those who are pushing to make Donald Trump President, no matter the outcome of the election, are engaged in a treachery against their nation.” pic.twitter.com/FE7K91nlSD — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 11, 2020
In a follow-up interview, Murphy told the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent that he is acutely fearful that if Republicans’ actions become any more normalized than they already have been, they “will steal an election two years from now or four years from now.”
Trump’s grip on his party, and the infectiousness of his conspiracy-mongering, has become startlingly evident since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner a month ago. Few elected Republicans have been brave enough to denounce Trump’s conspiratorial ramblings, much less to acknowledge that Biden won the election fairly.
The Trump campaign — in conjunction with its orbit of celebrity lawyers and loyal Republican officials — has launched one frivolous lawsuit after another in an attempt to overturn the results of the election. Almost all were laughed out of court, particularly those seeking to toss thousands of legal ballots on the basis of fabricated voter fraud allegations.
But still, the conviction within Republican circles that the election was stolen has seemed to grow stronger, even in the face of such consistent legal defeat. According to a Quinnipiac poll released Thursday, 77 percent of Republicans believe that there was widespread voter fraud despite an utter lack of proof.
“Democracies are really fragile things,” Murphy warned. “Ours only continues because we make choices so that it can remain.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Data Shows Virus Now Picking Up Steam After In-Person Thanksgiving Gatherings

With some Americans now paying the price for what they did over Thanksgiving and falling sick with COVID-19 , health officials are warning people — begging them , even — not to make the same mistake during the Christmas and New Year ’ s season .
“ It ’ s a surge above the existing surge , ” said Ali Mokdad , a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle .
“ Quite honestly , it ’ s a warning sign for all of us.
” Across the country , contact tracers and emergency room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients that they socialized over Thanksgiving with people outside their households , despite emphatic public-health warnings to stay home and keep their distance from others .
The virus was raging across the nation even before Thanksgiving but was showing some signs of flattening out .
It has picked up steam since , with new cases per day regularly climbing well over 200,000 .
The dire outlook comes even as the U.S. stands on the brink of a major vaccination campaign against COVID-19 , with the Food and Drug Administration expected to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer ’ s formula against the scourge that has killed over 290,000 Americans and infected more than 15.6 million .
On Friday , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows pressed FDA chief Stephen Hahn to grant authorization by the end of the day or face possible firing , according to two administration officials speaking on condition of anonymity .
President Donald Trump , who has been fuming at the FDA for not moving faster on the vaccine , called the agency a “ big , old , slow turtle ” on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines out NOW , Dr. Hahn .
Stop playing games and start saving lives.
” Hahn has said he would be guided by “ science , not politics.
” COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have climbed to a seven-day average of almost 2,260 per day , about equal to the peak seen in mid-April , when the New York City area was under siege .
New cases are running at about 195,000 a day , based on a two-week rolling average , a 16 % increase from the day before Thanksgiving , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington state , contact tracers counted at least 336 people testing positive who said they attended gatherings or traveled during the Thanksgiving weekend .
More are expected .
The virus could still be incubating in someone who was exposed while traveling home the Sunday after Thanksgiving ; the end of that two-week incubation period is this Sunday .
Zana Cooper , a 60-year-old cancer survivor in Murrieta , California , tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Thanksgiving dinner with her son ’ s girlfriend ’ s family .
At the dinner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had recently traveled to Florida , wasn ’ t feeling well and went to bed early .
Cooper learned the following Sunday that he tested positive .
“ My first reaction was the f-word .
I was so mad , ” she said .
“ I was upset .
I was angry .
I was like , ‘ How dare you take my life in your hands ?
’ ” She has had fever and headaches , a runny nose and bloodshot eyes , and in recent days it has become more difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inhaler .
She said she believes she brought the virus home to her daughter and two grandchildren , who live with her and are now ill with what a doctor diagnosed as COVID-19 .
In Philadelphia , a woman in her 20s gathered with 10 relatives on Thanksgiving , though she didn ’ t feel well the day before .
She later tested positive for COVID-19 .
Her family started developing symptoms , and seven members tested positive , said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley .
The next round of festivities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays started this week .
Hanukkah began Thursday evening and ends Dec. 18 , followed by Christmas , Kwanzaa and New Year ’ s Eve .
“ This is not the time to invite the neighbors over for dinner .
This is not the time to start having parties , ” said Arizona State University researcher Dr. Joshua LaBaer .
In parts of New York state , contact tracers are regularly hearing from the newly infected that they attended Thanksgiving festivities , said Steuben County Public Health Director Darlene Smith .
Still unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many eventually will need a bed in intensive care , she said .
Harry and Ashley Neidig , of Shepherdstown , West Virginia , tested positive for COVID-19 last week .
They said they believe they contracted it from someone at their jobs as security officers but didn ’ t know of their possible exposure before they celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of the family .
On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving , Ashley Neidig , 25 , noticed she couldn ’ t smell a menthol-scented body scrub .
After the couple got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warn them .
Some were awaiting test results , and so far no one else has had any symptoms , said Harry Neidig , 24 .
“ We feel bad because … we definitely should ’ ve put a heavier weight into our decision to go , ” he said .
“ We should have told our family , ‘ Hey , given the nature of our job , we can ’ t quarantine like other people in an office job.
’ ” He added : “ You might want to take another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The surge around the country has swamped hospitals and left nurses and other health care workers exhausted and demoralized .
“ Compassion fatigue is the best word for what we ’ re experiencing , ” said Kiersten Henry , an ICU nurse practitioner at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney , Maryland .
“ I feel we ’ ve already run a marathon , and this is our second one .
Even people who are upbeat are feeling run down at this point.
” While some hospitals are scrambling to find beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for use in treating patients , they are also dealing with dire staff shortages .
“ We know how to make new beds , ” said Dr. Lew Kaplan , a critical care surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania ’ s Perelman School of Medicine .
“ We don ’ t know how to make new staff .
”

With some Americans now paying the price for what they did over Thanksgiving and falling sick with COVID-19, health officials are warning people — begging them, even — not to make the same mistake during the Christmas and New Year’s season.
“It’s a surge above the existing surge,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Quite honestly, it’s a warning sign for all of us.”
Across the country, contact tracers and emergency room doctors are hearing repeatedly from new coronavirus patients that they socialized over Thanksgiving with people outside their households, despite emphatic public-health warnings to stay home and keep their distance from others.
The virus was raging across the nation even before Thanksgiving but was showing some signs of flattening out. It has picked up steam since, with new cases per day regularly climbing well over 200,000.
The dire outlook comes even as the U.S. stands on the brink of a major vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with the Food and Drug Administration expected to give the final go-ahead any day now to use Pfizer’s formula against the scourge that has killed over 290,000 Americans and infected more than 15.6 million.
On Friday, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows pressed FDA chief Stephen Hahn to grant authorization by the end of the day or face possible firing, according to two administration officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Donald Trump, who has been fuming at the FDA for not moving faster on the vaccine, called the agency a “big, old, slow turtle” on Twitter, adding: ”Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn. Stop playing games and start saving lives.”
Hahn has said he would be guided by “science, not politics.”
COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have climbed to a seven-day average of almost 2,260 per day, about equal to the peak seen in mid-April, when the New York City area was under siege. New cases are running at about 195,000 a day, based on a two-week rolling average, a 16% increase from the day before Thanksgiving, according to an Associated Press analysis.
In Washington state, contact tracers counted at least 336 people testing positive who said they attended gatherings or traveled during the Thanksgiving weekend. More are expected.
The virus could still be incubating in someone who was exposed while traveling home the Sunday after Thanksgiving; the end of that two-week incubation period is this Sunday.
Zana Cooper, a 60-year-old cancer survivor in Murrieta, California, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Thanksgiving dinner with her son’s girlfriend’s family. At the dinner, the girlfriend’s father, who had recently traveled to Florida, wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early.
Cooper learned the following Sunday that he tested positive.
“My first reaction was the f-word. I was so mad,” she said. “I was upset. I was angry. I was like, ‘How dare you take my life in your hands?’”
She has had fever and headaches, a runny nose and bloodshot eyes, and in recent days it has become more difficult to breathe and she has been using an inhaler. She said she believes she brought the virus home to her daughter and two grandchildren, who live with her and are now ill with what a doctor diagnosed as COVID-19.
In Philadelphia, a woman in her 20s gathered with 10 relatives on Thanksgiving, though she didn’t feel well the day before. She later tested positive for COVID-19. Her family started developing symptoms, and seven members tested positive, said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley.
The next round of festivities could yield even more cases. Wall-to-wall holidays started this week. Hanukkah began Thursday evening and ends Dec. 18, followed by Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve.
“This is not the time to invite the neighbors over for dinner. This is not the time to start having parties,” said Arizona State University researcher Dr. Joshua LaBaer.
In parts of New York state, contact tracers are regularly hearing from the newly infected that they attended Thanksgiving festivities, said Steuben County Public Health Director Darlene Smith. Still unknown is how many they will infect and how many eventually will need a bed in intensive care, she said.
“It’s the domino effect,” Smith said.
Harry and Ashley Neidig, of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, tested positive for COVID-19 last week. They said they believe they contracted it from someone at their jobs as security officers but didn’t know of their possible exposure before they celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of the family.
On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Ashley Neidig, 25, noticed she couldn’t smell a menthol-scented body scrub. After the couple got tested, they contacted their families to warn them. Some were awaiting test results, and so far no one else has had any symptoms, said Harry Neidig, 24.
“We feel bad because … we definitely should’ve put a heavier weight into our decision to go,” he said. “We should have told our family, ‘Hey, given the nature of our job, we can’t quarantine like other people in an office job.’”
He added: “You might want to take another look before you go somewhere for Christmas.”
The surge around the country has swamped hospitals and left nurses and other health care workers exhausted and demoralized.
“Compassion fatigue is the best word for what we’re experiencing,” said Kiersten Henry, an ICU nurse practitioner at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, Maryland. “I feel we’ve already run a marathon, and this is our second one. Even people who are upbeat are feeling run down at this point.”
While some hospitals are scrambling to find beds and convert storage rooms and other places for use in treating patients, they are also dealing with dire staff shortages.
“We know how to make new beds,” said Dr. Lew Kaplan, a critical care surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. “We don’t know how to make new staff.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

• A bonkers long shot lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has become a litmus test for Republicans this week .
The lawsuit seeks to have the U.S. Supreme Court overturn election results in four states that handed Joe Biden a win : Georgia , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
• On Wednesday , the Trump campaign and more than a dozen red-state attorneys general signed on to the legal gambit , which is all but certain to be unsuccessful .
By the end of the day Friday we learned it , in fact , was .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 House Republicans from backing the effort .
It started with Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) sending an email to his GOP colleagues to sign onto an amicus brief supporting the Texas lawsuit .
• By the end of the week , even House GOP leaders Kevin McCarthy ( CA ) and Steve Scalise ( LA ) formally signed on to the brief .
• The targeted battleground states fired back at the Texas suit on Thursday , with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro calling the effort a “ seditious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paxton , who is under indictment for securities charges , told Fox News Thursday night that his baseless lawsuit is not an attempt to curry favor with Trump in an attempt to get a pardon .
• The United Kingdom on Tuesday began vaccinating citizens for COVID-19 , after the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use there .
• Here at home , Josh Kovensky and Kate Riga reported on the challenges the U.S. will face in distributing the vaccine .
Congress has yet to appropriate any money for vaccine distribution .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Will the vaccine prevent transmission of COVID-19 ?
• The Trump administration also reportedly declined an offer from Pfizer over the summer to purchase more doses of the vaccine .
• The FDA ’ s outside advisory board on Thursday voted to endorse the Pfizer vaccine , clearing the way for the FDA to authorize its use .
• HHS Secretary Alex Azar predicted that the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S. would begin early next week .
• Hunter Biden announced on Wednesday that federal prosecutors in Delaware are investigating his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the probe began in 2018 , before current Attorney General Bill Barr ’ s tenure .
• “ I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately , including with the benefit of professional tax advisors , ” Hunter Biden said in a statement .
• The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that Barr had known about the probe since the spring , and had worked to keep it out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• That sure irked Trump , who complained on Twitter about being kept in the dark on the probe : “ Why didn ’ t the Fake News Media , the FBI and the DOJ report the Biden matter BEFORE the Election , ” Trump wrote in a Thursday night tweet.
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Let us know .

The California State Bar is arguing that recent criminal charges against John Eastman in Fulton County, Georgia should not prevent…


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Trump Admin Buys Extra 100 Mil Vaccine Doses After Missing Out On Pfizer Purchase

The Trump administration has bought an additional 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Moderna , officials announced on Friday , after reports emerged that it missed an opportunity to buy tens of millions of doses from Pfizer .
That adds doses for 50 million more people to the total amount of vaccine procured by the Trump administration before it leaves power , counting the two firms whose vaccines are on the verge of FDA approval : Moderna and Pfizer .
But the news comes after the Trump administration was embarrassed by reports that it declined to take Pfizer up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million doses that it bought over the summer .
Instead , Pfizer sold additional orders of its vaccine to the European Union and other countries , meaning that any additional shots from the pharmaceutical giant would have to wait until at least June .
In total , the Trump administration has now procured enough doses to inoculate 150 million Americans against the deadly virus , at a total of 300 million doses of two-shot vaccines .
The Trump administration said that Moderna would finish supplying the additional 100 million doses by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir told Fox and Friends on Friday that the government expected 20 million people to receive their first round of shots in December , with an additional 30 million receiving them in January , and an additional 50 million in February .
The FDA committee in charge of verifying vaccine data is set to meet about Moderna ’ s vaccine candidate on Dec. 17 .
The vaccine , which is based on the same mRNA technology as Pfizer ’ s , has a similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive regulatory approval before the end of the year .

The Trump administration has bought an additional 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Moderna, officials announced on Friday, after reports emerged that it missed an opportunity to buy tens of millions of doses from Pfizer.
That adds doses for 50 million more people to the total amount of vaccine procured by the Trump administration before it leaves power, counting the two firms whose vaccines are on the verge of FDA approval: Moderna and Pfizer.
But the news comes after the Trump administration was embarrassed by reports that it declined to take Pfizer up on an offer for more than the initial 100 million doses that it bought over the summer. Instead, Pfizer sold additional orders of its vaccine to the European Union and other countries, meaning that any additional shots from the pharmaceutical giant would have to wait until at least June.
In total, the Trump administration has now procured enough doses to inoculate 150 million Americans against the deadly virus, at a total of 300 million doses of two-shot vaccines.
The Trump administration said that Moderna would finish supplying the additional 100 million doses by the end of June.
Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir told Fox and Friends on Friday that the government expected 20 million people to receive their first round of shots in December, with an additional 30 million receiving them in January, and an additional 50 million in February.
The FDA committee in charge of verifying vaccine data is set to meet about Moderna’s vaccine candidate on Dec. 17. The vaccine, which is based on the same mRNA technology as Pfizer’s, has a similarly high effectiveness rate and is expected to receive regulatory approval before the end of the year.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--A Guide To Who Wants SCOTUS To Destroy Democracy For Trump And Who Doesn’t

The latest litmus test for any Trump-loving Republican is whether you back an outrageous lawsuit Texas has sought to file in the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Joe Biden ’ s wins in Georgia , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Michigan should be tossed out .
Despite the many prominent conservative legal commentators expressing disgust for Texas ’ claims , more than a dozen GOP state attorneys general have offered their formal support of the case , as has two-thirds of the Republican House conference .
Here is a look at who is getting involved and what they ’ re arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paxton — who , it just so happens , could really benefit from a presidential pardon right about now — spearheaded the Hail Mary crusade .
He ’ s asking the Supreme Court to review his challenge to Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin and Georgia ’ s election results on the theory that pandemic-related adjustments they made to their voting policies were unconstitutional because they were not explicitly authorized by their legislatures .
The court should let those states ’ legislatures — which , coincidentally , are all controlled by Republicans — pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Electoral College , Texas argues .
Trump Campaign : The Trump campaign , not surprisingly , is in favor of the lawsuit , and has asked the court to let it intervene directly in the case .
Trump has called the Texas case the ‘ big one.
” At Least 18 Republican State Attorneys General : An amicus ( or “ friend of the court ” ) brief supportive of Texas submitted by 17 GOP state attorneys general was the first sign that backing the lawsuit was becoming a badge of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those states are Missouri , Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Indiana , Kansas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Montana , Nebraska , North Dakota , Oklahoma , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Utah , and West Virginia , and Alaska has since asked to join them .
Meanwhile , six of those states took it a step further and asked the court to let them intervene in the case .
Roy Moore : The former Alabama state Supreme Court Justice , whose Senate run was torpedoed by allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quick to give his full-throated support to Texas .
His amicus brief claims that any no-excuse early or mail-in voting is unconstitutional .
126 House Republicans : About two-thirds of the House Republican conference has signed on to an amicus brief urging the court to block the election results in the four battleground states .
Signatories include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , Minority Whip Steve Scalise , and Rep. Tom Emmer , who chairs House Republicans ’ campaign arm .
They ’ ve been labeled the “ Kraken caucus.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” : The appeal of supporting Trump in his anti-democratic bid is so great that states that don ’ t even exist yet have jumped into the fight .
A lawyer who has been leading a fringe movement to break off rural communities from California and Nevada filed an amicus brief backing Texas on behalf of “ New California ” and “ New Nevada.
” Pennsylvania state Republican lawmakers : An amicus brief submitted by the Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House stops just short of arguing for the reversal of Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers say they have “ no position ” on the remedies Texas seeks .
But they ’ re very interested in pushing forward the argument that state courts and election officials acted unconstitutionally in adapting the state ’ s voting practices to the state .
Briefs by others groups of Trump-loving members of the Pennsylvania legislature make similar arguments .
Well Let ’ s Not Overturn *This* Election , But Texas Makes Some Good Points Ohio : Ohio Attorney General David Yost ’ s amicus brief is walking a very fine line .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not support the Supreme Court reversing the results in the four targeted states that Biden won .
But Ohio does want , as a quickly as possible , a Supreme Court decision backing Texas ’ underlying argument : that only legislatures can make changes to how states elections are carried out .
The Targeted Biden-Supporting States : The states whose results Texas is challenging did not mince words when describing how ludicrous the lawsuit was .
Pennsylvania said Texas was engaged in a “ seditious abuse of the judicial process.
” The lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a factual basis , ” Wisconsin said .
Michigan said Texas wanted to “ disenfranchise millions of Michigan voters in favor of the preferences of a handful of people who appear to be disappointed with the official results.
” Georgia accused Texas of parroting false arguments that have been already rejected in court .
Blue States And Jurisdictions : Nearly two-dozen attorneys general from blue states and jurisdictions joined together in an amicus brief opposing Texas .
“ There is no evidence ” that mail voting threatened election integrity , the brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ undermine our federalist system.
” Montana Gov .
Bullock : A Democratic governor of a state that elected Trump , Montana Gov .
Steve Bullock had an interesting point to make in his amicus brief : Montana made tweaks to its election rules similar to the ones Texas finds objectionable in the states that Biden won .
Yet Texas chose not to include Montana as a defendant , “ underscoring , of course , that this action is less about election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit : The City of Detroit filed its own amicus brief to pick apart Texas ’ bogus claims about how the election was administered there .
The claims had already been rejected by courts in Michigan , and restating them here , “ does not make them any more credible or more worthy of relief , ” the brief said .

The latest litmus test for any Trump-loving Republican is whether you back an outrageous lawsuit Texas has sought to file in the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Joe Biden’s wins in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan should be tossed out.
Despite the many prominent conservative legal commentators expressing disgust for Texas’ claims, more than a dozen GOP state attorneys general have offered their formal support of the case, as has two-thirds of the Republican House conference.
Here is a look at who is getting involved and what they’re arguing.
Sure, Let’s Overturn The Election.
Texas: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — who, it just so happens, could really benefit from a presidential pardon right about now — spearheaded the Hail Mary crusade. He’s asking the Supreme Court to review his challenge to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia’s election results on the theory that pandemic-related adjustments they made to their voting policies were unconstitutional because they were not explicitly authorized by their legislatures. The court should let those states’ legislatures — which, coincidentally, are all controlled by Republicans — pick the electors they want to send to the Electoral College, Texas argues.
Trump Campaign: The Trump campaign, not surprisingly, is in favor of the lawsuit, and has asked the court to let it intervene directly in the case. Trump has called the Texas case the ‘big one.”
At Least 18 Republican State Attorneys General: An amicus (or “friend of the court”) brief supportive of Texas submitted by 17 GOP state attorneys general was the first sign that backing the lawsuit was becoming a badge of a Republican politician’s support for Trump. Those states are Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia, and Alaska has since asked to join them. Meanwhile, six of those states took it a step further and asked the court to let them intervene in the case.
Roy Moore: The former Alabama state Supreme Court Justice, whose Senate run was torpedoed by allegations of improper relations with teenage girls, was quick to give his full-throated support to Texas. His amicus brief claims that any no-excuse early or mail-in voting is unconstitutional.
126 House Republicans: About two-thirds of the House Republican conference has signed on to an amicus brief urging the court to block the election results in the four battleground states. Signatories include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs House Republicans’ campaign arm. They’ve been labeled the “Kraken caucus.”
“New California” and “New Nevada”: The appeal of supporting Trump in his anti-democratic bid is so great that states that don’t even exist yet have jumped into the fight. A lawyer who has been leading a fringe movement to break off rural communities from California and Nevada filed an amicus brief backing Texas on behalf of “New California” and “New Nevada.”
Pennsylvania state Republican lawmakers: An amicus brief submitted by the Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House stops just short of arguing for the reversal of Biden’s win in the state; the lawmakers say they have “no position” on the remedies Texas seeks. But they’re very interested in pushing forward the argument that state courts and election officials acted unconstitutionally in adapting the state’s voting practices to the state. Briefs by others groups of Trump-loving members of the Pennsylvania legislature make similar arguments.
Well Let’s Not Overturn *This* Election, But Texas Makes Some Good Points
Ohio: Ohio Attorney General David Yost’s amicus brief is walking a very fine line. On the one hand, he does not support the Supreme Court reversing the results in the four targeted states that Biden won. But Ohio does want, as a quickly as possible, a Supreme Court decision backing Texas’ underlying argument: that only legislatures can make changes to how states elections are carried out.
This Is Nuts.
The Targeted Biden-Supporting States: The states whose results Texas is challenging did not mince words when describing how ludicrous the lawsuit was. Pennsylvania said Texas was engaged in a “seditious abuse of the judicial process.” The lawsuit was “devoid of a legal foundation or a factual basis,” Wisconsin said. Michigan said Texas wanted to “disenfranchise millions of Michigan voters in favor of the preferences of a handful of people who appear to be disappointed with the official results.” Georgia accused Texas of parroting false arguments that have been already rejected in court.
Blue States And Jurisdictions: Nearly two-dozen attorneys general from blue states and jurisdictions joined together in an amicus brief opposing Texas. “There is no evidence” that mail voting threatened election integrity, the brief said, and Texas’ legal arguments “undermine our federalist system.”
Montana Gov. Bullock: A Democratic governor of a state that elected Trump, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock had an interesting point to make in his amicus brief: Montana made tweaks to its election rules similar to the ones Texas finds objectionable in the states that Biden won. Yet Texas chose not to include Montana as a defendant, “underscoring, of course, that this action is less about election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of the electorate,” Bullock said.
Detroit: The City of Detroit filed its own amicus brief to pick apart Texas’ bogus claims about how the election was administered there. The claims had already been rejected by courts in Michigan, and restating them here, “does not make them any more credible or more worthy of relief,” the brief said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Will The ‘Rigged Election’ Contingent Vote? The Big X-Factor In The GA Runoffs

Over a month since Joe Biden was declared President-Elect — since it became clear beyond even a sliver of a doubt that President Donald Trump had fallen many states short of being reelected — a hefty chunk of Americans have simply rejected that reality .
They ’ ve crafted new slogans like “ stop the steal ” as shorthand for this alternate universe , been glued to hearings where baseless voter fraud accusations are exchanged like COVID-19 infections around Trump ’ s orbit .
While this collective delusion is bizarre and worrying to anyone who doesn ’ t mainline OAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup , it may have a more pointed real-world effect than gradual democratic decay .
Ahead of Georgia ’ s Jan. 5 , 2021 runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats , pollsters , political scientists and the campaigns themselves are hungry for proof of causation : if these people believe that our election system is so rotted that a presidential election can be stolen , will they opt out of voting in the runoff altogether ?
Some conspiracy theory-minded , Trump-adjacent Republicans , including celebrity lawyer Lin Wood , have urged Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whether voters take heed is an x-factor that could have the power to swing the elections , and thereby decide control of the Senate — influencing , in turn , the Biden administration ’ s effectiveness and the legislative landscape of the next two years .
Incumbent Sens .
Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) and David Perdue ( R-GA ) have gone to great lengths to balance maintaining Trump ’ s support by agreeing that the election was rigged while imploring Republicans to turn out .
Perdue in particular has favored referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense ” preventing the Democrats from getting free rein to enforce their “ socialist ” agenda .
But as the runoff looms , it ’ s becoming increasingly clear that there ’ s no real way to measure the Trump deadender faction due to some of the same reasons that Trump supporters are so hard to poll in general .
The Jan. 5 , 2021 election will simply be a massive experiment .
“ There ’ s really no way to derive this empirically , ” G. Elliot Morris , a data journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told TPM .
Without high-level private data — the kind campaigns are sometimes privy to — it ’ s probably not possible to quantify the group that is still disheartened out of voting in the runoff , agreed Kyle Kondik , managing editor of Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia .
That big question mark , he added , has the power to swing an election that boils down to turnout .
“ Who drops out of the electorate may be just as important as who shows up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We Know ?
There are now plenty of examples of individual Georgians declaring the entire electoral system in their state to be corrupt .
But the best way to try to figure out the size of this “ rigged ” election contingent , and how it plans to vote in January , are polls .
But so far , only one publicly available Georgia runoff poll has asked the question in the context of runoff voting intentions .
SurveyUSA , which conducted the poll for an NBC affiliate in Atlanta from November 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 118 registered voters who said they were not likely to vote in the runoffs why they weren ’ t planning to participate .
Of that group , 13 percent said they would opt out because “ the voting process was rigged.
” But the sample size is too small to draw any clear conclusions .
“ To make the math explicit , if 13 percent of respondents tell us that they think elections are rigged , that is 15 total respondents — not particularly more valuable than interviewing 15 people on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of SurveyUSA , told TPM .
And even that little nugget of data , Leve said , may already be out of date by now , several days later .
For one thing , GOP lawmakers seem to be coalescing behind Trump .
Leve described the “ collective psychological emergency in America ” where he sees the baseless conviction amid Republicans that the election was stolen growing stronger , even when court after court rejects Trump ’ s attempts to prove mass fraud .
At the same time , Leve said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election ” Republicans will choose not to vote in the runoff , especially after Trump called on them to vote during a Georgia campaign stop last week .
“ It ’ s hard to believe there is an America with systemic election fraud , and that America continues to function as a representative democracy , ” Leve said .
“ Those two things are at profound odds.
” But it ’ s possible , he theorized , that even Republicans truly believing that they were cheated out of a November win hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelm attempts to steal the runoff .
Others agreed with that theory .
“ My hunch is that the ‘ rigged election !
!
!
’ people still aren ’ t nihilistic enough to not turn out to vote , ” Morris said .
“ They will probably be motivated enough by their anger at Biden/Dems to turn out anyway , perhaps with the rationale that ‘ well , if fraud DOESN ’ T happen , I don ’ t want to be the one vote that prevents Loeffler/Purdue from winning.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the polling blindspots revealed in 2016 and confirmed in 2020 .
“ We just came out of an election where pollsters understated the Trump vote , ” Leve said .
“ We came out of the election with the takeaway that Trump ’ s four-year drumbeat about fake media has toxic consequences to polls conducted by media outlets.
” Most polls , including his Georgia one , involve partnership with news outlets .
That could compound the chronic problem of Trump voters being missed in polling and make it even harder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some data experts , including Morris , point to the “ low social trust ” theory to explain why enthusiasm for Trump was missed in the polls multiple times .
It contends that people who like Trump are generally less likely to trust institutions and less inclined to voice their beliefs — making them less likely to talk to a pollster .
If they ’ re already primed to avoid pollsters , finding out that the survey is being conducted by an outlet Trump taught them to hate and distrust would likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these “ hurricane winds , ” as Leve described them , only serve to further blur a picture that is historically hard to capture .
Runoffs are difficult to poll even in the best of times .
And that makes them expensive .
“ Runoff polling , which like primary polling typically has a smaller turnout than general elections , is very expensive because it ’ s hard to find the actual voters , ” Leve said .
Many outlets , Leve added , don ’ t budget for such polling especially because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that have the weird months-later runoff system .
After polling impeachment , a pandemic , racial justice protests and a general election including a presidential contest and a slew of competitive Senate races , many outlets are just tapped .
That means a paucity of polling of the Georgia runoffs , despite the critical importance of the races .
FiveThirtyEight currently has seven polls in its aggregate , of which SurveyUSA ’ s is the only one with an “ A ” rating .
Leve told TPM that his firm will poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election ; the results are slated to publish on Christmas Eve .
In that poll , as a result of TPM ’ s questions , he will rearrange some “ rigged election ” queries to get a better snapshot of how Georgians are thinking .
But other than that , Leve doesn ’ t expect a whole lot of polls to come out of the state in the remaining few weeks until the election — not least because of the deadtime of Christmas and New Years .
In 25 days , Georgia will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profound domino effects that come with that decision .
It ’ s a race nearly as consequential as the presidential one , and will be the first indication of the endurance of Trump ’ s post-presidency power .
But the enthusiasm of his voters , and the extent to which his conspiracy mongering has infected the electorate , remains an unquantifiable force .

Over a month since Joe Biden was declared President-Elect — since it became clear beyond even a sliver of a doubt that President Donald Trump had fallen many states short of being reelected — a hefty chunk of Americans have simply rejected that reality.
They’ve crafted new slogans like “stop the steal” as shorthand for this alternate universe, been glued to hearings where baseless voter fraud accusations are exchanged like COVID-19 infections around Trump’s orbit.
While this collective delusion is bizarre and worrying to anyone who doesn’t mainline OAN, Newsmax and Fox News’ primetime lineup, it may have a more pointed real-world effect than gradual democratic decay.
Ahead of Georgia’s Jan. 5, 2021 runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats, pollsters, political scientists and the campaigns themselves are hungry for proof of causation: if these people believe that our election system is so rotted that a presidential election can be stolen, will they opt out of voting in the runoff altogether? Some conspiracy theory-minded, Trump-adjacent Republicans, including celebrity lawyer Lin Wood, have urged Georgia voters to boycott the elections outright.
Whether voters take heed is an x-factor that could have the power to swing the elections, and thereby decide control of the Senate — influencing, in turn, the Biden administration’s effectiveness and the legislative landscape of the next two years. Incumbent Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) have gone to great lengths to balance maintaining Trump’s support by agreeing that the election was rigged while imploring Republicans to turn out. Perdue in particular has favored referring to them as the “last line of defense” preventing the Democrats from getting free rein to enforce their “socialist” agenda.
But as the runoff looms, it’s becoming increasingly clear that there’s no real way to measure the Trump deadender faction due to some of the same reasons that Trump supporters are so hard to poll in general. The Jan. 5, 2021 election will simply be a massive experiment.
“There’s really no way to derive this empirically,” G. Elliot Morris, a data journalist and election modeler at The Economist, told TPM.
Without high-level private data — the kind campaigns are sometimes privy to — it’s probably not possible to quantify the group that is still disheartened out of voting in the runoff, agreed Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia. That big question mark, he added, has the power to swing an election that boils down to turnout.
“Who drops out of the electorate may be just as important as who shows up,” he said.
So What Do We Know?
There are now plenty of examples of individual Georgians declaring the entire electoral system in their state to be corrupt. But the best way to try to figure out the size of this “rigged” election contingent, and how it plans to vote in January, are polls.
But so far, only one publicly available Georgia runoff poll has asked the question in the context of runoff voting intentions. SurveyUSA, which conducted the poll for an NBC affiliate in Atlanta from November 27 to November 30, asked a pool of 118 registered voters who said they were not likely to vote in the runoffs why they weren’t planning to participate.
Of that group, 13 percent said they would opt out because “the voting process was rigged.”
But the sample size is too small to draw any clear conclusions. “To make the math explicit, if 13 percent of respondents tell us that they think elections are rigged, that is 15 total respondents — not particularly more valuable than interviewing 15 people on the street corner,” Jay Leve, CEO of SurveyUSA, told TPM.
And even that little nugget of data, Leve said, may already be out of date by now, several days later. For one thing, GOP lawmakers seem to be coalescing behind Trump. Leve described the “collective psychological emergency in America” where he sees the baseless conviction amid Republicans that the election was stolen growing stronger, even when court after court rejects Trump’s attempts to prove mass fraud.
At the same time, Leve said he suspects that few of those “rigged election” Republicans will choose not to vote in the runoff, especially after Trump called on them to vote during a Georgia campaign stop last week.
“It’s hard to believe there is an America with systemic election fraud, and that America continues to function as a representative democracy,” Leve said. “Those two things are at profound odds.”
But it’s possible, he theorized, that even Republicans truly believing that they were cheated out of a November win hope that the strength of their vote may help overwhelm attempts to steal the runoff.
Others agreed with that theory. “My hunch is that the ‘rigged election!!!’ people still aren’t nihilistic enough to not turn out to vote,” Morris said. “They will probably be motivated enough by their anger at Biden/Dems to turn out anyway, perhaps with the rationale that ‘well, if fraud DOESN’T happen, I don’t want to be the one vote that prevents Loeffler/Purdue from winning.’”
A complicating factor in a complicated situation is the polling blindspots revealed in 2016 and confirmed in 2020.
“We just came out of an election where pollsters understated the Trump vote,” Leve said. “We came out of the election with the takeaway that Trump’s four-year drumbeat about fake media has toxic consequences to polls conducted by media outlets.”
Most polls, including his Georgia one, involve partnership with news outlets.
That could compound the chronic problem of Trump voters being missed in polling and make it even harder to capture what they’re thinking now. Some data experts, including Morris, point to the “low social trust” theory to explain why enthusiasm for Trump was missed in the polls multiple times. It contends that people who like Trump are generally less likely to trust institutions and less inclined to voice their beliefs — making them less likely to talk to a pollster. If they’re already primed to avoid pollsters, finding out that the survey is being conducted by an outlet Trump taught them to hate and distrust would likely only alienate them further.
Runoff Polling Is Already Tricky
All of these “hurricane winds,” as Leve described them, only serve to further blur a picture that is historically hard to capture.
Runoffs are difficult to poll even in the best of times. And that makes them expensive.
“Runoff polling, which like primary polling typically has a smaller turnout than general elections, is very expensive because it’s hard to find the actual voters,” Leve said.
Many outlets, Leve added, don’t budget for such polling especially because Georgia is in a small minority of states that have the weird months-later runoff system. After polling impeachment, a pandemic, racial justice protests and a general election including a presidential contest and a slew of competitive Senate races, many outlets are just tapped.
That means a paucity of polling of the Georgia runoffs, despite the critical importance of the races.
FiveThirtyEight currently has seven polls in its aggregate, of which SurveyUSA’s is the only one with an “A” rating. Leve told TPM that his firm will poll the Georgia runoffs once more before the election; the results are slated to publish on Christmas Eve. In that poll, as a result of TPM’s questions, he will rearrange some “rigged election” queries to get a better snapshot of how Georgians are thinking.
But other than that, Leve doesn’t expect a whole lot of polls to come out of the state in the remaining few weeks until the election — not least because of the deadtime of Christmas and New Years.
In 25 days, Georgia will decide who controls the Senate and the profound domino effects that come with that decision. It’s a race nearly as consequential as the presidential one, and will be the first indication of the endurance of Trump’s post-presidency power. But the enthusiasm of his voters, and the extent to which his conspiracy mongering has infected the electorate, remains an unquantifiable force.
“We’re in uncharted waters,” sighed Leve.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--‘Our Bad’: Editorial Board Apologizes For Endorsing GOPer Backing Election Steal Effort

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board on Friday apologized for endorsing Rep. Michael Waltz ( R-FL ) , who won reelection last month and has since supported a legal effort out of Texas that seeks to challenge the results of the presidential race won by Joe Biden .
“ We had no idea , had no way of knowing at the time , that Waltz was not committed to democracy , ” the editorial board wrote in an op-ed published on Friday apologizing for its endorsement of Republican lawmaker .
The news comes after Waltz — to the Sentinel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 House Republicans who signed onto an amicus brief in a Texas lawsuit to invalidate millions of votes and the election results from four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden .
In a tweet Thursday , Waltz said : “ Before Trump or Biden concede , we must count every LEGAL vote & investigate irregularities & fraud.
” “ There is some real substance , ” Waltz told the Daytona Beach News-Journal in an interview on Wednesday , defending his support of the legal effort even though , as the Sentinel pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost at least 55 of its court cases so far as it continues to baselessly dispute the election .
“ I have thought a lot about this and this is a perilous time in our democracy but these are real , true , significant issues and I hope the Supreme Court takes them up , ” Waltz added .
The Sentinel editorial board wrote that it had not considered that asking candidates whether or not they would support “ an effort to throw out the votes of tens of millions of Americans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election and hand it to the person who lost , ” would be necessary to determine their suitability for the publication ’ s endorsement .
The Sentinel said , however , that an interest in preserving American democracy will not be taken for granted in its endorsement considerations going forward .
The board called Waltz “ dangerous ” and said that it should have heeded as a “ red flag ” that Waltz had once crashed a congressional hearing during Trump ’ s impeachment proceedings .
The publication said that move , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto an effort to swindle the election won by Biden , was “ a sign that Waltz ’ s loyalty isn ’ t to the Constitution but to a president whose flaws are deep , profound and dangerous.
” Waltz — a former Army Green Beret — is just one of more than a hundred Republican lawmakers who are participating in a crusade against American democracy that also included members of House GOP leadership , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) and Minority Whip Steve Scalise ( R-LA ) .

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board on Friday apologized for endorsing Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), who won reelection last month and has since supported a legal effort out of Texas that seeks to challenge the results of the presidential race won by Joe Biden.
“We had no idea, had no way of knowing at the time, that Waltz was not committed to democracy,” the editorial board wrote in an op-ed published on Friday apologizing for its endorsement of Republican lawmaker.
The news comes after Waltz — to the Sentinel’s “horror” — joined more than 100 House Republicans who signed onto an amicus brief in a Texas lawsuit to invalidate millions of votes and the election results from four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden. In a tweet Thursday, Waltz said: “Before Trump or Biden concede, we must count every LEGAL vote & investigate irregularities & fraud.”
“There is some real substance,” Waltz told the Daytona Beach News-Journal in an interview on Wednesday, defending his support of the legal effort even though, as the Sentinel pointed out, Trump’s campaign has lost at least 55 of its court cases so far as it continues to baselessly dispute the election.
“I have thought a lot about this and this is a perilous time in our democracy but these are real, true, significant issues and I hope the Supreme Court takes them up,” Waltz added.
The Sentinel editorial board wrote that it had not considered that asking candidates whether or not they would support “an effort to throw out the votes of tens of millions of Americans in four states in order to overturn a presidential election and hand it to the person who lost,” would be necessary to determine their suitability for the publication’s endorsement.
The Sentinel said, however, that an interest in preserving American democracy will not be taken for granted in its endorsement considerations going forward.
The board called Waltz “dangerous” and said that it should have heeded as a “red flag” that Waltz had once crashed a congressional hearing during Trump’s impeachment proceedings.
The publication said that move, coupled with his recent decision to sign onto an effort to swindle the election won by Biden, was “a sign that Waltz’s loyalty isn’t to the Constitution but to a president whose flaws are deep, profound and dangerous.”
Waltz — a former Army Green Beret — is just one of more than a hundred Republican lawmakers who are participating in a crusade against American democracy that also included members of House GOP leadership, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA).


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--‘New’ Nevada And ‘New’ California Ask Old Supreme Court To Overturn Election

The GOP ’ s desperate attempt to have the Supreme Court overturn the results of the presidential election has attracted powerful support from … states that have yet to come into being , according to a Thursday court filing .
The “ states ” of New California and New Nevada filed an amicus brief in support of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ’ s attempt to have the Supreme Court block states that voted for Joe Biden from casting their electoral votes for the president-elect .
The case has pitted Texas and 18 other red states against states that went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of getting the Supreme Court to invalidate Biden ’ s win .
Paxton ’ s claims have been described as being divorced from reality and legal precedent , but the addition of two “ states ” from a polity that has yet to come into being could challenge Paxton to take his claims a step further : if Texas can outweigh Pennsylvania , can New Nevada and New California outweigh their precursors ?
It also could offer Paxton a tantalizing opportunity for appeal should he lose the case .
A New Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the offing , or a New Texas that would replace that of old .
For now , New Nevada and New California are represented by Pahrump , Nevada attorney Robert E. Thomas , III .
From his erstwhile capital of Pahrump , Thomas has been nurturing the fledging state of New Nevada since the 2018 midterms .
According to Thomas ’ s website for the “ New Nevada ” State Movement , he began to assemble insurrectionists after being angry about GOP losses in the 2018 midterms .
The movement ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , If You Could Do It Over Again ?
, ” a reference to the state slogan as well as being a potential descriptor for the kinds of thoughts in which introspection among the plaintiffs could result .
Armed with that slogan and his website , Thomas has been fighting for nearly two years to divorce Nevada ’ s rural counties from Las Vegas , leaving the gambling mecca ( home to a Trump hotel and top GOP fundraiser Steve Wynn ) to wither on the vine as the state ’ s bucolic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Nevada .
Thomas channels the Founding Fathers , citing a number of “ grievances ” that have led him down the path not of secession , but apparently of replacement .
They include impingement on Second Amendment rights , rule by a “ rebellious ” state government , and “ irrational taxation.
” Now , in the Supreme Court brief , Thomas has added New California to his coalition of fake states .
He cited the conduct and outcome of the 2020 elections as another grievance spurring his revolution of state replacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirming a national , uniform rule of law reestablishing the supremacy of The Electors Clause of Article II , § 1 of the United States Constitution will resolve some of the complaints causing the establishment of these new States , ” the filing reads .
Thomas added that “ lawless actions of Governors Newsome California and Sisolak ( Nevada ) ( sic ) ” had contributed to their own formation .
According to the website and to Thomas ’ past public statements , his movements ’ particular beef seems to be based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater voting power than that of Las Vegas .
“ Clark County has a larger population than all the rural counties of Nevada combined , ” Thomas wrote .
“ Thus , what Clark County desires , Rural Nevada must accept , like it or not.
” In the Paxton lawsuit , he apparently saw an opportunity to allay the following harm : “ New California State and New Nevada State are suffering under many governmental usurpations , this usurpation by the Executive Branch being one of many.
” The Pahrump Valley Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly enraged by the 1964 Reynolds v. Sims Supreme Court decision , which held that districts in state legislatures should have roughly equal population .
“ This decision created what our Founding Fathers feared ; a tyranny of the majority ( ‘ mob rule ’ ) , ” Thomas told the paper .
“ Now , large population centers out-vote all the rest of rural Nevada with distressing regularity .
That injustice can be corrected by the formation of a New Nevada State.
” As of this writing , the borders of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are simply “ New California ” and “ New Nevada ” or are “ New California State ” and “ New Nevada State ” also remains unclear .
It ’ s unclear when Thomas began to speak for New California as well as New Nevada .

The GOP’s desperate attempt to have the Supreme Court overturn the results of the presidential election has attracted powerful support from … states that have yet to come into being, according to a Thursday court filing.
The “states” of New California and New Nevada filed an amicus brief in support of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to have the Supreme Court block states that voted for Joe Biden from casting their electoral votes for the president-elect.
The case has pitted Texas and 18 other red states against states that went for Joe Biden, with the ultimate goal of getting the Supreme Court to invalidate Biden’s win.
Paxton’s claims have been described as being divorced from reality and legal precedent, but the addition of two “states” from a polity that has yet to come into being could challenge Paxton to take his claims a step further: if Texas can outweigh Pennsylvania, can New Nevada and New California outweigh their precursors?
It also could offer Paxton a tantalizing opportunity for appeal should he lose the case. A New Supreme Court of the United States could be in the offing, or a New Texas that would replace that of old.
For now, New Nevada and New California are represented by Pahrump, Nevada attorney Robert E. Thomas, III.
From his erstwhile capital of Pahrump, Thomas has been nurturing the fledging state of New Nevada since the 2018 midterms.
According to Thomas’s website for the “New Nevada” State Movement, he began to assemble insurrectionists after being angry about GOP losses in the 2018 midterms.
The movement’s slogan is “What Would You Change, If You Could Do It Over Again?,” a reference to the state slogan as well as being a potential descriptor for the kinds of thoughts in which introspection among the plaintiffs could result.
Armed with that slogan and his website, Thomas has been fighting for nearly two years to divorce Nevada’s rural counties from Las Vegas, leaving the gambling mecca (home to a Trump hotel and top GOP fundraiser Steve Wynn) to wither on the vine as the state’s bucolic heartland presumably unites under the banner of New Nevada.
Thomas channels the Founding Fathers, citing a number of “grievances” that have led him down the path not of secession, but apparently of replacement.
They include impingement on Second Amendment rights, rule by a “rebellious” state government, and “irrational taxation.”
Now, in the Supreme Court brief, Thomas has added New California to his coalition of fake states. He cited the conduct and outcome of the 2020 elections as another grievance spurring his revolution of state replacement.
“An opinion by this Court affirming a national, uniform rule of law reestablishing the supremacy of The Electors Clause of Article II, § 1 of the United States Constitution will resolve some of the complaints causing the establishment of these new States,” the filing reads.
Thomas added that “lawless actions of Governors Newsome California and Sisolak (Nevada) (sic)” had contributed to their own formation.
According to the website and to Thomas’ past public statements, his movements’ particular beef seems to be based on the idea that rural Nevadans should have greater voting power than that of Las Vegas.
“Clark County has a larger population than all the rural counties of Nevada combined,” Thomas wrote. “Thus, what Clark County desires, Rural Nevada must accept, like it or not.”
In the Paxton lawsuit, he apparently saw an opportunity to allay the following harm: “New California State and New Nevada State are suffering under many governmental usurpations, this usurpation by the Executive Branch being one of many.”
The Pahrump Valley Times reported in January 2019 that Thomas was particularly enraged by the 1964 Reynolds v. Sims Supreme Court decision, which held that districts in state legislatures should have roughly equal population.
“This decision created what our Founding Fathers feared; a tyranny of the majority (‘mob rule’),” Thomas told the paper. “Now, large population centers out-vote all the rest of rural Nevada with distressing regularity. That injustice can be corrected by the formation of a New Nevada State.”
As of this writing, the borders of the newly declared states were unclear. Whether they are simply “New California” and “New Nevada” or are “New California State” and “New Nevada State” also remains unclear.
It’s unclear when Thomas began to speak for New California as well as New Nevada.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-11--Want Giuliani’s Velvet Rope COVID Treatment? Good Luck.

Hospitals around the country are carefully rationing the treatments for COVID-19 that have been given to President Trump and those in his inner circle , which remain in very short supply as case counts in the U.S. continue to climb .
Rudy Giuliani said this week that he received the monoclonal antibody treatment manufactured by Regeneron after President Trump ordered his doctor to help the former New York City mayor .
After leaving the hospital on Wednesday , Giuliani thanked the physician , Dr. Sean Conley , and credited it with helping him .
But Giuliani isn ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have gotten the rare treatment .
Ben Carson , secretary of housing and urban development , wrote on Facebook last month that , after having been “ desperately ill , ” Trump “ cleared ” him for the “ monoclonal antibody therapy , ” which he said “ saved my life.
” And Chris Christie , hospitalized with COVID-19 in October , refused to participate in a trial of a Regeneron treatment out of concern that he would get a placebo , and instead gained access to a drug based on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All received monoclonal antibody treatments manufactured either by Regeneron or Eli Lilly , a scarce and expensive-to-manufacture medicine that has been found to stave off serious disease in early-stage COVID-19 sufferers .
And while Trump and his inner circle have managed to get potentially life-saving doses , the treatment remains extremely hard for most patients to gain access to .
Hospitals are rationing the medicines , with some openly admitting that there ’ s just not enough for those who need the treatment to receive it .
In Utah and Massachusetts , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lottery to get the treatment .
In Seattle , it ’ s being given via experimental trials because of the scarcity .
The Department of Health and Human Services bought around 300,000 doses of the treatment from Regeneron , and is distributing it around the country .
But at current infection rates , that ’ s enough to treat little more than the number of new positive case that emerge in a single day in the U.S .
It remains unclear how Giuliani got access to the drug in the face of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C. is being allocated only 108 doses of Regeneron ’ s treatment per week .
Eric Topol , a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego , told TPM that hospitals in that city had just started using the treatment on Thursday .
“ The total number of doses that are allocated for California — 5,728 — that ’ s around how many people there are in that risk category getting sick every day here , ” he said .
TPM found that various hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the FDA recommends be used for people 65 and older , with a BMI of 35 and above .
The New York Times reported that some FDA officials are concerned about how people connected to Trump have managed to get access to the treatments .
In Boston , Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital sent an email to staff saying “ our ability to provide infusions of these therapies will be limited initially.
” According to the internal email , obtained by TPM , doctors will for now only use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have a BMI of 35 and up .
But even within that group , the email informed staff , access will have to be limited .
“ We will not be able to offer spots to all patients that meet these criteria , and will allocate spots by lottery with a certain number of spots in the lottery open only to patients who are socially vulnerable , ” the email reads .
Hospitals in Utah are doing the same .
Vanderbilt University Medical Center has the treatment but is rationing it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt .
And in Washington state , at least two hospitals are providing the treatment to patients only as a part of ongoing clinical trials due to scarcity .
“ It ’ s unavailable at the two hospitals I ’ m affiliated with unless you ’ re in a trial , ” said Liam Yore , a Seattle ER doctor and immediate past president of the Washington chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians .
In addition to scarcity , hospitals face another complicating factor in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FDA says that it takes over an hour to inject the monoclonal antibodies via an IV hookup .
“ The facilities are not well set up yet , ” Topol said , adding that areas which were hard-hit are finding difficulty making the space to feed the treatment to patients intravenously .
He added that he was baffled that those in Trump ’ s inner circle appear to have received the treatment .
“ They have been superspreaders , denounced the public health mitigation strategies , and they are the few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re bragging about how it saved their lives , ” Topol said .
“ In my view , its reprehensible — it ’ s bad enough that they got special treatment , but then they have to brag about it .
”

Hospitals around the country are carefully rationing the treatments for COVID-19 that have been given to President Trump and those in his inner circle, which remain in very short supply as case counts in the U.S. continue to climb.
Rudy Giuliani said this week that he received the monoclonal antibody treatment manufactured by Regeneron after President Trump ordered his doctor to help the former New York City mayor. After leaving the hospital on Wednesday, Giuliani thanked the physician, Dr. Sean Conley, and credited it with helping him.
But Giuliani isn’t the only one in Trump’s orbit to have gotten the rare treatment. Ben Carson, secretary of housing and urban development, wrote on Facebook last month that, after having been “desperately ill,” Trump “cleared” him for the “monoclonal antibody therapy,” which he said “saved my life.”
And Chris Christie, hospitalized with COVID-19 in October, refused to participate in a trial of a Regeneron treatment out of concern that he would get a placebo, and instead gained access to a drug based on a similar technology manufactured by Eli Lilly.
All received monoclonal antibody treatments manufactured either by Regeneron or Eli Lilly, a scarce and expensive-to-manufacture medicine that has been found to stave off serious disease in early-stage COVID-19 sufferers.
And while Trump and his inner circle have managed to get potentially life-saving doses, the treatment remains extremely hard for most patients to gain access to. Hospitals are rationing the medicines, with some openly admitting that there’s just not enough for those who need the treatment to receive it.
In Utah and Massachusetts, for example, patients need to win a lottery to get the treatment. In Seattle, it’s being given via experimental trials because of the scarcity.
The Department of Health and Human Services bought around 300,000 doses of the treatment from Regeneron, and is distributing it around the country. But at current infection rates, that’s enough to treat little more than the number of new positive case that emerge in a single day in the U.S.
It remains unclear how Giuliani got access to the drug in the face of that massive scarcity. According to HHS statistics, D.C. is being allocated only 108 doses of Regeneron’s treatment per week.
Eric Topol, a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, told TPM that hospitals in that city had just started using the treatment on Thursday.
“The total number of doses that are allocated for California — 5,728 — that’s around how many people there are in that risk category getting sick every day here,” he said.
TPM found that various hospitals around the country are rationing the medicine, which the FDA recommends be used for people 65 and older, with a BMI of 35 and above. The New York Times reported that some FDA officials are concerned about how people connected to Trump have managed to get access to the treatments.
In Boston, Brigham and Women’s Hospital sent an email to staff saying “our ability to provide infusions of these therapies will be limited initially.”
According to the internal email, obtained by TPM, doctors will for now only use the medicine on those 65 and older or who have a BMI of 35 and up. But even within that group, the email informed staff, access will have to be limited.
“We will not be able to offer spots to all patients that meet these criteria, and will allocate spots by lottery with a certain number of spots in the lottery open only to patients who are socially vulnerable,” the email reads.
Hospitals in Utah are doing the same. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has the treatment but is rationing it, according to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt. And in Washington state, at least two hospitals are providing the treatment to patients only as a part of ongoing clinical trials due to scarcity.
“It’s unavailable at the two hospitals I’m affiliated with unless you’re in a trial,” said Liam Yore, a Seattle ER doctor and immediate past president of the Washington chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
In addition to scarcity, hospitals face another complicating factor in the time it takes to administer the treatment.
The FDA says that it takes over an hour to inject the monoclonal antibodies via an IV hookup.
“The facilities are not well set up yet,” Topol said, adding that areas which were hard-hit are finding difficulty making the space to feed the treatment to patients intravenously.
He added that he was baffled that those in Trump’s inner circle appear to have received the treatment.
“They have been superspreaders, denounced the public health mitigation strategies, and they are the few people getting this treatment, and they’re bragging about how it saved their lives,” Topol said. “In my view, its reprehensible — it’s bad enough that they got special treatment, but then they have to brag about it.”