msnbc--2020-10-03--South Carolina mother and daughter die from Covid-19 weeks apart

The mother of a South Carolina elementary school teacher who died from Covid-19 last month shared the same fate as her daughter a few weeks later , a relative said .
Shirley Bannister , 57 , died from Covid-19 complications on Sept. 27 , several weeks after her daughter , Demetria `` Demi '' Bannister , 28 , died from the virus on Sept. 7 , Dennis Bell , Shirley 's brother , said Friday .
`` Shirley was everybody 's auntie , '' Dennis said .
`` She wanted to make sure her students succeeded , loved taking care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community . ''
Shirley , the second youngest of six siblings , was a `` mother figure '' even as a child , eventually taking care of their aging mother when she grew older , Dennis said .
`` She was a confidante , the kind of person you would go to with problems , and she would be like your own personal sounding board , a great listener . ''
The same compassion extended to her work when , at age 19 , she received a licensed practicing nurse degree from Midlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working as a nurse in the gerontology department for 30 years before becoming head of the nursing department at Midlands , which she did for seven years .
Demi inherited her mother 's generosity and commitment to helping others by pursuing a teaching career .
`` Demetria was almost a spitting image of Shirley — in her mannerisms and the way she carried herself , '' Dennis said .
Demi was a voracious learner who was unafraid to try new things , Dennis said .
`` She loved mentoring kids and making learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She wanted to transfer that energy and passion to younger people . ''
Demi , who started her education path five years ago , was a third grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School , where she was known as `` Windsor 's Songbird , '' said Denise Quickel , the school 's principal .
`` Ms. Bannister loved her students and never missed an opportunity to advocate for students and public education , '' Quickel said .
Demi was heavily involved in school productions , leading the school 's student choir and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Demi did not initially show symptoms , and all cleaning protocols were followed when she was last inside the school building on Aug. 28 , the school district said .
Dennis said it was unclear how she contracted the virus , because the school year started remotely , but she tested positive on Sept. 4 and was hospitalized before passing away three days later .
Shirley had diabetes and asthma before she reported Covid-19 symptoms , Dennis said .
She tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized a week before her death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were `` loving and driven women , '' Dennis said .
They were n't just educators , he said , but also avid scrapbookers , family planners and `` the light of any room . ''
Shirley and Demi are survived by Shirley 's husband and Demi 's father , Dennis Bannister .
He tested negative for the virus .
`` They were just both so committed to living life each day as its last , '' Dennis said .
`` They will be missed so much . ''

The mother of a South Carolina elementary school teacher who died from Covid-19 last month shared the same fate as her daughter a few weeks later, a relative said.
Shirley Bannister, 57, died from Covid-19 complications on Sept. 27, several weeks after her daughter, Demetria "Demi" Bannister, 28, died from the virus on Sept. 7, Dennis Bell, Shirley's brother, said Friday.
"Shirley was everybody's auntie," Dennis said. "She wanted to make sure her students succeeded, loved taking care of people and was involved with the community."
Shirley, the second youngest of six siblings, was a "mother figure" even as a child, eventually taking care of their aging mother when she grew older, Dennis said. "She was a confidante, the kind of person you would go to with problems, and she would be like your own personal sounding board, a great listener."
The same compassion extended to her work when, at age 19, she received a licensed practicing nurse degree from Midlands Technical College in Columbia. She continued working as a nurse in the gerontology department for 30 years before becoming head of the nursing department at Midlands, which she did for seven years.
Dennis, Demetria, and Shirley Bannister at Demetria's college graduation. Courtesy Shirley Bannister
Demi inherited her mother's generosity and commitment to helping others by pursuing a teaching career. "Demetria was almost a spitting image of Shirley — in her mannerisms and the way she carried herself," Dennis said.
Demi was a voracious learner who was unafraid to try new things, Dennis said. "She loved mentoring kids and making learning fun," he said. "She wanted to transfer that energy and passion to younger people."
Demi, who started her education path five years ago, was a third grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School, where she was known as "Windsor's Songbird," said Denise Quickel, the school's principal.
"Ms. Bannister loved her students and never missed an opportunity to advocate for students and public education," Quickel said. Demi was heavily involved in school productions, leading the school's student choir and even hosting a student club for aspiring singers.
Demi did not initially show symptoms, and all cleaning protocols were followed when she was last inside the school building on Aug. 28, the school district said.
Dennis said it was unclear how she contracted the virus, because the school year started remotely, but she tested positive on Sept. 4 and was hospitalized before passing away three days later.
Shirley had diabetes and asthma before she reported Covid-19 symptoms, Dennis said. She tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized a week before her death on Sept. 27.
A double funeral service was scheduled for Saturday.
The inseparable duo were "loving and driven women," Dennis said. They weren't just educators, he said, but also avid scrapbookers, family planners and "the light of any room."
Shirley and Demi are survived by Shirley's husband and Demi's father, Dennis Bannister. He tested negative for the virus.
"They were just both so committed to living life each day as its last," Dennis said. "They will be missed so much."


msnbc--2020-10-02--Trump's Covid test — and taxes — prove the danger of insisting you always know best

In one of the 2016 presidential debates , Hillary Clinton made what she thought was a devastating charge against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump : He did n't pay his federal income taxes !
Even before Clinton finished her sentence , Trump interrupted her : `` That makes me smart . ''
It was , in many ways , a telling retort , both in substance and in delivery .
And for the last three years , Trump has continued to remind Americans just how smart he is .
He 's so smart that he does n't have to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he does n't have to listen to his scientists or his advisers or members of his intelligence community .
He ’ s so smart that he doesn ’ t have to wear a mask amid a pandemic .
To judge by the latest New York Times stories about Trump 's tax history , to say nothing of the president ’ s positive Covid-19 test , he 's not as smart as he claims to be .
And to judge by his comments during his first presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid we know it .
The Times story does n't describe elegant tax planning of the sort that specialized attorneys and accountants produce for their clients at astounding hourly rates .
If you 're looking for charitable remainder unitrusts or generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions , fuhgeddaboudit .
Instead , we 're reading about blunt-force instruments .
They 're used by many people — it 's just that Trump has used them more .
Still , Trump 's debate retort to Clinton four years ago was shrewd .
Many Trump supporters likely do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are employees , their employers report to the U.S. government the amount of their incomes and their various deductions .
Unlike Trump , these supporters do n't have much control over their payments to the federal tax man .
But Trump 's smartass comment reassured them : You , too , he was saying , are smart .
They knew the inside story — that the system was rigged .
If they had the money to hire lawyers , Trump was telling them , they would n't have to pay federal income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's appeal , one he shares with other populist politicians : You may not be rich or powerful , but you 're in the know .
And I , rich and powerful , will champion you against the people who have used the rigged system to steal what should be your money .
So if Trump succeeded for years — as he did — in keeping his tax returns from the public without suffering political damage , we should n't be surprised .
His cynicism matches and affirms that of some of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran out .
On the financial side , The Times got hold of years of Trump 's federal tax return information — and released it in a way that inflicted maximum humiliation .
If the initial revelations do n't break new ground , the details are riveting .
Far more than a tale of tax cheating , it 's a chronicle of financial desperation .
The Times portrayed Trump 's tax practices as the consequences of his long-running financial failures .
Trump inherited a great deal of money , squandered his inheritance on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father .
He then squandered these funds on what turned out to be other losing businesses and was saved again — this time by a producer who saw the TV appeal of Trump 's gilded lifestyle and paid him handsomely to display it .
Trump then squandered this second infusion of rescue funds on still more losing businesses .
Instead of earning money , Trump 's businesses have generated losses so big that they served to reduce his taxes — not just in the years in which the losses occurred , but over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated problem of how to support himself by characterizing personal expenses as business expenses — and borrowing vast amounts of money .
But reduced taxes all by themselves do n't pay the rent , so Trump has also run up a whole lot of debt .
It 's unclear just who owns this debt , amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars , some of it soon coming due .
We 'll know soon enough .
In the short run , Trump 's arrangement might look quite clever .
In the longer run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the borrowed money comes due and he does n't look so smart .
In the debate Tuesday , the issue of Trump 's taxes came up — but mainly as part of the charge that it 's unfair for a wealthy guy like Trump to pay so much less federal income tax than ordinary workers .
That 's an issue , sure — but it 's not the one that most exercises Trump .
For a clue to what really bothers him , we should look to the moment when Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , said `` a lot more people are going to die '' unless Trump `` gets a lot smarter a lot quicker . ''
`` Do n't ever use the word 'smart ' with me , '' Trump shot back vehemently , accusing Biden of having graduated from college with a very low class rank .
`` Do n't ever use that word , because you know what ?
There 's nothing smart about you , Joe . ''
Less than a week later , Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive chain reaction given the Trump entourage 's propensity to travel without masks .
So Trump cares deeply about whether we see him as smart .
But looking at the mess he 's created for himself , those of us watching this disaster unfold suddenly seem a lot smarter .

In one of the 2016 presidential debates, Hillary Clinton made what she thought was a devastating charge against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump: He didn't pay his federal income taxes! Even before Clinton finished her sentence, Trump interrupted her: "That makes me smart." It was, in many ways, a telling retort, both in substance and in delivery.
And for the last three years, Trump has continued to remind Americans just how smart he is. He's so smart that he doesn't have to pay taxes. He's so smart that he doesn't have to listen to his scientists or his advisers or members of his intelligence community.
He’s so smart that he doesn’t have to wear a mask amid a pandemic.
He's so smart that he doesn't have to pay taxes. He's so smart that he doesn't have to listen to his scientists.
To judge by the latest New York Times stories about Trump's tax history, to say nothing of the president’s positive Covid-19 test, he's not as smart as he claims to be. And to judge by his comments during his first presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, Trump is afraid we know it.
The Times story doesn't describe elegant tax planning of the sort that specialized attorneys and accountants produce for their clients at astounding hourly rates. If you're looking for charitable remainder unitrusts or generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions, fuhgeddaboudit. Instead, we're reading about blunt-force instruments. They're used by many people — it's just that Trump has used them more.
Still, Trump's debate retort to Clinton four years ago was shrewd. Many Trump supporters likely don't earn a lot of money. If they are employees, their employers report to the U.S. government the amount of their incomes and their various deductions. Unlike Trump, these supporters don't have much control over their payments to the federal tax man.
But Trump's smartass comment reassured them: You, too, he was saying, are smart. They knew the inside story — that the system was rigged. If they had the money to hire lawyers, Trump was telling them, they wouldn't have to pay federal income taxes, either.
That's Trump's appeal, one he shares with other populist politicians: You may not be rich or powerful, but you're in the know. And I, rich and powerful, will champion you against the people who have used the rigged system to steal what should be your money.
So if Trump succeeded for years — as he did — in keeping his tax returns from the public without suffering political damage, we shouldn't be surprised. His cynicism matches and affirms that of some of his strongest supporters.
But the string eventually ran out. On the financial side, The Times got hold of years of Trump's federal tax return information — and released it in a way that inflicted maximum humiliation. If the initial revelations don't break new ground, the details are riveting. Far more than a tale of tax cheating, it's a chronicle of financial desperation.
The Times portrayed Trump's tax practices as the consequences of his long-running financial failures. Trump inherited a great deal of money, squandered his inheritance on losing businesses and was rescued by his father. He then squandered these funds on what turned out to be other losing businesses and was saved again — this time by a producer who saw the TV appeal of Trump's gilded lifestyle and paid him handsomely to display it. Trump then squandered this second infusion of rescue funds on still more losing businesses.
Instead of earning money, Trump's businesses have generated losses so big that they served to reduce his taxes — not just in the years in which the losses occurred, but over many adjacent years.
Trump solved the associated problem of how to support himself by characterizing personal expenses as business expenses — and borrowing vast amounts of money. But reduced taxes all by themselves don't pay the rent, so Trump has also run up a whole lot of debt. It's unclear just who owns this debt, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, some of it soon coming due. We'll know soon enough.
In the short run, Trump's arrangement might look quite clever. In the longer run, however, the loss carryovers expire, the borrowed money comes due and he doesn't look so smart.
In the debate Tuesday, the issue of Trump's taxes came up — but mainly as part of the charge that it's unfair for a wealthy guy like Trump to pay so much less federal income tax than ordinary workers. That's an issue, sure — but it's not the one that most exercises Trump.
For a clue to what really bothers him, we should look to the moment when Biden, criticizing Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, said "a lot more people are going to die" unless Trump "gets a lot smarter a lot quicker."
"Don't ever use the word 'smart' with me," Trump shot back vehemently, accusing Biden of having graduated from college with a very low class rank. "Don't ever use that word, because you know what? There's nothing smart about you, Joe." Less than a week later, Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19, potentially setting off a massive chain reaction given the Trump entourage's propensity to travel without masks.
So Trump cares deeply about whether we see him as smart. But looking at the mess he's created for himself, those of us watching this disaster unfold suddenly seem a lot smarter.


msnbc--2020-10-03--Trump’s doctor says he not on oxygen supplementation ‘right now’

Memo to Trump : 'You believe that racism is inherently American '

Trump’s doctor says he not on oxygen supplementation ‘right now’
Donald Trump’s doctor, Dr. Sean Conley, addresses the potential for oxygen supplementation in the course of the president’s Covid-19 treatment. Dr. Conley told reporters at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, ‘He’s not on oxygen right now.’Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--Confusion surrounds Trump's health after physicians leave Covid timeline unclear

Trump claims it would be 'sort of foolish' for him to attend first GOP primary debate 03:33


msnbc--2020-10-03--Medical experts analyze Trump’s Covid-19 doctors’ press conference

Donald Trump’s Covid-19 doctors’ press conference is analyzed by medical experts, after the first communication from the president’s Covid-19 doctors since he was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center following his coronavirus infection diagnosis.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--Chris Christie, NFL star Cam Newton test positive for Covid-19

Former Gov. Chris Christie and NFL star Cam Newton have both tested positive for Covid-19, breaking news that arrived as President Donald Trump’s doctors prepared to give a press conference on the president’s status, after he was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center following his coronavirus infection diagnosis.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--Historian advises VP Pence to plan temporary power transfer

Donald Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis could invoke the 25th amendment to the Constitution, which ensures a smooth transfer of power to the vice president, even if only temporary, in case the president is incapacitated. Vice President Mike Pence receives advice on why some experts believe drafting a plan to transfer power in case of an emergency is critical to fulfilling his duties to the American people, which presidential historian Michael Beschloss asserts to María Teresa Kumar.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--China's President Xi Jinping wishes Trump speedy recovery

More than a day after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were diagnosed with the coronavirus, China's President Xi Jinping sent a message to President Trump with well wishes, joining a growing list of leaders, including Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--MI AG: Voter suppression law violators will end up ‘behind bars’

Voter suppression fears are discussed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. ‘If individuals want to... mislead voters into thinking there'll be negative consequences for [voting] they're going to find themselves behind bars,’ Nessel tells María Teresa Kumar.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Rep. Joaquin Castro on Trump as a national security threat

Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro speaks with MSNBC's "American Voices" host Alicia Menendez about the women who continue to report appalling conditions at some ICE detention centers. Alicia also asks the Congressman about the national security threat posed by the President after former national security advisor H.R. McMaster told the New York Times that he believes the President is “aiding and abetting Putin’s efforts” to disrupt the presidential election.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--Rep. Ayanna Pressley: ‘No confirmation until inauguration’

In the wake of several Republican lawmakers testing positive for COVID-19, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Senate will not resume until after October 19th; leaving negotiations over another Coronavirus relief package hanging in the balance. However, Sen. McConnell says Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation will proceed as scheduled starting on October 12th. Host of MSNBC’s “American Voices” Alicia Menendez speaks with Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to discuss what’s blocking a bipartisan agreement on federal COVID-19 aid.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-03--American Woman: COVID-19 takes major toll on working women, mothers

Friday’s jobs report shows 8675,000 women have left the workforce in September, highlighting the toll the pandemic has had on women professionally and personally as working mother’s balance their high pressure jobs with taking care of their loved ones. MSNBC’s "American Voices" host Alicia Menendez breaks down what this means for how far women have come, how it has affected women of color and what more can and should be done to help all working women.Oct. 3, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--'It makes me sick': Doctor criticizes Trump's 'joy ride' for putting others at risk

Connie Schultz : ‘ For women , this election is going to come down to coronavirus ’

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-10-04--Trump tweets video from hospital, says Covid-19 has been a ‘very interesting journey’

President Donald Trump tweeted a video from Walter Reed Hospital before he took a motorcade ride outside to wave to supporters. In the Twitter video, Trump said getting coronavirus has been an “interesting journey” and goes on to say he has learned a lot from contracting the virus.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Trump returns to Walter Reed Hospital suite after waving to crowds from motorcade


msnbc--2020-10-04--AG Barr ‘reckless’ for declining to quarantine after potential coronavirus exposure

'To the right of this government, is only a wall' Impact of new judicial law in Israel 05:32


msnbc--2020-10-04--Yasmin Vossoughian: “Everyone’s life means something, President or not”


msnbc--2020-10-04--Dr. Emanuel questions Dr. Conley's account of Trump's treatment

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.


msnbc--2020-10-04--Ohio voters discuss Trump’s response to the COVID pandemic: ‘An absolute disaster’

Voters in Fremont, Ohio react to the president’s COVID diagnosis and discuss his handling of the pandemic with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi during the fourth stop of the “Velshi Across America 2020” tour, covering eight swing states before the election.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Pence will have to defend Trump’s record at VP debate experts say

Pence will have to defend Trump’s record at VP debate experts say
The 2020 vice presidential candidates’ debate, between Democratic candidate Sen. Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Vice President Mike Pence, will see Pence having to defend the record of the Trump administration, some experts say.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Sen. Kaine: Judiciary SCOTUS hearings must be live, not remote

Donald Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis comes as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have also caught coronavirus infections. Sen. Tim Kaine discusses the president’s treatment, Obamacare being under possible threat, and his belief that holding Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in person when it is safe is the only option.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Biotech executive: Speed of vaccine development is due to ‘excellent science,’ not political pressur

Biotech executive: Speed of vaccine development is due to ‘excellent science,’ not political pressure

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it 08:18


msnbc--2020-10-04--Jaime Harrison on debate: People of South Carolina won the night

Jaime Harrison on debate: People of South Carolina won the night
The South Carolina U.S. Senate race debate is discussed by Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison, who debated with the Republican incumbent Sen. Lindsay Graham on Saturday night.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-04--Dr. Conley: Trump received supplemental oxygen Friday morning

Donald Trump has received supplemental oxygen as part of his Covid-19 treatment, Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, told reporters late Sunday morning outside the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where the president is being treated for Covid-19. Dr. Conley also answered reporter questions.Oct. 4, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--'Everyman' actor Thomas Byrd is shot to death in Atlanta

Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd , who appeared in several Spike Lee films , was found shot to death in Atlanta over the weekend , authorities said .
He was 70 .
Byrd , who was shot several times in the back , was found at 1:45 a.m. Saturday at an address southwest of downtown , the Atlanta Police Department said in a statement .
A 911 caller had reported that someone had been injured there , the statement said .
Byrd was pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
Additional details about the shooting weren ’ t immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death , the statement said .
Byrd 's work with Lee spanned decades , beginning in 1995 with `` Clockers . ''
He later appeared in `` Girl 6 , '' `` He Got Game , '' `` Bamboozled '' and other noted films .
Byrd appeared in a recent Netflix adaptation of the 1986 movie “ She ’ s Got ta Have it . ''
“ I ’ m so sad to announce the tragic murder of our beloved brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd last night in Atlanta , Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Tom is my guy.
” Actor Wendell Pierce compared Byrd ’ s relationship with Lee to actor Joseph Cotten and director Orson Welles , who cast Cotten in “ Citizen Kane ” and other films in the early 1940s .
Byrd was the “ ‘ everyman ’ ” character actor , ” Pierce said .
Byrd also appeared in the Ray Charles biopic , “ Ray , ” the political satire “ Bulworth ” and the F. Gary Gray movie “ Set It Off .
”

Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, who appeared in several Spike Lee films, was found shot to death in Atlanta over the weekend, authorities said. He was 70.
Byrd, who was shot several times in the back, was found at 1:45 a.m. Saturday at an address southwest of downtown, Atlanta police said in a statement. A 911 caller had reported that someone had been injured there, the statement said.
Byrd was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Additional details weren't immediately available. Homicide detectives were investigating, the statement said.
Byrd's work with Lee spanned decades, beginning in 1995 with "Clockers." He later appeared in "Girl 6," "He Got Game," "Bamboozled" and other noted films. Byrd appeared in a recent Netflix adaptation of Lee's 1986 movie, "She's Gotta Have it."
"I'm so sad to announce the tragic murder of our beloved brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd last night in Atlanta, Georgia," Lee wrote Sunday on Instagram. "Tom is my guy."
Byrd's former agent, Craig Wyckoff, called him a brilliant actor whose on-screen roles were at odds with his personality.
"He usually played pimps, murderers, bad guys, but in real life he was a gentle soul," Wyckoff said.
Actor Wendell Pierce compared Byrd's relationship with Lee to actor Joseph Cotten's with director Orson Welles, who cast Cotten in "Citizen Kane" and other films in the early 1940s.
Byrd was the "'everyman' character actor," Pierce said.
Byrd also appeared in the 2004 Ray Charles biopic, "Ray," the political satire "Bulworth" and the F. Gary Gray movie "Set It Off."


msnbc--2020-10-05--Trump criticized by medical experts after leaving hospital to drive by supporters

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday briefly left his hospital room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he is being treated for Covid-19 , to drive past a group of supporters , a move that was swiftly criticized by medical experts and Democrats as `` insanity . ''
The president posted a video to his Twitter account around 5:15 p.m. announcing that he would `` pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street . ''
A few minutes later , the presidential motorcade slowly drove by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd had been gathering since Friday night .
Trump was seen through the window of an SUV waving and wearing what appeared to be a cloth mask , as opposed to a more protective N95 mask .
The president does not travel anywhere without Secret Service protection , and Sunday 's drive was no exception .
At least two other people can be seen in the car with Trump .
First lady Melania Trump , who also has Covid-19 , would not leave isolation in the White House residence to visit her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said Saturday .
`` She has Covid , '' the official said .
`` That would expose the agents who would drive her there and the medical staff who would walk her up to him . ''
The unannounced trip sparked backlash from several prominent Democratic lawmakers and some doctors not involved in his care , who accused Trump of unnecessarily putting Secret Service agents at risk .
Dr. James Phillips , an attending physician at Walter Reed , tweeted that the `` Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof , but hermetically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that therefore the risk of Covid-19 transmission was `` as high as it gets outside of medical procedures . ''
`` Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by ' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days .
They might get sick .
They may die .
For political theater .
Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater .
This is insanity , '' he added .
Dr. Esther Choo , an emergency room physician and professor at Oregon Health and Science University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me sick to see him in close quarters with others in that car . ''
Dr. Céline Gounder , an infectious disease expert and professor at New York University , accused Trump of `` putting the health of others at risk . ''
`` To bask in the adulation of a handful of his supporters , trump just endangered the lives of Secret Service agents and others in his entourage , '' he added .
Rep. Eric Swalwell , D-Calif. , tweeted : `` It is criminal negligence for @ realDonaldTrump to recklessly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the move in an interview with Fox News , saying Trump `` wanted to thank his supporters '' and `` give confidence to the American people that their Commander in Chief can get through this . ''
She did not respond to questions about safety concerns .
Jason Miller , a top adviser to the Trump campaign , insisted in an interview with CNN that Trump drove by in `` a safe way , '' but he was unable to answer questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secret Service agents safe .
`` But we also know Secret Service takes great care of their agents , extra precaution .
I 'm not part of White House operations or the White House medical unit .
So the exact logistics I ca n't speak to , but I know the Secret Service takes this very seriously , '' Miller said .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said that protocols were followed to protect the safety of others and that Trump 's doctors cleared the decision .
`` Appropriate precautions were taken in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President and all those supporting it , including PPE , '' Deere said , referring to personal protective equipment .
`` The movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do . ''
When asked about the surprise motorcade , a Secret Service spokesperson said , `` We do n't comment on protective operations . ''
Trump 's motorcade drive Sunday was the latest in a series of efforts by the president and his allies to provide the American public with a rosy picture of his coronavirus diagnosis , often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating confusion about the state of his health .
Trump has posted videos and pictures of himself working in the presidential suite at Walter Reed .
Asked at a news conference earlier Sunday why Trump is not wearing a mask in any of these images when someone else presumably was in the room capturing the moment , Dr. Sean Conley , a White House physician , said the president wore a mask when around the doctors .
`` The president wears a mask any time he 's around us , and we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE , '' Conley said , adding that when the time comes to move Trump out of the hospital and into the public , `` we 'll talk about him wearing a mask . ''

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday briefly left his hospital room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he is being treated for Covid-19, to drive past a group of supporters, a move medical experts and Democrats swiftly criticized as "insanity."
The president posted a video to his Twitter account around 5:15 p.m. announcing that he would "pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street." A few minutes later, the presidential motorcade slowly drove by the perimeter of the hospital, where a crowd had been gathering since Friday night. Trump was seen through the window of an SUV waving and wearing what appeared to be a cloth mask, as opposed to a more protective N95 mask.
The president does not travel anywhere without Secret Service protection, and Sunday's drive was no exception. At least two other people can be seen in the car with Trump.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news about the president's health
First lady Melania Trump, who also has Covid-19, would not leave isolation in the White House residence to visit her husband at the hospital, a White House official said Saturday.
"She has Covid," the official said. "That would expose the agents who would drive her there and the medical staff who would walk her up to him."
The unannounced trip sparked backlash from several prominent Democratic lawmakers and some doctors not involved in his care, who accused Trump of unnecessarily putting Secret Service agents at risk.
Dr. James Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed, tweeted that the "Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack," and that therefore the risk of Covid-19 transmission was "as high as it gets outside of medical procedures."
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity," he added.
Dr. Esther Choo, an emergency room physician and professor at Oregon Health and Science University, told MSNBC: "It makes me sick to see him in close quarters with others in that car."
Dr. Céline Gounder, an infectious disease expert and professor at New York University, accused Trump of "putting the health of others at risk."
Why does the US have more #COVID19 cases and deaths than any other country in the world?
Because the people who signed off on this are the exact same people leading our pandemic response. https://t.co/PY4VsygnpP — Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) October 4, 2020
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., called the event "a goddamn disgrace" on Twitter.
"To bask in the adulation of a handful of his supporters, trump just endangered the lives of Secret Service agents and others in his entourage," he added.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., tweeted: "It is criminal negligence for @realDonaldTrump to recklessly expose others. Pray for the Secret Service."
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the move in an interview with Fox News, saying Trump "wanted to thank his supporters" and "give confidence to the American people that their Commander in Chief can get through this." She did not respond to questions about safety concerns.
Jason Miller, a top adviser to the Trump campaign, insisted in an interview with CNN that Trump drove by in "a safe way," but he was unable to answer questions about what precautions were taken to keep the Secret Service agents safe.
"But we also know Secret Service takes great care of their agents, extra precaution. I'm not part of White House operations or the White House medical unit. So the exact logistics I can't speak to, but I know the Secret Service takes this very seriously," Miller said.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said that protocols were followed to protect the safety of others and that Trump's doctors cleared the decision.
"Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the President and all those supporting it, including PPE," Deere said, referring to personal protective equipment. "The movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do."
When asked about the surprise motorcade, a Secret Service spokesperson said, "We don't comment on protective operations."
Trump's motorcade drive Sunday was the latest in a series of efforts by the president and his allies to provide the American public with a rosy picture of his coronavirus diagnosis, often obfuscating the facts about his illness and creating confusion about the state of his health.
Trump has posted videos and pictures of himself working in the presidential suite at Walter Reed. Asked at a news conference earlier Sunday why Trump is not wearing a mask in any of those images when someone else presumably was in the room capturing the moment, Dr. Sean Conley, a White House physician, said the president wore a mask when around the doctors.
"The president wears a mask any time he's around us, and we're all wearing our N95s, full PPE," Conley said, adding that when the time comes to move Trump out of the hospital and into the public, "we'll talk about him wearing a mask."


msnbc--2020-10-04--California exceeds 4 million acres burned by wildfires in 2020

ALAMEDA , Calif. — California marked a grim milestone Sunday as the number of acres burned during a record-setting wildfire year surpassed 4 million , officials said .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , or Cal Fire , didn ’ t provide an exact amount of land that had been scorched in 2020 but said in a daily statewide summary that more than 8,200 fires have burned “ well over ” 4 million acres .
Annual statistics from the department dating back to 1987 show that 2020 has more than doubled the previous record .
As many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as Israel , have responded to scores of major fires across the state this year .
Thirty-one people have died .
The largest , most destructive blazes have occurred since mid-August , when thousands of lightning strikes in Northern California sparked dozens of fires across the region , including the largest wildfire in state history , the nearly-1 million acre August Complex fire that is burning across six counties .
Cal Fire said Sunday that the blaze has killed one person and destroyed 159 structures .
It is 51 percent contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area , thousands of firefighters continued battling a blaze that roared through wine country last Sunday amid high temperatures and powerful winds .
More than 36,000 people remained under mandatory evacuation orders in Sonoma and Napa counties on Sunday , said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox .
As 12 teams continued surveying damage from the Glass Fire , the number of homes and businesses destroyed in the blaze rose to 564 , Cox said .
The teams have surveyed roughly 50 percent of the area , he said .
Brian Newman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that a combination of rugged terrain , parched vegetation and strong winds on Saturday intensified the northern and southern sections of the fire , which grew to nearly 64,000 acres .
Napa County issued new mandatory evacuations on Sunday for an area near Mount Saint Helena , a 4,300-foot peak in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park .
Images from the mountain showed a massive column of smoke rising from below .
Forecasters said a high pressure ridge that has baked the region for days is expected to weaken later this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain .
Officials and experts have attributed the state 's increasingly intense wildfire seasons to climate change and a build-up of dead and dried-out vegetation across California 's 33 million acres of forestland .
Speaking to reporters last week , Cal Fire director Thom Porter compared 2020 to 1910 , the year that one of the largest wildfires ever recorded tore through parts of Washington state , Montana , Idaho and British Columbia .
Porter said he expects the process of adequately preparing for increasingly intense wildfire seasons to take several decades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighters , '' he said .
`` It ’ s not just more aircraft .
It ’ s not just fuel reduction project work .
It ’ s not just defensible space or home hardening .
It ’ s absolutely every one of those things .
We need very piece of the system to be raised to meet the challenge that the changing climate is giving us . ''

ALAMEDA, Calif. — California marked a grim milestone Sunday as the number of acres burned during a record wildfire year surpassed 4 million, officials said.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, didn't provide an exact amount of land that had been scorched this year, but it said in a daily statewide summary that more than 8,200 fires have burned "well over" 4 million acres.
Annual statistics from the department dating to 1987 show that 2020 has more than doubled the previous record.
As many as 20,000 firefighters, some coming from as far away as Israel, have responded to scores of major fires across the state this year. Thirty-one people have died.
The largest, most destructive blazes have occurred since mid-August, when thousands of lightning strikes sparked dozens of fires in Northern California, including the largest wildfire in state history, the nearly 1 million-acre August Complex fire, which is burning across six counties.
Cal Fire said Sunday that the fire has killed one person and destroyed 159 structures. It was 51 percent contained.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and alerts
North of the San Francisco Bay Area, thousands of firefighters continued battling a blaze that roared through wine country Sept. 27 in high temperatures and powerful winds. More than 36,000 people remained under mandatory evacuation orders in Sonoma and Napa counties Sunday, Cal Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox said.
As 12 teams continued surveying damage from the Glass Fire, the number of homes and businesses that have been destroyed rose to 564, Cox said. The teams have surveyed about 50 percent of the area, he said.
Brian Newman, a fire behavior analyst with Cal Fire, said a combination of rugged terrain, parched vegetation and strong winds Saturday intensified the northern and southern sections of the fire, which grew to nearly 64,000 acres.
Napa County issued new mandatory evacuation orders Sunday for an area near Mount Saint Helena, a 4,300-foot peak in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. Images from the mountain showed a massive column of smoke rising from below.
Forecasters said a high pressure ridge that has baked the region for days is expected to weaken later this week, bringing the possibility of much-needed rain.
Officials and experts have attributed the state's increasingly intense wildfire seasons to climate change and a buildup of dead and dried-out vegetation across California's 33 million acres of forestland.
Speaking to reporters last week, Cal Fire Director Thom Porter compared 2020 to 1910, when one of the largest wildfires ever recorded tore through parts of Washington state, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia.
Porter said he expects it to take several decades to adequately prepare for increasingly intense wildfire seasons.
"It's not just more firefighters," he said. "It's not just more aircraft. It's not just fuel reduction project work. It's not just defensible space or home hardening. It's absolutely every one of those things. We need very piece of the system to be raised to meet the challenge that the changing climate is giving us."


msnbc--2020-10-04--Nine ZIP codes in New York City may shut down after Covid-19 spikes, mayor says

Nine ZIP codes in the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs of New York City will most likely shut down Wednesday , if the state approves , because of a recent spike in the number of coronavirus cases , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday .
The shutdown would mean that nonessential businesses in those ZIP codes , as well as public and private schools , would close because coronavirus cases are being reported above a 3 percent positivity rate over the last seven days , NBC New York reported .
De Blasio said he was calling on the state for assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city tries to bring down the positivity rate .
`` I 'm very aware of challenges it will cause , '' de Blasio said at a news conference Sunday .
`` I 'm very aware for the people in the nine ZIP codes , there 's a tough period ahead , but I know we will overcome . ''
The ZIP codes affected by the proposed shutdown , NBC News reported , would be : The closings would affect about half a million people .
The ZIP codes are also home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools would be allow to return to class Monday and Tuesday to plan for virtual learning , NBC New York reported .
Eleven more ZIP codes were being monitored but have not met the threshold for the 3 percent positivity rate , de Blasio said .
The city has proposed closing indoor dining , gyms and pools in the additional ZIP codes , but it does not plan to close nonessential businesses and schools at this time , NBC New York reported .
The 11 areas included parts of East Williamsburg , Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of tweets , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said that `` local governments had not done an effective job of enforcement in these hotspot ZIP codes '' but that , historically , compliance had increased when the state stepped in .
`` NYS will be doing aggressive enforcement starting tomorrow , '' Cuomo tweeted Sunday .
`` As we saw with bars and restaurants , when the state initiated enforcement actions compliance greatly increased . ''
Cuomo added that the state can not take over enforcing compliance in every jurisdiction .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not perform effective enforcement of violating entities , notify the State & we will close all business activity in hotspots where local gov't ca n't do compliance , '' Cuomo wrote .
`` I 'm concerned about the lack of testing in the schools .
If the localities do not do testing immediately in the schools in those areas , the State will close them immediately , '' he added .
`` We all want schools to reopen IF they can reopen safely .
I have assured the parents of this state that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a school that I did n't know was safe .
Without testing we ca n't assure parents and teachers of the safety of that school . ''
De Blasio said Sunday that he was awaiting approval from the state and that the move was a precaution to prevent further spread of the virus .
Cuomo said he was putting together a task force to implement `` targeted enforcement '' where there have been clusters of outbreaks .
Cuomo said the collection of 20 ZIP codes had a positivity rate of 4.8 percent Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a slight decrease from Friday , when the rate was 5.2 percent .
He said weekend data could be slightly skewed .
On Saturday , 110,000 coronavirus tests were performed , and on Friday a record 134,000 tests were performed , NBC New York reported .

Nine ZIP codes in the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs of New York City will most likely shut down Wednesday, if the state approves, because of a recent spike in the number of coronavirus cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
The shutdown would mean that nonessential businesses in those ZIP codes, as well as public and private schools, would close because coronavirus cases are being reported above a 3 percent positivity rate over the last seven days, NBC New York reported.
Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
De Blasio said he was calling on the state for assistance in closing the specific ZIP codes as the city tries to bring down the positivity rate.
"I'm very aware of challenges it will cause," de Blasio said at a news conference Sunday. "I'm very aware for the people in the nine ZIP codes, there's a tough period ahead, but I know we will overcome."
The shutdown neighborhoods are collectively a huge area.
Approx 500k population, 100 public schools, 200 non-public schools. — Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) October 4, 2020
The ZIP codes affected by the proposed shutdown, NBC News reported, would be:
11691 (Edgemere/Far Rockaway)
11219 (Borough Park)
11223 (Gravesend)
11230 (Midwood)
11204 (Bensonhurt/Mapleton)
11210 (Flatlands/Midwood)
11229 (Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay)
11415 (Kew Gardens)
11367 (Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok)
The closings would affect about half a million people.
The ZIP codes are also home to about 300 schools. Students in those schools would be allow to return to class Monday and Tuesday to plan for virtual learning, NBC New York reported.
Eleven more ZIP codes were being monitored but have not met the threshold for the 3 percent positivity rate, de Blasio said. The city has proposed closing indoor dining, gyms and pools in the additional ZIP codes, but it does not plan to close nonessential businesses and schools at this time, NBC New York reported.
The 11 areas included parts of East Williamsburg, Southern Brooklyn and Central Queens.
In a series of tweets, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that "local governments had not done an effective job of enforcement in these hotspot ZIP codes" but that, historically, compliance had increased when the state stepped in.
However the State can't take over effective enforcement for every jurisdiction. If a local jurisdiction cannot or will not perform effective enforcement of violating entities, notify the State & we will close all business activity in hotspots where local gov't can't do compliance — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 4, 2020
We all want schools to reopen IF they can reopen safely. I have assured the parents of this state that I would not send my child to a school that I didn’t know was safe. Without testing we can’t assure parents and teachers of the safety of that school. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 4, 2020
"NYS will be doing aggressive enforcement starting tomorrow," Cuomo tweeted Sunday. "As we saw with bars and restaurants, when the state initiated enforcement actions compliance greatly increased."
Cuomo added that the state cannot take over enforcing compliance in every jurisdiction.
"If a local jurisdiction cannot or will not perform effective enforcement of violating entities, notify the State & we will close all business activity in hotspots where local gov't can't do compliance," Cuomo wrote.
Detail on 9 neighborhoods with positivity above 3%, where all schools and non-essential businesses will be closed: pic.twitter.com/f9Dn89zPLg — Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) October 4, 2020
In another 10 neighborhoods, where rates are not as high but are rising at a worrisome pace, the following shutdown measures will be in place as of weds:
==> closure of indoor dining, pools, and gyms. pic.twitter.com/1mTlAp2c6o — Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) October 4, 2020
"I'm concerned about the lack of testing in the schools. If the localities do not do testing immediately in the schools in those areas, the State will close them immediately," he added. "We all want schools to reopen IF they can reopen safely. I have assured the parents of this state that I would not send my child to a school that I didn't know was safe. Without testing we can't assure parents and teachers of the safety of that school."
De Blasio said Sunday that he was awaiting approval from the state and that the move was a precaution to prevent further spread of the virus.
Cuomo said he was putting together a task force to implement "targeted enforcement" where there have been clusters of outbreaks.
Cuomo said the collection of 20 ZIP codes had a positivity rate of 4.8 percent Saturday, NBC New York reported, which was a slight decrease from Friday, when the rate was 5.2 percent. He said weekend data could be slightly skewed. On Saturday, 110,000 coronavirus tests were performed, and on Friday a record 134,000 tests were performed, NBC New York reported.


msnbc--2020-10-05--Questions and confusion remain over Trump's health

Bob Woodward : Trump does n't want to listen to anyone on virus


msnbc--2020-10-05--Masks remain optional at the White House


msnbc--2020-10-05--The future of the GOP after the rise of President Trump

The future of the GOP after the rise of President Trump
Former RNC chairman Michael Steele wonders if there is still a place for Republicans who have not capitulated to President Trump.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Rising concerns about health and safety of lawmakers in close contact with others who contracted COV

Rising concerns about health and safety of lawmakers in close contact with others who contracted COVID-19
Sen. Gary Peters says “clearly some of the protocols must not have been followed” by lawmakers who recently contracted the virus.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Former Obama White House health policy director warns about possible side effects of Trump’s medicat

Former Obama White House health policy director warns about possible side effects of Trump’s medications
Dr. Kavita Patel says she has a whole host of questions about the president’s stage of recovery as he fights the coronavirus.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Democratic lawmaker asks “where has the introspection been with this president?” upon receiving COVI

Democratic lawmaker asks “where has the introspection been with this president?” upon receiving COVID-19 diagnosis
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks critically of President Trump’s drive-by, which he says potentially exposed Trump’s Secret Service agents and others to the coronavirus.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-02--Meacham: Spotty history of presidents sharing 'accurate' medical info

Historian Jon Meacham says there is a 'checkered history' of U.S. presidents 'even in the best of times' sharing accurate medical information with the public.Oct. 2, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-02--Financial markets rattled by news of Trump testing positive


msnbc--2020-10-05--Joy on Trump removing mask: 'This is the most irresponsible thing'

New book looks at the life of Jimmy Carter

Public financial disclosure should not be new to Thomas: Fmr. ethics officer on new report on gifts 07:43


msnbc--2020-10-05--Olivia Troye thinks Trump’s rhetoric ‘might be more dangerous’ after getting sick

Former White House Coronavirus Task Force member Olivia Troye expresses her concern that Trump’s coronavirus infection might be used as an opportunity to downplay the virus further and expresses her fear for the White House staffOct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--David Jolly: ‘We got a Covid hotspot about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue’

Former Florida congressman David Jolly attacks Trump’s irresponsible handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the White House as more people in his orbit, including Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, test positiveOct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tests positive for Covid-19

The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, released a statement on Twitter that she has tested positive for Covid-19 after “testing negatively consistently” since Thursday. Her statement notes she had “no knowledge” of Hope Hicks’ diagnosis prior to holding the White House briefing.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Biden urges Trump to 'listen to the scientists' and 'support masks'

Biden urges Trump to 'listen to the scientists' and 'support masks'
Joe Biden called on President Trump to "listen to the scientists" and support a nationwide mask mandate as he is about to be released from Walter Reed hospital.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Pelosi reacts to Trump leaving Walter Reed

‘They better get out a really big check book’: Dominion case rips open Fox News to more lawsuits from Smartmatic, Ray Epps, and more 06:28


msnbc--2020-10-05--Dr. Redlener: I'm concerned we aren't getting the full story

Dr. Irwin Redlener comments on updates from President Trump's medical team, led by Dr. Sean Conley. After several days of specialized care, Trump says he is scheduled to leave the Walter Reed Medical Center this evening.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Trump receiving Dexamethasone, a steroid reserved for sickest Covid-19 patients

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msnbc--2020-10-05--Two deputies to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany test positive for Covid-19


msnbc--2020-10-05--Regeneron Co-Founder: 'No side-effects' from our treatment with Trump's other meds

The Co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron, Dr. George Yancopoulos, joins Hallie Jackson after President Trump was treated with his company's antiviral cocktail. Yancopoulos refutes the idea of a close relationship between the company and the White House, saying they are "adhering to the highest level of ethics."Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-05--Kayleigh McEnany spoke to reporters without mask day before Covid-19 diagnosis

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-10-05--Yamiche Alcindor: White House filled with people 'anxious' about their own Covid-19 status


msnbc--2020-10-05--Olivia Troye: White House 'can't figure out what they are going to say the next minute'

Olivia Troye: White House 'can't figure out what they are going to say the next minute'
Olivia Troye, former adviser to Vice President Pence and top aide on the coronavirus task force, joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the conflicting messaging coming out of the White House on the president's condition, calling it "typical for this White House where they honestly can't figure out what they are going to say the next minute because, to be frank, it's usually all lies."Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--Joy Reid: Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis should be 'reckoning' for GOP


msnbc--2020-10-05--Joy Reid on Trump: 'I am disgusted by what I just saw'

Joy Reid on Trump: 'I am disgusted by what I just saw'
Trump removed his mask as he returned to the White House despite the risk it poses to others around him.Oct. 5, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--GOP wages war on voting rights ahead of the election


msnbc--2020-10-06--Trump Senior Advisor Stephen Miller tests positive for coronavirus

Presidential historian : ‘ Trump is so terrible he makes Hoover look like Gandhi ’


msnbc--2020-10-06--‘Afraid, confused, and uncertain’: AP’s Lemire describes the White House upon Trump’s return from Wa

‘Afraid, confused, and uncertain’: AP’s Lemire describes the White House upon Trump’s return from Walter Reed

White House reporter for the Associated Press Jonathan Lemire explains his organization’s latest reporting that White House staffers are scared of being exposed to coronavirus after Trump came back from his hospital stay and the number of positive cases in the West Wing continues to riseOct. 6, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-07--Presidential historian: ‘Trump is so terrible he makes Hoover look like Gandhi’

Presidential historian: ‘Trump is so terrible he makes Hoover look like Gandhi’
Historian Michael Beschloss on the problem with trying to compare Pres. Trump to other presidents: “Trump is so terrible he makes Hoover look like Gandhi.”Oct. 7, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--Post-debate, Biden's polling average rises


msnbc--2020-10-06--Mother of 20-year-old COVID victim speaks out on Trump's comments

Speaking on the coronavirus, Trump told Americans to not "let it dominate" them. "I felt taunted," Kelly Allen said. Allen lost her 20-year-old son to coronavirus.Oct. 6, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--Joint Chiefs of Staff go into quarantine after potential covid exposure

Joint Chiefs of Staff go into quarantine after potential covid exposure
Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon are going into quarantine after Admiral Charles Ray tested positive for covid-19.Oct. 6, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--Trump's doctor releases statement saying he is showing 'no symptoms' of coronavirus


msnbc--2020-10-06--Florida governor extends voter registration deadline


msnbc--2020-10-06--Yamiche Alcindor: There was a no-mask culture in the White House that got staff exposed to the virus

Yamiche Alcindor: There was a no-mask culture in the White House that got staff exposed to the virus
President Trump woke up in the White House today for the first time since leaving Walter Reed Medical Center last night. PBS Newshour White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, former White House Secretary Robert Gibbs and NBC’s Carol Lee join Stephanie Ruhle to discuss the president’s big show of taking off his mask when he returned and his potentially dangerous message to the American people.Oct. 6, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-07--Beto O’Rourke calls GOP voter suppression efforts in Texas ‘a sign of desperation’

Last week, Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbott ordered counties across the state to provide just one drop-off location for voters to cast their absentee ballots. Beto O’Rourke calls these moves a sign of desperation by the party and thinks that Texas can flip towards the Democrats.Oct. 7, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-06--‘Real issue of governance’: Neal Katyal says Pence should be in charge until Trump recovers

‘Real issue of governance’: Neal Katyal says Pence should be in charge until Trump recovers
Former US Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal wrote in the Washington Post that until President Trump recovers from the coronavirus, Vice President Pence should be in charge.Oct. 6, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-07--‘Personal cruelty’: Sen. Schatz on infected Trump returning to White House

“This is personal cruelty. This is a person who is sick, infecting others physically adjacent to him because he needs to fill the hole in his soul,” says Sen. Schatz of Pres. Trump returning to the White House despite his Covid-19 diagnosis.Oct. 7, 2020


msnbc--2020-10-07--HHS whistleblower Rick Bright resigns

HHS whistleblower Rick Bright resigns

A top Health and Human Services official who said he was shoved out of a key coronavirus response job for pushing back on `` efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections '' submitted his resignation on Tuesday , his lawyers said .
Dr. Rick Bright `` can no longer countenance working for an administration that puts politics over science to the great detriment of the American people , ” lawyers Debra Katz and Lisa Banks said in a statement .
Bright filed a whistleblower complaint in May charging `` an abuse of authority or gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his resistance to political pressure led to his being removed from his post as deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response and director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , or BARDA .
The 89-page whistleblower complaint says Bright was transferred from BARDA `` without warning or explanation '' over his refusal to embrace hydroxychloroquine — the anti-malarial drug promoted by President Donald Trump as a potential coronavirus remedy .
He was transferred to the National Institutes of Health , where he said he 's been sidelined .
An amended whistleblower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningful work since Sept. 4th , after completing his prior assignment .
`` He has been idle for weeks , '' the amended complaint , also sent Tuesday , said .
“ Dr .
Bright was forced to leave his position at NIH because he can no longer sit idly by and work for an administration that ignores scientific expertise , overrules public health guidance and disrespects career scientists , resulting in the sickness and death of hundreds of thousands of Americans , ” the lawyers said .
They also said he 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national testing infrastructure '' which was ignored by leadership `` because of political consideration , plain and simple . ''
`` After having his work suppressed for political reasons to the detriment of public health and safety , Dr .
Bright was sidelined from doing any further work to combat this deadly virus .
This was the proverbial straw that broke the camel ’ s back , '' the lawyers said .
After Bright went public with his May complaint , a rep for HHS said he was transferred because his help was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at BARDA , Bright fast-tracked one of the treatments President Donald Trump has received for Covid-19 , Regeneron 's antibody cocktail .
It was the first contract he put in place as BARDA director to respond to the coronavirus .

A top Health and Human Services official who said he was shoved out of a key coronavirus response job for pushing back against "efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections" submitted his resignation Tuesday, his lawyers said.
In an interview with NBC News, the official, Dr. Rick Bright, said the lack of transparency by the Trump administration and political interference at public health agencies was getting worse.
“From the very beginning of this outbreak, this administration has not told Americans the truth about this virus,” Bright said Thursday. “The political interference has not stopped at all. I believe it's intensified.”
“It's dangerous, it's reckless, and it's causing lives to be lost every day,” he added.
Bright filed a whistleblower complaint in May charging "an abuse of authority or gross mismanagement" at the Department of Health and Human Services. He said his resistance to political pressure led to his being removed from his post as deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response and director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA.
The 89-page whistleblower complaint says Bright was transferred from BARDA "without warning or explanation" over his refusal to embrace hydroxychloroquine — the anti-malarial drug promoted by President Donald Trump as a potential coronavirus remedy.
He was transferred to the National Institutes of Health, where he said he has been sidelined. An amended whistleblower complaint said he had been assigned no meaningful work since Sept. 4, after he completed his previous assignment. "He has been idle for weeks," said the amended complaint, also sent Tuesday.
In the Thursday interview, Bright told NBC News that in September his proposed plans for a robust national Covid-19 testing program - including the testing of asymptomatic individuals - were rejected for political considerations.
Bright said the NIH director, Francis Collins, praised his “great ideas” but told him he couldn’t put them forward out of fear of “stepping on the toes of others in the administration who may not be ready for that.”
“He did not want to pay the political price of moving those concepts forward, because he was afraid of the retaliation or the pushback,” Bright said.
He said that the issue of testing was a delicate subject in senior leadership meetings of public health experts, who were concerned about contradicting the White House’s approach to the virus.
“We agreed that it was probably best to remove the term ‘strategy’ or ‘plan,’” Bright said. “We shouldn't call it that, so we wouldn't have the ire of the administration on us. We should tiptoe around the terminology.”
Bright said he and other colleagues expressed concern that political appointees – including White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin - were making decisions about contracts for diagnostic tests and other critical supplies.
White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern rejected Bright's allegations.
“Everything this person says is wrong, which is why he was invited to find employment elsewhere," Morgenstern said. "The Trump Administration’s whole-of-America response has nothing to do with politics.“
An NIH spokesperson said in a statement: “NIH can confirm that Dr. Bright resigned on October 6, effective that day. NIH does not discuss personnel issues beyond confirming employment.”
The Treasury Department did not respond to requests for comment.
After Bright went public with his May complaint, an HHS representative said he was transferred because his help was needed at NIH. The complaint is "filled with one-sided arguments and misinformation," HHS said in May.
During his time at BARDA, Bright fast-tracked one of the treatments Trump has received for Covid-19, Regeneron's antibody cocktail. It was the first contract he put in place as BARDA's director to respond to the coronavirus.
Bright said the emergency use authorizations are an important tool, but that they must be used only after independent evaluation of sufficient data demonstrates safety and effectiveness.
“The scientific experts at the FDA need to see all of the data from the companies, not cherry-picked data,” he said. “We cannot drive science through press releases.”
Bright also said he feels some relief after resigning from government, but he fears that the pandemic may get much worse in the coming months, especially if compounded by influenza and other respiratory virus outbreaks.
“I think we're going into the darkest winter in modern history because of what's in front of us,” he said. “Because this administration still does not have a plan."


msnbc--2020-10-07--Man, 25, falls to his death while taking photos on cliff at Arizona park

A 25-year-old man fell to his death while taking pictures near an overlook at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona , officials said Tuesday .
Orlando Serrano-Arzola , 25 , was on top of the rim overlooking the Colorado River at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook taking pictures when he fell around 9 Sunday morning , the National Park Service said in a statement .
The Phoenix man fell about 100 feet and then slid another 150 feet , the park service said .
Jon Paxton , public information officer for the Coconino County Sheriff ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that before Serrano-Arzola fell , he was thought to be climbing rocks to get a better view .
`` When he tried to climb back out , evidently he lost his footing or rock hold , '' Paxton said .
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers more than 1.25 million acres in Arizona and Utah .
Serrano-Arzola fell near the city of Page , which is in northern Arizona .
A sheriff ’ s deputy rappelled to where he was and reached him around 30 minutes after the fall and confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
While responding to the accident , human bones were found at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook , the park service said .
There is no indication right now as to what occurred in the second set of human remains , and the matter is under investigation , Paxton said .

A 25-year-old man fell to his death while taking pictures near an overlook at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona, officials said Tuesday.
Orlando Serrano-Arzola, 25, was on top of the rim overlooking the Colorado River at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook taking pictures when he fell around 9 Sunday morning, the National Park Service said in a statement.
The Phoenix man fell about 100 feet and then slid another 150 feet, the park service said.
Jon Paxton, public information officer for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation, said that before Serrano-Arzola fell, he was thought to be climbing rocks to get a better view.
"When he tried to climb back out, evidently he lost his footing or rock hold," Paxton said.
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers more than 1.25 million acres in Arizona and Utah. Serrano-Arzola fell near the city of Page, which is in northern Arizona.
A sheriff’s deputy rappelled to where he was and reached him around 30 minutes after the fall and confirmed he was deceased, the park service said.
While responding to the accident, human bones were found at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook, the park service said.
There is no indication right now as to what occurred in the second set of human remains, and the matter is under investigation, Paxton said.


msnbc--2020-10-07--St. Louis husband and wife who pointed guns at protesters are indicted

The St. Louis husband and wife who were captured on video brandishing guns at protesters over the summer were indicted Tuesday on firearm and evidence tampering charges , their lawyer said .
The indictment comes nearly four months after Mark and Patricia McCloskey — who have been embraced by conservatives and appeared at the Republican National Convention — were filmed and photographed outside their affluent West Central End home pointing a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun at the demonstrators .
The couple faces two counts each for exhibiting a weapon and tampering with evidence , according to St. Louis NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schwartz , told NBC News on Tuesday that they will deal with the charges accordingly , which he called “ baseless.
” It wasn ’ t clear what evidence prosecutors presented to a grand jury to obtain the tampering charge .
A message left with the office of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner was not immediately returned .
Gardner charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon in July .
In a statement , she said it was illegal to “ wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force , this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis , ” Gardner said .
The status of the unlawful use charge was not immediately clear .
The McCloskeys said they were “ in fear of imminent harm ” during the June 28 protest , according to a statement released on their behalf after the event .
Protesters and police reform advocates were demonstrating against St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson , who lives in the same neighborhood as the McCloskeys , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` defund the police '' activists .
Police have said the couple told officers that protesters yelled expletives and threatened them after breaking a gate that guarded their private street .
Daniel Shular , a freelance photojournalist who was at the demonstration has challenged this account , saying he didn ’ t see anyone break the gate or yell obscenities until Mark McCloskey appeared with a rifle .
After Gardner announced them in July , Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson called the charges against the couple “ outrageous , ” while state Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed because the couple was “ defending their property and safety.
” In an interview with `` Marc Cox Morning Show , '' Parson that he ’ d consider a pardon for the couple if they were convicted of a crime from the confrontation .
A representative for the McCloskeys has previously insisted the couple is not opposed to protests for racial equality and were only fearful of a few white protesters in the crowd .
“ The Black Lives Matters movement is here to stay , it is the right message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Albert Watkins , a lawyer for the McCloskeys , in June .
“ The McCloskeys want to make sure no one thinks less of BLM , its message and the means it is employing to get its message out because of the actions of a few white individuals who tarnished a peaceful protest .
”

The St. Louis husband and wife who were captured on video brandishing guns at protesters over the summer were indicted Tuesday on firearm and evidence tampering charges, their lawyer said.
The indictment comes nearly four months after Mark and Patricia McCloskey — who have been embraced by conservatives and appeared at the Republican National Convention — were filmed and photographed outside their affluent West Central End home pointing a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun at the demonstrators.
The couple faces two counts each for exhibiting a weapon and tampering with evidence, according to St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK. Their lawyer, Joel Schwartz, told NBC News on Tuesday that they will deal with the charges accordingly, which he called “baseless.”
It wasn’t clear what evidence prosecutors presented to a grand jury to obtain the tampering charge. A message left with the office of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner was not immediately returned.
Gardner charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon in July. In a statement, she said it was illegal to “wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in a nonviolent protest.”
“While we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis,” Gardner said.
The status of the unlawful use charge was not immediately clear.
The McCloskeys said they were “in fear of imminent harm” during the June 28 protest, according to a statement released on their behalf after the event.
Protesters and police reform advocates were demonstrating against St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, who lives in the same neighborhood as the McCloskeys, after she released names and home addresses of "defund the police" activists.
Police have said the couple told officers that protesters yelled expletives and threatened them after breaking a gate that guarded their private street.
Daniel Shular, a freelance photojournalist who was at the demonstration has challenged this account, saying he didn’t see anyone break the gate or yell obscenities until Mark McCloskey appeared with a rifle.
After Gardner announced the charges in July, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson called them against the couple “outrageous,” while state Attorney General Eric Schmitt sought to have them dismissed because the couple was “defending their property and safety.”
In an interview with "Marc Cox Morning Show," Parson that he’d consider a pardon for the couple if they were convicted of a crime from the confrontation.
A representative for the McCloskeys has previously insisted the couple is not opposed to protests for racial equality and were only fearful of a few white protesters in the crowd.
“The Black Lives Matters movement is here to stay, it is the right message, and it is about time,” said Albert Watkins, a lawyer for the McCloskeys, in June. “The McCloskeys want to make sure no one thinks less of BLM, its message and the means it is employing to get its message out because of the actions of a few white individuals who tarnished a peaceful protest.”


msnbc--2020-10-06--Trump's post-hospital coronavirus message: Strength over safety

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump 's decision to use his coronavirus diagnosis for a retrenchment rather than a reset came into sharp focus Tuesday , as he and his team amplified messaging that prioritized presidential strength over personal responsibility .
In a flurry of tweets and videos that began as he departed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday evening and continued through the following day back at the White House , Trump downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus by comparing it to the annual flu , claimed victory over a virus his own doctors say he has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disregard for medical advice as a sort of campaign credential .
`` FEELING GREAT ! ''
he tweeted Tuesday morning , following up a pledge to be `` back on the Campaign Trail soon !
!
! ''
with his intention to participate in next week 's presidential debate in Miami .
Download the NBC News app for breaking news about the president 's health Later in the day — amid news of additional positive coronavirus test results from West Wing aides , including top adviser Stephen Miller — he called for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of pandemic-related aid until `` after I win '' re-election , urging the Senate to focus instead on approving his Supreme Court nominee , appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
The moves were the latest to signal a potentially risky rejection of an empathy-driven turn in favor of an attempt to salvage an image of strength , which advisers say they view as one of the last areas in which Trump may hold an advantage over Democratic nominee Joe Biden that could help motivate his core voters .
And so , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to warn the public about the seriousness of the virus and the risk of transmission , Trump sought to leverage his experience as evidence of his personal toughness , telling Americans not to be afraid of the virus or let it `` dominate '' them .
While he was in the hospital , surrogates referred to Trump as a `` warrior '' for having contracted the illness , arguing that it gave him firsthand experience that would help him govern .
As doctors criticized Trump for flouting medical guidelines by removing his mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and photographers around him , White House communications director Alyssa Farah described it as a sort of patriotic exercise .
`` In times like these , the commander-in-chief needs to express confidence .
It 's very important to our allies and adversaries watching closely to see he is projecting an image of strength , '' Farah said Tuesday in a Fox News interview , adding : `` The world and American people needed to see their president strong and leading . ''
With the majority of voters consistently disapproving of Trump 's job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have increasingly tried to play up his image of strength in the final weeks of the race , arguing that his shouting and interruptions during the first presidential debate represented a net positive by making him look strong and Biden weak .
But since that debate , polls have suggested that the president has only lost ground , not gained it .
Biden 's national lead over Trump nearly doubled after last week 's debate , according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted after the event but before the president fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an image of strength and firmness represents one of Trump 's few remaining political assets , he has long been losing ground on that front in a trend that predates his recent illness .
In February , before the coronavirus crisis had fully hit , 59 percent of Americans described Trump in a Gallup poll as a `` strong and decisive leader . ''
Six months later , just 47 percent responding to that survey said the same .
Meanwhile , his campaign — which has long tried to make Biden 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to adjust that argument since Trump 's hospitalization rather than abandon it , arguing that his coronavirus diagnosis last week now gives him a different sort of health-related advantage over his Democratic rival .
`` He has experience now fighting the coronavirus as an individual , '' campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine said Monday in a Fox News interview before Trump was released from Walter Reed .
`` Those firsthand experiences , Joe Biden , he does n't have those . ''
As Trump returned to the White House , there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained too early to gauge where he stood with the public following the events of the past week and how best to correct course , said a person close to the campaign , who described the situation as `` remarkably fluid . ''
`` Everything about this president is paradoxical , and to try to ascribe normal campaign laws and rules is an impossibility , '' the person said .
Trump and his campaign said Tuesday that he planned to appear in person at the Oct. 15 presidential debate even though it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abated by then or whether his viral load would be low enough for him to safely share the stage with Biden .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says patients are typically considered contagious for 10 to 20 days from the onset of symptoms , depending on the severity of the disease it causes , Covid-19 .
Aides and medical personnel have n't answered questions about Trump 's viral load or the precise timing of his last negative test and his first positive test , which sets the clock in determining how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source familiar with the discussions confirmed that one option being discussed is to hold the coming debates outside .
The source said no other options of note have been discussed .
Asked whether the campaign will comply with any testing requirements or additional health measures that may be put in place , communications director Tim Murtaugh simply said , `` The president intends to participate in person . ''
While the campaign looked to frame Trump 's aggressive moves to quickly move past the virus — such as his announcement that he planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of leadership , it ran the risk of alienating more voters , a majority of whom who have told pollsters that Trump has downplayed the seriousness of a virus that has killed roughly 210,000 in the United States .
On his first day out of the hospital , Trump again compared the coronavirus to the flu , saying the country needs to `` learn to live with it '' and complaining of the media that `` All they want to discuss is COVID 19 ... '' The approach represented the opposite of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take , as they have pointed him to poll numbers showing that he does best with voters when he appears to be taking the disease seriously .
Still , Trump aides involved in the 2016 campaign have noted that it was around this time that year that the `` Access Hollywood '' tapes were released .
His poll numbers took a temporary hit before rebounding in the final week of the race — suggesting that the coronavirus messaging push might yet be a dim voter memory in the campaign 's homestretch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier than they did in the last month of the 2016 contest , `` there could be six more turns of the screw , '' the person close to the campaign said .
`` It is just so fluid .
There will be more surprises .
There will be issues yet that neither of us know are coming . ''

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's decision to use his coronavirus diagnosis for a retrenchment rather than a reset came into sharp focus Tuesday, as he and his team amplified a message that prioritized presidential strength over personal responsibility.
In a flurry of tweets and videos that began as he departed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday evening and continued through the following day back at the White House, Trump downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus by comparing it to the annual flu, claimed victory over a virus his own doctors say he hasn't beaten yet and appeared to paint his disregard for medical advice as a sort of campaign credential.
"FEELING GREAT!" he tweeted Tuesday morning, following up a pledge to be "back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!" with his intention to participate in next week's presidential debate in Miami.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news about the president's health
Later in the day — amid news of additional positive coronavirus test results from West Wing aides, including top adviser Stephen Miller — he called for an end to congressional negotiations over a new round of pandemic-related aid until "after I win" re-election, urging the Senate to focus instead on approving his Supreme Court nominee, appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
The moves were the latest to signal a potentially risky rejection of an empathy-driven turn in favor of an attempt to salvage an image of strength, which advisers say they view as one of the last areas in which Trump may hold an advantage over Democratic nominee Joe Biden that could help motivate his core voters.
And so, rather than use his diagnosis as a moment to warn the public about the seriousness of the virus and the risk of transmission, Trump sought to leverage his experience as evidence of his personal toughness, telling Americans not to be afraid of the virus or let it "dominate" them.
While he was in the hospital, surrogates referred to Trump as a "warrior" for having contracted the illness, arguing that it gave him firsthand experience that would help him govern. As doctors criticized Trump for flouting medical guidelines by removing his mask on the White House balcony with staff and photographers around him, White House communications director Alyssa Farah described it as a sort of patriotic exercise.
"In times like these, the commander-in-chief needs to express confidence. It's very important to our allies and adversaries watching closely to see he is projecting an image of strength," Farah said Tuesday in a Fox News interview, adding: "The world and American people needed to see their president strong and leading."
With the majority of voters consistently disapproving of Trump's job performance, temperament and trustworthiness, advisers have increasingly tried to play up his image of strength in the final weeks of the race, arguing that his shouting and interruptions during the first presidential debate represented a net positive by making him look strong and Biden weak.
But since that debate, polls have suggested that the president has only lost ground, not gained it. Biden's national lead over Trump nearly doubled after last week's debate, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted after the event but before the president fell ill.
And even though advisers claimed that an image of strength and firmness represents one of Trump's few remaining political assets, he has long been losing ground on that front in a trend that predates his recent illness. In February, before the coronavirus crisis had fully hit, 59 percent of Americans described Trump in a Gallup poll as a "strong and decisive leader." Six months later, just 47 percent responding to that survey said the same.
Meanwhile, his campaign — which has long tried to make Biden's health a cornerstone of its attacks — has tried to adjust that argument since Trump's hospitalization rather than abandon it, arguing that his coronavirus diagnosis last week now gives him a different sort of health-related advantage over his Democratic rival.
"He has experience now fighting the coronavirus as an individual," campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine said Monday in a Fox News interview before Trump was released from Walter Reed. "Those firsthand experiences, Joe Biden, he doesn't have those."
As Trump returned to the White House, there was a sense inside his re-election effort that it remained too early to gauge where he stood with the public following the events of the past week and how best to correct course, said a person close to the campaign, who described the situation as "remarkably fluid."
"Everything about this president is paradoxical, and to try to ascribe normal campaign laws and rules is an impossibility," the person said.
Trump and his campaign said Tuesday that he planned to appear in person at the Oct. 15 presidential debate even though it wasn't clear whether his symptoms will have abated by then or whether his viral load will be low enough for him to safely share the stage with Biden. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says patients are typically considered contagious for 10 to 20 days from the onset of symptoms, depending on the severity of their case.
Aides and medical personnel haven't answered questions about Trump's viral load or the precise timing of his last negative test and his first positive test, which sets the clock in determining how long he might be contagious.
A source familiar with the discussions confirmed that one option being discussed is to hold the coming debates outside. The source said no other options of note have been discussed.
Asked whether the campaign will comply with any testing requirements or additional health measures that may be put in place, communications director Tim Murtaugh simply said, "The president intends to participate in person."
While the campaign looked to frame Trump's aggressive moves to quickly move past the virus — such as his announcement that he planned to debate next week — as signs of leadership, it ran the risk of alienating more voters, a majority of whom who have told pollsters that Trump has downplayed the seriousness of a virus that has killed roughly 210,000 in the United States.
On his first day out of the hospital, Trump again compared the coronavirus to the flu, saying the country needs to "learn to live with it" and complaining of the media that "All they want to discuss is COVID 19..." The approach represented the opposite of the one his advisers have repeatedly pushed him to take, as they have pointed him to poll numbers showing that he does best with voters when he appears to be taking the disease seriously.
Still, Trump aides involved in the 2016 campaign have noted that it was around this time that year that the "Access Hollywood" tapes were released. His poll numbers took a temporary hit before rebounding in the final week of the race — suggesting that the coronavirus messaging push might yet be a dim voter memory in the campaign's homestretch.
While more people are expected to vote earlier than they did in the last month of the 2016 contest, "there could be six more turns of the screw," the person close to the campaign said. "It is just so fluid. There will be more surprises. There will be issues yet that neither of us know are coming."