I will watch this Trump COVID-19 presser so you don't have to.
Thus far, his worst misinformation tends to come at the top. Miracle drugs, DPA for ventilators, hospital ships, freeing Austin Tice, tons of masks on way---NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN TRUE.
Thus far, his worst misinformation tends to come at the top. Miracle drugs, DPA for ventilators, hospital ships, freeing Austin Tice, tons of masks on way---NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN TRUE.
Trump spent the morning doubling down on the truly dangerous myth of anti-malarial and other drugs. I expect he'll do that in presser. Here I get into why that is grossly irresponsible
.@maddow had a really great summary of the disinfo Trump has laced these pressers with. Culminating with a plea that her own/other networks no longer broadcast
.@sulliview has also called on networks to stop airing them live. Clip the real info that Fauci and Birx are providing, but Trump's lies have deadly consequences
Trump with his "war against the virus" talk. Which is is, but without a commander in chief.
Trump touts national solidarity. "It's a very nice thing to see."
uh huh
uh huh
Trump says he's working with governors who ask him for stuff. Well, the point of a president is to lead in a unifyied way.
"Chinese virus"
"Chinese virus"
"People don't realize small businesses are the engine of the country...people have never done what I've done"
he's just said "businessmen" about a dozen times. It's a small thing but some of those leaders are, in fact, women.
Fauci already has the "serenity now" look and Trump hasn't even gotten to the science yet
"the testing is going very well and the Admiral (?) will speak to that as will Tony"
it is not, in fact, going well
it is not, in fact, going well
Tax day moved from 4/15 to 7/15. No interest and penalties for filing in July.
Trump says HUD has suspended evictions and forclosures on "single family" mortgages that are government backed.
So condo owners are SOL?
So condo owners are SOL?
Hanes is retrofitting plants to make masks, Trump says.
No precision on how many masks will be available when.
No precision on how many masks will be available when.
Distilleries (pernot-richard) are making hand sanitizer in place of or in addition to booze.
So a lot of talk about deregulation and private sector efforts. Almost none about what the government itself is doing re production and distribution of tests and PPEs.
Thus far he hasn't attacked anyone. Praises the American people. Now kicks to Pence.
Pence to begin with his customary Dear Leadering.
The bar is in the basement, but Pence is so much better than Trump at this.
Pence still saying this is a 15-day self-quarantine. It will not be.
Pence now saying those millions of surgical masks Hanes is making will be available in...a matter of WEEKS.
Pence: If you don't have symptoms, don't do a test. We need to preserve resources.
Trump swaying slightly, as the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme plays in his head
The big PPE "announcement" will come Monday, which I take to mean that they don't have any good news to tell us now except the Hanes thing.
"As the president says often, we're all in this together."
Actually he never says that and certainly doesn't act like it.
Actually he never says that and certainly doesn't act like it.
Pence and wife will be tested today. After sitting up on this podium 1 ft from Trump. Wheeeee
The Assistant Sec for HHS is up. Where is Azar?
DHHS guys shows the very scary chart about rate of increase, which does not even include hospital-based tests. Trump looks confused.
I cannot begin to describe how disconcerting Trump's affect when the experts talk is. It's like the old cartoons where a skull opens and there are mice inside
DHHS guy again highlights state and local efforts, which is another way of abrogating federal responsibility
FAUCI: widespread infection, but to various degrees throughout country (so far).
he's explaining how we wont know how much we've flattened curve until we're further along
he's explaining how we wont know how much we've flattened curve until we're further along
FAUCI has confidence that the mitigation efforts in WA, CA, NY, IL will help
Unintentional consequence of people who don't need to be tested getting tested—you're consuming PPEs. Don't want to make that crisis worse.
Please put off/cancel elective procedures and surgeries, including basic dental stuff.
FEMA head up: Only one tribe is working with FEMA. That could be disastrous if they don't get what they need NOW
FEMA guys says state/local/tribal govs should first try and buy PPE on free market and then turn to FEMA if they can't.
jfc
jfc
Housing Secretary Ben Carson up: Immediate halt to on foreclosure on single-family gov-backed mortgages. Still need to contact your provider.
HUD doesn't have authority to stop evictions in public housing authorities but is asking for it.
April Section 8 vouchers sent out next week, no talk of increase on those.
Reminder that the only reason that neurosurgeon Ben Carson is head of HUD is that basically Trump thinks that's a job for a black person.
Q to Trump about DPA: Supposed to control output, prevent price gouging. Why not use act.
Trump: If we don't need to use the act. They're volunteering.
"we want them on an open market"
Trump: If we don't need to use the act. They're volunteering.
"we want them on an open market"
Trump says federal government wants the states to bid for those goods first and that the federal government will "drop out" of market for goods if it gets in way of states
WHICH IS NOT THE POINT
WHICH IS NOT THE POINT
Q: How are you going to pay for it/have you spoken to Pelosi
Trump wont' say if he's talking with Pelosi, ducks question of cost. "Creating an incentive for people not to work" is a concern...then backpeddles rapidly.
Trump wont' say if he's talking with Pelosi, ducks question of cost. "Creating an incentive for people not to work" is a concern...then backpeddles rapidly.
Keeps wanting to focus on "greatest economy in the history of the world" until this hit.
Says he's against using bailout to do stock buy-backs (GOOD!)
Says he's against using bailout to do stock buy-backs (GOOD!)
DHHS is "completing" an order of a half billion masks, says Pence.
So...none actually on their way yet.
So...none actually on their way yet.
Pence Dear Leadering about how Trump waived liability re construction N95 masks.
And that is "vastly increasing" supply.
No exact numbers or time table.
And that is "vastly increasing" supply.
No exact numbers or time table.
Q: when EXACTLY can nurses and doctors expect those masks
DHHS: still identifying universe of what's out there.
Trump interrupts: why will masks get there
DHHS: we're trying to match supply & demand
SO NO ANSWER
DHHS: still identifying universe of what's out there.
Trump interrupts: why will masks get there
DHHS: we're trying to match supply & demand
SO NO ANSWER
Trump now implies that doctors and nurses can reuse masks by dipping them in "liquids."
FAUCI: cuts in, tells medical professionals to check CDC guidelines re reuse.
FAUCI: cuts in, tells medical professionals to check CDC guidelines re reuse.
FAUCI: Self-testing could cut use of PPE.
Pence: says Apple is donating 2 million industrial masks.
Why on earth does Apple have so many masks? Fires?
Pence: says Apple is donating 2 million industrial masks.
Why on earth does Apple have so many masks? Fires?
Pence: We're urging dentists to give their masks and PPE to hospitals
Reminder: here's how to give masks to hospitals in Bay Area:
Trump now blaming past administrations for the trouble we're in now.
Trump now back to bragging about closing borders to travel from China...
DHHS: National stockpile is being distributed. Hospitals need to talk to FEMA.
"it really rocks"
"it really rocks"
FAUCI: Lack of PPE is a serious issue. You're not making it up. But getting help through FEMA and additional production is real too.
"Sooner than weeks. Days. I would hope."
"Sooner than weeks. Days. I would hope."
Trump wants to point out that feds are there just to facilitate steps,
Noone could have forseen (wrong)
Virus is "genius" the way it can come back. Whew.
Noone could have forseen (wrong)
Virus is "genius" the way it can come back. Whew.
Trump: "What do we have to lose" by just randomly giving people anti-malarial drugs.
FAUCI: soul leaves body.
FAUCI: soul leaves body.
Trump: "It's hurting all the great hotel chains across the world. Sure it hurts my business."
Did you speak to anyone in TRUMPORG?
Trump: No, I speak to my sons.
lol
Did you speak to anyone in TRUMPORG?
Trump: No, I speak to my sons.
lol
Trump: "Everybody knows i have hotels. Everybody knew that when I got elected. That I'm successful."
I would probably decide to close things up. Which means...he hasn't?
I would probably decide to close things up. Which means...he hasn't?
Q: Should we be mass taking temperatures?
FAUCI: There's a role for it, but don't see a mass distribution of thermometers that will make an impact on what we need to do.
Trump: says he's never seen a digital forhead thermometer before
FAUCI: There's a role for it, but don't see a mass distribution of thermometers that will make an impact on what we need to do.
Trump: says he's never seen a digital forhead thermometer before
(Meaning, among other things, that Trump did/does zero primary care with Barron. )
Trump back to attacking press
"Hey look I was called Xenophobic by Sleepy Joe Biden."
So much for all that national unity talk
So much for all that national unity talk
Trump claiming he acted early. Reader, he did not. washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
Q: When did you learn this would first be a problem.
Trump ducks and weaves and moves to blaming China
Trump ducks and weaves and moves to blaming China
Trump is not wrong that China should have been transparent sooner.
But Trump repeated China's pattern of denial and delay.
But Trump repeated China's pattern of denial and delay.
Q: Back to when, exactly, do we get masks and ventilators
Trump: has no numbers
Pence: we will have news on Monday. Meaning the don't have good news now.
Trump: has no numbers
Pence: we will have news on Monday. Meaning the don't have good news now.
Trump just called ventilators incredibly complicated. Pence just said they are not.
Pence says that anethesiology equipment can be converted to ventilators, maybe,.
Q; You said 1.4 million tests by the end of the week, do we have.
DHHS: it's less about total numbers than ...
Q: Are the things you've promised are happening, happening. THAT's what we're trying to understand
DHHS: it's less about total numbers than ...
Q: Are the things you've promised are happening, happening. THAT's what we're trying to understand
Trump: you understand, you understand, we inherited an obsolete broken system
he's in a huge huff, no surprise the reporter who asked is a woman.
he's in a huge huff, no surprise the reporter who asked is a woman.
He's literally incapable of dealing with strong women no matter what the occasion that's the thing that sets him off the most.
Especially if they are WOC.
Especially if they are WOC.
Trump basically stomped off and left the remainder of presser to Pence
Q: Standardized testing is cancelled, what does that mean for kids?
Pence: we'll bring DeVos out to answer tomorrow or monday. Wheeeee! She's incapable of weathering tough questions.
Pence: we'll bring DeVos out to answer tomorrow or monday. Wheeeee! She's incapable of weathering tough questions.
Q: Trump tweeted about the two certain medications have "biggest game changer in history of medicine" and should be "put into use immediately." Should his 74M twitter followers be listening to this?
Pence: errrr
Pence: errrr
Pence is spinning mightily about all the public/private partnership... "some annecdotal evidence that some medicine may provide some relief...the president reiterated his "hopeful feel" about this."
Pence implies that NY using these meds is akin to a clinical trial...
FAUCI: "i'm not totally sure what the president was referring to."
anecdotal reports maybe true, but the president is talking about hope, not proof...my job, as a scientist, is to seek proof
FAUCI: "i'm not totally sure what the president was referring to."
anecdotal reports maybe true, but the president is talking about hope, not proof...my job, as a scientist, is to seek proof
Fauci is a good diplomat. he debunked what the president said, without so angering him that science will be totally eliminated from these briefings,
I want his memoir more than anyone's, though
I want his memoir more than anyone's, though
Pence wraps up with the basic self-isolating guidelines,
Trump is no doubt off somewhere rage tweeting/eating/yelling
Trump is no doubt off somewhere rage tweeting/eating/yelling
As with other pressers: no exact info on PPE/ventilator distro or more tests. Disinfo/"hope" re off label use of drugs. Trump angered by women. Kicking responsibility to states/private companies. Supposedly we get more info on Monday.
Trump still not using DPA to direct companies to make PPE/ventilators and distribute them equitably. It's the worship of the market, fear of regulation. And just ineptitude and not wanting to take on any responsibility.
