These briefings are pure propaganda. They have no informational value; it's just the President telling lies, and government officials offering an unending stream flattery for their leader. And all of the nation's new channels run the propaganda live for the whole nation to see.
Nothing he says matters. Not in the sense of having any objective meaning, or reflecting anything as a matter of reality.
Reporters are asking Trump why he retweeted #FireFauci, and Trump says a string of words in response, but the words have no meaning. They're just words.
Reporters are asking Trump why he retweeted #FireFauci, and Trump says a string of words in response, but the words have no meaning. They're just words.
For the first time I've ever seen, a reporter is actually cross-examining Trump, and questioning him in the only way that has any hope of getting a response with any informational content. It still fails, of course -- Trump can't answer, so he says he'll provide an answer later.
Reporter was @PaulaReidCBS, and her questions were good. But all it showed is Trump will not provide any information at these briefings, no matter how well he is questioned.
Every answer is the same: I am great, the media is terrible, we did amazing things, we did no bad things.
Every answer is the same: I am great, the media is terrible, we did amazing things, we did no bad things.
We're, what, 40 minutes in to this briefing? And there has not been one piece of factual information that has been conveyed, aside from a claim by Fauci at the beginning that there was only one time he ever gave Trump recommendations about mitigation measures, which he followed.
This ain't it.
Fauci is what it looks like when the Trump Administration finds it valuable to have a government official who can effectively sustain a media narrative about their supposed independence.
Fauci is what it looks like when the Trump Administration finds it valuable to have a government official who can effectively sustain a media narrative about their supposed independence.
Fauci is there because the White House finds it valuable to have him there, as it lets them say "see, even the great and independent Dr. Fauci says Trump is doing an amazing job." And, when necessary, Fauci has proven willing to sacrifice his integrity to sustain that narrative.
A reporter asks: what part of the Constitution gives you the power to open state economies?
Trump does what he always does when he's asked a question which requires an answer with informational content: he says he'll give an answer later.
Trump does what he always does when he's asked a question which requires an answer with informational content: he says he'll give an answer later.
Another reporter tries again: but what will happen if some states refuse to comply with Trump's orders to open?
This question does not require a response that contains information, so he just says some words arranged in no particular order and conveying no factual content.
This question does not require a response that contains information, so he just says some words arranged in no particular order and conveying no factual content.
Another question: is it possible to open the economy on May 1?
Trump could have chosen to just say words again, but instead he generously (and unusually) interprets the question as one that requires a factual response. Which means Trump refuses to answer the question.
Trump could have chosen to just say words again, but instead he generously (and unusually) interprets the question as one that requires a factual response. Which means Trump refuses to answer the question.
Another reporter is trying again to question Trump about his claims to have the power to open state economies, but his question his doomed to be pointless from the start: it's phrased as a hypothetical. Trump doesn't even let him finish the question, he just starts saying words.
A reporter asks the typical pointless WH correspondent question: here is a thing that is a problem and needs to be addressed, how will you address it?
Trump gives the same answer he always gives: no such problem exists, and also the thing that is not a problem is Obama's fault.
Trump gives the same answer he always gives: no such problem exists, and also the thing that is not a problem is Obama's fault.
Another good (if totally fucking horrifying) question: "You just said that when someone is President of the United States, their authority is total. That is not true."
Trump says random words, but the reporter asks the question again. He angrily tells her "Enough!" and moves on.
Trump says random words, but the reporter asks the question again. He angrily tells her "Enough!" and moves on.
The President of the United States, in the White House briefing room, announced that he has total authority over the nation, and when a reporter questions why he was saying this untrue thing, he instructed her to stop talking.
This is what Republicans want in a President.
This is what Republicans want in a President.
The reporters are now trying to get an answer from Pence, but this is a pointless thing to do. Pence is a reliably calm presence in the briefing room, but his ability to say words that have no meaning is in fact superior to Trump's own (not insubstantial) abilities in this area.
Pence's response to the question of, "Why is the President claiming to have total authority over the nation?", is "As we see the numbers start to go down, I encourage you to keep doing what you're doing."
Continuing his answer to the question about why the President is claiming total authority over the nation, Pence gives a long string of soothing platitudes about how great everything is going and how hard everyone is working and how proud he is of America.
Sensing that his long string of noises has subdued and distracted reporters to the point where they forget they were pursuing a line of questions about why the President thinks he has total power, the Vice President steps away and pulls Trump back to the podium, his work done.
For the second time at today's briefing, there is information conveyed: Trump is asked what he and Putin discussed yesterday, and Trump says among other things: China, Russia's borders (unspecified, but christ he means Ukraine, doesn't he?), and the U.S.'s border with Mexico.
President Trump: "The federal government has absolute power; as to whether I'll use the power, we'll see. ... I have the absolute right to do so if I want to. I may not want to."
Trump doesn't use words to convey information, for Trump the purpose of words is to convey assertions of power. He also like words that are praise of his greatness, but to Trump, those words are also an assertion of power (namely his).
Trump is asked about the people he is going to be putting on his committees that will be solving all the covid-19 issues. He responds with words that convey no information, insisting that he's going to be calling "the best names, the greatest names, the names that know the best."
Trump has left the room and Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci will be speaking, so it is possible, but by no means guaranteed, that information will now be conveyed at this propaganda session.
Birx is coming in with a PowerPoint presentation, and actual facts are being discussed. But while I appreciate the fact that this briefing is now actually a briefing and attempting to convey information, they really need to fire whoever the hell their graph maker is. 
Dr. Birx's graph is an allegory for the meaning of facts and information under the Trump administration.
Fauci was asked to name one thing that – with the benefit of hindsight – the administration could've done better to respond to coronavirus. Fauci hemmed and hawed and finally stated that he, personally, could've maybe realized some stuff sooner than he did.
