The lost time when Trump failed to deal with the pandemic

"When he catches Fauci sounding out of sync with Trump, the chief of staff admonishes the doctor to 'stay on message,' officials said — and he has impressed upon Fauci, Birx and other health professionals that they should not opine on restrictions… " https://t.co/vZqTjDALeT
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 8, 2020

This is really an excellent piece by @EdwardGLuce https://t.co/4pVRTaERKl https://t.co/kpNofm6tpv
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) May 16, 2020

"A weeks-long testing delay that effectively blinded public health officials to the spread of the coronavirus in the US might have been avoided had federal agencies fully enacted their own plan to ramp up testing during a national health crisis." https://t.co/OyBv8Df3wu
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 9, 2020

Coronavirus: Intelligence warned Trump of pandemic in January. They couldn’t get him to do anything about it. https://t.co/Gz8XjMuxBg
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) April 1, 2020

.@Morning_Joe: Examining how the Trump admin. handled the first 70 days of the coronavirus crisis.https://t.co/OgdpCDlTWu
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 6, 2020

The federal government’s testing failures cost the US a month in preparing for and fighting the spread of COVID. Mammoth investigation by NYT team > https://t.co/9fPzI1AecC
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 28, 2020

Just left the Administration briefing on Coronavirus. Bottom line: they aren't taking this seriously enough.

Notably, no request for ANY emergency funding, which is a big mistake. Local health systems need supplies, training, screening staff etc. And they need it now.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 5, 2020

"In 2018, the Trump admin fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the WH management infrastructure. In numerous phone calls/emails with key agencies the only consistent response I encountered was distressed confusion." https://t.co/1PM8QZqqDb
— Denise Tate (@stateof_tate) February 5, 2020

From @gtconway3d and @carriecordero: What did Trump and Congress know about the coronavirus, and when did they know it? https://t.co/OF9H6uXgJe
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) March 25, 2020

When @realdonaldtrump was promising COVID would go away "like a miracle," the U.S government squandered its best chance to stop the disease.
Here's how.https://t.co/IRioKLgI8K
— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) March 30, 2020

An example of one of the trademarks of Trump’s presidency – trusting foreign autocrats over his own intelligence advisors – actually costing American lives. https://t.co/tXskR6buk2
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) March 30, 2020

Trump was warned in January. Those saying he wasn’t are lying to try to cover his tracks. “Intel reports going back to January warned of coronavirus threat” | TheHill https://t.co/JuyAFrMcZI
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) April 1, 2020

A fact to remember.

"In a White House meeting, Kushner told people Cuomo was being an alarmist. 'I have all this data about ICU capacity. I’m doing my own projections, and I’ve gotten a lot smarter about this. New York doesn’t need all the ventilators.'" https://t.co/yFOBPBZFU9
— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) April 1, 2020

Denial and dysfunction plagued the U.S. government for 70 days as coronavirus spread, with battles over testing, spending, travel limits & a national approach, per interviews with four dozen people involved. A dive w/@yabutaleb7 @gregpmiller @nakashimae https://t.co/MxFXCFe3we
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) April 4, 2020

“A review of federal purchasing contracts by The Associated Press shows federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers.” https://t.co/rCg9LeJeJI
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 5, 2020

The @POTUS owes an apology to every health care worker & first responder who doesn’t have equipment they need because of the months the admin squandered once the COVID-19 alarm was sounded. The impact of the delay on ventilators could be felt this week.https://t.co/kULH77aWoz
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 5, 2020

They knew in November. November. https://t.co/Ntji1jNtkN
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) April 8, 2020

Trump denies oversight for the fund to help businesses

1) Why should he oppose oversight if the money is being spent properly?

2) Did congressional Republicans know he would do this when they negotiated with the Democrats? Why didn’t Democrats expect this since it’s consistent with Trump’s previous behavior?

3) This will drag out in the courts if that’s how Democrats take that route. Meanwhile, the money will have been spent.

4) Just another example of Trump’s contempt for the law. He acts like he’s a dictator.

What a surprise from the most corrupt treasury secretary ever https://t.co/dculny7lEN
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) April 2, 2020

This isn’t about playing politics. Especially during a crisis, the American people need to have confidence that our government is doing right by their families.

That’s why I’ve asked for a spot on the Congressional commission that oversees the $500 billion corporate bailout. https://t.co/ng1ROiwbAf
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) April 1, 2020

Congress has promised to keep a relentlessly watchful eye over the Trump administration’s implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief law. But there’s a problem: They’re not in Washington to do it. https://t.co/OwRPXPZhiQ
— POLITICO (@politico) April 1, 2020

The signing statement threatens to undermine the authority and independence of this new IG. The Senate should extract a commitment from the nominee that Congress will be promptly notified of any Presidential/Administration interference or obstruction. https://t.co/5rxS3b3YoG
— Michael R. Bromwich (@mrbromwich) March 28, 2020

What the GOP did by allowing Trump to reneg on hard-fought provisions at his will is ensure that their word will never be taken seriously again. That’s cool if they are always in the majority. But what if they aren’t? 🤔

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

That is all.
— Pam Keith (@PamKeithFL) March 28, 2020

Welp. Schumer and pelosi look, um, silly for trusting Mnuchin https://t.co/jabQxvDDHo
— Sam Stein (@samstein) March 27, 2020

This great dive by @TimKMak outlines the new Pandemic Response Accountability Committee in the $2 trillion coronavirus package.

In a signing statement, Trump is already trying to weaken that oversight, citing alleged "constitutional concerns." Thread. https://t.co/yc5vTBVyF6
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) March 27, 2020

Trump, whose admin stopped an inspector general from telling Congress about Ukraine whistleblower complaint, says he can override the new law requiring IG for the $500 billion virus corporate relief fund from disclosing if Mnuchin blocks info about the $$$ https://t.co/71aMKf1MTJ
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) March 28, 2020

Most obvious outcome and congressional Democratic leaders couldn’t see it. It’s astounding. https://t.co/ljMoUldgpN
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) March 28, 2020

Exactly! A signing statement is just a note saying "I will fight you." And what does Trump want to fight over? He says he wants to to fight to keep Congress and regular Americans from knowing about fraud, waste and abuse in implementing the bailout. Congress must fight back! https://t.co/85463Vziat
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) March 28, 2020

It's not normal for a president to announce when they sign a bill that they won't cooperate with oversight. We can't act like this is normal.https://t.co/mkNe3oFQsw
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) March 31, 2020

Senate Democrats urge White House to quickly nominate new inspector general for coronavirus programs. Trump on Friday took a step that could weaken an inspector general’s independence, but Democrats said strong oversight is needed to ensure accountability https://t.co/VYWvetf2JI
— Laffy (@GottaLaff) March 31, 2020

The President’s decision to name one of his own staff lawyers to serve as the independent Inspector General overseeing the disbursement of hundreds of billions of federal dollars in coronavirus crisis emergency aid smacks of the proverbial ‘fox guarding the henhouse.’
— James E. Clyburn (@WhipClyburn) April 4, 2020

Cuomo says Trump didn’t speak to him about a quarantine

I believe Cuomo. Trump lies all the time.

Pres. Trump says he is considering "enforceable quarantine" for New York, parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.

“I don’t even know what that means. I don’t know how that could be legally enforceable,” Gov. Cuomo says. “I don’t even like the sound of it.” https://t.co/xcgxJtxnBK
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) March 28, 2020

Cuomo denies speaking to Trump about possible NY quarantine, as President just claimed.

Cuomo: “I don’t even know what that means”
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) March 28, 2020

Gov. Cuomo says he has no idea what Trump is talking about. He has no idea how this would be legally enforceable.

President Trump said he is thinking about a possible “short term, two week” quarantine for “New York, probably New Jersey and certain parts of Connecticut.”
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 28, 2020

There it is. He's pushing a bullshit line that "a lot of New Yorkers are going down" to Florida, which is why FL is having an outbreak. Same bullshit De Santis pushed. They think they can bullshit away culpability for their failures by blaming it on NY. https://t.co/r4OCO0QaAZ
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) March 28, 2020

As President Trump weighs a possible quarantine for the New York area, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says "I don't think it's legal": "I don't believe that any federal administration could be serious about a physical lockdown … I don't think the American people would stand for it" pic.twitter.com/YM9IXb7iZC
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 28, 2020

Covers: St. James Infirmary Blues

“St. James Infirmary Blues” was made famous through Louis Armstrong’s 1928 recording. Check out the 1990 version by the Tarbox Ramblers.

I could watch this on loop forever pic.twitter.com/6xMUn1vHhP
— Will Sloan (@WillSloanEsq) August 21, 2024

Covers: Unchained Melody

“Unchained Melody” was written for the 1955 film Unchained. The most famous version is the 1965 recording by the Righteous Brothers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m28OIifDRs8

Covers: James Alley Blues

Rabbit Brown recorded “James Alley Blues” for Victor Records on May 11, 1927. It was included in Harry Smith’s 1952 great Anthology of American Folk Music. Roger McGuinn, Jeff Tweedy, and Jay Bennett covered it on an album that was a tribute to the anthology.

Roger McGuinn’s Folk Den has background and a performance

Covers: If Sugar Was As Sweet As You

“If Sugar Was As Sweet As You” was written and recorded by Joe Tax. Rockpile (Dave Edmunds lead vocals) covered in on their 1980 album Seconds of Pleasure. They played it fast and like a 1950s song instead of an R&B song.

US wanted G7 to use the term “Wuhan virus”

Trump is a bigot. It’s us against our allies again. This is disgraceful.

US push to include "Wuhan virus" language in G7 joint statement fractures alliance https://t.co/L7bMbKraqK pic.twitter.com/LRrVm3cAR5
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 27, 2020

—>> The G7 failed to issue a joint statement on the Coronavirus response because the Trump administration insisted on including the phrase “Wuhan virus.”
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 26, 2020

WaPo: G-7 failed to agree on statement after U.S. insisted on calling coronavirus outbreak "Wuhan virus" https://t.co/HaLOdK9ERw
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) March 25, 2020

Trump lies at his briefings

No, people getting on planes aren’t being tested.

No, Trump didn’t inherit old tests.

No, there’s no evidence of bias by the HHS deputy IG.

No, it’s not true Obama barely even noticed H1N1.

No, China didn’t just start spending money in the US. https://t.co/t6e0VDM7EB
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 7, 2020

Fact check: President Trump made another series of false, misleading or dubious claims at a coronavirus briefing that began with an off-topic discussion of his administration's efforts to fight drug trafficking https://t.co/iIfuclNfQv
— CNN (@CNN) April 2, 2020

Rather than the usual barrage of specific false claims, this briefing has featured a dishonest overall narrative — a Trump effort to cast himself as the leader who stood strong against the faction that downplayed the severity of the virus.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 31, 2020

Fact check on tonight’s briefing: Trump denies saying two things he said on television in the last four days. https://t.co/cq608GRtTr
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 30, 2020

Smart piece by @YLindaQiu categorizing Trump's coronavirus dishonesty. Her list of main themes: playing down the severity of the pandemic; overstating medical progress and policy promises; inaccurately blaming others; rewriting history. https://t.co/2mFYVvMoSs
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 28, 2020

Inaccuracies about the stock market. Baffling statements about a closed GM plant. Stating you can call coronavirus the flu. President Trump has continued the false and misleading claims that have become a part of White House briefings on coronavirus. https://t.co/qPzWaTVonF
— CNN (@CNN) March 28, 2020

These are just some of the false claims from today's briefing… https://t.co/wWwba1RePw
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 28, 2020

It's not true that nobody ever thought this crisis could happen. It's not true that the WaPo report on Inslee's comments to Trump was "fake news." It's not true that "everybody" wants businesses reopened rapidly amid the pandemic. https://t.co/DZOp17cfdr
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 27, 2020

Trump wrongly describes tariffs on imported Chinese products, paid by Americans, as China paying "interest."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 27, 2020

Again, the Trump sections of these briefings are thoroughly dishonest. Can't even keep up today.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 27, 2020

Trump could not have become President without unprecedented free media from TV networks in 2015-16. Now the same networks are giving him a daily platform to spread disinformation in a pandemic. https://t.co/LGEaN9ErSA
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) March 27, 2020

Trump says he doesn't want to stand here for two hours at these briefings, but "it's important for the public to know." He says "it gives our country confidence." He says, "I'm very transparent."

He's been relentlessly dishonest and inaccurate in these briefings.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 23, 2020

Trump: GM and Ford are making ventilators "right now."

AP fact check: GM and Ford are not yet making ventilators. https://t.co/Dlkn4U8fB3
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 23, 2020

He understated the extent of the crisis. He overstated the availability of tests. He falsely blamed Obama. He said he didn't shake hands in India despite many photos of him shaking hands in India.

Trump has been serially dishonest about the coronavirus: https://t.co/93Uu30PVqS
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 22, 2020

He didn’t “misstate the facts”. He lied. It’s called lying. Just say the word.

Fact check: Trump falsely claims drug approval https://t.co/GFRKCA1QcH
— Gary Andover (@andover_gary) March 20, 2020

President Trump is rapidly seeking to rewrite the history of the coronavirus pandemic and his administration's reaction to it, even as its scale continues to escalate rapidly in the US as more and more tests for it are conducted. | Analysis by @CillizzaCNN https://t.co/cmygbmpEuF
— CNN (@CNN) March 20, 2020

This is a really disturbing display from the podium, one in keeping with the president's view of and statements about the press for three years, but taking place during a pandemic. He talks about how poorly he feels he's treated.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 19, 2020

Latest coronavirus stats

Hey y'all. I have a deep dive today on how the number of *known coronavirus cases* isn't really a good way to know what's happening with the disease. Unless you know something about testing, anyway. Hope you'll check it out.https://t.co/VK7rCgBNMc
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 4, 2020

Reported US coronavirus deaths via @CNN:

5 weeks ago: 0 deaths
4 weeks ago: 17 deaths
3 weeks ago: 49 deaths
2 weeks ago: 249 deaths
1 week ago: 1,588 deaths
Right now: 7,152 deaths
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 4, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

5 weeks ago: 64 cases
4 weeks ago: 332 cases
3 weeks ago: 2,204 cases
2 weeks ago: 18,763 cases
1 week ago: 101,242 cases
Right now: 277,953 cases
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 4, 2020

Reported US coronavirus deaths

3/11: 38
3/12: 41
3/13: 49
3/14: 58
3/15: 65
3/16: 87
3/17: 111
3/18: 149
3/19: 195
3/20: 263
3/21: 323
3/22: 413
3/23: 541
3/24: 704
3/25: 938
3/26: 1,195
3/27: 1,588
3/28: 2,043
3/29: 2,419
3/30: 3,004
3/31: 3,835
4/1: 4,762
4/2: 5,949
Now: 7,152
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 4, 2020

States with the 10 highest number of infections per 1,000,000 people.

New York 4767.4
New Jersey 2881
Louisiana 1970.2
Massachusetts 1290.2
Michigan 1080.5
Connecticut 1072.6
DC 925.3
Washington 866.1
Colorado647.4
Rhode Island620.2
— Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) April 3, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

4 weeks ago: 227 cases
3 weeks ago: 1,645 cases
2 weeks ago: 13,229 cases
1 week ago: 82,100 cases
Right now: 245,070 cases
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 3, 2020

NEW: Michigan is now reporting the racial breakdown of COVID-19 cases. So far, 10,791 positive cases have been reported & 417 deaths. Of that, African Americans account for 35% of cases & 40% of deaths. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 14.1% of MI’s population is black. pic.twitter.com/3e4dKIusFB
— Kat Stafford (@kat__stafford) April 2, 2020

In order to be on track for an estimated ~100,000 deaths from coronavirus in the United States, and a peak of ~2,500 deaths per day, the University of Washington model cited by the White House would expect 899 deaths today.

The latest @CNN number is 946 deaths reported today.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 2, 2020

Coronavirus growth in Western countries: March 31 update (via @kdrum) https://t.co/aAQ4pMT1yV
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) April 1, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases and deaths via @CNN:

Beginning of March: 71 cases, 1 death

End of March: 185,469 cases, 3,835 deaths
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 1, 2020

For comparison purposes, US death toll in past pandemics:

Spanish Flu, 1918-20: 675,000

H2N2, 1957-58: 116,000

H3N2, 1968: 100,000

H1N1, 2009: 12,469https://t.co/nDSii3SsGG
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 31, 2020

Not a very encouraging data on the data front.

* Number of tests in the US has stagnated.
* 807 deaths recorded today vs. 511 yesterday.
* The rate of increase in detected new cases has slowed (partly because the number of tests has flattened), but they're still increasing. https://t.co/G7fcfXlBuQ
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 31, 2020

42% of people in New York City say they personally know someone who has tested positive for coronavirus via new Siena College poll out today.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 31, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases:

3/10: 1000
3/11: 1267
3/12: 1645
3/13: 2204
3/14: 2826
3/15: 3505
3/16: 4466
3/17: 6135
3/18: 8760
3/19: 13229
3/20: 18763
3/21: 25740
3/22: 34276
3/23: 42663
3/24: 52976
3/25: 65273
3/26: 82135
3/27: 101295
3/28: 121176
3/29: 139773
Now: 160377
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 31, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

Four weeks ago: 102
Three weeks ago: 678
Two weeks ago: 4,459
One week ago: 42,663
Right now: 160,377
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 31, 2020

to understand the magnitude of the devastation in New Orleans, here's how it compares per capita to other major hotspots…

DEATHS PER 100K RESIDENTS:
– Orleans Parish, LA: 22.0
– New York City, NY: 9.1
– King County, WA: 6.5
– Detroit, MI: 5.2
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) March 30, 2020

US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

Four weeks ago: 89
Three weeks ago: 558
Two weeks ago: 3,485
One week ago: 32,502
Right now: 139,773
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 30, 2020

US coronavirus cases:

3/10: 1,000
3/11: 1,267
3/12: 1,645
3/13: 2,204
3/14: 2,826
3/15: 3,505
3/16: 4,466
3/17: 6,135
3/18: 8,760
3/19: 13,229
3/20: 18,763
3/21: 25,740
3/22: 34,276
3/23: 42,663
3/24: 52,976
3/25: 65,273
3/26: 82,135
3/27: 101,295
3/28: 121,176
Now: 139,773
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 30, 2020

An incredibly informative page tracking U.S. coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases — by state and county https://t.co/nqVIyabmlS
— Julie Vitkovskaya (@Julie_Vit) March 29, 2020

US coronavirus deaths:

3/1: 2
3/2: 6
3/3: 9
3/4: 11
3/5: 12
3/6: 17
3/7: 19
3/8: 21
3/9: 26
3/10: 31
3/11: 38
3/12: 41
3/13: 49
3/14: 58
3/15: 65
3/16: 87
3/17: 111
3/18: 149
3/19: 195
3/20: 263
3/21: 323
3/22: 413
3/23: 541
3/24: 704
3/25: 938
3/26: 1,195
3/27: 1,588
Now: 2,043
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 29, 2020

We just hit 2000 confirmed US deaths.

It took a month to hit 1000, and then two days for that to double.

"and officials say the worst is yet to come"https://t.co/1Efq4kKRkw pic.twitter.com/XGbtRSnQZ1
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) March 29, 2020

The US coronavirus statistics should be coming from the federal government, not the media and universities. At some point, I expect right wing people who downplay the seriousness of the crisis to question the statistics.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) March 27, 2020

Since January, health authorities have identified more than 101,000 Covid-19 cases throughout the United States. So far, more than 1,500 of those patients have died. Here's a state-by-state breakdown of coronavirus cases. https://t.co/2oJzca2iHm
— CNN (@CNN) March 28, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases and deaths via @CNN:

4 weeks ago: 61 cases, 0 deaths
3 weeks ago: 265 cases, 14 deaths
2 weeks ago: 1,899 cases, 41 deaths
1 week ago: 15,905 cases, 208 deaths
Right now: 95,174 cases, 1,451 deaths
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 27, 2020

There is, incredibly, no government agency publicly tracking all corona cases in the US.

So the NYT is doing it. https://t.co/GBPbosTpvD
— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) March 27, 2020

As the U.S. is about to be the first country to hit 100,000 official Coronavirus cases, the fatality rates are all over the place:

Italy: 10.6%
Spain: 7.8%
U.K.: 6%
France: 6%
U.S.: 1.5%
South Korea: 1.5%
Germany 0.5%
— Brian McGill (@brian_mcgill) March 27, 2020

I tweet some version of this every day, so here's today's version:

It's still very hard to make overly precise interpretations about where you are on the curve unless you know a lot about tests: how many tests, who's getting tested, how and when results are reported.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 27, 2020