Trump’s pandemic response

Ridge: Trump ‘Beyond Despicable,’ ‘Soulless’

September 18, 2020 Buck Banks

“It’s so unworthy of a president. It’s beyond despicable. It’s soulless. It’s almost unspeakable in the middle of the pandemic to try to divide the country on a political basis when Covid-19 is really bipartisan.”

— Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), quoted by the New York Times, on President Trump saying the coronavirus death toll from the coronavirus was actually not so bad “if you take out the blue states.”

Pandemic Continues to Take Toll on Jobs

September 18, 2020 Buck Banks

860,000

“The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000, a historically high figure that reflects economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak,” the AP reports. “Before the pandemic hit the economy, the number signing up for jobless aid had never exceeded 700,000 in a week, even during the depths of the 2007-2009 Great Recession.”

Most Disapprove of Trump’s Pandemic Response

September 15, 2020 Buck Banks

65%

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds President Trump’s approval for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic at 35%, compared to 65% who disapprove.

— Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D), quoted by WDIV.

White House Secretly Warned Seven States Over Coronavirus

August 31, 2020 Buck Banks

7

White House documents show that senior Trump administration officials in June privately warned seven states about dangerous coronavirus outbreaks that put them in the highest risk “red zone” while publicly dismissing concerns about a second wave of Covid-19, Politico reports.

A Picture Is Worth …

August 28, 2020 Buck Banks

Outside the White House, just after President Trump concluded his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination.

Vox: “It’s a moment that encapsulates what amounted to a week of gaslighting on Covid-19 by Trump and the Republican convention — an attempt to make America think that a president who had so clearly failed was in fact a victory for the US.”

Biden Questions Trump’s Mental Ability to Handle the Pandemic

August 20, 2020 Buck Banks

“After months of failure, he just gave up. You know, I used to think it was because of his personality, but I just don’t think he can intellectually handle it. I don’t think he’s competent enough to know what to do. He just waved the white flag.”

— Joe Biden raised questions about President Trump’s mental capacity, saying he did not have the intellectual know-how to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Post reports.

Americans Angered, Embarrassed by U.S. Coronavirus Response

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

69%

A new CNN poll finds 69% of Americans say the U.S. response to the coronavirus outbreak makes them feel embarrassed. “And Americans are angry. About 8 in 10 say they are at least somewhat angry about the way things are going in the country today, including an astonishing 51% who say they are very angry.”

“It’s so unworthy of a president. It’s beyond despicable. It’s soulless. It’s almost unspeakable in the middle of the pandemic to try to divide the country on a political basis when Covid-19 is really bipartisan.”

— Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), quoted by the New York Times, on President Trump saying the coronavirus death toll from the coronavirus was actually not so bad “if you take out the blue states.”

860,000

65%

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds President Trump’s approval for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic at 35%, compared to 65% who disapprove.

“Donald Trump is a liar who has killed people, straight up.”

— Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D), quoted by WDIV.

7

White House documents show that senior Trump administration officials in June privately warned seven states about dangerous coronavirus outbreaks that put them in the highest risk “red zone” while publicly dismissing concerns about a second wave of Covid-19, Politico reports.

“After months of failure, he just gave up. You know, I used to think it was because of his personality, but I just don’t think he can intellectually handle it. I don’t think he’s competent enough to know what to do. He just waved the white flag.”

— Joe Biden raised questions about President Trump’s mental capacity, saying he did not have the intellectual know-how to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Post reports.

69%

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“It’s so unworthy of a president. It’s beyond despicable. It’s soulless. It’s almost unspeakable in the middle of the pandemic to try to divide the country on a political basis when Covid-19 is really bipartisan.”

— Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), quoted by the New York Times, on President Trump saying the coronavirus death toll from the coronavirus was actually not so bad “if you take out the blue states.”

“You can imagine it and try to dismiss it, saying he’s just a blowhard and schoolyard tough guy, using his thumbs on Twitter like fists. But the reality, the harsh cold onslaught, is just pure pain.”

— The late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), in a posthumously published book, We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy.

“This is not like embedding with the Marines in Fallujah. It is like you are taking your family with you to Fallujah.”

— ABC News White House correspondent Jon Karl, quoted by National Journal, on covering indoor Trump rallies.

“The microphone is also a microscope.”

— Bob Woodward told Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show that he will release the audio recordings of his interviews with President Trump that are “relevant.”

“This is an insult to every Nevadan who has followed the directives, made sacrifices, and put their neighbors before themselves. It’s also a direct threat to all of the recent progress we’ve made and could potentially set us back.”

— Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) slammed President Trump Sunday night for violating state rules by holding a campaign rally indoors with thousands of people, NBC News reports.

Numerati

72%

$5.4 million

Michael Bloomberg will spend $5.4 million on a weeklong TV ad campaign in Florida, part of his pledge to help Joe Biden win the all-important presidential battleground state, McClatchy reports.

69%

$1.1 million

“President Trump’s luxury properties have charged the U.S. government more than $1.1 million in private transactions since Trump took office — including for room rentals at his Bedminster, N.J., club this spring while it was closed for the coronavirus pandemic,” the Washington Post reports.

$1 million

Jaime Harrison (D) announced that he raised $1 million within a day after a poll found him tied with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) the U.S. Senate race in South Carolina.