The lesson of Covid
June 4, 2024
The United States suffered more deaths from Covid than any other nation in the world (1.13 million) and the highest death rate (341 per 100,000) of any large, high-income country. Those shocking facts suggest that a congressional inquiry is urgently needed to understand why the US fared so poorly compared to other industrialized nations.
On Monday, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing ostensibly designed to understand why the US response to Covid paled in comparison to the responses and outcomes by countries like the UK, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and Netherlands.
You will not be surprised to learn that the hearing did not devote time to understanding what the US could do better in response to the next pandemic. Instead, Republicans converted the hearing into an evidence-free attack on Dr. Fauci’s selfless, expert guidance through a pandemic that killed approximately 1 out of every 300 Americans. See, e.g., Newsweek, Dr. Fauci Testifies: Unvaccinated Americans Caused Additional "200-300k Deaths".
Led by Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan, Republicans peddled baseless conspiracy theories that will kill tens or hundreds of thousands of Americans in the next pandemic—just as vaccine hesitancy and disinformation killed hundreds of thousands of Americans in the last epidemic.
Convicted Felon Donald Trump broke the Republican Party when he elevated loyalty to him above belief in the truth. The disgraceful conduct by Republicans in today’s Select Committee hearing is the direct product of Trump's assault on the truth.
A nation cannot govern itself if it creates policy and passes legislation based on fever dreams and mass delusion. Truth matters. Lies matter. That may be the most important lesson of the coronavirus pandemic. It came at a dear cost: The deaths of 1.1 million Americans. We should never forget that lesson or the losses suffered by tens of millions of family members—or we may be condemned to repeat the tragedy in the next pandemic.
Biden says the “F” word
Some (okay, many) readers commented that they were disappointed that Biden did not come out swinging against Trump immediately after the 34 guilty verdicts. As I wrote yesterday, it was appropriate for Biden to refrain from celebrating the verdict. After all, Joe Biden is the president of all Americans—including those Americans who support Trump.
But Biden the candidate will have to find the right way and time to leverage Trump's conviction. It appears that President Biden is already referring to Trump as a “convicted felon.” See Biden calls Trump a 'convicted felon' who is unfit for office | Reuters. It’s early. We should expect more of the same. Much more.
President Biden to sign executive order allowing for closure of border to asylum seekers
The White House is telling Democrats that President Biden will sign an executive order that will “shut down” the asylum request process based on daily “encounters” with immigrants crossing the border illegally. See Biden prepares an order that would shut down asylum if a daily average of 2,500 migrants arrive | AP News.
Per AP,
The White House is telling lawmakers that President Joe Biden is preparing to sign off on an executive order that would shut down asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border once the average number of daily encounters hits 2,500 between ports of entry, with the border reopening only once that number declines to 1,500, according to several people familiar with the discussions.
The report comes after Trump ordered Republicans to kill a bipartisan bill that contained a similar provision (with different caps).
The executive order will satisfy no one, including some in the Democratic Party. As with other difficult issues, we cannot allow disagreement over one issue—even a major issue like asylum—to prevent Joe Biden’s reelection. However much we may disagree with Biden’s proposed executive order, it will be far more humane and orderly than Trump's plan to summarily deport ten million immigrants.
Trump calls on Supreme Court to overturn his guilty verdicts
In an unhinged post on Truth Social, convicted felon Donald Trump pleaded for the US Supreme Court to intervene in his state court case before his sentencing hearing in July. In a rambling post, Trump railed against Judge Merchan’s role in determining whether Trump will go to prison. Trump wrote, in part,
an “Acting” Local Judge, appointed by the Democrats, who is HIGHLY CONFLICTED, will make a decision which will determine the future of our Nation? The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!
See generally, The Guardian, Trump calls on supreme court to annul his guilty verdict in hush-money case.
The direct, extra-judicial appeal to the Supreme Court is highly improper—as was the statement of Speaker Mike Johnson, who said that the Supreme Court should “step in,” adding that he knows “many” of the Supreme Court justices personally and they are “deeply concerned” about Trump's legal peril. See Slate, Donald Trump news: Mike Johnson wants the Supreme Court to do what now?
The hypocrisy would be humorous if the situation were not tragic. Republicans who believe that Judge Merchan is politically motivated want the Supreme Court to “step in” to save Trump because . . . well, because he is the GOP candidate in 2024 and should be above the law. In other words, they are asking the Supreme Court to intervene as a partisan actor in a state criminal matter.
Sadly, it seems that the Court is on the precipice of doing so by granting Trump some form of limited immunity. And even if they don’t, the reactionary majority has successfully granted Trump his real remedy—delay of the federal election interference trial until after the November election.
Enlarge the Court. All it takes is a majority vote in both chambers of the Congress and the signature of the president. (A carve-out the filibuster would be necessary, but a carve-out can be created with only 51 votes.)
Pro Publica report on Trump and GOP benefits to potential witnesses in Trump civil and criminal matters
The independent, non-profit newsroom, Pro Publica, has published a report that is both alarming and damning. Pro Publica has uncovered a consistent pattern of substantial benefits flowing to witnesses in criminal cases against Trump at opportune moments. See Pro Publica, Trump Witnesses Have Received Financial Benefits From Trump Businesses, Campaign.
Per Pro Publica,
Nine witnesses in the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump have received significant financial benefits, including large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares and cash from Trump’s media company.
The benefits have flowed from Trump’s businesses and campaign committees, according to a ProPublica analysis of public disclosures, court records and securities filings. One campaign aide had his average monthly pay double, from $26,000 to $53,500. Another employee got a $2 million severance package barring him from voluntarily cooperating with law enforcement. And one of the campaign’s top officials had her daughter hired onto the campaign staff, where she is now the fourth-highest-paid employee.
These pay increases and other benefits often came at delicate moments in the legal proceedings against Trump.
ProPublica did not find evidence that Trump personally approved the pay increases or other benefits and a Trump campaign spokesperson responded to the article, saying, “Any false assertion that we’re engaging in any type of behavior that may be regarded as tampering is absurd and completely fake.” The Trump campaign also sent a cease-and-desist letter and threatened to sue for defamation.
Read the article. It contains detailed information about what appears to be a disturbing pattern—a pattern that is consistent with statements made to Cassidy Hutchison by her first lawyer (provided by the Trump campaign).
Like many things with Trump, he says the illegal part out loud. Hiring and promoting people identified as adverse witnesses in criminal cases would be unthinkable for anyone else. For Trump, it is a way of doing business--and sending a message.
Someone should investigate. Looking at you, Merrick Garland!
Opportunity for Reader Engagement
Here is an opportunity for readers in the Taos, New Mexico area:
Taos United invites everyone to our Wednesday afternoon Vote Forward letter writing parties. We’ve been holding these every two years to help turn out Democrats and Democratic leaning voters in swing states. Meet like-minded people, help save democracy and have fun! Together we can make a difference beyond the borders of our blue state!
We supply everything you need: letters, envelopes, stamps and pens. Please bring some stamps or a contribution, checks made out to Taos United, if you’re able.
WEDNESDAYS 1-4 PM until further notice
Taos County Democratic Party Office
729-A Paseo del Pueblo Sur
Taos, New Mexico
Concluding Thoughts
Two fathers.
* * * * *
On the first day of Hunter Biden’s trial, Joe Biden released the following statement:
I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.
Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean. As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.
Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.
Dr. Jill Biden attended the first day of Hunter Biden’s trial on Monday.
* * * * *
After Trump was convicted, he gave an interview in which he said that the trial was difficult for Melania and Barron (his son). Here is what Trump said about Barron:
He's amazing actually, in a certain way. He's tall, good-looking . . . a very good student. And he's applied to colleges and gets into everywhere he goes. He's very sought after from [the] standpoint he's a very smart guy. He's a very tall guy. And he's a great kid. He's cool, he's pretty cool, I'll tell ya.
* * * * *
I will let you compare the statements of the two fathers.
The differences speak volumes.
Talk to you tomorrow!
In my mind, the beginning of the magnified used of disinformation was evidenced during the 2020 COVID pandemic. Listening to Ms. Green spout off with inappropriate accusations of and to Dr Fauci brings almost a PTSD kind of response for me, in regard to all we had to deal with during that horrid time. I don't think the "Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic" did themselves any favors by having Q'Anoner MTG gaining those sound and video bites as she did. I think history will not be kind to her in having such evidence to her character. (or lack of)
In the early days of my nursing career, I spent many years working in the ICU. My first "flashback" regarding yesterday's hearing was that of nurses in the ICU having to wear trash bags for PPE, and when I bought a HEPA filter to place pieces inside homemade masks that I was making on my sewing machine because there were no masks for the public. Follow those thoughts with a remembrance of the refrigerator trucks that had to be used as morgues outside of hospitals in NYC. We must never let ourselves become that vulnerable again.
"He's tall, good-looking [...] a very smart guy. He's a very tall guy. And he's a great kid. He's cool, he's pretty cool, I'll tell ya." All I can say is, it must be surreal for Barron to have a father who's old enough to be his grandfather, or even great-grandfather.
edit to add: Clicked on the link to read the actual article and noticed that apparently no one bothered to iron Barron's graduation stole before he wore it for the ceremony.
As for Dr. Fauci, it is beyond surreal how the Rethugs are treating him after everything he's done to try to combat the misinformation/disinformation surrounding Covid, and sad as well as alarming how he and his wife and three daughters are enduring death threats and other abuse from the MAGA cult. I truly hope our government is providing security for them, as that cost should not be borne by Dr. Fauci.