Driving the Day:
By The Numbers:
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 7:30 AM
Number of US cases reported: 43,499
Number of US deaths: 537
Total Number of People Tested in US: 303,014 (may not include private labs)
Axios: Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index: Everything’s worse
New York Times: See Which States and Cities Have Told Residents to Stay at Home
Washington Post: U.S. reports more than 100 coronavirus deaths in a single day, 500 total
What to Watch For:
At noon today, President Trump will hold a “virtual town hall” from the Rose Garden on Fox News. Vice President Pence will meet with the coronavirus task force at 3:00 PM, but no daily briefing is scheduled for today. Talks on an economic relief package are ongoing with a Senate vote now expected today or Wednesday. The House hopes to avoid returning to Washington by passing the bill by unanimous consent.
Trump’s Failure to Prepare & How He’s Making it Worse
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Trump Floats Ending Social Distancing Against Advice of Health Experts: Even as four more states issued comprehensive stay at home orders, President Trump now appears frantic to “reopen” the American economy by ending social distancing measures soon. At the Monday evening press briefing, Trump insisted that “our country wasn’t built to be shut down” and that if the economy remained stalled, more deaths from suicide and despair would result than from coronavirus. Trump returned to his previous tactic of downplaying the seriousness of coronavirus by comparing it to the flu and to automobile accidents. Trump is set to defy the advice of every public health expert in an attempt to salvage his 2020 reelection.
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Trump May Have Undermined the Emerging Deal on Economic Relief: As reports emerged of progress being made on a deal to provide economic relief to struggling Americans, Trump appeared ready to scuttle the entire thing by tweeting late Monday night that, “Republicans had a deal until Nancy Pelosi rode into town from her extended vacation. The Democrats want the Virus to win? They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders & Green New Deal. Republicans shouldn’t agree!” Trump later retweeted more criticism of the deal and said, “this will never be approved by me, or any other Republican!”
Associated Press: Chaos, Inconsistency Mark Launch Of Drive-Thru Virus Testing
Associated Press: Analysis: Trump struggles to adjust to crisis presidency
Associated Press: Testing blunders crippled US response as coronavirus spread
Associated Press: Trump weighs economic impact of shutdown as backlash grows
Axios: Trump says coronavirus restrictions will be lifted “soon,” dismissing health experts
Axios: Trump’s huge coronavirus gamble
Bloomberg: Trump Says U.S. Isn’t ‘Built to Be Shut Down’ Over Virus
CNN: Dollars vs. deaths is the sickening choice created by coronavirus
Daily Beast: Trump Is In a Frenzy Over The Economy—Not So Much The Virus
Houston Chronicle: Sen. Cruz calls on Trump to address medical supply shortages by invoking Defense Production Act
HuffPost: Trump Claims U.S. Will See More Death By Keeping Economy Shut Than By Coronavirus
Kaiser Health News: CDC Coronavirus Testing Decision Likely To Haunt Nation For Months To Come
Los Angeles Times: Trump shows impatience with public health experts on coronavirus
NBC: Tensions brewing inside the White House over economic consequences of coronavirus response
New York Times: As Federal Government Mobilizes, Local Officials Say Response Remains Too Slow
New York Times: Trump Considers Reopening Economy, Over Health Experts’ Objections
Politico: Trump signals growing skepticism about coronavirus lockdown
Politico: Trump’s new 2020 reality: Nothing matters but his coronavirus response
Vox: Trump’s excuses for not using the Defense Production Act are wrong — and dangerous
Vox: Trump is ignoring his top health advisers over 2020 election fears
Wall Street Journal: How The CDC’s Restrictive Testing Guidelines Hid The Coronavirus Epidemic
Washington Post: Trump leads from behind on the coronavirus, invoking federalism to excuse his dithering response
Washington Post: Trump weighs restarting economy despite warnings from U.S. public health officials
Washington Post: Trump flirts with a less-aggressive coronavirus response, echoing Fox News
Washington Post (Opinion): Trump, as usual, is just making things worse
Yahoo: Biden urges Trump to apply Defense Production Act in response to coronavirus outbreak
Yahoo: Cuomo says Trump should use Defense Production Act so states can get supplies to fight coronavirus
Trump’s Misinformation
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Lying About Automakers Producing Ventilators: Two fact checks on Monday showed that Trump, yet again, is lying about automakers’ role in producing desperately needed ventilators to aid in the fight against coronavirus. Trump has repeatedly claimed that, “Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST!,” when in fact no automaker is anywhere close to making medical gear. The ability for car makers to produce ventilators remains months, or longer, in the future, and they do not require Trump’s “go ahead” to produce such equipment.
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Man Dies After Ingesting Trump-Touted Malaria Drug. At the second daily briefing in a row without Dr. Anthony Fauci in attendance, Trump continued to recklessly promote the unproven malaria drug chloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus. Earlier Monday afternoon news broke that a man in Arizona died after trying to self-medicate with chloroquine. Trump’s relentless promotion of unproven drugs that are still being tested also led Gilead to suspend emergency access to its experimental treatment after demand became overwhelming.
Associated Press: AP FACT CHECK: Trump hype on auto industry and ventilators
Bloomberg: FDA Lifts Curbs on Indian Maker of Virus Drug Touted by Trump
CNN (Analysis): Trump uses daily coronavirus briefings to replace campaign rallies
MLive: Trump’s claims that GM, Ford making ventilators ‘right now’ not true
NBC: Man dies after ingesting chloroquine in an attempt to prevent coronavirus
New York Magazine: Trump Is Back to Waging War on Science, at the Worst Possible Moment
New York Times: Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety
New York Times: Coronavirus Patients in Limbo as Gilead Suspends Emergency Drug Access
New York Times: Trump Has Given Unusual Leeway to Fauci, but Aides Say He’s Losing His Patience
Politico: Trump touts New York coronavirus trials as progress against pandemic
Wall Street Journal: Trump Claim That Malaria Drugs Treat Coronavirus Sparks Warnings, Shortages
Washington Post (Analysis): The Trump administration has contradicted itself on coronavirus no fewer than 20 times in less than six weeks
Trump, GOP Only Looking Out for Themselves
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Trump Hotels Closed and Suddenly Trump Wants to End Social Distancing: The Washington Post reported that Trump’s sudden new drive to end social distancing came after six of his seven top revenue-producing hotels and clubs were forced to close, potentially driving his company of millions of dollars in revenue. Asked about oversight of the reported $500 billion “slush fund” in the Senate Republican economic relief package, Trump dismissed concerns saying, “Look, I’ll be the oversight.”
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Texas Lt. Governor Says That Grandparents Would Willingly Die to Save the Economy: Appearing on Fox News on Monday night, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the outrageous claim that “lots of” grandparents would be willing to die of coronavirus in order to save the economy for their grandchildren. Earlier in the day, Texas became the latest state to halt abortion services during the outbreak claiming that the procedures are not “medically necessary” and that banning them would free up hospital capacity.
Axios: Texas Lt. Gov.: Grandparents would be willing to die to save the economy
Axios: The coronavirus is creating a lobbying feeding frenzy
CBS: Texas becomes latest state to halt abortion services amid coronavirus outbreak
CNBC: SEC warns on coronavirus insider trading after stock sales by Sen. Loeffler and NYSE chief husband raise eyebrows
The Hill: Sinema Criticizes Paul For Alleged Behavior Ahead Of Coronavirus Test Results: ‘Absolutely Irresponsible’
New York Times (Editorial): The Coronavirus Bailout Stalled. And It’s Mitch McConnell’s Fault.
Washington Post: Before Trump called for reevaluating lockdowns, they shuttered six of his top-earning clubs and resorts
Washington Post: Six days: Tracking Sen. Rand Paul from coronavirus testing to positive diagnosis
Washington Post (Opinion): Why we can’t trust Trump on the big bailout ‘slush fund’
Other News
Affordability And Access
New York Times: Eleven States Now Letting Uninsured Sign Up for Obamacare
Business
Vox: Why we shouldn’t rely on Silicon Valley for face masks
Campaigns and Elections
New York Times: 2020 Democratic Primary Election: Voting Postponed in 8 States Because of Virus
New York Times: Joe Biden Is Trying to Be Heard on the Virus. Can He Break Through?
Politico: DNC insists its convention is on — but many Democrats aren’t buying it
Congress
McClatchy: California congresswoman sold stock in travel companies
Miami Herald: Members of Congress have a special doctor to call when they have coronavirus worries
Politico: How the House Democrats’ stimulus plan compares to the Senate’s
Politico: Top Democrat recommends passing relief package without returning to Washington
Politico: Mnuchin, Schumer say coronavirus rescue package deal very close
Roll Call: Remote voting? Rand Paul COVID-19 diagnosis prompts more discussion
Diplomacy
AFP: UN Security Council stalemate over virus
Foreign Policy: U.S. Appeals to Aid Recipients for Help in Fighting Coronavirus
Economic Impact
Axios: The coronavirus economy will devastate those who can least afford it
Buzzfeed: This Mom Can’t Get Enough Food To Feed Her Kids Because Panicked Shoppers Are Buying All The WIC-Eligible Food
New York Times: The Fed’s Message: The Money-Printing Presses Are Fired Up and Ready to Go
New York Times: Traffic and Pollution Plummet as U.S. Cities Shut Down for Coronavirus
New York Times (Opinion): This Stimulus Bill Will Not Save the Economy From Collapse
Politico: Fears mount of a coronavirus-induced depression
Politico: House panel warns coronavirus could destroy Postal Service by June
USA Today: IOC member says that 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed due to coronavirus pandemic
Wall Street Journal: Hit by Coronavirus, Amtrak Banks on Billion-Dollar Bailout to Stay Afloat
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Domestic Passenger Flights Could Virtually Shut Down, Voluntarily or by Government Order
Washington City Paper: Are Carry-Out and Delivery Sales Making a Difference for Restaurants’ Bottom Lines?
Washington Post: Evictions During Coronavirus: Renters Risk Losing Homes Amid Shelter-In-Place Orders
Federal Activity
CNN: First lady Melania Trump tests negative for coronavirus, White House says
Washington Post: ‘It’s going to get bad’: As outbreak surges, nation faces tough start to a grim week
Governors and Mayors
Associated Press: West Virginia governor rambles, mixes messages on virus
Axios: Four more states issue coronavirus stay-at-home orders
CNBC: Massachusetts under ‘stay-at-home’ order until April 7, Gov. Baker announces
Miami Herald: FL Gov. DeSantis pushes back against calls for statewide stay-home order
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Gov. Tim Walz in self-quarantine after contact with someone who has COVID-19
Hospitals and Health Care Workers
ABC: Critical inhaler medication shortage looms as coronavirus cases soar
Politico: As supplies grow scarce in New York City, medical workers fear becoming patients themselves
Vice: Coronavirus Has Yet to Reach My Corner of the Country. We’re Not Ready
Immigration and Travel
ProPublica: ICE Detainee Says Migrants Are Going on a Hunger Strike For Soap
Stat: As coronavirus spreads, thousands of foreign doctors could be blocked from U.S. entry, group warns
International
Axios: U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders nationwide lockdown
CNN: Hong Kong appeared to have the coronavirus under control, then it let its guard down
New York Times: How South Korea Flattened the Curve
New York Times: Covid-19’s Economic Pain Is Universal. But Relief? Depends on Where You Live.
Politico: Democracy in critical care as coronavirus disrupts governments
US News & World Report: Italy’s Coronavirus Deaths Slow, Offering Glimmer of Hope
Wall Street Journal: China’s Hubei Province to Ease Coronavirus Lockdown This Week; Wuhan to Follow in April
In the States
The Atlantic: Why a Tiny Colorado County Can Offer COVID-19 Tests to Every Resident
The Lily: Nantucket has 3 ventilators. Residents say ‘stay away,’ but East Coast elites keep coming
New York Times: Density Is New York City’s Big ‘Enemy’ in the Coronavirus Fight
New York Times: Party Zero: How a Soirée in Connecticut Became a ‘Super Spreader’
Wall Street Journal: One Nursing Home, 35 Coronavirus Deaths: Inside the Kirkland Disaster
Media
Axios: America’s new favorite pastime
Buzzfeed: The Coronavirus Will Hurt The News Industry More Than The 2008 Financial Collapse Did
New York Times: As Fox News Played Down the Coronavirus, Its Chief Protected Himself
New York Times: The Coronavirus Revives Facebook as a News Powerhouse
Politico: White House reporter suspected to have coronavirus, WHCA says
Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus Is Giving Readers Plenty of News. But Local Outlets Are Still Teetering.
National Security
Reuters: Elite hackers target WHO as coronavirus cyberattacks spike
Personal Preparedness
McClatchy: Heading outdoors? Here are some tips to help avoid coronavirus
New York Times (Opinion): Feeling Powerless About Coronavirus? Join a Mutual-Aid Network
Public Safety
NJ.com: N.J. releasing some non-violent inmates from jail this week to fight coronavirus outbreaks behind bars
Science
CNBC: CDC says coronavirus survived in Princess Cruise ship cabins for up to 17 days after passengers left
New York Times: 20-Somethings Now Realizing That They Can Get Coronavirus, Too
Washington Post: Coronavirus adds peril to the already at-risk: ‘If I get this stuff, it’s going to kill me.’
Social Impact
Associated Press: Enjoyable at a distance, holiday lights brighten dark times
Buzzfeed: How Are You Getting Your Weed During The Coronavirus Outbreak?
Daily Beast: The Explosion of Coronavirus-Themed Porn: ‘They Lighten the Tension’
New York Times: ‘I Feel Like I Have Five Jobs’: Moms Navigate the Pandemic
The Verge: There’s no better time for cities to take space away from cars
Workers
Axios: Instacart plans to hire 300,000 more shoppers in coming months
Daily Beast: Woke Butler Service Faces Worker Rage Over Coronavirus
Financial Times: Amazon resists closures as more Covid-19 cases are confirmed
NBC: Joe Biden pushes Trump for worker protections in coronavirus bailout
New York Times: As Postal Workers Fall Sick, Colleagues Keep Working. And Worrying
Popular Information: Amazon soliciting public donations to pay workers’ sick leave
Trump Tweets
“The Hill/HarrisX: 61% to 39% Approval Rating on handling of Coronavirus situation. Thank you!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]
“Republicans had a deal until Nancy Pelosi rode into town from her extended vacation. The Democrats want the Virus to win? They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders & Green New Deal. Republicans shouldn’t agree!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]
“This is the way the @nytimes finished a story on me. “You can see the contrast between the steady, assured, informed and strong leadership that VP Biden (Sleepy Joe) has shown, and the bungling, chaotic and dishonest start-stop approach that Mr. (not Pres.) Trump has shown us since the beginning of this crisis.” They meant the opposite? Forgot to mention that I closed our Country to China (and Europe) very early, long before it was considered acceptable to do so. Sleepy Joe said I was “xenophobic”, but I saved thousands of lives! Fake News!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]
“It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]
“The New York Times changed headlines 3 times in order to satisfy the Radical Left. What should have been a good story got “worse & worse”, until the headline alone made it very unfair. Fake & Corrupt News that is very dangerous for our Country!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]
“THIS IS WHY WE NEED BORDERS!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/23/20]