Driving the Day:
https://twitter.com/Covid19WarRoom/status/1247137704917245953
By The Numbers
Monday, April 6, 7:30 AM
Number of US cases reported: 337,933
Number of US deaths: 9,653
Total Number of People Tested in US: 1,778,487 (may not include all labs)
New York Times: Official Counts Understate The US Coronavirus Death Toll
Washington Post: Coronavirus death toll: Americans are almost certainly dying of covid-19 but being left out of the official count
What to Watch For
President Trump has no public events scheduled today. Vice President Pence will hold a conference call with governors this morning. The coronavirus task force will brief the press at 5:00 PM.
Trump’s Failure to Prepare & How He’s Making it Worse
- This Week Is A “Pearl Harbor” And “9/11 Moment” And Trump Is Woefully Unprepared: On Sunday morning, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said that this week is going to be the “hardest and the saddest” for “most Americans’ lives,” comparing it to a “Pearl Harbor moment” and a “9/11 moment.” Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that it would be “a false statement” to say that the government has the outbreak under control. Yet, at the Sunday evening press briefing, President Trump and Vice President struck a more upbeat tone, claiming that there are signs that the outbreak is stabilizing and Trump saying about the prospect of businesses reopening, “Right now things are looking really good.”
- New Inspector General Report Exposes Hospital Shortages: On Monday morning, NBC reported that an HHS Inspector General’s report revealed that hospitals across the country face dire shortages of vital medical equipment and have received confusing and conflicting guidance from the government.
ABC: George W. Bush in 2005: ‘If we wait for a pandemic to appear, it will be too late to prepare’
The Atlantic (Ideas): This Is What Happens When the Federal Government Abandons You
Bloomberg: Trump and Pence Say They See Signs U.S. Outbreak Stabilizing
CNN: Surgeon General: This week will be like a ‘Pearl Harbor’ and ‘9/11’ moment
The Hill: Fauci says it would be ‘false statement’ to say we have coronavirus under control
NBC: Government watchdog: Hospitals face severe shortages of medical gear, confusing guidance from government
New York Magazine: There Is No Plan For the End of the Coronavirus Crisis
New York Post: Trump admin weighs legal action over alleged Chinese hoarding of PPE
New York Times (Opinion): He Went to Jared
Talking Points Memo: Feds Only Started Ordering Masks As Lockdowns Were Starting
Talking Points Memo: Barbados Claims US Seized Ventilators En Route to Country
Washington Post: Americans hit by economic shocks as confusion, stumbles undermine Trump’s stimulus effort
Washington Post (Opinion): 240,000 coronavirus deaths: ‘In what circle of hell is that a good outcome?,’ asks Susan Rice
Washington Post (Analysis): America was unprepared for a major crisis. Again.
Trump’s Misinformation
- Trump Is Taking Treatment Advice From His Personal Attorney, A Trade Specialist And Dr. Oz: President Trump has been receiving medical advice from Rudy Giuliani, trade specialist Peter Navarro and accused TV “quack,” Dr. Oz. At the Sunday evening press briefing, Trump again doubled down on his push for the use of chloroquine to treat coronavirus. Despite a lack of evidence, Trump claimed “there are some very strong, powerful signs” that the drug works. Trump then prevented Dr. Anthony Fauci from answering a question about the drug saying, “I answered this 15 times. You don’t have to answer.”
Axios: Scoop: Inside the epic White House fight over hydroxychloroquine
Bloomberg: A Fast-Moving Virus Pits Treating Patients Against Finding a Cure
Bloomberg: Half the U.S. Supply of Trump-Touted Virus Drug Now Cut Off
Daily Caller: Trump Pushes Lupus-Coronavirus Study, But The Evidence Is Mixed
Daily Beast: Trump Eyes Accused ‘Quack’ Dr. Oz for Coronavirus Advice
Daily Beast: Fox News Moguls Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch Stockpile Attorneys Against Coronavirus Lawsuits
New York Times: Ignoring Expert Opinion, Trump Again Promotes Use of Hydroxychloroquine
St. Louis Post Dispatch (Editorial): Editorial: It’s time for the networks to stop live broadcast of Trump’s briefings
Washington Post: Giuliani, a familiar voice in Trump’s ear, promotes experimental coronavirus treatments
Trump, GOP Only Looking Out for Themselves
- Capt. Crozier Removed From Command For Standing Up For His Crew Is Now Infected: Captain Ryan Crozier was removed from command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt last week after the leak of a letter he emailed to Navy leaders detailing the service’s failures to deal with a coronavirus outbreak onboard the ship. On Sunday after being publicly attacked by President Trump at Saturday’s press briefing, Capt. Crozier tested positive for Covid-19 himself. According to the New York Times, “colleagues say the mistake that could cost Captain Crozier his career was charging headlong into the Trump administration’s narrative that it had everything under control.”
Axios: How the coronavirus could shield Trump’s tax returns
The Hill: Kentucky governor says it’s ‘very hard’ to compete with federal government for medical equipment
New York Times: He Led a Top Navy Ship. Now He Sits in Quarantine, Fired and Infected.
Washington Post: Unafraid to call out Trump, Hogan emerges as lead GOP voice for urgent action on pandemic
Other News
Affordability And Access
NBC: Obamacare’s health care protections face first true test in coronavirus crisis
New York Times: Just When They’re Needed Most, Clinics for the Poor Face Drastic Cutbacks
Business
Axios: What top CEOs fear telling America about the coronavirus shutdown
Campaigns and Elections
Axios: Inside Trump’s virtual 2020 campaign
New York Times: Politics Through the Looking Glass: Virus Scrambles the Left-Right Lines
Politico: The new coronavirus funding battle over the November election
Congress
Bloomberg: Death Toll, Ailing Economy Fail to Unite Congress on Next Steps
New York Times: In Congress, Doctors Are Pressing for a More Aggressive Coronavirus Response
Politico: Clyburn: House coronavirus panel ‘will be forward-looking,’ not review Trump’s early response
Democratic Response
Politico: Dems find a rallying cry: Trump tanked the economy
Washington Post: Trump’s coronavirus commentary bolsters attack ads questioning his fitness to lead
Economic Impact
Politico: Food goes to waste amid coronavirus crisis
Wall Street Journal: State Shutdowns Have Taken at Least a Quarter of U.S. Economy Offline
Federal Activity
Washington Post: Fauci and Birx worked together at the dawn of the AIDS crisis. Thirty-seven years later, they are partners in fighting the coronavirus.
Governors and Local Officials
New York Daily News (Editorial): Thank you, Oregon: Gov. Kate Brown comes to New York’s aid with needed ventilators
New York Times: Americans Don’t Trust the Media Anymore. So Why Do They Trust the Cuomos?
Hospitals and Health Care Workers
Axios: Health care workers vs. the coronavirus
Politico: How public health failed nursing homes
Washington Post: ‘You’re basically right next to the nuclear reactor.’
Washington Post: A Brooklyn ICU amid a pandemic: patients alone, comforted by nurses and doctors
International
Financial Times: Fewer deaths in Veneto offer clues for fight against virus
The Guardian: Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus
Times Of London: Britain has millions of coronavirus antibody tests, but they don’t work
Wall Street Journal: Australian Police Launch Criminal Probe Over Coronavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship
In the States
WBZ: In Chicago, 70% of COVID-19 Deaths Are Black
Public Safety
NBC: Police see rise in domestic violence calls amid coronavirus lockdown
Science
Associated Press: Tiger at NYC’s Bronx Zoo Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Social Impact
Daily Beast: If You Have Anxiety and Depression but Feel Better During Coronavirus, You’re Not Alone
New York Times: ‘We’re Going to See What Else the Word Funeral Can Mean’
Washington Post: How long until sports can return? You might not like the answer.
Workers
Popular Information: Pizza pandemic
Trump Tweets
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! [@realDonaldTrump, 4/6/20]
USA STRONG! [@realDonaldTrump, 4/6/20]
[@realDonaldTrump, 4/6/20]
For humanitarian reasons, the passengers from the two CoronaVirus stricken cruise ships have been given medical treatment and, when appropriate, allowed to disembark, under strict supervision. Very carefully done. People we’re dying & no other countries would allow them to dock! [@realDonaldTrump, 4/6/20]
.@gayletrotter “To this day the establishment media have not admitted that they were wrong and the President was right.” @FoxNews [@realDonaldTrump, 4/6/20]
We are learning much about the Invisible Enemy. It is tough and smart, but we are tougher and smarter! [@realDonaldTrump, 4/5/20]
[@realDonaldTrump, 4/5/20]
[@realDonaldTrump, 4/5/20]