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| White House chief of staff says 'we're not going to control pandemic', after Pence staffers test positive – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President and challenger seek late boosts as election day looms while VP refuses to change schedule amid staff outbreak | President and challenger seek late boosts as election day looms while VP refuses to change schedule amid staff outbreak |
| Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has given an interview to the BBC’s Andrew Marr. He tempers Donald Trump’s claims that there will be a vaccine by the end of the year, calling the statement correct but noting that a wide rollout will take “several months into 2021” and early use will focus on vulnerable populations and healthcare workers. | |
| “We will know whether a vaccine is safe and effective by the end of November, the beginning of December,” Fauci said. “When you talk about vaccinating a substantial proportion of the population, so that you can have a significant impact on the dynamics of the outbreak, that very likely will not be until the second or third quarter of the year.” | |
| He also says it’s “very important” for politicians and public figures to follow the science. “You can positively or negatively influence behavior,” he says. “It would really be a shame if we have a safe and effective vaccine but a substantial portion of the people don’t want to take the vaccine because they don’t trust authority.” | |
| He also says it’s “obvious” that the idea of injecting bleach, notoriously raised by Trump earlier this year, is not following the science. When asked whether Trump’s suggestion that he is now immune and could “come down and start kissing everybody” is following the science, he says “you know the answer to that, no it isn’t.” | |
| He says that Trump is also not right that listening to scientists would lead to a massive depression, adding that he believes that “if we did things in a prudent way… you could follow the science and public health measures without shutting down the economy.” And he denies saying, as Trump recently suggested, that the virus “is going to go away soon”, explaining that remarks he made in January before person-to-person transmission began have been taken out of context. | |
| When asked about Joe Biden’s claim that wearing masks could save 100,000 lives by January he says “I’m not sure about the number” but that it is true that wearing masks can save a lot of lives. | |
| White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has just made one of the most revealing comments to emerge from Trump’s inner circle about the president’s historic mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. On a Sunday political talk show, Meadows admitted that the federal government was not focusing on trying to control the pandemic. | |
| “We’re not going to control the pandemic,” he told Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union. “We are going to control the fact that we get a vaccine, therapeutics and other mitigation.” | |
| Tapper pressed Meadows to explain why the administration was not going to control Covid-19, given the massive surge that is pummeling the Midwest and mountain states. He replied: “Because it is a contagious virus.” | |
| Meadows’ statement would be astonishing at any time during the pandemic. It gives an unusually candid insight into the mindset of a White House that from the outset has played down its role in marshalling a federal effort to bring the virus under control. | |
| The remark was all the more astounding given it’s timing. Marc Short, chief of staff to vice president Mike Pence, has just tested positive for coronavirus, as have three other VP staff and an adviser. | |
| Yet Pence continues to travel the US, unmasked, holding campaign events, the White House avoiding the recommendation to quarantine set out by the administration’s own public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by calling the vice-president an “essential worker”. | |
| Pence is in charge of the White House coronavirus task force, which a key member, Anthony Fauci, said on Friday has seen its meetings “diminish” while President Trump has not attended in “several months”. | |
| Around the country, confirmed cases are on a steep upward curve, with Friday and Saturday recording the highest levels since the pandemic began. Hospitalisations and deaths have also begun to rise. | |
| In a heated exchange with Tapper, Meadows repeatedly sidestepped the administration’s responsibility for this surge in numbers just nine days before the presidential election. He kept on stressing the role of therapeutics and a future vaccine in “mitigating” the number of deaths, while implying the federal government had no responsibility for the rampant spread of the virus. | |
| Tapper asked why the vice-president continued to travel to campaign events without wearing a mask, despite having been exposed via his closest staff. Meadows tried to redirect the blame to China as the source of the virus, but Tapper continued to challenge him. | |
| “Would you agree this is very serious, people need to take precautions?” Tapper asked. | |
| “I agree it is very serious, but we continue to test more and more so the cases will go up,” Meadows replied. | |
| In fact, the number of new confirmed cases is rising significantly faster than the quantity of testing. | |
| Jamal Collins took the trouble to vote four years ago even though, like a lot of people in Cleveland, he didn’t imagine it would change very much. | Jamal Collins took the trouble to vote four years ago even though, like a lot of people in Cleveland, he didn’t imagine it would change very much. |
| Eight years of deflated hopes for Barack Obama had left the African American teacher wondering if any president could really make that much difference to the lives and livelihoods Collins saw around him. He even thought there might be an upside to the election of Donald Trump. | Eight years of deflated hopes for Barack Obama had left the African American teacher wondering if any president could really make that much difference to the lives and livelihoods Collins saw around him. He even thought there might be an upside to the election of Donald Trump. |
| “I’m kinda glad it happened,” Collins said a few weeks after the new president moved into the White House. “It really is an eye-opener on what’s really going on. The real truth about America. The real truth that there’s still a lot of racism. People voted for this sort of stuff.” | “I’m kinda glad it happened,” Collins said a few weeks after the new president moved into the White House. “It really is an eye-opener on what’s really going on. The real truth about America. The real truth that there’s still a lot of racism. People voted for this sort of stuff.” |
| A lot of people in Cleveland chose not to vote. Driven by disillusionment with Obama and dislike for Hillary Clinton, turnout fell in the overwhelmingly Democratic city where nearly half the population is black, as it did in others across the midwest, helping to usher Trump to victory. | A lot of people in Cleveland chose not to vote. Driven by disillusionment with Obama and dislike for Hillary Clinton, turnout fell in the overwhelmingly Democratic city where nearly half the population is black, as it did in others across the midwest, helping to usher Trump to victory. |
| This year, Collins sees it differently. | This year, Collins sees it differently. |
| Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, is currently conducting a fiery interview with Jake Tapper of CNN, voices raised about the White House’s attitude to coronavirus mitigation measures and campaigning instead of steering efforts to combat the pandemic. It’s not going well. More soon. In the meantime, here’s the White House pool report: | Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, is currently conducting a fiery interview with Jake Tapper of CNN, voices raised about the White House’s attitude to coronavirus mitigation measures and campaigning instead of steering efforts to combat the pandemic. It’s not going well. More soon. In the meantime, here’s the White House pool report: |
| The Lincoln Project “will not be intimidated by empty bluster”, a lawyer for the group wrote late on Saturday, in response to a threat from an attorney for Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner over two billboards the group put up in Times Square. | The Lincoln Project “will not be intimidated by empty bluster”, a lawyer for the group wrote late on Saturday, in response to a threat from an attorney for Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner over two billboards the group put up in Times Square. |
| The billboards show the president’s daughter and her husband, both senior White House advisers, showing apparent indifference to public suffering under Covid-19. Kushner is shown next to the quote “[New Yorkers] are going to suffer and that’s their problem”, above a line of body bags. Trump is shown gesturing, with a smile, to statistics for how many New Yorkers and Americans as a whole have died. | The billboards show the president’s daughter and her husband, both senior White House advisers, showing apparent indifference to public suffering under Covid-19. Kushner is shown next to the quote “[New Yorkers] are going to suffer and that’s their problem”, above a line of body bags. Trump is shown gesturing, with a smile, to statistics for how many New Yorkers and Americans as a whole have died. |
| The Lincoln Project is a group of former Republican consultants who have made it their mission to attack Donald Trump and support Joe Biden. | The Lincoln Project is a group of former Republican consultants who have made it their mission to attack Donald Trump and support Joe Biden. |
| On Friday Marc Kasowitz, an attorney who has represented the president in cases involving allegations of fraud and sexual assault, wrote to the Lincoln Project, demanding the “false, malicious and defamatory” ads be removed, or “we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages”. | On Friday Marc Kasowitz, an attorney who has represented the president in cases involving allegations of fraud and sexual assault, wrote to the Lincoln Project, demanding the “false, malicious and defamatory” ads be removed, or “we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages”. |
| The Lincoln Project responded that they would not remove the billboards, citing among other things their first amendment rights of free speech. | The Lincoln Project responded that they would not remove the billboards, citing among other things their first amendment rights of free speech. |
| In a legal response released on Saturday night, attorney Matthew Sanderson wrote: “Please peddle your scare tactics elsewhere. The Lincoln Project will not be intimidated by such empty bluster … your clients are no longer Upper East Side socialites, able to sue at the slightest offense to their personal sensitivities.” | In a legal response released on Saturday night, attorney Matthew Sanderson wrote: “Please peddle your scare tactics elsewhere. The Lincoln Project will not be intimidated by such empty bluster … your clients are no longer Upper East Side socialites, able to sue at the slightest offense to their personal sensitivities.” |
| Due to a “gross act of nepotism”, Sanderson wrote, Trump and Kushner have become public officials whom Americans “have the right to discuss and criticize freely”. Sanderson cited supreme court precedent and “substantial constitutional protections for those who speak out”. | Due to a “gross act of nepotism”, Sanderson wrote, Trump and Kushner have become public officials whom Americans “have the right to discuss and criticize freely”. Sanderson cited supreme court precedent and “substantial constitutional protections for those who speak out”. |
| Kasowitz claimed Kushner “never said” the words attributed to him on the billboards, and Trump “never made the gesture” she is shown to make. | Kasowitz claimed Kushner “never said” the words attributed to him on the billboards, and Trump “never made the gesture” she is shown to make. |
| Vanity Fair reported the Kushner quote, from a meeting on 20 March, as the pandemic gathered terrible speed, New York reeled and Kushner attacked Governor Andrew Cuomo. Trump tweeted the pose used by the Lincoln Project in July, controversially promoting Goya foods. | Vanity Fair reported the Kushner quote, from a meeting on 20 March, as the pandemic gathered terrible speed, New York reeled and Kushner attacked Governor Andrew Cuomo. Trump tweeted the pose used by the Lincoln Project in July, controversially promoting Goya foods. |
| The “bruised self-image” of the president’s daughter “does not change the fact that this billboard accurately depicts her support of a federal response that has utterly failed to prevent an unmitigated tragedy for the United States”, Sanderson wrote. | The “bruised self-image” of the president’s daughter “does not change the fact that this billboard accurately depicts her support of a federal response that has utterly failed to prevent an unmitigated tragedy for the United States”, Sanderson wrote. |
| “May I suggest,” he added, “that if Mr Kushner and Ms Trump are genuinely concerned about salvaging their reputations, they would do well to stop suppressing truthful criticism and instead turn their attention to the Covid-19 crisis that is still unfolding under their inept watch. | “May I suggest,” he added, “that if Mr Kushner and Ms Trump are genuinely concerned about salvaging their reputations, they would do well to stop suppressing truthful criticism and instead turn their attention to the Covid-19 crisis that is still unfolding under their inept watch. |
| “These billboards are not causing [their] standing with the public to plummet. Their incompetence is.” | “These billboards are not causing [their] standing with the public to plummet. Their incompetence is.” |
| Sanderson also said “This isn’t over” and added: “Sue if you must.” | Sanderson also said “This isn’t over” and added: “Sue if you must.” |
| As University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian, that seems unlikely. | As University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian, that seems unlikely. |
| Ivanka Trump’s “father has honed litigation abuse, as a business person and president, to an art form,” Tobias said. But “if they did sue, the litigation might take years to resolve, be expensive and lead to embarrassing revelations … suits like this by people who have thrust themselves into the public eye are notoriously difficult to win. | Ivanka Trump’s “father has honed litigation abuse, as a business person and president, to an art form,” Tobias said. But “if they did sue, the litigation might take years to resolve, be expensive and lead to embarrassing revelations … suits like this by people who have thrust themselves into the public eye are notoriously difficult to win. |
| “In short, this appears to be the usual Trump family bluster.” | “In short, this appears to be the usual Trump family bluster.” |
| Barring a miracle, Amy Coney Barrett will be confirmed on Monday as the ninth justice on the US supreme court. | Barring a miracle, Amy Coney Barrett will be confirmed on Monday as the ninth justice on the US supreme court. |
| This is a travesty of democracy. | This is a travesty of democracy. |
| Barrett’s confirmation is the culmination of years in which a shrinking and increasingly conservative, rural and white segment of the US population has been imposing its will on the rest of America. They’ve been bankrolled by big business, seeking lower taxes and fewer regulations. | Barrett’s confirmation is the culmination of years in which a shrinking and increasingly conservative, rural and white segment of the US population has been imposing its will on the rest of America. They’ve been bankrolled by big business, seeking lower taxes and fewer regulations. |
| In the event Joe Biden becomes president on 20 January and both houses of Congress come under control of the Democrats, they can reverse this trend. It may be the last chance – both for the Democrats and, more importantly, for American democracy. | In the event Joe Biden becomes president on 20 January and both houses of Congress come under control of the Democrats, they can reverse this trend. It may be the last chance – both for the Democrats and, more importantly, for American democracy. |
| How? | How? |
| More from the Associated Press: | More from the Associated Press: |
| “A day after the US set a daily record for new confirmed coronavirus infections, it came very close to doing it again. | “A day after the US set a daily record for new confirmed coronavirus infections, it came very close to doing it again. |
| Data published by Johns Hopkins University showed that 83,718 new cases were reported on Saturday, nearly matching the 83,757 infections reported on Friday. Before that, the most cases reported in the US on a single day had been 77,362 on 16 July. | Data published by Johns Hopkins University showed that 83,718 new cases were reported on Saturday, nearly matching the 83,757 infections reported on Friday. Before that, the most cases reported in the US on a single day had been 77,362 on 16 July. |
| Close to 8.6m Americans have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and about 225,000 have died. Both statistics are the world’s highest. India has more than 7.8m infections but its daily numbers have been declining. | Close to 8.6m Americans have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and about 225,000 have died. Both statistics are the world’s highest. India has more than 7.8m infections but its daily numbers have been declining. |
| US health officials have feared the surge of infections to come with colder weather and people spending more time indoors, especially as many flout guidelines to protect themselves and others such as mask-wearing and social distancing. | US health officials have feared the surge of infections to come with colder weather and people spending more time indoors, especially as many flout guidelines to protect themselves and others such as mask-wearing and social distancing. |
| The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington currently forecasts that the country’s death toll could exceed 318,000 by 1 January.” | The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington currently forecasts that the country’s death toll could exceed 318,000 by 1 January.” |
| …and welcome to another day on the campaign trail, nine days out from election day now, with Joe Biden holding his polling leads, Donald Trump campaigning hard at rallies which do not adhere to Covid-19 mitigation measures and Mike Pence… seeing multiple members of his team, including chief of staff Marc Short, test positive for the coronavirus. The VP is not altering his schedule: | …and welcome to another day on the campaign trail, nine days out from election day now, with Joe Biden holding his polling leads, Donald Trump campaigning hard at rallies which do not adhere to Covid-19 mitigation measures and Mike Pence… seeing multiple members of his team, including chief of staff Marc Short, test positive for the coronavirus. The VP is not altering his schedule: |
| This while Covid case numbers are shooting to record levels nationally and in many states, and as one study predicts a death toll of 500,000 by February. | This while Covid case numbers are shooting to record levels nationally and in many states, and as one study predicts a death toll of 500,000 by February. |
| As the AP reports, “Oklahoma, Illinois, New Mexico and Michigan were among states announcing new record highs in daily confirmed cases on Saturday, a day after a nationwide daily record of more than 83,000 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University. | As the AP reports, “Oklahoma, Illinois, New Mexico and Michigan were among states announcing new record highs in daily confirmed cases on Saturday, a day after a nationwide daily record of more than 83,000 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University. |
| “Dr Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said it’s ‘now more important than ever that people take this seriously.’ The 3,338 new Covid-19 cases in her state topped the old record by more than 1,300. Michigan is of course a swing state, fought over by Trump and Biden – who is more than seven points up there. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, will be in the state today. | “Dr Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said it’s ‘now more important than ever that people take this seriously.’ The 3,338 new Covid-19 cases in her state topped the old record by more than 1,300. Michigan is of course a swing state, fought over by Trump and Biden – who is more than seven points up there. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, will be in the state today. |
| The same Johns Hopkins count now puts the caseload at 8.5m and the death toll at more than 224,000. | The same Johns Hopkins count now puts the caseload at 8.5m and the death toll at more than 224,000. |
| Trump had a four-state campaign day on Saturday, voting in Florida before staging rallies in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. Today he’s speaking in New Hampshire – where the fivethirtyeight.com average puts Biden more than 11 points ahead. Trump has a habit of speaking in places where it might not seem worth the bother – he is also having to campaign in states, such as Georgia, where no Republican president would usually have to tread. | Trump had a four-state campaign day on Saturday, voting in Florida before staging rallies in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. Today he’s speaking in New Hampshire – where the fivethirtyeight.com average puts Biden more than 11 points ahead. Trump has a habit of speaking in places where it might not seem worth the bother – he is also having to campaign in states, such as Georgia, where no Republican president would usually have to tread. |
| More to come, of course. In the meantime, here’s David Smith with hopeful news for Democrats: | More to come, of course. In the meantime, here’s David Smith with hopeful news for Democrats: |