1
On Politics: Does Biden Need to Turn the Flash On?
TV optics and a virtual campaign: This is your morning tip sheet.
He should not need to turn on the flash.
People want things done now. Biden is not in a position to do anything.
Biden should take a public position in a dramatic television speech.
2
Fracking Once Lifted Pennsylvania. Now It Could Be a Drag.
Natural-gas companies operating in the state were looking shaky before the
coronavirus hit. Local economies are now at risk.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/business/coronavirus-stock-market-updates.html
Natural gas is better than coal or oil. It is not good.
Fifty years of global heating will kill many.
2
Biden Faces a Cash Gap With Trump. He Has to Close It Virtually.
Joe Biden’s campaign and top donors are racing to reimagine the ways they
raise money as worries grow that the coronavirus could choke off
contributions from donors big and small.
Biden must be present.
3
U.S. Counts on Global Crises to Press Again for Power Shift in Venezuela
Yet there is no indication Nicolás Maduro will step down, despite little
assistance to confront the coronavirus and losing an economic lifeline
during an oil spat between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Noise.
Breaking Maduro is not a significant achievement at the moment.
4
The Terrible Impulse To Rally Around Bad Leaders In A Crisis
So, Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York, had his approval ratings soar
30% during the Covid-19 pandemic. There is talk of him becoming US
President (presumably this means making him Biden’s VP candidate, then
having Biden step aside.) He sounds good on TV. Cuomo is attempting to cut
funding for Medicaid because he refused […]
"This tendency to rally around even incompetent leaders makes one despair
for humanity. The correct response in all cases is contempt and an
attempt, if possible, at removal of the corrupt and venal people in
charge. Certainly no one should be approving of the terrible jobs they
have done."
Ian Welsh wants revolution.
5
Behind Trump’s Reversal on Reopening the Country: 2 Sets of Numbers
An estimate of the number of possible deaths and polling that showed a
cautious public changed, for now, the president’s approach to the
coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html
Two hundred thousand deaths are expected.
6
Trump’s Virus Defense Is Often an Attack, and the Target Is Often a Woman
Now part of the long list of women the president has insulted: a governor,
a reporter, the head of General Motors and, of course, the House speaker.
Donald Trump has mislead his base.
Women are not the trouble.
7
Trump Suggests Lack of Testing Is No Longer a Problem. Governors Disagree.
The president said on a conference call that he had not “heard about
testing in weeks.”
It is late for testing and contact tracing.
On the list of U.S. virus victims separated by counties there are no counties without victims.
8
Pelosi Floats New Stimulus Plan: Rolling Back SALT Cap
A proposal to retroactively lift a limit on state and local tax deductions
would largely funnel money to relatively high earners in high-tax states.
Most of the U.S. tax code is an attempt at social engineering.
9
Congress Just Spent $2 Trillion on Coronavirus Relief. It’s Eyeing More.
With the $2 trillion economic stimulus just signed into law on Friday,
Washington is already considering a fourth response package to combat the
spread of the coronavirus and bolster a shuddering economy.
Two hundred thousand dead of Covid-19 means We cannot save the economy.
The people must be fed, warmed, and cooled.
10
Are Democrats Cool on Biden?
Republicans are more excited to vote for President Trump than Democrats are
for their likely nominee, polling shows.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html
The Democrats are distracted.
11
U.S. to Announce Rollback of Auto Pollution Rules, a Key Effort to Fight Climate Change
The Trump administration has finalized new fuel efficiency standards,
lowering expectations from 54 miles per gallon by 2025 to 40 miles a gallon
by 2030.
Another thing to fix when Trump is out.
12
2 Top Democratic Groups Form Alliance to Support Joe Biden
Unite the Country, a super PAC supporting Mr. Biden’s campaign, and the
progressive group American Bridge are hoping to raise about $175 million
together to defeat President Trump.
Defeating president Trump is vital.
13
What the ‘Cuomo 2020’ Fantasy Says About 2020 Reality
Daily briefings during the crisis in New York have given Gov. Andrew Cuomo
a captive audience, and a growing fan base. But he has made it clear that
he’s not going anywhere.
Vote against Trump.
Cuomo is not a candidate.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
14
USNS Comfort Hospital Ship Reaches New York. It's Not Made to Contain Coronavirus.
Navy officials insist that they are doing everything short of
Saran-wrapping the ship to try to keep it virus-free.
How will they know?
16
March 30th US Covid Data, Doubling Rate Slows
Our anonymous benefactor has added a doubling rate chart and you can see
the doubling rate has slowed. However that’s based on one day and I
wouldn’t get too excited till we get more data in. Also there are States
which are still not in isolation, so I’m not sanguine. That said, it’s
still good […]
The bobble may be noise.
17
On Politics: Trump Backs Off a Promise
Social distancing will continue, and all eyes are on New York: This is your
morning tip sheet.
Trump had no choice.
18
Inside G.M.’s Race to Build Ventilators, Before Trump’s Attack
The automaker and its partner, Ventec, had spent more than a week figuring
out how to make thousands of the lifesaving devices when the White House
said G.M. was “wasting time.”
The facts came out. It will be weeks if not months before there is product.
19
Trump Won the Internet. Democrats Are Scrambling to Take It Back.
In the era of big data, memes and disinformation, the Democrats are trying
to regain their digital edge as the president and his loyalists dictate the
terms of debate.
Trump is responsible for Covid-19 in the U.S.
20
Trump Extends Social Distancing Guidelines Through End of April
The president, facing grim figures from his health advisers, starkly
reversed an earlier upbeat assessment that the country could relax the
guidelines by Easter.
I have not heard Trump say there is a definite end to social distancing.
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