The Hill (2018): Trump official overseeing pandemic readiness exits

[TomCADem]

It seems not too long ago that Trump fired the official responsible for overseeing pandemic readiness. Now, we just have Trump saying its not a big deal if folks who are infected continue to go to work.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/387191-trump-official-overseeing-pandemic-response-suddenly-leaves-admin

A top official who would lead the U.S. response if a deadly pandemic broke out has left the administration amid a broad reorganization of the national security team, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer left the National Security Council (NSC) this week, and national security adviser John Bolton dissolved the global health security team that Ziemer oversaw.

The Post reported that Ziemer will not be replaced, and that his departure means that there is no single official at the highest levels of the administration who focuses only on global health security.

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Ziemer’s departure from the NSC is the latest since Bolton joined the administration last month. Four senior aides left or resigned under pressure from the council during Bolton’s first week on the job.

[Lars39]

1. Malicious and criminal intent

[TomCADem]

3. This Is Why Republicans Are Invested In Minimizing The Threat

And saying this is no big deal, since Trump cut this and similar programs to pay for tax cuts to the rich.

[captain queeg]

2. Not surprised Bolton is part of the whole sordid mess

Surprised trump isn’t blaming him yet. I guess it’s because he knows where all the skeletons are buried.

[TomCADem]

6. It Is Amazing This Is Not Being Brought Up

Perhaps Trumps stupid comments encouraging people to go to work sick are overshadowing what he did.

[Under The Radar]

4. His gift of being the smartest man in the world is what will end him.

I shall not celebrate or show any sign of satisfaction until I see him in an orange jumpsuit cuffed at the wrist and feet. And Biden must commit to holding his entire administration responsible for their crimes.

[TomCADem]

5. President Trump said people with coronavirus "go to work"

The mixed messages coming from the government are totally confusing.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-coronavirus-comments-suggesting-people-go-to-work/

During a Wednesday night interview with Fox News, President Trump said he believes people infected with the novel coronavirus may get better "by sitting around and even going to work." The statement garnered widespread backlash on Twitter, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently urged employees to stay home if they are sick.


In the phone interview with Sean Hannity, Mr. Trump said he doesn't believe the death rate from the new coronavirus is as high as 3.4%, the rate stated by World Health Organization (WHO) director general on Wednesday. Other studies have estimated the mortality rate at about 2% or possibly lower, depending on how many people with mild or no symptoms get counted.

"Well I think the 3.4% is really a false number," the president said. "Now, this is just my hunch, and, but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this — because a lot of people will have this and it's very mild." Top U.S. health officials said in a briefing Thursday morning that they also believe the 3.4% figure is too high, and that the actual rate is lower.

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"So if, you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better," he said.