Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mission Accomplished? White House Release Says Trump Ended Pandemic
The Hill: White House Science Office Says Trump Ended COVID-19 Pandemic As US Hits Record Cases
The White House science office listed "ending the COVID-19 pandemic" as the top accomplishment of President Trump's first term, even as the U.S. has set records for new daily infections and numerous hospitals across the country are stretched to their breaking points. According to a press release intending to highlight the administration's science accomplishments, the Trump administration said it "has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease." (Weixel, 10/27)
Politico: As Coronavirus Cases Surge, Trump Has Another Message
With one week left in the election, President Donald Trump is perfecting his closing argument about the pandemic gripping much of the nation: Don’t worry about it. In rally after rally, tweet after tweet, Trump is encouraging his supporters and everyone else to stop talking about the coronavirus. His key message: It’s not that big of a deal, vaccines are on the way and if people get sick, most of them will survive it just as Trump and his family did. (Cook, 10/27)
Boston Globe: ‘Reckless And False’: Doctors Blast Baseless Trump Conspiracy Theory That Hospitals Are Inflating COVID-19 Deaths
At a rally in Waukesha, Wis., on Saturday, Trump said “doctors get more money and hospitals get more money” if they report that their patients died of COVID-19, as opposed to other preexisting conditions or comorbidities. “Think of this incentive,” the president said, insinuating as he has before that the death toll from the virus is not to be trusted. He then claimed the pandemic, which has killed more than 226,000 Americans, is “going away,” even as the country approaches a third wave of infections. (Pan, 10/27)
The Washington Post: Trump’s Campaign Depends On His Supporters Putting Their Health At Risk
At this point, nearly 70,000 people in the United States are testing positive for the novel coronavirus every day. More than 800 people are dying. This is, in short, one of the most dangerous times for the country over the course of the year’s pandemic. And, increasingly, President Trump is hinging his campaign on his supporters ignoring the swelling crisis. (Bump, 10/27)
CNN: Melania Trump Focuses On Covid And Slams Democrats For Politicizing Pandemic
First lady Melania Trump focused on the Covid-19 pandemic in her first solo campaign event of 2020 and blasted Democrats for allegedly politicizing the pandemic. Melania directly attacked Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on the coronavirus, claiming: "Now he suggests that he could have done a better job. Well, the American people can look at Joe Biden's 36 years in Congress and eight years in the vice presidency and determine whether they think he'll finally be able to get something done for the American people." (Malloy and Bennett, 10/27)
CNBC: Health Care Workers In Michigan Criticize Trump's Rally Amid Record Covid Cases
A group of Michigan-based health-care workers denounced President Donald Trump’s planned rally in Lansing on Tuesday amid record daily new coronavirus cases, saying it “threatens to make things worse.” (Higgins-Dunn, 10/27)
