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    Trump tarnishes another pillar of American science

    Terry H. Schwadron, DCReport @ RawStory
    August 26, 2020

    Thanks for your support!

    This article was paid for by reader donations to Raw Story Investigates.

    President Trump acknowledges supporters in the crowd at the rally in the Bojangle's Coliseum. (Jeffery Edwards / Shutterstock.com)

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Terry H. Schwadron, DCReport @ RawStory

    Here we go again with a tug between politics and science. Our health is hanging in the balance as resentment grows for leaders who care more for image than public health.


    Over the objection of doctors, the Trump administration stunningly told the Food and Administration last week it could no longer regulate laboratory tests. It affects a swath of independent lab tests, including those being developed for coronavirus testing. Then, on Sunday, Trump forced the FDA to approve a minimally tested treatment for COVID-19, using the blood plasma of recovered patients.

    That’s right. The White House is big-footing the professionals at FDA to skip oversight. The move inevitably will let unregulated, unreliable lab result products and techniques proliferate in a time of pandemic.

    The White House is big-footing the professionals at FDA to skip oversight. The move inevitably will let unregulated, unreliable lab result products and techniques proliferate in a time of pandemic.

    Why stop here, one might ask. Why not do the whole job and just shut the FDA, and let the marketplace introduce whatever treatments and vaccine alternatives it may want to sell? Won’t the marketplace just fix it all – or might we still be just a tad concerned about whether health products are safe?

    The Justice Department already is prosecuting or settling with companies caught up in 3,600 public complaints for items ranging from non-delivery of protective gear to fake identification schemes from coronavirus-related product lines.

    When Joe Biden criticizes Donald Trump for not having a coordinated plan to confront pandemic issues, banning oversight of laboratory procedures is exactly the sort of thing under discussion. This new policy, announced on the Department of Health and Human Services website, comes months into the pandemic and months into complaints about lagging testing and lengthy delays in reporting test result.

    We should keep it in mind this week as Trump and Mike Pence declare at the Republican National Convention that they are leading us out of coronavirus.

    New Warnings

    Basically, the long lag time in finally getting a test result has ensured additional contact with others, negating the whole usefulness of testing as a guide for self-quarantine.

    Now, our public health experts are warning that barring the FDA oversight can result in unreliable coronavirus tests on the market, potentially worsening the testing crisis. The experts say this change is unlikely to solve current testing problems, which at this point are largely the result of shortages of supplies such as swabs and chemical reagents.

    As usual, the supporters of change – the political hierarchy at the health department – argue stopping FDA oversight will spur faster introduction of more innovative tests from the marketplace, and that this move eliminates FDA bottlenecks.

    Indeed, Health Secretary Alex Azar argues that FDA lacks specific authority to regulate laboratory-developed tests. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn has objected, defending the FDA’s role in overseeing safety of health products, particularly in time of a national emergency.

    From that kernel of bureaucratic wrangling, we need to overlay a political landscape in which Democrats think there should be an over-arching nationwide plan on expanding testing and contact tracing. Republicans have favored tasking the states to handle the virus as they will and to be herky-jerky about providing the wherewithal to provide funds or supplies as needed.

    At the same time, Trump pops up regularly with instant would-be cures that actually have proved dangerous. The government is handing billions of dollars to selected pharmaceutical companies in a desperate attempt to prime the pumps toward development of a vaccine – without a plan in place for how to distribute or even mandate such a vaccine. The antidote is more likely to be a series of vaccines in any case.

    So, if  I understand this correctly, what we have going on is a political fight about a regulatory process that may or may not be contributing to a slow-down in development of lab processing of insufficient expansion of federally underwritten testing. All of this leaves you and me scratching our heads about the value of testing altogether.

    Enter Politics

    The FDA insists it is doing what it has done in past medical emergencies and should be doing in any case – ensuring that testing is accurate and not fraudulent. As testing has expanded, lab process has as well, moving from the big companies to many smaller ones.

    The Washington Post reminded us that in February, the administration was relying almost entirely on a test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention —standard practice during public health crises — but the test was faulty. It took three weeks for the FDA to loosen restrictions that allowed other tests — at that time, mostly laboratory-developed tests — to come to market.

    The general supply of swabs, reagents and other parts and pieces needed by a growing number of labs has not kept up.

    The insistence of the White House and Republican states in particular to re-open local economies have tried to downplay testing and any lags in reporting the results. And widespread impatience with the wearing of masks and maintaining physical distancing have worsened the situation. Trump pounds his fists that the United States is doing more testing than any other country, but seems to cherry pick statistics from the very real and dangerous spread of contagion. Instead, this White House has a pattern of looking for people or agencies to blame.

    It just feels as if this week, it’s the FDA’s turn to carry the burden of impatience.

    The bottom line is that lags in test results look bad up the line to the political leaders, who seem extremely willing to throw out all regulation to get to faster results to burnish their political chances just before election.

    Telling the FDA not to look at lab procedures won’t cure coronavirus.

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Enjoy good journalism?

    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

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    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

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    Report typos and corrections to: corrections@rawstory.com.
    READ COMMENTS - JOIN THE DISCUSSION

    Survey: Should Donald Trump be prosecuted after he leaves office?

    Seth Meyers details the work done to clean the White House post-Trump: 'Getting ketchup off the Constitution'

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 21, 2021

    Thousands had to be spent to clean the White House after President Donald Trump and his family stayed in the residence for four years. While reports maintained that the fumigation was due to the coronavirus pandemic and a need to ensure sanitation, "Late Night" host Seth Meyers thinks something else was afoot.

    "Scrubbing out Diet Coke rings, pulling loose hair out of the drain, trying to get ketchup off the Constitution," he said, detailing the work that had to be done. "I know they're saying that this is because of COVID but even without the pandemic if I were moving in after Trump anywhere I'd want the place fumigated. The guy was glued to his TV, barely left his bedroom, and only ate fast food. That place probably looks like a locker on 'Storage Wars.' Or a studio apartment in a rent-controlled building after the tenant, who lived there for 80 years dies. There's just piles of old newspapers, loose change and a collection of weird ceramic pigs."

    See Meyers video below:


    Biden Sworn In as 46th President After Trump Leaves White House: A Closer Look www.youtube.com

    Bernie Sanders' mittens were a low-key message of unity, warmth and community

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 20, 2021

    He sat quietly as the brisk Washington breeze blew his wild, silver hair; his hands neatly folded over his lap clad in knitted mittens. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made a fashion statement during the inauguration of his friend President Joe Biden Wednesday, but more he made a statement about America.

    Jen Ellis, a teacher from Essex Junction, gave Sanders the mittens several years ago. They're made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles. Sweaters that warmed the days of many through harsh Vermont winters and bottles that touched the lips of thousands of Americans warmed the hands of a United States Senator.


    Inauguration Topshots: A photo by @AFP's Brendan Smialowski showing Senator Bernie Sanders and his lovely warm mit… https://t.co/05A9jyEM31
    — AFP News Agency (@AFP News Agency)1611201802.0


    Many wore tight-fitting gloves, separating each finger in leather-clad division. Sanders' brought each of his fingers together, encased in the loving, home-spun, warmth of unity.

    "But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't look like you do, or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources you do," Biden's voice sang out across the empty Washington streets.

    Sanders' hands weren't jammed into the pockets of isolationism. They were gathered in a congress of devotion.

    Many have responded to the poetic moment of Sanders sitting simply. His hands warm with a passion for America's future. Feeling the zeal of the moment, and embracing the sense of community and heart, Americans have put the historic moment in some of the greatest moments of history.

    Satire aside, you can see the photos below:



    Undefeated. The internet...🤣😭 https://t.co/eFKJuXNt4w
    — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@Rex Chapman🏇🏼)1611198297.0


    Bernie and his mittens: a meme thread https://t.co/DrAH5q5WMe
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@Dirtycracker 🌊)1611199747.0


    pic.twitter.com/3Mgm2Aj7cE
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/bNTPoVWNXx
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    https://t.co/ORws5m9YIY
    — Cheeky Nando 🌹⚓ (@Cheeky Nando 🌹⚓)1611171801.0


    pic.twitter.com/q40waHRviK
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/EsaJqkC4Bj
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/a6pkSJUM0x
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/DKm3aKDdxi
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021



    pic.twitter.com/Ae3tsyJlgX
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/tT9UF8uTWr
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/1wd4b4EE9u
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/25yvoe3ugC
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/49fHwhwK7W
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/NSBjboFJmL
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/W3GG2EemIV
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/f4vaCWdwlX
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/e8IuOfrNXK
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    Before this meme loses its charm, here's my contribution to Bernie sitting with mittens. I wonder what his quirk is? 🦉🚿 pic.twitter.com/WcYVGHq9Ku
    — Owl in the Shower🦉🚿🦇☮️ (@History4Life92) January 21, 2021


    On Wednesdays, we wear mittens.
    --Bernie (probably) pic.twitter.com/c5m1lqEzcS
    — T.J. from Blue Georgia 🇺🇸 (@ChattFC42) January 21, 2021


    Presenting: Lofi Bernie Sanders. pic.twitter.com/BIKFjaabYO
    — GOOD (@good) January 20, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/jLQKTeskxd
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/JEELF4dAYN
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    pic.twitter.com/2skuaJpI2I
    — Dirtycracker 🌊 (@dirtycracker) January 21, 2021


    I am once again asking you not to touch the artwork. H/T to @elissaolinsky for the #AltText lift!… https://t.co/D3blOQ2goZ
    — The Phillips Collection (@The Phillips Collection)1611176536.0




    @BelfastAgmt My personal favorite https://t.co/8666Qg9fcx
    — Empress of Anarchist Jurisdictions (@Empress of Anarchist Jurisdictions)1611202940.0


    https://t.co/xqAoSxLXoH
    — Good Friday Agreement (@Good Friday Agreement)1611202440.0


    https://t.co/53bXuLSwRZ
    — Good Friday Agreement (@Good Friday Agreement)1611202442.0

    Trump put Senate GOP in tough spot with 'crony pardons' ahead of impeachment: Top Republican

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 20, 2021

    Former President Donald Trump released the full list of 145 pardons in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but some of those are already problematic for Republicans, reported Politico.

    Elliott Broidy, a GOP fundraiser, pleaded guilty in a foreign lobbying scandal. GOP Maine donor Michael Liberty, was "convicted of making illegal campaign contributions — and who was once described as 'Donald Trump with a Maine accent.' Drew Brownstein, a hedge funder and son to a Colorado lobbyist. All of those added to the other political cronies like Steve Bannon, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Michael Flynn.

    "The granting of even more sleazy crony pardons as the clock ran out on his one term," Politico cited GOP election lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg, "will define the nature of his presidency."

    Republican strategist Mike Madrid similarly told Politico that he expected a few "unseemly" pardons, but that these were "a whole different level."

    "This is pardoning your friends who are doing illegal behavior on your behalf," Madrid said. "It's all of his henchmen."

    While the move is an inside-baseball game, there were so many of the "crony" pardons that it creates a story around Trump's corruption and desperation to overthrow the 2020 election.

    "That Trump's Tuesday night combined another tranche of sleazy crony pardons with revoking his 2017 revolving door lobbying ban he bragged would drain the swamp will burn in the legacy of his presidency," Ginsberg said. "And not in a positive way. In his hubris, he apparently didn't consider, or didn't care, how this might impact the Senate Republicans who will now be asked to ignore his actions and save 'his reputation' in the impeachment trial."

    Just as Trump was pulling out of the White House, it was also revealed that he rescinded his ban on Trump staff not being able to become a lobbyist for five years after leaving office. In 2017, Trump made a big production signing Executive Order 13770, saying that he campaigned on "draining the swamp." But when it came to the end, Trump withdrew the pledge.

    Read the full report at Politico.

     
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