Health Secretary testified that anti-COVID rules don’t apply to Trump and his inner circle

 …And that was OK with him

By Julia Conley, staff writer for Common Dreams 

Many attendees were seen without face coverings during a ceremony to announce Judge Amy Coney Barrett as President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 in Washington, D.C. The event is thought to have been a Covid-19 "superspreader event" with at least seven attendees testing positive on Friday. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Democratic lawmakers were incredulous after Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Friday testified following President Donald Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis that the Trump family can't be expected to take the precautions that public health experts recommend. He also claimed the spread of the coronavirus to more than 7.3 million Americans is a matter of "individual responsibility."

Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as Trump reportedly began developing Covid-19 symptoms, Azar told Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) that the president's family did not wear masks at the first presidential debate last Tuesday because "the first family and the protective aspect around the president is a different situation than the rest of us."

Despite the fact that at least two members of the Trump family are now ill, Azar suggested the family is in "a protective bubble." 

"He said this...today?" tweeted MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow. 

At the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, a doctor was reportedly shooed away from the president's adult children when she approached them to ask them to wear face coverings during the debate. 

Members of the Trump family were also present at the White House event last Saturday where Republicans celebrated the president's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, where many attendees were unmasked. 

The gathering is now thought to have been a "superspreader" event, with at least seven attendees having tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) and former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway.

Mud wrestling with Donald Trump

Trump tells his followers to “go into the polls and watch very carefully.” With or without guns?

By Michael Winship for Common Dreams

Years ago, when I was a high school sophomore, at the beginning of the academic year one of our teachers gave us an assignment to come up with ideas to reform the American political system.

Dutiful wonk that I was even then, I came up with my list of serious, thoughtful changes not all that different from a lot of what we’re still debating today—abolishing the Electoral College, an end to gerrymandering, making voter registration automatic, etc.

A friend and classmate, more sharp-witted than I, chose the satirical route instead, and to the horror of our teacher came up with a spot-on takedown of modern government, a parody of contemporary politics.

As I recall, her report ended with the presidential election being determined by a mud wrestling match in Madison Square Garden.

It made more sense and possessed more dignity and class than the horror show that unfurled before the world Tuesday night in what laughingly was billed as the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Just minutes in, Trump turned it into a travesty; bellowing, repeatedly interrupting and talking out of turn, lying, pigheadedly violating the agreements carefully worked out by the official Commission on Presidential Debates and both campaign staffs for a proper discussion of policy.

At a time when we’re desperate for rational solutions, Trump was the proverbial bull in the china shop of democracy, and when he was done there was barely a piece of porcelain left intact.

He acted as if this was one of his rallies, God help us, playing to our lowest animal instincts and insulting our intelligence.

Trump to Proud Boys: "Stand by."

Throughout his life and so-called career, Trump has always insisted that rules are for suckers and don’t apply to him—he can shoot a person on Fifth Avenue, grab a woman by her genitals, refuse to pay his millions of debt—and that night was no exception.

By all accounts, what happened Tuesday is what he planned all along. Maybe it satisfied his bloodthirsty, delusional base, stewing in a toxic soup of Fox News and QAnon conspiracies, but for most of us it was one more manifestation of the tragedy imposed on the nation—and the world—by a megalomaniac with nary a scruple or a scintilla of human kindness.

Any day now

 

Can't happen here

By Jen Sorensen

 

Things to do (virtually) at the Mystic Aquarium

 

WADDLE ON FOR THE PENGUINS     Our Run/Walk/Waddle for the Penguins virtual fundraiser event wraps next Saturday, October 10. Keep fundraising until the very end for your chance to win prizes and don't forget to participate in our Facebook mini-challenge along the way!   Just Keep Waddling!

 

AQUARIUM YOGA     What's more relaxing than being mesmerized by Aquarium animals? Doing yoga at the same time! Join us Wednesday, October 14 for our first after-hours yoga event.   Save Your Spot

 

#SOCIALSPOTLIGHT   Yoga not your moment of zen? Check out our Tranquility Tuesday videos on YouTube for that much-needed 'ahhhh' moment. While you're there, be sure to subscribe to our channel for alerts on our regular posts!

 

#DYK that the Mystic Aquarium community has unlocked hundreds of dollars in donations from AmazonSmile! When you shop using smile.amazon on your computer or enable AmazonSmile on your Amazon app, a donation is made at no cost to you.

 

❕ BY EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR   Guests are now required to present a doctor’s note to be eligible for the facial covering medical exemption. Click here for complete COVID safety guidelines in place at Mystic Aquarium.

 

Mystic Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research. MYSTIC AQUARIUM 55 Coogan Boulevard | Mystic, CT 06355 | MysticAquarium.org | 860.572.5955

New on-line series on energy starts October 7

URI Cooperative Extension to host virtual energy lecture series

Todd McLeish

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the links between health and the built environment, including how adequate building ventilation is essential to reducing transmission of the virus.

This link is the topic of the first of three virtual lectures as part of the annual “Plugged Into Energy Research” lecture series, hosted by the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension and sponsored by the Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council.

The first lecture will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Subsequent lectures will take place at the same time on Oct. 28 and Nov. 18. All will be presented via WebEx and are free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Each of the lectures will feature three 20-minute presentations by energy experts from the business community, academia, government and nonprofit organizations.

Older people like President Trump are at more risk from COVID-19

That's because of the effects of aging on the immune system

Brian Geiss, Colorado State University

Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s announcement that he’s tested positive for COVID-19 is especially concerning because of his age. 

At 74 years old, Trump is solidly within an age group that’s been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic.

People of all ages can get sick from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But the severity of the illness tends to worsen the older the patient is. 

Through the end of September, 79% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States had been in patients over 65. These statistics are broadly similar in countries around the world.

What is it that puts older people at increased risk from viruses like SARS-CoV-2? Scientists think it’s primarily due to changes in the human immune system as we age.

Tomorrow, Sunday October 4, is the deadline to register to vote in this year's election

 

RI Voter Registration Deadline is October 4

 

Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is reminding Rhode Islanders that they have until Sunday, October 4, to register to vote or update their voter information for the November 3 general election. Rhode Islanders can check their voter registration status by using the Department of State’s Voter Information Center.  Eligible residents can register to vote in three ways:  1.  Go online to vote.ri.gov 2.  Download a voter registration form and submit it to your local board of canvassers by October 4 3.  Drop off a voter registration form at one of the locations listed for your community here  “As Secretary of State, I am committed to engaging and empowering all Rhode Islanders to play an active role in our state’s future,” said Secretary Gorbea. “Every day, our elected leaders make decisions that have a direct impact on our lives - both immediate and long-term. The first step to making sure your voice is heard is registering to vote.”   Rhode Islanders have several safe and secure voting options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters can choose to either vote early in-person at their city or town hall, vote at a polling place on Election Day, or cast a mail ballot from home. New this year, voters can track the status of their mail ballot application and mail ballot at vote.ri.gov.  Under Rhode Island law, voters must apply for a mail ballot in each election where they wish to vote from home. This means if you voted by mail in the June 2 or September 8 primaries, you still need to fill out a mail ballot application if you wish to vote from home in the November 3 general election. Mail ballots will be sent to Rhode Island voters who requested them beginning on October 5.  Also new this year, voters can call 2-1-1 with any election questions. This free service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in over 200 languages thanks to a partnership between Secretary Gorbea’s office and United Way of Rhode Island.

Charlestown Waters look good

DEM Issues Draft Impaired Waters List and Opens Public Comment Period

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is soliciting comments on the state's Impaired Waters List and will hold a virtual public workshop next month to review statewide water quality findings.

A virtual public workshop will be held on Tuesday, October 6 to present findings of the full statewide assessment of water quality conditions, including the draft Impaired Waters List. Due to the Covid-19 emergency, which prevents the Division from holding public meetings in-person, the public workshop will be held virtually in accordance with Governor Raimondo's Executive Order 20-05.

WHAT: Virtual Public Workshop to Discuss Findings of Statewide Water Quality Assessment

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6 at 3 PM

WHERE: Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/4993285334 Meeting ID: 499 328 5334

Can we trust the Trump administration to tell the truth about his health?

A brief history of presidents disclosing – or trying to hide – health problems

David E. Clementson, University of Georgia

President Donald Trump went directly to the public and announced via Twitter early on Oct. 2 that “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

The president’s straightforward announcement was unlike many presidents in the past. My research has focused on how politicians dodge questions. 

I have co-authored an entry in the Encyclopedia of Deception with scholar Michael J. Beatty about how rampant deception is when it comes to presidential health.

It’s one of the most common types of political deception perpetuated against journalists and the public.

And in a presidential campaign, public opinion polls have suggested that voters want to know details about the candidates’ health.

I will be watching with interest how the White House, the Trump campaign and the news media handle the president’s COVID-19. Here’s a roundup of how other U.S. leaders and their administrations have handled information about presidential health problems.