330: Total Trump Meltdown

After almost four years of covering Trump, the media has a nervous breakdown right in front of our eyes. I document one of the craziest weeks in the Trump presidency, break down the stimulus collapse, and my thoughts on the QAnon crackdown. Links: Why Are Democrats Praying for the Speedy Recovery of a “Fascist Dictator”? (https://theintercept.com/2020/10/04/why-are-democrats-praying-for-the-speedy-recover-of-a-fascist-dictator/) USPS Worker in NJ Arrested for Allegedly Dumping Mail, Including Election Ballots – NBC New York (https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/usps-worker-in-nj-arrested-for-allegedly-dumping-mail-including-election-ballots/2656666/) “Sociopathy”: Psychiatrist says Trump's behavior “meets criteria for a locked psychiatric facility" | Salon.com (https://www.salon.com/2020/10/06/sociopathy-psychiatrist-says-trumps-behavior-meets-criteria-for-a-locked-psychiatric-facility/) DOJ Frees Federal Prosecutors to Take Steps That Could Interfere With Elections, Weakening Long-standing Policy — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/doj-frees-federal-prosecutors-to-take-steps-that-could-interfere-with-elections-weakening-long-standing-policy) Trump Symptom-Free for 24 Hours, Says White House Doctor - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-symptom-free-for-24-hours-says-white-house-doctor-11602091910?mod=djemalertNEWS) White House physician says Trump has been "symptom-free for over 24 hours" - Axios (https://www.axios.com/trump-coronavirus-wednesday-update-symptoms-health-b02eebc0-90fc-481a-b692-2f83973c9ca3.html) Lost one-tonne elephant seal sparks total mayhem after wandering into Chilean town and roaring at locals (https://www.the-sun.com/news/1594736/elephant-seal-mayhem-locals-guided-back-sea/) Pence Team Agrees to Plexiglass Barrier at Debate With Harris (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pence-team-agrees-to-plexiglass-barrier-at-debate-with-harris/ar-BB19MbVN) Over half of voters expect violence, disagree on election legitimacy (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/07/both-sides-worry-doubts-election-integrity-could-spark-violence/5880965002/) McConnell Put the Senate in Recess. What Happens Now? (https://theintercept.com/2020/10/06/mcconnell-senate-recess-supreme-court-barrett/) Billionaire wealth reaches new high during COVID-19 pandemic... (https://news.trust.org/item/20201007000753-x4yv2) Fauci: As many as 400,000 Americans could die from coronavirus | TheHill (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/519935-fauci-as-many-as-400000-americans-could-die-from-coronavirus) Trump still seemingly struggling to breathe after hospital return, White House aides say (https://theweek.com/speedreads/942213/trump-still-seemingly-struggling-breathe-after-hospital-return-white-house-aides-say) Congressional antitrust report into Apple and others delayed- 9to5Mac (https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/06/congressional-antitrust-report/) Stephen Miller tests positive for COVID-19 - Axios (https://www.axios.com/stephen-miller-tests-positive-coronavirus-0ba1ac28-66ec-47b6-a341-abd7057128d7.html) Campaigns reach agreement onstage dividers for debate (https://www.chron.com/news/article/Pence-Harris-teams-at-odds-over-plexiglass-at-15625538.php) Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 Vaccine Contracts Shielded From View : Shots - Health News : NPR (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/29/917899357/how-operation-warp-speeds-big-vaccine-contracts-could-stay-secret) DNI declassifies Brennan notes, CIA memo on Hillary Clinton 'stirring up' scandal between Trump, Russia | Fox News (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dni-brennan-notes-cia-memo-clinton) “This Gravy Train Is Coming to an End”: News Media Begins to Contemplate a Post-Trump White House | Vanity Fair (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/10/news-media-begins-to-contemplate-a-post-trump-white-house) Joe Biden expands lead over Trump in new CNN Poll - CNNPolitics (https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/politics/cnn-poll-biden-trump-2020-election/index.html) U.S. House's antitrust report hints at break-up of Big Tech firms: lawmaker | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tech-antitrust/u-s-houses-antitrust-report-hints-at-break-up-of-big-tech-firms-lawmaker-idUSKBN26R0EK) Poll: Biden notches 16-point national lead with less than a month until Election Day - POLITICO (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/06/poll-biden-national-lead-election-day-426688) Goldman's chief economist breaks down why a Biden-led blue wave would prompt an upgrade in growth forecasts | Markets Insider (https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-biden-blue-wave-boost-growth-goldman-sachs-2020-10-1029649255) The 34 people who have tested positive in the Trump Covid outbreak - POLITICO (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/02/trump-white-house-coronavirus-positive-425229) 'Don't let it dominate you!': Trump posts video message about coronavirus after returning to White House - TheBlaze (https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-video-coronavirus-white-house) For the Secret Service, a New Question: Who Will Protect Them From Trump? – DNyuz (https://dnyuz.com/2020/10/05/for-the-secret-service-a-new-question-who-will-protect-them-from-trump/) White House residence staffers who caught coronavirus were reportedly told to keep it quiet (https://theweek.com/speedreads/941938/white-house-residence-staffers-who-caught-coronavirus-reportedly-told-keep-quiet) Melania Trump calls Stormy Daniels a 'porn HOOKER' in explosive new tapes released by First Lady's former friend (https://www.the-sun.com/news/1585489/melania-stormy-daniels-porn-hooker/) Secret Service agents, doctors aghast at Trump's drive outside hospital (https://www.chron.com/news/article/Secret-Service-agents-doctors-aghast-at-Trump-s-15620934.php) Pro-Trump Appointees Investigate VOA White House Reporter For Anti-Trump Bias : NPR (https://www.npr.org/2020/10/04/919266194/political-aides-investigate-voa-white-house-reporter-for-anti-trump-bias) White House Correspondents' Association: 'Outrageous' for Trump to leave hospital without informing pool | TheHill (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519563-correspondents-association-outrageous-for-trump-to-leave-hospital) White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tests positive for Covid-19 (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-tests-positive-covid-19-n1242130?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma) Cliff Mass Weather Blog: Is Wildfire Smoke Making Our Fog More Persistent? (https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/10/is-wildfire-smoke-making-our-fog-more.html) An Excel error may have led England to under-report COVID-19 cases | Engadget (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-excel-england-covid-19-delay-114634846.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGVjaG1lbWUuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACn0o2kb2-BK4HEOyK_NabSWqNvGLX0lfO03KFS4WLK4mpFSyXsg2VwV53ggD9d5hR5m2CU59G3qk0DvCnsxBJYL5BP1NBvlZ1fiPx1f6VjxbXNvBatnqPKNfbwwzRpq80uXMwh0iJFK6d8eVFYf2Hq0_P2p0NeGa-iBW3tYXJ-j) Kayleigh McEnany Tests Positive For Coronavirus (https://www.mediaite.com/trump/breaking-white-house-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/) ‘I feel I could go out and do a rally’: Trump reported to be in good spirits | Sky News Australia (https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6197209375001) Trump Didn’t Disclose First Positive Covid-19 Test While Awaiting a Second Test on Thursday - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-didnt-disclose-first-positive-covid-19-test-while-awaiting-a-second-test-on-thursday-11601844813) Trump in Walter Reed Photo-Op Appears to Sign Blank Paper to Show He's Well and 'Relentless' (https://www.newsweek.com/trump-walter-reed-photo-op-blank-paper-1536238) Chris Christie Tests Positive for COVID a Day After Saying Nobody Wore Masks in Trump's Debate Prep Room (https://www.newsweek.com/chris-christie-tests-positive-covid-day-after-saying-nobody-wore-masks-trumps-debate-prep-room-1536199) Trump campaign manager tests positive for Covid-19 - POLITICO (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/02/trump-campaign-manager-tests-positive-for-covid-19-425722) Trump, stricken by COVID-19, flown to military hospital (https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-elections-melania-trump-michael-pence-f6ba3a16ab9b74b161a3a7211248e97e) Trump: 'I condemn all white supremacists' | TheHill (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519275-trump-i-condemn-all-white-supremacists) Trump infused with 'polyclonal antibodies' to fight COVID-19 (https://nypost.com/2020/10/02/trump-infused-with-polyclonal-antibodies-to-fight-covid-19/?utm=knewz_app) Leaked Calls Reveal Melania Trump's Private War on Christmas (https://www.mediaite.com/trump/leaked-calls-reveal-melania-trumps-private-war-on-christmas-who-gives-a-fck-about-the-christmas-stuff/) Foundation With Biden Ties Funding Leftist Agitators On U.S. Streets (https://thefederalist.com/2020/08/31/foundation-with-biden-campaign-ties-funding-leftist-agitators-on-u-s-streets/) CNN Immediately Dives Into the Gutter Over Trump's COVID Diagnosis (https://www.redstate.com/bonchie/2020/10/02/cnn-immediately-goes-into-the-gutter-over-trumps-covid-diagnosis/) On Fox News, correspondent John Roberts is visibly angry that press secretary Kayleigh McEnany won't offer a clear denunciation of white supremacy: "Stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media. I'm tired of it." : PublicFreakout (https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/j3bngm/on_fox_news_correspondent_john_roberts_is_visibly/)