March 2020
Has this ever happened to you? You start an unnecessary trade war with China that hurts a lot of people, but you plan to end it in an election year and try to look like a hero, but then they get a pandemic.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 1, 2020
Coronavirus response needs competency, credibility, and transparency. Not what we have so far. My piece in @USATODAY. https://t.co/inI8ELmp6s
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 2, 2020
Trump has met his match in Anthony Fauci when it comes to bullying federal officials.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 3, 2020
Dr. Fauci, if he fires you you will have the biggest megaphone in the country. https://t.co/Miy3DvIECp
Happy to talk to Texas Public Radio today #ElectionMeltdown
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 3, 2020
The U.S. Is Vulnerable To An 'Election Meltdown' https://t.co/yE932pGxj3
I watch how Trump has decimated the public health system in the face of Coronavirus and his lawsuit to end the ACA.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 3, 2020
I think the antidote is in @JoeBiden‘s tireless leadership and compassion in passing the ACA & leading the search for a cure for cancer.
Time for a change. pic.twitter.com/51Za9qW9jz
If Biden is the Democratic nominee he should choose as his VP running mate:
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 4, 2020
1. In Decemeber, Facebook pledged to remove ANY content with misleading information about how to participate in the Census.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 5, 2020
Now, the Trump campaign is running 1000+ Facebook ads promoting a fake 2020 Census
Facebook tells me it will take no actionhttps://t.co/YwXT2Y91EI
BREAKING: By a 20-point margin, Americans say Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus makes them less likely to vote for him.https://t.co/TCyz7frXKx
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 5, 2020
BREAKING: I just received an email from Facebook saying they will remove Trump’s deceptive census ads.@civilrightsorg worked hard with Facebook to put a robust census interference policy in place. Trump’s ads clearly violated that policy & should have been removed immediately.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 5, 2020
UPDATE: Facebook reverses course, removes over 1,000 deceptive Trump campaign ads
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 6, 2020
This is the first time EVER that Facebook has removed Trump campaign ads due to misinformation
It was the result of independent journalism and public scrutinyhttps://t.co/Kvo5jfL019
“These advertisements should never have been approved. I am concerned that after receiving credit for combatting misinformation about the 2020 Census, you...are now backing away from full enforcement...”
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 6, 2020
Thank you for demanding accountability from Facebook, @SenKamalaHarris. pic.twitter.com/kpZRkHaCZR
After all the time and money Putin is spending to re-elect Trump, he must be beating himself up that he didn’t spend some of it teaching Trump not to respond to a pandemic like a complete maniac.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 7, 2020
NEW: I prepared a memo for governors & local leaders on what to anticipate & “dos” and “don’ts” in Coronavirus response.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 8, 2020
I thank the former FDA, CDC, and public health leaders who had a hand in this. This is an excerpt from the memo.
Circulate if you think helpful to others. pic.twitter.com/3L30YWbVBv
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
Everything you need to know about the Chinese coronavirus can be found on one, regularly-updated website: https://t.co/nGCCDVqcqe
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 9, 2020
TRAVEL WARNINGS IGNORE GLOBAL HEALTH: Trump Admin is focusing on S. Korea, China & Italy.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 10, 2020
Vital not to travel to places w minimal health infrastructure: Haiti, Puerto Rico (sadly), many African nations.
Not for your sake, but to prevent the potential loss of millions of lives.
Calling it the "Chinese coronavirus" isn't just racist, it's dangerous and incites discrimination against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants.
— Vice President Kamala Harris Archived (@VP46Archive) March 10, 2020
@GOPLeader, delete this tweet―now. It's beneath the office of a member of Congress, let alone a party leader. pic.twitter.com/AcLqwcgtdn
A series of missed chances by the U.S. government to ensure more widespread testing came during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, when containment would have been easier https://t.co/eo16WU1hyr
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 11, 2020
#ELB: “Wyden Introduces Bill to Protect Voters and Elections Against COVID-19 Risks by Mandating Emergency Vote-By-Mail” https://t.co/EXLunhiuWp
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 11, 2020
NEW: @civilrightsorg joined @NCAPAtweets and 260+ groups in calling on congressional leaders to show unity and denounce the increase in racist attacks and discrimination against the Asian American community in the wake of rising concerns over coronavirus. https://t.co/fBSrl9N06o pic.twitter.com/YYniH0GqoF
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 11, 2020
Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus https://t.co/aPFXT3ex5y
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
BREAKING: WHO declares Coronavirus a global pandemic.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 11, 2020
I spent time last night inside the hospital where half of the nation’s 30 coronavirus deaths have occurred. I hope hospital workers around the country can read about what is likely coming their way: https://t.co/BqfZLFGpWi
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 11, 2020
BREAKING: Tired of Trump and Pence lies about getting Americans tested for COVID-19?
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 11, 2020
Here’s a @politico story of what’s going wrong. https://t.co/1fB5qI2cPr
THREAD: In U.S. we face two alternative but hard outlooks with #COVID19: that we follow a path similar to South Korea or one closer to Italy. We probably lost chance to have an outcome like South Korea. We must do everything to avert the tragic suffering being borne by Italy 1/10
— Scott Gottlieb, MD 🇺🇸 (@ScottGottliebMD) March 12, 2020
Pressed about limited availability of coronavirus tests, CDC Dir. Robert Redfield turns to NIH official Dr. Anthony Fauci, who says, “The system is not really geared to what we need right now, what you are asking for. That is a failing...Let’s admit it." https://t.co/ZiAHdZMaE1 pic.twitter.com/LiJmUvaMEQ
— ABC News (@ABC) March 12, 2020
Join us at City Hall for updates and announcements on our city’s COVID-19 response. https://t.co/gbnZ4rBiw0
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 12, 2020
If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other. https://t.co/Ld7Uc8sPTQ
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 12, 2020
To help halt the community spread of COVID-19, I’ve declared a state of emergency in New York City.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 13, 2020
There are a lot of rumors at a time like this, so here are the simple facts:
Currently experts expect over 1 million deaths in the U.S. since the virus was not contained & we cannot even test for it.
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) March 13, 2020
This will be recorded as a major preventable public health disaster. I will try to relate what I learned from a long day of calls about what is happening.
My new one @slate: Congress should pass legislation requiring states to offer no excuse absentee balloting in November. Congress needs to fund it, and it needs to happen now.https://t.co/DXqvbJfGwf
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 13, 2020
NURSING HOME REGULATIONS:
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) March 13, 2020
The Obama Administration implemented them before a pandemic.
Trump eliminated them before the pandemic. And is trying to reinstate them now.
Presidential emergency powers? Be very afraid. My comments from the last time Trump declared a state of emergency, from @CBSSunday https://t.co/WdzyWVMndn
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) March 13, 2020
Statement from @NYCMayor on the state of emergency in response to COVID-19.https://t.co/teAkdIpvOz
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 13, 2020
Currently experts expect over 1 million deaths in the U.S. since the virus was not contained & we cannot even test for it.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 13, 2020
This will be recorded as a major preventable public health disaster. I will try to relate what I learned from a long day of calls about what is happening.
Join me and @SenSchumer at City Hall for updates on our response to COVID-19. https://t.co/bTpgWujmff
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 14, 2020
COVID-19 Prep Update- March 14:
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) March 14, 2020
Last night I was on with state & local officials around the US well into the night. By March 23 many of our largest cities & hospitals are on course to be overrun with cases.
I am going to prepare a memo for them. I will share highlights here.1/
To everyone in NYC but ESPECIALLY healthy people & people under 40 (bc from what I’m observing that’s who needs to hear this again):
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 14, 2020
PLEASE stop crowding bars, restaurants, and public spaces right now. Eat your meals at home.
If you are healthy, you could be spreading COVID.
Doctors in Italy are begging us to listen to them. 21,000 confirmed cases, 20% growth in a single day. Non-COVID-19 cases getting by without medical care.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 15, 2020
Ventilators are in short supplies causing death tolls to rise to 100s/day. 1/
COVID-19 March 15Prep update:
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) March 15, 2020
Every day brings vital new developments and I talked to leading epidemiologists, public health experts about what is happening & coming & what we should be doing. I learned a bunch. 1/
#ELB: Watch Me on The PBS News Hour Talking About Election Security, Coronavirus, and Election Meltdown Issues https://t.co/28SfPUJUT0
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 15, 2020
BREAKING: In the face of Coronavirus, 15 health care leaders and I have published an open letter in @USATODAY with an urgent, life-saving message for all Americans, state & local leaders & our health care workforce.#StayHomehttps://t.co/UkASCu9ngf
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) March 15, 2020
BREAKING: A week before Inauguration Day 2017, Trump team participated in a tabletop exercise with outgoing Obama team about preparing for a "major domestic incident"
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
One incident discussed was a pandemic. I participated in that exercise.
THREAD 1/6 https://t.co/dsiauylaoe
There were 3 role-playing scenarios: hurricane, pandemic and cyber incident. Obama team discussed need to anticipate requirements, stay ahead of challenges and provide resources quickly
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
The goal was to acquaint Trump officials with how to coordinate around major incidents. 2/6
The pandemic role-playing scenario involved:
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
-"Novel influenza" with infections in Asia and Europe
-Efficient person-to-person transmission
-Insufficient lab capacities
-Travel bans
-Lag time before it comes to U.S.
-Need for vaccine
-Ventilator shortages
Sound familiar?
3/6
In event of a pandemic, Trump team was told:
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
-Pandemics can start in other countries and don't respect borders
-Science must guide decisions
-Federal/state collaboration is key
-Consistent messaging needed
-Social distancing recommended
-"Days - and even hours - can matter"
4/6
Thirty Trump officials attended the exercise (Cabinet and senior White House staff) https://t.co/QScWKsX6Hj
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
But the vast majority of these officials are no longer in government
When you're dealing with a crisis like #COVID19, stable and experienced leadership matters.
5/6
Bottom line: when Trump says "we were all surprised" by #COVID19, he shouldn't have been.
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 16, 2020
The Obama team warned Trump's staff about a possible pandemic. Whether it was lack of preparation or staff turnover, the necessary work wasn’t done to get in front of this.
/END
Senators push to let every American vote by mail as coronavirus keeps people at home https://t.co/s2oAwzviYA
— CNBC (@CNBC) March 17, 2020
As governors & election officials grapple in real time with very difficult questions, every state has to make the right decision about when to conduct their elections amidst the #COVID19 crisis. But no matter what, they need to give voters ample notice to avoid chaos & confusion.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
When states do move forward with elections, they need to adhere to @CDCgov guidance because the health and safety of voters is paramount and of crucial concern. And while we protect public health, we must protect the right to vote at the same time. We can’t discard our democracy.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
There are measures that states must enact immediately to ensure we’re ready for upcoming primaries and for the general election in November. This includes accessible online voter registration, expanded in-person early voting, no excuse vote by mail, and other important reforms.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
And it can’t be one size fits all. Vote by mail alone isn’t enough: Twenty-six percent of Native Americans in Arizona don’t have a US postal address. Some voters with disabilities and voters with language access needs rely on in-person voting to cast a ballot.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
We need options.
To that end, @civilrightsorg and more than 200 organizations released a list of very concrete measures that states need to enact so that every eligible voter can cast a ballot safely and have it counted. Read the full document here: https://t.co/wJ2Do4tojE
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
Our democracy works best when everyone participates. It’s the job of our policymakers to ensure our systems work, especially when there is a crisis like #COVID19.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 18, 2020
We will remain vigilant to ensure that the crisis we’re facing doesn’t exacerbate problems in our voting system.
Today, Sen. @RonWyden and I — along with 24 cosponsors — introduced a bill to ensure every American can #VoteByMail. Because people shouldn't have to choose between casting a ballot and protecting their health.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) March 18, 2020
Call your Senators and urge them to get it passed.
Q: "Why was the United States not prepared with more testing?"
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 19, 2020
President Trump: "We were very prepared. The only thing we weren't prepared for was the media. The media has not treated it fairly."
Full video here: https://t.co/LEdrUEK92G pic.twitter.com/bdQElalEk8
Congress must provide states with the funds they need to protect the right to vote amid #COVID19, including an expansion of #VoteByMail.
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) March 20, 2020
Call your Senator at 202-224-3121 and tell them to include elections funding in the economic stimulus package. Our democracy is worth it. pic.twitter.com/GNVL5o9829
Prof. @rickhasen featured in @NewYorker on how voting by mail could be the solution to voting during the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/8s9gH9XW9M
— UC Irvine School of Law (@UCILaw) March 20, 2020
China silenced coronavirus whistleblowers, expelled journalists, destroyed samples, refused CDC help, and concealed counts of deaths and infections. It's fact there was a massive coverup. China is responsible. The world must act to hold them accountable.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 21, 2020
Apparently the congressional negotiations continue to be slowed down by — Democrats insistence on universal vote by mail.
— Scott T. Parkinson (@ScottTParkinson) March 24, 2020
Democrats are using #COVID19 to try to rig elections. Have they no shame?!?
Universal vote by mail would be the end of our republic as we know it. https://t.co/NSqodOXsxx
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 24, 2020
#ELB: Watch Archived Talk with @Tovawang1 of @HarvardAsh Center on My Book #ElectionMeltdown, and Voting in the Era of the Virus https://t.co/l2IQ0StgBP
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 26, 2020
#COVID19 is terrible proof that we must plan ahead for potential disruptions to elections. Read our cross-partisan guidance on how to protect elections in the age of #coronavirus here: https://t.co/bZNSCXlk1q
— Election Task Force (@ElectionTask) March 26, 2020
The mission of the cross-partisan National Task Force on Election Crises is dedicated to ensuring a free and fair 2020 general election by recommending responses to a range of potential election crises. The only electoral outcome we advocate for is a free and fair election.
— Election Task Force (@ElectionTask) March 26, 2020
"Dozens of former Republican officials and progressive leaders have banded together to form a new task force on election emergencies..." BuzzFeedNews covers our launch: https://t.co/p6TGNXgIXA
— Election Task Force (@ElectionTask) March 26, 2020
Proud to be one of the 40+ members of the National Task Force on Election Crises (@ElectionTask), a new cross-partisan effort to safeguard 2020 elections.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 26, 2020
During the #COVID19 crisis, we need experts to come together to provide reliable guidance. So we did:https://t.co/9BMtoe1ff0
❗Minnesota considers voting changes for 2020 with COVID-19 outbreak, following "recommendations by a new bipartisan National Task Force on Election Crises" https://t.co/0WETfdv3QA ❗
— Election Task Force (@ElectionTask) March 27, 2020
WATCH: "We should be looking to all mail ballots across the board," says former VP @JoeBiden. #MTP #IfItsSunday
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 29, 2020
Biden: "Whether or not that is required across the board in all 50 states and territories, I am not sure. But we should be beginning to plan that." pic.twitter.com/bcmIacg3aI
Bill de Blasio is asked on CNN about comments he made as recently as two weeks ago urging New Yorkers to "go about their lives."
— Andrew Kaczynski (@KFILE) March 29, 2020
De Blasio responded, "we should not be focusing, in my view, on anything looking back on any level of government right now."pic.twitter.com/x70LjKRygG
Trump openly admitting if we made voting easier in America, Republicans wouldn't win elections
— Lis Power (@LisPower1) March 30, 2020
Trump: "The things they had in there were crazy. They had levels of voting, that if you ever agreed to it you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again." pic.twitter.com/x5HmX6uogo
My new big one @Slate on how coronavirus adjustments in election rules could further undermine voter confidence in the 2020 election: https://t.co/zC0gvzuJTU
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) March 30, 2020
JUST IN: McConnell says Dem impeachment push distracted government from coronavirus threat https://t.co/vAwWRZ5UAY pic.twitter.com/nPujHFDNyU
— The Hill (@thehill) March 31, 2020
Kevin McCarthy blames Nancy Pelosi for millions losing their jobs while he advocates against any futher spending for Coronavirus relief pic.twitter.com/jdOwpyHYKg
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 1, 2020