Part 1: Scott Braddock, Editor of the Quorum Report, Dean of the Austin Press Corp. Our man in Texas.
It’s a tough time in Texas at present. Currrently, the coronavirus infection rate is 8076 per day, and continues to climb. The state, which had started reopening, is closing its bars, and restaurants can only operate at 50% capacity. The governor now seems untethered from the right wing of the Republican party, and that faction appears to have lost traction, part of it due to the fact that they have mocked the governor’s wheelchair. The governor is now wearing a facemask, and even Mike Pence, a recent visitor to the state, wore a facemast, as a break from Trump. However a large choir sang for Pence without facemasks. The topic of interest to most Texan Republicans is the party convention, to be held later this month. Currently, is it still being considered a face-to-face event. This convention is important because it will be deciding on the Electors for the presidential election upcoming in November. This convention is planned for Houston, currently a hot spot for the virus, and also the largest medical center in the world. The Medical Association has recommended that it be limited, because of its potential to become a superspreader event. Surveys have indicated that 45% of repondents indicate that it should not be an in-person event. An additional 21% indicated that an in-person event with mask and distancing requirements would be acceptable. If the Party cannot make a choice, the Texas legislature, in a special session, can choose the Electors. Choosing the Electors is a required constitutional duty.
The campaigns are reducing blockwalkers during the campaigning period, because the public is unwilling to talk to people coming to the door,due to the virus.
Only 12% of the national repondents to a Pew survey indicate that the country is headed in the right direction. This is the lowest ever.
Part 2: Steffen Schmidt, Professor of Politics at Iowa State University, “Professor Politics”
We begin with a discussion of the use of face masks and other methods of avoiding the spread of the virus. Goldman Sachs, has set a policy that face to face meetings require mandatory face masks. The question of other companies adopting this hinges on which level of management declares this policy. In addition, the news of yet another new virus from China, related to the swine flu, is not yet major news, though it may prove as dangerous. But Trump’s actions and rhetoric is making it increasingly difficult for Republicans to stick with him. The factors at present are the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the Russian Bounty scandal. Over time, the Military has been considered the most trustworthy institution of the US. With the revelations about the Russians’ bounty on American servicepeople in Afghanistan, and Trump’s ignorance and indifferance, this is a topic that upsets many.
It appears that some consider Trump to be a virus that has taken over the Republican party, and damaged it forever. It is unclear how they can recover after Trump. What ideology, facts, and science will they depend on? Democrats’ themes are fairly consisent, and are choice, race, healthcare, and environment. These help to tie the party together, despite diffences in approach.
We discuss the Lincoln Project, which has been very effective in working against Trump. They are unafraid, and point out his failings.
Other readings:
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-74323871-e419-4224-a7c9-f78c08376246.html
Senility a flashpoint in the 2020 campaign
https://www.axios.com/half-us-population-unemployed-341ba30c-777e-4ba2-bccf-d2274b2770f0.html
Almost 1/2 of the American population is unemployed
https://www.thedailybeast.com/deep-red-state-mississippi-admits-it-is-in-deep-covid-trouble?ref=home
The Deep Red States admit they are in Deep Covid Trouble
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/01/trump-said-experience-was-his-edge-over-joe-biden-new-poll-shows-voters-disagree-by-remarkable-margin/
Trump said ‘experience’ was his edge over Biden. A poll shows voters disagree by a remarkable margin.
GOP-Trump fractures on masks open up
Trump says Covid-19 will ‘disappear’ after US reports record one-day increase
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/01/us-coronavirus-cases-record-one-day-increase-trump-silent
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-painting-black-lives-matter-on-new-yorks-fifth-avenue-would-be-a-symbol-of-hate/2020/07/01/6a039f12-bba2-11ea-bdaf-a129f921026f_story.html
Trump says painting ‘Black Lives Matter’ on New York’s Fifth Avenue would be ‘a symbol of hate’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coronavirus-cases-rose-by-nearly-50-percent-last-month-led-by-states-that-reopened-first/2020/07/01/3337f1ec-bb96-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html
Coronavirus cases rose by nearly 50 percent last month, led by states that reopened first
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/01/who-is-lauren-boebert-republican-primary-qanon-trump
Who is Lauren Boebert, the QAnon sympathizer who won a Republican primary?
Lauren Boebert beats Rep. Scott Tipton in Republican primary in Colorado https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gun-rights-activist-defeats-five-term-gop-congressman-in-colorado-primary/2020/06/30/2ffb8736-bb3d-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/01/cia-official-trump-russia-bounty-robert-o-brien
CIA official chose not to tell Trump of Russia bounty report, top adviser claims
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-york-court-sides-with-publisher-of-explosive-book-by-president-trumps-niece/2020/07/01/2eec8a7e-bbf7-11ea-86d5-3b9b3863273b_story.html
New York court sides with publisher of explosive book by President Trump’s niece
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/30/oscars-invites-new-members-diversity-academy
Oscars voting body invites 819 members in campaign to diversify the Academy
https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/covid-blm-protests-link
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/wearing-a-mask-to-halt-the-spread-of-coronavirus-has-a-big-impact-on-us-economic-growthand-goldman-has-done-the-math-2020-06-30
Goldman Sachs has done the math and a national mask mandate to halt the spread of coronavirus would have a big impact on the U.S. economy
Expanding Medicaid Makes Financial Sense. Plus, Voters Love It.
https://slate.com/business/2020/07/oklahoma-medicaid-expansion-obamacare.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-never-trumpers-may-destroy-him-then-what?ref=home?ref=home
The never Trumpers may destroy him and then what?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/tucker-carlson-calls-black-lives-matter-protests-a-pandemic-minneapolis-was-our-wuhan?ref=home
Tucker Carlson Calls Black Lives Matter Protests a ‘Pandemic’: ‘Minneapolis Was Our Wuhan’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/07/02/putin-term-limit-referendum-russia-stagnation/
Putin’s term-limit win suggests stagnation, not strength
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/01/vaccine-coronavirus-barda-trump/
Trump administration makes it easier for drugmakers to profit from publicly funded coronavirus drugs, advocates say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/02/black-property-tax/?fbclid=IwAR1Myas7LUn2A6q0ZEmzSUNJ5wanUy4fX18DZjXWJGMdAp9uAbSqlR1TkBU
Black families pay significantly higher property taxes than white families, new analysis shows
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/countries-brace-for-influx-of-hong-kong-refugees-fleeing-chinas-crackdown/2020/07/02/8ee844a2-bc12-11ea-97c1-6cf116ffe26c_story.html
Countries prepare to take in Hong Kong refugees fleeing China’s crackdown
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/quiz-biden-vice-president-pick/?hpid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans HYPERLINK “https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/quiz-biden-vice-president-pick/?hpid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name:homepage/story-ans&itid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name:homepage/story-ans”& HYPERLINK “https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/quiz-biden-vice-president-pick/?hpid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name:homepage/story-ans&itid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name:homepage/story-ans”itid=hp_visual-stories-8-12_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
Biden VP
