Denial, dysfunction, delays: Tracing Trump administration’s failures over first 70 days of the virus fight
President Trump, reflected in a television camera, speaks with the coronavirus task force at a White House briefing on March 18. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Trump, with Alex Azar, left, and Steve Monroe of the CDC, holds a picture of the coronavirus during a tour of the CDC in Atlanta on March 6. (Getty Images)
Flowers are tied to trees with ribbons on March 13 outside Life Care Center, a long-term-care facility in Kirkland, Wash., that was linked to multiple coronavirus cases. (Reuters)
Jackie Copeland wipes down her cart in an effort to protect against the coronavirus before shopping at a Walmart in Fairfield, Calif., on Feb. 29. (Nick Otto for The Washington Post)
It may never be known how many thousands of deaths, or millions of infections, might have been prevented with a response that was more coherent, urgent and effective. But even now, there are many indications that the administration’s handling of the crisis had potentially devastating consequences.
Despite Ford and GM’s warlike effort to make ventilators, production is expected to come too late and fall short of needs
The automakers said they are racing to produce as many of the medical devices as possible. But their relatively late start means the bulk of their production could come after the peak of virus cases hits the country.
Analysis
How Trump’s attempts to win the daily news cycle feed a chaotic coronavirus response
Facing a global pandemic, President Trump still seems to lurch from moment to moment, with his methods and messages each day disconnected from — and in some cases contradictory to — the ones just prior.
Perspective
Trump again is trying to undermine government’s independent watchdogs
The president’s announcement that he is putting the intelligence community’s inspector general on leave comes one week after his claim of “presidential supervision” over the pandemic recovery watchdog, an ominous attempt to limit independent oversight.
Guide to the pandemic
There have been more than 1 million confirmed cases of covid-19. The virus has killed more than 58,000. Access to the following stories is free:
Why physical distancing shouldn’t mean social distancing
Play the latest episode of Post Reports, the premier daily podcast by The Washington Post.
As states keep many businesses shuttered for now, people disagree on what businesses and jobs are necessary.
“This latest act of reprisal against the Intelligence Community threatens to have a chilling effect against all willing to speak truth to power,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement.
Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and 8-year-old son Gideon probably died Thursday when they tried to retrieve a ball in a canoe, David McKean said in grieving Facebook post.
Perspective
The on-air coronavirus banter of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) and CNN’s Chris Cuomo makes for weird but compelling viewing — and it might serve a public benefit.
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