January 1, Fauci Predicts 200,000 U.S. Deaths

This Day in History | 1981

President Ronald Reagan is shot after finishing a speech at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.. The would-be assassin, John Hinckley was apprehended and has since been released from a mental hospital. 

Good morning Middle Americans, 

This is going to be a make or break week for America. We personally have no doubts that America can make it through this week, but not all of America is as well informed as the people who subscribe to this newsletter.  

President Trump has wisely backed off his arbitrary Easter deadline for America to get back to work and extended the 15 day quarantine to 30 days. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Disease says America could be looking at as many as 200,000 deaths due to COVID-19.  Perhaps less wise – was the president’s decision to brag about his TV ratings.  The election will be a referendum on his handling of this crisis.  Even though his rating are technically better than the Bachelor’s. 

At least five members of Congress have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Also, we know now that a member of the Capitol Police has the disease as well. But that hasn’t changed the rhetoric. Sen. Lindsey Graham has some choice words for Speaker Pelosi, re: her choice words for the president. 

Meanwhile, if you’ve filled up at the tank recently you’ve noticed that gas prices are in free fall, just like oil.  Now below $20 a barrel. Stock markets continue to fall too. Leaving many wondering about retirement plans – that have been set back 5 years at least when you consider lost value.

Hang in there Middle America – this too shall pass. 

-Fraser Dixon

Dr. Fauci Predicts up to 200,000 U.S. Deaths

(USA Today) – As President Donald Trump weighs whether to ease social distancing guidelines intended to slow the spread of coronavirus one of his top health advisers predicted Sunday as many as 200,000 Americans could die from the disease.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, projected millions of Americans will contract COVID-19 and between 100,000 and 200,000 people could succumb to it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s worst-case-scenario earlier estimated at least 200,000 could die from the virus this year. 

Public health officials reiterated the grim estimates Sunday as the Trump administration weighed whether to extend its 15-day guidance to slow the spread the virus. Trump has said he wants to lift recommendations that Americans work from home and avoid discretionary shopping, but also said he would consider input from health experts.

“Looking at what we’re seeing now, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000” deaths,  Fauci told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’re going to have millions of cases.”

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President Trump Brags About High TV Ratings of Coronavirus Briefings

(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday bragged about the millions of people tuning in to view his daily press briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, saying on Twitter that his average ratings matched a season finale of “The Bachelor.”

“Because the ‘Ratings’ of my News Conferences etc. are so high, ‘Bachelor finale, Monday Night Football type numbers’ according to the @nytimes, the Lamestream Media is going CRAZY,” Trump tweeted. “‘Trump is reaching too many people, we must stop him.’ said one lunatic. See you at 5:00 P.M.!”

Trump’s daily coronavirus updates have attracted an average audience of 8.5 million on cable news, the New York Times reported on March 25, citing data from Nielsen Holdings Plc.

Trump had abandoned the custom of having regular press briefings at the White House, but brought them back this month to update the public on his coronavirus task force.

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Graham Slams Pelosi: ‘Most Shameful, Disgusting Statement in Modern Political History’

(The Hill) – Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday railed against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after she said President Trump’s response to the coronavirus outbreak was having deadly consequences. 

“She’s blaming the president of the United States for people dying because of the way he’s led the country,” Graham, a vocal Trump ally, said on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” “That’s the most shameful, disgusting statement by any politician in modern history.”

Speaking earlier on CNN, Pelosi said Trump’s lack of aggressive action was having severe effects throughout the United States. She said Trump’s initial downplaying of the disease and his delay in coordinating a response proved to have “deadly” impacts. 

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Global Stocks Fall as Oil Dips Below $20

(Wall Street Journal) – U.S. stock-index futures and global equity markets dropped, as markets remained volatile amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Futures tied to the S&P 500 index fell about 0.7%, reversing earlier gains and suggesting that U.S. shares could fall at the start of the week. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note, a security that is seen as a haven, fell to 0.657%, according to Tradeweb, from 0.744% Friday. Yields move in the opposite direction of prices.

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