Monday, August 24, 2020
Rush Limbaugh: Biden’s ‘Flawless’ DNC Speech ‘Had to Be Taped’
https://www.thedailybeast.com/rush-limbaugh-says-bidens-flawless-dnc-speech-had-to-be-taped
On Thursday night, a series of Fox News hosts and commentators readily acknowledged that Joe Biden “blew a hole” in President Donald Trump’s depiction of him as a demented old man by delivering a highly effective speech at the Democratic National Convention. Even Laura Ingraham had to admit that Biden “beat expectations.”
Rush Limbaugh has a different theory.
The conservative radio host who not so long ago received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump during a State of the Union address, spent his show Friday pushing the notion that Biden did not, in fact, deliver his speech live.
FDA authorizes plasma treatment despite scientists' objections
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/23/plasma-treatment-coronavirus-fda-trump-400390
Outside experts and former officials have accused FDA of caving to White House pressure during the pandemic — most notably in its decision to authorize emergency use of hydroxychloroquine for treating Covid-19 infection despite limited evidence. The agency later pulled the authorization after randomized clinical trials found it provided no benefit, but Trump as recently as this weekend complained about the agency's reversal.
Hahn, a longtime cancer doctor, declined to contradict the president's claims about plasma being "very effective" on the press briefing stage Sunday night. "If you are one of those 35 out of 100 people who these data suggest survive as a result of it, this is pretty significant," he said.
The data from the expanded access program is not a randomized controlled clinical trial, making it difficult for scientists to eliminate other factors in patients' recovery. Two randomized trials cited in the FDA's emergency use authorization, in China and the Netherlands, were both halted.
The Chinese trial could not enroll enough patients. The Dutch trial ended after sponsors found "no difference in mortality, hospital stay or day-15 disease severity."
But other outside experts — including at least four former FDA chiefs — have urged the agency to hold off an emergency authorization until there is clear data that plasma works.
"Let's get the trials done & if the results are life saving, let's make it standard of care, thus benefiting hundreds of thousands to millions," former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf tweeted this week. "If not we can avoid the huge expense & effort & keep looking for best treatments."
Covid-19 Live Updates: A Plasma Treatment Is Authorized, but the Big Prize for the White House Is a Vaccine
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/23/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html
The fast-tracking could come before Phase 3 trials are complete, raising concerns. Italy reported its highest case count since May 4. Life in China, where the pandemic began, is returning to normal.
Trump authorizes plasma treatment amid attacks on FDA
On Saturday, Trump tweeted: “The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after 3 November. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”
The “deep state” conspiracy theory holds that a permanent government of bureaucrats exists to thwart the president’s agenda. Former Trump campaign manager and White House adviser Steve Bannon, an enthusiastic propagator of the theory, has also said it is “for nut cases” and “none of this is true”.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Trump’s tweet “scary” and “beyond the pale”.
Shortly after being challenged on his claims about plasma treatment compared to caution from officials including FDA commissioner Hahn, Trump ended the briefing.
US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53884710
- But several experts, including Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, have expressed reservations about the robustness of studies so far.
- The FDA has already approved the use of plasma transfusions on coronavirus patients under certain conditions, like those who are gravely ill or taking part in clinical trials.
- In a tweet on Saturday, President Trump said "the deep state, or whoever, at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics.
- "Obviously, the are hoping to delay the answer until after [the US presidential election]," he added.
Trump-O-Meter
https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/?ruling=true
Tracking President Donald Trump's campaign promises: The Trump-O-Meter is PolitiFact's meter for tracking 100 promises President Trump made during his 2016 campaign. (We tracked President Barack Obama’s promises when he was in office, too.) For each campaign promise, our reporters research the issue and then rate it based on whether the promise was achieved: Promise Kept, Promise Broken, Compromise, Stalled, In the Works or Not Yet Rated. We rate the promise not on the president's intentions or effort, but on verifiable outcomes.
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Israel's Netanyahu Accepts Proposal for Budget Negotiation Extension, Avoiding New Election
https://time.com/5882803/netanyahu-budget-negotiations/
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he had accepted a proposal to extend budget negotiations, preventing the government from collapsing and plunging the country into a new election.
In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said that now was not the time to drag the country into a fourth parliamentary election in less than two years.
“Now is the time for unity. Not for elections,” he said.
'A horrific rape which lasted for hours'
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/285744
The complaint initially drew little media attention, until two men suspected of taking part in the rape were arrested last week.
Now, police say that a total of 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, with investigators working to identify more suspects involved in the rape.
Nine of the suspects now in custody are minors - 17-year-olds - with two adults also in custody.
The arrest of one of the suspects, a 27-year-old resident of the coastal city of Hadera, was extended Sunday by five days.
In addition, police have arrested a woman employed by the hotel on suspicion of obstruction of justice.
Dem senator calls on Trump to denounce QAnon conspiracy theory
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-senator-calls-on-trump-to-denounce-qanon-conspiracy-theory
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Sunday called on President Trump to disavow the far-right conspiracy movement QAnon – just days after the president said supporters of movement “love our country.”
Warner called the conspiracy theory movement, which has gained popularity among a small faction of Republicans, a "fringe group” that is “potentially a threat.”