The final days of Trump's presidency inspire hour-by-hour countdowns

Were there hour-by-hour countdowns to the top of the Bush presidency? The finish of the Obama years? No, positively to not this extent. Trump’s time in workplace is ending in ignoble trend. There are countdowns to midday on Wednesday as a result of Trump is leaving in shame — the primary president to take action since Richard Nixon. Trump “way back stopped governing, however he walks away with a fame that’s sealed now: that of one of the worst presidents in United States’ historical past and definitely essentially the most harmful,” David Gergen stated on CNN Sunday night.

Even at this late hour, Trump is delusional about his election loss, or he’s nonetheless in deep denial, or some mixture thereof. He is “nonetheless, and I believe it is necessary to say, in line with individuals I’ve spoke to, nonetheless telling those that he gained,” Maggie Haberman reported on “Reliable Sources” Sunday morning. “You know, he is nonetheless sustaining this. So, the concept he has accepted the loss, he isn’t there but, if he’s ever going to get there.”

Trump’s incapacity to face the reality of his loss to Biden would possibly clarify why he has barely confronted reporters in any respect within the closing weeks of his presidency. Even extra remarkably, he not often ever known as into his favourite TV reveals. Aside from a pair of chats with Maria Bartiromo and Brian Kilmeade and a few WH-produced movies, he is been invisible.

“I believe the sensation is, if he goes out and speak extra, he’s merely going so as to add gas to the fireplace,” Haberman stated. “That’s half of why we’re not listening to him, as persons are afraid of what he’ll say — individuals which means his advisers — what he’ll say off the cuff in an interview.”

A farewell tackle?

American presidents sometimes ship a considerate farewell tackle to the nation. Will Trump? We know he needs a made-for-TV sendoff on Wednesday, however it’s unclear if he needs to discuss his legacy. CBS News is reporting that he will speak “at a farewell occasion on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews.” It’s additionally unclear how TV networks would deal with such a speech, given his previous deceptions and incitements.

>> I’m not elevating these questions as a result of I “need” to listen to from Trump, per se. I’m elevating the Q’s as a result of what leaders do not say is usually extra revealing than what they do say. Trump is scrapping norms all the way in which till the final minute of his presidency, by getting out of city earlier than Biden takes the oath…

Pence filling in as prez?

VP Mike Pence has been attending briefings and holding occasions, attempting to challenge American management since Trump cannot. Speaking to sailors in California on Saturday, Pence said he was proud that “that is the primary administration in a long time to not get America into a brand new battle.” I recognize what he meant, about international entanglements, however America shouldn’t be at peace. The battle has come dwelling. Here’s my “Reliable” monologue.

Pence — who, in an alt-history of the Trump age, would have turn out to be president had Trump been convicted by the Senate or deemed unfit by the cupboard — landed again in DC Sunday evening after his final official journey in workplace. Per the press pool, he stepped off Air Force Two and “paused for a minute to go searching and take all of it in.” As he descended the steps, the pool reporter shouted questions: “Sir, are you fearful about violence on Wednesday?” And: “Will you greet the president-elect on the White House on Wednesday?” Pence didn’t reply.

Coming quickly: A “gradual information day?”

Haberman told me that one of the constants of the Trump period was the “fixed sense of incoming,” a way pushed largely by his Twitter feed.

His Twitter feed is gone now, however that duck-and-cover sense hasn’t completely pale away but. Years of historical past are occurring in days. “We thought with 2020 behind us, issues would possibly decelerate,” however a lot for that, USA Today editor Nicole Carroll said on Sunday’s present.

John Dickerson introduced this up in a piece for “CBS Sunday Morning.” He stated “the brand new Biden administration could profit by merely providing a gentle stream of helpful data — doubtlessly reviving the long-forgotten ‘gradual information day.'”

He interviewed Jill Lepore, who stated, “You really simply have to point out up, have precise data, convey individuals in who’re doing their jobs, and reply the questions that the press and the general public have.” Sounds easy — and refreshing…

Remember how presidents used to talk?

With Biden about to take over, it is a good day to learn or re-read inaugural speeches, and different compelling addresses by previous presidents. I re-read John F. Kennedy’s 1961 speech to newspaper publishers, which comprises quite a bit of knowledge about democracy, nationwide safety, and the facility of the press. Kennedy spoke of “our obligation” — each his and the information media’s — “to tell and alert the American individuals, to make sure that they possess all of the info that they want, and perceive them as nicely — the perils, the prospects, the needs of our program and the alternatives that we face.” Read or listen to the speech here…

FOR THE RECORD

— On Sunday evening the NYT dwelling web page led with America’s Covid-19 failure, noting that “the nation is hurtling towards 400,000 whole deaths…” (NYT)

— We ought to all recall that Trump stated 100,000 to 200,000 whole deaths would rely as a “superb job.” The demise toll will surpass 400,000 by the point he leaves the WH…

— On “Face the Nation,” incoming CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated “we anticipate half 1,000,000 deaths on this nation” by mid-February… (CBS)

— Walensky was half of a coordinated push by the Biden transition crew to have reps on all 5 of the largest Sunday morning reveals…

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