How the Trump team has meddled in health officials’ coronavirus work

[jpn]

...a pair of new reports drove home the consistent, ongoing effort to downplay the virus and apply pressure on apolitical government officials to fall in line.

Political pressure on the CDC
The Post this weekend confirmed a Politico report that political aides at HHS “sought to change, delay and prevent the release of reports about the coronavirus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because they were viewed as undermining President Trump’s message that the pandemic is under control.”

The Post’s Lena H. Sun reports that HHS spokesman Michael Caputo, a close Trump ally, and Caputo adviser Paul Alexander have spent months scrutinizing the reports and even demanding that they be allowed to make edits. The report is based upon actual emails, which Caputo confirmed were authentic.

Pushing for plasma
The FDA’s recent decision to approve another treatment for emergency use — convalescent plasma — was controversial from the beginning. The decision came shortly after Trump publicly applied pressure and shortly after health officials were reported to remain skeptical. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn also overhyped the treatment in a news conference with Trump, misstating data used to bolster the decision. (Hahn later apologized.)

Political hacks making editing professional guidance; making life and death decisions based on politics.

Life (and death) under Trump.

 

[Casper]

Political hacks making editing professional guidance; making life and death decisions based on politics.

Life (and death) under Trump.

Have you considered that the idea is to discredit the CDC, hence why the trump henchmen so readily admit to meddling.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Political hacks making editing professional guidance; making life and death decisions based on politics.

Life (and death) under Trump.

The FDA which is famous for pro-corporate corruption didn’t want to approve convalescent plasma? Shock of shocks.

I’m sure big Pharma had a talk with Hahn, in the meantime the plasma has been shown to be safe and effective around the world