What is Donald Trump even talking about?

| 10:45 pm EST March 1, 2020
Dear Palmer Report readers,

We all understand what a dark era we're heading into. Journalists will be prosecuted. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. Advertising networks can't be counted on. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight, because someone has to.

In that regard we're looking to start funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens or how dark things get. We've launched a reader supported fund, and we've already raised $3360 and counting. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can contribute here. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Bill Palmer
Palmer Report

Two people in the United States have already died from the coronavirus, with the second having been confirmed this evening. Several more will likely die as the virus spreads here. The death tolls outside the United States are tragic and scary. Moreover, Americans are clearly concerned that Donald Trump’s corrupt dismantling of the CDC budget, and his overall incompetence in general, could make things even worse than they need to be.

Just don’t tell this to Donald Trump, who – we can’t make this up – is now bragging about fake coronavirus poll numbers. This is the guy who sits around tweeting imaginary poll numbers every few days, so perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising. But still, this tweet tonight from Trump is completely off the rails:

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It doesn’t take much to figure out that the poll, published in the Trump-friendly tabloid New York Post, is comparing apples to oranges. Of course people in the United States aren’t as hopeless yet about the coronavirus as they were about some past plagues, because the coronavirus hasn’t had as much of a negative impact here yet as these past threats did. But really, the fact that Trump is tweeting about coronavirus poll numbers is just… there are no words.

Dear Palmer Report readers,

We all understand what a dark era we're heading into. Journalists will be prosecuted. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. Advertising networks can't be counted on. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight, because someone has to.

In that regard we're looking to start funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens or how dark things get. We've launched a reader supported fund, and we've already raised $3360 and counting. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can contribute here. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Bill Palmer
Palmer Report