Thread by @RomancingNope, Just so we're clear on how Trump is handling distributing PPE and [...]

Just so we're clear on how Trump is handling distributing PPE and ventilators:

1) States are buying PPE and ventilators for themselves because they can't get them from the federal government.
2) The federal government is stopping planes on tarmacs to confiscate these shipments.

3) The federal government is then allowing private distributors like McKesson to transport those confiscated PPE on FEMA planes to recipients determined by federal government. It's unclear what the profit mechanism for these private distributors is or how recipients are chosen.

4) States who had their ordered supplies confiscated turn around and start asking the federal government for supplies, since theirs were confiscated.
5) The Trump family goes on TV to say "it's the FEDERAL stockpile, not the STATE stockpile, you should have planned ahead."

6) States have to go to extraordinary means (like using NFL planes and covertly coordinating with other states) to finally get PPE and ventilators.
7) People die due to lack of needed medical resources.
8) Trump keeps killing people, because no one will hold him accountable.

9) Trump, in fact, blames healthcare workers stealing PPE (which isn't happening) for the shortage.
10) Said healthcare workers are coming to work in homemade masks, getting sick, and dying too.
11) Trump keeps killing them, because no one will hold him accountable.

Citations:
* PPE/ventilator shortage, Trump's stinginess with the federal stockpile, and homemade PPE: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-masks-shortage.html
* More on why there's a shortage: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/27/21194402/coronavirus-masks-n95-respirators-personal-protective-equipment-ppe
* State governments in bidding wars for equipment: https://abcnews.go.com/US/competition-state-local-governments-creates-bidding-war-medical/story?id=69961539

Competition among state, local governments creates bidding war for medical equipment

State and local governments across the United States are vying to purchase the same equipment, creating a competitive market for those materials that drives up prices.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-masks-shortage.html

* Federal government confiscates PPE purchased by states: https://www.wcvb.com/article/3-million-masks-ordered-by-massachusetts-were-confiscated-in-port-of-new-york/32021700#
* States get creative in getting PPE around the feds: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/kraft-family-used-patriots-team-plane-shuttle-protective-masks-china-boston-wsj-reports/
* Project Airbridge, aka corporate vultures circling: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-what-is-project-airbridge/

What is Project Airbridge?

States and hospitals are desperate for more medical equipment and supplies.

https://www.wcvb.com/article/3-million-masks-ordered-by-massachusetts-were-confiscated-in-port-of-new-york/32021700#

* Trump family declares the federal stockpile "ours", not the states': https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kushner-stockpile-hhs-website-changed-echo-comments-federal/story?id=69936411
* Nurses protest over lack of PPE: https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/3/nyc_frontline_medical_workers_ppe_protest
* People sew facemasks to donate to hospitals: https://www.today.com/health/volunteers-sew-homemade-face-masks-hospital-workers-t177079
* Healthcare workers are dying: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/02/coronavirus-first-emergency-doctor-dies-covid-19-us-nj/5110399002/

A New Jersey doctor is the first emergency physician to die from coronavirus in the US

Frank Gabrin, 60, died in his husband's arms just days after he developed symptoms consistent with the virus. He was a two-time cancer survivor.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kushner-stockpile-hhs-website-changed-echo-comments-federal/story?id=69936411

* Ventilator shortage in NY means doctors have to let people die: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kadiagoba/ventilator-shortage-new-york-hospitals-coronavirus
* Trump says he doesn't think NY needs more ventilators: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-hannity-coronavirus-ventilators-new-york-30000/
* Trump calls states requesting more "complainers" with "insatiable appetites": https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-hospitals-complainers-coronavirus_n_5e85e93ac5b6f55ebf490c36?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADIxK8MwzB4NsFn75VSGyWp6_30RJxEief-mNzQotuRlACmvhr_wC9eAw7Clyo9mrWIB7kxlsnYUExMOaTfrpumyVbOen1Qb5v4OUpsLEMAQ9GhAPsgVNM9J7JSVPRzFRntuCucvQwVJFoxHxUQFxDT7ArIyZS1NO-iigGSw0YmK

Trump Attacks Hospitals As Insatiable ‘Complainers’ Amid Crisis

“The complainers should have been stocked up and ready long before this crisis hit,” tweeted the president, who belittled the coronavirus pandemic for we...

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kadiagoba/ventilator-shortage-new-york-hospitals-coronavirus

Why? The federal stockpile was never intended to be reserved solely for the military, has never been used as such before, and even if it were, feds should not be diverting critical supplies from slammed states to save for military use only.

Also: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/politics/coronavirus-brett-crozier-theodore-roosevelt.html

The Navy Fired the Captain of the Theodore Roosevelt. See How the Crew Responded.

The rousing show of support provided another gripping scene to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic: the rank and file cheering a boss they viewed as putting their safety ahead of his career.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/politics/coronavirus-brett-crozier-theodore-roosevelt.html

And excuse me if "they're panicking" is neither reassuring nor an excuse. If you aren't capable of running things in a crisis, you have no business being the president.

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