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Dr. Birx has had an impossible job, because her boss is incapable of providing the leadership, intelligence, empathy, or attention needed to contain the US outbreak.
But: she too owns the "nightmarish" US response. https://twitter.com/ryanstruyk/status/1308814435348287493
But: she too owns the "nightmarish" US response. https://twitter.com/ryanstruyk/status/1308814435348287493
She has consistently indulged and defended Trump's poor performance rather than being straight with the US public.
It should surprise no one - least of all her - that Trump is gravitating toward charlatans who tell him what he wants to hear, rather than telling him the truth.
It should surprise no one - least of all her - that Trump is gravitating toward charlatans who tell him what he wants to hear, rather than telling him the truth.
The slippery slope toward that outcome was greased by none other than Dr. Birx herself (& Redfield, Giroir, Azar).
They all compromised the integrity of their public health advice in order to avoid antagonizing the president.
They all compromised the integrity of their public health advice in order to avoid antagonizing the president.
Birx has scrupulously avoided contradicting his falsehoods.
Consistently spun his baseless optimism as it if were evidence-driven.
Endorsed his WHO-scapegoating.
Defended his leadership of the response.
Produced guidance that put politics ahead of public health.
Consistently spun his baseless optimism as it if were evidence-driven.
Endorsed his WHO-scapegoating.
Defended his leadership of the response.
Produced guidance that put politics ahead of public health.
She knew better, certainly. In doing those things, she fleetingly maintained some access, and a kind of toothless influence.
But only until another advisor came along who *didn't* know better. Who embraced the crackpot thinking she didn't endorse but also wouldn't condemn.
But only until another advisor came along who *didn't* know better. Who embraced the crackpot thinking she didn't endorse but also wouldn't condemn.
Again, she was in an impossible dilemma.
But that dilemma created two ethical paths. One, the Fauci path, was telling the truth in public even if it meant losing influence with Trump.
The other path was to self-censor in public in exchange for meaningful influence in private.
But that dilemma created two ethical paths. One, the Fauci path, was telling the truth in public even if it meant losing influence with Trump.
The other path was to self-censor in public in exchange for meaningful influence in private.
She ended up achieving neither.
Instead she rationalized the President's inaction, magical thinking, and incompetence *both* to him and to the public.
No surprise, then, that he eventually pushed this magical thinking yet further.
Instead she rationalized the President's inaction, magical thinking, and incompetence *both* to him and to the public.
No surprise, then, that he eventually pushed this magical thinking yet further.
Early speculation was that she was doing this to avert even worse decisions - a dubious defense then; a collapsed one now.
The US response under her tenure has been a disaster, as we blow past death counts the she once said we could avert. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/31/824946036/models-of-epidemic-predict-huge-u-s-death-toll-scientists-hope-for-better-outcom
The US response under her tenure has been a disaster, as we blow past death counts the she once said we could avert. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/31/824946036/models-of-epidemic-predict-huge-u-s-death-toll-scientists-hope-for-better-outcom
Her choice to subordinate public candor to private influence just facilitated presidential gaslighting and mismanagement.
The results:
- 200k deaths and counting
- An avoidable summer wave of cases
- A woeful testing apparatus that has stalled for 2 months
The results:
- 200k deaths and counting
- An avoidable summer wave of cases
- A woeful testing apparatus that has stalled for 2 months
- Toxic politicization of common-sense public health guidance
- Shuttered schools across much of the country
- The decimation of the CDC's credibility
- PPE supplies that are *still* inadequate
- Mass confusion about what individuals and communities should do to stay safe
- Shuttered schools across much of the country
- The decimation of the CDC's credibility
- PPE supplies that are *still* inadequate
- Mass confusion about what individuals and communities should do to stay safe
And of course, all of this as we head back into winter and flu season, when everything will become much much harder.
I am not surprised that Dr. Birx is distressed and considering resignation. She should be.
It is probably too late for her to salvage her reputation. But she could take a step in that direction by finally leveling with the American people about what she has been a part of.
It is probably too late for her to salvage her reputation. But she could take a step in that direction by finally leveling with the American people about what she has been a part of.
