Weaponizing COVID-19 for the ultimate political benefit, the usefulness of COVID-19 fear cannot solely rely upon the infection of President Trump.  For maximum election usefulness the infection fear must be nationalized; and at the very least emphasized in those states most important for electoral gains.

Cue the next predictable phase in the 2020 political weaponization…

YAHOO – As the summer slowed down in August and early September, it seemed the U.S. had reached a turning point in the pandemic—finally COVID case numbers were going down. But in recent weeks, the country’s fate has changed. As of Oct. 3, the U.S. is seeing an eight percent rise in COVID cases from the average two weeks earlier, The New York Times reports. Of course, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, some states are being hit worse than others. It’s clear the virus has been ravaging the Midwest and now, is inching its way into western states as well. Based on the latest data, those two regions have the worst COVID outbreaks nationwide.

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In addition to President Trump and First Lady Melania, Hope Hicks, Chris Christie, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, former Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway, Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, Senator Mike Lee, Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Ron Johnson have all tested positive for COVID-19.  A strange and curious outbreak when we consider all prior group events with POTUS, and the same set of protocols being followed, and yet no prior issues…. until October.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has modified the senate legislative calendar after Senator Mike Lee, Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Ron Johnson have tested positive for COVID-19.  However, the senate judiciary schedule for supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett remains unchanged.

“Previously-scheduled floor activity will be rescheduled until after October 19th … The important work of the Senate’s committees can and will continue as each committee sees fit,” McConnell said in a statement.

LOUISVILLE, KY– Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding the upcoming Senate floor schedule:

“On Monday, I intend to obtain a consent agreement for the Senate to meet in pro forma sessions for the next two weeks. Previously-scheduled floor activity will be rescheduled until after October 19th.

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Speaking from Walter Reed Hospital, President Trump’s personal physician, Sean Conley, provides an update including details on the current status of President Trump’s care and answers media questions.  Everything sounds great and the President is doing very well.

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The supreme court in Michigan has ruled that Governor Gretchen Whitmer exceeded her constitutional authority under state law in the arbitrary enforcement of her unilateral decrees to mitigate the COVID-19 virus. [pdf here] As the court wrote in the opinion rebuking the governor:

“The people of this state have been denied a voice and a seat at the table in decisions that have impacted every facet of their lives and their futures over the past eight months. They deserve to have their representatives bring their voice and their concerns into this decision-making process.”

At the heart of the governor’s legal argument was a 1945 law allowing the governor to declare a state of disaster or emergency if she finds one to exist and it remains in place for 28 days, unless the Legislature extends it. The legislature did not extend the declaration, yet the governor continued to restrict the citizens without any representative voice.

MICHIGAN – […] In the 4-3 ruling, the court determined the governor did not have the authority under state law to issue any additional emergency declarations pertaining to the pandemic after April 30. That was the last date when the legislature allowed the governor to declare an emergency.

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Following a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, President Trump has been relocated to Walter Reed hospital in Washington DC where he will work from the presidential office within the medical facility.  White House report:

“President Trump remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day. Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”

– Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany

President Trump is physically and mentally very strong. Prior to the onset of COVID symptoms there is nothing in the background of his physical health that would be a concern for overcoming the virus.   All will be well.

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President Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows (the former congressional source for all of John Solomon’s reporting) gives an update on the condition of the president and first lady.

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President Donald Trump announces via tweet that he and First Lady Melania have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Earlier on Thursday evening it was announced that presidential advisor Hope Hicks had also tested positive.  Prayers for Ms. Hicks, President Trump and Melania for a speedy recovery.  The President’s physician released the following statement:

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Earlier this evening President Trump called-in to Fox News with Sean Hannity to discuss this week’s presidential debate, Hope Hicks positive test for COVID-19, and current political issues.

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White House advisor to President Trump, Hope Hicks, has tested positive for COVID-19.  President Trump tweets that he and the First Lady Melania are proactively beginning a quarantine as they await their test results:

Ms. Hicks is a close personal advisor and confidant to both President Trump and the First Lady.  Her COVID test result seems rather suspicious on many levels.  No doubt President Trump’s political opposition would like to remove him from the campaign trail and the MAGA rallies that drive an enthusiastic election outcome.  Additionally a quarantine would protect Joe Biden from another debate.

There are trillions at stake…

The test results only take a few minutes, why the delay?

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The ADP private sector payroll report [link here] reflects continued rapid recovery from the regional COVID-19 shutdowns. The monthly report shows gains of 749,000 jobs, exceeding the expected 650,000 forecast.

One of the key factors is the expiration of the disincentive via the federal COVID unemployment mechanism that provided an additional $600/month beyond normal earnings in the unemployment package. This has been a topic of many coversations in my travels as working-class businesses have been having a hard time getting people to return to work.  (more on that below)

(Reuters) Private payrolls increased by 749,000 jobs this month after rising 481,000 in August, the ADP National Employment Report showed. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private payrolls would rise by 650,000 in September. Employment gains were spread across all industries and company size.

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