The Banter Brief: Roid Rage Trump

This president is on steroids, and it is most definitely showing.

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of The Banter Brief!!

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1. Most Important Story Of The Week

Roid rage Trump

The biggest story this week is Trump’s almost certainly premature departure from Walter Reed Hospital on Monday, and his subsequent roid induced rampage for the rest of the week. Pumped up on dexamethasone, Trump has demanded his political opponents be jailed, claimed he is feeling better than he did 20 years ago, and blown up stimulus talks with the Democrats — which is a lot, even for him.

Trump, it should be noted, is still potentially highly infectious given it has only been 8 days since he began displaying symptoms of the Coronavirus. In fact, there is no way to know whether he is still infectious because we don’t yet have the tests for it.

“At this point, there’s no diagnostic test that tells you whether a person that’s infected remains infectious,” Dr. Benjamin Pinsky of Stanford University's virology labs told the AP. “There is absolutely a chain of unknowns.”

And yet Trump wants to do political rallies this weekend because in his expert medical opinion, he’s just fine. “I think I’m better to the point where I’d love to do a rally tonight.” Trump told Fox News this week. “I don’t think I’m contagious at all."

In other news, Mitch McConnell is refusing to go to the White House to meet with Trump “because my impression was their approach to how to handle this was different than mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate, which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing.”

When you’ve lost Mitch McConnell…

Go deeper with Banter Members:

Trump Is A Suicide Bomber On His Last Mission

He's highly contagious with Covid-19, losing badly in the election, and hell bent on taking everyone down with him. - by Ben Cohen

2. Poll Analysis

An unmitigated disaster for the president. Just take a look at this:

Don’t get happy of course, but don’t get sad either. This has all the telltale signs of a landslide.

3. Quote Of The Week

“Because of his gross mishandling of the worst pandemic we’ve seen in a century, he has reduced his base support even further. As a result, I predict we will see a majority unite against him in a way not seen since Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential election. I have never been more certain of something in my life. So, quell your fears, bed-wetting Democrats: 2016 is not 2020.”

- James Carville on Trump’s electoral implosion

4. What to Watch

Kamala Harris did a very good job against Mike Pence on Thursday night, and part of that was likely because she prepped for the debate with Pete Buttigieg. Mayor Pete is fast becoming the Democratic Party’s best communicator, particularly due to his ability to go on enemy turf and completely neutralize conservative talking points. Take a look at this devastatingly effective performance on Fox News just before the debate where he runs circles around Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier:

Why Fox continues to invite Buttigieg on is a complete mystery.

Bonus: The Great British Bakeoff Season 8 on Netflix. Seriously, if you haven’t watched this show, do so immediately. This season the crew and cast are isolated due to Covid making the show more relevant and relatable than ever.

5. Good News

Finally, the 25th Amendment!!

From USA Today:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that President Donald Trump is "in an altered state" and that action regarding the 25th Amendment and outlining a presidential line of succession will be discussed.

Trump was diagnosed with COVID last week. He spent a few days at Walter Reed Medical Center before going back to the White House. Officials will not state when his last negative test was. 

The president has since made a series of statements that range from deciding to call off coronavirus stimulus talks until after the election, to telling Americans to not fear the virus. 

In a press release Thursday, Pelosi and Congressman Jamie Raskin, D-Md., announced they will hold a press conference Friday "to discuss the introduction of the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office Act." 

There isn’t time (or the political will) to remove Trump from office before November, but this is great politics and brilliant trolling of the president as he flounders in the polls. Trump is reportedly furious about it, and the more he’s focused on everything other than the election, the better.

Have a great weekend!

Read the latest for Banter Members:

Trump Is A Suicide Bomber On His Last Mission

He's highly contagious with Covid-19, losing badly in the election, and hell bent on taking everyone down with him. by Ben Cohen

The White House COVID Meltdown Is Biggest Scandal Of Trump's Presidency

How sick is Trump, who did he infect, and why is he being released from hospital when he could still die from the Coronavirus?