Major Vaccine Progress as Older Voters Abandon Trump

The David Pakman Show - May 19, 2020

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Trump Claims He's Taking Hydroxychloroquine

Donald Trump yesterday during a reopening roundtable told reporters that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine as a way to prevent contracting the coronavirus. The President said he “heard a lot of good stories” about the drug and got the approval from his doctor to take it prophylactically. Recently the safety and efficacy of the treatment for COVID-19 has been called into question. A recent VA study using a randomized clinical trial concluded that hydroxychloroquine is not effective in combating the virus and in fact could be deadly for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

I'm increasingly thinking this is something Trump blurted out to get a reaction from the media and it's not even true. The FDA has a warning against the use of hydroxychloroquine outside of a hospital or clinical trial because of the potential increased risk for serious heart-related adverse events and death. What doctor would allow a president to take something lacking any demonstrated benefit with a high side-effect risk prophylactically? This not only puts Trump at risk if he’s telling the truth, it also puts others at risk and encourages people to seek out prescriptions for a potentially dangerous drug.

Pelosi: "Morbidly Obese" Trump Shouldn't Take Hydroxychloroquine

Nancy Pelosi is under fire after reacting to President Trump’s announcement that he has been taking hydroxychlorquine. While the House Speaker was correct that the drug has been shown to have a number of adverse side effects, including cardiac arrhythmia and hypoglycemia, she incorrectly referred to Trump as “morbidly obese.” Trump supporters on Twitter were furious with the comments and some likened them to “fat shaming.”

While the President is not morbidly obese, he is suspected to be obese based on estimations of his height and weight. While Trump claims to be 6’3’’ and 239 pounds (which puts him at a BMI conveniently just under the obese category), he is likely shorter and heavier based on how he stacks up to those around him. While Nancy Pelosi was technically wrong, she was right to say it was a bad idea for the President to be taking hydroychloroquine prophylactically, particularly because he is in a high-risk group.

--Also on the Show:

--Ross Douthat, Columnist at the New York Times and author of "The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success," joins David to discuss decadent societies, advancement, growth, and how this all related to the coronavirus response in the United States. Get the book: https://amzn.to/2WLpPIY

--A coronavirus vaccine trial of a vaccine candidate made by Moderna achieves 100% immunity in its Phase I trial with limited side effects and has huge potential to be available in the fall

--As we get closer to a coronavirus vaccine, we must be ready for a massive vaccine disinformation propaganda war

--Fox News host Neil Cavuto is visibly distraught by Donald Trump's claim that he is taking prophylactic hydroxychloroquine, pointing out that in some cases, depending on comorbidities, "it will kill you"

--Donald Trump's latest firing of Inspector General Steve Linick may be linked to a Saudi arms deal and other concerning elements

--Older voters are abandoning Donald Trump and flocking to Joe Biden in recent polling

--On the Bonus Show: Justin Amash won't run for President, fatal car accidents up in Massachusetts despite 50% reduction in traffic, Japan suicides decline during coronavirus lockdown, much more...

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