Trump's FDR Moment

The president tried to keep Americans calm, but he could have been more straightforward [President Trump]( Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images The Big Picture: Projecting Confidence It was revealed this week that, according to journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, Rage, President Trump knew the potential severity of the coronavirus back in early February. "This is deadly stuff," [the president said]( in a recorded interview Feb. 7. "You just breathe the air, and that's how it's passed. And so that's a very tricky one. That's a very delicate one. It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu." Yet, Trump would go on to publicly and continuously downplay the virus, saying it would “disappear” and that people should stay “calm.” Explaining why he did so, [Trump said Thursday]( “We had to show leadership, and leadership is all about confidence.” But contrast that with how past presidents have delivered sobering news to Americans, believing they could handle it and then aimed to inspire. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for example, on Dec. 8, 1941, a day after the Pearl Harbor attack: “I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.” Toward the end of his address, FDR added, “Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.” Coronavirus was an FDR moment for Trump — to seriously convey the truth and then try to breed confidence in a way forward. For many Americans, he didn’t do that. Politically, what Trump didn’t seem to understand is that if he had leveled with the public from the beginning, delivered the bad news, but appeared to be listening to experts and offering a good-faith way forward, it would have likely helped his political standing. Just look at the difference between Trump’s approval rating during these past several months versus governors in key places who did deliver sobering news in an unvarnished way. Trump was trying to show confidence, but many Americans saw through him trying to be a “cheerleader,” as he calls it, in the face of mounting deaths. It’s why most Americans now [disapprove of his handling of the pandemic]( – and why he’s [the underdog right now]( in this fall’s presidential election. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Bowmer/AP Election 2020: Ballots In The Mail Defense against election interference: The U.S. [has sanctioned and charged]( foreign actors for attempting to influence the 2020 election, including a member of the Ukrainian parliament who spread false narratives about Joe Biden. Since the announcement, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has been [downplaying his meeting and contacts]( with the Ukrainian. Double voting in Georgia?: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says a thousand people voted twice in the state's primary election this year but said he had [no evidence the cases weren't honest mistakes](. In a news conference, Raffensperger mentioned only one person his office knew of who deliberately went in person to a polling place for malign reasons after casting a ballot in the mail. GOP fundraising: President Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee and their joint fundraising efforts brought in $210 million in August. That’s $45 million more than GOP groups raised in July but [falls short]( of the record-breaking nearly $365 million [brought in by the Democrats]( last month. Have voters already made up their minds? National polls consistently show Biden with a lead, but the contest will come down to an electoral map that hinges on many of the same places that gave Trump the edge four years ago. Here's what [voters said in six key swing states]( about President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Post office preps for surge in election mail: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a record number of Americans are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year. The [USPS has begun preparing]( for an influx in election mail, including making sure all ballots receive a postmark, and that the bags and containers they are placed in are tagged properly. — Barbara Sprunt, NPR Politics producer --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Kim Ryu for NPR ICYMI: Financial Pain From COVID-19 DOJ moves to defend Trump: In a highly unusual move, the [Justice Department is intervening to defend President Trump]( in a defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, who has alleged Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store in the mid 1990s. The Justice Department argued that Trump's remarks denying the accusation and accusing her of lying were made in the performance of his official duties, therefore government attorneys should assume Trump's defense. Woodward book review: In his new book on the Trump presidency, legendary reporter Bob Woodward documents President Trump publicly downplaying the coronavirus and criticism from former officials like James Mattis and Dan Coats. "When his performance as president is taken in its entirety, I can only reach one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job,” Woodward wrote at the end of the book. [Read our review from NPR’s Ron Elving](. Pandemic economic impact: In America’s four largest cities, at least half of people say they've lost a job or seen reduced wages or hours since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic,[a new NPR poll found](. Many of those problems are concentrated among Black and Latino households in the four cities. Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist: President Trump this week [released a list of 20 people]( he would select from if any Supreme Court vacancies arise during his remaining time in office or a second term. The [list is overtly political]( — it includes three current Republican senators and a host of federal judges hostile to abortion, voting-rights legislation and LGBTQ rights. Coronavirus relief bill fails: A scaled-back coronavirus relief bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., this week [failed to achieve the 60 votes needed to advance](. The failed vote could be the last official act of Congress on a coronavirus relief bill before Election Day. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer --------------------------------------------------------------- Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Going Deeper: Living With Fire Fires in the West: Massive wildfires have become a near-annual occurrence across the West, costing many lives and billions of dollars in damages and firefighting costs each year. But no amount of firefighting resources will avert the next big wildfire, experts say. [Read this report on the push for a truce between people and fire]( from NPR’s Environment and Energy Collaborative. No Compromise: NPR launched a new podcast this week that exposes how three brothers from the most uncompromising corner of the gun debate are turning hot-button issues into donations and controversy. [Subscribe and listen to the first episode](. — Dana Farrington, NPR Politics editor --------------------------------------------------------------- Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images The Shot: ‘America Will Always Rise Up’ President Trump and Joe Biden both participated in 9/11 commemorations on Friday for the 19th anniversary of the attacks. Biden and Vice President Pence crossed paths at ground zero in New York, exchanging an elbow bump. Biden told reporters that he was "not going to talk about anything other than 9/11.” At a ceremony in Shanksville, Pa., to honor those who died in the crash there, Trump said, "The heroes of Flight 93 are an everlasting reminder that no matter the danger, no matter the threat, no matter the odds, America will always rise up, stand tall, and fight back." — Dana Farrington, NPR Politics editor [Read more]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. 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