What if Trump fought the virus as ferociously as he fights for his wall?

Vast numbers of American lives would have been saved. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP4QqAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPU5LJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGMTQ5MGE4OTgtYTBjNC01OWRiLWI5NzYtMGI3ZDFkZmZiYTEzJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0SyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1JmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwOTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyMTQ3Jm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM3OTUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTkwJmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [NYTimes.com/Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TIaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jb2x1bW4vbmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) September 12, 2020 President Trump visiting a section of the border wall in San Luis, Ariz., in June.Doug Mills/The New York Times [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) By [Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Opinion Columnist On Jan. 28, according to Bob Woodward’s new book, Trump’s national security adviser warned him about the coronavirus, saying: “This will be the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency.” Trump absorbed the message, telling Woodward days later that the virus was particularly deadly and contagious. Yet of course Trump did not act on that information. Instead, he misled the public by comparing the virus to the flu, he held large rallies and he never ensured the production of adequate tests or masks. Sierra Leone got functioning Covid-19 tests before the United States did. I’ve been [talking to epidemiologists](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8xMi9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtY29yb25hdmlydXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) about what would have happened if Trump had tackled the virus seriously back in January: What should he have done, and what would the United States look like now? [Here’s my column with their answers](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8xMi9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtY29yb25hdmlydXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Please Be Careful, Gentle Reader Many of us are sick and tired of being cooped up, and I sense more and more people easing up on the social distancing. Partly for that reason, I worry about the risk of a Covid-19 resurgence this fall, from a combination of more risk-taking and the general tendency to spend time inside in the winter breathing on each other. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg3JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg5JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [One new study](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9tbXdyL3ZvbHVtZXMvNjkvd3IvbW02OTM2YTUuaHRtP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1JmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwOTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyMTQ3Jm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzX2NpZD1tbTY5MzZhNV94JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) finds that eating indoors at a restaurant may double the risk of infection, and we also know that the 1918 pandemic had a second wave in the fall of that year. We don’t understand the coronavirus well enough to make predictions — but we should understand it well enough to be prudent. So please, gentle reader, be careful, and resist the tendency to let your guard down. Max Whittaker for The New York Times The Fires Out West When I was growing up in Oregon, on every trip to the coast we would look for the Tillamook Burn, a series of ferocious fires from 1933 to 1951 that had left the coastal range deeply scarred even decades later. Those hillsides seemed to signify the worst fires imaginable — and yet so far this summer more than twice as many acres have burned as in all the Tillamook Burn fires. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODA4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODA5JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODEwJmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Half a million Oregonians, more than 10 percent of the state’s population, are under evacuation orders or warnings. A forest fire is burning about five miles from the [Kristof family farm](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9wL0NFOFdtemZCLVB2Lz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) in Yamhill, Ore., although it doesn’t seem likely to reach us. I’m so grateful to the firefighters working round the clock — but also mindful that fighting fires isn’t just about dousing flames, but also about tackling climate change. I keep thinking about how President Trump dispatched unwanted federal agents to Portland during the Black Lives Matter protests to deal with a few trash fires (and try to provoke riots). But when Oregonians, Californians and Washingtonians are under real threat from forest fires and from Covid-19, he is much less helpful. Suggestions for a Last Project? A reader named Jack writes: “I am asking you this. I am 70 and have MS. But I still have a project left in me. In your opinion, what’s the most important thing to do now?” [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk1JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk2JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDkxMlcDbnl0QgoAP-kaXV-AnkvxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ First, Jack, thanks for thinking of others at a time when many of us might be thinking of ourselves. You might find resources at [Encore.org](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0StaHR0cHM6Ly9lbmNvcmUub3JnLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), which provides help in supporting an “encore career,” and the best approach for you will depend in part on your own experience and talents. But in general, my answer would be: Anything with kids. My reporting has taught me how much easier it is to help troubled kids than it is to “fix” troubled adults. Help can take the form of mentoring (even in a time of Covid-19, there is [iMentor](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0SuaHR0cHM6Ly9pbWVudG9yLm9yZy8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)), or volunteer reading with a group like [Reading Partners](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkaW5ncGFydG5lcnMub3JnLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDkxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjE0NyZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zNzk1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAD_pGl1fgJ5L8VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), or almost anything working with kids depending on your own interests and passions. There’s a particular need for men willing to work with disadvantaged boys. We also have many more suggestions in the back of our latest book, [“Tightrope.”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGVuZ3VpbnJhbmRvbWhvdXNlLmNvbS9ib29rcy81ODg5OTkvdGlnaHRyb3BlLWJ5LW5pY2hvbGFzLWQta3Jpc3RvZi1hbmQtc2hlcnlsLXd1ZHVubi8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) So thanks, Jack, good luck, and let us know what you end up pursuing for your “last project.” If Trump Cared About Covid-19 the Way He Cares About His Wall … Trump has been astonishingly persistent in fighting for his border wall. He has figured out ways to evade Congress and take money from the military to begin his wall. Imagine if he had fought the virus as tenaciously! If he had made sure that testing kits were widely available, if he had urged people to wear masks, if he had empowered the CDC to guide the states with the best evidence. One study found that if each county had just acted two weeks earlier, more than 90 percent of lives lost to the virus could have been saved. Jobs would have been preserved, schools and churches would now be open, and we would be living in a different country. 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By Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8wOS9vcGluaW9uL3VuaXRlZC1zdGF0ZXMtc29jaWFsLXByb2dyZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhP5_pP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8wOS9vcGluaW9uL3VuaXRlZC1zdGF0ZXMtc29jaWFsLXByb2dyZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDA5MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjIxNDcmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzc5NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA_6RpdX4CeS_FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [‘I Keep My Promises,’ Trump Said. Let’s Check. Here’s a report card on whether the president met his 2016 campaign pledges. 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