The Democrats are in a tough spot in November and they know it. Prior to the pandemic, they were preparing themselves for a Trump 2020 victory. You know they thought they’d lose when they hand-picked former Vice President Joe Biden to get beaten as they prepared for 2024.
Then came COVID-19. The Dems thought they were saved, and they might be. Not only would President Trump’s economy be destroyed, but deaths from the virus, of course, would be attributed to his poor response.
Instead, Trump did what he always does, which was take the course of action he felt was best for Americans overall. And he got beat up for it, but it’s looking more and more like he might’ve done very well. From questioning New York governor Andrew Cuomo and his request for 40,000 ventilators (he didn’t need them) to building field hospitals and sending two 1,000-bed hospital ships to areas that called for help (less than 1 percent of that total capacity was ever used), he is starting to look very right.
The possibilities stemming from coronavirus were always focused. Either we were going to have this virus linger and get worse into November, whereby Trump would almost certainly lose, or the virus was going to recede in the summer allowing a massive economic recovery that gains steam, heading into November. Current polling shows that a majority of Americans 1) don’t blame Trump for the current economic issues and 2) trust Trump more to handle the economy than Biden.
There’s also the issue for Dems that governors and mayors, mostly democrats, have been slow to open their economies so their citizens can get back to work. President Trump is increasingly being viewed as the good guy, even in Democrat strongholds. Democrat mayors and governors are being defied by some of their own constituents who are following the President’s lead. This is even happening in deep-blue California. Barbershops and beauty salons are serving clients, notwithstanding threats of fines or arrest. Churches are holding services. Local Sheriffs are refusing to arrest violators. This is good optics for the Trump reelection campaign.
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Fauci: There May Not Be a Second Wave
Dr. Anthony Fauci now says that a second wave of COVID-19 may not even happen and that wearing a mask is gesture of respect to your nieghbor. “We often talk about the the possibility of a second wave, or of an outbreak when you’re reopening,” Fauci explained. “We don’t have to accept that as an inevitability. Particularly, when people start thinking about the fall. I want people to really appreciate that, it could happen, but it is not inevitable.”
Fauci admitted that he is beginning to feel more and more optimistic as days go by mostly because the U.S.’s testing efforts are helping the COVID-19 response. In April, however, Fauci insisted that second wave of coronavirus was inevitable.
During an interview with MSNBC, he said, “It’s inevitable that the coronavirus will return next season. … When it does, how we handle it, will determine our fate.” And the masks?
Fauci also said at that time, that Americans should wear face masks in public to protect themselves — but also to get into good practices.
“I want to protect myself and protect others [by mask-wearing], and also because I want to make it be a symbol for people to see that that’s the kind of thing you should be doing,” he added.
During the interview, the infections diseases expert also admitted that wearing a mask is not 100% effective, but says that it is a gesture that shows “respect” for other people.
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Oil Building Momentum
Oil futures rose on Thursday, erasing earlier losses, on signs U.S. gasoline demand is rising despite a big surprise build in crude inventories and worries that China’s new Hong Kong security law could result in trade sanctions.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said crude inventories rose 7.9 million barrels in the latest week, exceeding expectations, due to a big increase in imports. Gasoline stockpiles fell unexpectedly, but refiners boosted output.
This was the second week in the last Seven weeks that refinery utilization crept back up above the 70% level. Oil prices have rebounded in recent weeks as states reopn, spaking some demand after the coronavirus pandemic cut global consumption by 30%. Overall investment is dropping and U.S. production cuts are balancing out the supply glut, but demand still has not bounced back entirely.
Uncertainty about Russia’s commitment to continuing deep output cuts kept the price gain in check. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC producers are considering extending record high output cuts until the end of 2020 but have yet to win support from Russia, according to OPEC+ and Russian industry sources.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group dubbed OPEC+, meets on June 9 to discuss continuing the April supply deal that cut 9.7 million bpd from the market.
Markets are also concerned that Washington could slap trade sanctions on China due to Beijing’s move to impose a new security law on Hong Kong. The United States and other nations said this would threaten freedom and breach a 1984 Sino-British agreement on the autonomy of the former UK-colony.
But there is also a dip in U.S. shale prodcution and that is not likely to turn around quickly. The range is likely to be $30-$40 in the short-term.
SWEPCO Wind Farm Approved
Southwestern Electric Power Co., (SWEPCO) a company of Columbus, Ohio-based utility American Electric Power, has received regulatory approval from Louisiana for its plan to invest $1.01 billion to acquire three wind farms in north-central Oklahoma.
The company announced on Wednesday (May 27) that the Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved the project that would provide 810 megawatts of renewable energy to customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
SWEPCO plans to purchase the Oklahoma wind farms, known as the North Central Energy Facilities, along with its sister company, Public Service Company of Oklahoma. SWEPCO would own 810 megawatts, or 54.5% of the 1,485-megawatt project, with an investment of $1.01 billion. SWEPCO and PSO will acquire the farms when they are completed in 2020 and 2021.
The project is expected to save its customers $2 billion over the 30-year expected life of the wind facilities. If only two states were to approve the project, those states could increase the number of megawatts allocated to them.
“This is the largest renewable-energy project ever put forward by a Louisiana utility,” said Foster Campbell, commissioner for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. “I’m proud that the Louisiana commission is making this move. And I’m happy that it has a northwest Louisiana solar component to go along with the wind power.”
Based in Shreveport, La., SWEPCO has more than 536,300 customers in three states, including 119,800 in Arkansas.
Natural Social Distance Tips
Italian Burger King restaurants have been selling a Social Distancing Whopper, which is packed with three times the usual amount of onions. The idea is that the stench of onions on the person’s breath after eating it will keep people far away from them.
One man in the US persuaded his local branch to create one for him and he filmed his reaction to trying it. Sam E. Goldberg host of a new YouTube series called Respect the Chain. The 32-year-old is currently trying ‘special pandemic menu items’ from various chain restaurants.
“What they’re doing in Italy” Sam says in the video, “is they are giving you three times the amount of onions that they would normally put on a regular Whopper.” He continued: “What we’re doing today is we’re recreating this Social Distancing Whopper that they have in Italy. “We asked them specifically for three times the amount of onions on the Whopper.”
Before trying it, Sam admitted that he wasn’t really looking forward to tasting the burger. “I have a very bad feeling. It’s probably going to taste very bad.” After biting into it, he says its “the most pungent taste” he’s ever experienced in his life. Sam said the point was to try the burger and give his official verdict on whether it could actually keep people away.
“There is no doubt in my mind that after eating the Social Distancing Whopper that others will stay at least six feet away maybe even 12 feet. The smell of the onions was enough to keep me away from me. The onions overwhelmed the taste of the whopper making my eyes tear and taste buds come alive.”
He added: “In my opinion the Social Distancing Whopper is a success.”