Double Doomsday, Part 2

Thursday, March 5, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the next meeting, we will continue the two stories from last week, covid-19 and Bernie. So far, so good. There are no confirmed covid-19 cases in Maryland and Biden beat Bernie badly South Carolina. But the virus is spreading and Bernie is the favorite today in Super Tuesday. So who knows what will happen by Thursday. See you then, stay healthy and sane.

------------------------------------- Updated 3/5/20 --------------------------------------

Here are the videos shown at the meeting:

• Coronavirus: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Dr. Fauci Explains How Coronavirus Spreads
• Coronavirus: Watch Those Hands
• Joe Biden relishes stunning comeback on Super Tuesday
• Tucker: Democrats pin their hopes on gaffe-prone Joe Biden
• Hillary Clinton calls Tulsi Gabbard a "favorite of the Russians"

Double Doomsday

Thursday, February 27, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

In the next few days, we are facing two doomsday scenarios, Covid-19 and Bernie Sanders. The eruption of Covid-19 in Italy, Iran and South Korea has set the stock market into a panic. In a few days we will know if the virus has been contained or if it has turned into a pandemic. HERE is a website where you can monitor the spread of the virus.

As for Bernie Sanders, if he does well in the South Carolina Primary on Saturday, he will be the favorite on Super Tuesday and may be unstoppable. The debate tonight may be the last chance to stop him.

For this Thursday's meeting, we will cover the anticipation of this double doomsday. We will cover the results the following meeting on March 5.

---------------------------------------- Updated 2/27/20 ------------------------------------------

Here are the videos shown at the meeting (we also included a feel good story to the mix):

• Coronavirus: Is This How We Die?
• Daily Show - Democratic Debate in South Carolina
• Zamboni Driver Who Became An Emergency Goalie Visits TODAY Live
• 42-year-old emergency goalie saves the day for Hurricanes

Circular Firing Squad

Thursday, February 20, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

The leading Democratic presidential candidates, Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar, are drawing fire from each other and the other candidates. They are also attacking Bloomberg, who while not on the ballot until March, has risen in the polls and have qualified for tomorrow's debate. Will this in-fighting only help Trump, or is it just business as usually?

Our next meeting will cover the state of the presidential campaign. In particular, we will have a chance to evaluate Bloomberg's first live on stage performance since he has entered the race. We will also discuss how recent developments, like climate change and the coronavirus, will impact the election.

• Mike Bloomberg Qualifies for Debate

--------------------------------------- Updated 2/20/20 ------------------------------------

Here are the videos shown at the meeting:

• Nevada debate a disaster for Bloomberg, CNN political experts say
• SE Cupp offers a word of caution for Democrats
• Fareed Zakaria: Bernie Sanders' magical thinking on climate
• Biden shares vulnerable story on how he overcame stuttering
• Amy Klobuchar Launches 2020 Presidential Bid

Who Can Stop Trump?

Thursday, February 13, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Last week was Trump's best week ever and his reelection my be a certainty unless the Democrats can find someone to rally behind. After the Iowa debacle, we look to New Hampshire to show the way. For our next meeting, we will discuss the results of the New Hampshire Primary and if there is a path to defeat Trump.

• Trump enjoying a significant uptick in his political standing

----------------------------------- Updated 2/13/20 ------------------------------------------

Here are the videos shown at the meeting:

• Trump had his best week ever, Maher says
• Democratic Debate: The Biggest Moments From New Hampshire
• With New Hampshire over, what's next for the 2020 Democrats?
• Varney: Trump has been unleashed on Democrats
• Firestorm over Roger Stone case as President Trump bashes prosecutors
• Inside The New Hampshire Law That Could Keep Students From Voting
• Early Nevada, South Carolina Polls Show Different Presidential Race
• Bloomberg sees rising support despite unusual election strategy
• Bernie Wins New Hampshire, Biden Fades and Klobuchar Surges

Trump's Excellent Week

Thursday, February 6, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Last night, the Democrats gave Trump a gift with the botched Iowa Caucus. Sunday's Super Bowl could not have been have been better for him. Tonight Trump delivers the State of the Union. Tomorrow he will be acquitted in his impeachment trial. We will cover all this in the next meeting.

• Trump comes out on top as Democrats squabble over who won Iowa caucus

---------------------------------------------- Updated 2/6/20 -----------------------------------------

Here are the videos that were shown at the meeting:

• You should be mad as hell
• How much Trump and Bloomberg are spending on Super Bowl campaign ads
• Trump hosts Super Bowl party amid impeachment vote and 2020 campaign
• How Did Iowa Get So Thoroughly Caucus Blocked?
• Democrats respond to President Trump's State of the Union address
• As Iowa Counts, Pelosi Tears Up Trump's State Of The Union Speech
• Breaking down the Democratic primary race after Iowa
• Trump Acquitted in Impeachment Trial & SOTU Fallout
• The meaning behind key moments from Shakira and J-Lo's halftime show

The Fear of a Pandemic

Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Never mind the impeachment, the world is about to end, maybe, and Trump had nothing to do with it, maybe. The new coronavirus from Wuhan has spread around the world and has claimed over a hundred lives. The news is getting worse by the hour, so any video about the current crisis will be out of date by the time that we meet in two days. I will gather the latest videos for the meeting.

For now, here are two old videos on how Bill Gates prepared for a possible pandemic we are now facing:

• 2015 TED Talk - The next outbreak? We’re not ready
• 2017 Davos - Inside Bill Gates' new strategy for battling epidemics

----------------------------------- Updated 1/30/20 ------------------------------------------

Here are the videos shown at the meeting:

• New Strain of SARS Blamed for Pneumonia Outbreak in China
• Could this coronavirus be Disease X?
• Bloomberg: What Is Coronavirus?
• How the new coronavirus compares to Ebola, Zika and SARS
• Guardian: What is the coronavirus?
• Virus Expert On The Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak
• China virus outbreak
• President Xi warns of 'grave situation' as infection spreads
• Sick Passenger Escorted Off Baltimore Flight
• Coronavirus ability to spread ‘getting stronger’ says China
• Schumer On Coronavirus
• China coronavirus death toll exceeds 80
• Coronavirus in China: The fight against the outbreak
• South Florida health officials on high alert for coronavirus
• How U.S. & Chinese differ on coronavirus
• WHO weighs coronavirus health emergency
• Coronavirus Is Scary! CDC Budget Cuts Make It Scarier

The Trial Begins

Thursday, January 23, 2020, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Last week, the day before our last meeting, the impeachment trial formally began with the delivery of the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Today, the trial continues with the voting for the rules. We already know that McConnell is pushing for an accelerated schedule so the trial could be over in a week, unless the Senate votes to hear from witnesses. Since it assumed that Trump will be acquitted, the real issue is the extent of the political fallout suffered by the Senators by their votes.

Will discuss the politics of the trial and other related issues in our next meeting. Here is a video summary of the events leading to the opening of the trial:

• The trial begins | Impeachment This Week

------------------------------ Updated 1/23/20 --------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi | Real Time with Bill Maher
• Impeachment showdown ramps up in Senate
• Ukraine prosecutor Offered Dirt On Biden In Exchange For Firing Of U.S. Ambassador
• GOP senators remain divided over calling witnesses
• The chief justice presides over impeachment
• Trump decries climate 'prophets of doom' in Davos