Bill Kaplan: COVID-19 apocalypse is here

“The pandemic has worsened across the country over the last two months, but perhaps nowhere as precipitously as in Wisconsin. Testing centers are overwhelmed, raising the risk of further spread as people who might otherwise learn they are infected delay isolating themselves” (NYT). Hospitals are near capacity, our medical heroes are at a breaking point and PPE is running out….

Bill Kaplan: Wisconsin is at a COVID-19 tipping point

Joe Biden won a majority of the popular vote, is approaching 300+ electoral college votes and will become president on January 20, 2021. And, there will be no veto-proof majority in the Wisconsin GOP-led legislature. Now it’s time for governing, including compromise, negotiation, respect for opponents (they are not enemies) and acceptance of science. I spoke with Doctor Bill Melms,…

Bill Kaplan: Supreme Court may end ACA during pandemic.

The pandemic hasn’t “disappeared”, but continues unabated as the economy stalls with permanent jobs disappearing. Most federal aid has ended, despite escalating small business failures, farmers facing loss of markets and inadequate prices and hunger persisting. “Chances dim on stimulus package … (as) Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) called a proposed expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to the…

Bill Kaplan: Trump and Johnson harmed country and themselves.

The pandemic is not “under control” nor is “the end in sight”. Instead, the U.S. leads the world with 7.4 million COVID-19 cases and about 210,000 deaths. Wisconsin is seeing record daily increases, well over 130,000 cases, near 1,400 deaths and hospitalizations hitting new highs. Staggering. The NYT reports: “Oshkosh, Wis. – Steve VanderLoop, 64, heard that several of his…

Bill Kaplan: Healthcare coverage and protections in jeopardy

This election has always been about healthcare. Trump’s incompetent pandemic response has resulted in the U.S. leading the world with about 7 million COVID-19 cases and over 205,000 deaths. Wisconsin is in the national spotlight with record daily increases, about 115,000 cases, and 1,300 deaths. The horrific national death toll is projected to reach 410,000 by year’s end. The economic…

Bill Kaplan: Justice Ginsburg, the election, fear and hope.

Trump’s incompetent response to the pandemic has left the U.S. with the highest case and death toll in the world. There are 6.8 million cases nationally, over 100,000 in Wisconsin. U.S. deaths are above 200,000, over 1,200 in Wisconsin. And, the economy is in shambles, with mass unemployment and escalating business failures. Misery abounds. When asked if he regretted anything…

Bill Kaplan: Trump and Johnson, duplicitous and deadly

Trump and Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson made the U.S. number 1: more COVID-19 cases and deaths than any other country. There are about 6.5 million COVID-19 cases nationally, skyrocketing to near 90,000 in Wisconsin. U.S. deaths are about 195,000, over 1,200 in Wisconsin. Was this catastrophe inevitable? No. Trump told author-journalist Bob Woodward, on tape, that he intentionally downplayed…

Bill Kaplan: Trump renominated amid horrendous disasters.

Trump, amid horrendous disasters, accepted his renomination at the White House, shredding the line between “governing and politicking” (Washington Post). In keeping with Trump’s attempt to downplay COVID-19, there was no social distancing and few attendees wore masks. Earlier, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow referred to COVID-19 and the pandemic depression in the past tense. But no sleight of…

Bill Kaplan: Johnson distracts instead of focusing on COVID-19 relief

Both Trump and Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson are political distractors. Trump speculates about blowing up the U.S. Postal Service (rural Wisconsin’s lifeline), delaying the presidential election and suggesting he become president for “life”. Similarly, Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wants to hold committee hearings to peddle false conspiracy theories: “I’m (Johnson) here to report today that,…

Bill Kaplan: Wisconsin at a crossroad, expand Medicaid

Trump says COVID-19 is “under control”, callously downplaying deaths as “it is what it is”. Wisconsin GOP politicians are no better, ending or hindering any policy state Democratic Governor Tony Evers puts forward. Moreover, neither have a plan to control COVID-19. Cases are soaring, 5 million plus nationally, over 60,000 in Wisconsin. U.S. deaths are about 163,00 and 1,000 in…