Tony's Diary Package — page 109

ton that anyone was responsible for more deaths. I explained that the 2 times I recommended to the POTUS to go to 'mitigation" (15 day, then 30 day) he took my (and Deb's) advice and started to mitigation guidelines despite the fact that some people were pushing back (did not mention any names) Right after that, he went on an anti-media rage showing a filiming recently put together that day by staff showing how he was on top of everything and responded swiftly. Again, repetitive stream of consciousness. I was uncomfortable sitting there. Phone call with Jake Tapper. Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems. Global - 1,700,000/106,000; USA - 560,000/22,000; PRESS: C-SPAN TV; April 14, 2020 - Press buzz still continues. Feature story in today's Washington Post: "Despite assurances, debate over Fauci's fate continues" by Toluse Olorunnipa, Seung Min Kim and Josh Dawsey. Also, Mike Gerson wrote an editorial in the Post attacking Trump for attacking me (re-tweet that energized Trump's right wing fringe to attack me. Global - 1,800,000/112,000; USA - 580,000/24,000. Daily cases starting to level off over past couple of days. Did not do Presser today. Topic was economic. He rambled on in typical manner. He reversed himself from yesterday when he said that he has "absolute power" to tell the Governors what to do in the "re-opening". He stunned the press with that announcement and people like Caitlin Collins pushed him on saying that since it is not true. He blew it off yesterday. Today he said that he leaves it to the Governors Press still buzzing about the tension between me and the POTUS - multiple articles. It is clear after a meeting that I was called to with the VP at 10:30 AM with Deb. Jared, Brett, and some from Jared's team thsat they have salready decidedthat they will "re-open" the country on May 1 no matter what I or Deb say. Deb (as expected) is totally bought in on this. I am quite skeptical that they have a