My computer is malfunctioning today so I’ll keep this short. I have been, and remain vigilant about who Biden will pick (or use the Republican Senate to justify picking) for his cabinet positions. But so far, so good. The transition team is filled with progressive academics who really know economic policy, health policy, etc. The co-chairs he named for his Covid team are fantastic. David Kessler, MD former head of the FDA is one of the more brilliant and courageous physicians around–who can forget him taking on the entire tobacco industry on the subject of their deliberately manipulating their product to get children and others deeply addicted. He has also courageously fought the fast food industry in his career. His book, An End To Overeating is a lifeline to me because it lays out the scientific facts behind what I have experienced as what he calls “a conditioned hypereater” and also what helps me abstain from overeating. Former Vivek Murthy and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, who I know less about, seem to be highly qualified, credible and effective people.
In general there appears to be great diversity on Biden’s transition team, and strong progressive voices. It is thrilling to see that this is not just populated by the usual revolving door of former Democratic administrations who parked themselves in corporate lobbying firms for the Trump administration. This is a change from previous transitions and bodes well.
Yes, there are big business representatives on the team. Yes, this is early. Yes, there will be many more important appointments to come, but I am encouraged.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is still pretending that Joe Biden did not win the election. Not only has he not conceded but he has ordered his administration to refuse to cooperate with the incoming administration. This is an appalling an disturbing development. It is notable that the rest of the world, and all mainstream media, including Fox News, accepts the results but there is insane fantasy bubble where Trump is pretending he is still in it. It would be funny if it weren’t so destabilizing and threatening in a time when the Covid-19 epidemic and the economic havoc it wrecks is getting worse and we need cooperation more than ever.
