Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Global – USA Big day today with House Energy and Commerce Hearing on COVID-19. Me, Redfield, Hahn, Giroir. VP called me at 10:00 AM when I was driving with Farncois to the Hearing. He called from Air Force 2 (on way to Wisconsin) and we spoke for 25 minutes. He wanted to know if I needed anything. He is a good guy, but he was really calling (sub-text of his words) to urge me to go lightly in my explanations and to not forget to bring out some of the positive things that are being done. He still is a guy with the glass half full and not half empty. He even admitted this in the conversation. Hearing was very long (6 hours). I had some cantankerous exchanges with Rep. McKinley (R-WV) who was giving me shit about saying early on that we should not wear masks to save them for the HCWs at a time when there was a shortage. I said “Ok, we are going to play that game” This went viral on social media. Also, I sqwitched in the middle of the Hearing from a black mask to a Washington Nationals mask, which went viral and 2 days later led to a big photo of me with the Nats mask in the Sports Section of the Washington Post. POTUS tweeted about me right before the Hearing: And so now I am his friend when he sees that I have high approval ratings. Totally amazing!! PRESS: Winston Salem State Radio Podcast with Chancellor Elwood Robinson – WSSU – Future Focus Now, WSNC 90.5