Trump and the Coronavirus: The Triumph of Incompetence

The coronavirus pandemic was the most severe crisis of the Trump administration, and the worst health care crisis in a century. The focus of this chapter is how and why the United States, a country blessed with enormous wealth and scientific expertise, failed so spectacularly and was crippled by the outbreak. It focuses on the incompetence and mistakes of the Trump administration, its delayed response, and the culture of denial and dismissal of science and expertise that abetted the virus's spread. At every turn, Trump and his staff missed opportunities, blamed others, spread false and contradictory information, and failed to take necessary steps to contain its spread. The result was a catastrophic rise in infections that has left half a million Americans dead and 30 million infected. The crisis led to a severe economic downturn and Trump's loss in the 2020 election. The conclusion summarizes the policy failures and what might have been done differently. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Geographies of the 2020 U.S. presidential election

This timely, insightful and expert-led volume interprets the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election from a geographical standpoint, with a focus on its spatial dimensions. With contributions from leading thinkers, this book highlights the unique circumstances of the election, including the Covid pandemic and a president who falsely alleged that it was a massive fraud, particularly after he lost. The volume offers an introduction and 11 chapters that examine the run-up to the election, the motivations of Trump supporters, the election results themselves, case studies of the battleground states of Wisconsin and Georgia, and the chaotic aftermath. Accompanied with an engaging plethora of figures providing a visual demonstration of data trends, both national and local case studies are considered throughout this book, as well as right-wing radicalization, the role of Cuban-Americans, race, and threats to American democracy. This book is an ideal study companion for faculty and graduate students in fields including geography and political science, sociology, American studies, media studies and urban planning, as well as those with an interest in U.S. politics more generally. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Barney Warf and John Heppen. All rights reserved.