* “Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear.”–Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization.
* “An extreme-right trail of blood has run through our country.”–German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, in the aftermath of an immigrant-hating gunman killing nine people in a suburb of Frankfurt.
* “More than principle, the presence of threat and an enemy is the most important driver of right-wing energy, and since the end of the Cold War, the hunt for enemies has become ever more desperate.”–John Ganz, The New Republic.
* “It was Trump’s genius to sense how pervasive is the moral rot within the GOP. … Reactionary, isolationist, protectionist, nativist, small-minded, mean-spirited and redolent with racism, the Trump GOP is better suited to the 1930s then to tomorrow, right down to the America First slogan borrowed from that era.”–Mac Stipanovich, Republican strategist and former chief of staff to Gov. Bob Martinez, who recently re-registered as a Democrat in order to vote for the candidate who can defeat Trump.
* “Some white supremacist extremists argue that participating in mass attacks or creating other forms of chaos will accelerate the imminent and necessary collapse of society in order to build a racially pure nation.”–A warning from New Jersey’s “Terrorism Threat Assessment” report.
* “Continued financialization of local news will destroy our democracy. It’s time for communities across America to stand up and fight to save local news.”–Jon Schleuss, president of NewsGuild, the union that represents journalists at six McClatchy newspapers. The McClatchy Company, the publisher of 30 daily newspapers in 14 states, including the Miami Herald, has filed for bankruptcy and is expected to be run by a New York hedge fund, Chatham Asset Management.
* “I worry about what will happen eight to 10 years from now when the entitlement time bomb goes off. We’re not at all prepared for the increase in costs associated with Social Security and Medicare. There are going to be consequences.”–Richard Moody, chief economist for Regions Bank.
* “Racial disparities remain a profound problem within our justice system, and Florida is no exception. Our state fits in with the national pattern: Black defendants spend more time behind bars than white defendants for the same crimes. … In Florida, we must shift our correctional approach to focus more on public safety than punishment.”–Florida State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice.
* “Our vote is our voice.”–Lydia Medrano, local director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
* “We consider this a Trojan horse of a bill … intended to open the door to many, many, many other anti-abortion policies.”–Amy Weintraub, reproduction rights director of Progress Florida, referencing the bill passed by the Florida House to require minors seeking abortion to obtain parental consent.
* “It’s hard to imagine better teamwork between the military and civilian spheres. I am looking forward to another year of great partnership in Tampa.”–Gen. Rich Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB.
* “It would be our strong preference that the (Rays) and the players remain in Tampa Bay, and that they’re identified with playing in one market.”–Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Union.