* “Vaccine hesitancy.”–What the World Health Organization lists as among 10 global health threats in 2019.
* “If the Germany of today is a product of the liberal world order, it is time to think about what might happen when the order unravels.”–Robert Kagan, Foreign Affairs.
* “The Radical Left always seems to have an Open Borders, Open Arms policy–so this should make them very happy!”–President Donald Trump, in announcing that his administration is giving “strong considerations” to a plan to release immigrant detainees exclusively into “sanctuary cities.”
* “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not a Christian.”–Pope Francis.
* “Trump wants a DHS (Department of Homeland Security) secretary to magically stop international migration–and no living being can. Trump would rather yell at his staff than size up the magnitude of the challenge.”–Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, an immigration advocacy group.
* “Keep in mind that that’s an issue that was already litigated during the election. Voters knew the president could have given his tax returns, they knew that he didn’t, and they elected him anyway, which is, of course, what drives the Democrats crazy.”–White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
* “The Trumpian method for avoid shame is not giving a damn. Spurious bone-spur draft deferment? Shrug. Fraudulent business and charitable practices? Snigger. Outrageous personal invective? Sneer. Inhumane treatment of children at the border? Snarl. Hush-money payoffs to a porn-star and centerfold mistresses? Stud!”–Bret Stephens, New York Times.
* “Until Trump’s nomination was a virtual lock, Jared was back in New York pretending not to be related to him.”–Conservative commentator Ann Coulter.
* “We’re not interested in shaming banks or running a campaign focused on how evil they are. Our end goal is to change the way banks make decisions when doing business with the gun industry.”–Igor Volsky, Guns Down America founder and executive director, whose advocacy group has created a ranking system that gives banks letter grades based primarily on their ties to firearms makers and trade groups such as the NRA.
* “It is worth asking: If a trade war with China or another government shutdown remains possible, are we one wrong turn away from a recession? … These events just need to spook consumers or businesses into putting off spending, and then more dire consequences can start to snowball.”–Austan Goolsbee, professor of economics at the University of Chicago.
* “My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her.”–Felicity Huffman, in pleading guilty in the college-admissions cheating scandal.
* “I don’t think you can look at a presidential map that the Republicans win without Florida.”–Billionaire Tom Steyer, the founder and president of NextGen America, an environmental advocacy nonprofit and progressive political action committee.
* “It’s not safe out there and people are taking responsibility of their own safety and the safety of their families.”–Marion Hammer, the NRA’s top Florida lobbyist.
* “You really need to tend towards a no-tolerance policy. You really need to put the public health above these issues.”–USF Health assistant professor Jill Roberts, on the spike in religious exemptions for vaccinations–and the growing frequency of measles outbreaks in America.
* “The criminal justice system is broken. The state cannot support 96,000 inmates.”–State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.
* “To me, it’s pretty simple. Put it in the base salary. Improve people’s retirements.”–Pasco County school superintendent Kurt Browning, on the debate over whether teachers should get bonuses or pay raises.
* “In passing Amendment 4, Floridians clearly voiced their desire to restore the right to vote to 1.4 million disenfranchised voters. We cannot let the Legislature erect roadblocks that silence our voice.”–Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren.
* “This year’s surplus can easily be tomorrow’s deficit.”–Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera.
* “As a Sheriff’s Office, we know we have to do everything we can to prevent and to rid ourselves of impaired drivers. There are too many people getting hurt and killed on our roadways.”–Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister, in announcing the agency would be launching a new DUI enforcement unit. Of the 25 Florida counties with populations greater than 200,000, Hillsborough had the most injuries and fatalities caused by impaired drivers between 2013 and 2017, according to the Florida DOT.