Thursday
Because we need all the lightness we can get in these dark times, here’s a Harry Potter reference. Hannah Lebovits, a PhD candidate in urban studies and public affairs, tweeted out,
Husband just told me, “watching the federal government deal with COVID-19 is like watching the Ministry of Magic deal with Voldemort’s return,” and damn if that isn’t the best take I’ve heard this month.
Here’s one scene that applies. Minister Scrimgeour is administering Dumbledore’s will but, of course, has been doing so in bad faith. First of all, he claims that “the Decree for Justifiable Confiscation” gives him the power to confiscate the items destined for Harry, Hermione and Ron. (Think of Trump confiscating supplies of personal protective equipment that states have ordered from abroad.). Then he tries to fiddle with the Deluminator designated for Ron and break into the Snitch designated for Harry.
Finally, like Trump with the nation’s stockpile of hospital supplies, he refuses to turn over the Sword of Gryffindor to Harry, earning this sarcastic reply:
Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban. So is this what you’ve been doing, minister, shut up in your office, trying to break open a Snitch? People are dying—I was nearly one of them—Voldemort chased me across three counties, he killed Mad-Eye Moody, but there’s been no word about any of that from the Ministry, has there? And you still expect us to cooperate with you.
In response, the Minister sounds like Trump dressing down a reporter who has asked him about ventilators. Harry has just warned Ron to back off with his wand:
“Remembered you’re not at school, have you?” said Scrimgeour, breathing hard into Harry’s face. “Remembered that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination? You may wear that scar lie a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It’s time you learned some respect!”
Harry gives a response I’d like to hear from our reporters:
“It’s time you earned it.”
Although Scrimgeour, like Trump, pretends all is well when Voldemort is actually taking over, he redeems himself by refusing to reveal Harry’s whereabouts, which leads to his murder. Would Trump similarly sacrifice himself for the good of his country? Don’t count it.
