Why Won't You Die?

On mobilizing the power of death.

Warning: spoilers for The Masque of the Red Death and Jayro Bustamante’s superb La Llorona, herein.

1.

He has survived. This braying, sniveling coward whose vindictive petulance has led to the deaths of over 200,000 people, has survived. Of course we always knew he was going to. He has access to the best treatment imaginable – round-the-clock care, experimental drugs, even a hospital room that looked more like a suite at the Waldorf. A few caveats aside – “not out of the woods yet,” his shortness of breath – Donald Trump has survived Covid-19.

And he is doing what we always knew he would do with that survival. He’s gloating about it. He’s downplaying the severity of the disease and the pandemic, even as he spreads the infection to others. He’s preening on balconies and urging listeners “don’t let it control your lives,” kicking sand in the face of doctors, nurses, and essential workers. He’s even suggesting he deliberately exposed himself to the virus to lead by example, while simultaneo…