doubles. Lines form outside banks to withdraw cash. ATM nationwide machines are picked clean by noon.
Overnight there is a mass run on money market and depository accounts. The Fed steps in to prevent several banks and funds from declaring insolvency. DeWitt is forced to issue an emergency decree declaring Tuesday to be a bank holiday in order to give the regional Federal Reserve banks time to deliver more cash to member banks.
The networks plead for people to stay calm. That only makes people more worried. Everyone knows that what the networks say is probably the opposite of the truth.
Internet sales of crypto currency coins soar.
In a meeting with DeWitt, Bader advises her against giving another national TV speech. Instead, Janet Shouter will go on TV. Her effect is minimal. No one understands a thing she says.
The run on the dollar in foreign markets continues Tuesday morning but begins to subside a bit by late afternoon.
However, after a brief dead cat bounce, the dollar and stock market continue their downward spiral on Wednesday until, finally, a massive, worldwide, co-ordinated central bank intervention stabilizes the exchange rates at 60 Yen, $2.30 Euro and $3.60 Sterling. The stock market for the week is down 50%.
Monday, February 1, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM
Sitting around the Oval Office, pigging out on donuts and sipping coffee are DeWitt, Bader, Black, Cooke, newly installed Attorney General Jim Hammer and White House Press Secretary Tad Summers.
Outside the windows, the third blizzard of the year is bringing official Washington to a standstill.
Looking up from some papers on her desk DeWitt says, "Any word from NOAA as to why the weather is so damned fucked up? I'm getting complaints that food shipments are beginning to be interrupted. How long is this going to last? For God's sake, there's three feet of snow in the f'ing Rose Garden."
"No word, Madam President, but I can check and get back to you," answers Summers in a perky yet servile voice.
"Well let me know what you find out. This is ridiculous."
Summers begins sending email from his tablet.
"Ok, now, the first order of business. I want these media attacks to stop!"
"Well, they're not really attacks," says Bader. "They're just commenting on the situation were in. Given what happened last week, for God's sake, it's a wonder they're not calling for impeachment!"
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, what they're saying is nothing but social treason. Things are far too serious at the moment for any level of negative opinion. I want something done. Tell them to find something else to write about, or else. I thought we had the press nailed down?"
"They're getting a little restless. It's hard for them to ignore the economic meltdown."
"Well, we need to be sure they don't get any ideas. Who the hell do they think they are, criticizing the government during this time of national emergency?"
"As it turns out, I've been working on exactly that. I may have a solution," says Bader mumbling through another mouthful of donut.
Swallowing hard and slurping some coffee, he continues, "I think, by reinterpreting some parts of the Espionage Act of 1917, we can solve our problem. It was passed by Woodrow Wilson in order to silence his critics during World War I and it's still on the books."
"Yes, yes, that act was never repealed, unlike the Sedition Act of 1918 which was. Now the Sedition Act would have been much easier to work with but the Espionage Act has some possibilities," comments Attorney General Hammer.
"What does the Espionage thing say?" asks DeWitt.
Reading from some notes, Bader says, "It is a crime to convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies. Punishable by death or by imprisonment for up to 30 years or both. Also, it is a crime to convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies when the United States is at war, to cause or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or to willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States. Punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or by imprisonment for up to 20 years or both. And, the Postmaster General has the authority to impound or to refuse to mail publications that he determines to be in violation of the act."
"Now that sounds promising. Wilson was before his time!"
"He was indeed. Now we just need to do a little re-interpretation here and there. For example, it's really not much of an extension to say that our critics during the current emergency help our enemies or that they hinder the armed forces who are helping during the weather emergency or that they encourage insubordination? I'm sure we can get a judge to accept this point of view. After all, we appointed the judges and we can unappoint them. And the bit about the Postmaster General impounding mail and publications. That already covers print media since they are all registered with the Post Office anyway. So we will have no legal problems dealing with print publications. And it's certainly not much of an extension to include broadcast media since broadcast media didn't exist in 1917 we can argue that the law should apply to them as well now. After all, they use public airwaves, satellites, government cable licenses, and so on. Again, it I don't think it will be hard to find judges who will agree with us," adds Hammer.
"Excellent! Now that sounds like what I want! Ok, now who will be the first test case?" chirps a happy DeWitt. "Nothing too splashy, just a shot across their bow to let the others know what we might do to them if they get out of line. Something with a hint of the death penalty would be nice. That should get their attention and make them think twice before they go publishing lies about me."
"How about that web site, conservatarian.com, that keeps running off about you violating the Constitution? Not too big but very visible to the rest of the media world."
"Yes, that's a good pick. Nail'. Bankrupt them with legal fees. Black, what do your people have on them?"
"I'll check, madam President. I'm sure we have something. We always do."
"From now on guys, lèse-majesté is a crime," she adds, menacingly. "Got it?"
"Madame President, I just got a reply from NOAA," sparkles Tad Summers in his soft cheerful press agent voice.
"And?"
"They say it's another polar vortex. The long range computer models say it will be active for at least six more weeks."
"Six fucking more weeks? You mean the middle of March?"
"Looks that way."
"What's causing it?"
"Sunspots or the lack thereof. We've been in a sunspot minimum for nearly ten years. They say it effects the atmosphere."
"Damn," she exclaims as she flops down on her large desk chair. "And I suppose the Northeast is still bitching about the not having any natural gas, electricity or food?"
"Yes, somewhat. About two million people are living in temporary shelters, there's many food shortages and electricity is being rationed. They're only getting about four hours a day right now. That is, if it's sunny and the wind blows the right way."
"Well, it's for their own good. They'll thank us later. Put out a press release saying we feel their pain, saving the planet, or something. Ok, I think we're done here for now. Hammer, lets move fast on this Espionage Act thing and keep me posted."
"Will do, Madame President."
She gestures a waiving dismissal and they rise and leave. Bader takes the last donut on his way out.
Monday, February 15, 2021
While yet another snow storm rages outside, DeWitt meets with her advisors in the Oval Office. In addition to the regulars, Bader, Black, Cooke, Hammer and Summers, she's invited the heads of Treasury, IRS, FBI, DIA, FEC, BLM, CIA, EPA, TSA, SEC, DOE, and Homeland. The alphabet soup of autocratic, federal agencies who now prowl for any whiff of opposition.
"Alright people, I want some coord
ination. The economic situation since the run on the dollar is deteriorating very fast and we need to be on the lookout for any signs of organized opposition. Now that we have the Espionage Act on our side, I want a fully coordinated effort from all your agencies to root out any resistance. If you find any hint, any hint, I want you to eradicate it. I want you to exploit every avenue. Nothing is off limits. Everyone is a suspect," rants DeWitt.
"What if we find unsocial sentiments but can't find anything to charge them with?" asks the director of BLM, timidly.
"If you can't convict them, ruin them financially, bankrupt them. Just keep bringing lawsuits, administrative actions, special rulings, audits, search warrants, you name it. Keep them in court. Run up their legal fees. Smear them in the press. You know the drill."
"What if they say we're using police state tactics?" asks the head of FBI.
Bader interjects, "Accuse them of social treason and racism. It always works. Puts them on the defensive. Everyone is guilty of something. It's your job to find the offense."
"Now, Summers, what about the press. How are we doing there? Have they learned their lesson?" says DeWitt turning to her press secretary.
"Well, the indictment we dropped on that little web site under the Espionage Act made a lot of people take notice. The press is a lot quieter now. Not nearly as many articles about the disaster in New England or the stimulus debacle. A couple of the TV networks even replaced their White House correspondents with even friendlier reporters