An appalling moment at Speaker Pelosi's news conference. After months of stonewalling Trump efforts to pass targeted short-term relief for millions of Americans suffering in the pandemic, she changed her mind. 1/10 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america

A relief measure Pelosi had been blocking for months is now OK. Why? 'A total game-changer--a new president and a vaccine,' she explained. 2/10 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america

As policy, it made no sense. Why condition help for struggling Americans on the development of a vaccine? Didn't the lack of vaccine in recent months, with virus raging, make it *more* urgent to help people? Yet Pelosi wouldn't do it. 3/10

And why refuse to assist suddenly-unemployed Americans until Trump had been defeated? Pelosi's explanation revealed cold political calculations... 4/10 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america

But it also suggested the personal obsession driving her refusal to approve aid at a time when millions of Americans were out of a job, stretching to pay rent, struggling to buy food, desperately trying to make ends meet. 5/10

Short version: Pelosi suffered from terrible case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Remember the show she made of tearing up State of Union address? Calling worldwide pandemic the 'Trump virus'? Storming out of White House? Starting impeachment before even seeing evidence? 6/10

That is same Pelosi who blocked virus relief efforts. In election year, when relief bill would help millions of Americans but might also, as ancillary effect, boost Trump's re-election bid, she would not act. 7/10 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america

Now the election has gone Pelosi's way. And--Presto!--she's ready to deal. But don't ask her if she was wrong. Pelosi lashed out when reporter asked if it was mistake to block earlier efforts. 'That was not a mistake. It was a decision,' she said. 8/10

After election, Pelosi believes her decision has paid off. She waited Trump out. Now she'll deal. 9/10 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america

The good news is relief might be on the way for suffering Americans. Side benefit: Pelosi's ugly Trump obsession might be easing. Too bad she couldn't get over it months ago. 10/10 End. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-how-pelosis-tds-hurt-america