Good Tuesday morning.
Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:
- The president receives his intelligence briefing
- President Trump delivers remarks on supporting our Nation’s small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program
What is going on with the daily press briefings?
Last week, after the media informed the public that President Trump told them to drink bleach and inject themselves with Lysol disinfectant, there was some chatter the White House would stop the daily briefings. The briefings are good for those who watch directly but it’s an opportunity for Trump’s political opposition to attack and provoke him so they can feature the latest “controversy” and trash him on their nightly snuff shows and printed political tabloids. I’m tired of it. I watch for information and I don’t care for the provocative/gotcha questions where the resistance media works through their daddy issues. Nevertheless the White House held a conference on Monday but does not have one scheduled for today.
That’s unfortunate. Trump needs to stop humoring the bad-faith questions and continue to provide information to the people on public health and economic issues. He started off doing a good job yesterday when he was asked if he took responsibility for the alleged increase in “people using disinfectants improperly” to which he responded “I can’t imagine why.” Yes, this is correct, because it was the media spin. Trump did not TELL anyone to do anything, he foolishly asked questions to his experts and the media amplified their own distortion, probably informing any number of people who did not watch the press conference what the president “said.”
Yesterday, New York Magazine activist/reporter Olivia Nuzzi asked the president “If an American president loses more Americans over the course of six weeks than died in the entirety of the Vietnam War, does he deserve to be re-elected?” Now what kind of question is this? What use is it to the public who want information about their safety, their livelihood and their freedom? This is not a serious question. President Trump didn’t “lose” anyone, he didn’t bring the virus here. He didn’t cause any deaths. Would Nuzzi ask that question of Cuomo? Of other state leaders? How disgraceful. What a waste. As I have mentioned here before, the most obvious way you can tell these reporters aren’t interested in transmitting information to the people is that they rarely ask questions of the experts, they mostly badger Trump and he eats it right up. These press conferences have turned into a bad poetry slam/open mic night and it’s president fault because he takes the bait and does not control the situation.
In other strange press conference news, President Trump was asked about Kim Jung Un who is rumored to be dead or impaired or something like that. The president responded:
“Kim Jong Un? I can’t tell you exactly. Yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can’t talk about it now,” Trump said “I just wish him well.”
“I hope he’s fine,” the president added. “I do know how he’s doing, relatively speaking. We will see. You will probably be hearing in the not-too-distant future.”
Oh boy.
Attorney General Barr tells prosecutors to watch for heavy-handed civil rights Chinese virus violations
A.G. Barr send out the bat signal that some of these local officials, drunk with pandemic authority, might be overreaching with their directives.
“If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court,” Barr wrote in the memo the department shared with CNN.
Good. Some of these “laws” are ridiculous, like shutting down drive in movies or punishing people who sit in their car and listen to a religious service in a church parking lot. One possible benefit to this Chinese virus tragedy might be that people see how our elected officials exercise their authority when they have the public trust.
In the memo, Barr tapped the US attorney in Detroit, Matthew Schneider, as well as the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division, Eric Dreiband, to lead the effort to “oversee and coordinate our efforts to monitor state and local policies and, if necessary, take action to correct them.”
Barr has also deputized a handful of other top prosecutors in districts across the country to lead new task forces as coronavirus has spread, including one to combat price gouging and hoarding and another to investigate reports of landlords sexually exploiting tenants seeking rent forgiveness amid the pandemic.
Excellent news. The time is ripe for government thuggery when there is a crisis, it’s important we don’t let it slide just because the public is scared.
Coronavirus news:
Here we go again. Schumer demands GOP convene hearings on coronavirus testing, small business program
DNI denies this CNN fable. Trump downplayed coronavirus despite more than a dozen warnings in daily briefings
We are on our way there! China is installing surveillance cameras outside people’s front doors … and sometimes inside their homes
Giroir says Trump administration has enough supplies to help states meet new testing guidelines
Doctors find more cases of ‘COVID toes’ in dermatological registry. Here’s what they learned.
Coronavirus antibodies afford ‘some level of protection’: WHO
How California’s contact tracing army could serve as model for nation’s reopening
West Virginia announces six-week reopening process
Texas governor will allow state’s stay-at-home order to end on Thursday and open businesses Friday
U.S. medical testing, cancer screenings plunge during coronavirus outbreak – data firm analysis
Trump faults China for coronavirus’ spread, says U.S. investigating
Illinois lawmaker wins restraining order against governor’s state-at-home order
White House adviser Navarro lashes out at China over ‘fake’ test kits
Beijing doubles down in EU propaganda battle
North Carolina pug becomes first US dog to test positive for coronavirus
WTF. Schumer proposes measure to keep Trump’s name off coronavirus stimulus checks
Michelle Obama announces new Netflix documentary ‘Becoming,’ gives coronavirus pep talk
‘I cannot read their lips’: The deaf community faces another communication hurdle as face masks become the new normal
Mayo Clinic to furlough or cut pay of 30,000 employees
AWFUL. Top New York City ER doctor commits suicide, shaken by coronavirus onslaught
Infectious disease expert slams study that panned hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: ‘It’s a sham’
New York cancels June primary because of coronavirus
WTF?!? Lakers return $4.6 million coronavirus relief loan
How New Zealand ‘eliminated’ Covid-19 after weeks of lockdown
Virus is expected to reduce meat selection and raise prices
California pair arrested in alleged PPE-selling scam amid coronavirus outbreak
Media working hard to stop re-opening. Las Vegas mayor’s proposed ‘gamble’ for reopening economy denounced by county commissioner
Bill Gates Praises China’s Response to Coronavirus
Countries Fighting Pandemic Reject Shoddy Medical Goods Made in China
Other morsels:
Woman says Tara Reade told her of Biden accusation: report
Judge says Virginia gun range can open despite stay-at-home order
Tara Reade Rips Into Alyssa Milano: ‘Complete Opposite Of How She Approached Brett Kavanaugh’
Dossier Author Christopher Steele Had Previously Undisclosed Meetings With Lawyers For DNC, Clinton Campaign
Bloomberg reverses, offers ex-aides health coverage amid pandemic
‘Unidentified aerial phenomena’: Pentagon officially releases 3 leaked US Navy UFO videos
Trump adds to confusion over Kim Jong Un’s health status
And that’s all I’ve got, now go beat back the angry mob in the sunshine!