thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Fox News Is Not On Board With Trump Supposedly Taking Hydroxychloroquine

Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he ’ s been taking hydroxychloroquine for several weeks , despite a lack of evidence the controversial drug is in any way effective at treating COVID-19 .
The president ’ s disclosure was met by a baffled Neil Cavuto on Fox News , who told viewers in no uncertain terms they shouldn ’ t follow the president ’ s advice .
Fox News 's Neil Cavuto is stunned by Trump 's announcement that he 's taking hydroxychloroquine : `` If you are in a risky population here , and you are taking this as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
I can not stress enough .
This will kill you . ''
pic.twitter.com/e6D5alfAgc — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) May 18 , 2020 Cavuto referenced a handful of research studies , including analyzing patient data from Veterans Health Administration medical centers last month that concluded the drug shows no real benefit for treating coronavirus , and may actually be harmful .
A second study , conducted at Columbia University in New York , reached a similar conclusion earlier this month .
“ If you are in a risky population here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preventative treatment to ward off the virus ... it will kill you , ” Cavuto said .
“ I can not stress this enough : This will kill you.
” The drug is more conventionally used as an anti-malarial and as a treatment for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .
Hydroxychloroquine ’ s potentially serious side effects are well-known and include altering heartbeats in a way that could lead to sudden death .
One of Cavuto ’ s guests , Dr. Bob Lahita , also advised viewers against taking the drug , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” it works against COVID-19 .
The United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for use against the coronavirus .
A spokesperson for Fox News , which has repeatedly echoed Trump ’ s promotion of hydroxychloroquine , did not immediately return HuffPost ’ s request for comment on Cavuto ’ s remarks .

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Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he’s been taking hydroxychloroquine for several weeks, despite a lack of evidence the controversial drug is in any way effective at treating COVID-19.
The president’s disclosure was met by a baffled Neil Cavuto on Fox News, who told viewers in no uncertain terms they shouldn’t follow the president’s advice.
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Fox News's Neil Cavuto is stunned by Trump's announcement that he's taking hydroxychloroquine: "If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment ... it will kill you. I cannot stress enough. This will kill you." pic.twitter.com/e6D5alfAgc — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2020
Cavuto referenced a handful of research studies, including analyzing patient data from Veterans Health Administration medical centers last month that concluded the drug shows no real benefit for treating coronavirus, and may actually be harmful.
A second study, conducted at Columbia University in New York, reached a similar conclusion earlier this month.
“If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus ... it will kill you,” Cavuto said. “I cannot stress this enough: This will kill you.”
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The drug is more conventionally used as an anti-malarial and as a treatment for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Hydroxychloroquine’s potentially serious side effects are well-known and include altering heartbeats in a way that could lead to sudden death.
One of Cavuto’s guests, Dr. Bob Lahita, also advised viewers against taking the drug, saying “we have had no evidence whatsoever” it works against COVID-19.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for use against the coronavirus.
A spokesperson for Fox News, which has repeatedly echoed Trump’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine, did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for comment on Cavuto’s remarks.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Barr Says Biden Probe Unlikely, Claims Trump DOJ Won't Be Used For 'Partisan Political Ends'

MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images President Donald Trump speaks , flanked by Attorney General William Barr ( left ) , during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus on April 1 .
Attorney General William Barr , who has intervened in criminal cases against allies of Donald Trump and helped shield the president from the consequences of the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , said Monday that “ the criminal justice system will not be used for partisan political ends ” as long as he is attorney general .
Barr , speaking at a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a deadly terrorist attack in Pensacola , Florida , in December , said that increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a “ political weapon ” was “ not a good development ” for the country .
“ We live in a very divided country right now , and I think that it is critical that we have an election where the American people are allowed to make a decision , a choice , between President Trump and Vice President [ Joe ] Biden based on a robust debate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can not allow this process to be hijacked by efforts to drum up criminal investigations of either candidate , ” Barr said .
“ I ’ m committed that this election will be conducted without this kind of interference .
Any effort to pursue an investigation of either candidate has to be approved by me.
” Barr went on to criticize the Justice Department ’ s actions during the 2016 campaign and in the first two years of his presidency as “ abhorrent , ” saying it was a “ grave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history.
” But he said that the investigation being conducted by John Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , into the origins of the Russia investigation was unlikely to result in a criminal investigation into former President Barack Obama or former Vice President Biden .
Trump and his allies have recently begun referring to “ Obamagate ” and suggesting that Obama and Biden should be criminally investigated for unspecified conduct during the 2016 election .
“ Whatever their level of involvement , based on the information I have today , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man , ” Barr said .
“ Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others.
” In recent months , Barr has helped move to dismiss charges against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn ( who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States ) and asked for a lower sentence for former Trump campaign ally Roger Stone .
In March , a federal judge appointed by President George W. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a “ one-sided narrative ” about the Mueller report to benefit Trump .

President Donald Trump speaks, flanked by Attorney General William Barr (left), during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus on April 1. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
Attorney General William Barr, who has intervened in criminal cases against allies of Donald Trump and helped shield the president from the consequences of the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, said Monday that “the criminal justice system will not be used for partisan political ends” as long as he is attorney general.
Barr, speaking at a virtual press conference that focused on the investigation into a deadly terrorist attack in Pensacola, Florida, in December, said that increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a “political weapon” was “not a good development” for the country.
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“We live in a very divided country right now, and I think that it is critical that we have an election where the American people are allowed to make a decision, a choice, between President Trump and Vice President [Joe] Biden based on a robust debate of policy issues,” Barr said.
“We cannot allow this process to be hijacked by efforts to drum up criminal investigations of either candidate,” Barr said. “I’m committed that this election will be conducted without this kind of interference. Any effort to pursue an investigation of either candidate has to be approved by me.”
Barr went on to criticize the Justice Department’s actions during the 2016 campaign and in the first two years of his presidency as “abhorrent,” saying it was a “grave injustice” that was “unprecedented in American history.”
But he said that the investigation being conducted by John Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, into the origins of the Russia investigation was unlikely to result in a criminal investigation into former President Barack Obama or former Vice President Biden. Trump and his allies have recently begun referring to “Obamagate” and suggesting that Obama and Biden should be criminally investigated for unspecified conduct during the 2016 election.
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“Whatever their level of involvement, based on the information I have today, I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man,” Barr said. “Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others.”
In recent months, Barr has helped move to dismiss charges against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn (who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States) and asked for a lower sentence for former Trump campaign ally Roger Stone.
Before the public release of Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation, Barr issued a letter that Mueller said mischaracterized his findings about Trump’s actions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--How COVID-19 Overwhelmed The American State

The U.S. Public Health Infrastructure Wasn ’ t Ready For This The U.S. Safety Net Also Wasn ’ t Ready @ @ @ @ @ Held Up Better The U.S .
Needs Some Pretty Big Changes

Maybe the United States just isn’t capable of handling this.
The last three months have been a real-time test of America’s ability to respond to an unprecedented crisis: a pandemic whose death toll is likely to exceed 100,000, an economic downturn approaching the scale of the Great Depression, and no end in sight.
The economy won’t rebound until the federal government can assure people that it’s safe to resume something approaching normal activity. At the same time, remaining in near-shutdown status depends on the government’s ability to support households and businesses that no longer have their usual incomes.
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And from the looks of things, the federal government is coming up short in both endeavors.
On the public health front, COVID-19 caseloads seem finally to be declining. But it’s happening slowly and unevenly, with the incidence of disease rising in places like Texas even as it falls in places like New York. Health care workers still don’t have enough protective gear; nursing homes, prisons and meatpacking plants are still the sites of major outbreaks. The ability to test and contact trace is below the level most experts say is the bare minimum for reopening the country.
On the economic front, federal and state action has spared millions from hardship; expansions of unemployment insurance in particular have had a big impact. But the relief effort still has significant gaps. Small- and medium-sized businesses are turning down loans designed to keep employees on payroll because the rules are so complex. Millions aren’t getting unemployment benefits because their states aren’t delivering the money efficiently.
“We basically denigrated the public sector for a generation.” - Harold Pollack, University of Chicago
Some of these problems were inevitable, given the scale of the current crisis. But some weren’t. Overall, the U.S. appears to be lagging behind peer nations, especially those in Europe.
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And although American struggles have a lot to do with choices President Donald Trump has made in the past few months, they also have a lot to do with choices that the U.S. has been making for decades ― in particular, skimping on its safety net and funding for key government agencies.
National and state officials have been scrambling to make up for that with new initiatives, most recently a relief bill called the Heroes Act, passed by House Democrats on Friday. Like its predecessors, it would provide much-needed help to millions if it became law.
But there’s only so much that even the most determined policymakers can do right now. What the U.S. really needs to do is reimagine what the government does and how it operates ― to build a new state edifice, starting with its foundation, in a way that it has done only a few times in its history. And it’s not clear the political system is capable of that.
The U.S. Public Health Infrastructure Wasn’t Ready For This
The failures of the public health response have gotten plenty of attention already, especially when it comes to testing, which — if deployed adequately early in the pandemic — had the potential to help officials contain outbreaks much more successfully than they have. An inadequate supply of protective gear is the other big failure, because it’s exposed front-line workers to the virus, causing them to get sick and making spread more likely.
Trump has taken a lot of blame for these problems, and rightly so, given his failures to make testing a priority and to seize control of the medical supply chain in January, February or March, when he was receiving official warnings about the coronavirus and the need for urgent preparation.
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But underlying factors, predating Trump, have also contributed to the crisis. That’s most obvious in the case of nursing homes, where infection control has been a long-standing problem because of poor staffing levels (thanks to decades of underfunding long-term care) and poor regulation (thanks to decades of underfunding key government agencies).
Decades of underfunding long-term care is one reason COVID-19 has taken such a big toll on nursing homes. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez via Getty Images
“They cut state inspectors ― the folks that check licensed adult foster care facilities, seniors services ― and they just didn’t have the capacity to go in and do the kind of oversight necessary to protect people,” Marianne Udow-Phillips, who was director of health and human services in Michigan from 2004 to 2007, told HuffPost.
At the time, Udow-Phillips noted, Michigan’s public health agencies were reeling from years of cuts under the previous Republican administration, which isn’t surprising and isn’t unique to Michigan.
Inadequate spending on public health agencies has become a chronic problem in the U.S., in part due to a campaign that began in the Reagan era — led by Republicans and frequently supported by more conservative Democrats — to limit or reduce government spending.
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“We basically denigrated the public sector for a generation,” said Harold Pollack, a public health and policy expert at the University of Chicago. “Tens of thousands of Americans are now going to die because of our systemic neglect of these basic functions of our government.”
The effects are likely to become even more apparent in the coming months. The key to allowing activity again, once the number of COVID-19 cases gets low enough, is the ability to pounce on any new reports of infection and then, quickly, identify anybody who may have been exposed.
“The way other countries have handled contact tracing, where they have been successful, has been to rely on a employed paid workforce that is highly valued as part of their public health system,” said Udow-Phillips, who is now director of the Center for Health and Research Transformation. “We just don’t have that readily available in the U.S., anywhere.”
The U.S. Safety Net Also Wasn’t Ready For This
Early on in the crisis, policymakers faced a key choice about how to support people while the economy was nearly shut down. European nations by and large decided they would simply have their governments assume private payrolls, in an effort to freeze their workforces in place until the public health crisis had ebbed.
The U.S. opted for a hybrid approach: a program of forgivable loans to smaller businesses that would, in theory, replicate the European strategy for the beneficiaries, coupled with expansions of unemployment for workers who were furloughed or lost jobs altogether.
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Relying more on unemployment insurance has its upsides. And when the money actually gets into the hands of people who need it, the U.S. scheme accomplishes many of the same things that the European programs do, as economists like Harvard’s Jason Furman have argued.
But unemployment insurance in the U.S. goes through the states, which have considerable leeway over how to operate their programs. That’s had serious consequences in some parts of the country.
Consider Florida, where unemployment benefits were among the stingiest even before the crisis and where applying for benefits was already the most difficult. The threadbare system was a hand-me-down from former Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who slashed program funding and introduced newly restrictive eligibility criteria and who justified those changes as necessary because, he argued, otherwise people wouldn’t look for work.
Sweeping cuts to Florida's unemployment system under Rick Scott, the former Republican governor, help explain why the state has done such a poor job of delivering benefits during the pandemic. Mark Wilson via Getty Images
Those changes help explain why, as of Friday, just a little over half of the Floridians who’ve applied for benefits have gotten them. And while pretty much every state’s system has buckled under the pressure of so many people seeking support, Florida’s has been among the slowest to process claims.
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“They’re just not set up to deliver benefits to a large portion of the eligible population,” said Chris O’Leary, senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Governors determined to make their systems work better have made some headway. A case in point is Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, another state whose system endured cuts under a previous Republican administration.
Whitmer used executive authority to increase benefits and to streamline the application process. A key decision was making sure that people denied benefits upfront automatically became eligible for a special, federally funded extension of unemployment to independent contractors and others who would not normally qualify.
Sure enough, Michigan has been among the fastest in the country at processing claims.
“Taking a benefit system that was designed to reduce benefit payout and shifting everything to presume that unemployed workers ought to get a benefit is much like turning a barge,” Michele Evermore, senior researcher at the National Employment Law Project, said in testimony to the state legislature last week. “It is a huge shift to make and cannot happen immediately, but the speed at which this is occurring is to be commended.”
Even in a state like Michigan, however, people are falling through the cracks. Studies have shown that large numbers of Americans who should be getting unemployment insurance don’t, because the process is too cumbersome or they don’t realize they are eligible.
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In addition, losing a job in the U.S. frequently means losing employer-provided health insurance. Just this past week, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation released a study suggesting that roughly 27 million have lost coverage.
Most are eligible for either Medicaid or subsidized private insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. But millions are likely to end up uninsured because even well-educated workers can find the myriad coverage options so confusing.
And that’s to say nothing of the 14 states ― Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas notable among them ― where Republican officials have blocked the expansion of Medicaid, even though federal funding from the Affordable Care Act is available.
European Systems Have Held Up Better
The European approach to relief has been more coherent and, it would appear, more effective. Through Germany’s “Kurzarbeit” program, which many experts consider a model, the government reimburses firms for about two-thirds of wages, with companies or unions sometimes topping that off out of their own reserves.
It works seamlessly for the employees (who keep getting their paychecks) and the employers (who can get reimbursed through online transactions). And that’s not surprising, given that the system has been in place for decades: The German government didn’t have to first debate and then develop it for this crisis.
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It’s also a product of long-standing cooperation between German employers and unions, something typical of European economies.
“Owners and workers and the government can sit down at a table ― like, not a metaphor, they really sit down and figure out how to solve the labor questions,” said Mike Konczal, an economic analyst and writer at the Roosevelt Institute. “Here in the U.S., there’s nothing like that where we see that kind of negotiation with the labor movement.”
The U.K. did not have such a program in place beforehand, but it managed to invent its own version in the span of just a few weeks. As for unemployment payments, they were already available there through a broader “universal credit” program that operates electronically and, despite its own problems, doesn’t have the kind of bureaucratic issues plaguing the U.S. system.
“There’s a sense that the safety net is helping most people and the level of squalor or real hardship hasn’t shot up,” said Daniel Tomlinson, economist at the London-based Resolution Foundation.
European countries like Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel has gotten high marks for her leadership during the crisis, have a history of supporting government programs. They also have universal safety net programs that have existed for decades. Pool via Getty Images
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The British programs, like their German counterparts, does not reach all workers. When it comes to managing their economies overall, the European governments on the whole have done less to boost demand than the U.S. has, as Evercore ISI economist Ernie Tedeschi has pointed out.
Still, by all accounts, European governments can deliver benefits more effectively because they do a better job of funding agencies, because national governments can administer programs directly rather than going through states, and because they already have generous programs (including national health insurance) permanently in place.
In the U.S., by contrast, lawmakers are scrambling to create new programs and, even when they succeed, those programs have fixed expiration dates. That could slow economic recovery here, because Americans are less likely to spend money if they aren’t sure relief programs will be there in the future.
“The level of uncertainty associated with your future income streams is just always a lot higher in the United States than in Europe,” said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The U.S. Needs Some Pretty Big Changes
Democrats (especially, but not exclusively, progressive ones) have proposed changing that uncertainty by making unemployment benefits and other forms of assistance available until economic indicators improve ― in effect, creating the sort of “automatic stabilizers” that European countries have.
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Also on the progressive agenda is more assistance on health insurance, preferably by expanding an existing government program, like Medicare or Medicaid.
Steps like that could help a lot. So could better use of some existing safety net programs, in particular, a “work sharing” initiative under which businesses can reduce workers’ hours — or bring back those they’ve laid off or furloughed on a part-time basis — and unemployment insurance will kick in for the hours not worked. It could be a particularly useful program if, as many experts predict, the recovery is long and gradual.
“The level of uncertainty associated with your future income streams is just always a lot higher in the United States than in Europe.” - Jacob Kirkegaard, Peterson Institute for International Economics
On paper, the U.S. work sharing program (known formally as “short time compensation”) is a lot like the German system. But it is not available in all states, and the option is so underutilized that unemployment insurance agency workers in states that have it frequently don’t know the details ― as Slate’s Jordan Weissman discovered when he tried to investigate the option for his employer.
“It’s a nice deal if you can get it, and you can get it, maybe, if you try,” he wrote.
As usual, there is the underlying problem hampering other aspects of the COVID-19 relief effort: Programs and agencies that have never gotten the support they need.
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“It’s not that we don’t know what to do, or even that we don’t have systems that could do it,” said Heather Boushey, president of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and a longtime proponent of the work sharing program. “It’s that we’ve been systemically underfunding them and making it impossible for them to work.”
And funding problems could get even worse as states cut spending to deal with plummeting tax revenue. The Heroes Act that House Democrats passed on Friday includes some much-needed relief for states, but key Republican leaders, starting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have signaled their opposition.
Whatever lawmakers can or can’t get done in the next few months, the long-term question is whether the U.S. can chart a different course, one in which it not only creates a more seamless, universal set of benefit programs but also starts supporting the public sector again; that is, building up government rather than tearing it down.
It’s happened before. The exploitation of labor in the industrial revolution led to the Progressive Era’s rules for the workplace. The deprivation of the Great Depression led to the New Deal’s provision of welfare benefits.
In both instances, the U.S. responded to a crisis by creating new laws, programs and agencies to protect and provide for the American people. But these transformations required more than new ideas. They required a new political consensus about the role of government and, ultimately, new political leadership ― something to keep in mind, especially with an election just a few months away.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Karl Rove Slams Obama's Commencement Speeches: 'A Political Drive-By Shooting'

Obama ’ s remarks , which did not reference the Trump administration by name , went viral over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ fully , finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re doing , ” the former president said during his first of his @ @ @ @ @ A lot of them aren ’ t even pretending to be in charge.
” Obama @ @ @ @ @ ” with “ fancy titles ” who have “ screwed up ” the country with @ @ @ @ @ address .

Obama’s remarks, which did not reference the Trump administration by name, went viral over the weekend.
“This pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” the former president said during his first of his two commencement speeches. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Obama denounced the “so-called grown-ups” with “fancy titles” who have “screwed up” the country with their actions in his second address.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Mike Pompeo Asked Donald Trump To Fire Inspector General

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have criticized Trump for firing Linick , a career State Department official who @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inspector general since 2013 .
On Saturday , Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-N.Y. @ @ @ @ @ the firing .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that Trump ’ s firing of @ @ @ @ @ ” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations .

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have criticized Trump for firing Linick, a career State Department official who has served as the department’s inspector general since 2013. On Saturday, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) launched an investigation into the firing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that Trump’s firing of Linick “could be unlawful” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations.
Trump has fired multiple inspectors general in recent months, including intelligence community watchdog Michael Atkinson.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Judge Tosses Oregon Governor's Emergency Coronavirus Restrictions

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — A county judge has declared Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown ’ s coronavirus restrictions “ null and void ” because she didn ’ t have her emergency orders approved by the Legislature .
Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff made the ruling Monday in a lawsuit brought by churches that had sued saying the social-distancing directives were unconstitutional .
The suit had also argued that emergency powers only last for a month and after that Brown would have needed legislative approval .
The judge agreed .
Brown said she would immediately appeal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to keep the emergency orders in effect .
“ This will ensure we can continue to safeguard the health of all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers , those living in nursing homes , workers in agriculture and food processing plants , and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves forward , ” Brown said .
Ray Hacke , the attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the case , said in a phone interview Monday the ruling invalidates Brown ’ s ban on churches gathering for worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hacke said .
Common Sense intervened after the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute filed the case earlier this month on behalf of Oregon businesses , expanding the scope , he said .
“ The stay-at-home order is no longer in effect .
It is invalidated .
If people want to get their haircut , they can .
They can leave their home for any reason whether it ’ s deemed essential in the eye of the state or not , ” he said .
He added that the ruling was a vindication not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Oregonians ’ freedoms .
“ Praise God .
I ’ m excited , and I ’ m glad that the judge saw that there are limitations on the governor ’ s power , even in the midst of emergencies , ” he said .
Shirtcliff , the judge , was the district attorney of Baker County from 2001 until Brown appointed him judge last September , with the appointment having taken effect on Nov. 1 .

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SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A county judge has declared Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus restrictions “null and void” because she didn’t have her emergency orders approved by the Legislature.
Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff made the ruling Monday in a lawsuit brought by churches that had sued saying the social-distancing directives were unconstitutional.
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The suit had also argued that emergency powers only last for a month and after that Brown would have needed legislative approval. The judge agreed.
Brown said she would immediately appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court to try to keep the emergency orders in effect.
“This will ensure we can continue to safeguard the health of all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers, those living in nursing homes, workers in agriculture and food processing plants, and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves forward,” Brown said.
Ray Hacke, the attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the case, said in a phone interview Monday the ruling invalidates Brown’s ban on churches gathering for worship but also the entire stay-at-home order, Hacke said.
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Common Sense intervened after the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute filed the case earlier this month on behalf of Oregon businesses, expanding the scope, he said.
“The stay-at-home order is no longer in effect. It is invalidated. If people want to get their haircut, they can. They can leave their home for any reason whether it’s deemed essential in the eye of the state or not,” he said.
He added that the ruling was a vindication not just for freedom of religion, but for all Oregonians’ freedoms.
“Praise God. I’m excited, and I’m glad that the judge saw that there are limitations on the governor’s power, even in the midst of emergencies,” he said.
Shirtcliff, the judge, was the district attorney of Baker County from 2001 until Brown appointed him judge last September, with the appointment having taken effect on Nov. 1.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Fed Chair Says Coronavirus-Stricken Economy Might Not Recover Until End Of 2021

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that while he believed the economy would ultimately recover from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , he didn ’ t expect it to return to normal potentially before the end of 2021 .
“ This is a time of great suffering and difficulty , ” Powell said during a “ 60 Minutes ” interview that aired Sunday .
“ And it ’ s come on us so quickly and with such force , that you really can ’ t put into words the pain people are feeling and the uncertainty they ’ re realizing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while for us to get back.
” He continued : “ This economy will recover .
And that means people will go back to work .
Unemployment will get back down .
We ’ ll get through this .
It may take a while.
” The coronavirus has wrought economic devastation throughout the country since many states began mandating residents stay at home and practice social distancing .
Whole industries have been forced to shut down , at least temporarily , and more than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions have begun to jumpstart their economies again , despite warnings from medical advisors , in an effort to soothe some of that financial pain , but the figures released during the pandemic are already staggering .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that in 11 states more than a quarter of those who were employed in February are now out of work and Democrats in the House of Representatives passed a new , $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill meant to bail out states and send more financial support to millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of the coronavirus have continued to spread .
More than 1.4 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 , and nearly 90,000 have died .
Powell said in the interview Sunday that certain conditions will likely need to be met before the American economy has any hope of a long-lasting return to normality , namely the discovery of a vaccine that can be widely distributed .
Scientists say that any vaccine is at least 12 to 18 months away , but Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last Tuesday there was no guarantee one would work .
“ Assuming that there ’ s not a second wave of the coronavirus , I think you ’ ll see the economy recover steadily through the second half of this year , ” Powell told host Scott Pelley .
“ For the economy to fully recover , people will have to be fully confident , and that may have to await the arrival of a vaccine.
” The comments followed a stark message from Powell last week when he warned the fallout from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and urged the government to sort out a new economic support package to help avoid longterm job losses .
Powell also said he expected the U.S. ’ gross domestic product to shrink by up to a third in the second quarter of this year , although he said the economy could begin to grow once more by the third quarter of the year .
“ You know , the numbers are going to be very high .
And it ’ s hard to be precise .
I wouldn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss in GDP .
“ You know , could easily be in the twenties or thirties.
” President Donald Trump has regularly said , without evidence , that the coronavirus could “ go away ” on its own .
But he has also pledged that a vaccine would arrive by early next year despite concerns from the medical community about that timeline .
“ We think we ’ re going to have a vaccine in the pretty near future , ” Trump said during a news briefing this week .
He later noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a vaccine and they go away .
So I don ’ t want people to think that this is all dependent on vaccine , but a vaccine would be a tremendous thing .
”

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that while he believed the economy would ultimately recover from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, he didn’t expect it to return to normal potentially before the end of 2021.
“This is a time of great suffering and difficulty,” Powell said during a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday. “And it’s come on us so quickly and with such force, that you really can’t put into words the pain people are feeling and the uncertainty they’re realizing. And it’s going to take a while for us to get back.”
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He continued: “This economy will recover. And that means people will go back to work. Unemployment will get back down. We’ll get through this. It may take a while.”
“In the long run, and even in the medium run, you wouldn't want to bet against the American economy. This economy will recover. It may take a while… It could stretch through the end of next year,” says Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. https://t.co/q3xeeDSdro pic.twitter.com/aSsrzimp4y — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 17, 2020
The coronavirus has wrought economic devastation throughout the country since many states began mandating residents stay at home and practice social distancing. Whole industries have been forced to shut down, at least temporarily, and more than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in the last two months. Some regions have begun to jumpstart their economies again, despite warnings from medical advisors, in an effort to soothe some of that financial pain, but the figures released during the pandemic are already staggering.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that in 11 states more than a quarter of those who were employed in February are now out of work and Democrats in the House of Representatives passed a new, $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill meant to bail out states and send more financial support to millions of Americans.
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At the same time, cases of the coronavirus have continued to spread. More than 1.4 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19, and nearly 90,000 have died.
Powell said in the interview Sunday that certain conditions will likely need to be met before the American economy has any hope of a long-lasting return to normality, namely the discovery of a vaccine that can be widely distributed. Scientists say that any vaccine is at least 12 to 18 months away, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told lawmakers last Tuesday there was no guarantee one would work.
Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, says the trillions of dollars in additional federal debt to support the U.S. economy during coronavirus could be paid down over decades. https://t.co/sYXgPHmdSG pic.twitter.com/0ZIeJhXjDC — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 17, 2020
“Assuming that there’s not a second wave of the coronavirus, I think you’ll see the economy recover steadily through the second half of this year,” Powell told host Scott Pelley. “For the economy to fully recover, people will have to be fully confident, and that may have to await the arrival of a vaccine.”
The comments followed a stark message from Powell last week when he warned the fallout from the virus was “without modern precedent” and urged the government to sort out a new economic support package to help avoid longterm job losses.
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Powell also said he expected the U.S.’ gross domestic product to shrink by up to a third in the second quarter of this year, although he said the economy could begin to grow once more by the third quarter of the year.
“You know, the numbers are going to be very high. And it’s hard to be precise. I wouldn’t want to guess,” he said of the loss in GDP. “You know, could easily be in the twenties or thirties.”
President Donald Trump has regularly said, without evidence, that the coronavirus could “go away” on its own. But he has also pledged that a vaccine would arrive by early next year despite concerns from the medical community about that timeline.
“We think we’re going to have a vaccine in the pretty near future,” Trump said during a news briefing this week. He later noted that: “Other things have never had a vaccine and they go away. So I don’t want people to think that this is all dependent on vaccine, but a vaccine would be a tremendous thing.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Trump May Extend Freeze In Funding To World Health Organization: Reports

President Donald Trump may extend a temporary freeze on payments to the World Health Organization amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , according to several media reports .
Axios first reported Sunday the president was “ leaning ” toward keeping the freeze in place and The Wall Street Journal noted Trump had grown skeptical of an internal plan to restore limited funding to the agency .
The reports come just a day after Trump said the White House was considering restoring about 10 % of U.S. funding to the health agency after he abruptly ended the country ’ s contributions last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president said he had grown frustrated with WHO and claimed the organization had “ failed in its basic duty ” as the coronavirus was declared a pandemic .
That frustration appeared to mellow in recent days and Fox News reported late Friday that the Trump administration had drafted a proposal to “ pay up to what China pays in assessed contributions ” to WHO .
Traditionally , the U.S. has been WHO ’ s largest donor and the country contributed more than $ 400 million in 2019 , or about 15 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just one of numerous concepts being considered under which we would pay 10 % of what we have been paying over many years , matching much lower China payments .
Have not made final decision .
All funds are frozen .
Thanks !
https : //t.co/xQUzHy4NDa — Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 16 , 2020 Health experts condemned the president ’ s decision to suspend the funding at the time , which came as cases of the coronavirus were spreading rapidly around the globe .
More than 1.4 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 and nearly 90,000 have died .
The global death toll topped 300,000 last week .
“ [ WHO ] must be supported , as it is absolutely critical to the world ’ s efforts to win the war against COVID-19 , ” António Guterres , the United Nations secretary-general , said of the funding freeze .
“ It is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.
” But Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the pandemic , moved to blame the agency for its role in the crisis .
“ So much death has been caused by their mistakes , ” he said during a news briefing in April .
“ The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable.
” In fact , the agency acted more quickly than the U.S. government to respond to the virus , issuing a global health emergency while urging international cooperation to stop its spread .

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President Donald Trump may extend a temporary freeze on payments to the World Health Organization amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to several media reports.
Axios first reported Sunday the president was “leaning” toward keeping the freeze in place and The Wall Street Journal noted Trump had grown skeptical of an internal plan to restore limited funding to the agency.
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The outlets said Trump could make a decision as early as this week.
The reports come just a day after Trump said the White House was considering restoring about 10% of U.S. funding to the health agency after he abruptly ended the country’s contributions last month. At the time, the president said he had grown frustrated with WHO and claimed the organization had “failed in its basic duty” as the coronavirus was declared a pandemic.
That frustration appeared to mellow in recent days and Fox News reported late Friday that the Trump administration had drafted a proposal to “pay up to what China pays in assessed contributions” to WHO. Traditionally, the U.S. has been WHO’s largest donor and the country contributed more than $400 million in 2019, or about 15% of its total budget.
Lou, this is just one of numerous concepts being considered under which we would pay 10% of what we have been paying over many years, matching much lower China payments. Have not made final decision. All funds are frozen. Thanks! https://t.co/xQUzHy4NDa — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020
Health experts condemned the president’s decision to suspend the funding at the time, which came as cases of the coronavirus were spreading rapidly around the globe. More than 1.4 million people in the U.S. have now tested positive for COVID-19 and nearly 90,000 have died. The global death toll topped 300,000 last week.
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“[WHO] must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19,” António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, said of the funding freeze. “It is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.”
But Trump, who has been criticized for his own response to the pandemic, moved to blame the agency for its role in the crisis.
“So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” he said during a news briefing in April. “The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable.”
In fact, the agency acted more quickly than the U.S. government to respond to the virus, issuing a global health emergency while urging international cooperation to stop its spread.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--Fired Inspector General Was Probing Pompeo Over Saudi Arms Deal, Mistreating Staffer: Reports

The State Department inspector general whom President Donald Trump fired last week was reportedly investigating why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fast-tracked more than $ 8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and its allies and whether Pompeo made a staffer run personal errands for him .
Steve Linick , a career State Department official who has served as the agency ’ s inspector general since 2013 , was probing the arms deal because of lawmakers ’ frustration that it was carried out without normal congressional oversight , Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-N.Y. ) , the chairman of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post on Monday .
Pompeo used an emergency declaration from Trump to transfer the weapons to the Saudis , the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in May 2019 .
Weeks later , a handful of Republicans voted with congressional Democrats to stop the sale and Trump vetoed the legislation .
Linick had recently briefed the State Department on the results of his inquiry into the administration ’ s claim that national security concerns justified its approach , congressional aides told the Post .
Democrats have highlighted the role of a then-State Department official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a major weapons producer , in rolling out the emergency declaration .
Linick was also investigating whether Pompeo made a staffer walk his dog , pick up his dry cleaning and make dinner reservations for him and his wife , NBC News and CNN reported on Sunday .
NBC described the official as a “ political appointee who was serving as a staff assistant.
” The secretary of state has reportedly been probed in the past for his alleged misuse of staff to run personal tasks .
CNN reported last summer that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by a State Department whistleblower about Pompeo ’ s alleged use of taxpayer-funded special agents to “ pick up Chinese food ” and the “ Pompeo family dog from a groomer , ” among other errands .
“ It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General .
That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General , ” Trump wrote .
The president , who has fired multiple inspectors general in recent months , including intelligence community watchdog Michael Atkinson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the aisle for Linick ’ s abrupt removal .
“ As I ’ ve said before , Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG ’ s removal .
A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress , ” Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) said on Saturday of Linick ’ s ouster .
“ [ D ] oing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose , ” he tweeted .
“ It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the timing of Linick ’ s removal suggests “ an unlawful act of retaliation.
” He and Sen. Robert Menendez ( D-N.J. ) , the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , have since launched an investigation into Linick ’ s ouster .

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The State Department inspector general whom President Donald Trump fired last week was reportedly investigating why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fast-tracked more than $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and its allies and whether Pompeo made a staffer run personal errands for him.
Steve Linick, a career State Department official who has served as the agency’s inspector general since 2013, was probing the arms deal because of lawmakers’ frustration that it was carried out without normal congressional oversight, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Washington Post on Monday.
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Pompeo used an emergency declaration from Trump to transfer the weapons to the Saudis, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in May 2019. Weeks later, a handful of Republicans voted with congressional Democrats to stop the sale and Trump vetoed the legislation.
Linick had recently briefed the State Department on the results of his inquiry into the administration’s claim that national security concerns justified its approach, congressional aides told the Post. Democrats have highlighted the role of a then-State Department official who was previously a lobbyist for Raytheon, a major weapons producer, in rolling out the emergency declaration.
“It’s troubling that Secretary Pompeo wanted Mr. Linick pushed out before this work could be completed,” Engel told the outlet.
Linick was also investigating whether Pompeo made a staffer walk his dog, pick up his dry cleaning and make dinner reservations for him and his wife, NBC News and CNN reported on Sunday. NBC described the official as a “political appointee who was serving as a staff assistant.”
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The secretary personally requested Linick’s firing, the White House confirmed to NBC and the Post.
Ousted State Department inspector general was investigating if Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a staffer walk his dog and run other personal errands https://t.co/NiF6UWFiKF — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 18, 2020
The secretary of state has reportedly been probed in the past for his alleged misuse of staff to run personal tasks.
CNN reported last summer that Democratic congressional investigators were looking into allegations made by a State Department whistleblower about Pompeo’s alleged use of taxpayer-funded special agents to “pick up Chinese food” and the “Pompeo family dog from a groomer,” among other errands.
Trump announced Linick’s firing in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday.
“It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General,” Trump wrote.
The president, who has fired multiple inspectors general in recent months, including intelligence community watchdog Michael Atkinson, was criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for Linick’s abrupt removal.
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“As I’ve said before, Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG’s removal. A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Saturday of Linick’s ouster.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) described the firings of multiple inspectors general as “unprecedented.”
“[D]oing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose,” he tweeted. “It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power.”
The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so
without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose. It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power. — Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) May 16, 2020
Engel has said the timing of Linick’s removal suggests “an unlawful act of retaliation.” He and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have since launched an investigation into Linick’s ouster.
Trump should send Congress a detailed explanation for the firing of Linick by June 1, Grassley told the president in a Monday letter.
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“I want to work with you to ensure that the enemy here is wasteful government spending, not the government watchdogs charged with protecting the taxpayer,” the Senate Finance Committee chairman wrote to his fellow Republican.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-18--'Testing Is Overrated': Snide Twitter Wits Imagine A Trump Commencement Speech

After Barack Obama ’ s two online commencement speeches Saturday went over so well , Twitter wags decided to imagine a speech to graduates from the sitting president .
Donald Trump claimed he didn ’ t listen to what Obama said to 74 historically black colleges and universities and high school graduates across the nation , but he did take a moment Sunday to slam his predecessor as a “ grossly incompetent ” president .
In his speeches , Obama took some not-so-subtle jabs at Trump — without mentioning his name .
The COVID-19 pandemic has “ finally torn back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the folks in charge know what they ’ re doing , ” Obama said .
“ A lot of them aren ’ t even pretending to be in charge.
” Twitter critics didn ’ t imagine Trump discussing a sound COVID-19 strategy in an imaginary commencement address .
Instead , their dreamed-up comments were pegged to his recent remarks about testing , his repeated bragging that he ’ s an expert on just about everything and his propensity to duck responsibility : Testing is overrated .
When you test , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you find some students did not learn the material .
If we didn ’ t do any testing , we ’ d have very few low grades .
# TrumpCommencementSpeech # SundayMorning # SundayThoughts — Linda James ( @ ncundone ) May 17 , 2020 And stay away from pregnancy tests if you don ’ t want to get pregnant 🙄 pic.twitter.com/Op6ONeM50t — RDK ( @ KolodyRussell ) May 17 , 2020 # TrumpCommencementSpeech Don ’ t worry about grades .
Worry about being able to afford a lawyer who can make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Katt Funny ( @ KattFunny ) May 17 , 2020 Believe me , a lot of people tell me I should be a professor here , or that I should be running the nuclear physical education department , and they 're probably right .
Because I know things — a lot of *impressive* things , like E = MC Hammer .
But I digest.
# TrumpCommencementSpeech — Lance Gould ( @ lancegould ) May 17 , 2020 '' Congratulations , graduation people .
Let me start by saying I have a bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That means , when counting all of your brains , my brain is like more .
They just do n't make brains like this anymore , people .
`` # TrumpCommencementSpeech — Craig Rozniecki ( @ CraigRozniecki ) May 17 , 2020 # TrumpCommencementSpeech It 's never your fault .
You can always blame someone .
It 's called the 'blame game ' .
If it was n't a thing it would n't have a great name like the 'blame game ' some say it 's the best name pic.twitter.com/5vQQT0EdYk — Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) May 17 , 2020 Blame the dog for eating your homework .
And Hilary for hiding it on a private server .
And Obama for destroying it in the microwave .
And the Fake News media for lying about you ever doing the homework in the first place .
# TrumpCommencementSpeech — Darek Steiger ( @ lowell321 ) May 17 , 2020 “ To be successful you got ta be smart like me .
You got ta use your you-know-what.
” # TrumpCommencementSpeech pic.twitter.com/7xH59iBz3b — CK ( @ charley_ck14 ) May 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do for you , ask what you can do for me to divide this country .
# TrumpCommencementSpeech — chaplinlives ( @ chaplinlives ) May 17 , 2020 Well you got you `` e-pluma , '' diplomas as some call it .
they 're good papers , best papers , means a big thing , not as big as my Wharton paper certificate , yes , you 'll hang that on the wall , oh , lots of people got Trump University papers , that was a which hunt # TrumpCommencementSpeech — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , 2020

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After Barack Obama’s two online commencement speeches Saturday went over so well, Twitter wags decided to imagine a speech to graduates from the sitting president.
Donald Trump claimed he didn’t listen to what Obama said to 74 historically black colleges and universities and high school graduates across the nation, but he did take a moment Sunday to slam his predecessor as a “grossly incompetent” president.
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In his speeches, Obama took some not-so-subtle jabs at Trump — without mentioning his name. The COVID-19 pandemic has “finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Twitter critics didn’t imagine Trump discussing a sound COVID-19 strategy in an imaginary commencement address. Instead, their dreamed-up comments were pegged to his recent remarks about testing, his repeated bragging that he’s an expert on just about everything and his propensity to duck responsibility:
Testing is overrated. When you test, you have a grade. When you test, you find some students did not learn the material. If we didn’t do any testing, we’d have very few low grades. #TrumpCommencementSpeech#SundayMorning #SundayThoughts — Linda James (@ncundone) May 17, 2020
And stay away from pregnancy tests if you don’t want to get pregnant 🙄 pic.twitter.com/Op6ONeM50t — RDK (@KolodyRussell) May 17, 2020
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#TrumpCommencementSpeech
Don’t worry about grades. Worry about being able to afford a lawyer who can make sure they’re never exposed. — Katt Funny (@KattFunny) May 17, 2020
Believe me, a lot of people tell me I should be a professor here, or that I should be running the nuclear physical education department, and they're probably right. Because I know things — a lot of *impressive* things, like E = MC Hammer. But I digest.#TrumpCommencementSpeech — Lance Gould (@lancegould) May 17, 2020
"Congratulations, graduation people. Let me start by saying I have a bigger brain than all of you. Combined. That means, when counting all of your brains, my brain is like more. They just don't make brains like this anymore, people."#TrumpCommencementSpeech — Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) May 17, 2020
#TrumpCommencementSpeech
It's never your fault. You can always blame someone. It's called the 'blame game'. If it wasn't a thing it wouldn't have a great name like the 'blame game' some say it's the best name pic.twitter.com/5vQQT0EdYk — Jeff Dwoskin Says Stay HOME (@bigmacher) May 17, 2020
Blame the dog for eating your homework. And Hilary for hiding it on a private server. And Obama for destroying it in the microwave. And the Fake News media for lying about you ever doing the homework in the first place. #TrumpCommencementSpeech — Darek Steiger (@lowell321) May 17, 2020
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“To be successful you gotta be smart like me. You gotta use your you-know-what.”#TrumpCommencementSpeech pic.twitter.com/7xH59iBz3b — CK (@charley_ck14) May 17, 2020
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for me to divide this country. #TrumpCommencementSpeech — chaplinlives (@chaplinlives) May 17, 2020
Well you got you "e-pluma," diplomas as some call it. they're good papers, best papers, means a big thing, not as big as my Wharton paper certificate, yes, you'll hang that on the wall, oh, lots of people got Trump University papers, that was a which hunt #TrumpCommencementSpeech — Paul Chambers🌊📢🏥🤡 (@feedingtubepaul) May 17, 2020
"So where's the Clorox kegger going to be tonight?"#TrumpCommencementSpeech — Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) May 17, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--'Hang Fauci' Sign Brandished Amid Lockdown Protesters Trump Hailed As 'Great People'

A disturbing sign with the words “ Hang Fauci ” appeared in a news report about COVID-19 lockdown protesters whom President Donald Trump hailed on Saturday as “ great people.
” The sign was part of a threatening rhyme reading : “ Hang Fauci Hang Gates , Open Up All Our States.
” It appeared in a local TV report Thursday on News 12 Long Island about the “ Re-Open New York ” protest that day in Commack .
The sign referred to philanthropist Bill Gates , who has sounded the alarm on pandemics , and Dr. Anthony Fauci , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus task force and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Fauci has warned of serious health consequences if the nation reopens the economy too quickly and drops safety precautions during the COVID-19 crisis .
The chilling message was part of a filmed report on the protest by TV journalist Kevin Vesey , who has become a target of Trump on Twitter .
Vesey initially attracted Trump ’ s attention when he tweeted about his ugly experience at the protest , where demonstrators berated and harassed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him “ alarming.
” One maskless protester in a Trump T-shirt and MAGA hat deliberately invaded his social distancing space as Vesey ( who was wearing a mask ) pleaded with him to back away .
Vesey recently recovered from COVID-19 .
“ I was insulted .
I was berated .
I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic , ” Vesey tweeted .
I 'll probably never forget what happened today .
I was insulted .
I was berated .
I was practically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks in the middle of a pandemic .
All the while , I was there to tell THEIR story .
Here 's the finished product .
pic.twitter.com/HV2Hrcs7gi — Kevin Vesey ( @ KevinVesey ) May 14 , 2020 Trump on Thursday tweeted in response to one of Vesey ’ s posts : “ FAKE NEWS IS NOT ESSENTIAL.
” On Saturday , the president again tweeted about Vesey ’ s posted video , declaring of the protesters : “ Great people !
” Trump added : “ People can ’ t get enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organized by the Setauket Patriots , a group of Trump supporters — and backed by the Long Island branch of the radical right-wing organization The Oath Keepers .
Suffolk County , the scene of the protest , has a per capita COVID-19 mortality rate more than four times the national average , with nearly 38,000 cases of COVID-19 and 1,733 deaths as of Saturday .
Trump ’ s comment about the “ great people ” at the protest evoked his controversial comment about swastika-waving “ Unite the Right ” marchers in Charlottesville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then there were “ very fine people on both sides ” amid marchers and counter-protesters .
Avowed neo-Nazi James Alex Fields was sentenced last year to life in prison for a hate crime for deliberately driving his car into counter-protesters at the Charlottesville march , killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others .

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A disturbing sign with the words “Hang Fauci” appeared in a news report about COVID-19 lockdown protesters whom President Donald Trump hailed on Saturday as “great people.”
The sign was part of a threatening rhyme reading: “Hang Fauci Hang Gates, Open Up All Our States.” It appeared in a local TV report Thursday on News 12 Long Island about the “Re-Open New York” protest that day in Commack.
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Protester holds threatening sign at Long Island protest against COVID-19 safety precautions. Screen Shot/News 12 Long Island
The sign referred to philanthropist Bill Gates, who has sounded the alarm on pandemics, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the popular science expert on Trump’s coronavirus task force and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci has warned of serious health consequences if the nation reopens the economy too quickly and drops safety precautions during the COVID-19 crisis.
The chilling message was part of a filmed report on the protest by TV journalist Kevin Vesey, who has become a target of Trump on Twitter.
Vesey initially attracted Trump’s attention when he tweeted about his ugly experience at the protest, where demonstrators berated and harassed him. Vesey called the anger directed at him “alarming.” One maskless protester in a Trump T-shirt and MAGA hat deliberately invaded his social distancing space as Vesey (who was wearing a mask) pleaded with him to back away. Vesey recently recovered from COVID-19.
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“I was insulted. I was berated. I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic,” Vesey tweeted.
I'll probably never forget what happened today.
I was insulted. I was berated. I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic.
All the while, I was there to tell THEIR story. Here's the finished product. pic.twitter.com/HV2Hrcs7gi — Kevin Vesey (@KevinVesey) May 14, 2020
Trump on Thursday tweeted in response to one of Vesey’s posts: “FAKE NEWS IS NOT ESSENTIAL.”
On Saturday, the president again tweeted about Vesey’s posted video, declaring of the protesters: “Great people!” Trump added: “People can’t get enough of this.”
People can’t get enough of this. Great people! https://t.co/b4HM0C298h — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020
The Commack protest was organized by the Setauket Patriots, a group of Trump supporters — and backed by the Long Island branch of the radical right-wing organization The Oath Keepers.
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Suffolk County, the scene of the protest, has a per capita COVID-19 mortality rate more than four times the national average, with nearly 38,000 cases of COVID-19 and 1,733 deaths as of Saturday.
Trump’s comment about the “great people” at the protest evoked his controversial comment about swastika-waving “Unite the Right” marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. He said then there were “very fine people on both sides” amid marchers and counter-protesters.
Avowed neo-Nazi James Alex Fields was sentenced last year to life in prison for a hate crime for deliberately driving his car into counter-protesters at the Charlottesville march, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others.
CLARIFICATION: Language has been inserted to indicate that the mortality rate comparison for Suffolk County is per capita.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--Senator Ron Johnson Dismisses Concerns About Trump's Inspector General Firing

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) on Sunday dismissed Democratic and Republican lawmakers ’ concerns about President Donald Trump firing a watchdog responsible for investigating the State Department .
The president fired Steve Linick on Friday , saying he “ no longer ” had the “ fullest confidence ” in the State Department ’ s inspector general .
The dismissal was widely viewed as part of Trump ’ s effort to remove investigators he deems disloyal to him personally , as Linick was conducting an investigation into potential misconduct by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
House Foreign Affairs Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unlawful act of retaliation.
” Linick is the fourth inspector general Trump has fired in less than two months .
Johnson downplayed his congressional colleagues ’ concerns that Trump may have fired the IG to protect someone close to him .
“ I ’ m very mindful of the fact that inspector generals don ’ t work for Congress , ” Johnson said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” “ They actually work for the administration.
” Johnson said inspectors general deserve independence within their agency while conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the president ’ s will.
” “ I ’ m not going to discuss my private conversations with senior administration officials , ” the senator said when host Jake Tapper asked what gave him the impression that Trump had a good reason for the firing .
“ My guess is this will all come out , ” said Johnson , who has long been a vocal Trump ally .
`` We rely on an awful lot of their work , '' Republican Sen. Ron Johnson says of inspectors general .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their agencies ...
In the end they serve at the pleasure of the President and he 's got the authority to hire and terminate '' # CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/hnYJzxWvIX — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) May 17 , 2020 “ The president has not provided the kind of justification for the removal of IG Linick required by this law , ” said Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) .
Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) said that “ a general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Trump ’ s string of firings “ unprecedented ” and warned they could “ chill the independence ” needed for agencies to function .

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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Sunday dismissed Democratic and Republican lawmakers’ concerns about President Donald Trump firing a watchdog responsible for investigating the State Department.
The president fired Steve Linick on Friday, saying he “no longer” had the “fullest confidence” in the State Department’s inspector general. The dismissal was widely viewed as part of Trump’s effort to remove investigators he deems disloyal to him personally, as Linick was conducting an investigation into potential misconduct by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel called the firing an “unlawful act of retaliation.”
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Linick is the fourth inspector general Trump has fired in less than two months.
Johnson downplayed his congressional colleagues’ concerns that Trump may have fired the IG to protect someone close to him.
“I’m very mindful of the fact that inspector generals don’t work for Congress,” Johnson said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “They actually work for the administration.”
Johnson said inspectors general deserve independence within their agency while conducting investigations, but that “they serve at the president’s will.”
“I’m not going to discuss my private conversations with senior administration officials,” the senator said when host Jake Tapper asked what gave him the impression that Trump had a good reason for the firing.
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“My guess is this will all come out,” said Johnson, who has long been a vocal Trump ally.
"We rely on an awful lot of their work," Republican Sen. Ron Johnson says of inspectors general. "I think their Independence needs to remain within their agencies ... In the end they serve at the pleasure of the President and he's got the authority to hire and terminate" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/hnYJzxWvIX — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 17, 2020
A number of Republican senators have been critical of Linick’s firing.
“The president has not provided the kind of justification for the removal of IG Linick required by this law,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that “a general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--'Independence Day' Stars Slam Trump For Tweeting Faked Video Clip

Screen Shot/YouTube.com/Indepence Day Spoof/Mad Liberals Screenshot of the altered clip from `` Independence Day '' that President Donald Trump retweeted .
Stars of the 1996 film “ Independence Day ” lashed out at President Donald Trump Sunday for tweeting an altered scene that turns him into the heroic president of the movie .
Vivica A .
Fox , who starred in the sci-fi thriller alongside Will Smith , blasted the posting as “ typical POS behavior.
” “ Can ’ t believe you would insult our classic film this way !
” Fox said , adding : “ U never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the film ’ s fictional president .
PRETENDING U KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING ?
?
CANT BELIEVE U WOULD INSULT OUR CLASSIC FILM THIS WAY !
BUT HEY !
TYPICAL POS BEHAVIOR !
U NEVER HAD THE LEADERSHIP OR COURAGE TO DO THIS ROLE !
NEVER !
😡👎🏾👎🏾 https : //t.co/OBjdRftYSx — Vivica A .
Fox ( @ MsVivicaFox ) May 17 , 2020 Actor Bill Pullman — who played President Thomas J. Whitmore in the hit movie — told The Hollywood Reporter , “ My voice belongs to no one but me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president — this year.
” The faked scene — created by a Trump-supporting Twitter account called Mad “ ObamaGate ” Liberals — superimposed images of Trump ’ s head onto Pullman ’ s Whitmore as he called on a ragtag crew of American pilots to take on murderous extraterrestrials .
The video superimposed the faces of Trump supporters onto the enraptured spectators , including Fox News ’ Sean Hannity , Ivanka Trump , Donald Trump Jr. , a weepy Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) and notorious far-right ” Pizzagate ” conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , among others .
The point of placing Trump in the scene wasn ’ t entirely clear , other than to make him look inspiring .
It could be seen as depicting Trump ’ s rallying America to reopen the economy amid the COVID-19 crisis .
But Whitmore ’ s declaration — which retains Pullman ’ s voice —that “ we ’ re fighting for our right to live , to exist ” could also be interpreted as a call to Americans to protect their lives against assaults on COVID-19 safety precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer object to dying of coronavirus .
Thank you , Mr President .
— James Felton ( @ JimMFelton ) May 16 , 2020

Screenshot of the altered clip from "Independence Day" that President Donald Trump retweeted. Screen Shot/YouTube.com/Indepence Day Spoof/Mad Liberals
Stars of the 1996 film “Independence Day” lashed out at President Donald Trump Sunday for tweeting an altered scene that turns him into the heroic president of the movie.
Vivica A. Fox, who starred in the sci-fi thriller alongside Will Smith, blasted the posting as “typical POS behavior.”
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“Can’t believe you would insult our classic film this way!” Fox said, adding: “U never had the leadership or courage” of the film’s fictional president.
PRETENDING U KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING?? CANT BELIEVE U WOULD INSULT OUR CLASSIC FILM THIS WAY! BUT HEY! TYPICAL POS BEHAVIOR! U NEVER HAD THE LEADERSHIP OR COURAGE TO DO THIS ROLE! NEVER! 😡👎🏾👎🏾 https://t.co/OBjdRftYSx — Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) May 17, 2020
Actor Bill Pullman — who played President Thomas J. Whitmore in the hit movie — told The Hollywood Reporter, “My voice belongs to no one but me, and I’m not running for president — this year.”
The faked scene — created by a Trump-supporting Twitter account called Mad “ObamaGate” Liberals — superimposed images of Trump’s head onto Pullman’s Whitmore as he called on a ragtag crew of American pilots to take on murderous extraterrestrials.
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Trump tweeted out this video that features white nationalist @jackposobiec in it holding a gun. pic.twitter.com/Mgo7ieTE6y — Vic Berger IV (@VicBergerIV) May 16, 2020
The point of placing Trump in the scene wasn’t entirely clear, other than to make him look inspiring. It could be seen as depicting Trump’s rallying America to reopen the economy amid the COVID-19 crisis.
But Whitmore’s declaration — which retains Pullman’s voice —that “we’re fighting for our right to live, to exist” could also be interpreted as a call to Americans to protect their lives against assaults on COVID-19 safety precautions.
Well thanks to this I no longer object to dying of coronavirus. Thank you, Mr President. — James Felton (@JimMFelton) May 16, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--Trump Blasts Obama As 'Incompetent' After Apparent Commencement Speech Jab

President Donald Trump on Sunday tore into former President Barack Obama , calling him “ an incompetent president ” after Obama appeared to criticize his response to the coronavirus crisis during two commencement speeches a day earlier .
Asked about Obama ’ s remarks , Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that he “ didn ’ t hear it ” before proceeding to bash his predecessor as “ grossly incompetent.
” “ Look , he was an incompetent president , ” Trump said .
“ That ’ s all I can say .
Grossly incompetent.
” It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a specific incident in his accusation .
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .
Obama delivered two virtual commencement addresses Saturday , the first for graduates of historically black colleges and universities , followed hours later by a prime time special for high school seniors .
“ This pandemic has fully , finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they ’ re doing , ” Obama said during his first speech .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretending to be in charge.
” In his second address , he took aim at “ so-called grown-ups ” with “ fancy titles ” who have “ screwed up ” the country by acting irresponsibly .
“ Doing what feels good , what ’ s convenient , what ’ s easy — that ’ s how little kids think , ” Obama said .
“ Unfortunately , a lot of so-called grown-ups , including some with fancy titles and important jobs , still think that way — which is why things are so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you decide to ground yourself in values that last , like honesty , hard work , responsibility , fairness , generosity , respect for others.
” Congrats to the high school Class of 2020 , as well as to the teachers , coaches , and most of all , parents and family who ’ ve guided you along the way .
Thanks for letting me be part of your big day !
pic.twitter.com/RjYvHs2BhC — Barack Obama ( @ BarackObama ) May 17 , 2020 Until recently , Obama has largely refrained from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month , Obama reportedly bashed the Trump administration ’ s response to the pandemic as “ an absolute chaotic disaster ” during a phone call with some of his former White House aides .
Trump , however , repeatedly attacked Obama throughout his eight years in office , and has continued to do so since winning the 2016 election .
Most recently , Trump has been obsessed with pushing the “ Obamagate ” conspiracy theory , claiming — without evidence — that Obama led a “ coup ” to sabotage his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime is , ” Trump said .
“ The crime is obvious to everybody .
All you have to do is read the newspapers , except yours .
”

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President Donald Trump on Sunday tore into former President Barack Obama, calling him “an incompetent president” after Obama appeared to criticize his response to the coronavirus crisis during two commencement speeches a day earlier.
Asked about Obama’s remarks, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that he “didn’t hear it” before proceeding to bash his predecessor as “grossly incompetent.”
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“Look, he was an incompetent president,” Trump said. “That’s all I can say. Grossly incompetent.”
President Trump: "[President Obama] was an incompetent president. That's all I can say. Grossly incompetent." pic.twitter.com/Cw6CwgxUrT — The Hill (@thehill) May 17, 2020
It’s unclear if Trump was referring to a specific incident in his accusation. The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Obama delivered two virtual commencement addresses Saturday, the first for graduates of historically black colleges and universities, followed hours later by a prime time special for high school seniors.
“This pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said during his first speech. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
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In his second address, he took aim at “so-called grown-ups” with “fancy titles” who have “screwed up” the country by acting irresponsibly.
“Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think,” Obama said. “Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way — which is why things are so screwed up. I hope that instead, you decide to ground yourself in values that last, like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others.”
Many viewers interpreted the comments as a thinly veiled attack on Trump’s leadership.
Congrats to the high school Class of 2020, as well as to the teachers, coaches, and most of all, parents and family who’ve guided you along the way. Thanks for letting me be part of your big day! pic.twitter.com/RjYvHs2BhC — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 17, 2020
Until recently, Obama has largely refrained from publicly taking shots at Trump. But earlier this month, Obama reportedly bashed the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic as “an absolute chaotic disaster” during a phone call with some of his former White House aides.
Trump, however, repeatedly attacked Obama throughout his eight years in office, and has continued to do so since winning the 2016 election. Most recently, Trump has been obsessed with pushing the “Obamagate” conspiracy theory, claiming — without evidence — that Obama led a “coup” to sabotage his presidency.
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When a Washington Post reporter last week asked Trump to explain “Obamagate,” the president refused.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--Gov. Andrew Cuomo Gets Tested For Coronavirus During Live Briefing

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) wants more New Yorkers to get tested for COVID-19 ― and in an effort to encourage them , he got tested during a nationally televised press briefing on Sunday .
A doctor dressed in full personal protective equipment administered a nasal swab diagnostic test for coronavirus on the governor , a process that took less than 15 seconds .
“ That is the whole test , ” Cuomo said before resuming the news conference .
“ I ’ m not in pain ; I ’ m not in discomfort .
Closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no reason why you should not get the test.
” The state has dramatically ramped up testing capacity to reach 40,000 tests per day , with more than 700 testing sites across New York , the governor ’ s office said in a statement .
However , Cuomo noted that some of this expanded testing capacity is going unused .
While he said he understood that some might harbor reluctance to seek testing , Cuomo tried to demonstrate that “ there is nothing about this test that should intimidate people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is so fast and so easy that even a governor can take this test , ” he said .
The governor also announced broader criteria that would allow more people to qualify for testing , a cornerstone of the state ’ s effort to contain the spread of the virus as businesses resume .
As regions in upstate New York move to Phase 1 of the state ’ s reopening plan , anyone who works in an industry that will return to work can now be tested , as well as anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also expanded to include anyone exposed to someone infected with the virus , essential and healthcare workers , and those subject to precautionary or mandatory quarantines .

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) wants more New Yorkers to get tested for COVID-19 ― and in an effort to encourage them, he got tested during a nationally televised press briefing on Sunday.
A doctor dressed in full personal protective equipment administered a nasal swab diagnostic test for coronavirus on the governor, a process that took less than 15 seconds.
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“That is the whole test,” Cuomo said before resuming the news conference. “I’m not in pain; I’m not in discomfort. Closing my eyes was a moment of relaxation. There is no reason why you should not get the test.”
The state has dramatically ramped up testing capacity to reach 40,000 tests per day, with more than 700 testing sites across New York, the governor’s office said in a statement. However, Cuomo noted that some of this expanded testing capacity is going unused.
It’s quick, easy and painless. If I have time, you do too. pic.twitter.com/0ANntppYVK — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 17, 2020
While he said he understood that some might harbor reluctance to seek testing, Cuomo tried to demonstrate that “there is nothing about this test that should intimidate people from not taking this test.”
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“It is so fast and so easy that even a governor can take this test,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--HHS Chief Alex Azar: Defying Social Distancing Guidelines Part Of American ‘Freedom’

Alex Azar , the U.S. secretary of health and human services , on Sunday stopped short of condemning Americans who flout the federal government ’ s social distancing guidelines , claiming such actions are “ part of the freedom ” in the United States .
During CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” host Jake Tapper asked Azar if he ’ s concerned by photos of people without masks crowding together in large groups in some states that have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions .
″I think , in any individual instance , you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irresponsible , ” Azar said .
“ That ’ s part of the freedom that we have here in America.
” He said the federal government can give guidance , but that it ’ s the responsibility of local leaders and people who live in areas where there ’ s an “ ongoing spread ” of the virus to know what “ steps ” they should take .
“ But we have got to get this economy and our people out and about , working , going to school again , because there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been going through , ” Azar added .
`` In any individual instance you 're going to see people doing things that are irresponsible , that 's part of the freedom we have here in America . ''
HHS Secretary Alex Azar reacts to some Americans not following federal guidance to wear a mask and social distance # CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/JtHU1SkPg9 — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) May 17 , 2020 At least 48 states will have eased coronavirus restrictions in some form by Monday .
While some governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , are allowing a sweeping return to work and other activities for many .
Photos taken in some states that have eased restrictions show crowded bars , beaches and restaurants , leading some medical experts to worry about a potential surge in coronavirus cases .
Azar said Sunday that “ the president has left it up to states to know their local situation the best.
” “ It ’ s very hard to judge in any community whether a bar being open , a restaurant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Azar said .
“ There should not be one-size-fits-all approaches to reopening .
But reopen we must , because it ’ s not health vs. the economy .
It ’ s actually health vs. health.
” Trump last month announced a three-phase set of guidelines for reopening parts of the country , which requires local officials to confirm a two-week downward trend of new coronavirus cases and adequate hospital and testing capacity .
But the president has since contradicted his own recommendations , urging some Democratic-led states to reopen despite not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as outlined in his own guidelines .
Trump has also encouraged protests of governors ’ stay-at-home orders , including those in Michigan , where demonstrators crammed into the state capital building without masks .
Some were armed and held up racist signs .
“ These are very good people , but they are angry , ” the president tweeted .
“ They want their lives back again , safely !
” “ If they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a comorbid condition , and they have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will feel guilty for the rest of our lives , ” she told Fox News .

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Alex Azar, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, on Sunday stopped short of condemning Americans who flout the federal government’s social distancing guidelines, claiming such actions are “part of the freedom” in the United States.
During CNN’s “State of the Union,” host Jake Tapper asked Azar if he’s concerned by photos of people without masks crowding together in large groups in some states that have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions.
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″I think, in any individual instance, you’re going to see people doing things that are irresponsible,” Azar said. “That’s part of the freedom that we have here in America.”
He said the federal government can give guidance, but that it’s the responsibility of local leaders and people who live in areas where there’s an “ongoing spread” of the virus to know what “steps” they should take.
“But we have got to get this economy and our people out and about, working, going to school again, because there are serious health consequences to what we’ve been going through,” Azar added.
"In any individual instance you're going to see people doing things that are irresponsible, that's part of the freedom we have here in America." HHS Secretary Alex Azar reacts to some Americans not following federal guidance to wear a mask and social distance #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/JtHU1SkPg9 — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 17, 2020
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At least 48 states will have eased coronavirus restrictions in some form by Monday. While some governors are making slow changes, others, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, are allowing a sweeping return to work and other activities for many.
Photos taken in some states that have eased restrictions show crowded bars, beaches and restaurants, leading some medical experts to worry about a potential surge in coronavirus cases.
Azar said Sunday that “the president has left it up to states to know their local situation the best.”
“It’s very hard to judge in any community whether a bar being open, a restaurant, a school, is the right thing,” Azar said. “There should not be one-size-fits-all approaches to reopening. But reopen we must, because it’s not health vs. the economy. It’s actually health vs. health.”
Trump last month announced a three-phase set of guidelines for reopening parts of the country, which requires local officials to confirm a two-week downward trend of new coronavirus cases and adequate hospital and testing capacity.
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But the president has since contradicted his own recommendations, urging some Democratic-led states to reopen despite not having met the criteria for doing so as outlined in his own guidelines.
Trump has also encouraged protests of governors’ stay-at-home orders, including those in Michigan, where demonstrators crammed into the state capital building without masks. Some were armed and held up racist signs.
“These are very good people, but they are angry,” the president tweeted. “They want their lives back again, safely!”
Dr. Deborah Birx, an infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, called the Michigan protest “devastatingly worrisome,” citing the lack of masks and social distancing.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-17--Nancy Pelosi: Trump's Firing Of State Department Inspector General 'Could Be Unlawful'

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - President Donald Trump ’ s firing of the State Department ’ s top internal watchdog “ could be unlawful ” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday .
Trump late Friday ousted Inspector General Steve Linick , the fourth inspector general he has fired since early April , following his February acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate in his impeachment trial .
“ The president has the right to fire any federal employee , but the fact is if it looks like it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IG , the inspector general , is doing , that could be unlawful , ” Pelosi said on CBS ’ s “ Face The Nation.
” The top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Saturday began a probe into the firing , saying it was their understanding that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally recommended Linick ’ s sacking because the inspector general “ had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself.
” White House adviser Peter Navarro , meanwhile , downplayed the firing , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” has caused problems and those who are not loyal must go .
“ We ’ ve had tremendous problems with , you know , some people call it the ‘ Deep State.
’ I think that ’ s apt .
So I don ’ t mourn the loss , ” Navarro , the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy , said in an interview on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ There ’ s a bureaucracy out there .
And there ’ s a lot of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got elected president and not Donald J. Trump.
” Trump and his allies have long pushed conspiracy theories that target what they denounce as the “ deep state , ” career civil servants meant to be nonpolitical who , they say , are working to undermine Trump .
Navarro ’ s comments are likely to further inflame tensions with Democrats who have sounded alarms over what they call an escalating pattern by Trump of firing watchdogs whom he views as a threat to his presidency .
He also notified Congress that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence community , Michael Atkinson , who was involved in triggering the impeachment investigation .
Then earlier this month , Trump ousted Christi Grimm , who led the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General , after accusing her of having produced a “ fake dossier ” on American hospitals suffering shortages on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak .
Experts say the pattern threatens the independent oversight function that inspectors general provide , particularly if watchdogs feel pressure to do the president ’ s political bidding or risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself is now “ weakening to the point of ineffectiveness , ” said Dan Meyer , the executive director of Intelligence Community Whistleblowing and Source Protection .
In an interview on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson said he felt “ not all inspector generals are created equal ” and noted they “ serve at the pleasure of the president .
”

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s firing of the State Department’s top internal watchdog “could be unlawful” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday.
Trump late Friday ousted Inspector General Steve Linick, the fourth inspector general he has fired since early April, following his February acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate in his impeachment trial.
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President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of White House in Washington, Sunday, May 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ASSOCIATED PRESS
“The president has the right to fire any federal employee, but the fact is if it looks like it’s in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general, is doing, that could be unlawful,” Pelosi said on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”
IG FIRING: @SpeakerPelosi tells @margbrennan the Trump administration's firing of Steve Linick, a @StateDept Inspector General was "typical of the White House, announcing something that is very unsavory" late Friday night. https://t.co/JSj6u540vV pic.twitter.com/0scPsGBoTq — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 17, 2020
The top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Saturday began a probe into the firing, saying it was their understanding that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally recommended Linick’s sacking because the inspector general “had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself.”
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A State Department spokesperson confirmed Linick had been fired but did not comment on Pompeo’s role in the dismissal.
White House adviser Peter Navarro, meanwhile, downplayed the firing, saying that what Trump terms the “deep state” has caused problems and those who are not loyal must go.
“We’ve had tremendous problems with, you know, some people call it the ‘Deep State.’ I think that’s apt. So I don’t mourn the loss,” Navarro, the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”
“There’s a bureaucracy out there. And there’s a lot of people in that bureaucracy who think that they got elected president and not Donald J. Trump.”
Navarro did not offer any evidence to back up his claim.
“I support whatever this president does in terms of his hiring and firing decisions,” Navarro tells @GStephanopoulos when asked about firing of State Dept. Inspector General Steve Linick — the latest senior U.S. official involved in the impeachment probe. https://t.co/tar96zWubI pic.twitter.com/iTrUjmMJrV — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 17, 2020
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Trump and his allies have long pushed conspiracy theories that target what they denounce as the “deep state,” career civil servants meant to be nonpolitical who, they say, are working to undermine Trump.
Navarro’s comments are likely to further inflame tensions with Democrats who have sounded alarms over what they call an escalating pattern by Trump of firing watchdogs whom he views as a threat to his presidency.
In April, Trump removed a top coronavirus watchdog, Glenn Fine, who was to oversee the government’s financial relief response to the pandemic.
He also notified Congress that he was firing the inspector general of the U.S. intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, who was involved in triggering the impeachment investigation.
After Atkinson’s firing, a bipartisan group of senators, including Republicans Charles Grassley, Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, called on Trump to provide a detailed written explanation for his decision.
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Then earlier this month, Trump ousted Christi Grimm, who led the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, after accusing her of having produced a “fake dossier” on American hospitals suffering shortages on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.
Experts say the pattern threatens the independent oversight function that inspectors general provide, particularly if watchdogs feel pressure to do the president’s political bidding or risk being fired for refusing.
The system itself is now “weakening to the point of ineffectiveness,” said Dan Meyer, the executive director of Intelligence Community Whistleblowing and Source Protection.
Some Republicans in Congress have rushed to defend Trump’s decision to oust Linick.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson said he felt “not all inspector generals are created equal” and noted they “serve at the pleasure of the president.”
"We rely on an awful lot of their work," Republican Sen. Ron Johnson says of inspectors general. "I think their Independence needs to remain within their agencies ... In the end they serve at the pleasure of the President and he's got the authority to hire and terminate" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/hnYJzxWvIX — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 17, 2020
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