talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-21--Behind The Dumb Meme That Disability Law Exempts You From Wearing A Mask At Costco

A long shot Republican congressional candidate was sick of “ the people ’ s republic of Illinois.
” A flat-earther at a California supermarket threw a fit at the entrance , threatening a lawsuit .
A pal of the anti-government extremist Ammon Bundy ’ s in Idaho excitedly told supporters , “ You don ’ t have to wear a facemask to Costco ( or anywhere else for that matter ) .
” The trio were part of a small but vocal movement of Americans who just can ’ t abide rules requiring masks in order to slow the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings , some anti-maskers have attempted to cite federal law to circumvent the rules .
As discontent with mask requirements spreads online , protesters have found solace in an odd little print-out that claims the Americans with Disabilities Act and HIPAA , the medical privacy law , shield them from their local grocery store ’ s mask rule .
Legal experts tell TPM the flier is ridiculous .
After surfacing in early May , the flier ’ s dubious legal advice has spread throughout the country on social media networks like Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually , into real life confrontations .
“ I have a medical condition that I ’ m not allowed to wear a mask , and I ’ m not required by HIPAA rules and regulations to disclose that , ” the would-be Gelson ’ s shopper Shelley Lewis — who internet sleuths later uncovered is a prominent flat earth activist — told a store manager earlier this month .
The Gelson ’ s manager resisted , suggesting instead that he could do her shopping for her .
Lewis refused — and posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day of internet infamy .
“ It ’ s just a blatant violation of our civil rights , ” Marter , the Illinois congressional candidate , told TPM Tuesday of the mask rules .
“ No question about it.
” “ You ’ re denying entry to someone that ’ s come in from the public to a public place to buy things , and it may be a private business , but you ’ re denying it based on an unconstitutional order from the governor , ” Marter said separately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights violation.
” The flier , indeed , encourages skeptics to call the Justice Department ’ s ADA Information Line .
The only problem , ADA experts told TPM , is that the law essentially says the exact opposite of what the protesters claim it does .
“ There is no way , in my opinion , to win this lawsuit , ” said Marc Dubin , a former Justice Department trial attorney and now a consultant and expert witness on the ADA .
“ Even if you are a person with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to court , a store would be found to be within their rights to require people to wear masks , ” said Andrew Imparato , executive director of Disability Rights California , a non-profit that represents people with disabilities in court .
The legal reasoning is pretty straightforward : COVID-19 can spread even without symptoms , and masks mitigate that risk .
Yes , there are disabilities that preclude people from wearing masks — severe facial burns , for example , or breathing problems — but businesses aren ’ t obligated to endanger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make accommodations , such as curbside pickup , for those unable to wear a mask .
The law makes exceptions for “ legitimate concerns , such as the need to avoid exposing others to significant health and safety risks.
” “ Businesses have a right to keep their customers and employees safe , ” said Dubin , who was one of the first attorneys hired by the DOJ ’ s Disability Rights Section in the early ‘ 90s .
“ They should be citing the ADA as the reason to keep [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mandate to let them in.
” But a lack of legal expertise hasn ’ t stopped protesters before , and — as observers like the @ BadLegalTakes Twitter account have tirelessly documented — that ’ s certainly true in this case .
Despite the fact that the American public , and even Republican voters , overwhelmingly tell pollsters that wearing masks is a matter of public health rather than personal choice , a vocal minority refuses to play by the rules .
Earlier this month , an email from the anti-mask crusader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters , “ You Don ’ t Have to Wear a Face Mask to Costco.
” “ God Bless the FREE MARKET because people are always coming up with genius ways to circumvent stupidity , ” he wrote , next to a link to the bunk ADA flier .
Rodriguez wrote that he ’ d gotten a copy of the image from a friend .
“ If EVERYONE used this form , Costco would be shamed into realizing their own stupidity and the futility of their effort , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense is that people are getting this on social media from right-wing sources and printing them out on their home computers and taking them with them , ” said Imparato , of Disability Rights California .
“ I don ’ t think they ’ re particularly worried about disability discrimination , they ’ re just trying to use this as a way to intimidate businesses to let them not wear a mask.
” Marter , the congressional candidate , granted to TPM that there are “ attorneys that know better than I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
But he stood by sharing the flier on his Facebook page .
“ We ’ re not getting into the counterarguments against it , ” he said .
“ We ’ re just sharing out some information we found useful that seemed to be , let ’ s say , above-the-board and passed the smell test of being true .
”

A long shot Republican congressional candidate was sick of “the people’s republic of Illinois.”
A flat-earther at a California supermarket threw a fit at the entrance, threatening a lawsuit.
A pal of the anti-government extremist Ammon Bundy’s in Idaho excitedly told supporters, “You don’t have to wear a facemask to Costco (or anywhere else for that matter).”
“Have fun shopping!” he advised.
The trio were part of a small but vocal movement of Americans who just can’t abide rules requiring masks in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Rather than donning the face coverings, some anti-maskers have attempted to cite federal law to circumvent the rules. As discontent with mask requirements spreads online, protesters have found solace in an odd little print-out that claims the Americans with Disabilities Act and HIPAA, the medical privacy law, shield them from their local grocery store’s mask rule.
Legal experts tell TPM the flier is ridiculous.
After surfacing in early May, the flier’s dubious legal advice has spread throughout the country on social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and iFunny — and, eventually, into real life confrontations.
“I have a medical condition that I’m not allowed to wear a mask, and I’m not required by HIPAA rules and regulations to disclose that,” the would-be Gelson’s shopper Shelley Lewis — who internet sleuths later uncovered is a prominent flat earth activist — told a store manager earlier this month.
The Gelson’s manager resisted, suggesting instead that he could do her shopping for her. Lewis refused — and posted a video of the encounter that earned her a day of internet infamy.
“It’s just a blatant violation of our civil rights,” James Marter, the Illinois congressional candidate, told TPM Tuesday of the mask rules. “No question about it.”
“You’re denying entry to someone that’s come in from the public to a public place to buy things, and it may be a private business, but you’re denying it based on an unconstitutional order from the governor,” Marter said separately. “I’d call that a civil rights violation.”
The flier, indeed, encourages skeptics to call the Justice Department’s ADA Information Line.
The only problem, ADA experts told TPM, is that the law essentially says the exact opposite of what the protesters claim it does.
“There is no way, in my opinion, to win this lawsuit,” said Marc Dubin, a former Justice Department trial attorney and now a consultant and expert witness on the ADA. “Even if you are a person with a disability.”
“If this went to court, a store would be found to be within their rights to require people to wear masks,” said Andrew Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, a non-profit that represents people with disabilities in court.
The legal reasoning is pretty straightforward: COVID-19 can spread even without symptoms, and masks mitigate that risk. Yes, there are disabilities that preclude people from wearing masks — severe facial burns, for example, or breathing problems — but businesses aren’t obligated to endanger shoppers in response. Rather, they can make accommodations, such as curbside pickup, for those unable to wear a mask.
The law makes exceptions for “legitimate concerns, such as the need to avoid exposing others to significant health and safety risks.”
“Businesses have a right to keep their customers and employees safe,” said Dubin, who was one of the first attorneys hired by the DOJ’s Disability Rights Section in the early ‘90s. “They should be citing the ADA as the reason to keep [mask protesters] out, not as a mandate to let them in.”
But a lack of legal expertise hasn’t stopped protesters before, and — as observers like the @BadLegalTakes Twitter account have tirelessly documented — that’s certainly true in this case.
Despite the fact that the American public, and even Republican voters, overwhelmingly tell pollsters that wearing masks is a matter of public health rather than personal choice, a vocal minority refuses to play by the rules.
Earlier this month, an email from the anti-mask crusader and Ammon Bundy associate Diego Rodriguez informed supporters, “You Don’t Have to Wear a Face Mask to Costco.”
“God Bless the FREE MARKET because people are always coming up with genius ways to circumvent stupidity,” he wrote, next to a link to the bunk ADA flier.
Rodriguez wrote that he’d gotten a copy of the image from a friend. “If EVERYONE used this form, Costco would be shamed into realizing their own stupidity and the futility of their effort,” he said. “Have fun shopping!”
“My sense is that people are getting this on social media from right-wing sources and printing them out on their home computers and taking them with them,” said Imparato, of Disability Rights California.
“I don’t think they’re particularly worried about disability discrimination, they’re just trying to use this as a way to intimidate businesses to let them not wear a mask.”
Marter, the congressional candidate, granted to TPM that there are “attorneys that know better than I do” what the ADA requires of private businesses.
But he stood by sharing the flier on his Facebook page.
“We’re not getting into the counterarguments against it,” he said. “We’re just sharing out some information we found useful that seemed to be, let’s say, above-the-board and passed the smell test of being true.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-21--Why The White House Shouldn’t Cite Jimmy Carter In Voter Fraud Claims

To undergird President Donald Trump ’ s Wednesday tweet storm about punishing states that expand voting by mail , the White House cited a report produced in 2005 by a commission co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter .
“ There was a 2005 commission by none other than President Carter , who is not a member of the Republican Party , and also by James Baker about this , concluding that these ballots ‘ remain the largest source of potential voter fraud ’ , ” said Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany at a Wednesday press conference .
“ So this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to look at this.
” But , the Commission on Federal Election Reform ’ s findings were more complex than McEnany presents .
The Commission found that the potential for vote by mail fraud increases when security measures are weak , and when candidates or party activists are given access to the ballots .
But the report ’ s authors specifically advise that states not discourage get-out-the vote efforts for those that can legally vote by mail .
Soyia Ellison , spokeswoman for the Carter Center , told TPM that McEnany took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commission ’ s main recommendations on vote-by-mail and absentee voting were to increase research on vote-by-mail ( and early voting ) and to eliminate the practice of allowing candidates or party workers to pick up and deliver absentee ballots , ” the Carter Center said in a statement .
And since 2005 , as states gained more experience with voting by mail , those concerns have lessened , it added .
Recently , Carter has come out as a vocal proponent for states expanding their vote by mail apparatuses as the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious health risk .
“ I urge political leaders across the country to take immediate steps to expand vote-by-mail and other measures that can help protect the core of American democracy – the right of our citizens to vote , ” the former President said in a statement this month .
Trump , often joined by his Republican allies , has become a strong vote-by-mail antagonist , despite recently casting an absentee ballot himself .
He frequently alleges that the method will encourage widespread voter fraud , which experts dispute , and candidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting help Democrats .
Some states are struggling to ramp up their vote-by-mail systems before the November elections , as many are expected to vote remotely amid the pandemic .
In Wisconsin , for example , the state elections commission warned in a recent report that if absentee voting patterns follow those set in their early April election , the surge in volume would “ present terrific challenges for Wisconsin election officials at all levels .
”

To undergird President Donald Trump’s Wednesday tweet storm about punishing states that expand voting by mail, the White House cited a report produced in 2005 by a commission co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter.
“There was a 2005 commission by none other than President Carter, who is not a member of the Republican Party, and also by James Baker about this, concluding that these ballots ‘remain the largest source of potential voter fraud’,” said Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany at a Wednesday press conference. “So this is a concern, the President’s right to look at this.”
But, the Commission on Federal Election Reform’s findings were more complex than McEnany presents.
The Commission found that the potential for vote by mail fraud increases when security measures are weak, and when candidates or party activists are given access to the ballots.
But the report’s authors specifically advise that states not discourage get-out-the vote efforts for those that can legally vote by mail.
Soyia Ellison, spokeswoman for the Carter Center, told TPM that McEnany took the line out of context.
“The commission’s main recommendations on vote-by-mail and absentee voting were to increase research on vote-by-mail (and early voting) and to eliminate the practice of allowing candidates or party workers to pick up and deliver absentee ballots,” the Carter Center said in a statement.
And since 2005, as states gained more experience with voting by mail, those concerns have lessened, it added.
Recently, Carter has come out as a vocal proponent for states expanding their vote by mail apparatuses as the coronavirus pandemic makes traditional, in-person voting a serious health risk.
“I urge political leaders across the country to take immediate steps to expand vote-by-mail and other measures that can help protect the core of American democracy – the right of our citizens to vote,” the former President said in a statement this month.
Trump, often joined by his Republican allies, has become a strong vote-by-mail antagonist, despite recently casting an absentee ballot himself. He frequently alleges that the method will encourage widespread voter fraud, which experts dispute, and candidly voices his belief that expanded opportunities for voting help Democrats.
Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to state wide mail-in voting. Democrats are clamoring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason, doesn’t work out well for Republicans. @foxandfriends — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020
Some states are struggling to ramp up their vote-by-mail systems before the November elections, as many are expected to vote remotely amid the pandemic. In Wisconsin, for example, the state elections commission warned in a recent report that if absentee voting patterns follow those set in their early April election, the surge in volume would “present terrific challenges for Wisconsin election officials at all levels.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-21--House Dems Call For State IG’s Reinstatement, Demand More Pompeo Docs

Leading House Democrats demanded Thursday that fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick be reinstated , and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo turn over a tranche of new documents related to the firing .
In a letter to Pompeo , the Democrats promised a thorough examination by Congress of whether Pompeo had recommended Linick be fired by President Donald Trump due to investigations into the secretary of state ’ s own conduct .
They pointed to some of the most problematic aspects of Linick ’ s firing , including new reports about Pompeo ’ s alleged misdeeds and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest .
There has been a steady drip of reporting since Linick ’ s firing about Pompeo ’ s possible misuse of State Department funds and personnel .
One report that the chairpeople highlighted in their letter detailed how Pompeo was known to host lavish dinners for corporate bigwigs , conservative media stars and various Republican lawmakers in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms on the government ’ s dime .
“ State Department regulations prohibit the use of Diplomatic Reception Rooms for functions ‘ that have a partisan , political , sectarian , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ functions ‘ of a personal nature , such as private parties or other social events which are not affiliated with , or in support of , official U.S. Government business ’ , ” the committee chairs wrote , citing the Foreign Affairs Manuel .
Another facet of the firing that the committee chairs emphasize is Linick ’ s replacement , Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Stephen Akard .
Akard has worked for Vice President Mike Pence , and has too little experience in investigatory work or law enforcement , the chairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role at the Office of Foreign Missions while filling the acting IG role — meaning that he is simultaneously supposed to be doing oversight of the Department , and Pompeo specifically , while answering to him in another role , the chairpeople highlighted .
“ This environment could severely chill whistleblower disclosures to the Office of Inspector General because whistleblowers might fear that their identity could become known to an official still reporting to you , ” they wrote .
They recommend that if Ackard does remain in the acting role , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Foreign Missions and recuse himself from any cases involving that office or that of the Secretary .
On a final note , the chairs threaten legislative reforms to address Linick ’ s firing along with Trump ’ s broader axing of other inspectors general , and demand that Pompeo turn over a slew of documents .
Incorporating the new reporting , their document requests include guest manifests and invoices for the glitzy so-called “ Madison Dinners , ” along with previously requested information about Linick and Ackard .
The information is due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-NY ) , chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform , Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-NY ) , chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , Rep. Gerald Connolly ( D-VA ) , chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Rep. Joaquin Castro ( D-TX ) , chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations .
Both Pompeo and Trump have confirmed that Linick was ousted on Pompeo ’ s recommendation .
Pompeo said Wednesday that he should have done it a “ long time ago.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the firing was not retaliation for Linick ’ s investigatory efforts , stating that he didn ’ t know what they were .
On Wednesday , though , he admitted that he had answered written questions for at least one such investigation .
The New York Times reported that the investigation in question concerned Trump ’ s emergency declaration to allow Pompeo to circumvent Congress and approve billions in arms deals to Saudi Arabia .

Leading House Democrats demanded Thursday that fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick be reinstated, and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo turn over a tranche of new documents related to the firing.
In a letter to Pompeo, the Democrats promised a thorough examination by Congress of whether Pompeo had recommended Linick be fired by President Donald Trump due to investigations into the secretary of state’s own conduct.
They pointed to some of the most problematic aspects of Linick’s firing, including new reports about Pompeo’s alleged misdeeds and a replacement IG seemingly ensnared in conflicts of interest.
There has been a steady drip of reporting since Linick’s firing about Pompeo’s possible misuse of State Department funds and personnel. One report that the chairpeople highlighted in their letter detailed how Pompeo was known to host lavish dinners for corporate bigwigs, conservative media stars and various Republican lawmakers in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms on the government’s dime.
“State Department regulations prohibit the use of Diplomatic Reception Rooms for
functions ‘that have a partisan, political, sectarian, or similar nature or purpose’ or for functions ‘of a personal nature, such as private parties or other social events which are not affiliated with, or in support of, official U.S. Government business’,” the committee chairs wrote, citing the Foreign Affairs Manuel.
Another facet of the firing that the committee chairs emphasize is Linick’s replacement, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Stephen Akard. Akard has worked for Vice President Mike Pence, and has too little experience in investigatory work or law enforcement, the chairs wrote.
Ackard is also currently maintaining his role at the Office of Foreign Missions while filling the acting IG role — meaning that he is simultaneously supposed to be doing oversight of the Department, and Pompeo specifically, while answering to him in another role, the chairpeople highlighted.
“This environment could severely chill whistleblower disclosures to the Office of Inspector General because whistleblowers might fear that their identity could become known to an official still reporting to you,” they wrote.
They recommend that if Ackard does remain in the acting role, he ought to resign from the Office of Foreign Missions and recuse himself from any cases involving that office or that of the Secretary.
On a final note, the chairs threaten legislative reforms to address Linick’s firing along with Trump’s broader axing of other inspectors general, and demand that Pompeo turn over a slew of documents.
Incorporating the new reporting, their document requests include guest manifests and invoices for the glitzy so-called “Madison Dinners,” along with previously requested information about Linick and Ackard. The information is due June 4.
The letter was signed by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA), chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Both Pompeo and Trump have confirmed that Linick was ousted on Pompeo’s recommendation. Pompeo said Wednesday that he should have done it a “long time ago.”
However, Pompeo has repeatedly claimed that the firing was not retaliation for Linick’s investigatory efforts, stating that he didn’t know what they were.
On Wednesday, though, he admitted that he had answered written questions for at least one such investigation. The New York Times reported that the investigation in question concerned Trump’s emergency declaration to allow Pompeo to circumvent Congress and approve billions in arms deals to Saudi Arabia.
Read the letter here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--ICYMI: Weekend Reads From TPM

ICYMI: Weekend Reads From TPM

The TPM Journalism Fund : A New Way To Support TPM We 're launching the TPM Journalism Fund as an @ @ @ @ @ members to support TPM .
Every dollar contributed goes toward : • -Providing free memberships @ @ @ @ @ afford them

The California State Bar is arguing that recent criminal charges against John Eastman in Fulton County, Georgia should not prevent…


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--An Early Glimpse Of The Legal Battle Over DOJ Suddenly Going Soft On Mike Flynn

The battle lines are beginning to take shape in the extraordinary fight over what should come next in Michael Flynn ’ s case .
Flynn ’ s judge has held off on granting the Justice Department ’ s request to drop the case , prompting Flynn ’ s attorneys to go to an appeals court for an intervention .
Now two competing groups of outsiders want to offer the appeals court their own takes on what Flynn ’ s judge should and shouldn ’ t do at this point in time .
The increasingly messy and convoluted situation is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastic reversal in the case .
The reversal came after the Justice Department spent months rebutting Flynn ’ s allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and defending the plea deal special counsel Robert Mueller entered into with him in December 2017 .
In an unprecedented move , the Justice Department earlier this month asked Flynn ’ s judge , U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan , to dismiss its prosecution of Flynn .
It claimed it had found new evidence that suggested Flynn shouldn ’ t have been prosecuted .
Usually such requests are granted expeditiously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarkable way Flynn ’ s case has unfolded — which included Flynn in December 2018 reaffirming his guilty plea to Sullivan under oath — Sullivan isn ’ t granting the DOJ request just yet .
Instead , he ’ s asked a former judge and ex-mafia prosecutor to file “ friend-of-the-court ” briefs opposing the DOJ dismissal request .
Flynn ’ s lawyers have brought their issues with Sullivan ’ s approach to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit , which on Thursday ordered Sullivan to respond to Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get involved .
On Friday , a group of red states and a collection of former Watergate prosecutors each asked the appeals court if they could file their own “ friend of the court ” takes on whether Sullivan is handling the case appropriately .
The red states say he ’ s not , accusing him of “ assuming the role of a prosecutor ” in a way that “ evinces a total lack of regard for the role that the separation of powers plays in our system.
” The former Watergate prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the Justice Department that should be viewed skeptically , given the “ several mischaracterizations of the relevant facts and the governing law ” in its request that Flynn ’ s case be dropped .
They stressed that since Justice Department is trying to get the case dismissed after the court had already accepted the plea , Sullivan has “ substantial discretion ” in how it handles the request that the case be dropped .
The appeals court , which is made up of two GOP-appointees and a Dem-appointee , hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views of the two groups .
It ’ s asked Sullivan to file his response to Flynn ’ s petition by the week after next .
Read the two briefs offered by the outside groups below : Correction : A previous version of this story incorrectly said that the Justice Department sought to dismiss Flynn ’ s case late last month .
The request was filed on May 7 .

The battle lines are beginning to take shape in the extraordinary fight over what should come next in Michael Flynn’s case.
Flynn’s judge has held off on granting the Justice Department’s request to drop the case, prompting Flynn’s attorneys to go to an appeals court for an intervention.
Now two competing groups of outsiders want to offer the appeals court their own takes on what Flynn’s judge should and shouldn’t do at this point in time.
The increasingly messy and convoluted situation is the result of the Justice Department’s drastic reversal in the case. The reversal came after the Justice Department spent months rebutting Flynn’s allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and defending the plea deal special counsel Robert Mueller entered into with him in December 2017.
In an unprecedented move, the Justice Department earlier this month asked Flynn’s judge, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, to dismiss its prosecution of Flynn. It claimed it had found new evidence that suggested Flynn shouldn’t have been prosecuted.
Usually such requests are granted expeditiously and without drama.
But given the remarkable way Flynn’s case has unfolded — which included Flynn in December 2018 reaffirming his guilty plea to Sullivan under oath — Sullivan isn’t granting the DOJ request just yet. Instead, he’s asked a former judge and ex-mafia prosecutor to file “friend-of-the-court” briefs opposing the DOJ dismissal request.
Flynn’s lawyers have brought their issues with Sullivan’s approach to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which on Thursday ordered Sullivan to respond to Flynn’s request that the appeals court get involved.
On Friday, a group of red states and a collection of former Watergate prosecutors each asked the appeals court if they could file their own “friend of the court” takes on whether Sullivan is handling the case appropriately.
The red states say he’s not, accusing him of “assuming the role of a prosecutor” in a way that “evinces a total lack of regard for the role that the separation of powers plays in our system.”
The former Watergate prosecutors, meanwhile, argued that it’s the Justice Department that should be viewed skeptically, given the “several mischaracterizations of the
relevant facts and the governing law” in its request that Flynn’s case be dropped.
They stressed that since Justice Department is trying to get the case dismissed after the court had already accepted the plea, Sullivan has “substantial discretion” in how it handles the request that the case be dropped.
The appeals court, which is made up of two GOP-appointees and a Dem-appointee, hasn’t said yet whether it will consider the views of the two groups. It’s asked Sullivan to file his response to Flynn’s petition by the week after next.
Read the two briefs offered by the outside groups below:
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said that the Justice Department sought to dismiss Flynn’s case late last month. The request was filed on May 7.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--FBI Director Orders Internal Review Of Michael Flynn Investigation

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — FBI Director Christopher Wray has ordered an internal review into possible misconduct in the investigation of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn , the bureau said Friday .
The review will examine whether any employees engaged in misconduct during the course of the investigation and evaluate whether any improvements in FBI policies and procedures need to be made .
The move adds to internal Justice Department scrutiny over a case that was one of the signature prosecutions of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
Federal prosecutors moved earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period , but the Justice Department says its own review of the case determined that there was an insufficient basis for agents to have interviewed Flynn in the first place and that any statements he made to agents were therefore not relevant to the underlying investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump ’ s presidential campaign .
The department ’ s request to dismiss the case is now pending before a federal judge , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FBI said that in addition to its own internal review , it has cooperated with other inquiries assigned by Attorney General William Barr , including investigations into the Flynn case and the origins of the Russia investigation .

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray has ordered an internal review into possible misconduct in the investigation of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn, the bureau said Friday.
The review will examine whether any employees engaged in misconduct during the course of the investigation and evaluate whether any improvements in FBI policies and procedures need to be made.
The move adds to internal Justice Department scrutiny over a case that was one of the signature prosecutions of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Federal prosecutors moved earlier this month to dismiss it altogether.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period, but the Justice Department says its own review of the case determined that there was an insufficient basis for agents to have interviewed Flynn in the first place and that any statements he made to agents were therefore not relevant to the underlying investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The department’s request to dismiss the case is now pending before a federal judge, who has not indicated whether he will grant it.
The FBI said that in addition to its own internal review, it has cooperated with other inquiries assigned by Attorney General William Barr, including investigations into the Flynn case and the origins of the Russia investigation.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--Grassley Says White House Has Promised Him Answer On IG Firings

Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) said Friday that the White House promised him a response to his inquiries about President Donald Trump ’ s firing of inspectors general by Tuesday .
The two letters Grassley referenced called for an explanation of the sacking of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick and Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson .
Grassley issued a milquetoast statement upon the most recent firing , after Trump booted Linick last Friday on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s recommendation .
After referencing Linick ’ s “ shortcomings , ” Grassley said that Congress requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of confidence to justify the removal of an IG .
He followed up with a letter to Trump , similar to one he wrote in early April about Atkinson , requesting a more thorough explanation of the firing .
He said that he has received no “ official response ” to either of the letters .
Trump has been trigger happy with his inspectors general recently , axing five of them this spring alone .
Linick ’ s firing has attracted particular attention , due to its seeming ties to Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know him .
Never heard of him .
But they asked me to terminate him .
I have the absolute right as president to terminate , ” Trump told reporters on Monday .
“ But you would have to ask Mike Pompeo .
But they did ask me to do it , and I did it.
” It has become clear that Linick was investigating allegations about Pompeo on multiple fronts , including an emergency declaration that allowed the secretary of state to circumvent Congress and approve billions in arms sales to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linick ’ s firing was retaliatory , claiming that he was not aware of the probes .
He did admit Wednesday , though , that he had answered written questions for one of them .
The New York Times reported that the investigation in question was into the Saudi arms deal emergency declaration .
The State Department defended his actions surrounding the deal to TPM as legal and “ essential ” to the security of U.S. partners .

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said Friday that the White House promised him a response to his inquiries about President Donald Trump’s firing of inspectors general by Tuesday.
I called White House Counsel ystrdy +had productive conversation abt the need to respond to my inquiries on IG removals as law requires Made ABSOLUTELY CLEAR IGs r important to improve govt +appointees should b apolitical Im told I can expect response to BOTH letters tuesday — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) May 22, 2020
The two letters Grassley referenced called for an explanation of the sacking of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick and Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson.
Grassley issued a milquetoast statement upon the most recent firing, after Trump booted Linick last Friday on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recommendation. After referencing Linick’s “shortcomings,” Grassley said that Congress requires a more detailed rationale than just lack of confidence to justify the removal of an IG.
He followed up with a letter to Trump, similar to one he wrote in early April about Atkinson, requesting a more thorough explanation of the firing. He said that he has received no “official response” to either of the letters.
Trump has been trigger happy with his inspectors general recently, axing five of them this spring alone. Linick’s firing has attracted particular attention, due to its seeming ties to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“I don’t know him. Never heard of him. But they asked me to terminate him. I have the absolute right as president to terminate,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “But you would have to ask Mike Pompeo. But they did ask me to do it, and I did it.”
It has become clear that Linick was investigating allegations about Pompeo on multiple fronts, including an emergency declaration that allowed the secretary of state to circumvent Congress and approve billions in arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Pompeo has denied that Linick’s firing was retaliatory, claiming that he was not aware of the probes. He did admit Wednesday, though, that he had answered written questions for one of them. The New York Times reported that the investigation in question was into the Saudi arms deal emergency declaration.
The State Department defended his actions surrounding the deal to TPM as legal and “essential” to the security of U.S. partners.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--Calls Grow To Release Transcripts Of Flynn’s Contacts With Russian Ambassador

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) joined a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans alike in calling for the release of a transcript report from Michael Flynn ’ s infamous late 2016 conversations with Sergey Kislyak , then the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Schiff requested that transcript report be declassified and publicly released , in a letter Thursday to Richard Grenell , the outgoing acting director of National Intelligence .
Grenell ’ s replacement , Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R-TX ) , was just confirmed .
Schiff is asking Grenell to release the Flynn-Kislyak transcript report to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record free of political manipulation.
” Schiff said Grenell ’ s recent move to release the names of Obama-era officials who sought to “ unmask ” Flynn in other intelligence reports was a “ transparent political act.
” Unmasking is the process by which certain government officials can ask that the names of U.S. persons — whose identities are often concealed in intelligence products — be revealed .
Schiff said Grenell had engaged in “ selective declassification ” and had “ used the authorities of your position to insinuate wrongdoing by officials who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the underlying intelligence reports referenced in Grenell ’ s “ unmasking list ” ( which apparently did not include the Kislyak commnications , because in that summary Flynn ’ s name was never concealed ) be turned over to his committee and publicly released with the appropriate redactions .
Pressure is growing on the Trump administration to release the Kislyak transcripts from both sides of the Flynn debate .
Flynn ’ s defenders believe it will exonerate the former National Security Advisor .
Others believe the transcript will show how inappropriate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new claim that the FBI had no legitimate reason to interview Flynn about the communications .
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the communications , but he and the Justice Department are currently trying to get that prosecution dropped .
The Justice Department previously balked at an order by Flynn ’ s judge last to file the transcript publicly in Flynn ’ s case .
Schiff ’ s demand came on the heels of a similar request from Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner ( D-VA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grassley ( R-IA ) also sent Grenell and Attorney General Bill Barr a letter this month demanding the records , having previously requested them in 2017 .
He said they would help bring “ accountability ” to the “ wrongdoing ” done by the Justice Department by prosecuting Flynn , who entered his guilty plea in December 2017 .
Specifically , Flynn made false statements to the FBI about whether he discussed with Kislyak sanctions that had been imposed by the Obama administration for Russia ’ s election meddling .
Now that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undo special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s prosecution of Flynn , Barr has claimed that the Kislyak conversations were appropriate and even “ laudable.
” Former DOJ officials , however , have described being alarmed by the transcript report , both because it contradicted to what Trump ’ s top aides were telling the public about the conversation and because of the underlying substance of the communications .
Flynn himself told Mueller ’ s office that he left off the sanctions topic in a summary sent to the Trump transition team documenting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words of Mueller ’ s report , he believed “ it could be perceived as getting in the way of the Obama Administration ’ s foreign policy .
”

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans alike in calling for the release of a transcript report from Michael Flynn’s infamous late 2016 conversations with Sergey Kislyak, then the Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Schiff requested that transcript report be declassified and publicly released, in a letter Thursday to Richard Grenell, the outgoing acting director of National Intelligence. Grenell’s replacement, Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), was just confirmed.
Schiff is asking Grenell to release the Flynn-Kislyak transcript report to “ensure a transparent and complete public record free of political manipulation.”
Schiff said Grenell’s recent move to release the names of Obama-era officials who sought to “unmask” Flynn in other intelligence reports was a “transparent political act.”
Unmasking is the process by which certain government officials can ask that the names of U.S. persons — whose identities are often concealed in intelligence products — be revealed.
Schiff said Grenell had engaged in “selective declassification” and had “used the authorities of your position to insinuate wrongdoing by officials who acted appropriately.”
Schiff is also requesting that the underlying intelligence reports referenced in Grenell’s “unmasking list” (which apparently did not include the Kislyak commnications, because in that summary Flynn’s name was never concealed) be turned over to his committee and publicly released with the appropriate redactions.
Pressure is growing on the Trump administration to release the Kislyak transcripts from both sides of the Flynn debate. Flynn’s defenders believe it will exonerate the former National Security Advisor. Others believe the transcript will show how inappropriate the conversation was, undercutting the Justice Department’s new claim that the FBI had no legitimate reason to interview Flynn about the communications.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the communications, but he and the Justice Department are currently trying to get that prosecution dropped. The Justice Department previously balked at an order by Flynn’s judge last to file the transcript publicly in Flynn’s case.
Schiff’s demand came on the heels of a similar request from Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) earlier this week. Senate Judiciary Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also sent Grenell and Attorney General Bill Barr a letter this month demanding the records, having previously requested them in 2017. He said they would help bring “accountability” to the “wrongdoing” done by the Justice Department by prosecuting Flynn, who entered his guilty plea in December 2017.
Specifically, Flynn made false statements to the FBI about whether he discussed with Kislyak sanctions that had been imposed by the Obama administration for Russia’s election meddling.
Now that the Justice Department and Flynn are trying to undo special counsel Robert Mueller’s prosecution of Flynn, Barr has claimed that the Kislyak conversations were appropriate and even “laudable.”
Former DOJ officials, however, have described being alarmed by the transcript report, both because it contradicted to what Trump’s top aides were telling the public about the conversation and because of the underlying substance of the communications.
Flynn himself told Mueller’s office that he left off the sanctions topic in a summary sent to the Trump transition team documenting the late 2016 Kislyak call because, in the words of Mueller’s report, he believed “it could be perceived as getting in the way of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--Biden Jokes Black People ‘Ain’t Black’ If They Can’t Decide Between Him And Trump

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden made an off-color joke during a radio interview on “ The Breakfast Club ” with Charlamagne tha God that aired on Friday while discussing how to earn the black community ’ s support .
“ Listen , you ’ ve got to come see us when you come to New York , VP Biden .
It ’ s a long way until November , ” Charlamagne said after one of Biden ’ s staffers told the host off-camera that the candidate was out of time .
“ We ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got more questions ?
” Biden responded .
“ Well , I tell you what , if you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or [ President Donald ] Trump , then you ain ’ t black.
” “ It don ’ t have nothing to do with Trump , ” Charlamagne replied .
“ It has to do with the fact I want something for my community.
” Biden argued that his record on issues related to the black community was “ second-to-none , ” citing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the endorsements he ’ s received from the NAACP .
“ Anyway , thanks .
I will come back .
I look forward to seeing you in person , ” he told Charlamagne .
Symone Sanders , Biden ’ s senior campaign adviser , tried to clean up the candidate ’ s comments shortly after the interview aired .
“ The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest , ” she tweeted .
“ But let ’ s be clear about what the VP was saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump ’ s any day .
Period.
” The Trump campaign pounced on the remarks .
“ Biden has a history of racial condescension and today he once again proved what a growing number of Black Americans and I have always known : Joe Biden does not deserve our votes , ” Katrina Pierson , a senior adviser for the campaign ’ s “ Black Voices for Trump , ” said in a statement .
Biden later admitted he shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in making the comment , according to PBS News correspondent Yamiche Alcindor .
Throughout his campaign , Biden has leaned heavily on his tenure as President Barack Obama ’ s vice president to boost his relationship with the black community .
It was black voters ’ overwhelming support that carried the former vice president to victory in the South Carolina primary , giving him the much-needed momentum to dominate on Super Tuesday .

Oof.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden made an off-color joke during a radio interview on “The Breakfast Club” with Charlamagne tha God that aired on Friday while discussing how to earn the black community’s support.
“Listen, you’ve got to come see us when you come to New York, VP Biden. It’s a long way until November,” Charlamagne said after one of Biden’s staffers told the host off-camera that the candidate was out of time. “We’ve got more questions.”
“You’ve got more questions?” Biden responded. “Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or [President Donald] Trump, then you ain’t black.”
“It don’t have nothing to do with Trump,” Charlamagne replied. “It has to do with the fact I want something for my community.”
Biden argued that his record on issues related to the black community was “second-to-none,” citing his support for extending the Voting Rights Act and the endorsements he’s received from the NAACP.
“Anyway, thanks. I will come back. I look forward to seeing you in person,” he told Charlamagne.
Symone Sanders, Biden’s senior campaign adviser, tried to clean up the candidate’s comments shortly after the interview aired.
“The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest,” she tweeted. “But let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period.”
The Trump campaign pounced on the remarks.
“Biden has a history of racial condescension and today he once again proved what a growing number of Black Americans and I have always known: Joe Biden does not deserve our votes,” Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser for the campaign’s “Black Voices for Trump,” said in a statement.
Biden later admitted he shouldn’t have been “so cavalier” in making the comment, according to PBS News correspondent Yamiche Alcindor.
NEW: Former VP Joe Biden just dialed into a U.S. Black Chamber call and addressed his remarks to Charlamagne tha God. Biden said, "I shouldn't have been such a wise guy. I shouldn't have been so cavalier…I have never, ever taken the African American community for granted." — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) May 22, 2020
Throughout his campaign, Biden has leaned heavily on his tenure as President Barack Obama’s vice president to boost his relationship with the black community.
It was black voters’ overwhelming support that carried the former vice president to victory in the South Carolina primary, giving him the much-needed momentum to dominate on Super Tuesday.
Watch the exchange below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--State Issues New Defense Of Pompeo Over Saudi Emergency Declaration

In a new defense of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provided to TPM , the State Department called the emergency declaration approving a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia “ essential ” and legal .
The statement comes after reporting this week that Pompeo ’ s involvement in the emergency declaration was among the matters the department ’ s inspector general had been probing before President Trump fired him .
“ As the Secretary has said , The United States is , and must remain , a reliable security partner to our allies and partners around the world , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His May 24 , 2019 , Emergency designation was essential to helping U.S. partners better defend themselves and it reinforced changes to U.S. posture in the region to deter Iran.
” “ The Department met the requirements of the law and followed relevant practice in invoking this emergency authority , and has moved these arms transfers forward , ” the spokesperson added .
Eliot Engel , chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs , told TPM that fired Inspector General Steve Linick was conducting an ongoing investigation into the President ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arms deal .
Trump fired Linick last Friday on Pompeo ’ s recommendation .
The State Department ’ s defense is particularly notable given a Thursday report from CNN detailing Pompeo ’ s push to get State Department officials to find a reason to justify the emergency declaration after he decided to enter into the $ 8 million arms deal last year .
He ultimately got it done by using a provision of the Arms Export Control Act .
At the time , he told the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action was necessary to “ deter further the malign influence of the Government of Iran throughout the Middle East region.
” The move spurred bipartisan denunciations .
It is still unclear to what degree , if any , Linick ’ s investigation into the Saudi Arms deal catalyzed his firing .
Pompeo has repeatedly maintained that the move was not one of retaliation , saying that he didn ’ t know anything about Linick ’ s probes .
He did admit Wednesday , though , that he had answered written questions as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times reported that the investigation in question was the probe into the arms sale .
Linick was also looking into other allegations of Pompeo ’ s misuse of department funds and personnel .
House Democrats from a slew of oversight and foreign policy agencies wrote Pompeo a letter Thursday requesting documents about instances of that possible misuse .
One allegation the committee chairs emphasized centered on Pompeo ’ s reported tendency to throw upscale dinners for the Republican glitterati on the government ’ s dime .
Pompeo has dismissed the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off complaints that he used State Department personnel as errand boys as claims that “ someone was walking my dog to sell arms to my dry cleaner .
”

In a new defense of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provided to TPM, the State Department called the emergency declaration approving a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia “essential” and legal.
The statement comes after reporting this week that Pompeo’s involvement in the emergency declaration was among the matters the department’s inspector general had been probing before President Trump fired him.
“As the Secretary has said, The United States is, and must remain, a reliable security partner to our allies and partners around the world,” a department spokesperson told TPM. “His May 24, 2019, Emergency designation was essential to helping U.S. partners better defend themselves and it reinforced changes to U.S. posture in the region to deter Iran.”
“The Department met the requirements of the law and followed relevant practice in invoking this emergency authority, and has moved these arms transfers forward,” the spokesperson added.
Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, told TPM that fired Inspector General Steve Linick was conducting an ongoing investigation into the President’s emergency declaration that allowed Pompeo to approve the arms deal. Trump fired Linick last Friday on Pompeo’s recommendation.
The State Department’s defense is particularly notable given a Thursday report from CNN detailing Pompeo’s push to get State Department officials to find a reason to justify the emergency declaration after he decided to enter into the $8 million arms deal last year. He ultimately got it done by using a provision of the Arms Export Control Act.
At the time, he told the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in a letter that the rapid action was necessary to “deter further the malign influence of the Government of Iran throughout the Middle East region.” The move spurred bipartisan denunciations.
It is still unclear to what degree, if any, Linick’s investigation into the Saudi Arms deal catalyzed his firing. Pompeo has repeatedly maintained that the move was not one of retaliation, saying that he didn’t know anything about Linick’s probes. He did admit Wednesday, though, that he had answered written questions as part of one of those investigations. The New York Times reported that the investigation in question was the probe into the arms sale.
Linick was also looking into other allegations of Pompeo’s misuse of department funds and personnel. House Democrats from a slew of oversight and foreign policy agencies wrote Pompeo a letter Thursday requesting documents about instances of that possible misuse. One allegation the committee chairs emphasized centered on Pompeo’s reported tendency to throw upscale dinners for the Republican glitterati on the government’s dime.
Pompeo has dismissed the allegations as “crazy stuff,” laughing off complaints that he used State Department personnel as errand boys as claims that “someone was walking my dog to sell arms to my dry cleaner.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--WH Rejects Baltimore Mayor’s Request For Trump To Cancel Visit Amid COVID

The White House on Thursday refused to cancel President Donald Trump ’ s upcoming Memorial Day visit to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore , Maryland , despite Mayor Jack Young ’ s request .
“ The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the President will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our Nation ’ s history , ” White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement .
Earlier in the day , Young had urged Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baltimore ’ s stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ That President Trump is deciding to pursue non-essential travel sends the wrong message to our residents , many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus , ” Young said in a statement .
“ I wish that the President , as our nation ’ s leader , would set a positive example and not travel during this holiday weekend.
” And the implications of Trump ’ s disregard for Baltimore ’ s stay-at-home order aren ’ t the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The President ’ s visit and the level of security detail required comes with a heavy price tag that the city “ simply can ’ t afford to shoulder.
” “ I would hope that the President would change his mind and decide to remain at home , ” Young said .
“ If he decides , however , to move forward with his scheduled trip to Baltimore we will , of course , be prepared for his visit , ” he added .

The White House on Thursday refused to cancel President Donald Trump’s upcoming Memorial Day visit to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland, despite Mayor Jack Young’s request.
“The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the President will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our Nation’s history,” White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Young had urged Trump to call off the visit and honor Baltimore’s stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“That President Trump is deciding to pursue non-essential travel sends the wrong message to our residents, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus,” Young said in a statement. “I wish that the President, as our nation’s leader, would set a positive example and not travel during this holiday weekend.”
And the implications of Trump’s disregard for Baltimore’s stay-at-home order aren’t the only issue, the mayor pointed out. The President’s visit and the level of security detail required comes with a heavy price tag that the city “simply can’t afford to shoulder.”
“I would hope that the President would change his mind and decide to remain at home,” Young said.
“If he decides, however, to move forward with his scheduled trip to Baltimore we will, of course, be prepared for his visit,” he added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--Putin Claims COVID-19 Outbreak In Russia Is Stabilizing

MOSCOW ( AP ) — President Vladimir Putin said Friday the coronavirus outbreak in Russia has begun to abate , creating a positive environment for easing restrictions , as officials defended the country ’ s data on deaths against claims they were being under-reported .
Speaking during a video conference with top officials , Putin pointed at the decreasing number of new infections in Moscow and other regions .
“ The positive dynamic is not so fast as we would like it to be , sometimes even unstable , but it does exist , ” he said .
Russia currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of infections with 326,448 cases , including 3,249 deaths .
The Russian leader said a steady drop in new cases sets the stage for further lifting of restrictions , but he also emphasized the need to preserve hospital capacity in case of a new wave of contagion .
Officials have reported to Putin that the influx of COVID-19 patients , particularly those in grave condition , has fallen .
Putin noted that the country ’ s hospitals are capable of accommodating over 165,000 coronavirus patients , and they are currently two-thirds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia has remained remarkably low at about 1 % , drawing suspicions in the West that the country was under-reporting its death toll .
Russian officials have rejected the claim , saying that the low toll reflected efficient preventative measures and broad testing .
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said during the call with Putin that the country ’ s approach to counting COVID-19 deaths is in line with the World Health Organization ’ s guidelines and more precise than in other countries .
She forecast that the death toll will markedly rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in recent weeks .
“ May will see a serious increase of mortality , judging by the operative figures for the past three weeks , ” Golikova reported to Putin .
Sergei Sobyanin , the mayor of Moscow , which accounted for about half of all infections , also predicted a surge in May deaths .
“ It ’ s quite obvious that the number of deaths in May will be significantly higher than in April , ” he told Putin .
“ We were at the peak of contagion in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health department reported that 639 people died of COVID-19 in April , saying autopsies proved that the deaths of 60 percent of all those who died after being infected with the virus were caused by other grave underlying illnesses .
Some experts have questioned the Russian refusal to include all deaths of those who tested positive in the coronavirus toll , suggesting a politically-driven desire to downplay mortality .
Russian officials have rejected the claim , saying that the Russian approach is more accurate and is in full conformity with the World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily number of new coronavirus cases in Moscow has dropped from a peak of about 6,700 to under 3,000 now , other hot spots emerged across Russia .
They included Dagestan , a mostly Muslim province in the North Caucasus mountains , whose health care system has crumbled under the flow of COVID-19 patients .
In the neighboring province of Chechnya , strongman regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov has berated local doctors for complaining about shortages of equipment and protective gear .
On Thursday , Russia ’ s state news agencies reported that Kadyrov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracting the disease .
Kadyrov ’ s office hasn ’ t responded to an AP request for comment .
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov and three Cabinet ministers have been among officials who tested positive for the coronavirus .
Mishustin and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova have convalesced .
On May 11 , Putin ordered an end to the nationwide partial economic shutdown he imposed in late March and instructed regional governors to reopen industrial enterprises and other businesses wherever it ’ s possible .
The epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , already weakened by a drop in global oil prices and Western sanctions , and businessmen have widely deplored state support measures amid the outbreak as bitterly insufficient .
The epidemic has eroded support for Putin , that dropped to 59 % in April , the lowest point in more than two decades of his rule , according to the independent Levada Center polling firm .
Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this story .

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin said Friday the coronavirus outbreak in Russia has begun to abate, creating a positive environment for easing restrictions, as officials defended the country’s data on deaths against claims they were being under-reported.
Speaking during a video conference with top officials, Putin pointed at the decreasing number of new infections in Moscow and other regions. “The positive dynamic is not so fast as we would like it to be, sometimes even unstable, but it does exist,” he said.
Russia currently ranks second after the United States in the number of infections with 326,448 cases, including 3,249 deaths.
The Russian leader said a steady drop in new cases sets the stage for further lifting of restrictions, but he also emphasized the need to preserve hospital capacity in case of a new wave of contagion.
Officials have reported to Putin that the influx of COVID-19 patients, particularly those in grave condition, has fallen. Putin noted that the country’s hospitals are capable of accommodating over 165,000 coronavirus patients, and they are currently two-thirds occupied.
The COVID-19 mortality rate in Russia has remained remarkably low at about 1%, drawing suspicions in the West that the country was under-reporting its death toll. Russian officials have rejected the claim, saying that the low toll reflected efficient preventative measures and broad testing.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said during the call with Putin that the country’s approach to counting COVID-19 deaths is in line with the World Health Organization’s guidelines and more precise than in other countries.
She forecast that the death toll will markedly rise in May, reflecting high numbers of infections in recent weeks.
“May will see a serious increase of mortality, judging by the operative figures for the past three weeks,” Golikova reported to Putin.
Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, which accounted for about half of all infections, also predicted a surge in May deaths.
“It’s quite obvious that the number of deaths in May will be significantly higher than in April,” he told Putin. “We were at the peak of contagion in April and early May.”
Moscow’s health department reported that 639 people died of COVID-19 in April, saying autopsies proved that the deaths of 60 percent of all those who died after being infected with the virus were caused by other grave underlying illnesses.
Some experts have questioned the Russian refusal to include all deaths of those who tested positive in the coronavirus toll, suggesting a politically-driven desire to downplay mortality. Russian officials have rejected the claim, saying that the Russian approach is more accurate and is in full conformity with the World Health Organization’s guidelines.
While the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Moscow has dropped from a peak of about 6,700 to under 3,000 now, other hot spots emerged across Russia. They included Dagestan, a mostly Muslim province in the North Caucasus mountains, whose health care system has crumbled under the flow of COVID-19 patients.
In the neighboring province of Chechnya, strongman regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov has berated local doctors for complaining about shortages of equipment and protective gear.
On Thursday, Russia’s state news agencies reported that Kadyrov has been hospitalized in Moscow after suspectedly contracting the disease. Kadyrov’s office hasn’t responded to an AP request for comment.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov and three Cabinet ministers have been among officials who tested positive for the coronavirus. Mishustin and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova have convalesced.
On May 11, Putin ordered an end to the nationwide partial economic shutdown he imposed in late March and instructed regional governors to reopen industrial enterprises and other businesses wherever it’s possible. The epidemic has badly hurt Russia’s economy, already weakened by a drop in global oil prices and Western sanctions, and businessmen have widely deplored state support measures amid the outbreak as bitterly insufficient.
The epidemic has eroded support for Putin, that dropped to 59% in April, the lowest point in more than two decades of his rule, according to the independent Levada Center polling firm.
___
Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this story.
___
Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-22--Top US Official Urges WHO To Begin Review Of COVID Response Immediately

GENEVA ( AP ) — The United States says it wants the World Health Organization to start work “ now ” on a planned independent review of its coordinated international response to the COVID-19 outbreak , at a time the Trump administration has repeatedly criticized the agency and is threatening to cut off U.S. funding for it .
Adm. Brett Giroir , an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , sent a letter to the U.N. health agency ’ s executive board meeting on Friday saying the United States believes the WHO can “ immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent health experts and setting up guidelines for the review .
“ This review will ensure we have a complete and transparent understanding of the source , timeline of events , and decision-making process for the WHO ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic , ” wrote Giroir , who is one of the board ’ s 34 international members .
Giroir did not participate in the board ’ s first-ever “ virtual ” meeting .
Giroir alluded to a resolution passed Tuesday by the WHO ’ s assembly calling on Director-General Tedros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluation ” of the WHO-coordinated international response to the outbreak “ at the earliest appropriate moment.
” Tedros , for his part , spoke to the board and pointed proudly to a long list of actions taken by WHO to respond to the outbreak — without directly alluding to the Trump administration pressure that was highlighted by Giroir .
“ As President Trump just made clear in his May 18 letter to Director-General Tedros , there is no time to waste to begin on the reforms needed to ensure such a pandemic never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We applaud the call for an impartial , independent , and comprehensive review , to be undertaken in consultation with member states , and urge that work begin now.
” In that same letter , Trump warned he would make permanent a temporary freeze on U.S. funding for the WHO unless it commits to “ substantive improvements ” within the next 30 days .
He has repeatedly criticized the WHO for its early response to the outbreak and praise for China , at a time when Trump ’ s own response of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest in the world — has come under criticism .
Giroir , in his statement with a decidedly more diplomatic tone , said the United States was “ encouraged ” by an initial review by the WHO ’ s Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee over the January to April period .
“ We further appreciate the mandate given to the WHO in the resolution to investigate the origins of ( the coronavirus ) , and we are confident that researchers and medical practitioners around the world will be empowered in the pursuit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Giroir wrote .
In a possible sign of the timetable that the United States expects , Giroir said a meeting of the WHO ’ s assembly this fall “ must address the outcome of the review process and lessons learned ” from the pandemic response .

GENEVA (AP) — The United States says it wants the World Health Organization to start work “now” on a planned independent review of its coordinated international response to the COVID-19 outbreak, at a time the Trump administration has repeatedly criticized the agency and is threatening to cut off U.S. funding for it.
Adm. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sent a letter to the U.N. health agency’s executive board meeting on Friday saying the United States believes the WHO can “immediately initiate” preparations such as bringing together independent health experts and setting up guidelines for the review.
“This review will ensure we have a complete and transparent understanding of the source, timeline of events, and decision-making process for the WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Giroir, who is one of the board’s 34 international members. Giroir did not participate in the board’s first-ever “virtual” meeting.
Giroir alluded to a resolution passed Tuesday by the WHO’s assembly calling on Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to launch a “comprehensive evaluation” of the WHO-coordinated international response to the outbreak “at the earliest appropriate moment.”
Tedros, for his part, spoke to the board and pointed proudly to a long list of actions taken by WHO to respond to the outbreak — without directly alluding to the Trump administration pressure that was highlighted by Giroir.
“As President Trump just made clear in his May 18 letter to Director-General Tedros, there is no time to waste to begin on the reforms needed to ensure such a pandemic never happens again,” Giroir added. “We applaud the call for an impartial, independent, and comprehensive review, to be undertaken in consultation with member states, and urge that work begin now.”
In that same letter, Trump warned he would make permanent a temporary freeze on U.S. funding for the WHO unless it commits to “substantive improvements” within the next 30 days. He has repeatedly criticized the WHO for its early response to the outbreak and praise for China, at a time when Trump’s own response of the outbreak in the United States —the largest in the world — has come under criticism.
Giroir, in his statement with a decidedly more diplomatic tone, said the United States was “encouraged” by an initial review by the WHO’s Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee over the January to April period.
“We further appreciate the mandate given to the WHO in the resolution to investigate the origins of (the coronavirus), and we are confident that researchers and medical practitioners around the world will be empowered in the pursuit of vaccines and other countermeasures through this knowledge,” Giroir wrote.
In a possible sign of the timetable that the United States expects, Giroir said a meeting of the WHO’s assembly this fall “must address the outcome of the review process and lessons learned” from the pandemic response.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-23--GOP Guv. Tearfully Pleads Anti-Maskers To ‘Dial Up Your Empathy’ And End ‘Political’ Divide

As some right-wingers in several areas of the country ( and the government ) openly defy requirements on wearing masks on ideological grounds in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak , North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum ( R ) despairs at the prospect of his state falling into the same quagmire .
“ If someone is wearing a mask , they ’ re not doing it to represent what political party they ’ re in or what candidates they support , ” the Republican governor said during an emotional press briefing on Friday .
“ They might be doing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child who ’ s been going through cancer treatments , ” he continued , voice breaking .
Burgum took a moment to collect himself before continuing : “ They might have vulnerable adults in their life who currently have COVID , and they ’ re fighting.
” The governor begged North Dakotans to avoid “ creating a divide ” either “ ideological or political ” over the importance of wearing a mask with so many lives at stake .
“ This is a , I would say , senseless dividing line , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask people to try to dial up your empathy and your understanding.
” Burgum ’ s plea comes as some of his fellow Republicans , including President Donald Trump , publicly refuse to wear masks that prevent the spread of COVID-19 , disregarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ( CDC ) recommendation .
Trump has reportedly told his inner circle that wearing a facial covering would send a poor message as he attempts to get the country reopened as soon as possible .
Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has similarly declined to wear a facial covering , arguing that he has “ immunity ” because he ’ d already had the virus .

As some right-wingers in several areas of the country (and the government) openly defy requirements on wearing masks on ideological grounds in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) despairs at the prospect of his state falling into the same quagmire.
“If someone is wearing a mask, they’re not doing it to represent what political party they’re in or what candidates they support,” the Republican governor said during an emotional press briefing on Friday.
“They might be doing it because they’ve got a 5-year-old child who’s been going through cancer treatments,” he continued, voice breaking.
Burgum took a moment to collect himself before continuing: “They might have vulnerable adults in their life who currently have COVID, and they’re fighting.”
The governor begged North Dakotans to avoid “creating a divide” either “ideological or political” over the importance of wearing a mask with so many lives at stake.
“This is a, I would say, senseless dividing line,” he said. “And I would ask people to try to dial up your empathy and your understanding.”
Burgum’s plea comes as some of his fellow Republicans, including President Donald Trump, publicly refuse to wear masks that prevent the spread of COVID-19, disregarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation.
Trump has reportedly told his inner circle that wearing a facial covering would send a poor message as he attempts to get the country reopened as soon as possible.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who is also a doctor, has similarly declined to wear a facial covering, arguing that he has “immunity” because he’d already had the virus.
Watch Burgum below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-23--Oops: WH Press Secretary Accidentally Flaunts Trump’s Bank Info During Briefing

Who says the White House is hostile to the notion of transparency ?
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany got @ @ @ @ @ the media during Friday ’ s press briefing as she touted President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ his salary to the Department of Health and Human Services ’ response to the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ s the check amounted to $ 100,000 that will go directly from President Trump and @ @ @ @ @ not take but rather donates it to various noble initiatives , including in honor of @ @ @ @ @ who have passed and the studies underway , ” McEnany told reporters while holding up @ @ @ @ @ ’ s private bank account and routing numbers on full display .
White House spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ reporters pointed out the blunder .
“ Leave it to the media to find a @ @ @ @ @ report the facts , focusing instead on whether the check is real or not , @ @ @ @ @ statement .

Who says the White House is hostile to the notion of transparency?
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany got a little too honest with the media during Friday’s press briefing as she touted President Donald Trump’s $100,000 donation from his salary to the Department of Health and Human Services’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Here’s the check amounted to $100,000 that will go directly from President Trump and his paycheck that he does not take but rather donates it to various noble initiatives, including in honor of COVID this time and those who have passed and the studies underway,” McEnany told reporters while holding up the check, putting Trump’s private bank account and routing numbers on full display.
White House spokesperson Judd Deere lashed out when reporters pointed out the blunder.
“Leave it to the media to find a shameful reason not to simply report the facts, focusing instead on whether the check is real or not,” he said in a statement.
Watch McEnany below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-23--Michigan AG Accuses Trump Of Having A ‘Real Issue’ With Women Leading State

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asserted on Friday that President Donald Trump ’ s persistent attacks against her and other female leaders of Michigan at least partially stem from misogyny .
During an interview with NPR “ All Things Considered ” co-host Mary Louise Kelly , Nessel noted how Trump has aggressively aimed his fire specifically at Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) , Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , and herself in his war against states ’ protective measures amid COVID-19 .
“ Michigan is the only state in the union where women hold our three executive offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state where the President has individually targeted each one of us , ” the attorney general told Kelly .
“ So you do the math.
” “ You ’ re accusing of having a particular issue with women ?
” the NPR co-host asked .
“ Well , it certainly seems that way , ” Nessel replied .
“ I guess if any one of us were doing Secretary [ of State Mike ] Pompeo ’ s dishes , he might be fine with us , ” she added .
“ But since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re actually running the state of Michigan , he seems to have a real issue.
” Nessel ’ s accusation came after Trump attacked her for slamming his refusal to comply with Michigan ’ s mask requirement during his tour of a Ford plant near Detroit last week .
“ Do nothing A.G. of the Great State of Michigan , Dana Nessel , should not be taking her anger and stupidity out on Ford Motor–they might get upset with you and leave the state , like so many other companies have–until I came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he tweeted .
Trump has also feuded with Whitmer , whom he derided as a “ young , woman governor ” and “ the woman in Michigan , ” and accused her of being unable to respond to the medical supply shortage .
“ She doesn ’ t get it done , and we send her a lot , ” Trump complained in March .
And then the President went after Benson last week on Twitter after she sent applications for mail-in ballots to registered Michigan voters .
“ This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rogue Secretary of State , ” Trump falsely claimed ( the secretary of state has the full authority to send the applications ) .

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asserted on Friday that President Donald Trump’s persistent attacks against her and other female leaders of Michigan at least partially stem from misogyny.
During an interview with NPR “All Things Considered” co-host Mary Louise Kelly, Nessel noted how Trump has aggressively aimed his fire specifically at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and herself in his war against states’ protective measures amid COVID-19.
“Michigan is the only state in the union where women hold our three executive offices, and we are also the only state where the President has individually targeted each one of us,” the attorney general told Kelly. “So you do the math.”
“You’re accusing of having a particular issue with women?” the NPR co-host asked.
“Well, it certainly seems that way,” Nessel replied.
“I guess if any one of us were doing Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo’s dishes, he might be fine with us,” she added. “But since we’re not and we’re actually running the state of Michigan, he seems to have a real issue.”
Nessel’s accusation came after Trump attacked her for slamming his refusal to comply with Michigan’s mask requirement during his tour of a Ford plant near Detroit last week.
“Do nothing A.G. of the Great State of Michigan, Dana Nessel, should not be taking her anger and stupidity out on Ford Motor–they might get upset with you and leave the state, like so many other companies have–until I came along and brought business back to Michigan,” he tweeted.
Trump has also feuded with Whitmer, whom he derided as a “young, woman governor” and “the woman in Michigan,” and accused her of being unable to respond to the medical supply shortage.
“She doesn’t get it done, and we send her a lot,” Trump complained in March.
And then the President went after Benson last week on Twitter after she sent applications for mail-in ballots to registered Michigan voters.
“This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State,” Trump falsely claimed (the secretary of state has the full authority to send the applications).


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-23--Sessions Finally Fires Back At Trump: ‘You’re Damn Fortunate’ I Did My Job

Jeff Sessions , the besieged former attorney general to President Donald Trump and now-Alabama senate primary candidate , has reached his breaking point .
Trump , who has relentlessly bashed Sessions for recusing himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , once again put his ex-attorney general on blast via Twitter on Friday night .
“ Alabama , do not trust Jeff Sessions .
He let our Country down , ” the President tweeted .
“ That ’ s why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville ( @ TTuberville ) , the true supporter of our # MAGA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final straw for the long-suffering Sessions , who had meekly tolerated his former boss ’ s attacks up until that point .
“ .
@ realdonaldtrump Look , I know your anger , but recusal was required by law , ” the senate candidate tweeted in response .
“ I did my duty & you ’ re damn fortunate I did .
It protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration.
” “ Your personal feelings don ’ t dictate who Alabama picks as their senator , the people of Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an unexpectedly bold rebuke from Sessions , who has long endured the President ’ s verbal assaults as he fights against his GOP primary rival , Tommy Tuberville , to win over heavily pro-Trump Alabama .
But Trump has show zero mercy to his former top official , whose recusal paved the way for Mueller ’ s probe , and has taken every step to sabotage Sessions ’ bid for Senate by endorsing Tuberville , having his presidential reelection campaign send a frosty letter telling Sessions to stop tying himself to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s failure to reach a majority in the primary race .

Jeff Sessions, the besieged former attorney general to President Donald Trump and now-Alabama senate primary candidate, has reached his breaking point.
Trump, who has relentlessly bashed Sessions for recusing himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, once again put his ex-attorney general on blast via Twitter on Friday night.
“Alabama, do not trust Jeff Sessions. He let our Country down,” the President tweeted. “That’s why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville), the true supporter of our #MAGA agenda!”
That was apparently the final straw for the long-suffering Sessions, who had meekly tolerated his former boss’s attacks up until that point.
“.@realdonaldtrump Look, I know your anger, but recusal was required by law,” the senate candidate tweeted in response. “I did my duty & you’re damn fortunate I did. It protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration.”
“Your personal feelings don’t dictate who Alabama picks as their senator, the people of Alabama do,” he continued.
It was an unexpectedly bold rebuke from Sessions, who has long endured the President’s verbal assaults as he fights against his GOP primary rival, Tommy Tuberville, to win over heavily pro-Trump Alabama.
But Trump has show zero mercy to his former top official, whose recusal paved the way for Mueller’s probe, and has taken every step to sabotage Sessions’ bid for Senate by endorsing Tuberville, having his presidential reelection campaign send a frosty letter telling Sessions to stop tying himself to Trump, and glorying in the candidate’s failure to reach a majority in the primary race.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-24--United We Mask: GOPers View Mask-Wearing As Key To Reopening Economy

Three prominent Republicans bolstered North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum ’ s ( R ) emotional plea to end the “ political ” divide on mask-wearing requirements during Sunday morning interviews .
Unlike President Trump ’ s refusal to wear a mask while touring a Ford plant outside of Michigan on Thursday — despite White House staffers being ordered to do so after two aides tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month — Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine ( R ) , Sen. Rick Scott ( R-FL ) and Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson ( R ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as mask-wearing seriously as states begin easing coronavirus restrictions over Memorial Day weekend .
All three Republicans also expressed the need to reopen the economy while promoting efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Here ’ s how they weighed in on the mask-wearing debate : After telling MSNBC ’ s Chuck Todd that his state is promoting mask-wearing and social distancing as it begins to open up the economy , DeWine agreed that Burgum ’ s mask-wearing plea was “ spot on.
” “ I ’ ve watched that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeWine said .
“ And this is not about politics , this is not about whether you ’ re liberal or conservative , left or right , Republican , Democrat .
We wear the mask , and it ’ s been very clear what the studies have shown , you wear the mask not to protect yourself so much as to protect others.
” DeWine later pointed out the every employee in his state is ordered to wear a mask and that store customers are expected to comply with the order as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a risk if we don ’ t open up the economy.
” “ We want to continue to up that throughout the state because it is really what we need as we open up the economy , ” DeWine said .
“ Look , Chuck , this is a risk .
But it ’ s also a risk if we don ’ t open up the economy , all the downsides of not opening the economy .
We can do both these things.
” Scott told CNN ’ s Dana Bash that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that in order to do so safely , it is “ absolutely ” necessary to take precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing .
The Florida senator then quickly added that wearing a mask doesn ’ t translate to “ people telling us how to lead our lives every day.
” “ Do I believe people ought to wear masks ?
Yes , I do believe people ought to wear masks .
Do I believe people ought to social distance ?
Yes , I believe they ought to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and governors and all the local officials that tell us how to lead our lives every day ?
No , ” Scott said .
“ We will figure this out .
We want to keep our family safe .
We want to keep our friends safe .
And we ’ re going to do this in a safe manner.
” Hutchinson defended the decision to reopen all stores , restaurants , movie theaters and gyms at reduced capacity in his state during an interview on “ Fox News Sunday , ” saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manage the risk.
” The Arkansas governor then added that his state takes the novel coronavirus outbreak “ very seriously ” before arguing that forcing people to “ cloister ” themselves at home is “ just contrary to the American spirit.
” Hutchinson , who said during a Thursday press conference that customers who refuse to follow mask rules are “ very selfish , ” went on to reiterate the need to “ manage the risk ” through “ discipline.
” “ You know , you can be in an automobile and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you manage the risk by wearing a seat belt , ” Hutchinson said , referring to guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 .
“ At first , everyone resisted wearing a seat belt and said , well , that ’ s a matter of freedom .
Well , it is , but it ’ s also a matter of safety .
”

Three prominent Republicans bolstered North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s (R) emotional plea to end the “political” divide on mask-wearing requirements during Sunday morning interviews.
Unlike President Trump’s refusal to wear a mask while touring a Ford plant outside of Michigan on Thursday — despite White House staffers being ordered to do so after two aides tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) are encouraging the public to take precautions such as mask-wearing seriously as states begin easing coronavirus restrictions over Memorial Day weekend.
All three Republicans also expressed the need to reopen the economy while promoting efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Here’s how they weighed in on the mask-wearing debate:
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R)
After telling MSNBC’s Chuck Todd that his state is promoting mask-wearing and social distancing as it begins to open up the economy, DeWine agreed that Burgum’s mask-wearing plea was “spot on.”
“I’ve watched that clip a couple of times,” DeWine said. “And this is not about politics, this is not about whether you’re liberal or conservative, left or right, Republican, Democrat. We wear the mask, and it’s been very clear what the studies have shown, you wear the mask not to protect yourself so much as to protect others.”
DeWine later pointed out the every employee in his state is ordered to wear a mask and that store customers are expected to comply with the order as well, before adding that it’s “a risk if we don’t open up the economy.”
“We want to continue to up that throughout the state because it is really what we need as we open up the economy,” DeWine said. “Look, Chuck, this is a risk. But it’s also a risk if we don’t open up the economy, all the downsides of not opening the economy. We can do both these things.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine agrees with North Dakota governor that wearing a mask is "not about politics" pic.twitter.com/4BaMGsKMcn — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) May 24, 2020
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Scott told CNN’s Dana Bash that “we have to open the economy” and that in order to do so safely, it is “absolutely” necessary to take precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing.
The Florida senator then quickly added that wearing a mask doesn’t translate to “people telling us how to lead our lives every day.”
“Do I believe people ought to wear masks? Yes, I do believe people ought to wear masks. Do I believe people ought to social distance? Yes, I believe they ought to social distance. Do we need the President and governors and all the local officials that tell us how to lead our lives every day? No,” Scott said. “We will figure this out. We want to keep our family safe. We want to keep our friends safe. And we’re going to do this in a safe manner.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) Scott encourages people to wear masks and socially distance pic.twitter.com/tnwt2vnVc8 — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) May 24, 2020
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R)
Hutchinson defended the decision to reopen all stores, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms at reduced capacity in his state during an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” saying that his “thinking is that we have to manage the risk.”
The Arkansas governor then added that his state takes the novel coronavirus outbreak “very seriously” before arguing that forcing people to “cloister” themselves at home is “just contrary to the American spirit.”
Hutchinson, who said during a Thursday press conference that customers who refuse to follow mask rules are “very selfish,” went on to reiterate the need to “manage the risk” through “discipline.”
“You know, you can be in an automobile and it’s very risky, but you manage the risk by wearing a seat belt,” Hutchinson said, referring to guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. “At first, everyone resisted wearing a seat belt and said, well, that’s a matter of freedom. Well, it is, but it’s also a matter of safety.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-24--WH National Security Adviser Likens China’s Coronavirus Response To Chernobyl

White House national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien drew comparisons between China ’ s coronavirus outbreak response to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster during Sunday morning interviews .
When asked by CBS ’ Margaret Brennan whether a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China would be made available to the American public , O ’ Brien replied that he believes that the U.S. would develop a vaccine first before accusing China of espionage .
“ Now , there ’ s a chance , and it ’ s been reported , that the Chinese have been engaged in espionage to try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re working on both for a vaccine and a therapy , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ So , look , they ’ ve got a many , many year history of stealing American intellectual property and knocking off American technology .
And I wouldn ’ t be surprised if they did that with vaccines.
” After claiming that the U.S. is “ moving out very quickly ” on therapies and a vaccine for COVID-19 , O ’ Brien pivoted to how the novel coronavirus was “ unleashed by China.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ someday they ’ re going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl on this virus , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ But we ’ re going to be part of the solution to the virus.
” Asked to clarify what a “ cover-up ” means , O ’ Brien said that China covered up its handling of the novel coronavirus by giving “ false information ” to the World Health Organization .
O ’ Brien made similar remarks during an interview on MSNBC ’ s “ Meet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we ’ ll see ” whether China can “ live up ” to its trade deal with the U.S. after it “ unleashed ” the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We ’ re in a very different world .
The cover-up that they did of the virus is going to go down in history along with Chernobyl , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ We ’ ll see an HBO special about 10 or 15 years from now , and so we ’ re in a different place with China as we @ @ @ @

White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien drew comparisons between China’s coronavirus outbreak response to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster during Sunday morning interviews.
When asked by CBS’ Margaret Brennan whether a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China would be made available to the American public, O’Brien replied that he believes that the U.S. would develop a vaccine first before accusing China of espionage.
“Now, there’s a chance, and it’s been reported, that the Chinese have been engaged in espionage to try and find the research and the technologies that we’re working on both for a vaccine and a therapy,” O’Brien said. “So, look, they’ve got a many, many year history of stealing American intellectual property and knocking off American technology. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they did that with vaccines.”
After claiming that the U.S. is “moving out very quickly” on therapies and a vaccine for COVID-19, O’Brien pivoted to how the novel coronavirus was “unleashed by China.”
“There was a cover-up that someday they’re going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl on this virus,” O’Brien said. “But we’re going to be part of the solution to the virus.”
Asked to clarify what a “cover-up” means, O’Brien said that China covered up its handling of the novel coronavirus by giving “false information” to the World Health Organization.
Watch O’Brien’s remarks on CBS below:
O'Brien: "This was a virus that was unleashed by China. There was a cover-up that someday they're going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl." pic.twitter.com/KWCXgTVU7p — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) May 24, 2020
O’Brien made similar remarks during an interview on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning after saying that “we’ll see” whether China can “live up” to its trade deal with the U.S. after it “unleashed” the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re in a very different world. The cover-up that they did of the virus is going to go down in history along with Chernobyl,” O’Brien said. “We’ll see an HBO special about 10 or 15 years from now, and so we’re in a different place with China as we speak today.”
Watch O’Brien’s remarks on MSNBC below: