talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-03--Mary Trump Says Family Settlement Agreement Based On ‘Fraudulent’ Valuations

President Donald Trump ’ s niece told a state court Thursday that she never believed a settlement agreement she ’ d signed over her grandfather ’ s will would preclude her from writing about Trump .
What ’ s more , Mary Trump argued in an affidavit , a restraining order on her should be lifted because the settlement agreement was based on “ fraudulent ” assessments of the Trump family ’ s wealth .
The affidavit from Trump came a day after a state appeals court allowed her publisher to distribute the upcoming book about her uncle , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man.
” After that court lifted the restraining order against Simon & Schuster on Wednesday , Mary Trump ’ s lawyer Ted Boutrous said he would seek the same outcome for Ms. Trump herself — “ based on the First Amendment and basic contract law.
” Mary Trump signed the settlement agreement in 2001 to resolve a dispute over the will of her grandfather ( the President ’ s father , Fred C. Trump Sr. ) .
But , she told a lower court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Settlement Agreement resolving discrete financial disputes could possibly restrict me from telling the story of my life.
” After all , she wrote , none of other parties in the settlement — including the President himself — have ever sought her permission to speak publicly about the Trump family , or their personal relationships with her .
Also , Mary Trump said , the asset valuations provided to her in connection with the settlement agreement have been revealed to be “ fraudulent.
” She pointed to the New York Times ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of tax dodges to build his wealth .
( Mary Trump herself was “ critical ” in helping the Times put the investigation together , the Daily Beast reported last month . )
“ Indeed , the Settlement Agreement is unenforceable and void because Plaintiff and his siblings ( including Donald Trump , the president of the United States ) fraudulently induced Ms. Trump to enter into it based on false valuations that were revealed by the New York Times , ” Boutrous said in a separate legal memo Thursday .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free to publish Mary Trump ’ s book as planned .
A state appeals court judge ruled that the publisher was not a party to the settlement agreement , and therefore could not be controlled by the restraining order a lower court had placed on her .
Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp has said thousands of copies of the book have already been shipped .

President Donald Trump’s niece told a state court Thursday that she never believed a settlement agreement she’d signed over her grandfather’s will would preclude her from writing about Trump.
What’s more, Mary Trump argued in an affidavit, a restraining order on her should be lifted because the settlement agreement was based on “fraudulent” assessments of the Trump family’s wealth.
The affidavit from Trump came a day after a state appeals court allowed her publisher to distribute the upcoming book about her uncle, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.”
After that court lifted the restraining order against Simon & Schuster on Wednesday, Mary Trump’s lawyer Ted Boutrous said he would seek the same outcome for Ms. Trump herself — “based on the First Amendment and basic contract law.”
Mary Trump signed the settlement agreement in 2001 to resolve a dispute over the will of her grandfather (the President’s father, Fred C. Trump Sr.). But, she told a lower court on Thursday, “I never believed that the Settlement Agreement resolving discrete financial disputes could possibly restrict me from telling the story of my life.”
After all, she wrote, none of other parties in the settlement — including the President himself — have ever sought her permission to speak publicly about the Trump family, or their personal relationships with her.
Also, Mary Trump said, the asset valuations provided to her in connection with the settlement agreement have been revealed to be “fraudulent.” She pointed to the New York Times’ award-winning investigation on Donald Trump’s use of tax dodges to build his wealth. (Mary Trump herself was “critical” in helping the Times put the investigation together, the Daily Beast reported last month.)
“Indeed, the Settlement Agreement is unenforceable and void because Plaintiff and his siblings (including Donald Trump, the president of the United States) fraudulently induced Ms. Trump to enter into it based on false valuations that were revealed by the New York Times,” Boutrous said in a separate legal memo Thursday.
As of Wednesday, Simon & Schuster is free to publish Mary Trump’s book as planned. A state appeals court judge ruled that the publisher was not a party to the settlement agreement, and therefore could not be controlled by the restraining order a lower court had placed on her.
Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp has said thousands of copies of the book have already been shipped.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-03--How California Went From Success Story To Virus Hot Spot

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) — Heading into Memorial Day weekend , California ’ s mood was celebratory .
The state had avoided dire predictions of a coronavirus surge , hospitalizations were starting to decline and restaurants and most other businesses had reopened .
As July 4th approaches , the mood has soured .
Infection rates and hospitalizations are rising fast .
Most bars have been ordered closed along with inside dining at restaurants .
Many beaches are off-limits or have restrictions to limit crowds .
Fireworks shows are canceled and Gov .
Gavin Newsom is imploring residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other gatherings of relatives and friends .
In about five weeks , the nation ’ s most populous state went from success story to cautionary tale .
Health experts say no single thing went wrong , but contributing factors included a populace made complacent by a long stretch of positive trends , the rapid reopening of businesses , a confusing patchwork of local rules and enforcement , and Newsom ’ s late adoption of a mandatory mask rule , on June 18 .
“ On Memorial Day , why did we just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order in place ?
I wish I had an answer to that , and it ’ s alarming to us , ” said Stephanie Roberson , government relations director for the California Nurses Association .
Just before that holiday , about 3,000 people were in the hospital due to the virus ; now it ’ s more than 5,000 .
Far more people are being tested and in the last two weeks that has helped fuel a nearly 50 % jump in confirmed cases to 230,000 .
But the infection rate also has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those tested around Memorial Day to 6 % now .
A data-driven governor , Newsom earned plaudits for issuing the nation ’ s first statewide stay-at-home order in mid-March and rapidly moving to shore up the statewide heath care system .
The first-term Democrat has been loathe to admit any mistakes during the pandemic , saying all of his decisions were based on the best information available at the time , always in consultation with public health officials .
“ It ’ s easy to criticize but the response in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been thoughtful , responsible , evidence-based , and where it ’ s been confusing it ’ s because it ’ s confusing , ” said Dr. Bob Wachter , chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California-San Francisco .
Signs of trouble began to emerge last week .
Newsom resumed the near-daily press conferences he ’ d abandoned and pleaded with Californians to wear face masks .
On Sunday he pulled back on his mid-June decision to reopen all bars because health experts say they are particularly prone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he broadened his order and shuttered more bars , wineries , indoor restaurant dining , movie theaters and other indoor entertainment venues for at least three weeks .
He also said there should be no more singing at religious services .
“ We ’ re in a very precarious situation , ” said Anne Rimoin , a professor of epidemiology at the University of California-Los Angeles ’ s Fielding School of Public Health .
She noted that May produced a rapid reopening leading into Memorial Day weekend and then Father ’ s Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past .
“ All of these things together gave ample opportunity for this virus to spread , and I think that this just really demonstrates how quickly we can lose all of the gains that we made , ” Rimoin said .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency , said he has no regrets on how California moved forward .
But he said there was “ poor execution ” of the state ’ s reopening plan by some businesses and individuals who were more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how to do it safely .
“ We tried to give people the tools to reduce transmission , and I think in many ways it wasn ’ t followed , ” he said .
Newsom , Ghaly and local health officials now are trying to get the public to again understand the gravity of the situation and the personal responsibility needed to reverse the trend .
The message resonated with Tyler Bertao , a 26-year-old from San Francisco who said he ’ s “ extremely scared ” by California ’ s rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to have to go into another major lockdown , ” he said .
When Newsom issued the stay-at-home order on March 19 , the public largely listened and the state fared far better than places such as New York City and New Jersey .
Even President Donald Trump , a frequent critic of California , heralded Newsom .
But the one-size-fits-all approach started to face resistance in a massive state with nearly 40 million residents and the world ’ s fifth-largest economy .
By early May , after rolling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from rural counties with few infections , Newsom began ceding more control to counties to determine which businesses and activities could resume .
“ Bottom line is : People can go at their own pace , and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions , ” Newsom said May 18 .
“ We ’ re going to start seeing a lot more activity , let ’ s just make sure we do it thoughtfully and very , very strategically.
” But the shift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Rachel Michelin , president of the California Retailers Association , said her organization that represents grocery chains , big box stores and others , had long requested more consistency .
On masks , she pointed to an Orange County shopping complex with stores in two separate cities with different rules on masks , which made it hard for store workers to deal with an annoyed public .
“ Literally you would go from Macy ’ s furniture store which is in Irvine , which is where you would have to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the street and you wouldn ’ t , ” she said .
“ Our perspective has always been its easier to have one statewide ordinance or mandate that we all follow that we can all enforce.
” Wachter , of the University California-San Francisco , said a monolithic set of rules wouldn ’ t have been workable in a state as sprawling as California .
But he ’ s been surprised at how quickly California ’ s fortunes turned , when cases started to climb in mid-June .
That was right around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other high-risk businesses were cleared to open in most counties , and about two weeks after Memorial Day and widespread protests against police violence .
Californians may have adopted a false sense of security when the state didn ’ t experience the horror facing New York City , he said .
More than 30,000 people have died in New York ; in California , about 6,000 .
“ The virus couldn ’ t care less what the policy of the state is .
The virus cares whether it can get to the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your throat , ” he said .
Going into the weekend , Newsom said the state will create strike teams to enforce the mask order at businesses .
As cases surge , that ’ s one of the most important things the state can do , Rimoin said .
“ The mask order of course should have been in place earlier but you also have to be willing to enforce the mask order , ” she said .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Heading into Memorial Day weekend, California’s mood was celebratory. The state had avoided dire predictions of a coronavirus surge, hospitalizations were starting to decline and restaurants and most other businesses had reopened.
As July 4th approaches, the mood has soured. Infection rates and hospitalizations are rising fast. Most bars have been ordered closed along with inside dining at restaurants. Many beaches are off-limits or have restrictions to limit crowds. Fireworks shows are canceled and Gov. Gavin Newsom is imploring residents to avoid the holiday tradition of backyard barbecues and other gatherings of relatives and friends.
In about five weeks, the nation’s most populous state went from success story to cautionary tale. Health experts say no single thing went wrong, but contributing factors included a populace made complacent by a long stretch of positive trends, the rapid reopening of businesses, a confusing patchwork of local rules and enforcement, and Newsom’s late adoption of a mandatory mask rule, on June 18.
“On Memorial Day, why did we just unleash the floodgates without a statewide mask order in place? I wish I had an answer to that, and it’s alarming to us,” said Stephanie Roberson, government relations director for the California Nurses Association.
Just before that holiday, about 3,000 people were in the hospital due to the virus; now it’s more than 5,000. Far more people are being tested and in the last two weeks that has helped fuel a nearly 50% jump in confirmed cases to 230,000. But the infection rate also has risen sharply from just over 4% of those tested around Memorial Day to 6% now.
A data-driven governor, Newsom earned plaudits for issuing the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order in mid-March and rapidly moving to shore up the statewide heath care system. The first-term Democrat has been loathe to admit any mistakes during the pandemic, saying all of his decisions were based on the best information available at the time, always in consultation with public health officials.
“It’s easy to criticize but the response in the state, with exception to a few counties, has been thoughtful, responsible, evidence-based, and where it’s been confusing it’s because it’s confusing,” said Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California-San Francisco.
Signs of trouble began to emerge last week. Newsom resumed the near-daily press conferences he’d abandoned and pleaded with Californians to wear face masks. On Sunday he pulled back on his mid-June decision to reopen all bars because health experts say they are particularly prone for virus spread. On Wednesday, he broadened his order and shuttered more bars, wineries, indoor restaurant dining, movie theaters and other indoor entertainment venues for at least three weeks. He also said there should be no more singing at religious services.
“We’re in a very precarious situation,” said Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California-Los Angeles’s Fielding School of Public Health.
She noted that May produced a rapid reopening leading into Memorial Day weekend and then Father’s Day. Many people gathered as they have in the past.
“All of these things together gave ample opportunity for this virus to spread, and I think that this just really demonstrates how quickly we can lose all of the gains that we made,” Rimoin said.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said he has no regrets on how California moved forward. But he said there was “poor execution” of the state’s reopening plan by some businesses and individuals who were more focused on when they could reopen instead of how to do it safely.
“We tried to give people the tools to reduce transmission, and I think in many ways it wasn’t followed,” he said.
Newsom, Ghaly and local health officials now are trying to get the public to again understand the gravity of the situation and the personal responsibility needed to reverse the trend.
The message resonated with Tyler Bertao, a 26-year-old from San Francisco who said he’s “extremely scared” by California’s rising case numbers.
“I think we’re going to have to go into another major lockdown,” he said.
When Newsom issued the stay-at-home order on March 19, the public largely listened and the state fared far better than places such as New York City and New Jersey. Even President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of California, heralded Newsom.
But the one-size-fits-all approach started to face resistance in a massive state with nearly 40 million residents and the world’s fifth-largest economy. By early May, after rolling out a methodical reopening process and under pressure from rural counties with few infections, Newsom began ceding more control to counties to determine which businesses and activities could resume.
“Bottom line is: People can go at their own pace, and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions,” Newsom said May 18. “We’re going to start seeing a lot more activity, let’s just make sure we do it thoughtfully and very, very strategically.”
But the shift toward local control created a patchwork of rules. Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association, said her organization that represents grocery chains, big box stores and others, had long requested more consistency. On masks, she pointed to an Orange County shopping complex with stores in two separate cities with different rules on masks, which made it hard for store workers to deal with an annoyed public.
“Literally you would go from Macy’s furniture store which is in Irvine, which is where you would have to have your mask on, to Best Buy across the street and you wouldn’t,” she said. “Our perspective has always been its easier to have one statewide ordinance or mandate that we all follow that we can all enforce.”
Wachter, of the University California-San Francisco, said a monolithic set of rules wouldn’t have been workable in a state as sprawling as California. But he’s been surprised at how quickly California’s fortunes turned, when cases started to climb in mid-June. That was right around the time when bars, gyms and other high-risk businesses were cleared to open in most counties, and about two weeks after Memorial Day and widespread protests against police violence.
Californians may have adopted a false sense of security when the state didn’t experience the horror facing New York City, he said. More than 30,000 people have died in New York; in California, about 6,000.
“The virus couldn’t care less what the policy of the state is. The virus cares whether it can get to the back of your nose or the back of your throat,” he said.
Going into the weekend, Newsom said the state will create strike teams to enforce the mask order at businesses. As cases surge, that’s one of the most important things the state can do, Rimoin said.
“The mask order of course should have been in place earlier but you also have to be willing to enforce the mask order,” she said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-03--Pence Delayed AZ Trip After Eight Secret Service Agents Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Vice President Mike Pence ’ s trip to Arizona earlier this week was postponed by a day reportedly after several Secret Service agents in his detail tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Washington Post first reported the news on Thursday night .
CNN reported the following morning that eight Secret Service agents in Pence ’ s detail tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the VP ’ s Arizona trip .
According to the Post , citing two senior administration officials , Pence went to Phoenix on Wednesday — instead of its originally scheduled Tuesday date — so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit .
Pence ’ s Arizona trip came as the state emerged as a coronavirus hot spot in recent weeks , prompting the VP to scale back the trip prior to the delay in light of Arizona ’ s surge in coronavirus cases .
One administration official told the Post that members of Pence ’ s staff were concerned last weekend about whether it would be possible to hold planned public events in Tucson and Yuma amid Arizona ’ s spike in coronavirus cases .
On Saturday , Pence ’ s staff decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a public health briefing with Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey ( R ) and local health care leaders .
Two administration officials told the Post that the Secret Service urged Pence on Monday night to delay his Arizona trip originally scheduled for Tuesday until Wednesday after at least one agent had a confirmed coronavirus case .
Additionally , other agents and federal officers preparing for the Arizona trip were showing signs of illness .
Secret Service Director of Communications Catherine Milhoan told CNN in a statement on Friday that “ the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , and that of our protectees remains the agency ’ s highest priority ” and that the agency “ continues to operate in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations through the U.S. Secret Service Office of Safety , Health and Environmental Programs.
” Secret Service agents testing positive for coronavirus ahead of Pence ’ s Arizona trip marks the second time in recent weeks that agents preparing for a White House or Trump campaign event outside Washington contracted the virus .
At least three Secret Service agents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Tulsa rally last month tested positive for the coronavirus .
Hour before the indoor Tulsa rally kicked off , two agents tested positive for the virus .
Dozens of agents who worked during the rally were ordered to self-quarantine upon arriving home .

Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to Arizona earlier this week was postponed by a day reportedly after several Secret Service agents in his detail tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Washington Post first reported the news on Thursday night. CNN reported the following morning that eight Secret Service agents in Pence’s detail tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the VP’s Arizona trip.
According to the Post, citing two senior administration officials, Pence went to Phoenix on Wednesday — instead of its originally scheduled Tuesday date — so that healthy agents could be deployed for his visit.
Pence’s Arizona trip came as the state emerged as a coronavirus hot spot in recent weeks, prompting the VP to scale back the trip prior to the delay in light of Arizona’s surge in coronavirus cases.
One administration official told the Post that members of Pence’s staff were concerned last weekend about whether it would be possible to hold planned public events in Tucson and Yuma amid Arizona’s spike in coronavirus cases. On Saturday, Pence’s staff decided to limit his visit only to Phoenix for a public health briefing with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and local health care leaders.
Two administration officials told the Post that the Secret Service urged Pence on Monday night to delay his Arizona trip originally scheduled for Tuesday until Wednesday after at least one agent had a confirmed coronavirus case. Additionally, other agents and federal officers preparing for the Arizona trip were showing signs of illness.
Secret Service Director of Communications Catherine Milhoan told CNN in a statement on Friday that “the health and safety of our workforce, their families, and that of our protectees remains the agency’s highest priority” and that the agency “continues to operate in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations through the U.S. Secret Service Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Programs.”
Secret Service agents testing positive for coronavirus ahead of Pence’s Arizona trip marks the second time in recent weeks that agents preparing for a White House or Trump campaign event outside Washington contracted the virus.
At least three Secret Service agents in the advance team for President Trump’s Tulsa rally last month tested positive for the coronavirus. Hour before the indoor Tulsa rally kicked off, two agents tested positive for the virus. Dozens of agents who worked during the rally were ordered to self-quarantine upon arriving home.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-04--Trump Buries Head In Sand, Again Blames… Tests For Showing Rise In COVID Cases

President Donald Trump on Saturday bemoaned the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States — and falsely blamed the mammoth uptick on testing itself .
“ If we didn ’ t test so much and so successfully , we would have very few cases , ” Trump said , adding that the United States ’ “ success ” in testing “ gives the Fake News Media all they want , CASES.
” This is hardly the first time Trump has blamed COVID-19 testing itself for the increasing numbers of confirmed infections .
But it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case count increasing to record daily highs , the percentage of positive test results has also increased since mid-June .
When Trump attempted on Thursday to make the same point about test capacity being responsible for the swelling case numbers , reporters pointed to his own “ testing czar , ” Brett Giroir .
Giroir testified Thursday that while more testing leads generally to more discovered cases , “ we do believe this is a real increase in cases , because the percent positives are going up.
” Also on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled.
” But for three days in a row , starting on July 1 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted at least 50,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases daily , a grim record in the United States .
The President did not mention the pandemic in a speech Friday night in front of Mount Rushmore .
Instead , he bashed what he called “ far-left fascism ” and made an appeal to aggrieved white people .
Trump is set for another massive Independence Day event in Washington , D.C. on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Muriel Bowser , has encouraged city residents not to attend due to the risk of spreading COVID-19 .
But she can ’ t cancel Trump ’ s expansive plans : The party will be held on the National Mall , which is federal property .

President Donald Trump on Saturday bemoaned the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States — and falsely blamed the mammoth uptick on testing itself.
“If we didn’t test so much and so successfully, we would have very few cases,” Trump said, adding that the United States’ “success” in testing “gives the Fake News Media all they want, CASES.”
….In a certain way, our tremendous Testing success gives the Fake News Media all they want, CASES. In the meantime, Deaths and the all important Mortality Rate goes down. You don’t hear about that from the Fake News, and you never will. Anybody need any Ventilators??? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2020
This is hardly the first time Trump has blamed COVID-19 testing itself for the increasing numbers of confirmed infections. But it’s a junk talking point.
In addition to the case count increasing to record daily highs, the percentage of positive test results has also increased since mid-June.
When Trump attempted on Thursday to make the same point about test capacity being responsible for the swelling case numbers, reporters pointed to his own “testing czar,” Brett Giroir.
Giroir testified Thursday that while more testing leads generally to more discovered cases, “we do believe this is a real increase in cases, because the percent positives are going up.”
Also on Thursday, Trump said “the crisis is being handled.”
But for three days in a row, starting on July 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted at least 50,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases daily, a grim record in the United States.
The President did not mention the pandemic in a speech Friday night in front of Mount Rushmore. Instead, he bashed what he called “far-left fascism” and made an appeal to aggrieved white people.
Trump is set for another massive Independence Day event in Washington, D.C. on Saturday — the city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has encouraged city residents not to attend due to the risk of spreading COVID-19. But she can’t cancel Trump’s expansive plans: The party will be held on the National Mall, which is federal property.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-04--Trump To Host Second Mass Gathering In Two Days Amid Swelling COVID Case Count

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — As coronavirus cases spike , public health officials are pleading with Americans to avoid large crowds and hold more muted Independence Day celebrations , but subdued is not President Donald Trump ’ s style , and he aimed to go big , promising a “ special evening ” in Washington that could bring tens of thousands to the National Mall .
Trump ’ s “ Salute for America ” celebration on Saturday evening was to include a speech from the White House South Lawn that he said would celebrate American heritage , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an enormous fireworks display that could pack people downtown .
The president kicked off the holiday weekend by traveling to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for a fireworks display Friday night near the mountain carvings of George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt .
In his remarks , he accused protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “ merciless campaign to wipe out our history.
” In a presidential message Saturday on the 244th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the American spirit has undoubtedly been tested by many challenges.
” His Democratic rival , Joe Biden , said in a statement that the U.S. “ never lived up ” to its founding principle that “ all men are created equal , ” but that today “ we have a chance to rip the roots of systemic racism out of this country.
” His participation in big gatherings comes as many communities have decided to scrap fireworks , parades and other holiday traditions .
The goal is to try to prevent further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings could spur .
Confirmed cases are climbing in 40 states , and the U.S. set another record Friday with 52,300 newly reported infections , according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
For the Mount Rushmore event , GOP Gov .
Kristi Noem , a Trump ally , insisted social distancing wasn ’ t necessary and masks were optional .
Trump spent little time in his Mount Rushmore address reflecting on pandemic , which has killed more than 129,000 Americans .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington present a high risk for spread of the virus .
Trump ’ s surgeon general , Jerome Adams , who has stepped up his call for Americans to wear a mask in public , sidestepped when asked during an interview Friday whether he would caution a loved one from attending such large gatherings .
“ It ’ s not a yes or no , ” Adams told NBC ’ s “ Today Show.
” “ Every single person has to make up their own mind.
” Trump has been aching to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been willing to push the envelope further than many state and big city mayors are willing to go .
Last month , he held his first campaign rally since early March in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Trump is accustomed to jam-packed crowds , but the BOK Center was only about one-third full for the president ’ s first rally of the coronavirus era .
Days later , he addressed a packed megachurch for a Students for Trump event in Arizona .
Few attendees at either event wore masks .
Interior officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spectators who gather on the National Mall .
Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt said visitors would be encouraged to wear masks and keep a six-foot distance from one another .
There was no indication that would be mandatory , despite the recommendations of health officials .
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser , who said she didn ’ t have the right to shut down the holiday spectacle because it ’ s on federal land , warned the federal government about the obvious dangers of such a large crowd .
On Friday , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be smart about how they spend the holiday .
“ Just because someone invites you to a party doesn ’ t mean you have to go , ” Bowser tweeted .
—California ’ s governor , Gavin Newsom , warned counties that they risked losing state money if they failed to enforce health orders heading into the holiday weekend .
He urged residents not to gather with people they don ’ t live with and to avoid crowds .
Fireworks shows in Los Angeles , San Francisco , San Diego and elsewhere in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J.B. Pritzker , D-Ill. , said he would not hesitate to close down businesses that don ’ t abide by capacity requirements , and he encouraged people to avoid large crowds .
—Beach closures in prime locations are a pandemic fallout .
Florida ’ s most populous county , Miami-Dade , was closing down again , imposing a curfew and shuttering the sand .
In California , beach closures went from Los Angeles County northward through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties .
To the south in Orange County , hugely popular beaches such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —Even with large public festivities scrapped , sales of consumer fireworks have boomed .
Some officials are concerned about fires and injuries with more pyrotechnics going off in backyards and at block parties .
—Four East Coast cities were to get their own mini-displays of air power before the extensive U.S. military air show over Washington , The “ Salute to the Great Cities of the American Revolution ” involves flyovers in Boston , New York City , Philadelphia and Baltimore .
—About 150 preachers , rabbis and imams intended to frame holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Fourth of July ” on the 168th anniversary of that speech by Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass .
The former slave gave his speech at an Independence Day celebration on July 5 , 1852 , in Rochester , New York .
The address challenged the Founding Fathers and the hypocrisy of their ideals with the existence of slavery on American soil .
Associated Press writers Michelle Liu in Columbia , South Carolina , and Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — As coronavirus cases spike, public health officials are pleading with Americans to avoid large crowds and hold more muted Independence Day celebrations, but subdued is not President Donald Trump’s style, and he aimed to go big, promising a “special evening” in Washington that could bring tens of thousands to the National Mall.
Trump’s “Salute for America” celebration on Saturday evening was to include a speech from the White House South Lawn that he said would celebrate American heritage, as well as a military flyover over the city and an enormous fireworks display that could pack people downtown.
The president kicked off the holiday weekend by traveling to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for a fireworks display Friday night near the mountain carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. In his remarks, he accused protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “merciless campaign to wipe out our history.”
In a presidential message Saturday on the 244th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Trump acknowledged that “over the past months, the American spirit has undoubtedly been tested by many challenges.”
His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, said in a statement that the U.S. “never lived up” to its founding principle that “all men are created equal,” but that today “we have a chance to rip the roots of systemic racism out of this country.”
His participation in big gatherings comes as many communities have decided to scrap fireworks, parades and other holiday traditions. The goal is to try to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, which large gatherings could spur. Confirmed cases are climbing in 40 states, and the U.S. set another record Friday with 52,300 newly reported infections, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
For the Mount Rushmore event, GOP Gov. Kristi Noem, a Trump ally, insisted social distancing wasn’t necessary and masks were optional. Trump spent little time in his Mount Rushmore address reflecting on pandemic, which has killed more than 129,000 Americans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions that mass gatherings like the one scheduled for Washington present a high risk for spread of the virus.
Trump’s surgeon general, Jerome Adams, who has stepped up his call for Americans to wear a mask in public, sidestepped when asked during an interview Friday whether he would caution a loved one from attending such large gatherings. “It’s not a yes or no,” Adams told NBC’s “Today Show.” “Every single person has to make up their own mind.”
Trump has been aching to see the nation return to normalcy, and has been willing to push the envelope further than many state and big city mayors are willing to go.
Last month, he held his first campaign rally since early March in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is accustomed to jam-packed crowds, but the BOK Center was only about one-third full for the president’s first rally of the coronavirus era. Days later, he addressed a packed megachurch for a Students for Trump event in Arizona. Few attendees at either event wore masks.
Interior officials said they would hand out 300,000 face coverings to spectators who gather on the National Mall. Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt said visitors would be encouraged to wear masks and keep a six-foot distance from one another. There was no indication that would be mandatory, despite the recommendations of health officials.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said she didn’t have the right to shut down the holiday spectacle because it’s on federal land, warned the federal government about the obvious dangers of such a large crowd. On Friday, she urged the city’s residents to be smart about how they spend the holiday. “Just because someone invites you to a party doesn’t mean you have to go,” Bowser tweeted.
In other holiday weekend developments:
—California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, warned counties that they risked losing state money if they failed to enforce health orders heading into the holiday weekend. He urged residents not to gather with people they don’t live with and to avoid crowds. Fireworks shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and elsewhere in the state were canceled.
—Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., said he would not hesitate to close down businesses that don’t abide by capacity requirements, and he encouraged people to avoid large crowds.
—Beach closures in prime locations are a pandemic fallout. Florida’s most populous county, Miami-Dade, was closing down again, imposing a curfew and shuttering the sand. In California, beach closures went from Los Angeles County northward through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. To the south in Orange County, hugely popular beaches such as Huntington and Newport were affected.
—Even with large public festivities scrapped, sales of consumer fireworks have boomed. Some officials are concerned about fires and injuries with more pyrotechnics going off in backyards and at block parties.
—Four East Coast cities were to get their own mini-displays of air power before the extensive U.S. military air show over Washington, The “Salute to the Great Cities of the American Revolution” involves flyovers in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
—About 150 preachers, rabbis and imams intended to frame holiday sermons around “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” on the 168th anniversary of that speech by Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The former slave gave his speech at an Independence Day celebration on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. The address challenged the Founding Fathers and the hypocrisy of their ideals with the existence of slavery on American soil.
—-
Associated Press writers Michelle Liu in Columbia, South Carolina, and Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-04--White House Adviser Blames China For ‘Every Bad Thing,’ Dodges Qs On USA’s Unique Failures

In an unhinged interview Friday , the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the Chinese government is responsible for “ every bad thing we ’ re experiencing right now ” — but he couldn ’ t explain why COVID-19 cases are swelling in America while other wealthy nations around the world have begun to smother the disease .
The Chinese government , Navarro told MSNBC ’ s Ali Velshi , “ sent hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals over here to seed and spread the virus.
” And the novel coronavirus itself , he said , looks “ like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a lab — a claim for which the administration has not presented evidence .
Locking down the United States , Navarro asserted , will kill more people through “ alcoholism , depression and the kind of economic fallout we get ” than the disease itself .
The disease has killed around 130,000 people , Velshi responded .
Navarro ignored him , making a different point .
Velshi repeatedly pressed Navarro on whether he actually believed the Chinese government had deliberately sent sick people overseas to infect the citizens of other nations ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think it matters , ” then added later that “ whether it was done intentionally or not , what was intentional is to protect their country even as they sent Chinese nationals out.
” Velshi pressed : Even if that were true , he said , why is the disease so much more prevalent in the United States than elsewhere around the world ?
“ That ’ s a very interesting question , and it goes to the origins of the virus , ” Navarro began , before dodging the question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have an answer .
“ I dispute your characterization , ” he said , adding : “ We ’ re seeing spread in Iraq , across other countries , moving very rapidly .
This is a virus that we have to contain.
” Navarro argued that it was important for Americans to agree on blaming China .
“ We need to start pointing the blame at where it originated , China , ” he said .
“ I get it , it ’ s like the agenda on the media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative energy at Donald J. Trump , ” Navarro added , after Velshi pressed him on Trump ’ s failure to promote masks and social distancing .
But , Navarro said , “ The Chinese Communist Party is responsible for every bad thing we ’ re experiencing right now .
”

In an unhinged interview Friday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the Chinese government is responsible for “every bad thing we’re experiencing right now” — but he couldn’t explain why COVID-19 cases are swelling in America while other wealthy nations around the world have begun to smother the disease.
The Chinese government, Navarro told MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, “sent hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals over here to seed and spread the virus.”
And the novel coronavirus itself, he said, looks “like a weaponized virus” that likely originated in a lab — a claim for which the administration has not presented evidence.
Locking down the United States, Navarro asserted, will kill more people through “alcoholism, depression and the kind of economic fallout we get” than the disease itself.
The disease has killed around 130,000 people, Velshi responded. Navarro ignored him, making a different point.
Velshi repeatedly pressed Navarro on whether he actually believed the Chinese government had deliberately sent sick people overseas to infect the citizens of other nations; Navarro initially said “I don’t think it matters,” then added later that “whether it was done intentionally or not, what was intentional is to protect their country even as they sent Chinese nationals out.”
Velshi pressed: Even if that were true, he said, why is the disease so much more prevalent in the United States than elsewhere around the world?
“That’s a very interesting question, and it goes to the origins of the virus,” Navarro began, before dodging the question. When Velshi pressed again, Navarro didn’t have an answer.
“I dispute your characterization,” he said, adding: “We’re seeing spread in Iraq, across other countries, moving very rapidly. This is a virus that we have to contain.”
Navarro argued that it was important for Americans to agree on blaming China. “We need to start pointing the blame at where it originated, China,” he said.
“I get it, it’s like the agenda on the media, basically, is to focus all the negative energy at Donald J. Trump,” Navarro added, after Velshi pressed him on Trump’s failure to promote masks and social distancing.
But, Navarro said, “The Chinese Communist Party is responsible for every bad thing we’re experiencing right now.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-04--2 Women Hit By Car On Seattle Highway Closed Amid Protests

SEATTLE ( AP ) — Two women were struck by a car whose driver sped through a protest-related closure on a freeway in Seattle , authorities said early Saturday .
A 24-year-old woman from Seattle suffered critical , life-threatening injuries and a 32-year-old woman from Bellingham had serious injuries , Washington State Patrol Capt .
Ron Mead said .
The driver , a 27-year-old man from Seattle , was in custody , Mead said , adding that impairment was not considered a factor .
Charges remain under investigation , as does the motive and point of entry onto the interstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced multiple felony charges and was suspected to have come on the wrong way on a ramp .
Mead said troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack .
Video on social media showed a white car traveling at a high rate of speed navigate around two vehicles positioned across the lanes as a barrier .
The car careened toward a small crowd of protesters on the freeway , striking two people who flew into the air before landing on the ground .
A nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “ Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love ended abruptly ; with about 15 seconds left , shouts of “ Car !
” can be heard as the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard .
The Associated Press could not immediately reach her .
Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , which sparked nationwide protests .
Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “ Capitol Hill Occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the press conference that protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row .
He emphasized that the freeway is “ simply not a safe place ” for pedestrians , and said he hoped protesters would cease what he termed “ unlawful behavior ” in blocking the interstate .
“ My hope is , as a result of this tragedy , protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I can not guarantee their safety , plain and simple , ” Mead said .
Protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour before the car drove around the blockade around 1:36 a.m. , Mead said .
The state patrol tweeted out two pictures of the driver ’ s car , a white Jaguar with significant damage to its bumper and windshield .
Seattle police tweeted that they were assisting with the scene , as southbound lanes of the freeway remained closed for investigation .

SEATTLE (AP) — Two women were struck by a car whose driver sped through a protest-related closure on a freeway in Seattle, authorities said early Saturday.
A 24-year-old woman from Seattle suffered critical, life-threatening injuries and a 32-year-old woman from Bellingham had serious injuries, Washington State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead said.
The driver, a 27-year-old man from Seattle, was in custody, Mead said, adding that impairment was not considered a factor. Charges remain under investigation, as does the motive and point of entry onto the interstate, but Mead said the unnamed man faced multiple felony charges and was suspected to have come on the wrong way on a ramp.
Mead said troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack.
Video on social media showed a white car traveling at a high rate of speed navigate around two vehicles positioned across the lanes as a barrier. The car careened toward a small crowd of protesters on the freeway, striking two people who flew into the air before landing on the ground.
A nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “Black Femme March takes I-5” from Diaz Love ended abruptly; with about 15 seconds left, shouts of “Car!” can be heard as the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard. The Associated Press could not immediately reach her.
Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked nationwide protests. Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” zone Wednesday morning.
Mead said at the press conference that protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row. He emphasized that the freeway is “simply not a safe place” for pedestrians, and said he hoped protesters would cease what he termed “unlawful behavior” in blocking the interstate.
“My hope is, as a result of this tragedy, protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I cannot guarantee their safety, plain and simple,” Mead said.
Protesters were on the freeway for more than an hour before the car drove around the blockade around 1:36 a.m., Mead said.
The state patrol tweeted out two pictures of the driver’s car, a white Jaguar with significant damage to its bumper and windshield.
Seattle police tweeted that they were assisting with the scene, as southbound lanes of the freeway remained closed for investigation.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-04--Trump Makes Appeal To Whites In Rant Against ‘Far-Left Fascism’ At Mount Rushmore

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL , S.D .
( AP ) — At the foot of Mount Rushmore on the eve of Independence Day , President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to disaffected white voters four months before Election Day , accusing protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “ merciless campaign to wipe out our history.
” The president dug further into American divisions Friday , offering a discordant tone to an electorate battered by a pandemic and wounded by racial injustice following the high-profile killings of Black people .
He zeroed in on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues across the country that honor those who have benefited from slavery , including some past presidents .
“ This movement is openly attacking the legacies of every person on Mount Rushmore , ” Trump said .
He lamented “ cancel culture ” and charged that some on the political left hope to “ defame our heroes , erase our values and indoctrinate our children.
” He said Americans should speak proudly of their heritage and shouldn ’ t have to apologize for its history .
“ We will not be terrorized , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will not be intimidated by bad , evil people , ” Trump added .
“ It will not happen.
” The speech and fireworks at Mount Rushmore came against the backdrop of a pandemic that has killed over 125,000 Americans .
The president flew across the nation to gather a big crowd of supporters , most of them maskless and all of them flouting public health guidelines that recommend not gathering in large groups .
The discord was heightened as the Trump campaign confirmed during the president ’ s speech that Kimberly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and the girlfriend of Trump ’ s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. , had tested positive for the coronavirus while in South Dakota .
Both Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. , who serves as a top surrogate for the president , are isolating themselves and have canceled public events , according to Sergio Gor , chief of staff to the Trump campaign ’ s finance committee .
During the speech , the president announced he was signing an executive order to establish the National Garden of American Heroes , a vast outdoor park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ greatest Americans to ever live.
” Amid the campaign headwinds , the president has sharpened his focus on his most ardent base of supporters as concern grows inside his campaign that his poll numbers in the battleground states that will decide the 2020 election are slipping .
Trump in recent weeks has increasingly lashed out at “ left-wing mobs , ” used a racist epithet to refer to the coronavirus and visited the nation ’ s southern border to spotlight progress on his 2016 campaign promise to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign rally , had the feel of one as the friendly crowd greeted Trump with chants of “ Four more years !
” and cheered enthusiastically as he and first lady Melania Trump took the stage .
“ They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive , ” Trump said .
“ But no , the American people are strong and proud , and they will not allow our country and all of its values , history and culture to be taken from them.
” Republican Gov .
Kristi Noem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponents who “ are trying to wipe away the lessons of history.
” “ Make no mistake : This is being done deliberately to discredit America ’ s founding principles by discrediting the individuals who formed them , ” she said .
The small town of Keystone , which lies a couple of miles from the monument , was buzzing with people Friday hoping to catch a glimpse of the fireworks and the president .
Many wore pro-Trump T-shirts and hats .
Few wore masks .
“ This is going to rank up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I talk about , ” said Mike Stewhr , who brought his family from Nebraska .
Mike Harris of Rapid City , who said he was a Republican , wore a mask and waved an anti-Trump flag .
He also was sporting a handgun on each hip .
He said he was worried the event would spark a COVID-19 outbreak .
“ I think it ’ s a bad example being set by our president and our governor , ” Harris said .
Leaders of several Native American tribes in the region raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus outbreaks among their members , who they say are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of an underfunded health care system and chronic health conditions .
“ The president is putting our tribal members at risk to stage a photo op at one of our most sacred sites , ” said Harold Frazier , chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe .
Some Native American groups used Trump ’ s visit to protest the Mount Rushmore memorial itself , pointing out that the Black Hills were taken from the Lakota people .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lined the road leading from Keystone to the monument holding signs and playing Lakota music in 95-degree heat .
Some held their fists in the air as cars loaded with event attendees passed by .
Others held signs that read “ Protect SoDak ’ s First People , ” “ You Are On Stolen Land ” and “ Dismantle White Supremacy.
” “ The president needs to open his eyes .
We ’ re people , too , and it was our land first , ” said Hehakaho Waste , a spiritual elder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 protesters were arrested after blocking a road and missing a police-imposed deadline to leave .
Several people who once oversaw fire danger at the national memorial had said setting off fireworks over the forest was a bad idea that could lead to a large wildfire .
Fireworks were called off after 2009 because a mountain pine beetle infestation increased the fire risks .
Noem pushed to get the fireworks resumed soon after she was elected , and enlisted Trump ’ s help .
The president brushed aside fire concerns earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It ’ s stone.
” Trump has presided over a several large-crowd events — in Tulsa , Oklahoma , and at an Arizona megachurch — even as health officials warn against large gatherings and recommend face masks and social distancing .
He plans a July Fourth celebration on the National Mall in Washington despite health concerns from D.C. ’ s mayor .
Trump and Melania Trump plan to host events from the White House South Lawn and from the Ellipse .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Aamer Madhani in Washington and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report .

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, S.D. (AP) — At the foot of Mount Rushmore on the eve of Independence Day, President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to disaffected white voters four months before Election Day, accusing protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “merciless campaign to wipe out our history.”
The president dug further into American divisions Friday, offering a discordant tone to an electorate battered by a pandemic and wounded by racial injustice following the high-profile killings of Black people. He zeroed in on the desecration by some protesters of monuments and statues across the country that honor those who have benefited from slavery, including some past presidents.
“This movement is openly attacking the legacies of every person on Mount Rushmore,” Trump said. He lamented “cancel culture” and charged that some on the political left hope to “defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children.” He said Americans should speak proudly of their heritage and shouldn’t have to apologize for its history.
“We will not be terrorized, we will not be demeaned, and we will not be intimidated by bad, evil people,” Trump added. “It will not happen.”
The speech and fireworks at Mount Rushmore came against the backdrop of a pandemic that has killed over 125,000 Americans. The president flew across the nation to gather a big crowd of supporters, most of them maskless and all of them flouting public health guidelines that recommend not gathering in large groups.
The discord was heightened as the Trump campaign confirmed during the president’s speech that Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top fundraiser for the campaign and the girlfriend of Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr., had tested positive for the coronavirus while in South Dakota. Both Guilfoyle and Trump Jr., who serves as a top surrogate for the president, are isolating themselves and have canceled public events, according to Sergio Gor, chief of staff to the Trump campaign’s finance committee.
During the speech, the president announced he was signing an executive order to establish the National Garden of American Heroes, a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the “greatest Americans to ever live.”
Amid the campaign headwinds, the president has sharpened his focus on his most ardent base of supporters as concern grows inside his campaign that his poll numbers in the battleground states that will decide the 2020 election are slipping.
Trump in recent weeks has increasingly lashed out at “left-wing mobs,” used a racist epithet to refer to the coronavirus and visited the nation’s southern border to spotlight progress on his 2016 campaign promise to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
The event, while not a campaign rally, had the feel of one as the friendly crowd greeted Trump with chants of “Four more years!” and cheered enthusiastically as he and first lady Melania Trump took the stage.
“They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive,” Trump said. “But no, the American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country and all of its values, history and culture to be taken from them.”
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem echoed Trump’s attacks against his opponents who “are trying to wipe away the lessons of history.”
“Make no mistake: This is being done deliberately to discredit America’s founding principles by discrediting the individuals who formed them,” she said.
The small town of Keystone, which lies a couple of miles from the monument, was buzzing with people Friday hoping to catch a glimpse of the fireworks and the president. Many wore pro-Trump T-shirts and hats. Few wore masks.
“This is going to rank up in the top Fourth of Julys that I talk about,” said Mike Stewhr, who brought his family from Nebraska.
Mike Harris of Rapid City, who said he was a Republican, wore a mask and waved an anti-Trump flag. He also was sporting a handgun on each hip. He said he was worried the event would spark a COVID-19 outbreak.
“I think it’s a bad example being set by our president and our governor,” Harris said.
Leaders of several Native American tribes in the region raised concerns that the event could lead to virus outbreaks among their members, who they say are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of an underfunded health care system and chronic health conditions.
“The president is putting our tribal members at risk to stage a photo op at one of our most sacred sites,” said Harold Frazier, chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Some Native American groups used Trump’s visit to protest the Mount Rushmore memorial itself, pointing out that the Black Hills were taken from the Lakota people.
More than 100 protesters, many Lakota, lined the road leading from Keystone to the monument holding signs and playing Lakota music in 95-degree heat. Some held their fists in the air as cars loaded with event attendees passed by. Others held signs that read “Protect SoDak’s First People,” “You Are On Stolen Land” and “Dismantle White Supremacy.”
“The president needs to open his eyes. We’re people, too, and it was our land first,” said Hehakaho Waste, a spiritual elder with the Oglala Sioux tribe.
About 15 protesters were arrested after blocking a road and missing a police-imposed deadline to leave.
Several people who once oversaw fire danger at the national memorial had said setting off fireworks over the forest was a bad idea that could lead to a large wildfire. Fireworks were called off after 2009 because a mountain pine beetle infestation increased the fire risks.
Noem pushed to get the fireworks resumed soon after she was elected, and enlisted Trump’s help. The president brushed aside fire concerns earlier this year, saying: “What can burn? It’s stone.”
Trump has presided over a several large-crowd events — in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and at an Arizona megachurch — even as health officials warn against large gatherings and recommend face masks and social distancing. He plans a July Fourth celebration on the National Mall in Washington despite health concerns from D.C.’s mayor. Trump and Melania Trump plan to host events from the White House South Lawn and from the Ellipse.
___
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Aamer Madhani in Washington and Todd Richmond in Madison, Wis., contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--Texas Mayors Hit Back At Trump’s Claim That 99% Of COVID-19 Cases Are ‘Harmless’

The mayors of two Texas metropolitan areas on Sunday expressed their dismay with President Trump ’ s false claim that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ totally harmless.
” Texas is currently considered a coronavirus hotspot , along with Florida and Texas , as it recently recorded six straight days of confirmed new cases above 5,000 .
The Lone Star state reported a record daily increase of 8,258 coronavirus cases and 7,890 hospitalizations on Saturday .
On Thursday , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) issued a statewide rule requiring masks to be worn in public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisted taking the firm measures that other COVID-ravaged states adopted in light of surges in coronavirus cases .
During a Fourth of July event at the White House South Lawn on Saturday , the President claimed , without evidence , that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ totally harmless ” thanks to testing almost 40 million people for the viral disease .
When pressed on Trump ’ s baseless claim the day before , the mayors of Houston and Austin highly disagreed with the President ’ s assertion .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : When asked whether the President ’ s baseless claim that 99 % of COVID-19 cases are “ totally harmless ” holds up in Houston , Turner told CBS News ’ Margaret Brennan that “ no , that ’ s not the case.
” “ I will tell you , a month ago one in 10 people were testing positive .
Today , it ’ s one in four , ” Turner said .
“ The number of people who are getting sick and going to the hospitals has exponentially increased .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has exponentially increased.
” Turner added that “ if we don ’ t get our hands around this virus quickly , ” Houston ’ s hospital system could be “ in serious trouble ” in about two weeks .
Pressed on Trump ’ s false claim that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ completely harmless ” during an interview on CNN , Adler said that the President ’ s remark “ makes me angry ” and that it ’ s “ dangerous not to be sending a clear message to Americans.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we need everybody wearing masks , ” Adler said .
“ And when they start hearing that kind of ambiguous message coming out of Washington , there are more and more people that won ’ t wear masks , that won ’ t social distance , that won ’ t do what it takes to keep a community safe.
” Adler argued that the President ’ s messaging is “ wrong ” and “ dangerous.
” “ I just have to hope that people aren ’ t going to listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what they ’ re hearing here more locally , ” Adler said , before adding that Austin is “ standing ready ” for another stay-at-home order due to being on a trajectory showing that intensive care units could be inundated within the next week .

The mayors of two Texas metropolitan areas on Sunday expressed their dismay with President Trump’s false claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless.”
Texas is currently considered a coronavirus hotspot, along with Florida and Texas, as it recently recorded six straight days of confirmed new cases above 5,000. The Lone Star state reported a record daily increase of 8,258 coronavirus cases and 7,890 hospitalizations on Saturday.
On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a statewide rule requiring masks to be worn in public, marking a whiplash-inducing reversal after he long resisted taking the firm measures that other COVID-ravaged states adopted in light of surges in coronavirus cases.
During a Fourth of July event at the White House South Lawn on Saturday, the President claimed, without evidence, that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless” thanks to testing almost 40 million people for the viral disease.
When pressed on Trump’s baseless claim the day before, the mayors of Houston and Austin highly disagreed with the President’s assertion.
Here’s what the Texas mayors had to say:
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
When asked whether the President’s baseless claim that 99% of COVID-19 cases are “totally harmless” holds up in Houston, Turner told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan that “no, that’s not the case.”
“I will tell you, a month ago one in 10 people were testing positive. Today, it’s one in four,” Turner said. “The number of people who are getting sick and going to the hospitals has exponentially increased. The number of people in our ICU beds has exponentially increased.”
Turner added that “if we don’t get our hands around this virus quickly,” Houston’s hospital system could be “in serious trouble” in about two weeks.
Watch Turner’s remarks below:
Houston Mayor Mayor Sylvester Turner says Trump's claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are "harmless" is "not the case” pic.twitter.com/uNproW8dLw — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) July 5, 2020
Austin Mayor Steve Adler
Pressed on Trump’s false claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “completely harmless” during an interview on CNN, Adler said that the President’s remark “makes me angry” and that it’s “dangerous not to be sending a clear message to Americans.”
“We have the July 4 weekend, and we need everybody wearing masks,” Adler said. “And when they start hearing that kind of ambiguous message coming out of Washington, there are more and more people that won’t wear masks, that won’t social distance, that won’t do what it takes to keep a community safe.”
Adler argued that the President’s messaging is “wrong” and “dangerous.”
“I just have to hope that people aren’t going to listen to that, and they will stay focused on what they’re hearing here more locally,” Adler said, before adding that Austin is “standing ready” for another stay-at-home order due to being on a trajectory showing that intensive care units could be inundated within the next week.
Watch Adler’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--Susan Rice Rips Trump For Claiming He Was Never Briefed On Russia Bounty Plot

Former national security adviser Susan Rice on Sunday slammed President Trump for claiming that he was never briefed on the intelligence suggesting Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
In the past week , Trump has downplayed the Russia bounty plot allegations in tweets by saying that it ’ s “ possibly another fabricated Russia hoax ” and that he was “ never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level.
” Last week , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also denied that the President was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference .
During an interview on MSNBC , Rice was pressed on her thoughts regarding the President referring to reports on the Russia bounty plot as a “ hoax.
” Rice argued that it sends a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he “ can kill American servicemen and women with absolute impunity.
” “ This is an extraordinary revelation .
The President of the United States has demonstrated absolutely callous disregard for the safety and security of American forces in a war zone and there ’ s no explanation for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Trump has not offered reassurance to the public that he “ will get to the bottom of this intelligence.
” Rice then said that she does not “ buy this story that he was never briefed ” because her successor John Bolton “ would have walked straight into the Oval Office ” like she would have and “ informed the President of this intelligence.
” According to an Associated Press report , Trump was briefed on the intelligence by Bolton in March 2019 .
Intelligence on the Russia bounty plot was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily briefing in late February this year .
The President Rice went on to say that as national security adviser “ you don ’ t wait until you have 100 % certainty ” but instead “ you tell the commander-in-chief what he needs to know when he needs to know it.
” “ And so now they ’ re claiming , well he wasn ’ t told .
Well , if that ’ s the case , then maybe these advisers in 2020 when the information came back again failed to tell him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she “ wouldn ’ t doubt that ” because Trump ’ s advisers are “ scared of him.
” “ But the point is our servicemen and women are in a war zone vulnerable , ” Rice said .
“ We have credible information that suggests that the Russians and maybe Putin himself are trying to kill American service members and the President calls it a hoax .
”

Former national security adviser Susan Rice on Sunday slammed President Trump for claiming that he was never briefed on the intelligence suggesting Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
In the past week, Trump has downplayed the Russia bounty plot allegations in tweets by saying that it’s “possibly another fabricated Russia hoax” and that he was “never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level.” Last week, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also denied that the President was briefed on the matter during a press conference.
During an interview on MSNBC, Rice was pressed on her thoughts regarding the President referring to reports on the Russia bounty plot as a “hoax.”
Rice argued that it sends a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he “can kill American servicemen and women with absolute impunity.”
“This is an extraordinary revelation. The President of the United States has demonstrated absolutely callous disregard for the safety and security of American forces in a war zone and there’s no explanation for this,” Rice said, before questioning why Trump has not offered reassurance to the public that he “will get to the bottom of this intelligence.”
Rice then said that she does not “buy this story that he was never briefed” because her successor John Bolton “would have walked straight into the Oval Office” like she would have and “informed the President of this intelligence.”
According to an Associated Press report, Trump was briefed on the intelligence by Bolton in March 2019. Intelligence on the Russia bounty plot was also reportedly in the President’s written daily briefing in late February this year. The President
Rice went on to say that as national security adviser “you don’t wait until you have 100% certainty” but instead “you tell the commander-in-chief what he needs to know when he needs to know it.”
“And so now they’re claiming, well he wasn’t told. Well, if that’s the case, then maybe these advisers in 2020 when the information came back again failed to tell him,” Rice said.
Rice added that she “wouldn’t doubt that” because Trump’s advisers are “scared of him.”
“But the point is our servicemen and women are in a war zone vulnerable,” Rice said. “We have credible information that suggests that the Russians and maybe Putin himself are trying to kill American service members and the President calls it a hoax.”
Watch Rice’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--NJ Governor Urges National Mask Requirement: ‘Not Debatable’

New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy ( D ) on Sunday said that there should be a national mask requirement to combat the spread of COVID-19 as cases spike in several cities , during an interview on MSNBC .
When asked about President Trump ’ s baseless claim during a Fourth of July event at the White House saying that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ harmless , ” Murphy responded “ this thing is lethal ” and that New Jersey “ paid an enormous price ” before calling for a “ national strategy.
” “ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re starting to see small spikes in reinfection from folks coming back from places like Myrtle Beach , as well as in Florida , other hot spots , ” Murphy said .
“ To me it says we need a national strategy .
We ’ re only as strong as our weakest link right now.
” Murphy added that his state “ went through hell ” and “ can not afford to go through hell again.
” “ We need a national strategy I think right now , ” Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be at the core of that.
” After praising New Jerseyans for doing “ the right thing since the get-go ” and touting the state ’ s contact tracing program , Murphy was asked whether he thinks that there should be a national mask requirement .
Murphy agreed , saying “ I do ” and that the issue of wearing masks has “ become almost not even debatable.
” “ Certainly when you ’ re going out and absolutely indoors , ” Murphy said .
“ As I mentioned , this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside .
But if you ’ re leaving your house put on a mask .
I think it ought to be a national , a national requirement.
” Murphy ’ s call to issue a nationwide mask requirement comes on the heels of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stopping short of committing to making mask requirements mandatory even after finally encouraging the public to wear masks .
Last week , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) told CNN that it ’ s “ definitely long overdue ” for a federal @ @ @ @ @

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Sunday said that there should be a national mask requirement to combat the spread of COVID-19 as cases spike in several cities, during an interview on MSNBC.
When asked about President Trump’s baseless claim during a Fourth of July event at the White House saying that 99% of coronavirus cases are “harmless,” Murphy responded “this thing is lethal” and that New Jersey “paid an enormous price” before calling for a “national strategy.”
“We’ve lost over 13,000 confirmed fatalities from COVID-19. We’re starting to see small spikes in reinfection from folks coming back from places like Myrtle Beach, as well as in Florida, other hot spots,” Murphy said. “To me it says we need a national strategy. We’re only as strong as our weakest link right now.”
Murphy added that his state “went through hell” and “cannot afford to go through hell again.”
“We need a national strategy I think right now,” Murphy said. “And masking has got to be at the core of that.”
After praising New Jerseyans for doing “the right thing since the get-go” and touting the state’s contact tracing program, Murphy was asked whether he thinks that there should be a national mask requirement.
Murphy agreed, saying “I do” and that the issue of wearing masks has “become almost not even debatable.”
“Certainly when you’re going out and absolutely indoors,” Murphy said. “As I mentioned, this virus is a lot more lethal inside than outside. But if you’re leaving your house put on a mask. I think it ought to be a national, a national requirement.”
Murphy’s call to issue a nationwide mask requirement comes on the heels of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stopping short of committing to making mask requirements mandatory even after finally encouraging the public to wear masks.
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told CNN that it’s “definitely long overdue” for a federal mandate on wearing masks.
Watch Murphy’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--AR Gov: I Would’ve ‘Liked To See More’ Masks At Trump’s SD Event But It’s A ‘Controlled Environment’

Gov .
Asa Hutchinson ( R-AR ) said that he would ’ ve liked to see more face coverings at President Trump ’ s Fourth of July weekend event at Mount Rushmore , but that it was held in a “ controlled environment , ” during an interview on MSNBC Sunday .
When Hutchinson — who signed an executive order that allows cities to mandate masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 on Friday — was pressed on President Trump ’ s refusal to wear a mask in public and holding large gatherings over the weekend , the Arkansas governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that were originally scheduled this weekend were canceled .
Hutchinson then argued that he thinks “ it is good that we celebrate our independence.
” Hutchinson said that Trump ’ s Fourth of July event in South Dakota was held in “ a controlled environment ” before adding that he “ would have liked to have seen more face coverings there in order to set an example.
” However , Hutchinson noted that there is “ virus fatigue ” in the country .
“ And you have to live life , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but you have to be in a controlled environment in which you do protect yourself and others and take it seriously , ” Hutchinson said .
“ So there ’ s this balance of reflecting to America how serious this is and the big fight that we ’ re in , but at the same time let ’ s manage our way through this so that we can continue to live life even though we ’ re all very , very tired of this virus.
” When pressed on the lack of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s South Dakota event , Hutchinson reiterated that “ there should have been face coverings ” but that it was a “ controlled environment.
” “ They should have followed guidelines there .
You know , I know that it ’ s a controlled environment , so it ’ s really more about setting example , ” Hutchinson said .
“ But , I know how important this was to ( South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem ) .
She ’ s been asking the President about this months ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up at the last minute , it was planned , and it was a controlled environment.
” When asked about what his response would be if Trump wanted to hold a rally in Arkansas , in light of Secret Service agents and other members of his advance contracting the coronavirus , Hutchinson replied that “ there would have to be social distancing and wearing of masks if you can ’ t social distance.
” “ You have to follow our guidelines and that ’ s what we would insist upon , ” Hutchinson @ @

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) said that he would’ve liked to see more face coverings at President Trump’s Fourth of July weekend event at Mount Rushmore, but that it was held in a “controlled environment,” during an interview on MSNBC Sunday.
When Hutchinson — who signed an executive order that allows cities to mandate masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 on Friday — was pressed on President Trump’s refusal to wear a mask in public and holding large gatherings over the weekend, the Arkansas governor first pointed out that events in his state that were originally scheduled this weekend were canceled. Hutchinson then argued that he thinks “it is good that we celebrate our independence.”
Hutchinson said that Trump’s Fourth of July event in South Dakota was held in “a controlled environment” before adding that he “would have liked to have seen more face coverings there in order to set an example.”
However, Hutchinson noted that there is “virus fatigue” in the country.
“And you have to live life, you can’t stop every activity, but you have to be in a controlled environment in which you do protect yourself and others and take it seriously,” Hutchinson said. “So there’s this balance of reflecting to America how serious this is and the big fight that we’re in, but at the same time let’s manage our way through this so that we can continue to live life even though we’re all very, very tired of this virus.”
When pressed on the lack of social distancing and the thousands of people at Trump’s South Dakota event, Hutchinson reiterated that “there should have been face coverings” but that it was a “controlled environment.”
“They should have followed guidelines there. You know, I know that it’s a controlled environment, so it’s really more about setting example,” Hutchinson said. “But, I know how important this was to (South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem). She’s been asking the President about this months ago. This was not something that was set up at the last minute, it was planned, and it was a controlled environment.”
When asked about what his response would be if Trump wanted to hold a rally in Arkansas, in light of Secret Service agents and other members of his advance contracting the coronavirus, Hutchinson replied that “there would have to be social distancing and wearing of masks if you can’t social distance.”
“You have to follow our guidelines and that’s what we would insist upon,” Hutchinson said.
Watch Hutchinson’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--Ernst: Obama ‘Failed’ On Ebola But Trump Is ‘Stepping Forward’ On COVID-19

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) on Sunday bashed former President Barack Obama ’ s handling of Ebola , a viral disease that two Americans died from , but praised President Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus as cases surge in several cities .
When pressed by CNN ’ s Dana Bash on Sunday morning about whether she ’ d criticize Trump now that almost 130,000 Americans died from the coronavirus — given how she criticized Obama during her Senate run in 2014 by accusing him of “ failed leadership ” on Ebola — Ernst replied that “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” before emphasizing the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing .
“ We all should do our part to make sure that we are protecting others as well .
So this is a virus that ’ s not going to go away soon , ” Ernst said .
“ We want to make sure that we are watching this and doing everything that we can as a federal government , including the research and development of therapeutics and vaccinations to make sure that we are doing the right thing as a nation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership himself on coronavirus , Ernst denied the notion by arguing that he is “ stepping forward ” and pointing out that Vice President Mike Pence that is “ spearheading the task force efforts on the coronavirus.
” Ernst went on to respond to pushback from Democrats when the President tried to shut down travel from “ some of those hot spots.
” “ It was an extremely difficult environment to operate , ” Ernst said .
“ You know , we know different today than we did at the beginning of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should continually learn from those efforts and make sure we are doing the right thing by moving our nation forward .
”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Sunday bashed former President Barack Obama’s handling of Ebola, a viral disease that two Americans died from, but praised President Trump’s response to the coronavirus as cases surge in several cities.
When pressed by CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday morning about whether she’d criticize Trump now that almost 130,000 Americans died from the coronavirus — given how she criticized Obama during her Senate run in 2014 by accusing him of “failed leadership” on Ebola — Ernst replied that “we all have responsibility in stopping the spread” before emphasizing the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing.
“We all should do our part to make sure that we are protecting others as well. So this is a virus that’s not going to go away soon,” Ernst said. “We want to make sure that we are watching this and doing everything that we can as a federal government, including the research and development of therapeutics and vaccinations to make sure that we are doing the right thing as a nation.”
Asked whether the President is exhibiting failed leadership himself on coronavirus, Ernst denied the notion by arguing that he is “stepping forward” and pointing out that Vice President Mike Pence that is “spearheading the task force efforts on the coronavirus.”
Ernst went on to respond to pushback from Democrats when the President tried to shut down travel from “some of those hot spots.”
“It was an extremely difficult environment to operate,” Ernst said. “You know, we know different today than we did at the beginning of the spread of the virus, and we should continually learn from those efforts and make sure we are doing the right thing by moving our nation forward.”
Watch Ernst’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-05--FDA Chief Won’t Refute Trump’s Claim That 99% Of Coronavirus Cases Are ‘Harmless’

FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn on Sunday wouldn ’ t push back on President Trump ’ s baseless claim that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ totally harmless ” during a Fourth of July event at the White House South Lawn .
On Saturday , the President said , without evidence , that due to testing almost 40 million people for the coronavirus , “ we show cases , 99 % of which are totally harmless.
” When CNN ’ s Dana Bash pressed Hahn on Trump ’ s comment the following morning , Hahn acknowledge the surging coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ it ’ s too early ” and won ’ t “ speculate on what the causation is there.
” After Hahn said that “ the way out of this ” is for all Americans is to follow the CDC and the White House Coronavirus Task Force ’ s guidelines , Bash circled back to the question of how Hahn feels about Trump ’ s baseless claim that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ totally harmless ” as a member of the task force .
“ I totally support the CDC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out with respect to this pandemic .
I think it ’ s , again , really important , ” Hahn said .
“ The guidelines that we ’ ve emphasized , the data that we have — again , it ’ s a rapidly evolving situation and we ’ re going to have more data .
But we absolutely must take this seriously .
We must institute these public health measures .
We can not back off from those .
It ’ s a critically important for Americans to follow those guidelines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again on Trump ’ s false claim , Hahn responded that he ’ s “ not going to get into who is right and who is wrong.
” “ What I ’ m going to say , Dana , is what I ’ ve said before : it ’ s a serious problem that we have , ” Hahn said .
“ We ’ ve seen the surge in cases .
We must do something to stem the tide , and we have this in our power to do this by following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC.
” When Bash asked Hahn why he won ’ t say whether Trump ’ s claim was true or false , Hahn said that the White House Coronavirus Task Force has data showing “ this is a serious problem ” that “ people need to take it seriously .
”

FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn on Sunday wouldn’t push back on President Trump’s baseless claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless” during a Fourth of July event at the White House South Lawn.
On Saturday, the President said, without evidence, that due to testing almost 40 million people for the coronavirus, “we show cases, 99% of which are totally harmless.”
When CNN’s Dana Bash pressed Hahn on Trump’s comment the following morning, Hahn acknowledge the surging coronavirus cases in the country, but said that “it’s too early” and won’t “speculate on what the causation is there.”
After Hahn said that “the way out of this” is for all Americans is to follow the CDC and the White House Coronavirus Task Force’s guidelines, Bash circled back to the question of how Hahn feels about Trump’s baseless claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless” as a member of the task force.
“I totally support the CDC and the information that they’re putting out with respect to this pandemic. I think it’s, again, really important,” Hahn said. “The guidelines that we’ve emphasized, the data that we have — again, it’s a rapidly evolving situation and we’re going to have more data. But we absolutely must take this seriously. We must institute these public health measures. We cannot back off from those. It’s a critically important for Americans to follow those guidelines and to protect the most vulnerable.”
Pressed again on Trump’s false claim, Hahn responded that he’s “not going to get into who is right and who is wrong.”
“What I’m going to say, Dana, is what I’ve said before: it’s a serious problem that we have,” Hahn said. “We’ve seen the surge in cases. We must do something to stem the tide, and we have this in our power to do this by following the guidance from the task force and the CDC.”
When Bash asked Hahn why he won’t say whether Trump’s claim was true or false, Hahn said that the White House Coronavirus Task Force has data showing “this is a serious problem” that “people need to take it seriously.”
Watch Hahn’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-06--Bubonic Plague Case Emerges In China’s Inner Mongolia Region, Authorities Report

BEIJING ( AP ) — While China appears to have reduced coronavirus cases to near zero , other infectious threats remain , with local health authorities announcing a suspected bubonic plague case in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region .
Authorities in the Bayannur district raised the plague warning on Sunday , ordered residents not to hunt wild animals such as marmots and to send for treatment anyone with fever or showing other possible signs of infection .
Plague can be fatal in up to 90 % of people infected if not treated , primarily with several types of antibiotics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and results in a severe lung infection causing shortness of breath , headache and coughing .
China has largely eradicated plague , but occasional cases are still reported , especially among hunters coming into contact with fleas carrying the bacterium .
The last major known outbreak was in 2009 , when several people died in the town of Ziketan in Qinghai province on the Tibetan Plateau .
Along with the coronavirus , first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year , China has dealt with African swine fever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gone weeks without reporting a new death from the coronavirus , and on Monday reported just one new case of local infection in the capital , Beijing .

BEIJING (AP) — While China appears to have reduced coronavirus cases to near zero, other infectious threats remain, with local health authorities announcing a suspected bubonic plague case in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Authorities in the Bayannur district raised the plague warning on Sunday, ordered residents not to hunt wild animals such as marmots and to send for treatment anyone with fever or showing other possible signs of infection.
Plague can be fatal in up to 90% of people infected if not treated, primarily with several types of antibiotics.
Pneumonic plague can develop from bubonic plague and results in a severe lung infection causing shortness of breath, headache and coughing.
China has largely eradicated plague, but occasional cases are still reported, especially among hunters coming into contact with fleas carrying the bacterium. The last major known outbreak was in 2009, when several people died in the town of Ziketan in Qinghai province on the Tibetan Plateau.
Along with the coronavirus, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, China has dealt with African swine fever, which has devastated pig herds.
China has gone weeks without reporting a new death from the coronavirus, and on Monday reported just one new case of local infection in the capital, Beijing.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-06--Trump Camp Says Supporters Are ‘Strongly Encouraged’ To Wear Masks At  Upcoming Rally

The Trump campaign on Sunday took a small step toward attempting to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at one of President Donald Trump ’ s upcoming rallies .
In its announcement of an outdoor rally scheduled for Saturday at Portsmouth International Airport in Portsmouth , New Hampshire , the campaign urged supporters to wear masks at the event .
“ There will be ample access to hand sanitizer and all attendees will be provided a face mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear , ” the campaign stated in its announcement .
The recommendation marks a modest increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective measures against the virus .
Barely any supporters wore masks at Trump ’ s last rally in Phoenix , Arizona , less than two weeks ago , nor did the campaign hold temperature checks as it had promised prior to the event .
The President himself has infamously eschewed health officials ’ recommendation to wear facial coverings when out in public .
He has also falsely claimed on numerous occasions that the virus is “ going away.
” It is unclear whether Trump will wear a mask at his upcoming rally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to TPM ’ s query .
As with previous rallies , the event ’ s registration page requires attendees to agree to not hold the Trump campaign legally responsible if they become infected with COVID-19 .

The Trump campaign on Sunday took a small step toward attempting to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at one of President Donald Trump’s upcoming rallies.
In its announcement of an outdoor rally scheduled for Saturday at Portsmouth International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the campaign urged supporters to wear masks at the event.
“There will be ample access to hand sanitizer and all attendees will be provided a face mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear,” the campaign stated in its announcement.
The recommendation marks a modest increase in the Trump campaign’s virtually nonexistent protective measures against the virus. Barely any supporters wore masks at Trump’s last rally in Phoenix, Arizona, less than two weeks ago, nor did the campaign hold temperature checks as it had promised prior to the event.
The President himself has infamously eschewed health officials’ recommendation to wear facial coverings when out in public. He has also falsely claimed on numerous occasions that the virus is “going away.”
It is unclear whether Trump will wear a mask at his upcoming rally in Portsmouth. The campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s query.
As with previous rallies, the event’s registration page requires attendees to agree to not hold the Trump campaign legally responsible if they become infected with COVID-19.