talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--New CDC Study Finds COVID Has Led To 24,000 Deaths In NYC

The true death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City is more than 24,000 people , according to a new Centers for Disease Control report .
The number reflects what the CDC believes could be the number of total “ excess deaths ” — deaths that would otherwise not have occurred but for the pandemic — that have taken place from March 11 until May 2 .
The agency used city-level death data from the first COVID-19 fatality in New York City on March 11 to come up with the number .
The study ’ s objective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total excess death number in New York City “ in the setting of widespread community transmission.
” From March 11 to May 2 , the CDC said , a total of 32,107 deaths were recorded in the five boroughs by New York City ’ s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene .
Using death data from previous years , the CDC established a baseline , expected death rate of around 8,000 for the same time period .
Subtracting that from the number of total deaths recorded gave researchers an estimate of 24,172 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers used a similar method after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico to better understand both deaths from the storm and secondary deaths due to factors — such as lack of access to medical — after the storm passed , leaving the island devastated .
Data analyzed by TPM in mid-April suggested that as of April 13 , 2020 , 13,000 New Yorkers had died of COVID-19 and other causes who would otherwise be alive .
Within the 24,171 excess deaths through May 2 calculated by the CDC are 13,831 people who tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,048 deaths of what the city refers to as “ probable ” COVID-19 deaths : people who died with the symptoms of the illness but who were either never tested or never tested positive .
That leaves 5,293 more people who died in New York City above the seasonal average .
Those deaths , the CDC said , could be yet more undiagnosed COVID-19 cases , or could be people who simply died because the world around them had slowly broken down .
That includes deaths due to delays in health care , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demand on hospitals and health care providers , and public fear related to COVID-19 , ” according to the CDC .
The pandemic is not yet over , and death counts are still preliminary , the CDC cautioned .

The true death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City is more than 24,000 people, according to a new Centers for Disease Control report.
The number reflects what the CDC believes could be the number of total “excess deaths” — deaths that would otherwise not have occurred but for the pandemic — that have taken place from March 11 until May 2.
The agency used city-level death data from the first COVID-19 fatality in New York City on March 11 to come up with the number. The study’s objective, the CDC said, was to estimate the total excess death number in New York City “in the setting of widespread community transmission.”
From March 11 to May 2, the CDC said, a total of 32,107 deaths were recorded in the five boroughs by New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Using death data from previous years, the CDC established a baseline, expected death rate of around 8,000 for the same time period.
Subtracting that from the number of total deaths recorded gave researchers an estimate of 24,172 deaths more than would have been expected.
Researchers used a similar method after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico to better understand both deaths from the storm and secondary deaths due to factors — such as lack of access to medical — after the storm passed, leaving the island devastated.
Data analyzed by TPM in mid-April suggested that as of April 13, 2020, 13,000 New Yorkers had died of COVID-19 and other causes who would otherwise be alive.
Within the 24,171 excess deaths through May 2 calculated by the CDC are 13,831 people who tested positive for COVID-19, and an additional 5,048 deaths of what the city refers to as “probable” COVID-19 deaths: people who died with the symptoms of the illness but who were either never tested or never tested positive.
That leaves 5,293 more people who died in New York City above the seasonal average. Those deaths, the CDC said, could be yet more undiagnosed COVID-19 cases, or could be people who simply died because the world around them had slowly broken down.
That includes deaths due to delays in health care, due to “social distancing practices, the demand on hospitals and health care providers, and public fear related to COVID-19,” according to the CDC.
The pandemic is not yet over, and death counts are still preliminary, the CDC cautioned.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--Anti-Shutdown Protesters Do Workouts While Accusing Govt Of Depriving Them Of Workout Places

Protesters in Clearwater , Florida who are claiming that the government has stripped them of a place to exercise are @ @ @ @ @ … exercising freely .
Local NBC news affiliate WFLA News Channel 8 tweeted videos on @ @ @ @ @ demanding that gyms be allowed to reopen after they were shut down by the state @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 outbreak .
The protesters are seen doing push-ups and squats on the sidewalk @ @ @ @ @ , clearly having found a way to exercise without the gyms they claim to need @ @ @ @ @ Rick DeSantis ( R ) has already begun opening up the state , gyms don @ @ @ @ @ “ Phase One ” process of letting non-essential businesses reopen .
Gyms will open up @ @ @ @ @ which has not been given a start date yet .

Protesters in Clearwater, Florida who are claiming that the government has stripped them of a place to exercise are fighting against their oppression by … exercising freely.
Local NBC news affiliate WFLA News Channel 8 tweeted videos on Monday of about 30 people demanding that gyms be allowed to reopen after they were shut down by the state’s stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The protesters are seen doing push-ups and squats on the sidewalk in front of a courthouse, clearly having found a way to exercise without the gyms they claim to need.
WATCH: Protesters calling for gyms to reopen in Florida are doing squats and push-ups outside the Clearwater courthouse https://t.co/3BVzxHQPEJ #Florida #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/3cjgQ6kaM8 — WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) May 11, 2020
Although Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis (R) has already begun opening up the state, gyms don’t fall under his “Phase One” process of letting non-essential businesses reopen. Gyms will open up shop at Phase Two, which has not been given a start date yet.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--WH Memo Directs Everyone To Wear Masks When Entering West Wing

WASHINGTON — The White House is requiring everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask or face covering @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
A memo sent to all staff outlined the new directive Monday after @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
The memo says : “ We are requiring everyone who enters @ @ @ @ @ a mask or facial covering.
” Staff will be allowed to remove their face coverings @ @ @ @ @ six feet apart from their colleagues .
The directive is meant to protect the president @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask in public and in private .

WASHINGTON — The White House is requiring everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask or face covering after coronavirus scares near President Donald Trump.
A memo sent to all staff outlined the new directive Monday after two staffers last week tested positive for COVID-19.
The memo says: “We are requiring everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask or facial covering.”
Staff will be allowed to remove their face coverings if they sit at least six feet apart from their colleagues.
The directive is meant to protect the president, who has refrained from wearing a mask in public and in private.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--Florida Set For Another Loss In Ex-Felon Voting Case

This piece is part of our weekly Prime series on voting rights , but it has been moved outside of the paywall while we cover COVID-19 .
The trial judge presiding over the blockbuster ex-felon voting case in Florida signaled Wednesday that he was inclined to give ex-felons at least a partial victory in the case , which almost certainly will be appealed .
The decision would be the latest in a string of defeats the state has suffered defending the so-called “ poll tax ” law , which requires that ex-felons pay back all court fees in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP legislators passed the law last year after voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding the franchise to certain ex-felons .
As the trial wrapped up last week , U.S. District Judge Hinkle hinted he ’ d be issuing some sort of order to protect the voting rights of ex-felons who were unable to pay back court fees , while noting that he ’ d do so quickly given the likely appeal .
GOP Resistance To Mail-In Voting Intensifies : As states and private litigators seek to expand absentee voting for the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit policy changes that make absentee voting easier : • None The Trump campaign and national GOP has doubled its budget for fighting such efforts in court .
• None Oklahoma GOP legislators are trying to reinstate an absentee voting witness requirement , after a court knocked it down .
• None Republicans want to block a lawsuit seeking to extend the absentee voting deadlines in Pennsylvania .
Dems Claim Victory In Nevada Voter Access Push : Democrats are dropping their lawsuit challenging Nevada ’ s plans for its pandemic election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bluest county announced changes to its policies for the June primary .
Clark County will now mail ballots to all its registered voters , not just those listed as active , and the county is setting up additional in-person voting locations as well as a process for remedying issues with voters ’ signatures on their absentee ballots .
Dems Expand ‘ Four Pillars ’ Approach To Pandemic Voting Legal War : Democratic-aligned groups filed several more lawsuits capitalizing on a so-called “ four pillars ” approach to absentee voting .
In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week brought new cases in Florida , North Carolina and Georgia .
The lawsuits touch on some or all of the four big absentee voting issues that Democrats are focusing on : • None Deadlines that allow ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted • None Policies that permit certain third party groups to collect and submit absentee ballots • None Processes that allow voters to fix signature match issues and other discrepancies on their ballots .
California Goes All In On Vote-By-Mail : With an executive order from Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the first state since the pandemic to adopt a fully vote-by-mail system — in which every voter is mailed a ballot — for November ’ s elections .
Elections in five states were vote-by-mail before the pandemic , and California was already trending in that direction given that over half of its voters were already using absentee ballots to vote in the state .
The state will still provide in-person voting opportunities as well .

This piece is part of our weekly Prime series on voting rights, but it has been moved outside of the paywall while we cover COVID-19.
The trial judge presiding over the blockbuster ex-felon voting case in Florida signaled Wednesday that he was inclined to give ex-felons at least a partial victory in the case, which almost certainly will be appealed. The decision would be the latest in a string of defeats the state has suffered defending the so-called “poll tax” law, which requires that ex-felons pay back all court fees in order to regain the right to vote. Florida GOP legislators passed the law last year after voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding the franchise to certain ex-felons. As the trial wrapped up last week, U.S. District Judge Hinkle hinted he’d be issuing some sort of order to protect the voting rights of ex-felons who were unable to pay back court fees, while noting that he’d do so quickly given the likely appeal.
GOP Resistance To Mail-In Voting Intensifies: As states and private litigators seek to expand absentee voting for the pandemic, Republicans have upped their efforts to try to limit policy changes that make absentee voting easier:
The Trump campaign and national GOP has doubled its budget for fighting such efforts in court.
Oklahoma GOP legislators are trying to reinstate an absentee voting witness requirement, after a court knocked it down.
Republicans want to block a lawsuit seeking to extend the absentee voting deadlines in Pennsylvania.
Dems Claim Victory In Nevada Voter Access Push: Democrats are dropping their lawsuit challenging Nevada’s plans for its pandemic election, after the state’s largest and bluest county announced changes to its policies for the June primary. Clark County will now mail ballots to all its registered voters, not just those listed as active, and the county is setting up additional in-person voting locations as well as a process for remedying issues with voters’ signatures on their absentee ballots.
Dems Expand ‘Four Pillars’ Approach To Pandemic Voting Legal War: Democratic-aligned groups filed several more lawsuits capitalizing on a so-called “four pillars” approach to absentee voting. In addition to a previous lawsuit in South Carolina, last week brought new cases in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. The lawsuits touch on some or all of the four big absentee voting issues that Democrats are focusing on:
Paid postage for sending in ballots
Deadlines that allow ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted
Policies that permit certain third party groups to collect and submit absentee ballots
Processes that allow voters to fix signature match issues and other discrepancies on their ballots.
California Goes All In On Vote-By-Mail: With an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), California became the first state since the pandemic to adopt a fully vote-by-mail system — in which every voter is mailed a ballot — for November’s elections. Elections in five states were vote-by-mail before the pandemic, and California was already trending in that direction given that over half of its voters were already using absentee ballots to vote in the state. The state will still provide in-person voting opportunities as well.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--NYT: Skadden Paid $11M To Settle Claim Arising From Manafort’s Ukraine Work

The New York Times has an answer to a mystery first launched by Ukrainian financial disclosures last week .
White shoe law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom paid out at least $ 11 million to settle allegations stemming from an operation imprisoned former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort ran to whitewash the Ukrainian government ’ s 2011 imprisonment of a political opponent , the paper reports .
Ukrainian public financial disclosures showed last week that former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her lawyer Serhiy Vlasov declared around $ 5.5 million in “ foreign income ” from Reid Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in plaintiff-brought , professional liability suits .
The Times reported that Tymoshenko had contemplated bringing a case over the firm ’ s “ role in aiding her political prosecution , ” and that the settlement would “ avert a suit over its role in justifying her imprisonment by a political rival.
” A Skadden spokeswoman did not return repeated requests for comment .
On advice from Manafort , the government of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych hired the firm to write a report that would publicly exonerate it of any wrongdoing in the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a politician imprisoned by the Ukrainian government at the time who enticed President Trump last year with bogus information about Joe Biden .
At the time , Kyiv faced an international outcry over the prosecutions .
As a political adviser to Yanukovych , Manafort arranged for Skadden ’ s then-star partner and former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig to bring a team of lawyers to Ukraine to write the report .
Manafort also arranged for Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk to pay Skadden $ 4 million for the report .
In finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political opponent was not politically motivated , the report gave Yanukovych political cover at home and abroad .
U.S. officials described Skadden ’ s report as a whitewash .
For Manafort , Skadden fit into a larger effort to made Yanukovych palatable to the West .
Prosecutors in the Mueller investigation later released evidence showing that he ran a secret , international lobbying campaign to launder the regime into the West ’ s good graces .
But everything that has transpired since the $ 4 million report ’ s release has hugely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on mergers and with Wall Street bigwigs .
Its former client – Yanukovych – was overthrown after his government shot 100 protestors to death on the streets of Kyiv , while the firm ’ s work in Ukraine took the spotlight at various points in the Mueller investigation .
The firm paid the Ukrainian government more than $ 500,000 in 2017 , and paid $ 4.6 million to the DOJ last year as part of a separate settlement in which it agreed to retroactively register as a foreign agent of the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and acquitted – of lying to the Justice Department about his role in disseminating the report .
Tymoshenko said in a Facebook post last week that she had received “ monetary compensation for damages , incurred by the political repression from 2011-2014 ” from a U.S. entity as part of a “ pretrial resolution , ” a description she also used in the asset declaration that revealed the settlement .
“ There will be no other details about this matter due to legislative regulations in the U.S. regarding legal restrictions , ” Tymoshenko @ @

The New York Times has an answer to a mystery first launched by Ukrainian financial disclosures last week.
White shoe law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom paid out at least $11 million to settle allegations stemming from an operation imprisoned former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort ran to whitewash the Ukrainian government’s 2011 imprisonment of a political opponent, the paper reports.
Ukrainian public financial disclosures showed last week that former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her lawyer Serhiy Vlasov declared around $5.5 million in “foreign income” from Reid Collins & Tsai, a law firm specializing in plaintiff-brought, professional liability suits.
The Times reported that Tymoshenko had contemplated bringing a case over the firm’s “role in aiding her political prosecution,” and that the settlement would “avert a suit over its role in justifying her imprisonment by a political rival.”
A Skadden spokeswoman did not return repeated requests for comment.
On advice from Manafort, the government of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych hired the firm to write a report that would publicly exonerate it of any wrongdoing in the prosecution and imprisonment of Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko, a politician imprisoned by the Ukrainian government at the time who enticed President Trump last year with bogus information about Joe Biden.
At the time, Kyiv faced an international outcry over the prosecutions. As a political adviser to Yanukovych, Manafort arranged for Skadden’s then-star partner and former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig to bring a team of lawyers to Ukraine to write the report. Manafort also arranged for Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk to pay Skadden $4 million for the report.
In finding that the government’s imprisonment of a political opponent was not politically motivated, the report gave Yanukovych political cover at home and abroad. U.S. officials described Skadden’s report as a whitewash.
For Manafort, Skadden fit into a larger effort to made Yanukovych palatable to the West. Prosecutors in the Mueller investigation later released evidence showing that he ran a secret, international lobbying campaign to launder the regime into the West’s good graces.
But everything that has transpired since the $4 million report’s release has hugely embarrassed Skadden, known mostly for its work on mergers and with Wall Street bigwigs. Its former client – Yanukovych – was overthrown after his government shot 100 protestors to death on the streets of Kyiv, while the firm’s work in Ukraine took the spotlight at various points in the Mueller investigation.
The firm paid the Ukrainian government more than $500,000 in 2017, and paid $4.6 million to the DOJ last year as part of a separate settlement in which it agreed to retroactively register as a foreign agent of the Ukrainian government.
Craig was later prosecuted – and acquitted – of lying to the Justice Department about his role in disseminating the report.
Tymoshenko said in a Facebook post last week that she had received “monetary compensation for damages, incurred by the political repression from 2011-2014” from a U.S. entity as part of a “pretrial resolution,” a description she also used in the asset declaration that revealed the settlement.
“There will be no other details about this matter due to legislative regulations in the U.S. regarding legal restrictions,” Tymoshenko added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--WH Adviser Belittles Media Coverage Of Staggering Unemployment As ‘Pity Party’

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday disparaged the media ’ s coverage of the staggering 14.7 percent unemployment rate in April caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ That was a pity party yesterday on the Sunday shows , ” Navarro complained on “ Fox and Friends , ” singling out CBS News “ Face the Nation ” host Margaret Brennan , ABC News “ This Week ” host George Stephanopoulos and “ Fox News Sunday ” host Chris Wallace .
“ This is not the Great Depression , ” the White House official continued .
“ Anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t understand either history or economics.
” Navarro claimed that President Donald Trump had built “ the strongest and most beautiful economy ” before the virus took hold .
“ Now it ’ s going to be a long process because of the structural adjustments that are going to take place as we adapt to the virus socially and culturally and economically , ” he said .
“ But this Great Depression pity party stuff I saw yesterday , this ain ’ t that.
” But two of Navarro ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , had participated in said “ pity party ” on the Sunday morning shows and agreed that the onslaught of job losses is in fact headed toward Great Depression territory .
“ To get unemployment rates like the ones that we ’ re about to see , which I think will climb up towards 20 percent by next month , you have to really go back to the Great Depression to see that , ” Hassett said during an interview on “ Meet the Press.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he appeared on “ Fox News Sunday.
” “ Aren ’ t we talking close to 25 percent at this point , which is Great Depression neighborhood ?
” Wallace asked .
“ Chris , we could be , ” said the Trump administration official , who also predicted that the job “ probably going to get worse before they get better .
”

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday disparaged the media’s coverage of the staggering 14.7 percent unemployment rate in April caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That was a pity party yesterday on the Sunday shows,” Navarro complained on “Fox and Friends,” singling out CBS News “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan, ABC News “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos and “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace.
“This is not the Great Depression,” the White House official continued. “Anybody who thinks this is the Great Depression doesn’t understand either history or economics.”
Navarro claimed that President Donald Trump had built “the strongest and most beautiful economy” before the virus took hold.
“Now it’s going to be a long process because of the structural adjustments that are going to take place as we adapt to the virus socially and culturally and economically,” he said. “But this Great Depression pity party stuff I saw yesterday, this ain’t that.”
But two of Navarro’s own colleagues, White House senior economic adviser Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, had participated in said “pity party” on the Sunday morning shows and agreed that the onslaught of job losses is in fact headed toward Great Depression territory.
“To get unemployment rates like the ones that we’re about to see, which I think will climb up towards 20 percent by next month, you have to really go back to the Great Depression to see that,” Hassett said during an interview on “Meet the Press.”
Mnuchin had a similarly grim estimate when he appeared on “Fox News Sunday.”
“Aren’t we talking close to 25 percent at this point, which is Great Depression neighborhood?” Wallace asked.
“Chris, we could be,” said the Trump administration official, who also predicted that the job “probably going to get worse before they get better.”
Watch Navarro below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--CO Restaurant Swamped With Mother’s Day Crowd After Bucking ‘Stay-At-Home’ Order

A Colorado restaurant that opened for in-person dining in violation of the state ’ s COVID-19 orders hosted hundreds of people for Mother ’ s Day breakfast and brunch this weekend .
C & C Coffee and Kitchen , in Castle Rock , hosted about 500 people on Sunday , local Fox affiliate KDVR reported .
Video of the scene from Colorado Community Media ’ s Nick Puckett showed nary a mask in sight as diners stuffed the restaurant to the gills .
C & C ’ s owner said the crowd was almost double what they ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Puckett reported .
“ I ’ m healthy , ” one diner told the reporter .
“ I ’ m in good shape , and I don ’ t think it ’ s as serious as they say.
” Tagging President Donald Trump on Twitter , the restaurant said in a tweet Saturday that it was “ standing for America , small businesses , the Constitution and against the overreach of our governor in Colorado !
!
” “ Attention !
” read a sign on C & C ’ s front window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end where your fear begins .
If you are scared stay at home !
If you are afraid to be within 6ft of another person do not enter this business !
” Dotted with diners in Americana and Trump hats , the restaurant operated at standing room only on Sunday : Occupants milled around in- and outside of C & C , rubbing elbows and waiting for service .
A “ bouncer ” at the restaurant ’ s door sported a hip-holstered handgun — effective against rowdy brunchers , perhaps , but useless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diners was Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville , of Castle Rock , who was criticized in March for saying that the COVID-19 orders issued by Colorado ’ s Jewish governor , Jared Polis , had led to a “ gestapo-like mentality.
” Enthusiastic as the diners were , polling indicates they ’ re in a minority .
A Magellan Strategies poll of Coloradans commissioned by Healthier Colorado and the Colorado Health Foundation and conducted from April 15-21 found that 64 % of Coloradans supported measures to slow the spread of coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing becomes available .
That number was the same among Coloradans who lost a job , worked fewer paid hours or saw their income decrease due to COVID-19 .
More recent national polling broadly shows similar support for stay-at-home measures and concerns about “ reopening ” local businesses too quickly .
One diner , who ’ d ordered a curbside pickup meal from C & C and arrived to see the assembled crowd , left without his meal out of concern about the lack of social distancing at the restaurant .
The Tri-County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority , told Denver CBS affiliate KCNC that the restaurant ’ s decision to serve eat-in diners “ runs the risk of undermining the impact that other Douglas County businesses and residents have achieved over the last seven weeks by taking various social distancing measures.
” But Tri-County officials , like others around the country who ’ ve sought to enforce social distancing orders , are facing pushback : One TCHD office has been vandalized several times in recent weeks , Denver NBC affiliate KUSA reported last week .
An emailed threat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ you ’ re about to start a hot-shooting no bulls*** civil war .
”

A Colorado restaurant that opened for in-person dining in violation of the state’s COVID-19 orders hosted hundreds of people for Mother’s Day breakfast and brunch this weekend.
C&C Breakfast & Korean Kitchen in Castle Rock, hosted about 500 people on Sunday, local Fox affiliate KDVR reported.
Video of the scene from Colorado Community Media’s Nick Puckett showed nary a mask in sight as diners stuffed the restaurant to the gills. C&C’s owner said the crowd was almost double what they’ve seen on past Mother’s Days, Puckett reported.
Happy Mother’s Day from C& C in Castle Rock, where the owner said this is almost double a normal Mother’s Day. pic.twitter.com/cPSzjmAfAg — Nick Puckett (@nick__puckett) May 10, 2020
“I’m healthy,” one diner told the reporter. “I’m in good shape, and I don’t think it’s as serious as they say.”
Tagging President Donald Trump on Twitter, the restaurant said in a tweet Saturday that it was “standing for America, small businesses, the Constitution and against the overreach of our governor in Colorado!!”
“Attention!” read a sign on C&C’s front window. “Our freedom doesn’t end where your fear begins. If you are scared stay at home! If you are afraid to be within 6ft of another person do not enter this business!”
Dotted with diners in Americana and Trump hats, the restaurant operated at standing room only on Sunday: Occupants milled around in- and outside of C&C, rubbing elbows and waiting for service.
A “bouncer” at the restaurant’s door sported a hip-holstered handgun — effective against rowdy brunchers, perhaps, but useless against a viral plague. Among the diners was Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, of Castle Rock, who was criticized in March for saying that the COVID-19 orders issued by Colorado’s Jewish governor, Jared Polis, had led to a “gestapo-like mentality.”
Enthusiastic as the diners were, polling indicates they’re in a minority.
A Magellan Strategies poll of Coloradans commissioned by Healthier Colorado and the Colorado Health Foundation and conducted from April 15-21 found that 64% of Coloradans supported measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, even business closures, while more widespread testing becomes available. That number was the same among Coloradans who lost a job, worked fewer paid hours or saw their income decrease due to COVID-19.
More recent national polling broadly shows similar support for stay-at-home measures and concerns about “reopening” local businesses too quickly.
One diner, who’d ordered a curbside pickup meal from C&C and arrived to see the assembled crowd, left without his meal out of concern about the lack of social distancing at the restaurant.
“It was unbelievable,” Nick Whitehill told the Denver Post.
The Tri-County Health Department, the local public health authority, told Denver CBS affiliate KCNC that the restaurant’s decision to serve eat-in diners “runs the risk of undermining the impact that other Douglas County businesses and residents have achieved over the last seven weeks by taking various social distancing measures.”
But Tri-County officials, like others around the country who’ve sought to enforce social distancing orders, are facing pushback: One TCHD office has been vandalized several times in recent weeks, Denver NBC affiliate KUSA reported last week. An emailed threat to the department last week included the line, “you’re about to start a hot-shooting no bulls*** civil war.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-11--Trump Demands FCC Censor NBC And Chuck Todd After Host Criticizes Barr

President Donald Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) to go after NBC and its “ Meet the Press ” anchor Chuck Todd , on Monday and Sunday in series of unhinged tweets in response to Todd ’ s criticism of Attorney General Bill Barr .
Trump was incensed by Todd , whom the President calls “ Sleepy Eyes , ” saying Barr “ didn ’ t make the case that he was upholding the rule of law ” when the Trump official discussed the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop Michael Flynn ’ s case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked Todd for not including Barr ’ s comment that “ fair history would say it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law ” in the clip NBC had played of the attorney general .
“ @ FCC THIS IS A DISGRACE , EVEN WORSE THAN @ NBC USUALLY IS , WHICH IS REALLY BAD , ” Trump tweeted on Monday morning .
“ SLEEPY EYES MUST BE FIRED !
” He had posted a similar demand the night before in which he tagged both the FCC and FCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Todd should be FIRED by “ Concast ” ( NBC ) for this fraud .
He knew exactly what he was doing .
Public Airwaves = Fake News !
@ AjitPaiFCC @ FCC ” During a panel on “ Meet the Press ” on Sunday morning , Todd had played a clip of Barr telling CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge last week that “ history ’ s written by the winners , so it largely depends on who ’ s writing the history ” when she asked how history would view the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immediately after Barr made the comment , the program cut to Todd telling the panel he was “ struck ” by “ the cynicism ” of the attorney general ’ s response .
“ He didn ’ t make the case that he was upholding the rule of law , ” the NBC host said .
“ He was almost admitting that yeah , this is a political job.
” The clip did not include Barr ’ s next remark : “ But I think a fair history would say that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law.
” “ Meet the Press ” apologized to Kerri Kupec , Barr ’ s spokesperson , via Twitter after she complained about Todd .
“ Earlier today , we inadvertently and inaccurately cut short a video clip of an interview with AG Barr before offering commentary and analysis , ” the program ’ s Twitter account said .
“ The remaining clip included important remarks from the attorney general that we missed , and we regret the error.
” The FCC and NBC ’ s communication offices did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of writing .

President Donald Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to go after NBC and its “Meet the Press” anchor Chuck Todd, on Monday and Sunday in series of unhinged tweets in response to Todd’s criticism of Attorney General Bill Barr.
Trump was incensed by Todd, whom the President calls “Sleepy Eyes,” saying Barr “didn’t make the case that he was upholding the rule of law” when the Trump official discussed the Justice Department’s decision to drop Michael Flynn’s case on Fox News. Right-wingers on Twitter attacked Todd for not including Barr’s comment that “fair history would say it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law” in the clip NBC had played of the attorney general.
“@FCC THIS IS A DISGRACE, EVEN WORSE THAN
@NBC USUALLY IS, WHICH IS REALLY BAD,” Trump tweeted on Monday morning. “SLEEPY EYES MUST BE FIRED!”
He had posted a similar demand the night before in which he tagged both the FCC and FCC chair Ajit Pai.
“Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd should be FIRED by “Concast” (NBC) for this fraud. He knew exactly what he was doing. Public Airwaves = Fake News! @AjitPaiFCC @FCC”
During a panel on “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, Todd had played a clip of Barr telling CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge last week that “history’s written by the winners, so it largely depends on who’s writing the history” when she asked how history would view the DOJ’s decision on Flynn.
Immediately after Barr made the comment, the program cut to Todd telling the panel he was “struck” by “the cynicism” of the attorney general’s response.
“He didn’t make the case that he was upholding the rule of law,” the NBC host said. “He was almost admitting that yeah, this is a political job.”
The clip did not include Barr’s next remark: “But I think a fair history would say that it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law.”
“Meet the Press” apologized to Kerri Kupec, Barr’s spokesperson, via Twitter after she complained about Todd.
“Earlier today, we inadvertently and inaccurately cut short a video clip of an interview with AG Barr before offering commentary and analysis,” the program’s Twitter account said. “The remaining clip included important remarks from the attorney general that we missed, and we regret the error.”
The FCC and NBC’s communication offices did not respond to request for comment at the time of writing.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--It Doesn’t Sound Like Flynn’s Judge Is Done With His Case Just Yet

After days of silence , the federal judge overseeing Michael Flynn ’ s criminal case made his first public move since the Justice Department announced its controversial request to drop the prosecution .
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued a lengthy , yet also cryptic , order Thursday that announced he would , “ at an appropriate time , ” lay out a schedule for him to consider friend-of-the-court briefs .
Typically , and as Sullivan ’ s ordered noted , friend-of-the-court briefs ( also known as amicus briefs ) are submitted by outside parties wishing to weigh in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sullivan ’ s court allow for such briefs .
Such a move in a criminal case is unusual .
“ There is no analogous rule in the Local Criminal Rules ” Sullivan said .
But then he quoted a local rule that said ” [ the Local Civil ] Rules govern all proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
” “ Although there is no corollary in the Local Criminal Rules to Local Civil Rule 7 ( o ) , a person or entity may seek leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curiae brief in a criminal case , ” he later added .
His order cited other cases addressing the submission of friend-of-the-court briefs .
One he quoted said amicus briefs can be allowed when a party has not been adequately represented , when there is another case that could be affected by the one before the judge , or when the amicus “ has unique information or perspective that can help the court beyond the help that the lawyers for the parties are able to provide .
“ Sullivan appeared to caution that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the court briefing turn into a zoo .
His order quoted from U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson when she denied a friend-of-court brief in Roger Stone ’ s case : “ while there may be individuals with an interest in this matter , a criminal proceeding is not a free for all.
” Perhaps coincidentally , the Stone case was another prosecution in which the Justice Department radically reversed course , prompting career prosecutors to withdraw .
It is unclear whether Sullivan publicly laid out this guidance because he anticipated outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because he wanted to encourage the filing of amicus briefs or because someone had already tried to file an amicus brief .
( CNN noted earlier Tuesday that there is a docket entry in the Flynn case for which the underlying filing has not been made public . )
But regardless , the order suggests that Sullivan is not going to be wrapping up the case up ASAP , as he intends to provide an opportunity for the filing of friend-of-the-court briefs .
Such briefing might not ultimately get in the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop Flynn ’ s case .
But it would at least provide of forum for concerns about the DOJ ’ s reversal to be aired publicly before the judge .
See the full order below :

After days of silence, the federal judge overseeing Michael Flynn’s criminal case made his first public move since the Justice Department announced its controversial request to drop the prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued a lengthy, yet also cryptic, order Thursday that announced he would, “at an appropriate time,” lay out a schedule for him to consider friend-of-the-court briefs.
Typically, and as Sullivan’s ordered noted, friend-of-the-court briefs (also known as amicus briefs) are submitted by outside parties wishing to weigh in on civil cases, and the local rules for Sullivan’s court allow for such briefs. Such a move in a criminal case is unusual.
“There is no analogous rule in the Local Criminal Rules” Sullivan said. But then he quoted a local rule that said”[the Local Civil] Rules govern all proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.”
“Although there is no corollary in the Local Criminal Rules to Local Civil Rule 7(o), a person or entity may seek leave of the Court to file an amicus curiae brief in a criminal case,” he later added.
His order cited other cases addressing the submission of friend-of-the-court briefs. One he quoted said amicus briefs can be allowed when a party has not been adequately represented, when there is another case that could be affected by the one before the judge, or when the amicus “has unique information or perspective that can help the court beyond the help that the lawyers for the parties are able to provide. “
Sullivan appeared to caution that he wouldn’t let the friends of the court briefing turn into a zoo. His order quoted from U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson when she denied a friend-of-court brief in Roger Stone’s case: “while there may be individuals with an interest in this matter, a criminal proceeding is not a free for all.” Perhaps coincidentally, the Stone case was another prosecution in which the Justice Department radically reversed course, prompting career prosecutors to withdraw.
It is unclear whether Sullivan publicly laid out this guidance because he anticipated outside parties would want to file amicus briefs, because he wanted to encourage the filing of amicus briefs or because someone had already tried to file an amicus brief. (CNN noted earlier Tuesday that there is a docket entry in the Flynn case for which the underlying filing has not been made public.)
But regardless, the order suggests that Sullivan is not going to be wrapping up the case up ASAP, as he intends to provide an opportunity for the filing of friend-of-the-court briefs.
Such briefing might not ultimately get in the way of the Justice Department’s move to drop Flynn’s case. But it would at least provide of forum for concerns about the DOJ’s reversal to be aired publicly before the judge.
See the full order below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--MI AG Pushes For Speedy Hearing After Barber Defying Stay-At-Home Order Gets Legal Win

Karl Manke , a barber in Owosso , Michigan , has not been shy about his defiance of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s ( D ) stay-at-home order .
Attracting the support of the official sheriff and unofficial local militia , he has flung wide the doors of his business weeks before Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order expires at the end of May .
And on Monday , he also got legal backing for his position .
Shiawassee County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Stewart denied the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ’ request for a temporary restraining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
Dana Nessel , Michigan ’ s attorney general , had filed the request on the health department ’ s behalf .
“ The Court wanted to provide Mr. Manke with an opportunity for a hearing on the request for an injunction , despite the clear public health dangers that continued operation of his business creates , ” Ryan Jarvi , Nessel ’ s press secretary , told TPM of Stewart ’ s ruling .
Now , the attorney general and state health department must wait for Manke to have his day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his business will spread both the disease and the notion that ignoring Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order has few consequences .
“ The State is seeking to schedule a hearing as soon as possible , ” Jarvi added .
Manke , meanwhile , has become a cause célèbre among those in the state chafing under Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home orders .
Giving a full-fledged press conference Monday outside his barbershop after the judge ’ s decision , he said that leaving his business shuttered until Whitmer ’ s order expired would “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve always worked , ” Manke said .
“ I never looked for handouts ; I don ’ t know what they are.
” “ I thought I was gon na swing in the wind alone , ” he added .
“ You would not believe the support I got , ” he said as his words were drowned out by cheers of “ we love you , Karl !
” and supportive honking from nearby cars .
Manke ’ s lawyer , Dave Kallman , said that the barber was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believes it is illegal .
“ Since the legislature refused to extend the declaration of emergency back on April 30 , that emergency ended , according to state law , ” Kallman said to raucous applause .
That ’ s the same argument being made by the Republican-controlled state legislature , both chambers of which sued Whitmer in the Michigan state Court of Claims for extending her emergency declaration via executive order after they allowed it to expire .
The legislature , citing the Emergency Management Act of 1976 , argues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers ’ approval .
Whitmer , citing another state law , maintains that she can legally go it alone .
“ These executive orders are not a suggestion , they ’ re not optional , they ’ re not helpful hints , ” she said .
“ This is an order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , which is a deadly virus , so that we can save lives .
And I expect all Michiganders to comply with the law , unless and until a court decides to the contrary.
” Manke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ignore Whitmer ’ s orders .
On Monday , Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole posted a letter to Facebook declaring his refusal to enforce the stay-at-home order .
“ With limited resources , staffing and facilities , our priority focus will be on enforcing duly passed laws for the protection of Shiawassee County citizens , ” he wrote .
“ I have decided , within my authority , that our office can not and will not divert our primary resources and efforts towards enforcement of Governor Whitmer ’ s executive orders.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avenues .
Members of the Michigan militia , a well-armed paramilitary organization , posted themselves outside of the barbershop over the weekend and vowed to protect Manke from arrest .
“ Yesterday six troopers came in to enforce the governor ’ s order or to issue a cease or desist order so we are here to make sure he doesn ’ t get arrested , ” militia member Daniel Brewer told local outlet Mid-Michigan Now .
“ We ’ re willing to stand in front of that door and block the entrance so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
”

Karl Manke, a barber in Owosso, Michigan, has not been shy about his defiance of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) stay-at-home order.
Attracting the support of the official sheriff and unofficial local militia, he has flung wide the doors of his business weeks before Whitmer’s stay-at-home order expires at the end of May.
And on Monday, he also got legal backing for his position.
Shiawassee County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Stewart denied the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ request for a temporary restraining order to shut down Manke’s business. Dana Nessel, Michigan’s attorney general, had filed the request on the health department’s behalf.
“The Court wanted to provide Mr. Manke with an opportunity for a hearing on the request for an injunction, despite the clear public health dangers that continued operation of his business creates,” Ryan Jarvi, Nessel’s press secretary, told TPM of Stewart’s ruling.
Now, the attorney general and state health department must wait for Manke to have his day in court, all the while concerned that his business will spread both the disease and the notion that ignoring Whitmer’s stay-at-home order has few consequences. “The State is seeking to schedule a hearing as soon as possible,” Jarvi added.
Manke, meanwhile, has become a cause célèbre among those in the state chafing under Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders.
Giving a full-fledged press conference Monday outside his barbershop after the judge’s decision, he said that leaving his business shuttered until Whitmer’s order expired would “knock him to his knees.”
“I’ve always worked,” Manke said. “I never looked for handouts; I don’t know what they are.”
“I thought I was gonna swing in the wind alone,” he added. “You would not believe the support I got,” he said as his words were drowned out by cheers of “we love you, Karl!” and supportive honking from nearby cars.
Manke’s lawyer, Dave Kallman, said that the barber was defying Whitmer’s executive order because he believes it is illegal.
“Since the legislature refused to extend the declaration of emergency back on April 30, that emergency ended, according to state law,” Kallman said to raucous applause.
That’s the same argument being made by the Republican-controlled state legislature, both chambers of which sued Whitmer in the Michigan state Court of Claims for extending her emergency declaration via executive order after they allowed it to expire.
The legislature, citing the Emergency Management Act of 1976, argues that her orders are null and void without lawmakers’ approval. Whitmer, citing another state law, maintains that she can legally go it alone.
Whitmer addressed Manke’s defiance during her Monday press briefing.
“These executive orders are not a suggestion, they’re not optional, they’re not helpful hints,” she said. “This is an order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is a deadly virus, so that we can save lives. And I expect all Michiganders to comply with the law, unless and until a court decides to the contrary.”
Manke isn’t alone in his decision to ignore Whitmer’s orders.
On Monday, Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole posted a letter to Facebook declaring his refusal to enforce the stay-at-home order.
“With limited resources, staffing and facilities, our priority focus will be on enforcing duly passed laws for the protection of Shiawassee County citizens,” he wrote. “I have decided, within my authority, that our office cannot and will not divert our primary resources and efforts towards enforcement of Governor Whitmer’s executive orders.”
Manke is also getting muscle from non-official avenues.
Members of the Michigan militia, a well-armed paramilitary organization, posted themselves outside of the barbershop over the weekend and vowed to protect Manke from arrest.
“Yesterday six troopers came in to enforce the governor’s order or to issue a cease or desist order so we are here to make sure he doesn’t get arrested,” militia member Daniel Brewer told local outlet Mid-Michigan Now. “We’re willing to stand in front of that door and block the entrance so the police will have no entry there today.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--House Dems Target Trump’s Effort To Tilt The Playing Field For White GOP Voters

House Democrats proposed a measure Tuesday that would block a Trump administration push to diminish the political power of immigrant communities .
The measure was part of a sprawling coronavirus response bill that the House could vote on later this week .
Specifically , the measure would block the Census Bureau from releasing the type of citizenship data that would allow states to fundamentally change the way that legislative maps are drawn .
The change — excluding non-citizens from the count used for redistricting — would boost the electoral advantages of white , Republican-leading voters , to the detriment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redistricting overhaul appears to have motivated the Trump administration ’ s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census .
When the Supreme Court blocked the administration from doing so , President Trump announced an executive order directing the Census Bureau to assemble citizenship data based on records already held by the government .
The executive order referenced the desire by some states to draw districts based on the numbers of citizens , rather than based on total populations .
At least one red state is already trying to push through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , under Trump ’ s directive , has been working on a way to release the citizenship data alongside the data states use for redistricting that is produced by the decennial count .
The Democratic provision taking aim at Trump ’ s executive order was tucked in among several census related provisions the House is proposing in its new coronavirus response bill .
The Census Bureau is currently grappling with how the pandemic has scrambled its 2020 count operations and is asking for Congress ’ assistance in moving back statutory deadlines that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requested the deadline changes , civil rights groups called upon Congress to block Trump ’ s citizenship data executive order while it considered the bureau ’ s request .
The Senate does not at the moment seem interested in taking up additional COVID-19 response legislation , and sure enough Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) derided the overall House bill — which spans nearly 2,000 pages — as “ aspirational legislation ” not designed to “ deal with reality.
” Read the House bill ’ s provision addressing the citizenship data @ @ @

House Democrats proposed a measure Tuesday that would block a Trump administration push to diminish the political power of immigrant communities. The measure was part of a sprawling coronavirus response bill that the House could vote on later this week.
Specifically, the measure would block the Census Bureau from releasing the type of citizenship data that would allow states to fundamentally change the way that legislative maps are drawn. The change — excluding non-citizens from the count used for redistricting — would boost the electoral advantages of white, Republican-leading voters, to the detriment of more diverse, Democratic-leaning populations.
That redistricting overhaul appears to have motivated the Trump administration’s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. When the Supreme Court blocked the administration from doing so, President Trump announced an executive order directing the Census Bureau to assemble citizenship data based on records already held by the government. The executive order referenced the desire by some states to draw districts based on the numbers of citizens, rather than based on total populations. At least one red state is already trying to push through such a change.
The Census Bureau, under Trump’s directive, has been working on a way to release the citizenship data alongside the data states use for redistricting that is produced by the decennial count.
The Democratic provision taking aim at Trump’s executive order was tucked in among several census related provisions the House is proposing in its new coronavirus response bill.
The Census Bureau is currently grappling with how the pandemic has scrambled its 2020 count operations and is asking for Congress’ assistance in moving back statutory deadlines that it is facing.
When the Census Bureau requested the deadline changes, civil rights groups called upon Congress to block Trump’s citizenship data executive order while it considered the bureau’s request.
The Senate does not at the moment seem interested in taking up additional COVID-19 response legislation, and sure enough Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) derided the overall House bill — which spans nearly 2,000 pages — as “aspirational legislation” not designed to “deal with reality.”
Read the House bill’s provision addressing the citizenship data release below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--DNC Committee Approves Rules Change To Allow Virtual Voting At Convention

The Democratic National Committee ’ s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Tuesday to allow for “ maximum flexibility ” when it comes to conducting the August nominating convention in Milwaukee .
The motion was approved unanimously and will now go to the full DNC for consideration .
“ Contingency plans are being developed so Democrats can nominate their next candidate without risking their health , ” Rules and Bylaws Committee co-chair Jim Roosevelt said during a phone meeting .
“ Options include everything from adjusting convention format to dealing with crowd size and schedules.
” DNC Secretary Jason Rae added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how bad the pandemic will be in late August when the convention will be held .
“ Decisions are yet to be made about what the convention will ultimately look like , ” he said .
DNC Chairman Tom Perez bashed the Republicans ’ handling of their convention , saying that both President Donald Trump and RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel “ scoffed at ” serious health risks associated with coronavirus .
“ Our number one priority is the health and safety of the American people , ” he said .
“ That stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is handling their convention.
” In late April , McDaniel said that the party ’ s Charlotte , North Carolina convention is “ full steam ahead , ” though the party may reconsider later in the summer .
“ We don ’ t build out our convention until July .
So I think we have at least until the end of June or early July to make a decision if we have to switch from a traditional convention to something scaled back , ” she told reporters on a briefing call , per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have an in-person convention .
Those are the bylaws of the RNC and so currently , going forward , we ’ re planning on a full-scale convention.
” During the same Tuesday phone meeting , the DNC committee unanimously granted waivers to five states — Kentucky , New York , Delaware , New Jersey and Louisiana — that delayed their primaries past June 9 , the previous cutoff date when states would incur delegate-loss penalties .
Before the pandemic escalated , the DNC warned that states that blew the deadline could risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates to the convention .

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Tuesday to allow for “maximum flexibility” when it comes to conducting the August nominating convention in Milwaukee.
The motion was approved unanimously and will now go to the full DNC for consideration.
“Contingency plans are being developed so Democrats can nominate their next candidate without risking their health,” Rules and Bylaws Committee co-chair Jim Roosevelt said during a phone meeting. “Options include everything from adjusting convention format to dealing with crowd size and schedules.”
DNC Secretary Jason Rae added that it is still “unknown” how bad the pandemic will be in late August when the convention will be held.
“Decisions are yet to be made about what the convention will ultimately look like,” he said.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez bashed the Republicans’ handling of their convention, saying that both President Donald Trump and RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel “scoffed at” serious health risks associated with coronavirus.
“Our number one priority is the health and safety of the American people,” he said. “That stands in stark contrast to how the RNC is handling their convention.”
In late April, McDaniel said that the party’s Charlotte, North Carolina convention is “full steam ahead,” though the party may reconsider later in the summer.
“We don’t build out our convention until July. So I think we have at least until the end of June or early July to make a decision if we have to switch from a traditional convention to something scaled back,” she told reporters on a briefing call, per CNN. “But we will have to have an in-person convention. Those are the bylaws of the RNC and so currently, going forward, we’re planning on a full-scale convention.”
During the same Tuesday phone meeting, the DNC committee unanimously granted waivers to five states — Kentucky, New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Louisiana — that delayed their primaries past June 9, the previous cutoff date when states would incur delegate-loss penalties.
Before the pandemic escalated, the DNC warned that states that blew the deadline could risk losing as many as half of their delegates to the convention.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--Reports: Grenell Declassifies Names Of Obama Officials On Flynn Case

Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell is doing his part to create an “ Obamagate , ” and has reportedly taken a key step towards building out a cast of characters for the fabricated scandal .
Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that Grenell had declassified the identities of Obama administration officials who were behind the so-called “ unmasking ” of Michael Flynn .
The “ unmasking ” revealed the then-National Security Adviser internally as the subject of intelligence reports compiled during and after the 2016 presidential election .
Intelligence reports that feature U.S. citizens typically keep the identities of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those identities be released .
Grenell may release the names of the individuals behind the unmasking , the Wall Street Journal reported .
Grenell ’ s decision to declassify the names of officials who sought to learn Flynn ’ s identity comes after the Justice Department dropped charges against Flynn , making an about-face turn in the matter to protect an associate of the President ’ s .
Flynn lied to FBI investigators in January 2017 about phone calls he had with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw attention on Monday to “ Obamagate , ” accusing President Barack Obama of committing a crime .
When asked to specify what the crime was , Trump replied : “ You know what it is.
” But Grenell ’ s decision to declassify and potentially release the names of Obama officials suggests that the Trump administration may treat intelligence gathered by the federal government — and its own powers to reveal portions of the picture — as fair game in the election year .
Grenell was nominated on an acting basis in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ratcliffe ( R-TX ) to replace him .

Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell is doing his part to create an “Obamagate,” and has reportedly taken a key step towards building out a cast of characters for the fabricated scandal.
Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that Grenell had declassified the identities of Obama administration officials who were behind the so-called “unmasking” of Michael Flynn.
The “unmasking” revealed the then-National Security Adviser internally as the subject of intelligence reports compiled during and after the 2016 presidential election.
Intelligence reports that feature U.S. citizens typically keep the identities of those Americans secret. Government officials can request that those identities be released.
Grenell may release the names of the individuals behind the unmasking, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Grenell’s decision to declassify the names of officials who sought to learn Flynn’s identity comes after the Justice Department dropped charges against Flynn, making an about-face turn in the matter to protect an associate of the President’s.
Flynn lied to FBI investigators in January 2017 about phone calls he had with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.
The move comes after President Trump tried to draw attention on Monday to “Obamagate,” accusing President Barack Obama of committing a crime. When asked to specify what the crime was, Trump replied: “You know what it is.”
But Grenell’s decision to declassify and potentially release the names of Obama officials suggests that the Trump administration may treat intelligence gathered by the federal government — and its own powers to reveal portions of the picture — as fair game in the election year.
Grenell was nominated on an acting basis in February. Trump has nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to replace him.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--Pence Will ‘Keep His Distance’ From Trump For ‘Several Days,’ White House Says

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Tuesday that Vice President Mike Pence is temporarily separating himself from President @ @ @ @ @ s press secretary , Katie Miller , tested positive for COVID-19 last week .
“ @ @ @ @ @ the choice to keep his distance for a few days , ” McEnany told reporters @ @ @ @ @ “ And I would just note that that ’ s his personal decision to make @ @ @ @ @ official did not say exactly how many days Pence plans to stay away from Trump @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a decision for the vice president , ” she said .
During a @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he “ can talk on the phone ” with Pence if they decided @ @ @ @ @ have declined to wear face masks in public , though Pence has worn one on @ @

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Tuesday that Vice President Mike Pence is temporarily separating himself from President Donald Trump after Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
“The vice president has made the choice to keep his distance for a few days,” McEnany told reporters during a press briefing. “And I would just note that that’s his personal decision to make that.”
The White House official did not say exactly how many days Pence plans to stay away from Trump.
“Again, that’s a decision for the vice president,” she said.
During a press conference on Monday, Trump said he “can talk on the phone” with Pence if they decided to separate.
Both men have declined to wear face masks in public, though Pence has worn one on occasion.
Watch McEnany below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--‘Nothing To Celebrate’: Romney Slams Trump Admin’s Boasts About COVID Testing

Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) on Tuesday picked apart boasts from the Trump administration about COVID-19 testing capacity in the United States , saying that it was “ nothing to celebrate ” and that early mistakes were partially responsible for thousands of deaths .
President Donald Trump and Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir — the administration ’ s point person for testing — had bragged at a press briefing on Monday that the United States has performed far more testing than South Korea , even on a per-capita basis .
But as Romney pointed out , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea and other countries achieved high rates of testing early in the COVID-19 pandemic , while the United States lost crucial time due to failures at the CDC and elsewhere to produce mass testing capacity .
“ I understand that politicians are going to frame data in a way that ’ s most positive politically , but of course I don ’ t expect that from admirals , ” Romney told Giroir during a hearing on the administration ’ s COVID-19 response .
“ Yesterday , you celebrated that we had done more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even , than South Korea , ” Romney said .
“ But you ignored the fact that they accomplished theirs at the beginning of the outbreak , while we treaded water during February and March , and as a result , by March 6 , the U.S. had completed just 2,000 tests whereas South Korea had conducted more than 140,000 tests.
” “ Partially as a result of that , ” Romney said , “ they have 256 deaths and we have almost 80,000 deaths.
” “ I find our testing record nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
South Korea ’ s testing numbers , Romney said , are currently going down because “ they don ’ t have the kind of outbreak we have.
” Meanwhile in the United States , they are increasing “ as they have to , ” he said .
“ I think that ’ s an important lesson for us as we think about the future , ” Romney concluded before moving on to another point .

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Tuesday picked apart boasts from the Trump administration about COVID-19 testing capacity in the United States, saying that it was “nothing to celebrate” and that early mistakes were partially responsible for thousands of deaths.
President Donald Trump and Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir — the administration’s point person for testing — had bragged at a press briefing on Monday that the United States has performed far more testing than South Korea, even on a per-capita basis.
But as Romney pointed out, that metric missed a key distinction: South Korea and other countries achieved high rates of testing early in the COVID-19 pandemic, while the United States lost crucial time due to failures at the CDC and elsewhere to produce mass testing capacity.
“I understand that politicians are going to frame data in a way that’s most positive politically, but of course I don’t expect that from admirals,” Romney told Giroir during a hearing on the administration’s COVID-19 response.
“Yesterday, you celebrated that we had done more tests, and more tests per capita even, than South Korea,” Romney said. “But you ignored the fact that they accomplished theirs at the beginning of the outbreak, while we treaded water during February and March, and as a result, by March 6, the U.S. had completed just 2,000 tests whereas South Korea had conducted more than 140,000 tests.”
“Partially as a result of that,” Romney said, “they have 256 deaths and we have almost 80,000 deaths.”
“I find our testing record nothing to celebrate whatsoever,” the senator added.
South Korea’s testing numbers, Romney said, are currently going down because “they don’t have the kind of outbreak we have.” Meanwhile in the United States, they are increasing “as they have to,” he said.
“I think that’s an important lesson for us as we think about the future,” Romney concluded before moving on to another point.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--SCOTUS Homes In On Whether House Has ‘Limitless’ Power To Subpoena Prez’ Private Docs

While hearing a major case Tuesday on Congress ’ ability to subpoena President Trump ’ s financial records , several justices on the Supreme Court zeroed in on the question of whether the U.S. House believed it had any limits on its power to issue legislative subpoenas .
Doug Letter , the general counsel for the House , was subjected to brutal lines of questioning on this topic from Justices Samuel Alito , Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch .
Chief Justice John Roberts — who had shown some skepticism for Trump ’ s arguments in the case — also grilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Breyer , of the court ’ s liberal wing , seemed troubled by the implications that the House ’ s stance would have on future presidencies .
“ The fact that what I hold today will also apply to a future senator McCarthy asking a future Franklin Roosevelt or Harry Truman exactly the same questions , that bothers me , ” Breyer said .
Faced with a tough hypothetical posed by Justice Kavanaugh , Letter wouldn ’ t completely close the door on the possibility that the Congress could seek a President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose .
In his closing remarks , Letter tried to shift the court ’ s focus away from its concerns about future hypotheticals .
“ We ask the court to focus on the specific subpoenas in this case because we are not dealing with ‘ what if ’ s ’ here , ” he said .
The case was a consolidation of two lawsuits — Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutsche Bank — brought by Trump in his personal capacity challenging House committee subpoenas of his financial records from both his accounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , he ’ s lost at both the district and appellate court levels .
The lower courts rejected Trump ’ s attacks on the subpoenas ’ legitimacy , prompting Trump to appeal them to the Supreme Court late last year .
The Justice Department filed a friend-of-the-court brief backing Trump ’ s position , and U.S. Deputy Principle Solicitor General Jeff Wall also participated in Tuesday ’ s arguments .
Trump — who was represented at the oral arguments by Patrick Strawbridge — and the Justice Department are arguing that the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subpoenas , making then invalid .
When it was Letter ’ s turn to answer the justices ’ questions , Roberts kicked it off with a question about this point .
“ Could you give a plausible example of a subject that you think is beyond any legislation that Congress could write ?
” Roberts asked .
Letter pointed to some of the court ’ s previous jurisprudence on Congress ’ subpoena power , but stopped short of providing Roberts the specific example he was looking for .
Roberts expressed concerns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test that the court could apply to make sure Congress didn ’ t go overboard with its subpoena power .
When it was her turn for questions , Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave Letter an opportunity to opine on the difference between using a subpoena to harass a president and using one for the consideration of legislation .
But when Justice Samual Alito was up , he said he was “ baffled ” by Letter ’ s responses to Ginsburg , as he hammered Letter on what courts can do to prevent harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your final answer was that the courts can ’ t take care of that , ” Alito shot at Letter .
Other liberal justices threw Letter more softballs , teeing up opportunities for him to argue that harassment wasn ’ t the goal in the current case .
Justice Neil Gorsuch , however , sharpened the discussion by comparing the issue to the prosecutorial principle of investigating crimes instead of investigating people .
Then came Justice Kavanaugh , who referred to the previous justices ’ questions and the concerns about a “ limitless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He asked specifically about the potential for Congress to subpoena a President ’ s medical records .
Letter conceded that medical records would “ almost always ” not be pertinent to a legislative purpose .
But he refused to rule out the situation entirely , citing the 25th Amendment , which provides a mechanism for removing from office a President who is suffering from serious physical or mental health issues .
Recognizing some limits on Congress ’ legislative powers could pose a slippery slope for Letter , as the House is arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s place the probe the intent of a congressional subpoena as long as there is some legislative purpose that could be connected to it .
However , Letter ’ s squirming may give conservative justices — particularly potential swing votes like Roberts or Kavanaugh — an out for ruling against the House even if they are also uncomfortable with the expansive arguments Trump is making in the case .
In a troubling sign for Letter , Breyer voiced concerns that the subpoenas were burdensome for a President if they were being issued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks , bringing up the McCarthy comparison .
At the end of the oral arguments , Strawbridge seized the topic one last time , pointing specifically to the medical records hypothetical .
“ I thinking that ’ s very telling because there are no limits to their theories , ” Strawbridge said .

While hearing a major case Tuesday on Congress’ ability to subpoena President Trump’s financial records, several justices on the Supreme Court zeroed in on the question of whether the U.S. House believed it had any limits on its power to issue legislative subpoenas.
Doug Letter, the general counsel for the House, was subjected to brutal lines of questioning on this topic from Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.
Chief Justice John Roberts — who had shown some skepticism for Trump’s arguments in the case — also grilled Letter on this point.
Even Justice Stephen Breyer, of the court’s liberal wing, seemed troubled by the implications that the House’s stance would have on future presidencies.
“The fact that what I hold today will also apply to a future senator McCarthy asking a future Franklin Roosevelt or Harry Truman exactly the same questions, that bothers me,” Breyer said.
Faced with a tough hypothetical posed by Justice Kavanaugh, Letter wouldn’t completely close the door on the possibility that the Congress could seek a President’s medical records for a legislative purpose.
In his closing remarks, Letter tried to shift the court’s focus away from its concerns about future hypotheticals.
“We ask the court to focus on the specific subpoenas in this case because we are not dealing with ‘what if’s’ here,” he said.
The case was a consolidation of two lawsuits — Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutsche Bank — brought by Trump in his personal capacity challenging House committee subpoenas of his financial records from both his accounting firm and his banks.
In both cases, he’s lost at both the district and appellate court levels. The lower courts rejected Trump’s attacks on the subpoenas’ legitimacy, prompting Trump to appeal them to the Supreme Court late last year. The Justice Department filed a friend-of-the-court brief backing Trump’s position, and U.S. Deputy Principle Solicitor General Jeff Wall also participated in Tuesday’s arguments.
Trump — who was represented at the oral arguments by Patrick Strawbridge — and the Justice Department are arguing that the House lacked a legitimate legislative purpose in issuing the subpoenas, making then invalid.
When it was Letter’s turn to answer the justices’ questions, Roberts kicked it off with a question about this point.
“Could you give a plausible example of a subject that you think is beyond any legislation that Congress could write?” Roberts asked.
Letter pointed to some of the court’s previous jurisprudence on Congress’ subpoena power, but stopped short of providing Roberts the specific example he was looking for. Roberts expressed concerns that the House wasn’t offering a test that the court could apply to make sure Congress didn’t go overboard with its subpoena power.
When it was her turn for questions, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave Letter an opportunity to opine on the difference between using a subpoena to harass a president and using one for the consideration of legislation.
But when Justice Samual Alito was up, he said he was “baffled” by Letter’s responses to Ginsburg, as he hammered Letter on what courts can do to prevent harassment of a president by subpoenas.
“Your final answer was that the courts can’t take care of that,” Alito shot at Letter.
Other liberal justices threw Letter more softballs, teeing up opportunities for him to argue that harassment wasn’t the goal in the current case.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, however, sharpened the discussion by comparing the issue to the prosecutorial principle of investigating crimes instead of investigating people. Then came Justice Kavanaugh, who referred to the previous justices’ questions and the concerns about a “limitless authority and how to deal with that.”
He asked specifically about the potential for Congress to subpoena a President’s medical records.
Letter conceded that medical records would “almost always” not be pertinent to a legislative purpose. But he refused to rule out the situation entirely, citing the 25th Amendment, which provides a mechanism for removing from office a President who is suffering from serious physical or mental health issues.
Recognizing some limits on Congress’ legislative powers could pose a slippery slope for Letter, as the House is arguing that it is not the court’s place the probe the intent of a congressional subpoena as long as there is some legislative purpose that could be connected to it.
However, Letter’s squirming may give conservative justices — particularly potential swing votes like Roberts or Kavanaugh — an out for ruling against the House even if they are also uncomfortable with the expansive arguments Trump is making in the case.
In a troubling sign for Letter, Breyer voiced concerns that the subpoenas were burdensome for a President if they were being issued to third parties like his accounting firm or banks, bringing up the McCarthy comparison.
At the end of the oral arguments, Strawbridge seized the topic one last time, pointing specifically to the medical records hypothetical.
“I thinking that’s very telling because there are no limits to their theories,” Strawbridge said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--Fauci Fires Back After Sen. Paul Asks For ‘Humility’: Never Said I Was ‘End-All’ Authority

After Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) said Tuesday that government public health experts should be more humble in their advice to lawmakers , the government ’ s top infectious disease authority said he never claimed to be the “ end-all ” authority about COVID-19 policy .
“ I have never made myself out to be the end-all and ultimate voice on this , ” Dr. Antony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , responded to a sour note from Paul .
The Kentucky senator had gone on a monologue about virus response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re opening up a lot of economies around the U.S. and I hope that people who are predicting doom and gloom and who are saying , ‘ We can ’ t do this , there ’ s going to be a surge , ’ will admit that they were wrong if there isn ’ t a surge , because I think that ’ s what ’ s going to happen , ' ” Paul said .
“ Outside of New England , ” Paul added , “ we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus nationwide , and I think the one-size-fits-all , that we ’ re going to have a national strategy and nobody ’ s going to go to school , is kind of ridiculous.
” The power over COVID-19 health policy , Paul said , “ needs to be dispersed because people make wrong predictions .
And really the history of this , when we look back , will be of wrong prediction after wrong prediction after wrong prediction.
” “ I think we ought to have a little bit of humility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s best for the economy , ” Paul said .
“ And as much as I respect you , Dr. Fauci , I don ’ t think you ’ re the end-all , I don ’ t think you ’ re the one person that gets to make a decision .
We can listen to your advice , but there are people on the other side who are saying there ’ s not going to be a surge and that we can safely open the economy.
” Fauci responded by saying that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him .
“ I have never made myself out to be the end-all and only voice in this , ” he said .
“ I ’ m a scientist , a physician , and a public health official .
I give advice according to the best scientific evidence.
” Other officials , Fauci said , are in a position to give advice about reopening the country economically .
But , he said , “ I don ’ t give advice about economic things .
I don ’ t give advice about anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautioned against the assumption that the virus did not affect children , pointing to a “ very strange inflammatory syndrome ” presenting in children recently ; Paul had pointed to the low mortality rates among children in New York City ’ s statistics .
“ We ’ d better be careful if we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects , ” Fauci said .

After Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said Tuesday that government public health experts should be more humble in their advice to lawmakers, the government’s top infectious disease authority said he never claimed to be the “end-all” authority about COVID-19 policy.
“I have never made myself out to be the end-all and ultimate voice on this,” Dr. Antony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responded to a sour note from Paul.
The Kentucky senator had gone on a monologue about virus response around the country and around the world.
“We’re opening up a lot of economies around the U.S. and I hope that people who are predicting doom and gloom and who are saying, ‘We can’t do this, there’s going to be a surge,’ will admit that they were wrong if there isn’t a surge, because I think that’s what’s going to happen,'” Paul said.
“Outside of New England,” Paul added, “we’ve had a relatively benign course for this virus nationwide, and I think the one-size-fits-all, that we’re going to have a national strategy and nobody’s going to go to school, is kind of ridiculous.”
The power over COVID-19 health policy, Paul said, “needs to be dispersed because people make wrong predictions. And really the history of this, when we look back, will be of wrong prediction after wrong prediction after wrong prediction.”
“I think we ought to have a little bit of humility in our belief that we know what’s best for the economy,” Paul said. “And as much as I respect you, Dr. Fauci, I don’t think you’re the end-all, I don’t think you’re the one person that gets to make a decision. We can listen to your advice, but there are people on the other side who are saying there’s not going to be a surge and that we can safely open the economy.”
Fauci responded by saying that he had never presumed the title Paul used for him.
“I have never made myself out to be the end-all and only voice in this,” he said. “I’m a scientist, a physician, and a public health official. I give advice according to the best scientific evidence.”
Other officials, Fauci said, are in a position to give advice about reopening the country economically. But, he said, “I don’t give advice about economic things. I don’t give advice about anything other than public health.”
He also cautioned against the assumption that the virus did not affect children, pointing to a “very strange inflammatory syndrome” presenting in children recently; Paul had pointed to the low mortality rates among children in New York City’s statistics.
“We’d better be careful if we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects,” Fauci said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-12--Graham Avoids Engaging In Trump’s Bogus ‘Obamagate’ Conspiracy Theory

Senate Judiciary Committee chair Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , one of President Donald Trump ’ s most stalwart allies , poured cold water on the idea of pursuing Trump ’ s baseless conspiracy theory about former President Barack Obama on Monday .
Though Graham is currently probing Trump ’ s complaints that the FBI ’ s Russia investigation was aimed at sabotaging the President ’ s campaign , the GOP senator told Politico that his committee likely won ’ t get Obama involved .
Fellow Judiciary Committee member Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) also wasn ’ t sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the President feels like he ’ s under assault , ” he told Politico .
“ But I think we need to do our own independent investigation .
Over the past 24 hours , Trump has been peddling an evidence-free “ Obamagate ” conspiracy theory that alleges his predecessor engineered the Russia probe in 2016 , which got former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn indicted , to undermine the then-incoming Trump administration .
Trump also accused Obama of committing “ the biggest political crime in American history ” on Monday without providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post reporter Philip Rucker asked what exactly he was referring to , Trump offered little explanation , only that “ some terrible things happened , and it should never be allowed to happen in our country again.
” “ You know what the crime is .
The crime is very obvious to everybody , ” he told Rucker .
“ All you have to do is read the newspapers , except yours .
”

Senate Judiciary Committee chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of President Donald Trump’s most stalwart allies, poured cold water on the idea of pursuing Trump’s baseless conspiracy theory about former President Barack Obama on Monday.
Though Graham is currently probing Trump’s complaints that the FBI’s Russia investigation was aimed at sabotaging the President’s campaign, the GOP senator told Politico that his committee likely won’t get Obama involved.
“I’m not anticipating calling President Obama,” Graham said.
Fellow Judiciary Committee member Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) also wasn’t sold on the idea.
“I understand why the President feels like he’s under assault,” he told Politico. “But I think we need to do our own independent investigation.
Over the past 24 hours, Trump has been peddling an evidence-free “Obamagate” conspiracy theory that alleges his predecessor engineered the Russia probe in 2016, which got former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn indicted, to undermine the then-incoming Trump administration.
Trump also accused Obama of committing “the biggest political crime in American history” on Monday without providing any details or evidence. When Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker asked what exactly he was referring to, Trump offered little explanation, only that “some terrible things happened, and it should never be allowed to happen in our country again.”
“You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody,” he told Rucker. “All you have to do is read the newspapers, except yours.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-14--Mike Flynn Case Gets Even Weirder: Judge Considers Criminal Contempt

The judge overseeing Michael Flynn ’ s case took the extraordinary step of appointing a retired judge to brief him on whether Flynn should be held in contempt of court .
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan announced Wednesday the appointment of retired U.S. District Judge John Gleeson less than a week after the Justice Department announced that it was seeking to drop its case against Flynn .
Gleeson was appointed to the federal bench in the Eastern District of New York by President Bill Clinton .
Earlier in his career , Gleeson was a federal prosecutor and won the conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the 1980s .
Sullivan ’ s order said that Gleeson would be briefing him on whether the judge should issue an order to show cause as to why Flynn should not be held in “ criminal contempt for perjury , ” while citing both federal law and rules of procedure that allow for criminal contempt sanctions for misconduct in court .
Sullivan ’ s order did not specify what allegation of perjury he was referring to .
However , Flynn twice admitted in court to lying to the FBI — including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him under oath .
Last year , Flynn sought to withdraw that plea while asking the judge to throw out the prosecution against him .
Amid immense pressure from President Trump and his allies , the Justice Department announced last week that it was moving to dismiss Flynn ’ s case because it no longer believed the investigation that prompted the FBI to interview him was warranted .

The judge overseeing Michael Flynn’s case took the extraordinary step of appointing a retired judge to brief him on whether Flynn should be held in contempt of court.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan announced Wednesday the appointment of retired U.S. District Judge John Gleeson less than a week after the Justice Department announced that it was seeking to drop its case against Flynn.
Gleeson was appointed to the federal bench in the Eastern District of New York by President Bill Clinton. Earlier in his career, Gleeson was a federal prosecutor and won the conviction of the Teflon Don, John Gotti, in the 1980s.
Sullivan’s order said that Gleeson would be briefing him on whether the judge should issue an order to show cause as to why Flynn should not be held in “criminal contempt for perjury,” while citing both federal law and rules of procedure that allow for criminal contempt sanctions for misconduct in court.
Sullivan’s order did not specify what allegation of perjury he was referring to. However, Flynn twice admitted in court to lying to the FBI — including in December 2018, after Sullivan put him under oath.
Last year, Flynn sought to withdraw that plea while asking the judge to throw out the prosecution against him. Amid immense pressure from President Trump and his allies, the Justice Department announced last week that it was moving to dismiss Flynn’s case because it no longer believed the investigation that prompted the FBI to interview him was warranted.
Read the order below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-13--CA Councilman Cited For Battery After Reopen Protesters Showed Up At His House

Fresno police facilitated a citizen ’ s arrest of City Council President Miguel Arias on three counts of misdemeanor battery Tuesday evening , after reopen protesters went to his home .
After police arrived on the scene , protesters showed the officers footage of an altercation and demanded Arias be arrested for assault , per a statement from the police .
“ After a thorough review , the City Attorney instructed the Fresno Police Department to accept the citizens ’ arrest , ” said the statement .
Arias was cited and released at the scene .
Lt. Anthony DeWall did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been set .
In a video posted to Facebook by James Hoak , one of the MAGA gear-clad protesters , several people can be seen approaching Arias ’ apartment bearing cameras and microphones .
Arias , barefoot , comes out of his residence and a confrontation ensues .
One of the protestors , right-wing activist Ben Bergquam , later described the situation to a local ABC News affiliate .
“ There are business owners who are losing everything and we just wanted to ask him a couple of questions , ” Bergquam told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was saying that , he comes out of the apartment , grabs me by the arms , and tried to throw me down the stairs.
” The enraged protesters yelled up to Arias from the bottom of the steps .
After accusing him of “ assault ” and “ attempted murder , ” some get back on the topic of the shutdown .
“ He ’ s asking for people to be arrested for their constitutional rights , ” one can be heard saying on the video Hoak posted .
Another shouted “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you sleep at night ?
” “ Do you want to say anything about the businesses you ’ re destroying ?
” asked another .
Arias can be seen making a phone call , standing silently at the balcony above the stairs .
Eventually , he goes back inside , calling “ see you in a bit ” to the protesters .
The protestors then can be heard discussing plans to next stake out the home of Fresno Mayor Lee Brand .
Per a statement from Brand ’ s office , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house , but the confrontation was less fiery .
“ A group of 20-25 people protesting the City ’ s shelter in place orders came to my house last night .
When they arrived , I went out to answer their questions and we had a peaceful discussion on my sidewalk , ” Brand said in a statement obtained by TPM .
“ After 10 minutes , they left and I went back inside , ” he continued .
“ I ’ m willing to talk with anybody who wants to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep our city safe and healthy.
” Arias , who did not respond to TPM ’ s request for comment , told local outlets that he plans to press charges .
Brand has extended his stay-at-home order for Fresno until May 31 , and plans to reopen the city in waves .
The extension has angered some Fresno residents , with one councilman even calling the plan “ authoritarian.
” Protests have broken out across the country spearheaded by those frustrated by the shutdown orders , though public opinion shows the majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts .
As of Wednesday afternoon , California had 71,141 cases and 2,934 deaths per the state health department .

Fresno police facilitated a citizen’s arrest of City Council President Miguel Arias on three counts of misdemeanor battery Tuesday evening, after reopen protesters went to his home.
After police arrived on the scene, protesters showed the officers footage of an altercation and demanded Arias be arrested for assault, per a statement from the police.
“After a thorough review, the City Attorney instructed the Fresno Police Department to accept the citizens’ arrest,” said the statement. Arias was cited and released at the scene.
Lt. Anthony DeWall did not confirm whether a court date has been set.
In a video posted to Facebook by James Hoak, one of the MAGA gear-clad protesters, several people can be seen approaching Arias’ apartment bearing cameras and microphones.
Arias, barefoot, comes out of his residence and a confrontation ensues.
In a statement obtained by TPM, Arias said that the videos posted online only captured some of the altercation.
“The short video that has been released only depicts a small fraction of a much longer incident,” he said. “Indeed, the entire initial sequence of events, including the group members attempts’ to force their way into my residence, is not depicted at all.”
He added that one of the protesters, right-wing activist Ben Bergquam, is a “self-identified member of the Proud Boys,” a hate group as designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Bergquam has identified and rallied with the group before.
“I asked him to leave my home, emphasizing my kids were home and that I would not allow them to be placed in danger,” Arias said. “I took precautions to ensure the safety of my family and protect them from individuals known to be armed and dangerous.”
Bergquam described the scuffle differently to a local ABC News affiliate.
“There are business owners who are losing everything and we just wanted to ask him a couple of questions,” Bergquam told ABC News 30. “As I was saying that, he comes out of the apartment, grabs me by the arms, and tried to throw me down the stairs.”
The enraged protesters yelled up to Arias from the bottom of the steps.
After accusing him of “assault” and “attempted murder,” some get back on the topic of the shutdown.
“He’s asking for people to be arrested for their constitutional rights,” one can be heard saying on the video Hoak posted. Another shouted “you’re so pathetic, how do you sleep at night?”
“Do you want to say anything about the businesses you’re destroying?” asked another.
Arias can be seen making a phone call, standing silently at the balcony above the stairs. Eventually, he goes back inside, calling “see you in a bit” to the protesters.
The protestors then can be heard discussing plans to next stake out the home of Fresno Mayor Lee Brand.
Per a statement from Brand’s office, the protesters did in fact go to his house, but the confrontation was less fiery.
“A group of 20-25 people protesting the City’s shelter in place orders came to my house last night. When they arrived, I went out to answer their questions and we had a peaceful discussion on my sidewalk,” Brand said in a statement obtained by TPM.
“After 10 minutes, they left and I went back inside,” he continued. “I’m willing to talk with anybody who wants to have a civil conversation about the best way to keep our city safe and healthy.”
Brand has extended his stay-at-home order for Fresno until May 31, and plans to reopen the city in waves.
The extension has angered some Fresno residents, with one councilman even calling the plan “authoritarian.”
Protests have broken out across the country spearheaded by those frustrated by the shutdown orders, though public opinion shows the majority of Americans on board with the COVID mitigation efforts.
As of Wednesday afternoon, California had 71,141 cases and 2,934 deaths per the state health department.
This post has been updated with a statement from Arias.