hotair--2020-05-27--Fauci: Data is clear on hydroxychloroquine "lack of efficacy" for COVID-19

Is it ?
Presently , the University of Minnesota has a clinical trial underway to answer that question , which would reportedly be the first of its kind .
This morning on CNN , however , Dr. Anthony Fauci cast a deluge of cold water on the prospects for hydroxychloroquine as either a treatment or preventative .
The existing scientific data shows its “ lack of efficacy , ” although Fauci doesn ’ t call for stopping further studies of the drug : National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci on Wednesday became the first Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not an effective treatment for the coronavirus , based on the available data .
“ The scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy , ” Fauci — the U.S. government ’ s top infectious disease expert — said on CNN .
But he stopped short of calling for an outright ban of the drug , which President Trump said he was taking last week as a preventative measure after a top White House aide was diagnosed with the coronavirus .
CNN ’ s Jim Sciutto springboarded his question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halt its own studies and use of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 .
Their health minister based that decision on reports of adverse outcomes in the testing , and a lack of any promising results that would offset the risk : France has banned the use of the controversial anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat people with COVID-19 , the diseased caused by the new coronavirus .
The move follows the publication of initial findings from a large-scale study that found the drug offered no benefit to patients , and could in fact be harmful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to the findings the next day by asking the French High Council for Public Health ( HCSP ) to review the situation , and it recommended halting the use of the drug .
The findings also prompted the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to announce Monday the temporary suspension of the malaria drug from a global trial looking at various potential COVID-19 treatments , pending a safety review .
Again , though , the data didn ’ t come from a complete clinical trial of the drug in application for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades for other diseases — lupus and malaria , among others — so the side effects and contraindications are already well known .
The UM study has produced few if any negative consequences for its sample , Dr. David Boulware reported last week , in part because they knew not to include subjects with existing heart disease in the study sample .
Politico also notes the lack of reliable clinical study data available for this question : Thus far the data has not been encouraging , but it ’ s mostly anecdotal data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite .
This is why scientists conduct clinical studies — to determine with a large degree of confidence whether a drug is effective and safe .
Anecdotal data in either direction doesn ’ t cut it .
A scientist like Fauci might be able to sift through most of that data and get a pretty good sense of where it ’ s going , but it takes a clinical study to settle the question .
Of course , we usually don ’ t have politicians and media politicizing the efficacy of drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting its use without proper clinical data , after which the media and his critics compounded the politicization with hysterical warnings of mass deaths over its use … after having been in use for decades without any such impact .
It is still a prescribed medicine , not an over-the-counter drug , which means doctors still supervise its use .
It would be much better for all sides to shut up about this until we get valid clinical-study data to determine whether we have an effective COVID-19 treatment with it or a dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t commented on Fauci ’ s skepticism .
Trump stopped taking hydroxychloroquine , perhaps out of a growing lack of confidence or merely because the prophylaxis period had passed .
We ’ ll see if Trump takes the cause up again , but perhaps everyone should wait until Boulware completes his work .
Fauci had lots more to say in the CNN interview , some of which Karen Townsend will have later this evening , but he did give Trump one reason to cheer .
It ’ s too early to cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : This , however , might be outside Fauci ’ s domain .
He ’ s talking about this as though a decision on the national conventions can wait until just before they happen .
The logistics of these events are already under way , though , and people will have to start shelling out cash for travel and accommodations very soon — perhaps in the next couple of weeks at the latest .
That ’ s money they won ’ t get back if a last-minute cancellation takes place .
The scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the beginning of August , but not the logistical go/no-go .

Is it? Presently, the University of Minnesota has a clinical trial underway to answer that question, which would reportedly be the first of its kind. This morning on CNN, however, Dr. Anthony Fauci cast a deluge of cold water on the prospects for hydroxychloroquine as either a treatment or preventative. The existing scientific data shows its “lack of efficacy,” although Fauci doesn’t call for stopping further studies of the drug:
France has banned the use of hydroxychloroquine as COVID treatment. Dr. Fauci weighed in: "The scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy for it." pic.twitter.com/7OumrACtLe — The Recount (@therecount) May 27, 2020
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci on Wednesday became the first Trump administration official to say definitively that hydroxychloroquine is not an effective treatment for the coronavirus, based on the available data. “The scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy,” Fauci — the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert — said on CNN. But he stopped short of calling for an outright ban of the drug, which President Trump said he was taking last week as a preventative measure after a top White House aide was diagnosed with the coronavirus.
CNN’s Jim Sciutto springboarded his question off of a decision in France to halt its own studies and use of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19. Their health minister based that decision on reports of adverse outcomes in the testing, and a lack of any promising results that would offset the risk:
France has banned the use of the controversial anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat people with COVID-19, the diseased caused by the new coronavirus. The move follows the publication of initial findings from a large-scale study that found the drug offered no benefit to patients, and could in fact be harmful. … France’s health minister responded to the findings the next day by asking the French High Council for Public Health (HCSP) to review the situation, and it recommended halting the use of the drug. The findings also prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to announce Monday the temporary suspension of the malaria drug from a global trial looking at various potential COVID-19 treatments, pending a safety review.
Again, though, the data didn’t come from a complete clinical trial of the drug in application for COVID-19. It has been in use for decades for other diseases — lupus and malaria, among others — so the side effects and contraindications are already well known. The UM study has produced few if any negative consequences for its sample, Dr. David Boulware reported last week, in part because they knew not to include subjects with existing heart disease in the study sample.
Politico also notes the lack of reliable clinical study data available for this question:
There is no data yet from randomized, controlled clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine — the gold standard for evaluating potential treatments. But Fauci was unequivocal on Wednesday, saying that “the data are clear right now.”
Thus far the data has not been encouraging, but it’s mostly anecdotal data, and some of that has argued the opposite. This is why scientists conduct clinical studies — to determine with a large degree of confidence whether a drug is effective and safe. Anecdotal data in either direction doesn’t cut it. A scientist like Fauci might be able to sift through most of that data and get a pretty good sense of where it’s going, but it takes a clinical study to settle the question.
Of course, we usually don’t have politicians and media politicizing the efficacy of drugs, either. Trump started it by promoting its use without proper clinical data, after which the media and his critics compounded the politicization with hysterical warnings of mass deaths over its use … after having been in use for decades without any such impact. It is still a prescribed medicine, not an over-the-counter drug, which means doctors still supervise its use. It would be much better for all sides to shut up about this until we get valid clinical-study data to determine whether we have an effective COVID-19 treatment with it or a dead end.
Thus far, Trump hasn’t commented on Fauci’s skepticism. Trump stopped taking hydroxychloroquine, perhaps out of a growing lack of confidence or merely because the prophylaxis period had passed. We’ll see if Trump takes the cause up again, but perhaps everyone should wait until Boulware completes his work.
Fauci had lots more to say in the CNN interview, some of which Karen Townsend will have later this evening, but he did give Trump one reason to cheer. It’s too early to cancel the political conventions, Fauci told Sciutto:
Dr. Fauci says it’s too early to cancel the political conventions.pic.twitter.com/ZiLpkowWhj — Jason Calvi (@JasonCalvi) May 27, 2020
This, however, might be outside Fauci’s domain. He’s talking about this as though a decision on the national conventions can wait until just before they happen. The logistics of these events are already under way, though, and people will have to start shelling out cash for travel and accommodations very soon — perhaps in the next couple of weeks at the latest. That’s money they won’t get back if a last-minute cancellation takes place. The scientific go/no-go call might be able to wait until the beginning of August, but not the logistical go/no-go.


hotair--2020-05-27--Sec. Pompeo: Hong Kong is no longer autonomous (as 360 protesters are arrested) (Update)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress today that in light of the new security law being implemented in China , Hong Kong is no longer an autonomous region .
“ No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China , given facts on the ground , ” Pompeo said in a statement .
“ Hong Kong and its dynamic , enterprising , and free people have flourished for decades as a bastion of liberty , and this decision gives me no pleasure .
But sound policy making requires a recognition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the United States once hoped that free and prosperous Hong Kong would provide a model for authoritarian China , it is now clear that China is modeling Hong Kong after itself.
” Since the British handover of Hong Kong in 1997 , the island has been semi-independent under the “ one country , two systems ” scheme .
China promised that independence would continue for at least 50 years .
Sec .
Pompeo is effectively saying that is over , i.e .
that the security law makes this one country , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Pompeo has been hinting at since last week , is that Hong Kong could lose it ’ s special trading status with the United States : The Trump administration is signaling to Beijing that this course of action could be very costly for China .
But at least so far that signal doesn ’ t seem to be making any difference .
Today , police in Hong Kong arrested 360 protesters .
More than 360 people were arrested on a day of running protests across Hong Kong as thousands took to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerning Chinese sovereignty , and riot police worked late into the night battling radicals who blocked roads and set fires .
Young pupils in school uniform were among those taken away in pre-emptive strikes on banned gatherings as police , out in force to head off wider chaos , arrested anti-government protesters for offences including unlawful assembly and possession of weapons… One protester , Kitty Fung , 17 , lamented the difficulties in continuing the fight for democracy in Hong Kong given the police presence and mass arrests .
“ It seems it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do anything , unlike before , ” she said .
“ I feel like we have given a lot but have achieved nothing.
” No doubt China is thrilled to see the protesters so dispirited .
That was the intent and for now it seems to be working .
Here ’ s some video of the protests taking place today .
Update : The Chinese spokesman who claimed the coronavirus might have originated in the United States is making threats today .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian issued the warning on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration would “ do something ” about the situation in Hong Kong this week in response to Beijing ’ s plans for a new national security law for the city .
Zhao said that the legislation for a “ national security law for the Hong Kong special administrative region is purely China ’ s internal affair , and we brook no foreign interference ” .
“ As to the erroneous foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs , we will take necessary measures to fight back , ” he said .
China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law by Thursday .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress today that in light of the new security law being implemented in China, Hong Kong is no longer an autonomous region.
“No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground,” Pompeo said in a statement. “Hong Kong and its dynamic, enterprising, and free people have flourished for decades as a bastion of liberty, and this decision gives me no pleasure. But sound policy making requires a recognition of reality,” Pompeo said. “While the United States once hoped that free and prosperous Hong Kong would provide a model for authoritarian China, it is now clear that China is modeling Hong Kong after itself.”
Since the British handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the island has been semi-independent under the “one country, two systems” scheme. China promised that independence would continue for at least 50 years. Sec. Pompeo is effectively saying that is over, i.e. that the security law makes this one country, one system. The immediate significance here, which Pompeo has been hinting at since last week, is that Hong Kong could lose it’s special trading status with the United States:
Hong Kong has so far been exempted from the punishing tariffs on exports to the U.S. that the Trump administration has imposed on China as part of President Donald Trump’s multiyear trade war with the country.
The Trump administration is signaling to Beijing that this course of action could be very costly for China. But at least so far that signal doesn’t seem to be making any difference. Today, police in Hong Kong arrested 360 protesters.
More than 360 people were arrested on a day of running protests across Hong Kong as thousands took to the streets to oppose two contentious new laws concerning Chinese sovereignty, and riot police worked late into the night battling radicals who blocked roads and set fires. Young pupils in school uniform were among those taken away in pre-emptive strikes on banned gatherings as police, out in force to head off wider chaos, arrested anti-government protesters for offences including unlawful assembly and possession of weapons… One protester, Kitty Fung, 17, lamented the difficulties in continuing the fight for democracy in Hong Kong given the police presence and mass arrests. “It seems it is no longer possible for us to do anything, unlike before,” she said. “I feel like we have given a lot but have achieved nothing.”
No doubt China is thrilled to see the protesters so dispirited. That was the intent and for now it seems to be working. Here’s some video of the protests taking place today.
Update: The Chinese spokesman who claimed the coronavirus might have originated in the United States is making threats today.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian issued the warning on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said his administration would “do something” about the situation in Hong Kong this week in response to Beijing’s plans for a new national security law for the city. Zhao said that the legislation for a “national security law for the Hong Kong special administrative region is purely China’s internal affair, and we brook no foreign interference”. “As to the erroneous foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs, we will take necessary measures to fight back,” he said.
China’s National Assembly will vote/rubber-stamp the new security law by Thursday.


hotair--2020-05-27--Pew's hot take: GOP-controlled House districts have a smaller rate of decline in COVID-19 deaths, yo

Pew's hot take: GOP-controlled House districts have a smaller rate of decline in COVID-19 deaths, you know

Gee , why might that be ?
I ’ m not sure what point Pew Research thought they were making with this chart , but it ain ’ t the one that comes across in it .
The headline of their analysis actually hits the nail more on the head , even if it is irrelevant : “ Coronavirus death toll is heavily concentrated in Democratic congressional districts.
” This , however , is spin that might even put MSNBC to shame : That ’ s how Pew titled the graphic in its report , too , even though a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallacy .
The obvious reason why GOP-controlled districts have a shallower decline in death rates is because they had a much shallower incline .
The peak in these districts was just one-third of the peak in Democrat districts , which still have more than twice the rate of deaths at this time .
This is so obvious that it speaks to a blinding bias on the part of Pew Research that they couldn ’ t see it for themselves before publishing it — and then promoting this hot take .
Even worse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this data would be important at all : The coronavirus outbreak has taken the lives of nearly 100,000 Americans .
Yet since the start of the outbreak , the death toll has been concentrated in a just a few places – mostly large metropolitan areas , especially the New York City area .
The places hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak – which have relatively large shares of ethnic and racial minorities and residents living in densely populated urban and suburban areas – are almost all represented by congressional Democrats .
No kidding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that almost all large-city mayors are Democrats , too .
This might matter in an election , but it doesn ’ t really have anything to do with policy — except perhaps in New York City .
Pandemics spread faster in higher-density populations , which is all this actually shows .
Republicans got pushed out of high-density urban districts a generation or more ago , and now represent suburban/rural voters — where pandemics of any stripe would spread more slowly .
That ’ s really all this actually shows , other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way : what impact does a House member have on policy and governance specific to his/her district ?
None at all , which is why this analysis is entirely useless .
This is correlation without causation , a very common statistical fallacy that one would ding students for creating in an undergrad paper .
To have this appear in a Pew Research publication suggests another form of causation — political bias .
It undermines Pew ’ s credibility and calls into question all of their work in this political environment , if for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in making that bias sooooooo obvious .

Gee, why might that be? I’m not sure what point Pew Research thought they were making with this chart, but it ain’t the one that comes across in it. The headline of their analysis actually hits the nail more on the head, even if it is irrelevant: “Coronavirus death toll is heavily concentrated in Democratic congressional districts.”
This, however, is spin that might even put MSNBC to shame:
COVID-19 deaths have declined in Democratic congressional districts since mid-April, but remained relatively steady in districts controlled by Republicans. https://t.co/NnUcKYt67w pic.twitter.com/R3mdZ1l8c4 — Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) May 27, 2020
That’s how Pew titled the graphic in its report, too, even though a first-year geometry student could point out the fallacy. The obvious reason why GOP-controlled districts have a shallower decline in death rates is because they had a much shallower incline. The peak in these districts was just one-third of the peak in Democrat districts, which still have more than twice the rate of deaths at this time. This is so obvious that it speaks to a blinding bias on the part of Pew Research that they couldn’t see it for themselves before publishing it — and then promoting this hot take.
Even worse, it’s tough to understand why this data would be important at all:
The coronavirus outbreak has taken the lives of nearly 100,000 Americans. Yet since the start of the outbreak, the death toll has been concentrated in a just a few places – mostly large metropolitan areas, especially the New York City area. The places hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak – which have relatively large shares of ethnic and racial minorities and residents living in densely populated urban and suburban areas – are almost all represented by congressional Democrats.
No kidding? Next thing Pew will tell us is that almost all large-city mayors are Democrats, too.
This might matter in an election, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with policy — except perhaps in New York City. Pandemics spread faster in higher-density populations, which is all this actually shows. Republicans got pushed out of high-density urban districts a generation or more ago, and now represent suburban/rural voters — where pandemics of any stripe would spread more slowly.
That’s really all this actually shows, other than a non-causative correlation. Put it this way: what impact does a House member have on policy and governance specific to his/her district? None at all, which is why this analysis is entirely useless. This is correlation without causation, a very common statistical fallacy that one would ding students for creating in an undergrad paper.
To have this appear in a Pew Research publication suggests another form of causation — political bias. It undermines Pew’s credibility and calls into question all of their work in this political environment, if for no other reason the sheer idiocy involved in making that bias sooooooo obvious.


hotair--2020-05-27--Trump: We'll have to regulate, or shut down, these social media platforms if they silence conservati

Trump: We'll have to regulate, or shut down, these social media platforms if they silence conservative voices

Strong argument here , except for a few things .
1 .
He doesn ’ t care about Twitter silencing “ conservative voices , ” he cares about them policing his personal tweets .
It ’ s not a coincidence that this eruption came the day after the company made the feeblest gesture to finally rein him in .
If he cared about social media bias against conservatives he would have demanded some sort of regulatory action long ago .
2 .
Twitter didn ’ t “ silence ” him , they added a fact-check to two of his tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have been suspended long ago for some of the things Trump has posted , but he gets special privileges .
And then whines that they ’ re not special enough .
He tweeted this a few hours ago , just to show the many people on all sides criticizing him for repeatedly smearing Joe Scarborough that he ’ s not going to stop and Twitter isn ’ t going to lift a finger to stop him : Special privileges .
Just not special enough to suit him .
3 .
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media “ attempted to do ” in 2016 but the biggest social media platform , Facebook , was a boon to his campaign in all sorts of ways .
Trump has even been known to brag that he ’ s “ number one ” on Facebook , whatever that means .
4 .
He ’ s not going to regulate or close down anything .
I doubt he even knows what he means by that beyond some sort of general authoritarian wishcasting about using the state to punish an outlet like Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him the run of the place for years .
It ’ s like when threatened to adjourn Congress last month because he was mad that they weren ’ t confirming his judges quickly enough , or when he told governors last week that he ’ d force them to reopen churches by designating them as essential services .
He floats these ideas because he has an instinct about what he ’ d like to do , not because he has a realistic sense of what he ’ s legally empowered to do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cronies with law degrees like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham to ask them how Article II will allow him to harass Twitter .
Probably they ’ re telling him that under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act a platform can lose its immunity from defamation suits by meddling with user content , thereby turning it into a publisher .
Adding the fact-check notice to Trump ’ s tweets is meddling !
But that ’ s nonsense legally , itself a form of wishcasting about what the law should be rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms to exercise some traditional editorial functions and even to pre-screen objectionable content before it posts .
You don ’ t lose your immunity by moderating what ’ s on your site .
Congress could change that , of course , but ( a ) an amendment to that law isn ’ t getting through either chamber , not so long as the filibuster exists in the Senate ; ( b ) McConnell would probably rather drink poison than embark on a quixotic election-year mission to mess with Americans ’ favorite social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress did amend the statute , it would force platforms to regulate content much more strictly , not less strictly .
Twitter would be inclined to filter out all but the most timid , unobjectionable pap so as not risk lawsuit liability .
They might start by deleting Trump ’ s Scarborough tweets , just in case Joe opts to file a libel suit and make them a co-defendant .
Maybe Trump will sic the DOJ on Facebook and Twitter with antitrust actions instead .
Having the president unleash federal power on corporations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a modest fact-checking of his own tweets would be a nice tableau for a decadent country as it slips further towards dystopia .
5 .
It ’ s downright batsh*t that he wants to have a big food fight over Twitter and Joe Scarborough five months out from an election that he ’ s currently losing , with the country anxious about a pandemic and economic collapse .
He ’ s getting piled on by some of the usual suspects… …but also by some not-so-usual ones .
Like the editorial board of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they don ’ t expect Trump to stop .
What they want to say but stopped just short of saying , I think , is that this isn ’ t part of any reelection strategy .
It ’ s compulsive .
It ’ s evidence of a sickness of some sort , where Trump can ’ t help but lash out first at Scarborough and then at Twitter even though doing so doesn ’ t help him a bit towards beating Biden and may actually hurt .
The Washington Examiner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a piece of its own : Whatever his issues with Scarborough , President Trump ’ s crazed Twitter rant on this subject was vile and unworthy of his office .
Some will undoubtedly shrug it off as Trump being Trump , but one could hardly be blamed for reading it and doubting his fitness to lead .
To say Trump owes Scarborough an apology is to put it mildly .
But in the end , Scarborough won ’ t be the one hurt by this .
Against a weak opponent , Trump somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on with sad , deluded conspiracy theories about Sen. Ted Cruz ’ s father being involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy .
Against a less reviled opponent , he may not be so lucky in 2020 .
And observers might even someday look back at this incident as the instant when things began to unravel .
I doubt anyone outside the activist class is following this episode at all .
But as a portent of how reckless and unfocused Trump might become if he falls further behind Biden , the Examiner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s down only five points or so in national polls right now , expecting an all but certain economic rebound later this summer to help him close that gap .
If it doesn ’ t happen , or if he slides another five points , how unbalanced might he get ?
If he wants revenge on Twitter , all he needs to do is sit back and wait .
They ’ ve opened Pandora ’ s box by introducing the fact-check feature .
Having now applied it to him , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just to Democrats but to much more repulsive characters than Trump himself : Not only that , but any tweet from Trump that ’ s appears without a fact-checking notice will now be read as enjoying an implicit seal of truth from Twitter .
That headache is a more realistic problem for them than Trump fantasizing about closing them down or whatever .
Exit quotation from Jonathan Last , who sympathizes with Twitter on having to impose an external filter on Trump because he lacks the internal filter that normal human beings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls to Twitter to police its own platform because the old norms of self-policing are gone .
”

Strong argument here, except for a few things.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265601615261827072
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265649545410744321
1. He doesn’t care about Twitter silencing “conservative voices,” he cares about them policing his personal tweets. It’s not a coincidence that this eruption came the day after the company made the feeblest gesture to finally rein him in. If he cared about social media bias against conservatives he would have demanded some sort of regulatory action long ago.
2. Twitter didn’t “silence” him, they added a fact-check to two of his tweets. Any other user of the platform would have been suspended long ago for some of the things Trump has posted, but he gets special privileges. And then whines that they’re not special enough.
He tweeted this a few hours ago, just to show the many people on all sides criticizing him for repeatedly smearing Joe Scarborough that he’s not going to stop and Twitter isn’t going to lift a finger to stop him:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265624335898869760
Special privileges. Just not special enough to suit him.
3. I don’t know what he thinks social media “attempted to do” in 2016 but the biggest social media platform, Facebook, was a boon to his campaign in all sorts of ways. Trump has even been known to brag that he’s “number one” on Facebook, whatever that means.
4. He’s not going to regulate or close down anything. I doubt he even knows what he means by that beyond some sort of general authoritarian wishcasting about using the state to punish an outlet like Twitter that’s momentarily embarrassed him after giving him the run of the place for years. It’s like when threatened to adjourn Congress last month because he was mad that they weren’t confirming his judges quickly enough, or when he told governors last week that he’d force them to reopen churches by designating them as essential services. He floats these ideas because he has an instinct about what he’d like to do, not because he has a realistic sense of what he’s legally empowered to do. He’s probably calling around today to cronies with law degrees like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham to ask them how Article II will allow him to harass Twitter.
Probably they’re telling him that under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act a platform can lose its immunity from defamation suits by meddling with user content, thereby turning it into a publisher. Adding the fact-check notice to Trump’s tweets is meddling! But that’s nonsense legally, itself a form of wishcasting about what the law should be rather than what it is. Section 230 allows platforms to exercise some traditional editorial functions and even to pre-screen objectionable content before it posts. You don’t lose your immunity by moderating what’s on your site. Congress could change that, of course, but (a) an amendment to that law isn’t getting through either chamber, not so long as the filibuster exists in the Senate; (b) McConnell would probably rather drink poison than embark on a quixotic election-year mission to mess with Americans’ favorite social media platforms; and (c) if Congress did amend the statute, it would force platforms to regulate content much more strictly, not less strictly. Twitter would be inclined to filter out all but the most timid, unobjectionable pap so as not risk lawsuit liability. They might start by deleting Trump’s Scarborough tweets, just in case Joe opts to file a libel suit and make them a co-defendant.
Maybe Trump will sic the DOJ on Facebook and Twitter with antitrust actions instead. Having the president unleash federal power on corporations simply because his vanity was bruised by a modest fact-checking of his own tweets would be a nice tableau for a decadent country as it slips further towards dystopia.
5. It’s downright batsh*t that he wants to have a big food fight over Twitter and Joe Scarborough five months out from an election that he’s currently losing, with the country anxious about a pandemic and economic collapse. He’s getting piled on by some of the usual suspects…
I know Joe Scarborough. Joe is a friend of mine. I don't know T.J. Klausutis. Joe can weather vile, baseless accusations but T.J.? His heart is breaking. Enough already. — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 27, 2020
…but also by some not-so-usual ones. Like the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal:
Mr. Trump always hits back at critics, and Mr. Scarborough has called the President mentally ill, among other things. But suggesting that the talk-show host is implicated in the woman’s death isn’t political hardball. It’s a smear. Mr. Trump rightly denounces the lies spread about him in the Steele dossier, yet here he is trafficking in the same sort of trash… We don’t write this with any expectation that Mr. Trump will stop. Perhaps he even thinks this helps him politically, though we can’t imagine how. But Mr. Trump is debasing his office, and he’s hurting the country in doing so.
Interesting admission there that they don’t expect Trump to stop. What they want to say but stopped just short of saying, I think, is that this isn’t part of any reelection strategy. It’s compulsive. It’s evidence of a sickness of some sort, where Trump can’t help but lash out first at Scarborough and then at Twitter even though doing so doesn’t help him a bit towards beating Biden and may actually hurt. The Washington Examiner’s editorial board made that case today in a piece of its own:
Whatever his issues with Scarborough, President Trump’s crazed Twitter rant on this subject was vile and unworthy of his office. Some will undoubtedly shrug it off as Trump being Trump, but one could hardly be blamed for reading it and doubting his fitness to lead. To say Trump owes Scarborough an apology is to put it mildly. But in the end, Scarborough won’t be the one hurt by this. Against a weak opponent, Trump somehow managed in 2016 to win despite carrying on with sad, deluded conspiracy theories about Sen. Ted Cruz’s father being involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Against a less reviled opponent, he may not be so lucky in 2020. And observers might even someday look back at this incident as the instant when things began to unravel.
I doubt anyone outside the activist class is following this episode at all. But as a portent of how reckless and unfocused Trump might become if he falls further behind Biden, the Examiner makes a fair point. He’s down only five points or so in national polls right now, expecting an all but certain economic rebound later this summer to help him close that gap. If it doesn’t happen, or if he slides another five points, how unbalanced might he get?
If he wants revenge on Twitter, all he needs to do is sit back and wait. They’ve opened Pandora’s box by introducing the fact-check feature. Having now applied it to him, they’ll be expected to apply it evenhandedly, not just to Democrats but to much more repulsive characters than Trump himself:
https://twitter.com/BBCHamedani/status/1265624542820646912
Not only that, but any tweet from Trump that’s appears without a fact-checking notice will now be read as enjoying an implicit seal of truth from Twitter. That headache is a more realistic problem for them than Trump fantasizing about closing them down or whatever.
Exit quotation from Jonathan Last, who sympathizes with Twitter on having to impose an external filter on Trump because he lacks the internal filter that normal human beings have: “[I]t falls to Twitter to police its own platform because the old norms of self-policing are gone.”


hotair--2020-05-27--Houston, we have a re-opening problem: Complaints versus citations

Re-opening a city isn ’ t as easy as it may sound .
When a state ’ s governor gives his stamp of approval for businesses to re-open , who is in charge of overseeing what happens next ?
Take Texas and the City of Houston , for example .
Last week Texas entered an increased level of Phase Two in the state ’ s plan to reopen .
One category of businesses now allowed to open is bars and clubs .
They are restricted to 25 % occupancy and must practice social distancing .
As you may have predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their end of the agreement .
So , what happens ?
Maybe you saw the pictures of a club ’ s pool party in midtown Houston over Memorial Day weekend – it was packed with patrons .
Club Cle has multiple bars as well as an outdoor lounge .
Photos of the pool party were received by observers much like the ones coming from the Lake of the Ozarks party .
It was all an eye-opener .
Ten complaints to Harris County alone came from that party at Club Cle , out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and county between Friday and Monday .
Complaints have been made on nightclubs , bars , and restaurants .
Some businesses allowed to operate have been the source of complaints , too , such as churches , hardware stores , and sporting goods retailers .
A problem has arisen because while the governor continues to relax restrictions on businesses because Texas has been able to handle the coronavirus pandemic reasonably well , Mayor Sylvester , a Democrat , is more reluctant to reopen the city .
He encourages city residents to lodge complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
( What is it with Democrats encouraging people to turn into narcs , anyway ? )
Sylvester at first said he would not direct city officials to enforce the governor ’ s orders but his tune changed after seeing photographs of Club Cle over the holiday weekend .
Mayor Sylvester instructed the Houston Fire Department Chief to have fire inspectors issue citations when warranted .
This was to begin Sunday but so far , no citations have been issued .
The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association calls it an “ impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new orders .
Friday Mayor Sylvester said he would not extend any resources to enforce citations but then flipped to put the burden of enforcement on the fire inspectors .
The mayor ’ s complaint is that Governor Abbott didn ’ t back him up over two attempts to enforce the governor ’ s orders .
He claims he doesn ’ t want the city caught in the middle , mostly for liability issues , so he ’ s passing it along to the Houston Fire Department .
Chief Pena says that public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntary basis and business owners usually respond when they are spoken to about any breach of rules .
You see the problem with this circular firing squad .
The mayor asks for people to lodge complaints , he doesn ’ t want to enforce any consequences from the complaints , he tosses the hot potato to the Houston Fire Department to be the enforcers issuing citations , and the firefighters say , wait a minute , we ’ re doing ok just asking business owners to tighten up their admittance policy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s flip-flopping as the source of confusion and it sure sounds as though that is where it comes from .
Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen has not issued any citations for the more than 12,000 complaints received by the county .
Now , in the case of the bars , the firefighters are pointing out that there is only so much they can do and the rest falls to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission ( TABC ) .
Further complicating the picture is the question of who should enforce Abbott ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials can stop people from entering venues or halt overcrowded events , while a spokesman for the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission said the state agency is responsible for “ regulating and enforcing ” the order at establishments with liquor permits and generally has relied on local entities to alert them of suspected violations .
In response , Peña said both entities can enforce violations .
TABC , which can suspend a bar or restaurant ’ s liquor license for 30 to 60 days but can not force the business to close its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any establishment in Texas , according to spokesman Chris Porter .
He said businesses have complied when TABC inspectors informed them of potential violations .
Mayor Turner is giving permission for the fire department to enforce penalties with citations .
TABC points to the fact that there are no overall limits for outdoor gatherings .
The event that caused this reversal by Turner in the first place was the Club Cle pool party , an outdoor gathering .
Marty Lancton , president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association said firefighters have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business who is in violation of capacity limits .
He points the blame back at the mayor over inconsistent political directives .
In the case of the county , the Harris County Fire Marshal ’ s Office is one of the smallest local law enforcement agencies with only 25 investigators .
In the midtown area , where Club Cle is located , there were 31 complaints over the holiday weekend .
This is all beginning to sound more like the unenforceable orders and fines threatened by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials .
Until something more concrete is agreed upon , the public is being given conflicting messages and left to draw their own conclusions .
It looks like the mayor is all hat , not cattle .

Re-opening a city isn’t as easy as it may sound. When a state’s governor gives his stamp of approval for businesses to re-open, who is in charge of overseeing what happens next?
Take Texas and the City of Houston, for example. Last week Texas entered an increased level of Phase Two in the state’s plan to reopen. One category of businesses now allowed to open is bars and clubs. They are restricted to 25% occupancy and must practice social distancing. As you may have predicted, some clubs are not exactly upholding their end of the agreement. So, what happens?
Maybe you saw the pictures of a club’s pool party in midtown Houston over Memorial Day weekend – it was packed with patrons. Club Cle has multiple bars as well as an outdoor lounge. Photos of the pool party were received by observers much like the ones coming from the Lake of the Ozarks party. It was all an eye-opener. Ten complaints to Harris County alone came from that party at Club Cle, out of more than 1,200 reported to the city and county between Friday and Monday. Complaints have been made on nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. Some businesses allowed to operate have been the source of complaints, too, such as churches, hardware stores, and sporting goods retailers.
A problem has arisen because while the governor continues to relax restrictions on businesses because Texas has been able to handle the coronavirus pandemic reasonably well, Mayor Sylvester, a Democrat, is more reluctant to reopen the city. He encourages city residents to lodge complaints against alleged abuses of occupancy orders by businesses. (What is it with Democrats encouraging people to turn into narcs, anyway?) Sylvester at first said he would not direct city officials to enforce the governor’s orders but his tune changed after seeing photographs of Club Cle over the holiday weekend.
Mayor Sylvester instructed the Houston Fire Department Chief to have fire inspectors issue citations when warranted. This was to begin Sunday but so far, no citations have been issued. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association calls it an “impossible situation” to enforce Sylvester’s new orders.
In a letter posted by the union, the group believes Turner’s decision came “without public health guidance.” The group also believes the move should have also come with an order from Fire Chief Samuel Pena in which clarification is provided on how firefighters should respond when they come across “irate business owners, managers, and customers.” “Based on recent incidents, we have no reason to believe that mayor will back up city employees forced into this impossible situation,” read the letter.
Friday Mayor Sylvester said he would not extend any resources to enforce citations but then flipped to put the burden of enforcement on the fire inspectors. The mayor’s complaint is that Governor Abbott didn’t back him up over two attempts to enforce the governor’s orders. He claims he doesn’t want the city caught in the middle, mostly for liability issues, so he’s passing it along to the Houston Fire Department. Chief Pena says that public compliance is going pretty well on a voluntary basis and business owners usually respond when they are spoken to about any breach of rules.
“Like I said, we will go out there, we will ensure that we are having conversations with the business owners to try to provide a safe environment for those establishments, but that is our only focus – education and information,” Peña said.
You see the problem with this circular firing squad. The mayor asks for people to lodge complaints, he doesn’t want to enforce any consequences from the complaints, he tosses the hot potato to the Houston Fire Department to be the enforcers issuing citations, and the firefighters say, wait a minute, we’re doing ok just asking business owners to tighten up their admittance policy. The firefighter union points to the mayor’s flip-flopping as the source of confusion and it sure sounds as though that is where it comes from.
Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen has not issued any citations for the more than 12,000 complaints received by the county.
Since pandemic-related restrictions began in March, Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen has yet to issue a single citation for the more than 12,000 complaints received by the county. Christensen said to date, business owners have agreed to comply when investigators identify a violation.
Now, in the case of the bars, the firefighters are pointing out that there is only so much they can do and the rest falls to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC).
Further complicating the picture is the question of who should enforce Abbott’s orders: Peña said Houston fire officials can stop people from entering venues or halt overcrowded events, while a spokesman for the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission said the state agency is responsible for “regulating and enforcing” the order at establishments with liquor permits and generally has relied on local entities to alert them of suspected violations. In response, Peña said both entities can enforce violations. TABC, which can suspend a bar or restaurant’s liquor license for 30 to 60 days but cannot force the business to close its doors, has yet to do so for any establishment in Texas, according to spokesman Chris Porter. He said businesses have complied when TABC inspectors informed them of potential violations.
Mayor Turner is giving permission for the fire department to enforce penalties with citations. TABC points to the fact that there are no overall limits for outdoor gatherings. The event that caused this reversal by Turner in the first place was the Club Cle pool party, an outdoor gathering. Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association said firefighters have no legal authority to shut down a business who is in violation of capacity limits. He points the blame back at the mayor over inconsistent political directives. In the case of the county, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office is one of the smallest local law enforcement agencies with only 25 investigators.
In the midtown area, where Club Cle is located, there were 31 complaints over the holiday weekend. This is all beginning to sound more like the unenforceable orders and fines threatened by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The governor’s orders override local public officials. Until something more concrete is agreed upon, the public is being given conflicting messages and left to draw their own conclusions. It looks like the mayor is all hat, not cattle.


hotair--2020-05-27--POTUS: I don't use insulin. Should I?

POTUS: I don't use insulin. Should I?

A bizarre moment popped up yesterday while the President was making an announcement in the Rose Garden about a new initiative aimed at capping drug prices .
Earlier in the proceedings , the subject of the cost and availability of insulin for diabetics had come up .
And then , seemingly unprompted by anyone , Trump took one of his characteristic trips off of the prepared script and mused about whether or not he should be taking insulin .
Fortunately , he immediately handed off the microphone to the Surgeon General for some clarification .
( NY Post ) “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Should I be ?
Huh ?
I never thought about it , but I know a lot of people are very badly affected , ” Trump said at the event .
A reporter asked Trump a short time later if there was a medical reason why someone who doesn ’ t have diabetes would take insulin .
“ Let ’ s get these highly paid executives up here to give the answer , ” Trump replied , ultimately asking Surgeon General Jerome Adams for an explanation .
“ Your body , Mr. President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as you and I , we make our own insulin .
So yes we do utilize insulin , but we make it ourselves , ” Adams said , indirectlty saying there was no reason for Trump to be taking the drug .
Before you jump all over me for bringing this up , let ’ s just be honest about this .
We frequently have a lot of fun here point out and poking fun at the endless train of gaffes that Joe Biden churns out whenever he emerges from his bunker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fair play , so we shouldn ’ t exempt anyone – even the President – from the same type of chuckles .
And this was pretty funny .
To his credit , Dr. Jerome Adams did an admirable job of trying to offer Trump some cover by explaining that he does , in fact , “ use ” insulin already .
It ’ s just that the President ’ s body produces enough of it for his needs without external help .
He was obviously trying to deflect away from the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beings use insulin .
I ’ ll also concede that Donald Trump is not a doctor and there ’ s no record of any sort of formal medical training on his resume .
So there ’ s no default assumption that he should have known that .
But… really ?
Perhaps I ’ m off base on this one , but I ’ d been under the impression that pretty much anyone who has been out and about in the world knew that people with more severe forms of diabetes take insulin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 100 million Americans have either diabetes or prediabetes , though thankfully only a small percentage have such severe symptoms that they require regular insulin treatments .
I don ’ t think this would have turned into even this much of a media story if President Trump hadn ’ t previously indicated that he ’ d been taking hydroxychloroquine despite not having any symptoms of COVID-19 nor testing positive for the novel coronavirus .
( He recently stopped taking it . )
It just makes him sound as if he ’ s making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors .
Yes , this isn ’ t that big of a deal in the end and will likely not be worth more than a brief chuckle .
But in the unlikely event that any of you reading this start getting any ideas , don ’ t go out and start looking for insulin dealers on the street corners without getting a checkup first .
Too much insulin can potentially kill you even faster than not having enough .

A bizarre moment popped up yesterday while the President was making an announcement in the Rose Garden about a new initiative aimed at capping drug prices. Earlier in the proceedings, the subject of the cost and availability of insulin for diabetics had come up. And then, seemingly unprompted by anyone, Trump took one of his characteristic trips off of the prepared script and mused about whether or not he should be taking insulin. Fortunately, he immediately handed off the microphone to the Surgeon General for some clarification. (NY Post)
“I don’t use insulin. Should I be? Huh? I never thought about it, but I know a lot of people are very badly affected,” Trump said at the event. A reporter asked Trump a short time later if there was a medical reason why someone who doesn’t have diabetes would take insulin. “Let’s get these highly paid executives up here to give the answer,” Trump replied, ultimately asking Surgeon General Jerome Adams for an explanation. “Your body, Mr. President, actually makes insulin endogenously and people such as you and I, we make our own insulin. So yes we do utilize insulin, but we make it ourselves,” Adams said, indirectlty saying there was no reason for Trump to be taking the drug. “Ah!” Trump said.
Before you jump all over me for bringing this up, let’s just be honest about this. We frequently have a lot of fun here point out and poking fun at the endless train of gaffes that Joe Biden churns out whenever he emerges from his bunker or goes on camera. But turnabout is fair play, so we shouldn’t exempt anyone – even the President – from the same type of chuckles. And this was pretty funny.
To his credit, Dr. Jerome Adams did an admirable job of trying to offer Trump some cover by explaining that he does, in fact, “use” insulin already. It’s just that the President’s body produces enough of it for his needs without external help. He was obviously trying to deflect away from the original question and point out that all human beings use insulin.
I’ll also concede that Donald Trump is not a doctor and there’s no record of any sort of formal medical training on his resume. So there’s no default assumption that he should have known that. But… really?
Perhaps I’m off base on this one, but I’d been under the impression that pretty much anyone who has been out and about in the world knew that people with more severe forms of diabetes take insulin. After all, the CDC reports that roughly 100 million Americans have either diabetes or prediabetes, though thankfully only a small percentage have such severe symptoms that they require regular insulin treatments.
I don’t think this would have turned into even this much of a media story if President Trump hadn’t previously indicated that he’d been taking hydroxychloroquine despite not having any symptoms of COVID-19 nor testing positive for the novel coronavirus. (He recently stopped taking it.) It just makes him sound as if he’s making his own medical decisions without consulting his doctors.
Yes, this isn’t that big of a deal in the end and will likely not be worth more than a brief chuckle. But in the unlikely event that any of you reading this start getting any ideas, don’t go out and start looking for insulin dealers on the street corners without getting a checkup first. Too much insulin can potentially kill you even faster than not having enough.


hotair--2020-05-27--Minnesota vise: Near-riot breaks out in protest over Minneapolis PD detainee death

Teargas , flash-bang grenades , and rubber bullets — not exactly the norm for a midweek night out on the town in Minneapolis .
Last night , however , Minnesota Nice turned into a Minnesota vise as an angry crowd descended on the police department ’ s third precinct , where officers involved in the death of George Floyd worked until yesterday afternoon .
News that the four responding officers had been fired didn ’ t do much to dispel the anger , and it got worse as the evening progressed .
WCCO had a live stand-up from later in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasionally responding with crowd-suppression tactics : Both sides exchanged fire , so to speak , as the Star Tribune reports this morning .
The protest started peacefully , but after the march to the precinct , the passions of the moment prevailed : Community anger over the death of George Floyd boiled over Tuesday night in Minneapolis , as protesters and officers clashed , lobbing projectiles and tear gas .
… Tuesday evening , thousands of people , many of them wearing masks , marched peacefully from the site — outside Cup Foods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department ’ s Third Precinct , where tensions quickly escalated .
As rain began to fall , protesters shattered the glass front door of the station and defaced the building .
Police squad vehicles were hit with spray paint .
Some protesters climbed on top of the building , while others threw rocks and water bottles at officers in riot gear .
Police responded by firing chemical irritants and flash-bang devices , and sending groups scattering to a nearby Target and Arby ’ s , some getting milk to pour into their stinging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as barricades while the store temporarily closed .
The protest waned shortly after 9 p.m. as the crowds dwindled .
That might have been the end of this protest , but it ’ s not going to be the end of the story .
The Strib also did some digging on the officers involved , and it turns out that the man with the knee on Floyd ’ s neck has come under criticism for his use of lethal force in the past .
As was his partner : In 2008 , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ira Latrell Toles during a domestic assault call .
According to a 2011 article from the Pioneer Press , Chauvin and other officers showed up to an apartment in south Minneapolis just before 2 a.m. Toles grabbed for an officer ’ s gun and Chauvin shot him in the abdomen .
In 2006 , Chauvin and five others responded to a stabbing .
After Wayne Reyes , 42 , allegedly pulled a shotgun on the officers , one of the officers shot and killed Reyes , according to a report titled “ Stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brutality , a police watchdog nonprofit based in Minneapolis .
… In 2017 , Lamar Ferguson sued Thao and another officer , Robert Thunder , for excessive use of force .
According to the lawsuit , Ferguson and a woman who was eight months pregnant were walking home when Thao and Thunder stopped and searched them without cause .
The officers handcuffed Ferguson , and Thao threw him to the ground and began punching him , while Thunder kicked him , according to the allegations .
The officers took Ferguson to the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escorted Ferguson to jail wearing only his underwear and T-shirt , rejecting hospital staff ’ s requests that he be allowed to fully dress , according to the complaint .
The case against Thao ended in a $ 25,000 settlement , according to Ferguson ’ s lawyer .
These may have all been properly handled incidents , but that kind of track record will have Floyd ’ s defenders seeing red .
And given this city ’ s track record on arrests and use of lethal force — especially in the Philando Castile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting — the police ’ s credibility on internal reviews of complaints is just about nil at the moment .
For now , all people have to go on is the video of Floyd ’ s arrest and the track record of these two officers , which means we can expect ongoing protests .
The next step will probably be getting autopsy reports to determine just how Floyd died .
If it ’ s tied directly to the neck pressure applied by Chauvin — asphyxiation , compression , stroke — then the outrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold the officers accountable .
Thus far we already have three law-enforcement agencies probing the death : the FBI , the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension , and the Minneapolis PD itself along with the Hennepin County DA .
If charges get filed soon , that might mollify some of the anger , but don ’ t expect the protests to entirely disappear .
There ’ s too much history here for people to simply forget about Floyd .
And that video will still speak volumes , regardless of the autopsy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to die while in police custody .

Teargas, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets — not exactly the norm for a midweek night out on the town in Minneapolis. Last night, however, Minnesota Nice turned into a Minnesota vise as an angry crowd descended on the police department’s third precinct, where officers involved in the death of George Floyd worked until yesterday afternoon. News that the four responding officers had been fired didn’t do much to dispel the anger, and it got worse as the evening progressed.
WCCO had a live stand-up from later in the evening, when police were still occasionally responding with crowd-suppression tactics:
Both sides exchanged fire, so to speak, as the Star Tribune reports this morning. The protest started peacefully, but after the march to the precinct, the passions of the moment prevailed:
Community anger over the death of George Floyd boiled over Tuesday night in Minneapolis, as protesters and officers clashed, lobbing projectiles and tear gas. … Tuesday evening, thousands of people, many of them wearing masks, marched peacefully from the site — outside Cup Foods on Chicago Avenue — to the Police Department’s Third Precinct, where tensions quickly escalated. As rain began to fall, protesters shattered the glass front door of the station and defaced the building. Police squad vehicles were hit with spray paint. Some protesters climbed on top of the building, while others threw rocks and water bottles at officers in riot gear. Police responded by firing chemical irritants and flash-bang devices, and sending groups scattering to a nearby Target and Arby’s, some getting milk to pour into their stinging eyes. Protesters used Target shopping carts as barricades while the store temporarily closed. The protest waned shortly after 9 p.m. as the crowds dwindled.
That might have been the end of this protest, but it’s not going to be the end of the story. The Strib also did some digging on the officers involved, and it turns out that the man with the knee on Floyd’s neck has come under criticism for his use of lethal force in the past. As was his partner:
In 2008, [Officer Derek] Chauvin shot and wounded Ira Latrell Toles during a domestic assault call. According to a 2011 article from the Pioneer Press, Chauvin and other officers showed up to an apartment in south Minneapolis just before 2 a.m. Toles grabbed for an officer’s gun and Chauvin shot him in the abdomen. In 2006, Chauvin and five others responded to a stabbing. After Wayne Reyes, 42, allegedly pulled a shotgun on the officers, one of the officers shot and killed Reyes, according to a report titled “Stolen Lives” from Communities United Against Police Brutality, a police watchdog nonprofit based in Minneapolis. … In 2017, Lamar Ferguson sued Thao and another officer, Robert Thunder, for excessive use of force. According to the lawsuit, Ferguson and a woman who was eight months pregnant were walking home when Thao and Thunder stopped and searched them without cause. The officers handcuffed Ferguson, and Thao threw him to the ground and began punching him, while Thunder kicked him, according to the allegations. The officers took Ferguson to the hospital for medical treatment. Afterward, they escorted Ferguson to jail wearing only his underwear and T-shirt, rejecting hospital staff’s requests that he be allowed to fully dress, according to the complaint.
The case against Thao ended in a $25,000 settlement, according to Ferguson’s lawyer. These may have all been properly handled incidents, but that kind of track record will have Floyd’s defenders seeing red. And given this city’s track record on arrests and use of lethal force — especially in the Philando Castile case but also Justine Damond’s shooting — the police’s credibility on internal reviews of complaints is just about nil at the moment.
For now, all people have to go on is the video of Floyd’s arrest and the track record of these two officers, which means we can expect ongoing protests. The next step will probably be getting autopsy reports to determine just how Floyd died. If it’s tied directly to the neck pressure applied by Chauvin — asphyxiation, compression, stroke — then the outrage will grow and so will political demands to hold the officers accountable. Thus far we already have three law-enforcement agencies probing the death: the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis PD itself along with the Hennepin County DA.
If charges get filed soon, that might mollify some of the anger, but don’t expect the protests to entirely disappear. There’s too much history here for people to simply forget about Floyd. And that video will still speak volumes, regardless of the autopsy, of a man who didn’t have to die while in police custody.


hotair--2020-05-27--DoJ drops insider trading investigation into 3 of 4 Senators

As has been discussed here previously , suspicions were raised when it was revealed that at least four members of the Senate had conducted stock trades after receiving private briefings about the novel coronavirus in the early days of the pandemic .
Profiting from such information without letting the rest of the nation know first would obviously be morally indefensible and potentially illegal , falling under insider trading restrictions .
The Department of Justice undertook investigations into trades made by ( or on behalf of ) Kelly Loeffler ( R-Georgia ) , Dianne Feinstein ( D-California ) , James Inhofe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-North Carolina ) .
Yesterday , probes into all but Burr were dropped by the DoJ .
Senator Loeffler was among the first to respond to the news .
( NBC News ) The Department of Justice has closed insider trading probes into three senators who sold off stocks after early briefings on the coronavirus , aides told NBC News .
A spokesman for Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , confirmed she ’ d been informed that DOJ dropped a probe into her trades , and called the allegations “ politically motivated.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice affirms what Senator Loeffler has said all along — she did nothing wrong .
This was a politically-motivated attack shamelessly promoted by the fake news media and her political opponents .
Senator Loeffler will continue to focus her full attention on delivering results for Georgians , ” said the spokesman , Stephen Lawson .
So in the cases of Loeffler , Feinstein and Inhofe , the Justice Department seems to be satisfied with their explanations for how the various trades took place .
Not for nothing , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the claims of shameless , politically motivated investigations .
Each of the Senators ’ financial disclosure records indicates that the transactions in question did take place .
Some involved stocks while others related to mutual funds that included stocks that could be expected to be impacted by the news of a spreading pandemic .
To expect such deals to not be looked into if only to avoid the appearance of impropriety is completely unreasonable .
Clearly these transactions needed to be fully investigated .
For the three exonerated Senators , I suppose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome will rely entirely on how much faith you have in the honesty and integrity of both the members and their financial advisors .
In the case of both Loeffler and Inhofe , they insist that they have no involvement in the investment decisions made by their brokers .
Feinstein assures us that all of the trades were made by her husband and that she “ has no involvement in any of her husband ’ s financial decisions.
” That seems to be good enough for the DoJ ( or at least they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence to contradict the claims ) so that about wraps things up .
But in the case of Burr , he has admitted to personally directing the trades to be made , while insisting that those decisions were based “ solely on public news reports to guide my decision regarding the sale of stocks on February 13.
” That might be a tougher sell in terms of the DoJ investigation .
You ’ ll recall that the news about the novel coronavirus back in the first weeks of February was far different than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both politicians and journalists were still frequently insisting that we shouldn ’ t overreact and that the new virus was probably not much worse than the flu .
But at the same time , outlets like CNN International were reporting that it was actually deadlier than SARS .
So proving that Burr didn ’ t base his trades on publicly available news would be a difficult task .
Don ’ t be surprised if the investigation into him is similarly dropped in the near future unless they can produce some concrete evidence against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in the past , even if we assume the absolute best about all of the Senators involved in this mess , we ’ re seeing yet another example of why members of Congress should just get entirely out of the market while they are in office .
Put your money in T-bills or a savings account or something similar , because the optics are still awful .
You know that there will still be Americans out there wondering if one of their elected officials didn ’ t step outside and place a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a relative do it ) after receiving a briefing .
Others will scoff at the idea that Senator Feinstein wouldn ’ t casually drop some hints to her husband over dinner .
And even if all of them are indeed as pure as the driven snow , why allow for even the appearance of impropriety in such politically divisive times when the public ’ s approval of Congress remains at nearly historic lows ?

As has been discussed here previously, suspicions were raised when it was revealed that at least four members of the Senate had conducted stock trades after receiving private briefings about the novel coronavirus in the early days of the pandemic. Profiting from such information without letting the rest of the nation know first would obviously be morally indefensible and potentially illegal, falling under insider trading restrictions. The Department of Justice undertook investigations into trades made by (or on behalf of ) Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) and Richard Burr (R-North Carolina). Yesterday, probes into all but Burr were dropped by the DoJ. Senator Loeffler was among the first to respond to the news. (NBC News)
The Department of Justice has closed insider trading probes into three senators who sold off stocks after early briefings on the coronavirus, aides told NBC News. A spokesman for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., confirmed she’d been informed that DOJ dropped a probe into her trades, and called the allegations “politically motivated.” “Today’s clear exoneration by the Department of Justice affirms what Senator Loeffler has said all along — she did nothing wrong. This was a politically-motivated attack shamelessly promoted by the fake news media and her political opponents. Senator Loeffler will continue to focus her full attention on delivering results for Georgians,” said the spokesman, Stephen Lawson.
So in the cases of Loeffler, Feinstein and Inhofe, the Justice Department seems to be satisfied with their explanations for how the various trades took place. Not for nothing, however, but Senator Loeffler might want to back off the claims of shameless, politically motivated investigations. Each of the Senators’ financial disclosure records indicates that the transactions in question did take place. Some involved stocks while others related to mutual funds that included stocks that could be expected to be impacted by the news of a spreading pandemic. To expect such deals to not be looked into if only to avoid the appearance of impropriety is completely unreasonable. Clearly these transactions needed to be fully investigated.
For the three exonerated Senators, I suppose the public’s confidence in the outcome will rely entirely on how much faith you have in the honesty and integrity of both the members and their financial advisors. In the case of both Loeffler and Inhofe, they insist that they have no involvement in the investment decisions made by their brokers. Feinstein assures us that all of the trades were made by her husband and that she “has no involvement in any of her husband’s financial decisions.”
That seems to be good enough for the DoJ (or at least they couldn’t come up with any evidence to contradict the claims) so that about wraps things up. But in the case of Burr, he has admitted to personally directing the trades to be made, while insisting that those decisions were based “solely on public news reports to guide my decision regarding the sale of stocks on February 13.”
That might be a tougher sell in terms of the DoJ investigation. You’ll recall that the news about the novel coronavirus back in the first weeks of February was far different than the information that came out later. Both politicians and journalists were still frequently insisting that we shouldn’t overreact and that the new virus was probably not much worse than the flu. But at the same time, outlets like CNN International were reporting that it was actually deadlier than SARS. So proving that Burr didn’t base his trades on publicly available news would be a difficult task. Don’t be surprised if the investigation into him is similarly dropped in the near future unless they can produce some concrete evidence against him.
As I’ve said here in the past, even if we assume the absolute best about all of the Senators involved in this mess, we’re seeing yet another example of why members of Congress should just get entirely out of the market while they are in office. Put your money in T-bills or a savings account or something similar, because the optics are still awful. You know that there will still be Americans out there wondering if one of their elected officials didn’t step outside and place a call to their broker (or have a relative do it) after receiving a briefing. Others will scoff at the idea that Senator Feinstein wouldn’t casually drop some hints to her husband over dinner. And even if all of them are indeed as pure as the driven snow, why allow for even the appearance of impropriety in such politically divisive times when the public’s approval of Congress remains at nearly historic lows?


hotair--2020-05-27--Unmasked: MSNBC's double-standard, elitist, mask-shaming faceplant

It ’ s a couple of days old , but still absolutely delicious as a demonstration of self-important elite snobbery and hypocrisy .
On Memorial Day , MSNBC sent a crew out to Lake Geneva , Wisconsin , to make sure everyone saw the hicks in the sticks walking around without masks .
“ Are they not worried about their personal safety ?
” the host asks the reporter .
“ Nobody ’ s wearing them , ” the reporter replies — and at that point , a passerby blows the whistle on MSNBC ’ s hypocrisy ( via Twitchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the man who blew the whistle on this stunt had his own camera .
It didn ’ t take long for him to make sure everyone took a peek behind the scenes at MSNBC ’ s hypocrisy : Even as someone who does wear a mask in public ( we ’ re a high-risk household ) , this “ unmasking ” of MSNBC is chef ’ s-kiss perfect .
In the first place , masks aren ’ t actually necessary outdoors in the sunshine as long as you keep your distance from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake of the Ozarks was definitely problematic , but Lake Geneva looks much different .
COVID-19 transmission rarely occurs outdoors , we know now ; the risk is indoors , especially in places where people walk in similar patterns .
The only people shown in this video who might require masks are the MSNBC crew huddled together in close range on the sidewalk .
Had MSNBC gone into a supermarket , they probably would have seen more people masked up , because that ’ s where the risk is .
And , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew set up shop by the lakeshore .
It ’ s pretty clear that MSNBC isn ’ t actually interested in universal mask wearing as much as they ’ re into preening over their narrative of fly-over ignorance .
And that ’ s what makes this depantsing so satisfying .
The supposed hicks are a lot more on the ball than the clueless elites , and one of them in particular beats them at their own game by whipping out a camera and exposing their rules-for-thee-but-not-for-we snobbery .
This doesn ’ t bode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Country .
These days , everyone has a camera and the ability to report on the reporters .
Media outlets should think twice about their next “ the hicks in the sticks are thick as bricks ” segment .
If they want to make a point about wearing masks , maybe they should just follow Sean Hannity ’ s example and be honest about it .
Honesty and respect at least have the novelty of not having been tried on MSNBC .

It’s a couple of days old, but still absolutely delicious as a demonstration of self-important elite snobbery and hypocrisy. On Memorial Day, MSNBC sent a crew out to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to make sure everyone saw the hicks in the sticks walking around without masks. “Are they not worried about their personal safety?” the host asks the reporter. “Nobody’s wearing them,” the reporter replies — and at that point, a passerby blows the whistle on MSNBC’s hypocrisy (via Twitchy and Power Line):
INSTANT CLASSIC FROM @MSNBC: ANCHOR: "Are the people there just not worried about it? Are they not worried about their personal safety?" REPORTER: "I haven't met anybody who is… you can see here, nobody's wearing them [masks]." GUY ON STREET: "Including the Cameraman." pic.twitter.com/h9HbbIqNVh — Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) May 26, 2020
Note well that the man who blew the whistle on this stunt had his own camera. It didn’t take long for him to make sure everyone took a peek behind the scenes at MSNBC’s hypocrisy:
You asked for it! Gotta love Cal Perry reach out and touch the cameraman who is not wearing a mask and is not social distancing…and who also touched his face. Breaking ALL the rules! pic.twitter.com/5UGQHTmNOX — Deana921 (@Deana921) May 26, 2020
Even as someone who does wear a mask in public (we’re a high-risk household), this “unmasking” of MSNBC is chef’s-kiss perfect. In the first place, masks aren’t actually necessary outdoors in the sunshine as long as you keep your distance from other people. The scene at the Lake of the Ozarks was definitely problematic, but Lake Geneva looks much different. COVID-19 transmission rarely occurs outdoors, we know now; the risk is indoors, especially in places where people walk in similar patterns. The only people shown in this video who might require masks are the MSNBC crew huddled together in close range on the sidewalk. Had MSNBC gone into a supermarket, they probably would have seen more people masked up, because that’s where the risk is. And, I suspect, that may be why this crew set up shop by the lakeshore.
It’s pretty clear that MSNBC isn’t actually interested in universal mask wearing as much as they’re into preening over their narrative of fly-over ignorance. And that’s what makes this depantsing so satisfying. The supposed hicks are a lot more on the ball than the clueless elites, and one of them in particular beats them at their own game by whipping out a camera and exposing their rules-for-thee-but-not-for-we snobbery.
This doesn’t bode well for future live reports from Flyover Country. These days, everyone has a camera and the ability to report on the reporters. Media outlets should think twice about their next “the hicks in the sticks are thick as bricks” segment. If they want to make a point about wearing masks, maybe they should just follow Sean Hannity’s example and be honest about it. Honesty and respect at least have the novelty of not having been tried on MSNBC.


hotair--2020-05-27--Cross your fingers. We may have an American launch into space today

Assuming it happens , this is a day I ’ ve been anxiously awaiting for almost a decade , along with many other Americans .
Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX team is scheduled to launch one of their Crew Dragon capsules mounted atop a Falcon-9 rocket with two American astronauts onboard at 4:33 pm eastern time today .
It would mark the first time astronauts have been put into orbit from an American spaceport on an American-made rocket since the last shuttle launch .
( NBC News ) “ We as a nation have not had our own access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said earlier this month in a news briefing .
“ This is a very exciting time.
” Over the past nine years , NASA has awarded lucrative contracts to private companies such as SpaceX and Boeing to take over routine flights to the space station .
Wednesday ’ s launch is a critical step in that direction .
It will be the first time a commercially built vehicle carries NASA astronauts into orbit and the first time that SpaceX attempts to ferry human passengers to the space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rookies to ride the Dragon .
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have both been to space before .
In a nod to our previous space program , Hurley was the pilot on the last flight of space shuttle Atlantis in 2011 .
But this time he ’ ll be piloting a much sleeker and more technologically advanced craft .
The Crew Dragon has already made multiple trips to the International Space Station , though until now it ’ s only carried supplies and the occasional mannequin .
The reason I said “ assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring weather is rather unstable and SpaceX needs good weather and relatively calm seas all the way from Florida to Ireland .
Currently , meteorologists are giving us a 60 % chance of the conditions being favorable for a launch .
That ’ s better than yesterday , but far from a sure thing .
And the reason they need such a wide expanse of favorable conditions ?
It ’ s because one of the more exciting and promising features of the Crew Dragon is its ability to separate itself from the rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ascent and safely bring the astronauts back to Earth .
SpaceX has tested the abort capabilities of the Dragon extensively and even intentionally blew up one of their own Falcon-9s to demonstrate this capability .
In the past , if a rocket started to go off course , catch fire or just fall apart during ascent , the astronauts were basically doomed .
Now , in the event of a significant failure on the way up , SpaceX should be able to separate the capsule from the Falcon-9 , whereupon it will deploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back down .
But that means that Hurley and Behnken could land anywhere from just off the Florida coast to the eastern end of the Atlantic .
And one of the SpaceX rescue ships would need to be able to reach them quickly and extract them from the vehicle .
Hence the need for good weather and calm seas across the entire Atlantic Ocean .
I ’ m crossing my fingers and toes and hoping that you all will join us in keeping these brave men in your prayers today .
Godspeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps in freeing us from our dependence on the Russians to put our people into space .

Assuming it happens, this is a day I’ve been anxiously awaiting for almost a decade, along with many other Americans. Elon Musk’s SpaceX team is scheduled to launch one of their Crew Dragon capsules mounted atop a Falcon-9 rocket with two American astronauts onboard at 4:33 pm eastern time today. It would mark the first time astronauts have been put into orbit from an American spaceport on an American-made rocket since the last shuttle launch. (NBC News)
“We as a nation have not had our own access to the International Space Station for nine years,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said earlier this month in a news briefing. “This is a very exciting time.” Over the past nine years, NASA has awarded lucrative contracts to private companies such as SpaceX and Boeing to take over routine flights to the space station. Wednesday’s launch is a critical step in that direction. It will be the first time a commercially built vehicle carries NASA astronauts into orbit and the first time that SpaceX attempts to ferry human passengers to the space station.
NASA isn’t sending rookies to ride the Dragon. Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have both been to space before. In a nod to our previous space program, Hurley was the pilot on the last flight of space shuttle Atlantis in 2011. But this time he’ll be piloting a much sleeker and more technologically advanced craft. The Crew Dragon has already made multiple trips to the International Space Station, though until now it’s only carried supplies and the occasional mannequin.
The reason I said “assuming it happens” is that the late spring weather is rather unstable and SpaceX needs good weather and relatively calm seas all the way from Florida to Ireland. Currently, meteorologists are giving us a 60% chance of the conditions being favorable for a launch. That’s better than yesterday, but far from a sure thing.
And the reason they need such a wide expanse of favorable conditions? It’s because one of the more exciting and promising features of the Crew Dragon is its ability to separate itself from the rocket in the event of a failure during ascent and safely bring the astronauts back to Earth. SpaceX has tested the abort capabilities of the Dragon extensively and even intentionally blew up one of their own Falcon-9s to demonstrate this capability. In the past, if a rocket started to go off course, catch fire or just fall apart during ascent, the astronauts were basically doomed.
Now, in the event of a significant failure on the way up, SpaceX should be able to separate the capsule from the Falcon-9, whereupon it will deploy some huge parachutes and begin the trip back down. But that means that Hurley and Behnken could land anywhere from just off the Florida coast to the eastern end of the Atlantic. And one of the SpaceX rescue ships would need to be able to reach them quickly and extract them from the vehicle. Hence the need for good weather and calm seas across the entire Atlantic Ocean.
I’m crossing my fingers and toes and hoping that you all will join us in keeping these brave men in your prayers today. Godspeed, gentlemen. Today you take the final steps in freeing us from our dependence on the Russians to put our people into space.


hotair--2020-05-27--Rush: Come on, Trump doesn't care whether Scarborough murdered his staffer

I agree , and made the same point yesterday .
Scarborough is guilty of the only sin that matters in Trump ’ s eyes : He ’ s against Trump .
Whether he really did murder someone is of no consequence to the president except as fodder for an accusation he can use to wound a critic .
If that ’ s unfair to Morning Joe , or painful to Lori Klausutis ’ s family , that ’ s also of no consequence .
There ’ s only one person whose feelings matter .
Where Rush and I differ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in whether the smear is true diminishes the offense instead of making it worse .
The fact that his viciousness is so casual and unconcerned with who might be hurt by it is somehow exculpatory .
In fact , Rush ’ s line about the president “ having fun ” watching the flames from the fire he ’ s fed makes Trump sound like the Joker , a psychopath who commits mayhem because he enjoys watching the world burn — or , in this case , because he enjoys watching the media libs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think that ’ s true ; this is a berserk revenge play by Trump against a longtime critic , not some random act of brutality for sport .
But it ’ s interesting that Rush ’ s compulsion to apologize for the president is so irresistible that it would lead him to argue that Trump ’ s behavior , which he perceives as sadistic , is fine and fun and “ clever ” so long as it annoys the right people .
Which , admittedly , is a decent synthesis of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For what it ’ s worth , this is the only defense of Trump ’ s smear campaign against Scarborough I ’ ve seen from anyone prominent on the right .
Liz Cheney politely reprimanded him today : Kevin McCarthy , a more reliable crony , was asked about it too and offered merely that he didn ’ t serve with Scarborough and knows nothing about the Klausutis case — a damning no-comment considering that McCarthy will normally back Trump up on anything .
Meanwhile , National Review joined the chorus of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today : Whether social media have been good or bad for society is an open question .
Whether social media have been good or bad for President Trump isn ’ t as difficult to discern .
For even the most sober-minded and introspective figures , Twitter can serve as a dangerous temptation .
For a man as capricious and mercurial as our 45th president , it is an irresistible invitation to say things unworthy of his office .
It is said that President Lincoln would place letters written in anger into a locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next morning whether the opprobrium he had meted out was deserved .
President Trump , by unhappy contrast , does not so much as wait to spell-check his missives… Time was when the obvious response to reprehensible behavior was admonition .
The root cause of the mess we are witnessing today is not Twitter ’ s bias or legislative favoritism , and it is most certainly not that the president lacks the power to suspend the First Amendment .
Rather , it is that the president lacks the power to control his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior of the man who sits at the heart of all of our national conversations , both good and ill. Yeah , it ’ s not going to change .
Andy McCarthy , also of NRO , decided to tune out today rather than endure more of it : None of this will matter in the fall — directly .
No one ’ s going into the booth to vote against Trump because he was mean to some cable-news host .
But the accumulated fatigue that McCarthy describes is inescapable and more burdensome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is off on this lark in the middle of a pandemic , on the day that U.S. deaths from COVID-19 topped 100,000 , makes the burden that much heavier .
Biden released this video statement tonight to mark the milestone in coronavirus fatalities and the strategy behind it is as clear as glass .
He knows Trump would never think to say something like this on his own ; he knows the public knows it too .
Even if his advisors convinced Trump to do it , it would be one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound anything like his normal self and you can tell he only read the statement for the first time five minutes before he went on camera .
Empathy is something Trump can ’ t even fake convincingly and it ’ s one of the few things Biden does well .
This is essentially his rejoinder to the Scarborough tweets , just showing that he has priorities in order to heighten the contrast .

I agree, and made the same point yesterday. Scarborough is guilty of the only sin that matters in Trump’s eyes: He’s against Trump. Whether he really did murder someone is of no consequence to the president except as fodder for an accusation he can use to wound a critic. If that’s unfair to Morning Joe, or painful to Lori Klausutis’s family, that’s also of no consequence. There’s only one person whose feelings matter.
Where Rush and I differ is that he thinks Trump’s disinterest in whether the smear is true diminishes the offense instead of making it worse. The fact that his viciousness is so casual and unconcerned with who might be hurt by it is somehow exculpatory.
In fact, Rush’s line about the president “having fun” watching the flames from the fire he’s fed makes Trump sound like the Joker, a psychopath who commits mayhem because he enjoys watching the world burn — or, in this case, because he enjoys watching the media libs cry about it. I don’t think that’s true; this is a berserk revenge play by Trump against a longtime critic, not some random act of brutality for sport. But it’s interesting that Rush’s compulsion to apologize for the president is so irresistible that it would lead him to argue that Trump’s behavior, which he perceives as sadistic, is fine and fun and “clever” so long as it annoys the right people. Which, admittedly, is a decent synthesis of what righty populism writ large has come to.
Rush Limbaugh on morality: Trump “doesn’t care” if Scarborough murdered a woman, doesn’t believe it, but is spreading the rumors that the woman’s family has said cause deep pain, just to drive moralizing people crazy. pic.twitter.com/KId6PoNzQe — Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) May 27, 2020
For what it’s worth, this is the only defense of Trump’s smear campaign against Scarborough I’ve seen from anyone prominent on the right. Liz Cheney politely reprimanded him today:
“I do think the president should stop tweeting about Joe Scarborough. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. He’s the commander in chief of this nation. And it’s causing great pain to the family of the young woman who died,” Cheney told reporters after a press briefing outside the Capitol… “The president should stop tweeting about it,” the Wyoming Republican responded.
Kevin McCarthy, a more reliable crony, was asked about it too and offered merely that he didn’t serve with Scarborough and knows nothing about the Klausutis case — a damning no-comment considering that McCarthy will normally back Trump up on anything. Meanwhile, National Review joined the chorus of right-wing publications criticizing the president in editorials today:
Whether social media have been good or bad for society is an open question. Whether social media have been good or bad for President Trump isn’t as difficult to discern. For even the most sober-minded and introspective figures, Twitter can serve as a dangerous temptation. For a man as capricious and mercurial as our 45th president, it is an irresistible invitation to say things unworthy of his office. It is said that President Lincoln would place letters written in anger into a locked drawer so that he could decide the next morning whether the opprobrium he had meted out was deserved. President Trump, by unhappy contrast, does not so much as wait to spell-check his missives… Time was when the obvious response to reprehensible behavior was admonition. The root cause of the mess we are witnessing today is not Twitter’s bias or legislative favoritism, and it is most certainly not that the president lacks the power to suspend the First Amendment. Rather, it is that the president lacks the power to control his own urges. What needs changing is the behavior of the man who sits at the heart of all of our national conversations, both good and ill.
Yeah, it’s not going to change. Andy McCarthy, also of NRO, decided to tune out today rather than endure more of it:
Besides linking to columns, I've stayed of Twitter for a few days. @POTUS vile tweets and pain they must be causing Klausutis family – nothing new, but the cumulative, demoralizing, exhausting effect … and the awareness that it's never changing. Bleak. — Andy McCarthy (@AndrewCMcCarthy) May 27, 2020
None of this will matter in the fall — directly. No one’s going into the booth to vote against Trump because he was mean to some cable-news host. But the accumulated fatigue that McCarthy describes is inescapable and more burdensome every day. The fact that Trump is off on this lark in the middle of a pandemic, on the day that U.S. deaths from COVID-19 topped 100,000, makes the burden that much heavier. Biden released this video statement tonight to mark the milestone in coronavirus fatalities and the strategy behind it is as clear as glass. He knows Trump would never think to say something like this on his own; he knows the public knows it too. Even if his advisors convinced Trump to do it, it would be one of those scripted jobs where he doesn’t sound anything like his normal self and you can tell he only read the statement for the first time five minutes before he went on camera. Empathy is something Trump can’t even fake convincingly and it’s one of the few things Biden does well. This is essentially his rejoinder to the Scarborough tweets, just showing that he has priorities in order to heighten the contrast.