Top Items:
Susan J. Demas / Michigan Advance:
Don't whitewash the GOP's extremism on full display during Whitmer protest — We were promised it wasn't a Republican protest. We were promised people were just upset they couldn't golf or buy seeds (in stores) during a pandemic that's already killed 2,000 of their neighbors.
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Jason Wilson / The Guardian:
The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions — Protesters in Michigan and other states claim to speak for ordinary citizens, but are also supported by street-fighting far-right groups — A wave of planned anti-lockdown demonstrations that have broken out around …
Discussion:
VICE, Raw Story, Politico and Washington Post, more at Techmeme »
Brett Samuels / The Hill:
Trump appears to back those protesting social distancing measures — President Trump on Friday appeared to back protesters in three states with Democratic governors who are gathering in opposition to extended stay-at-home orders and other restrictions meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Breitbart, IJR and Political Wire
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Jon Passantino / CNN:
Elon Musk says he sent ventilators to California hospitals, they say they got something else instead — (CNN Business)California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded Thursday to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's claim that the company had delivered more than 1,000 ventilators to the state's hospitals treating a surge of coronavirus patients.
Nick Miroff / Washington Post:
Smugglers sawed into Trump's border wall 18 times in one month in San Diego area, records show — Smugglers sawed into new sections of President Trump's border wall 18 times in the San Diego area during a single one-month span late last year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records obtained …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and POLITICUSUSA
Josh Campbell / CNN:
Feds charge doctor who cited Trump to push hydroxychloroquine ‘miracle cure’ — Dr. Gupta explains concerns over medicines touted by Trump — (CNN)It was described as the “magic bullet” to protect against the deadly coronavirus — a “remarkable clinical phenomenon” that could cure the disease within hours.
Christopher Rowland / Washington Post:
Here are the drugs that could treat coronavirus. But don't expect a magic bullet. — Despite Trump's boosterism, there are no treatments ready to fight covid-19 — The journey of EIDD-2801, from laboratory to the mouth of a human, unfolded with head-snapping speed.
Discussion:
In the Pipeline, National Review, Washington Examiner, Los Angeles Times and ABC17NEWS
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Dallas Morning News:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says schools to remain closed for rest of academic year but eases some coronavirus restrictions — While urging Texans to keep taking precautions, Abbott says some medical procedures and state park visits can resume next week - with stores able to begin ‘to go’ service April 24.
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Patrick Svitek / The Texas Tribune:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces team to restart the economy, loosens some restrictions
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces team to restart the economy, loosens some restrictions
Discussion:
Townhall
Michael Kruse / Politico:
Donald Trump's Greatest Escape — His audacity masked his desperation. — It was the spring of 1995. Donald Trump was this close to finished. He had spent the previous five years constantly, and barely, avoiding financial ruin and what he worried would be a permanent stain of personal bankruptcy.
Sophie Tanno / Daily Mail:
Florida beaches will start reopening THIS EVENING: Jacksonville becomes first county to start easing restrictions - despite state's RISING COVID-19 infection rate - after Trump handed control to governors with three-phase plan to reopen America — Beaches in Jacksonville will be among …
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Marty Johnson / The Hill:
Beaches, parks to reopen in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday
Beaches, parks to reopen in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday
Discussion:
COJ.net and New York Post
Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times:
Enough with the WFH sweatpants. Dress like the adult you're getting paid to be — I've waited, watched and bit my tongue during the last month of the pandemic-induced work-from-home era but I just can't take it any more. Please, can we all put away those sweatpants, ratty, gray …
Discussion:
Twitchy
Sharon Begley / STAT:
Influential Covid-19 model uses flawed methods and shouldn't guide U.S. policies, critics say — A widely followed model for projecting Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. is producing results that have been bouncing up and down like an unpredictable fever, and now epidemiologists are criticizing …
Discussion:
PJ Media Home and Marginal REVOLUTION
Jason Johnson / TheGrio:
Joe Biden's VP pick better be a Black woman - and it needs to be Kamala Harris — OPINION: At this point, Biden's not trying to break box office records - he just doesn't want to flop. — Some casting decisions make sense the moment the movie is announced.
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New York Times:
Bill Gates, at Odds With Trump on Virus, Becomes a Right-Wing Target — The Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist has been attacked with falsehoods that he created the coronavirus and wants to profit from it. — In a 2015 speech, Bill Gates warned that the greatest risk to humanity …
Discussion:
New York Post and The Verge
Michael Warren / CNN:
Heartland hotspots: A sudden rise in coronavirus cases is hitting rural states without stay-at-home orders — NY Gov extends stay-at-home order until at least May 15th — Washington (CNN)The test results came back on Easter Sunday. Tammy had been feeling “kind of crappy” …
Discussion:
Blue Virginia and Politico
Isaac Chotiner / New Yorker:
What Have Epidemiologists Learned About the Coronavirus? — Justin Lessler, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, models disease transmission, and has been studying the novel coronavirus. A month ago, as the first confirmed covid-19 deaths …
Politico:
Matt Gaetz rents office space from longtime friend and donor — at taxpayer expense — Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz has spent nearly $200,000 in taxpayer funds renting an office from a longtime friend, adviser, campaign donor and legal client. — Both men said in separate interviews Gaetz …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Raw Story
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Loeffler to Fox News: Criticizing My Coronavirus Stock Trades Is Just a ‘Socialist Attack’ — “This is a political attack that is designed to distract from the issue at hand and to use this outbreak to play politics,” she insisted. — Embattled Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Democratic Party of Georgia and McClatchy Washington Bureau
Maggie Haberman / New York Times:
For Mark Meadows, Transition From Trump Confidant to Chief of Staff Is a Hard One — Weeks into the job, Mr. Meadows has confronted the same problems that frustrated his three predecessors. It hasn't helped him with his new White House colleagues that he's emotional and sometimes cries.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Gothamist and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Geoff Earle / Daily Mail:
'Thank you Mr. President - for doing YOUR JOB!' Andrew Cuomo launches total war on Donald Trump as president demands gratitude for helping New York, scorns his knowledge of the constitution and says: ‘Maybe he should get up and go to work’ — The New York governor gave a relentless lecture …
Michael Tomasky / The Daily Beast:
Trump's Culture Warriors Are a Literal Death Cult Now — In Trumpworld, reopening is just a matter of will. And strength. And devotion to the leader. — BEAST INSIDE — You know where this is headed, right? We all know. Donald Trump and the Republicans are going to turn …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Washington Post:
As officials plan to reopen the economy, a key unknown remains: How deadly is the coronavirus? — With government officials debating how and when to reopen the economy, a fundamental question about the coronavirus pandemic remains unanswered: Just how deadly is this disease?
Discussion:
Michigan Advance
Eric Boehlert / PRESS RUN:
ABC, CNN, New York Times all admit Trump briefings aren't news — so now what? — Stay healthy. — Be kind. — Share PRESS RUN — If Trump's daily pandemic press briefings aren't newsworthy events, why does the news media continue to shower them with ceaseless attention?
Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times:
Less than half of L.A. County residents still have jobs amid coronavirus crisis — Because of the colossal impact that the coronavirus outbreak has had on the U.S. economy, less than half of Los Angeles County residents — 45% compared with 61% in mid-March — still hold a job …
Kara Scannell / CNN:
Michael Cohen will be released from prison due to pandemic — (CNN)The federal Bureau of Prisons has notified Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, that he will be released early from prison due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to people familiar with the matter and his lawyer.
Discussion:
The Root, Reuters, The Hill, NBC News, Talking Points Memo, IJR, The Week, The Real Deal New York, The Daily Caller, The Daily Beast, courthousenews.com, Raw Story, Mediaite, Axios and Washington Times
Marisa Schultz / Fox News:
Freedom Caucus calls on Trump to reopen economy: ‘We are a free people’ — A group of conservative House members Friday urged President Trump to reopen the economy, arguing the social distancing restrictions have wreaked too much havoc on the economy. — The House Freedom Caucus sent Trump …
Discussion:
Breitbart and The Daily Caller
Steve Benen / MSNBC:
New WH press secretary points to non-existent ‘testing system’ — The new White House press secretary believes Trump's helped create “the most expansive and accurate testing system in the world.” I wish that were true. — As premature conversations about re-opening the country continue …
KPNX:
Former Arizona governor Jane Dee Hull, a trailblazing politician, dies at age 84 — Hull was the first woman elected as Arizona governor and Speaker of the House. Her husband, Dr. Terry Hull, has also died. — Author: Brahm Resnik — PHOENIX — Former Arizona Gov. Jane Dee Hull …
Katie Shepherd / Washington Post:
After Fauci urged caution in reopening the economy, Fox News turned to Dr. Phil for a second opinion — After Anthony S. Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, explained the White House's new guidelines for states to slowly reopen their economies in a three-phase process …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Rolling Stone, TheGrio, The Week and HuffPost
Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:
Trump's Pandemic Plan: “Absolute Authority,” No Responsibility — The novel coronavirus brings out the same old, same old President. — A week ago, President Trump foreshadowed his growing anxiety over when and how to end the Great Shutdown, a decision he is well aware will have existential consequences …
Masha Gessen / New Yorker:
We Won't Know the Exact Moment When Democracy Dies — In the early days of the Trump Presidency, there was a lot of speculation about when, if, and how we would pass the point of no return, when we would know that American democracy had been destroyed. That conversation faded after a while, drowned out by the din of Trumpian news.
David Smiley / Miami Herald:
Florida blocks COVID-19 information from public as Gov. Ron DeSantis touts transparency — When the Miami Herald sought information from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office last month about COVID-19 deaths in the epicenter of Florida's coronavirus outbreak, attorneys …
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Trump's coronavirus self-protection plan: Spread responsibility to the states — President Trump's reopening plan includes lots of hurdles for states, but the key factor for him was that he got to fire the pistol, Axios' Jonathan Swan reports. — Why it matters: Even though he's delegating to governors …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Guardian, Florida Politics, The Hill and One America News Network
Burgess Everett / Politico:
‘I have never been so mad about a phone call in my life’ — Democrats erupted after receiving vague answers from Vice President Mike Pence about efforts to ramp up coronavirus testing. — Sen. Angus King. Drew Angerer/Getty Images — Senate Democrats exploded in frustration during …
CNN:
Time to fire Jared and Ivanka — / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) — Peter Bergen is CNN's national security analyst, a vice president at New America and a professor of practice at Arizona State University.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, The Daily Caller, The American Independent and New York Times
Associated Press:
Coronavirus could complicate Trump's path to reelection — NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus is poised to reshape the political map, pummeling battleground states and alarming Republicans who see early signs of an election that could be a referendum on President Donald Trump's management of the crisis.
Discussion:
Politico, Vanity Fair, Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos