Top Items:
The Daily Beast:
Team Trump Wants Flynn Back for 2020, Sees Him as Its ‘Nelson Mandela’ — Can a disgraced former national security adviser become a campaign MAGA hero? We may soon find out. — With the Justice Department announcing Thursday that it would drop the case against Michael Flynn …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, New York Times, Raw Story, Letters from an American, Washington Post and Talking Points Memo
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David Ignatius / Washington Post:
If Michael Flynn did nothing wrong, why didn't he tell the truth? — With the Justice Department's move Thursday to drop its case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, it's useful to go back to a basic question: If Flynn did nothing wrong when he called the Russian ambassador on Dec. 29 …
Discussion:
Mother Jones
Associated Press:
AP Exclusive: Justice Dept dropping Flynn's criminal case — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday said it is dropping the criminal case against President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, abandoning a prosecution that became a rallying cry for Trump …
Jan Wolfe / Reuters:
Skeptical judge could hold up Trump administration's bid to clear Flynn, legal experts say — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The notoriously independent-minded federal judge who once said he was disgusted by the conduct of Michael Flynn could block the administration's bid to drop criminal charges …
Allison Quinn / The Daily Beast:
Kushner Details His Wild Idea to Use Russia's Secret Comms — According to newly released transcripts, Kushner admitted to floating a back-channel of sorts, but said the then-Russian ambassador nixed the idea. — The president's son-in-law and top aide, Jared Kushner …
Lawfare:
An Ugly Day for the Justice Department — It is exceptionally rare for the United States Department of Justice to move in court to dismiss a case in which a defendant has—ably assisted by first-class lawyers—entered into a plea agreement to spare himself prosecution on more serious felony charges.
Discussion:
Politico and The Mahablog
Catherine Herridge / CBS News:
Attorney General William Barr on Michael Flynn, Obamacare and coronavirus restrictions - Transcript — The Justice Department on Thursday moved to dismiss charges against Michael Flynn, President Trump's first national security adviser. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying …
Discussion:
Power Line, Washington Post, CNN, New York Times, Columbia Journalism Review, Just The News, The Week, The Root, Talking Points Memo, Breitbart, The Hill and Discourse.net
Mark Hemingway / RealClearInvestigations:
New Red Flags Emerging From FBI's Handling of Michael Flynn's Case
New Red Flags Emerging From FBI's Handling of Michael Flynn's Case
Discussion:
Fox News, New York Post and The Hill
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Justice Finally Arrives for Michael Flynn
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
‘Never Seen Anything Like This’: Experts Question Dropping of Flynn Prosecution
‘Never Seen Anything Like This’: Experts Question Dropping of Flynn Prosecution
Discussion:
The Atlantic, The Rooster, IJR, Common Dreams and Althouse
Matt Fountain / San Luis Obispo Tribune:
Exclusive: 1996 court document confirms Tara Reade shared Biden harassment allegation — The San Luis Obispo County court filing is the first official public record confirming she made allegations at that time. — A court document from 1996 shows former Senate staffer Tara Reade told …
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Alexandra Jaffe / Associated Press:
Prominent lawyer, Trump donor representing Biden accuser — WASHINGTON (AP) — Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who alleged Joe Biden sexually assaulted her 27 years ago, is being represented by a prominent lawyer and political donor to President Donald Trump's 2016 Republican campaign.
Laura McGann / Vox:
The agonizing story of Tara Reade
The agonizing story of Tara Reade
Discussion:
Daily Kos, CounterPunch, Breitbart, Balloon Juice, The Week, The Hill, HuffPost and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »
Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Tara Reade calls for Biden to drop out of presidential race
Tara Reade calls for Biden to drop out of presidential race
Discussion:
Townhall, Poynter, Redstate, Axios, The Federalist, Washington Post, NBC News and Breitbart
Ben White / Politico:
Political fantasy battles economic reality after tens of millions of jobs lost — The U.S. economy is sitting in its deepest hole since the Great Depression, with more than 33 million Americans losing their jobs in just seven weeks and an unemployment rate now at 14.7 percent …
Discussion:
Calculated Risk, CNN, Vox, Daily Kos, Vanity Fair and New York Times
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Jeff Cox / CNBC:
A record 20.5 million jobs were lost in April as unemployment rate jumps to 14.7% — Nonfarm payrolls fell by 20.5 million in April and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7%, both post-World War II records. — Economists had been expecting a loss of 21.5 million jobs and the unemployment rate to surge to 16%.
Discussion:
New York Times
Christopher Rugaber / Associated Press:
A devastating jobs report for April will show virus's impact — WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government on Friday is poised to report the worst set of jobs numbers since record-keeping began in 1948, a snapshot of the devastating damage the coronavirus outbreak has inflicted on the economy.
Nelly Miles / Georgia Bureau of Investigation:
Ahmaud Arbery Death Investigation — Glynn County, GA (May 7, 2020) - On May 7th, 2020, the GBI arrested Gregory McMichael, age 64, and Travis McMichael, age 34, for the death of Ahmaud Arbery. They were both charged with murder and aggravated assault. The McMichaels were taken into custody …
Discussion:
CNN, Reason, Raw Story, The Week, The Guardian, The Root, Daily Kos, Just The News, Forbes, Law & Crime, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Slate, Axios, The Hill, The Dispatch, fox8.com, wabe.org, Senator Kelly Loeffler, KRQE-TV, The Nation and Denver Post
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Will Sommer / The Daily Beast:
Discredited Doctor and Sham ‘Science’ Are the Stars of Viral Coronavirus Documentary ‘Plandemic’ — Dr. Judy Mikovits is portrayed as a science genius in a conspiracy film about the coronavirus—but her own research history is dubious and the video is full of bizarre claims.
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News and No More Mister Nice Blog, more at Mediagazer »
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NBC News:
As ‘#Plandemic’ goes viral, those targeted by discredited scientist's crusade warn of ‘dangerous’ claims — Initially pushed by anti-vaccination disinformation peddlers, the video was then promoted by minor celebrities. — A video from a discredited scientist promoting a hodgepodge …
Discussion:
VICE
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Scoop: Trump officials' dysfunction harms delivery of coronavirus drug — A complete breakdown in communication and coordination within the Trump administration has undermined the distribution of a promising treatment, according to senior officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.
Rebecca Morin / USA Today:
Americans more worried about reopening too quickly than not opening quickly enough, survey shows — WASHINGTON - As states around the country begin reopening, a new survey shows the majority of Americans are more worried about social distancing measures being loosened too quickly then are worried …
Discussion:
The Hill
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Kendall Karson / ABC News:
Reopening the country seen as greater risk among most Americans: POLL
Reopening the country seen as greater risk among most Americans: POLL
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight and The Week
ABC News:
Pompeo changes tune on Chinese lab's role in virus outbreak, as intel officials cast doubt — After telling ABC News there was “enormous evidence,” he now says maybe not. — Secretary of State Pompeo is leaning even harder into his attacks on the Chinese government over the novel coronavirus pandemic …
Discussion:
One America News Network and Politico
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Natasha Bertrand / Politico:
Top GOP lawmaker disclosed holdings in Chinese company he criticized
Top GOP lawmaker disclosed holdings in Chinese company he criticized
Discussion:
Poynter, The Citizen Lab, Raw Story, Washington Post and The Guardian, more at Techmeme »
Burgess Everett / Politico:
'We're going to fill it': Republicans ready for any Supreme Court vacancy — Senate Republicans are quietly beginning to contemplate the possibility of an election-year confirmation battle for the Supreme Court. — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's hospitalization this week and the looming end …
Discussion:
Raw Story
New York Times:
De Blasio Strips Control of Virus Tracing From Health Department — Several leading health officials expressed serious concerns over the transfer of contact tracing efforts to the agency that runs the city's public hospitals, a departure from current and past practice.
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Toluse Olorunnipa / Washington Post:
Trump tightens grip on coronavirus information as he pushes to restart the economy — President Trump in recent weeks has sought to block or downplay information about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic as he urges a return to normalcy and the rekindling of an economy that has been devastated …
Discussion:
Redstate, Second Nexus, Politico, CNBC, Spectator USA and The Intellectualist
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Dean Welte / KTIV-TV:
Gov. Ricketts: Nebraska won't release specific COVID-19 numbers at meatpacking plants — LINCOLN, Neb. (KTIV) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says the state won't release specific numbers of cases at meatpacking plants, like Tyson's facilities in Dakota City, or Madison.
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Michael Grabell / ProPublica:
What Happened When Health Officials Wanted to Close a Meatpacking Plant, but the Governor Said No
What Happened When Health Officials Wanted to Close a Meatpacking Plant, but the Governor Said No
Discussion:
Vox
Sean Davis / The Federalist:
Obama Defense Official Evelyn Farkas Admitted She Lied On MSNBC About Having Evidence Of Collusion — Former Obama administration defense official Evelyn Farkas testified under oath that she lied during an MSNBC interview when she claimed to have evidence of alleged collusion …
Gabby Orr / Politico:
The 2024 election test arrives early for Mike Pence — Donald Trump is grasping for ways to impress voters who are scrutinizing his response to the coronavirus pandemic, knowing they will seal his fate as a one- or two-term president in the 2020 election. — His vice president is juggling two elections at once.
Discussion:
Raw Story
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Katherine Kersten / Star Tribune:
Minnesota must recover from its pandemic of fear — On top of that, this experiment with government by decree needs to end. — TEXT SIZE — Minnesota has been in the grip of coronavirus hysteria for the last two months. We have submitted to unprecedented restrictions on our freedoms …
Discussion:
Power Line