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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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 …
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
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
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 …
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, CNN, Washington Post, Just The News, The Week, Talking Points Memo, Breitbart and The Hill
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 Rooster and IJR
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Justice Finally Arrives for Michael Flynn
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, Reason, HuffPost and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »
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 and likely …
Discussion:
CNN, Vox, Vanity Fair, New York Times, Common Dreams and wabe.org
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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.
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
Associated Press:
Arrests made in shooting death of black man after outcry — SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Georgia authorities arrested a white father and son Thursday and charged them with murder in the February shooting death of a black man they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood.
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Nelly Miles / Georgia Bureau of Investigation:
Ahmaud Arbery Death Investigation
Ahmaud Arbery Death Investigation
Discussion:
CNN, The Week, The Guardian, The Root, Daily Kos, Just The News, Informed Comment, Forbes, Law & Crime, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Slate, The Hill, fox8.com, wabe.org, Senator Kelly Loeffler, KRQE-TV, The Nation and Denver Post
Richard Fausset / New York Times:
Gregory and Travis McMichael Arrested in Killing of Ahmaud Arbery
Gregory and Travis McMichael Arrested in Killing of Ahmaud Arbery
Discussion:
Common Dreams, New York Post, The Guardian, Axios, The Federalist, Wall Street Journal and Mother Jones
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
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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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
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
RELATED:
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 »
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.
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
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 …
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Democratic senators propose $2,000 monthly payments to most Americans — A trio of Democratic senators are pitching a big idea: pay most American families thousands of dollars each month until the coronavirus's economic crisis subsides. — On Friday, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) …