List of officials who sought to ‘unmask’ Flynn released: Biden, Comey, Obama chief of staff among them  —  Top Obama administration officials purportedly requested to “unmask” the identity of Michael Flynn during the presidential transition period, according to a list of names from that controversial process made public on Wednesday.

Team Trump Pushes CDC to Revise Down Its COVID Death Counts  —  The president and members of his task force are skeptical of the numbers and want the methodology changed.  —  President Donald Trump and members of his coronavirus task force are pushing officials at the Centers for Disease Control …

Joe Biden's running mate list is shorter than you might think — for now, at least  —  Washington (CNN)Joe Biden says he has his eye on a dozen women as potential running mates, but those close to him believe the list of top prospects is likely far shorter as a deep vetting process gets underway …

CNN Poll: Biden tops Trump nationwide, but battlegrounds tilt Trump  —  (CNN)Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's lead over President Donald Trump now stands at five points, but Trump has an edge in the critical battleground states that could decide the electoral college, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

Trump has a major vulnerability.  Democrats should keep pounding it.  —  It may seem like grotesque malpractice — both from a political and a public health standpoint.  But it's true: Amid a pandemic that has killed more than 80,000 Americans, President Trump and many Republicans …

Whistleblower to warn of “darkest winter in modern history” without coordinated virus response  —  A top vaccine doctor who was ousted from his position in April is expected to testify Thursday that the Trump administration was unprepared for the coronavirus, and that the U.S. could face the …

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort released to home confinement amid coronavirus concerns  —  Manafort's lawyers had requested release, citing age, pre-existing conditions.  —  President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been released from prison to serve the remainder …

Kushner, Law Aside, Doesn't Rule Out Delaying 2020 Election  —  The opinion of a White House staff member has no bearing on when the election is held, but his comment played into the concerns of President Trump's detractors.  —  WASHINGTON — Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law …

Powell Warns of Broad Virus Danger, Bats Down Negative Rates  — Fed chair says outlook uncertain, downside risks significant  — Says more fiscal aid may be worth cost to limit long-term harm  —  The U.S. economy faces unprecedented risks from the coronavirus if fiscal …

High-risk states are seeing fewer new coronavirus cases  —  The first stages of reopening haven't produced a surge in coronavirus cases in most states — at least, not yet.  —  Yes, but: The reopening process is still in its early stages, so a second wave of infections still remains distinctly possible.

Steve King says House leader will allow for ‘exoneration,’ return of committee assignments  —  SIOUX CITY — Northwest Iowa Congressman Steve King said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has agreed to a process by which the nine-term incumbent can get “exoneration” and back on committees …

As Coronavirus Restrictions Lift, Millions in U.S. Are Leaving Home Again  —  Where people started leaving home again  —  Percentage point change in the share of people staying home  —  Note: The map shows the change in the average share of people sheltering at home from May 1 to May 8 …

Who You Calling Sleepy Joe?:  Biden on His Youth Agenda, Internet Memes, and Fighting Trump From His House  —  “Young people want the truth,” says the presumptive Democratic nominee.  And “I sometimes say more than I mean, but no one doubts I mean what I say.”

We don't have a president, or a plan  —  A member of the Secret Service stands wearing a surgical mask as President Trump arrives for a news conference at the White House on May 11.  Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images  —  60 days into the coronavirus crisis, the White House does not have a plan …

Fox News Airs Digital Show Starring Alex Berenson, Coronavirus Truther  —  Public-health experts have taken issue with the former reporter's militantly contrarian takes on the pandemic, but he's found a home in the right-wing media ecosystem.  —  Fox News recently aired a new one-off documentary …

If the President Tests Positive for the Virus, What Happens?  —  The news last week that President Trump's valet and Vice President Pence's press secretary had both contracted the coronavirus sent a scare through the White House.  While officials said both leaders subsequently tested negative …

Aspen Institute think tank receives $8 million federal small-business loan  —  Decision to accept funds despite $115 million endowment and billionaire board members divides group's leadership  —  The Aspen Institute think tank accepted more than $8 million in federal small-businesses funds despite having …

The Cruelty of Conspiracy: A Personal Story  —  “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.”  ― Mark Twain  —  I know that I should really be writing about the clash between Anthony Fauci and Rand Paul, the arguments in the Supreme Court …

Under Trump border rules, U.S. has granted refuge to just two people since late March, records show  —  The Trump administration's coronavirus emergency restrictions have shut the U.S. immigration system so tight that just two people seeking humanitarian protection at the southern border …

The two big reasons why California is struggling to control coronavirus  —  California hasn't seen the huge death toll from the coronavirus like New York and other hot spots, but the state is still struggling with a growing number of fatalities and confirmed cases.  —  COVID-19 deaths in California remain at a stubborn plateau.

Inn at Little Washington Chef Will Fill His Socially Distanced Dining Room With Midcentury Mannequins  —  The three Michelin-starred destination will also have Marilyn Monroe masks.  —  A few weeks ago, the Inn at Little Washington sent out an email blast announcing that the luxury Rappahannock …

The Strange Origins Of Trump's Hydroxychloroquine Obsession  —  How a “philosopher” who tweets anti-Semitism, two bitcoin bros and right-wing media helped put an idea in the president's head.  —  President Donald Trump's obsession with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment …

Get Ready for a Vaccine Information War  —  Social media is already filling up with misinformation about a Covid-19 vaccine, months or years before one even exists.  —  The other night, midway through watching a clip from “Plandemic” — a documentary that went viral on social media last week …

A new internal GOP poll suggests tight prez, Senate races in Georgia  —  An internal poll conducted by a group backing Gov. Brian Kemp showed a deadlocked presidential race in Georgia and tight contests for both U.S. Senate seats, underscoring the challenges Republicans face keeping the state in the GOP column.

Jewish State Not Feeling Blessed By ‘God TV’  —  Israel's media watchdog has launched an investigation into a US-based evangelical network following allegations that its programming violated law by seeking to promote conversions to Christianity.  —  International Christian network GOD TV …

Michael Mann Is Talking to Directors, Wondering When They Can All Go Back to Work  —  As coronavirus continues to spread, Vulture is speaking to filmmakers across the globe about how they are coping in a socially distanced world.  —  I had shot about a third of the Tokyo Vice pilot in Tokyo …

Think we have military primacy over China?  Think again.  —  Here's a fact that ought to startle every American who assumes that because we spend nearly $1 trillion each year on defense, we have primacy over our emerging rival, China.  —  “Over the past decade, in U.S. war games against China …

People's Republic of China (PRC) Targeting of COVID-19 Research Organizations  —  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are issuing this announcement to raise awareness of the threat to COVID-19-related research.

DC extends stay-at-home order to June 8  —  Washington, D.C., is extending its stay-at-home order through June 8, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced on Wednesday.  —  The mayor said that the city has not yet met all the required benchmarks to reopen.  —  “We're not there yet and not quite ready …

For some seniors, virus is shifting their views of Trump  —  WHY WE WROTE THIS … Loading...  As the debate over lifting lockdowns has intensified, President Donald Trump's eagerness to get the economy moving again seems to have put him at odds with many older voters.