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| Coronavirus US live: Trump demands churches, synagogues and mosques reopen 'right now' | Coronavirus US live: Trump demands churches, synagogues and mosques reopen 'right now' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President threatens to override governors if they don’t comply with his request, while speaking at the White House Friday | President threatens to override governors if they don’t comply with his request, while speaking at the White House Friday |
| Joe Biden has apologised for his comment earlier today that if African Americans “have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black”. At the same time, Donald Trump is seeking to press home Republican attacks on the matter. | |
| “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy,” Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, said on a call with the US Black Chambers, an African-American business group. “I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.” | |
| The president, meanwhile, retweeted Senator Tim Scott’s view that Biden’s comments “are the most arrogant and condescending thing I’ve heard in a very long time” and commended an African American Fox News host, Harris Faulkner, as “A GREAT AMERICAN”. | |
| Faulkner said Biden’s comment was “more than just a little offensive, it is short sighted, it is a blind spot for this former vice-president. He should’ve got up immediately on whatever venue, microphone he had.” | |
| She then read a statement from Black Voices for Trump. The statement was authored by Katrina Pierson, a Trump spokeswoman who spoke to reporters with Senator Scott earlier and according to the New York Times “grew defensive in response to questions about Mr Trump’s own history of racist remarks”. | |
| The Times added: | |
| At the White House earlier, Donald Trump cited “liquor stores and abortion clinics” as services some governors have deemed essential and allowed to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| “It’s not right,” the president said, announcing his decision to “call houses of worship essential” and call upon governors to allow such places “to open right now”. | |
| Trump does not like liquor. He is a teetotaler, and vocally so, and claims never to have taken a drink. | |
| Trump does not like abortion, vocally so since he declared his run for the presidential nomination of a party committed to achieving its end. | |
| Back in 2016, however, he wasn’t very vocal when a New York Times columnist asked if any woman he had been involved with had ever had an abortion. | |
| “Such an interesting question,” Trump told Maureen Dowd. “So what’s your next question?” | |
| There’s also the perennial question of just how religious Trump is, and what support for him says about evangelical Christians in particular. Here’s John S Gardner’s review of a recent attempt to make the Christian case for Trump: | |
| Yahoo News and YouGov are out with a startling poll, which among its findings says 44% of Republicans believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates “is plotting to use a mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign as a pretext to implant microchips in billions of people and monitor their movements”. | Yahoo News and YouGov are out with a startling poll, which among its findings says 44% of Republicans believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates “is plotting to use a mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign as a pretext to implant microchips in billions of people and monitor their movements”. |
| Gates has given $300m to fund efforts to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 100,000 people in the US and nearly 336,000 worldwide. Earlier this month he participated in a global summit which the Trump administration skipped. | Gates has given $300m to fund efforts to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 100,000 people in the US and nearly 336,000 worldwide. Earlier this month he participated in a global summit which the Trump administration skipped. |
| The idea that Gates is pushing vaccine efforts out of some sinister, world-dominating motive is actually a conspiracy theory too outlandish even for the Trump administration and Fox News, which have not pushed it. (Trump supporters Diamond and Silk did go there in April, on their own live stream, after their last Fox Nation show.) | The idea that Gates is pushing vaccine efforts out of some sinister, world-dominating motive is actually a conspiracy theory too outlandish even for the Trump administration and Fox News, which have not pushed it. (Trump supporters Diamond and Silk did go there in April, on their own live stream, after their last Fox Nation show.) |
| To some Americans, that doesn’t seem to matter. Among those who say their primary source of news is Fox News, the new poll says, the figure for believing the Gates conspiracy theory is 50%. | To some Americans, that doesn’t seem to matter. Among those who say their primary source of news is Fox News, the new poll says, the figure for believing the Gates conspiracy theory is 50%. |
| The Yahoo/YouGov poll found widespread concern about the spread of misinformation amid the coronavirus pandemic. A majority of Democrats blamed the Trump administration while Republicans blamed the mainstream media. | The Yahoo/YouGov poll found widespread concern about the spread of misinformation amid the coronavirus pandemic. A majority of Democrats blamed the Trump administration while Republicans blamed the mainstream media. |
| The tendency to believe and spread conspiracy theories is “more widespread on the right”, Yahoo reported, “although liberals also believe some false narratives (including that Covid-19 deaths have already surged in states that were quick to reopen)”. | The tendency to believe and spread conspiracy theories is “more widespread on the right”, Yahoo reported, “although liberals also believe some false narratives (including that Covid-19 deaths have already surged in states that were quick to reopen)”. |
| Joe Biden has apologized for his comments earlier on Friday. | Joe Biden has apologized for his comments earlier on Friday. |
| Christian leaders in several states were already making plans to open to congregants on the week of Pentecost, May 31, despite restrictions in those states, and evidence of heightened risks of spreading Covid-19 | Christian leaders in several states were already making plans to open to congregants on the week of Pentecost, May 31, despite restrictions in those states, and evidence of heightened risks of spreading Covid-19 |
| They, and others, are likely to be emboldened President Trump’s remarks on Friday about opening “essential” houses of worship. The Associated Press reports: | They, and others, are likely to be emboldened President Trump’s remarks on Friday about opening “essential” houses of worship. The Associated Press reports: |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bought up a case just this week about the risks of holding religious services in person. | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bought up a case just this week about the risks of holding religious services in person. |
| The CDC published an example in a weekly report, which centers around an Arkansas church where the pastor and his wife had Covid-19. | The CDC published an example in a weekly report, which centers around an Arkansas church where the pastor and his wife had Covid-19. |
| According to the report, the local ABC station said, the couple attended church-related events from March 6 through March 8, developing symptoms of illness just a few days following the events. ABC further reported that: | According to the report, the local ABC station said, the couple attended church-related events from March 6 through March 8, developing symptoms of illness just a few days following the events. ABC further reported that: |
| Trouble continues for Joe Biden over his remarks to radio host Charlamagne tha God this morning. | Trouble continues for Joe Biden over his remarks to radio host Charlamagne tha God this morning. |
| The Democratic presumptive nominee said that “if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black”. | The Democratic presumptive nominee said that “if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black”. |
| Michigan Republican and candidate for Senate John James has put out a furious tweet. | Michigan Republican and candidate for Senate John James has put out a furious tweet. |
| Here’s the clip. | Here’s the clip. |
| The FBI said on Friday that the agency’s director Christopher Wray had ordered an internal review into possible misconduct in the investigation of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn. | The FBI said on Friday that the agency’s director Christopher Wray had ordered an internal review into possible misconduct in the investigation of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn. |
| This follows the Justice Department’s controversial decision earlier this month to move to dismiss the criminal case against Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. | This follows the Justice Department’s controversial decision earlier this month to move to dismiss the criminal case against Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. |
| Judge Emmet Sullivan, however, has put a hold on attorney general William Barr’s attempt to drop the case against Flynn, and appointed a retired judge, John Gleeson, to argue against the motion to dismiss. | Judge Emmet Sullivan, however, has put a hold on attorney general William Barr’s attempt to drop the case against Flynn, and appointed a retired judge, John Gleeson, to argue against the motion to dismiss. |
| The FBI review announced on Friday will examine whether any employees engaged in misconduct during the course of the investigation and evaluate whether any improvements need to be made, the bureau said. | The FBI review announced on Friday will examine whether any employees engaged in misconduct during the course of the investigation and evaluate whether any improvements need to be made, the bureau said. |
| The move to drop the case was condemned by almost 2,000 former justice department figures. | The move to drop the case was condemned by almost 2,000 former justice department figures. |
| Returning to White House coronavirus task force resource coordinator Deborah Birx’s lengthy presentation for a moment. | Returning to White House coronavirus task force resource coordinator Deborah Birx’s lengthy presentation for a moment. |
| She mentioned that people shouldn’t go to religious services if they are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus. | She mentioned that people shouldn’t go to religious services if they are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus. |
| But she and all the other experts have said repeatedly that people can be asymptomatic while still having coronavirus and be shedding the virus, potentially infecting people, for days without realizing it. | But she and all the other experts have said repeatedly that people can be asymptomatic while still having coronavirus and be shedding the virus, potentially infecting people, for days without realizing it. |
| In follow-up Q & A with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, she was asked several times by different reporters what authority the president has to “override the governors” and she skirted round it in various ways but ended up admitting that where it comes to lifting restrictions on houses of worship opening for services “that’s up to the governors”. | In follow-up Q & A with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, she was asked several times by different reporters what authority the president has to “override the governors” and she skirted round it in various ways but ended up admitting that where it comes to lifting restrictions on houses of worship opening for services “that’s up to the governors”. |
| Some churches are defying governors’ orders not to hold in-person services, and this was asked about. | Some churches are defying governors’ orders not to hold in-person services, and this was asked about. |
| McEnany said Trump “wants to see all these churches open.” | McEnany said Trump “wants to see all these churches open.” |
| White House coronavirus task force resource coordinator Deborah Birx is giving a detailed presentation in the press briefing room. | White House coronavirus task force resource coordinator Deborah Birx is giving a detailed presentation in the press briefing room. |
| She said she is concerned about persistent high numbers of cases in some cities that have had lasting restrictions on residents, namely Washington, DC, Chicago and LA. | She said she is concerned about persistent high numbers of cases in some cities that have had lasting restrictions on residents, namely Washington, DC, Chicago and LA. |
| Birx just warned people to wear masks and observe social distancing over the holiday weekend. | Birx just warned people to wear masks and observe social distancing over the holiday weekend. |
| “Play tennis with masks on,” she said. “Play golf with marked balls.” | “Play tennis with masks on,” she said. “Play golf with marked balls.” |
| She told Americans to keep distance and think “that’s your space and you need to protect it.” | She told Americans to keep distance and think “that’s your space and you need to protect it.” |
| She then says: “I know you can do it,” as if we’re all elementary school children. But most folks can probably attest to having seen people acting frighteningly irresponsibly out in public, or just without thinking. | She then says: “I know you can do it,” as if we’re all elementary school children. But most folks can probably attest to having seen people acting frighteningly irresponsibly out in public, or just without thinking. |
| Whether it’s the mask around the mouth but not nose, or walking around the store with a mask under the chin, like a useless little head hammock, etc, etc, and that’s even without all the people getting into violent incidents over social distancing, mask wearing and all that. So. Drs Birx and Fauci wish you a safe Memorial Day weekend. | Whether it’s the mask around the mouth but not nose, or walking around the store with a mask under the chin, like a useless little head hammock, etc, etc, and that’s even without all the people getting into violent incidents over social distancing, mask wearing and all that. So. Drs Birx and Fauci wish you a safe Memorial Day weekend. |
| Speculating here that the president will hit the links. | Speculating here that the president will hit the links. |
| Here’s one of the other points Donald Trump just made in his exceedingly short address to the press. | Here’s one of the other points Donald Trump just made in his exceedingly short address to the press. |
| “Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics essential, but have left out churches ... it’s not right. So I am correcting this injustice and am calling houses of worship essential,” the president said. | “Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics essential, but have left out churches ... it’s not right. So I am correcting this injustice and am calling houses of worship essential,” the president said. |