News of the Day III

[Hoek]

Let's just use this new thread and voluntarily avoid replying to the old one for now.

Trump, DeWine, DeSantis and others are saying that it’s safe to go out. Yet the virus has penetrated the most secure building in the world (at least twice); a building where presumably everyone is being tested on a daily or routine basis. Everyone there is wearing masks. If they can’t prevent it from entering the White House, how confident are people going to be that they can prevent it from their offices or their local Applebee’s.

Wasn't part of the issue that a lot of them weren't wearing masks until a couple days ago? Also if you've seen what the West Wing looks like inside, it's pretty cramped and I can't imagine it has great ventilation. But yeah, I personally wouldn't go to any restaurants or spend more time in a public place indoors more than I had to. Outdoor seating is probably okay though. I wonder about moving more stores to outdoor tents temporarily, to be honest.

[pete]

Where is that evidence pete. Please tell us.

Rather than go over the copious amount of evidence that the Trump campaign actively sought to collude with Russia, which you haven’t/won’t read anyway, I’ll just point out this video from Mueller’s testimony to the House.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4810133/user-clip-mueller-schiff-detail-trumps-collusion-russia-subsequent-efforts-cover-up

I look forward to your death defying rhetorical gymnastics to try to say that it wasn’t concluded that the Trump campaign actively sought to collude with the Russians.

[pete]

Unreleased White House report shows coronavirus rates spiking in heartland communities

Trump's claim that cases are falling everywhere is contradicted by his own task force's report, obtained by NBC News, showing the virus spreading far from the coasts.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/unreleased-white-house-report-shows-coronavirus-rates-spiking-heartland-communities-n1204751

The 10 top areas recorded surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a seven-day period compared to the previous week, according to a set of tables produced for the task force by its data and analytics unit. They include Nashville, Tennessee; Des Moines, Iowa; Amarillo, Texas; and — atop the list, with a 650 percent increase — Central City, Kentucky.

On a separate list of "locations to watch," which didn't meet the precise criteria for the first set: Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Minneapolis; Montgomery, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; and Phoenix. The rates of new cases in Charlotte and Kansas City represented increases of more than 200 percent over the previous week, and other tables included in the data show clusters in neighboring counties that don't form geographic areas on their own, such as Wisconsin's Kenosha and Racine counties, which neighbor each other between Chicago and Milwaukee.

I'm going to reiterate what I've said before, it's not a question of IF it comes to your town, it's a question of WHEN and HOW QUICKLY your local officials react decisively to get people back into lockdown to protect them. Go fast like San Francisco did and you're ok. Wait a week like New York City did and you'll have a catastrophe on your hands.

[pete]

BREAKING: Judge Sullivan responds with a lengthy order to DOJ's motion to dismiss the Flynn prosecution and quotes the judge on Roger Stone's case. Order states that "at the appropriate time" he will set a schedule for the submission of any amicus curiae briefs.

Sullivan is clearly not happy. By setting a schedule for amicus curiae -- friend of the court -- briefs he's putting off responding to DOJ's motion to dismiss the Flynn case. In what would be a shocking twist, the judge can deny the motion.

Reminder, this is the judge who told Flynn back in 2018: "Arguably, you sold your country out.”

Sullivan quoted Judge Amy Berman Jackson on not allowing a free for all on "friend of the court" briefs in a criminal case.

https://twitter.com/MMineiro_CNS/status/1260329588170862594?s=20

As noted by others on Twitter, surely there's plenty among the 2,000+ ex-DOJ officials who signed the letter denouncing scumbag Barr's abuse of power who will be happy to pen and submit a brief.

Interesting part of the judge's order, to me, "An amicus brief should normally be allowed when a party is not represented competently or is not represented at all..."

I read that as Judge Sullivan flat out saying the DOJ/Barr have abdicated their responsibility.

[Puckhead]

I’ve mentioned before that the judicial system is still one the the three branches of government that we can (mostly) rely on to keep this train wreck in check. Experts say that the SDNY case before the SCOTUS will more than likely go against the grabber. 50-50 on any of the House petitions though.

[ChaseSpace]

I’ve mentioned before that the judicial system is still one the the three branches of government that we can (mostly) rely on to keep this train wreck in check. Experts say that the SDNY case before the SCOTUS will more than likely go against the grabber. 50-50 on any of the House petitions though.

If the SCOTUS rules along party lines that Trump won't face any consequences for ignoring any and all subpoenas then there will effectively be no check on the Presidency and McTurtle will have achieved his dream of turning America into a version of Russia he can control.

[pete]

NEW this morning: Biden and Sanders roll out the members of the 6 Unity Task Forces that will offer recommendations to the DNC platform cmte and to Biden.

https://twitter.com/jeneps/status/1260520449198489600

Biden continues to try to build a big tent coalition. Ezra Klein had an article about this about a month ago and how this is a unique approach to campaigning that might yield a better approach to governing, IMO.

https://www.vox.com/2020/4/13/21219715/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement-democratic-primary-2020

[Hoek]

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/1260628552866816001

@jeremyscahill
Great job to the 10 Democrats who voted *against* the Wyden-Daines amendment that would have prohibited FBI warrantless surveillance of web browser history. Special shout out to Bernie Sanders who didn’t show up to vote. It was defeated by *one* vote.

Oof. Thanks Bernie.

[Puckhead]

https://twitter.com/jeneps/status/1260520449198489600

Biden continues to try to build a big tent coalition. Ezra Klein had an article about this about a month ago and how this is a unique approach to campaigning that might yield a better approach to governing, IMO.

https://www.vox.com/2020/4/13/212197...c-primary-2020

Biden still has two BIG cards to play, at the right time:
1. His VP choice, female and hopefully AA
2. The Obamas, ginning up the youth vote. Especially Michelle.

Btw, watched Michelle’s special “Becoming” last night on Netflix. What an absolutely brilliant woman, with a heart of gold and a sincerity that comes thru in spades. Barack’s a very lucky guy. And we’re fortunate to have her horsepower on our side in the next 5 months. She is still seething over Trump’s birther crap. A terrible but huge motivator.

[pete]

News: The FBI served a warrant on Senator a Richard Burr tonight and seized his cell phone

https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1260751783682441216?s=20

[ChaseSpace]

https://twitter.com/yashar/status/12...682441216?s=20

Speculation already mounting the Justice Department allowed it to go through because Burr signed on to the conclusion of the Intelligence Committee that Russia interfered in the last election on behalf of Trump.

Kinda hard for them to see a future for their party when they're too busy looking behind them for daggers.

[dannybolt]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...t-trump-257884
More legal bad news for the con-man-in-chief.
I wonder if this will go to the Supremes. Seems like the type of lawsuit they would hear.

[pete]

40 years ago today, people pushed the state to reopen areas around Mt. St. Helens citing tourism & the economy against advice of scientists. Five days later, the volcano erupted. #msh40

https://twitter.com/waEMD/status/1260751258861703169?s=20

State of Washington trying to say something?

[pete]

During Friday's presentation of the flag, Trump alluded to the development of a new U.S. military asset.

"We have, I call it the super-duper missile," Trump said, explaining that it could travel "17 times faster than what they have right now."

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/498021-trump-administration-unveils-space-force-flag

The "super-duper missile"?

Really?

Hope you're proud, Waiver.

[nutznboltz]