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Today’s Top Stories: May 19, 2020
Today’s Top Stories is brought to you by My Daily Grind News.
The Lede
Trump probably lied about taking malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine.
(CNN) The fragile foundation of evidence-based reality shoring up Donald Trump’s life and presidency just got even more tenuous.Trump’s admission that he was dosing up on hydroxychloroquine, an unproven and possibly harmful therapy to ward off the coronavirus, appears to conflict with the codes of medical science and is a stunning development given his position.
“Here’s my evidence: I get a lot of positive calls about it,” Trump told shocked reporters when he made the disclosure about a malaria drug he has all but dispensed from the bully pulpit. Trump’s medical choices and the risks he chooses to take are his personal business. But he is not an ordinary citizen, and his use of the therapy sends a conflicting message to Americans told by the US Food and Drug Administration that it is not proven to work against Covid-19 and could be counterproductive.
The President’s preventative pitch even prompted the anchor on duty at the friendly confines of Fox News to warn that some viewers could die if they followed his example. It was not the only moment on Monday when Trump’s personal and political priorities brought him into a collision with evidence. He grouched that Attorney General William Barr said he’s not inclined to pursue criminal charges in a false conspiracy theory against former President Barack Obama and Trump’s 2020 foe, Joe Biden.
“I think if it was me they would do it,” Trump said.
Trump threatens to permanently cut WHO funding, leave body if changes aren’t made within 30 days
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Carrier sidelined by coronavirus heads back to sea this week
First Coronavirus Vaccine Tested in Humans Generates Immune Response, Appears Safe
Worldwide:
- 4,834,449 up from 4,737,299 confirmed infections yesterday.
- 319,147 up from 315,622 confirmed deaths yesterday.
US stats:
- 1,509,202 up from 1,486,742 confirmed infections yesterday.
- 90,373 up from 89,564 confirmed deaths yesterday.
Politics
Former judge to argue against DOJ in Flynn case next month
Trump will not invite Obama to White House for traditional unveiling of the most recent ex-president’s portrait – White House portrait unveiling may be the latest casualty of the political divide
Trump threatens to permanently end WHO funding, says he is taking hydroxychloroquine
Biden hires Chávez granddaughter to help on Latino outreach
Economy
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell testify before Congress this morning.
Powell, Mnuchin testify on coronavirus relief: live blog
Upcoming economic reports this week:
- Monday – Home Builders Index up to 37 from 30. Good news? Yes.
- Tuesday – Housing Starts way down to 891,000 from 1,276,000 in the last report.
- Thursday – Jobless claims
- Thursday – Leading Economic Indicators
Learn how to turn your hobbies into hustles – check out Gig Economics.
Today’s Top Stories: May 18, 2020
Today’s Top Stories is brought to you by My Daily Grind News.
The Lede
Fired State Dept. watchdog was probing whether Pompeo made staffer walk dog, pick up laundry
Editorial: In the Trump administration’s latest episode of “We say ‘drain the swamp,’ but we really mean ‘fill it with swampier people,'” it’s been suggested that the firing of Steve Linick, former State Department Inspector General, was politically motivated.
The shock!
You see, Linick had been investigating reports of Pompeo staff members running personal errands for the Secretary of State. Things such as picking up dry cleaning and walking the dog.
What good is a cushy federal government job if you can’t have people feed you grapes while bathing you?
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Worldwide:
- 4,737,299 confirmed infections
- 315,622 confirmed deaths
US stats:
- 1,486,742 confirmed infections
- 89,564 confirmed deaths
Politics
Eric Trump claims coronavirus is Democratic hoax, will ‘magically’ vanish after 2020 election
Exclusive Poll: Young Voters Losing Confidence In Trump’s Ability To Handle Pandemic – Biden retains 20 point lead among Americans under 30
Economy
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell suggests US economic recovery could last well into 2021.
My question is: Can we even talk about a recovery when we are nowhere near the bottom?
The Dow futures is up around 600 points. Word on the street is that a coronavirus vaccine may come sooner than anticipated.
Upcoming economic reports this week:
- Monday – Home Builders Index
- Tuesday – Housing Starts
- Thursday – Jobless claims
- Thursday – Leading Economic Indicators
Learn how to turn your hobbies into hustles – check out Gig Economics.
Offbeat Story of the Day
Florida Man In Domestic Poultry Pelting | The Smoking Gun
MAY 17–During an argument in their Florida home, a man threw a piece of raw chicken at his wife, striking her in the head, according to police who arrested the alleged poultry pelter for battery.
Cops charge that Thomas Reece, 34, and the victim got into a “verbal argument over a family issue” Friday evening at their St. Petersburg residence.
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Today’s Top Stories: May 14, 2020
Today’s Top Stories is brought to you by My Daily Grind News.
The Lede
Editorial: Jobless claims rise to 36.5 million. The term “Greater Depression” will become the way we refer to this stark economic period.
As businesses re-open, there is a strong possibility we will get that “second wave” scientists and medical professionals have been warning us about. We’re already seeing second waves occurring in China and South Korea.
Then what? What are the millions without jobs going to do when their unemployment runs out?
There will be severe cascading effects: The housing market will tank, we will dip our toes in the the negative interest rate waters, and it may take a decade or more to recover.
And none of this mentions what may happen if we don’t get an effective virus and/or treatment.
Very tough times lie ahead.
Coronavirus update:
4,383,360 confirmed infections
298,295 confirmed deaths.
Russia is now in second place for total number of infections, still FAR BEHIND the US in the virus race.
US stats:
- 1,393,890 confirmed infections.
- 84,239 confirmed deaths.
Relevant COVID-19 stories:
- Coronavirus drives health insurers back to Obamacare
- Coronavirus flare-ups in China and South Korea prompt new fears of a 2nd wave
- Infectious-Disease Experts Think Washington State’s Slow Reopening Will Mean Fewer Cases
Politics:
McConnell puts blame for 2020 coronavirus failure on Barack Obama, in office 2009-2017
The Senate majority leader criticized the former president on a Trump campaign live stream despite the presence of a “Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents.”
WATCH: Ousted Scientist Says ‘Window Of Opportunity’ To Fight Coronavirus Is Closing
Richard Bright, the government scientist-turned-whistleblower, testifies Thursday before a House panel. Watch live at 10 a.m. ET.
Relevant Politics stories:
- Texas sees 1,000 new coronavirus cases 5 days in a row
- Court Allows Emoluments Case Against Trump Over D.C. Hotel To Proceed
- FBI serves warrant on senator in investigation of stock sales linked to coronavirus
- Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down governor’s extension of stay-at-home order
Economy Update:
Weekly jobless claims total 2.981 million, bringing coronavirus tally to 36.5 million
BRACE YOURSELF: Unemployment rate will hit 25 percent when the next report comes out.
The Dow is flat, in the low 23k range.
Upcoming economic reports this week:
- Tuesday – Consumer Price Index (CPI) down 0.8 percent (deflation), Federal budget figures coming out.
- Wednesday – PPI – down 1.3 percent, Powell talks.
- Thursday – Jobless claims – up 3 million, to a total of 36.5 million since the pandemic hit the US.
- Friday – Retail sales, Consumer Sentiment Index, Business Inventories.
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/calendars/economic
Relevant Economy stories:
Learn how to turn your hobbies into hustles – check out Gig Economics.
Offbeat Story of the Day:
Police: Woman Arrested For Battering Husband With Mother’s Day Bouquet | The Smoking Gun
A Florida Woman battered her husband with a bouquet of Mother’s Day flowers during a confrontation early yesterday in the couple’s home, according to police.
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Today’s Top Stories: May 12, 2020
Today’s Top Stories is brought to you by My Daily Grind News.
The Lede
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, is testifying before Congress today about the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch live: Dr. Anthony Fauci, others testify about federal COVID-19 response
Expect his firing later this week, via tweet, of course.
Coronavirus update:
4,201,921 confirmed infections, up from 4,132,365 yesterday.
286,835 confirmed deaths, up from 283,387 yesterday.
US stats:
- 1,347,936 confirmed infections, up from 1,329,885 yesterday.
- 80,684 confirmed deaths, up from 79,531 yesterday.
Relevant COVID-19 stories:
- After six new cases, Wuhan plans to test all 11 million residents for coronavirus
- Russia: Putin’s spokesman hospitalized with coronavirus
- Will We Ever Return to Normal?
Politics:
If Barack Obama was the president of the United States, this would not have happened.
Former GOP strategist Steve Schmidt on Monday rebuked President Donald Trump’s fumbling response to the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting the United States would not be facing “catastrophe” if former President Barack Obama were still in office.
Relevant Politics stories:
- Fauci warns of ‘suffering and death’ if US reopens too soon
- ‘It’s all rigged’: Trump foreshadows how he could undermine presidential election
Economy Update:
U.S. Core Consumer-Price Index Fell by Most on Record in April
A key measure of U.S. consumer prices declined in April by the most on record as travel and apparel spending collapsed during the coronavirus pandemic.
The core consumer-price index, which excludes volatile food and fuel costs, fell 0.4% from the prior month after a 0.1% decrease in March, Labor Department figures showed Tuesday. That’s the biggest drop in data back to 1957. Compared with April of last year, the core CPI rose 1.4%, the smallest annual gain since 2011.
CPI fell 0.8 percent. This includes food and fuel costs. We KNOW food prices didn’t drop (due to hoarding and shortages), so most of that came from falling oil and gas prices, as OPEC members were in a price war AND demand fell because nobody was driving to work and industry shut down, for the most part.
The Dow is flat at 24k.
Upcoming economic reports this week:
- Tuesday – Consumer Price Index (CPI) down 0.8 percent (deflation), Federal budget figures coming out.
- Wednesday – PPI, Powell talks
- Thursday – Jobless claims
- Friday – Retail sales, Consumer Sentiment Index, Business Inventories
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/calendars/economic
Relevant Economy stories:
- Workplace worries mount as US tracks new COVID-19 cases
- U.S. Core Consumer-Price Index Fell by Most on Record in April
Learn how to turn your hobbies into hustles – check out Gig Economics.
Offbeat Story of the Day:
Punks Popped For Pandemic Video Pranks | The Smoking Gun
MAY 11–Two Florida teenagers busted for “running around Walmart coughing” and spraying workers and customers with Febreze told cops they were “just trying to be funny and make their videos for YouTube.
“Kids will be kids?” I have to admit, that’s kinda funny. But still in very bad taste, especially in light of the severity of the situation we face and the terror it brings.
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Today’s Top Stories: May 11, 2020
Today’s Top Stories is brought to you by My Daily Grind News.
The Lede
Washington (CNN) Trump administration officials spent the weekend scrambling as they attempted to do contact tracing for Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary who tested positive for coronavirus last week.
But they had not identified who Miller contracted the virus from as of Sunday, raising concerns inside the White House about how to contain the outbreak.
Some aides expressed concern at how Monday would proceed without greater clarity on how the virus had originated and spread. One official said it wasn’t certain which colleagues would stay home. Some officials who had extended contact with Miller announced they would self-quarantine, while others who had similar contact with her did not.
Coronavirus update:
4,132,365 confirmed infections, up from 3,866,642 Friday.
283,387 confirmed deaths, up from 270,279 Friday.
US stats:
- 1,329,885 confirmed infections, up from 1,256,972 Friday.
- 79,531 confirmed deaths, up from 75,670 Friday.
Relevant COVID-19 stories:
- COVID-19 cluster traced to Southern California birthday party: Health department
- Will We Ever Return to Normal?
Politics:
GOP senators worry Trump, COVID-19 could cost them their majority
The two biggest criticisms of Trump that GOP lawmakers express privately are that his administration took too long to deploy coronavirus tests and that the president’s statements and demeanor have been too cavalier or flippant.
The biggest headwind Republicans face this fall is the faltering national economy, which now has a 14.7 percent unemployment rate, according to a Friday report by the Labor Department.
Relevant Politics stories:
- “FUCK ELON MUSK” – California assemblywoman hits Elon Musk with an F-bomb after he says he will move Tesla’s HQ out of state
- Mike Pence praises Iowa’s steps to reopen during surreal trip delayed by staffer’s positive COVID-19 test
- Sen. Alexander Will Quarantine Self After Aide Tests Positive For COVID-19
Economy Update:
“Official unemployment” rate nears 15 percent, will surge past 20 percent in next report.
Over 30 million Americans have filed jobless claims. Economy poised to re-open but will jobs come back?
The Dow is down about 200 points, in the low-24k range. Will we continue to vacillate in the 23k-24k band? For how long?
Upcoming economic reports this week:
- Last Friday – Unemployment rate – 14.7 percent, official unemployed number of workers is at 20.5 million
- Tuesday – CPI, Federal budget
- Wednesday – PPI, Powell talks
- Thursday – Jobless claims
- Friday – Retail sales, Consumer Sentiment Index, Business Inventories
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/calendars/economic
Relevant Economy stories:
- Vacation real-estate markets are ‘toast’ because of the pandemic as Airbnb owners rush to offload their homes, Redfin CEO says
- Federal rescue money is helping keep many airport workers on the job — but not all of them
- Las Vegas Has a Plan to Reopen Its Casinos
Learn how to turn your hobbies into hustles – check out Gig Economics.
Offbeat Story of the Day:
Mosquitos Are the “Real” Murder Insects
Asian giant hornets aren’t big killers of humans, but mosquitoes are responsible for millions of yearly deaths worldwide.
Question: What happens when a mosquito stings a COVID-19 patient? Is coronavirus transmittable via blood? Does anybody know?
If my gut is right, this could be a game changer. Fucking mosquitoes.
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