Thursday, May 28, 2020

And another day of living in two Americas comes to a close:

"The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." — George Orwell

Deaths

US: 103,330 (+1223)

World: 362,024 (+4592)

Countdown: 159 days.

Trump continues to claim broad powers he doesn’t have. Threatening to shut down Twitter for flagging false content. Claiming he can “override” governors who dare to keep churches closed to congregants. Asserting the “absolute authority” to force states to reopen, even when local leaders say it’s too soon. As he battles the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump has been claiming extraordinarily sweeping powers that legal scholars say the president simply doesn’t have. And he has repeatedly refused to spell out the legal basis for those powers.

Another 2.1 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total number of unemployment claims since March to 40.8 million — or 26% of the civilian labor force.

New research shows how dangerous the coronavirus is for current and former cancer patients. “If they don’t have COVID-19, they want to do anything they can to avoid getting it.”

Some Pennsylvania Democrats Accuse Pennsylvania GOP Leadership of Covering Up Lawmaker’s COVID-19 Diagnosis.

Trump shares video of supporter saying that politically "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat". -- Trump is deliberately trying to start a civil war.

Trump is set to announce an executive order against social media companies. While his messages often have the effect of distracting from an unfortunate headline, people close to the President say it is their impression that he genuinely believes many of the more conspiratorial things he sends -- including debunked theories about his predecessor -- and that he isn't raising them only in the hopes of diverting attention elsewhere.

Trump signs executive order aimed at social media companies after fuming over fact-check. -- He wants you to believe that only what he says is truth. Orwell rolls in his grave.

Legal experts 'ratio' Trump's executive order aimed at social media companies. Congress has protected Twitter, Facebook and other platforms, and the president's action can't do away with that.

Four years later, Trump's complaints and rhetoric haven't changed. -- Same Donald. Same shit.

Activists call for murder charges in George Floyd's death. But they're rare against police.

Unrest erupts again after death of George Floyd, Minnesota governor activates National Guard. -- You’re pissed off that POC are pissed off, but you’re not concerned with why POC are pissed off. That is white privilege.

Minneapolis banned warrior-style police training. Its police union kept offering it anyway.

Lack of COVID-19 immunity no reason to vote by mail, Texas court rules. Trump cheers.

Covid-19 clusters emerge as lockdowns ease across Europe.

California is reporting the largest single-day increase in confirmed cases since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Las Vegas is reopening in one week.

China approves plan to rein In Hong Kong, defying Trump and worldwide outcry.

Backlash after YouTubers give up adopted son. A couple who documented on a popular YouTube channel their life with an autistic toddler adopted from China are facing a backlash after they revealed he had been placed with another family.

A looming plague –- and it’s not coronavirus. New swarms of locusts could push millions into hunger.

Betsy DeVos demands public schools share pandemic aid with private institutions. -- Betsy DeVos is a vile human being.

They’re back, telling us again that the age of online education is here. Don’t believe the hype.

People are accidentally throwing out their stimulus check — because it looks like junk mail. -- Probably by design. Yeah, I’m snarky tonight. Fuck it.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.