Tuesday, June 2, 2020

And another day where being silent is no longer an option comes to a close:

"The presidency is a big job. Nobody will get everything right. And I won't either. But I promise you this. I won't traffic in fear and division. I won't fan the flames of hate." — Joe Biden

Deaths

US: 108,059 (+1134)

World: 382,412 (+4975)

Countdown: 154 days.

Silence is NOT an option. — Ben & Jerry’s are not mincing words. Plus they give suggestions of what needs to be done. It’s good. Read it. 

Peaceful protesters get lost in action-packed coverage. What’s easy to get lost are peaceful protesters concerned about police treatment of minorities — the raw wound reopened by George Floyd’s death.

History Will Judge the Complicit. Why have Republican leaders abandoned their principles in support of an immoral and dangerous president?

Black Lives Matter activism is working. Police shootings of African Americans and unarmed suspects are declining — but progress is at risk.

They’re Trying to Gaslight Us to Death. We’ve reached the who-are-you-gonna-believe-me-or-your-own-eyes phase of the uprising...It seems as if everyone from the highest levels of government, to police officers, and randoms on Twitter are embarking on a campaign to make you feel as if you’re just imagining the widespread brutality raining down from the state...Maybe worst of all, if we have to challenge all these systems, we may be forced to also challenge ourselves. No, it’s much easier to pretend everything is fine.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to “conduct covert surveillance” and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the murder of George Floyd, according to a two-page memorandum obtained by BuzzFeed News.

With rallies halted and tweets fact-checked, Trump campaign turns to smartphone app. For the campaign, it is a pandemic-proof substitute to Trump’s signature rallies, and a key tool to collect crucial data that can help micro-target voters ahead of November’s election. Trump will face presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 contest. -- That sounds...Orwellian.

How Lots Of White Democrats Ended Up At The Protests.

Most Americans sympathize with protests, disapprove of Trump's response.

Former President George W. Bush: 'It is time for America to examine our tragic failures'. Bush called for Americans to listen to 'grieving' black Americans, and said peaceful protest is a 'strength.'

Attorney General Barr ordered authorities to clear protesters near White House, DOJ official says.

The most chilling aspect of Trump’s Monday night crackdown on law-abiding protesters. There was no need to do this before 7 — but Trump gave cops a test, and they passed.

Trump and Sessions Released Cops from Federal Oversight. Now We See the Results.

Addressing the nation’s civil unrest, Joe Biden blasts President Trump as narcissistic a day after police drove back protesters near the White House so Trump could pose with a Bible before a damaged church.

'Exhausting, traumatizing': Minneapolis protests push peace amid police confrontations. “We cannot back down now. We have come way too far. We are literally in the midst of history.”

President Trump — an infrequent churchgoer — focuses on his Christian base amid protests and pandemic.

A look inside the history and present of Christian nationalism - the movement behind Trump's religious support.

Republicans Won’t Even Criticize Trump for Gassing Protestors for a Photo Op. — There is not one Republican who is a compassionate human being. Vote them all out. 

Senate Republicans block bill condemning Trump over protesters. — As I said, vote all Republicans out.

Rep. Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat facing a tough primary challenge and questions about his absence from his district, was caught on a hot mic at a district event responding to unrest saying twice that he only wanted press coverage because of an electoral threat. “If I didn’t have a primary, I wouldn’t care.” -- He needs to go.

Louisville cop in fatal shooting of David McAtee had mocked protester on Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg on leaked audio: Trump’s looting and shooting reference “has no history of being read as a dog whistle”.

Five police officers shot, wounded in U.S. protests.

Trump says he's yanking RNC from North Carolina over potential coronavirus restrictions.

Virginia county pulls officers from D.C. after tear gas used on protesters. Police officers from Arlington County, Virginia, located across the Potomac from the nation's capital, were ordered to withdraw from the District of Columbia after law enforcement fired tear gas to clear demonstrators from a park near the White House, allowing President Trump to walk to a damaged historic church.

Nickelodeon Aired A Powerful Statement About Supporting Black Lives Matter, And People Are Praising It.

The US should have a "couple hundred million" doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by start of 2021, Fauci says.

‘You could see the train wreck coming’: Inexperienced, dubious companies among many aiming to cash in on coronavirus antibody tests.

HBO Max won’t hit AT&T data caps, but Netflix and Disney Plus will. Welcome to a world without net neutrality. — Just as we said would happen. 

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

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