Wednesday, July 1, 2020

And another day of worry, choices, threats, plans, criticism, anger, and apocalyptic films comes to a close:

“Hatred, anger, and violence can destroy us: the politics of polarization is dangerous.” -- Rahul Gandhi

Deaths

US: 130,798 (+676)

World: 518,968 (+5055)

Countdown: 125 days.

Trumpism, not polarization, drives America’s disastrous coronavirus politics. “This outcome is a policy choice. The unnecessary lives lost. The long-term effects we don’t even know about yet on our vital organs. It’s all a policy choice.”

Arizona doctors worry as ICUs fill: 'We’re leaving the hospital sometimes in tears'. "Never, never, ever have I seen this many patients in our ICU."

DeSantis says Florida 'not going back' on reopening as COVID-19 cases surge. — We all make choices. Unfortunately the choices of some will end up hurting others. 

Senate Democrats unveil plan to extend federal unemployment payments until an individual's state has a sustained unemployment of less than 6%.

By a 1 percent margin, Oklahoma voters expand Medicaid to low-income residents. Oklahoma voters narrowly decided on Tuesday to expand Medicaid health insurance to tens of thousands low-income residents, becoming the first state to amend its Constitution to do so. — Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

With veto threat, Trump dares GOP to back Confederate military leaders or risk his wrath.

Trump criticized a proposed Black Lives Matter mural to be painted outside Trump Tower, calling it a  "symbol of hate." — White supremacists don’t like things that challenge their supposed supremacy.

A New York state appellate judge says a book by President Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, which paints a harsh portrait of her uncle and the family’s history can be published.

With less than five months until the 2020 elections, Americans are deeply unhappy with the state of the nation.

Clay County [FL] Sheriff Darryl Daniels, no stranger to making viral videos appealing to tough-on-crime politics, released a video Tuesday that said he will make “special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county” if he feels the county is overwhelmed by protesters.

I feel fine: fans of world-ending films ‘coping better with pandemic’. Psychologists have found evidence that fans of apocalyptic movies – where global order is upturned – may be more resilient and better prepared to deal with the coronavirus pandemic than the rest of us.

Former George W. Bush administration and campaign officials launch a new super PAC to support Joe Biden.

Russian voters have overwhelmingly backed a referendum on constitutional changes that include a provision allowing President Vladimir Putin — who has already served for some 2 decades — to remain in power until 2036.

Officials in Patterson, N.J. have charged four people in connection with voter fraud in a local race in May. President Trump claims it shows that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to fraud — but experts say it's proof that protections against fraud work.

Some Georgia colleges want to require face masks in the fall — but the state won't let them.

Report: Boeing fell short in disclosing key changes to Max. A government report says Boeing did not give regulators documents about changes it made in a key system blamed in two deadly crashes of its 737 Max jet, and that officials responsible for approving the plane did not know how powerfully the system could push the plane’s nose down.

Over the past 150 years, human-caused global warming has erased the natural global cooling that occurred over the previous 6,500 years.

People are calling for museums to be abolished. Can whitewashed American history be rewritten?

Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off.

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

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