Trump Administration

The Associated Press reports: The White House shelved a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that coronavirus cases will likely resurge after states reopen, according to a document seen by the Associated Press. The 63-page document offers previously unpublished guidance to help officials decide when to shut facilities down again during future outbreaks of COVID-19. The White …

The New York Times reports: A federal judge overseeing the criminal case of President Trump’s former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn opened the door late Tuesday for legal experts and other outside parties to oppose the Justice Department’s motion to drop the case, suggesting he has at least some skepticism about the government’s argument that Mr. Flynn should never …

The Independent reports: As many as 147,000 people could be killed by the coronavirus in the US by early August, according to a new model frequently cited by the White House. As a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University suggested that at least 82,000 people in the US had perished and more than 1.35m infected, a new model predicted that …

From a lengthy interview with Time Magazine: Jared Kushner himself had previously told TIME that Trump’s pitch to voters this fall was going to focus on a booming economy. Now, Trump is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in both national and swing-state polls. Kushner said Trump is “looking forward” to debating Biden and dismissed the polls as “inaccurate.” When …

Just in from Pew Research: As a growing number of states ease stay-at-home restrictions imposed in response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, a majority of Americans (61%) say it is primarily the federal government’s responsibility to make sure there are enough COVID-19 tests in order to safely lift the restrictions. Fewer (37%) say it is mainly the responsibility …

Raw Story reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday slapped down an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul to downplay the potential negative effects of the coronavirus on children. During a Senate hearing on America’s COVID-19 response, Paul pushed Fauci to say that it will be safe to send children back to school in the fall because they are far less likely …

Media Matters has the transcript: SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: The official statistic, Dr. Fauci, is that 80,000 Americans have died from the pandemic. There are some epidemiologists who suggest the number may be 50% higher than that. What do you think? DR. ANTHONY FAUCI: I’m not sure, Sen. Sanders, if it’s going to be 50% higher, but most of us feel …

Talking Points Memo reports: Adm. Brett Giroir, who is overseeing the Trump administration’s coronavirus testing efforts, said on Tuesday that he hopes the U.S. will be testing tens of millions of people a month by the fall. “So by September, taking every aspect of development, authorization, manufacturing and supply chain into consideration, we project that our nation will be capable …

CBS News reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert, is testifying before a Senate committee Tuesday, his first appearance before Congress since March. Fauci is appearing remotely at the 10 a.m. hearing with Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, and other officials to discuss reopening the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci told CBS News …

CNN reports: Vice President Mike Pence is taking some precautions, but stopping short of the recommended self-quarantine in the wake of his press secretary testing positive for coronavirus. Pence is “maintaining distance for the immediate future” from President Donald Trump after consulting with the White House medical unit, a senior administration official said. It is not yet clear exactly how …

The New York Times reports: Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a central figure in the government’s response to the coronavirus, intends to warn the Senate on Tuesday that Americans would experience “needless suffering and death” if the country opens up too quickly. Dr. Fauci, who has emerged as perhaps the nation’s most respected voice …

NBC News reports: Coronavirus infection rates are spiking to new highs in several metropolitan areas and smaller communities across the country, according to undisclosed data the White House’s pandemic task force is using to track rates of infection, which was obtained by NBC News. The 10 top areas recorded surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a seven-day period compared …

Axios reports: President Trump claimed at a press briefing Monday that any American who “wants” a coronavirus test can get one — contradicting his testing coordinator Brett Giroir, who just moments earlier said that tests are mostly reserved for people who “need” one because they present symptoms or are participating in contact tracing. Trump used the briefing largely to celebrate …

Talking Points Memo reports: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday disparaged the media’s coverage of the staggering 14.7 percent unemployment rate in April caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “That was a pity party yesterday on the Sunday shows,” Navarro complained on “Fox and Friends,” singling out CBS News “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan, ABC News “This Week” …

The Daily Beast reports: Days after the Justice Department controversially dropped charges against Mike Flynn, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is set to expand a highly political Justice Department’s surveillance authorities during a vote this week to renew the 2001 PATRIOT Act. Under cover of redressing what President Trump and his allies call the FBI’s “witch hunt” over collusion …

The Washington Post reports: Most White House officials will be asked to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces on complex grounds, a move to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading further inside the presidential compound, according to three administration officials with knowledge of a directive to be issued Monday. The request does not apply to offices, however, and …

Reuters reports: The U.S. Justice Department is weighing whether to file hate crime charges against the white men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man who was gunned down while jogging in the small coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia, department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Monday. “The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the …

ABC News reports: Nearly 2000 former Justice Department officials have signed onto a letter calling for Attorney General William Barr to resign over what they describe as his improper intervention in the criminal case of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. Last week, the DOJ moved to drop charges against Flynn who had pleaded guilty twice to lying to …

ABC News reports: Secret Service agents close to the president and in the vicinity of the Oval Office will begin wearing face masks, sources said. The Secret Service declined to comment Sunday night. Some agents already on the ground during Trump’s Arizona trip last week were seen wearing face masks. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Friday …

USA Today reports: With coronavirus exposure arriving in the West Wing, the White House is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of the president and his staff after two administration aides tested positive for the coronavirus. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be tested daily for the virus, as will every staff member in close proximity …