Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump spent part of Memorial Day taking shots at Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.), calling him an "American fraud," misrepresenting his voting record, and spelling his name wrong, all in one tweet.Lamb, a Marine Corps veteran, represents Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District. The state's primary is next week, and Trump took the opportunity to praise his opponent, Republican Army combat veteran Sean Parnell, while slamming Lamb. "Sean Parnell is an American Hero," "Connor Lamm has proven to be an American fraud, and a puppet for Crazy Nancy...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump spent part of Memorial Day taking shots at Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.), calling him an "American fraud," misrepresenting his voting record, and spelling his name wrong, all in one tweet.Lamb, a Marine Corps veteran, represents Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District. The state's primary is next week, and Trump took the opportunity to praise his opponent, Republican Army combat veteran Sean Parnell, while slamming Lamb. "Sean Parnell is an American Hero," "Connor Lamm has proven to be an American fraud, and a puppet for Crazy Nancy...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump in a Monday morning that unless North Carolina can immediately "guarantee" that the Republican Party can hold its convention in Charlotte in late August with "full attendance" in a "fully occupied" Spectrum Center arena, the GOP "will be reluctantly forced to find" another Republican National Convention site. Where would the party find another large venue willing to host thousands of people during a pandemic, as well housing for the delegates, catering, sound, and other ancillary services?If you guessed the Trump property where the...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump in a Monday morning that unless North Carolina can immediately "guarantee" that the Republican Party can hold its convention in Charlotte in late August with "full attendance" in a "fully occupied" Spectrum Center arena, the GOP "will be reluctantly forced to find" another Republican National Convention site. Where would the party find another large venue willing to host thousands of people during a pandemic, as well housing for the delegates, catering, sound, and other ancillary services?If you guessed the Trump property where the...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThe United States: proud home of the world's , and among rich nations, and . Now we can add the world's largest coronavirus outbreak to our national parade of ignominy — there have been over around the world and 330,000 deaths, and roughly 30 percent of each have happened in the U.S.Most or all of this carnage could have been prevented. A suggested that if lockdown procedures had been implemented one week earlier than they actually were, about 55 percent of the deaths would have been avoided. Two...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThe United States: proud home of the world's , and among rich nations, and . Now we can add the world's largest coronavirus outbreak to our national parade of ignominy — there have been over around the world and 330,000 deaths, and roughly 30 percent of each have happened in the U.S.Most or all of this carnage could have been prevented. A suggested that if lockdown procedures had been implemented one week earlier than they actually were, about 55 percent of the deaths would have been avoided. Two...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersCoronavirus has, once again, provided good cover for President Trump's ongoing attack on American democracy and his weakening of any limits on his power. Last Friday, Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, l the president has pushed out since early April. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that he had let Linick go because he no longer had "the fullest confidence" in him.Yet the rapid purge of four independent government watchdogs in less than two months suggests that Trump...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersCoronavirus has, once again, provided good cover for President Trump's ongoing attack on American democracy and his weakening of any limits on his power. Last Friday, Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, l the president has pushed out since early April. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that he had let Linick go because he no longer had "the fullest confidence" in him.Yet the rapid purge of four independent government watchdogs in less than two months suggests that Trump...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersImagine if, starting now, we held a moment of silence for every American who has died from COVID-19. We wouldn't speak for the rest of the day. For the rest of the week. For the rest of the month. If each one of those deaths was honored with the full traditional 60 seconds of silence, this country would stand in hushed, somber, unrelenting remembrance for just short of 70 days.Sometime in the next few days we will officially record this country's 100,000th coronavirus victim. In truth, we probably...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersImagine if, starting now, we held a moment of silence for every American who has died from COVID-19. We wouldn't speak for the rest of the day. For the rest of the week. For the rest of the month. If each one of those deaths was honored with the full traditional 60 seconds of silence, this country would stand in hushed, somber, unrelenting remembrance for just short of 70 days.Sometime in the next few days we will officially record this country's 100,000th coronavirus victim. In truth, we probably...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersCoronavirus has, once again, provided good cover for President Trump's ongoing attack on American democracy and his weakening of any limits on his power. Last Friday, Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, l the president has pushed out since early April. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that he had let Linick go because he no longer had "the fullest confidence" in him.Yet the rapid purge of four independent government watchdogs in less than two months suggests that Trump...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersCoronavirus has, once again, provided good cover for President Trump's ongoing attack on American democracy and his weakening of any limits on his power. Last Friday, Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, l the president has pushed out since early April. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that he had let Linick go because he no longer had "the fullest confidence" in him.Yet the rapid purge of four independent government watchdogs in less than two months suggests that Trump...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersI hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Atlanta is not burning. Bodies are not piled up in the streets. Hospitals in Georgia are not being overwhelmed; in fact, they are virtually empty. There is no mad rush for ventilators (remember those?). Instead, men, women, and children in the Peach State are returning to some semblance of normal life: working outside their homes, going to restaurants and bars, getting haircuts, exercising, and most important, spending time with their friends and families...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersI hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Atlanta is not burning. Bodies are not piled up in the streets. Hospitals in Georgia are not being overwhelmed; in fact, they are virtually empty. There is no mad rush for ventilators (remember those?). Instead, men, women, and children in the Peach State are returning to some semblance of normal life: working outside their homes, going to restaurants and bars, getting haircuts, exercising, and most important, spending time with their friends and families...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersAmerica is in a full-blown economic depression, but Democrats are anxious about whether fixing it will cost too much. In the most recent economic rescue package — one the party itself is only a "messaging" bill, since it already gave away most of its leverage — Democrats and for economic stimulus that would continue on autopilot for as long as the crisis lasts, because of scary possible estimates of the cost.It's hard to describe just how blinkered this is. It's like a man who is drowning in the...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersAmerica is in a full-blown economic depression, but Democrats are anxious about whether fixing it will cost too much. In the most recent economic rescue package — one the party itself is only a "messaging" bill, since it already gave away most of its leverage — Democrats and for economic stimulus that would continue on autopilot for as long as the crisis lasts, because of scary possible estimates of the cost.It's hard to describe just how blinkered this is. It's like a man who is drowning in the...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThere is no end in sight for the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., but the death march of politics grinds on. One lesser-known race is the upcoming Massachusetts Senate primary on September 1, where Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy III is running a primary challenge against incumbent Senator Ed Markey — one of the most reliable liberals in the chamber, particularly on climate change.Polling has been scarce in the race, but so far it seems Kennedy has a , probably thanks to unparalleled name recognition...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThere is no end in sight for the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., but the death march of politics grinds on. One lesser-known race is the upcoming Massachusetts Senate primary on September 1, where Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy III is running a primary challenge against incumbent Senator Ed Markey — one of the most reliable liberals in the chamber, particularly on climate change.Polling has been scarce in the race, but so far it seems Kennedy has a , probably thanks to unparalleled name recognition...WW…

✕Special reports:President Trump's aversion to taking his annual physical is starting to get … a little weird. It has now been six months since the president claims to have "started" his routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, , with Trump that he is simply "too busy" to do the second part. But even his process is mysterious, since physicals aren't typically conducted in multiple stages over the course of several months.There is plenty of reason for the public to feel invested in the president's physical wellbeing right now, too. Earlier this week, Trump said he...…✕Special reports:President Trump's aversion to taking his annual physical is starting to get … a little weird. It has now been six months since the president claims to have "started" his routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, , with Trump that he is simply "too busy" to do the second part. But even his process is mysterious, since physicals aren't typically conducted in multiple stages over the course of several months.There is plenty of reason for the public to feel invested in the president's physical wellbeing right now, too. Earlier this week, Trump said he...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Thursday and, despite a and Michigan's attorney general, he declined to wear a face mask for most of his tour. But he did wear one for at least a few minutes. "I wore one in this back area, but I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it," , showing off the mask he said he'd worn. "I think I look better in the mask," he added later. Well, now you can .President Trump wears a mask during his tour of the Ford Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where ventilators, masks and other...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Thursday and, despite a and Michigan's attorney general, he declined to wear a face mask for most of his tour. But he did wear one for at least a few minutes. "I wore one in this back area, but I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it," , showing off the mask he said he'd worn. "I think I look better in the mask," he added later. Well, now you can .President Trump wears a mask during his tour of the Ford Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where ventilators, masks and other...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe 2016 election may help map the next coronavirus hotspots.While COVID-19 is finally beginning to wane in some of the U.S. cities it hit hardest and earliest, coronavirus spread is still far from its peak in most small cities and rural areas across the country. And over the past four weeks, it's been more likely that counties will show a high prevalence of coronavirus next if they voted for President Trump in 2016, .A high prevalence of coronavirus means a county saw coronavirus case rates of 100 or more per 100,000 people. Hundreds of counties have...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe 2016 election may help map the next coronavirus hotspots.While COVID-19 is finally beginning to wane in some of the U.S. cities it hit hardest and earliest, coronavirus spread is still far from its peak in most small cities and rural areas across the country. And over the past four weeks, it's been more likely that counties will show a high prevalence of coronavirus next if they voted for President Trump in 2016, .A high prevalence of coronavirus means a county saw coronavirus case rates of 100 or more per 100,000 people. Hundreds of counties have...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsFormer Vice President Joe Biden raised some eyebrows Friday during a heated interview with Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne began by pressing Biden, telling him that "black people saved your political life in the primaries this year, and they have things they want from you, and one of them is a black woman running mate.""I guarantee you that there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple," Biden said, just as he was interrupted by someone off-frame telling him his interview time was up."You can't do that to black...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsFormer Vice President Joe Biden raised some eyebrows Friday during a heated interview with Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne began by pressing Biden, telling him that "black people saved your political life in the primaries this year, and they have things they want from you, and one of them is a black woman running mate.""I guarantee you that there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple," Biden said, just as he was interrupted by someone off-frame telling him his interview time was up."You can't do that to black...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump is not planning to send the U.S. into another quarantine.While COVID-19 cases are starting to slow in the hardest hit areas and the biggest cities of the U.S., less populous areas have yet to hit their peak. That, combined with warming weather, could stem the coronavirus' spread for the summer — but also plunge the U.S. into a once fall rolls around. Trump acknowledged the likelihood of a second round of coronavirus while visiting a Ford plant on Thursday, saying "people say that's a very distinct possibility." But while "we're gonna...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump is not planning to send the U.S. into another quarantine.While COVID-19 cases are starting to slow in the hardest hit areas and the biggest cities of the U.S., less populous areas have yet to hit their peak. That, combined with warming weather, could stem the coronavirus' spread for the summer — but also plunge the U.S. into a once fall rolls around. Trump acknowledged the likelihood of a second round of coronavirus while visiting a Ford plant on Thursday, saying "people say that's a very distinct possibility." But while "we're gonna...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersIf you're reading this sentence, you've read more than the president has today.Last month, The Washington Post reported that President Trump ignored "" intelligence briefings in January and February warning him of the coronavirus. They were in the President's Daily Brief, which the president doesn't read.White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote a memo in January warning of "." Trump said he didn't see it because "," none of which he reads.After failing to read about the coronavirus, Trump...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersIf you're reading this sentence, you've read more than the president has today.Last month, The Washington Post reported that President Trump ignored "" intelligence briefings in January and February warning him of the coronavirus. They were in the President's Daily Brief, which the president doesn't read.White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote a memo in January warning of "." Trump said he didn't see it because "," none of which he reads.After failing to read about the coronavirus, Trump...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe world surpassed five million registered COVID-19 cases on Thursday, another grim milestone in a global pandemic full of them. A fifth of the 5.02 million cases, 1.55 million, are in the U.S., . The No. 2 country is Russia, with 318,000 reported cases. Overall, 328,462 people are reported to have died from the coronavirus, including 93,439 in the U.S. The actual numbers worldwide are .It is an uneven picture globally , with cases and deaths declining in some countries or states and rising in others. But the pandemic . The World Health Organization...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe world surpassed five million registered COVID-19 cases on Thursday, another grim milestone in a global pandemic full of them. A fifth of the 5.02 million cases, 1.55 million, are in the U.S., . The No. 2 country is Russia, with 318,000 reported cases. Overall, 328,462 people are reported to have died from the coronavirus, including 93,439 in the U.S. The actual numbers worldwide are .It is an uneven picture globally , with cases and deaths declining in some countries or states and rising in others. But the pandemic . The World Health Organization...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsAfter refusing to wear a mask during a legislative session on Wednesday, Illinois state Rep. Darren Bailey (R) was escorted out of the Bank of Springfield Center, the House's temporary home.This was the House's first session in more than two months, and legislators voted to adopt rules requiring themselves and staff members wear face coverings. Bailey refused to wear a mask, and when told to come into compliance, he replied, "I will not. Thank you." A motion to remove him from the proceedings passed 81-27. Bailey smiled as he was escorted out.Bailey...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsAfter refusing to wear a mask during a legislative session on Wednesday, Illinois state Rep. Darren Bailey (R) was escorted out of the Bank of Springfield Center, the House's temporary home.This was the House's first session in more than two months, and legislators voted to adopt rules requiring themselves and staff members wear face coverings. Bailey refused to wear a mask, and when told to come into compliance, he replied, "I will not. Thank you." A motion to remove him from the proceedings passed 81-27. Bailey smiled as he was escorted out.Bailey...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsIt's hard to declassify something that was never classified to begin with.Republicans have recently taken issue with what they call the "unmasking" of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in FBI documents, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) even announcing an into the matter. But Obama administration officials didn't actually order Flynn's name unredacted in official FBI documents because his name was never redacted to begin with, .Unmasking is the practice of identifying an anonymous person in government documents...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsIt's hard to declassify something that was never classified to begin with.Republicans have recently taken issue with what they call the "unmasking" of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in FBI documents, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) even announcing an into the matter. But Obama administration officials didn't actually order Flynn's name unredacted in official FBI documents because his name was never redacted to begin with, .Unmasking is the practice of identifying an anonymous person in government documents...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsRepublican operatives and Trump campaign advisers held an hourlong conference call May 11, and one of the things they discussed was recruiting "extremely pro-Trump" doctors to go on television and lend medical credence to a conservative campaign to reopen state and local economies immediately, . AP was given a leaked recording of the call, organized by CNP Action, an affiliate of the GOP-aligned Council for National Policy and part of the Save Our Country Coalition, a group of conservative organizations that formed in late April to thwart stay-at-home...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsRepublican operatives and Trump campaign advisers held an hourlong conference call May 11, and one of the things they discussed was recruiting "extremely pro-Trump" doctors to go on television and lend medical credence to a conservative campaign to reopen state and local economies immediately, . AP was given a leaked recording of the call, organized by CNP Action, an affiliate of the GOP-aligned Council for National Policy and part of the Save Our Country Coalition, a group of conservative organizations that formed in late April to thwart stay-at-home...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsSecretary of State Mike Pompeo regularly held taxpayer-funded, 500-guest formal dinners — and President Trump reportedly knew nothing about them.Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Pompeo often invited hundreds of guests to the U.S. State Department for his "Madison Dinners," referring to how former President James Madison often met with foreign diplomats over a meal. But unlike Madison, Pompeo invited more than just diplomats to his dinners, and sent the bill for food, entertainment, and goody bags to the U.S. government, .Pompeo held about two dozen...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsSecretary of State Mike Pompeo regularly held taxpayer-funded, 500-guest formal dinners — and President Trump reportedly knew nothing about them.Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Pompeo often invited hundreds of guests to the U.S. State Department for his "Madison Dinners," referring to how former President James Madison often met with foreign diplomats over a meal. But unlike Madison, Pompeo invited more than just diplomats to his dinners, and sent the bill for food, entertainment, and goody bags to the U.S. government, .Pompeo held about two dozen...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe worldwide drop in carbon emissions due to coronavirus shutdowns could be the largest in recorded history, scientists say.As of early April, daily global carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 17 percent compared to last year's levels, corresponding with emission levels of 2006, according to a study published Tuesday in . Scientists estimate an annual decrease of 4 to 7 percent, depending on when pre-pandemic activities resume.Researchers analyzed 69 countries, representing 97 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and found 43 percent of the...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe worldwide drop in carbon emissions due to coronavirus shutdowns could be the largest in recorded history, scientists say.As of early April, daily global carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 17 percent compared to last year's levels, corresponding with emission levels of 2006, according to a study published Tuesday in . Scientists estimate an annual decrease of 4 to 7 percent, depending on when pre-pandemic activities resume.Researchers analyzed 69 countries, representing 97 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and found 43 percent of the...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersWhat is to be done about poverty? For decades, the Democratic Party has advocated a strategy of refundable tax credits — "refundable" meaning that if one has no federal income tax liability, then the credit will be added to your income. (It's a silly way to obscure what is essentially a welfare program.) The most important one of these is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which pays extra income to low-income workers depending on their family structure. Expanding the EITC in various ways has...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersWhat is to be done about poverty? For decades, the Democratic Party has advocated a strategy of refundable tax credits — "refundable" meaning that if one has no federal income tax liability, then the credit will be added to your income. (It's a silly way to obscure what is essentially a welfare program.) The most important one of these is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which pays extra income to low-income workers depending on their family structure. Expanding the EITC in various ways has...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings late Monday after studying 285 COVID-19 survivors who tested positive for the coronavirus again after presumably recovering the illness. The virus samples collected from the patients couldn't be grown in culture, suggesting that the patients had indeed recovered and were actually shedding non-infectious or dead virus particles, rather than suffering from a lingering infection, .While there will likely be more work done in this area, it's encouraging news, and South Korean health...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsThe Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings late Monday after studying 285 COVID-19 survivors who tested positive for the coronavirus again after presumably recovering the illness. The virus samples collected from the patients couldn't be grown in culture, suggesting that the patients had indeed recovered and were actually shedding non-infectious or dead virus particles, rather than suffering from a lingering infection, .While there will likely be more work done in this area, it's encouraging news, and South Korean health...WW…

Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThe safest take on the coronavirus pandemic has always been uncertainty. There is so much about this virus , and, , so little we can pronounce with justified confidence. The information we have is more often than not; models frequent revision; and it seems to every plausible rule.Unfortunately, uncertainty doesn't play well in politics, and long-formed habits of confident statements by officials, experts, and pundits were not broken by the appearance of COVID-19. The result is many things many...…Special reports:MenuSign up for our free email newslettersSign Up forOur free email newslettersThe safest take on the coronavirus pandemic has always been uncertainty. There is so much about this virus , and, , so little we can pronounce with justified confidence. The information we have is more often than not; models frequent revision; and it seems to every plausible rule.Unfortunately, uncertainty doesn't play well in politics, and long-formed habits of confident statements by officials, experts, and pundits were not broken by the appearance of COVID-19. The result is many things many...WW…

Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump on Monday explained his to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week, despite the fact that he apparently had "never heard of him" before the dismissal.Trump explained that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as was over the weekend, recommended the move, but the president was even more convinced it was the right thing to do upon learning that his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, appointed Linick to the post in 2013. Trump, you might have noticed, has made his distaste for Obama's presidency even more...…Special reports:MenuSee More Speed ReadsPresident Trump on Monday explained his to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week, despite the fact that he apparently had "never heard of him" before the dismissal.Trump explained that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as was over the weekend, recommended the move, but the president was even more convinced it was the right thing to do upon learning that his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, appointed Linick to the post in 2013. Trump, you might have noticed, has made his distaste for Obama's presidency even more...WW…