Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
July 22, 2020
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Trump strikes new tone to warn of worsening pandemic . . . President Trump resumed his coronavirus briefings after a more than two-month hiatus to deliver what for him is a startling warning: The pandemic is likely to get worse before it gets better. Appearing before reporters in the White House briefing room, he asked people to wear masks when they cannot socially distance and urged young people to avoid crowded bars where the virus
could spread. It marked a striking change in tone after weeks in which officials emphasized successes in manufacturing personal protective equipment and ensuring the availability of ventilators while playing down surging numbers of cases as "embers." “It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better,” said Trump, “something I don't like saying about things, but that's the way it is.” Washington Examiner
Covid antibodies fade rapidly . . . Recovering from Covid-19 may not offer much lasting protection from future infections for those with only mild cases, according to a report that suggests caution regarding so-called herd immunity as well as the durability of vaccines. Research involved antibodies taken from the blood of 34 patients who had recovered after suffering mainly mild symptoms that didn’t require intensive
care. The first analysis was done on antibodies taken an average of 37 days after symptoms began, with a second after about 86 days, or less than three months. The researchers found that antibody levels fell quickly, with a half-life of about 73 days between the two time frames. Bloomberg
Tourist boats show contrast in Canadian and US approaches to virus . . . Photos from Niagara Falls on Tuesday showed the stark difference in how the United States is handling the coronavirus pandemic compared to Canada, with two tourist boats complying to respective social distancing health precautions, appearing in contrast. Canadian ferries were limited to just six passengers per boat, out of a 700 person capacity on Tuesday. But on the US side,
the ferries are operating at 50% capacity, 200 people, according to Maid of the Mist boat tours. Daily Mail
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Trump asked US ambassador to UK to get British Open moved to his resort . . . The American ambassador to Britain, Robert Wood Johnson IV, told multiple colleagues in February 2018 that President Trump had asked him to see if the British government could help steer the world-famous and lucrative British Open golf tournament to the Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland, according to three people with knowledge of the episode.
The ambassador’s deputy, Lewis A. Lukens, advised him not to do it, warning that it would be an unethical use of the presidency for private gain, these people said. But Mr. Johnson apparently felt pressured to try. A few weeks later, he raised the idea of Turnberry playing host to the Open with the secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell. New York Times
Jews to back Biden even as anti-Semitism rears its head on the left . . . President Trump is headed for a drubbing from Jewish voters this fall even as the Democratic Party’s support for Israel wanes and elements of the liberal base flirt with anti-Semitism. Biden is on track despite the president’s remarkably pro-Israel agenda. Republicans blame Trump’s provocative personality and combative social media presence for
overshadowing his accomplishments and shielding Democrats from blowback. Washington Examiner
GOP congressman calls AOC a "fucking bitch" . . . Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) was coming down the steps on the east side of the Capitol on Monday, having just voted, when he approached Ocasio-Cortez, who was ascending into the building to cast a vote of her own. In a brief but heated exchange, which was overheard by a reporter, Yoho told Ocasio-Cortez she was "disgusting" for recently suggesting that poverty and unemployment are
driving a spike in crime in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic. "You are out of your freaking mind," Yoho told her. Ocasio-Cortez shot back, telling Yoho he was being "rude." The two then parted ways. Ocasio-Cortez headed into the building, while Yoho began descending toward the House office buildings. A few steps down, Yoho offered a parting thought to no one in particular. "Fucking bitch," he said. The Hill
Biden: Vice presidential choice is about administration that "looks like America" . . . Joe Biden spoke Monday about his vice presidential choice, suggesting it was effectively an affirmative action program. “I am not committed to naming any but the people I’ve named, and among them, there are four black women,” Biden told MSNBC Monday. “It is important that my administration, I promise you, will look like America, from vice president, to
Supreme Court, to Cabinet positions” So, okay, how about choosing someone who looks like they can handle the job? Who looks like they are qualified? That would also look like America, IMO. And maybe, ensure that the right person is in the toughest and most important job in the world. White
House Dossier
Pelosi call Covid-19 "the Trump virus" . . . Nancy Pelosi has called the coronavirus the 'Trump virus', criticizing President Donald Trump for failures in his response to the pandemic. Appearing on CNN on Tuesday evening, Pelosi told Wolf Blitzer that the president had made a bad situation worse. The speaker said Trump could've been forcefully recommending mask-wearing and socially distancing instead of
being dismissive and trying to hold rallies and making masks 'a manhood thing.' Daily Mail
Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell: "I wish her well" . . . I mean, for God’s sake. What is he thinking? Is he thinking? Kind of undermines one of his best arguments, which is that Biden is the one who has a screw loose. Maybe tomorrow he’ll wish the Zodiac Killer well. White House
Dossier
Trump moves to bar counting of illegal immigrants as part of the census . . . President Trump Tuesday issued a memo that prevents illegal immigrants from being counted as part of the census.
From the memo: President Trump is issuing a memorandum clarifying that illegal aliens are not to be included for the purpose of apportionment of Representatives following the 2020 census. Giving congressional representation and political influence to illegal aliens – people who have blatantly disregarded our laws – would be
a perversion of our democratic principles. White House Dossier
Because it doesn't make any census.
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US to close Chinese consulate in Houston as tensions escalate . . . China vowed to retaliate after it said Wednesday it was abruptly ordered by the United States to close its consulate in Houston, a move that represents the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two superpowers. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the closure was to protect American intellectual property and private
information. Local media in Houston on Tuesday night reported that documents were being burned in a courtyard at the consulate. USA Today
Chinese hackers accused of trying to steal vaccine research . . . The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it has charged two Chinese hackers with trying to steal US COVID-19 research as well as other sensitive government information. Chinese Nationals Li
Xiaoyu, 34, and Dong Jiazhi, 31, allegedly stole 'hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of trade secrets, intellectual property, and other valuable business information in a sophisticated, decade-long scheme. They're accused of hacking hundreds of companies, government organizations, dissidents, human rights activists and private companies, including those engaged in COVID-19 vaccine research. Daily Mail
Pompeo calls for coalition against China . . . The Trump administration is the first that has taken the threat from China seriously. The Chinese communists are not just ruling inflicting tyranny at home, they are seeking to expand their influence overseas. They want economic and then military control over countries around the world in an effort that will eventually deny the United States allies and markets. We have no choice but to oppose them.
According to the Washington Examiner: British and American officials need to help establish an international “coalition” to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. White House Dossier
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Africa begins to have second thoughts about taking Chinese money . . . A growing number of African activists and policymakers are questioning the deluge of Chinese credit—some $150 billion in 2018, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University—that has fueled a debt crisis aggravated by the new coronavirus. Nigerian lawmakers are reviewing Chinese loans they say were unfavorable. Activists in Kenya are demanding the government disclose the terms of Chinese credit used to build a 292-mile railway. And Tanzanian President John Magufuli calls an agreement his predecessor made with Chinese investors, to build a
$10 billion port and economic zone, a deal “only a madman would sign.” Bloomberg
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GOP backs stimulus checks . . . Republicans crafting their own plan for a new U.S. virus-relief bill broadly endorsed a fresh round of stimulus checks to individuals, extended supplemental jobless benefits and more money for testing while voicing doubts over President Donald Trump’s desired payroll tax cut. The details remained in flux Tuesday as GOP senators hashed out their opening bid in negotiations with Democrats on
legislation to prop up the hobbled U.S. economy. The differences between the GOP and White House threatens to push any action on the stimulus into August. Bloomberg
Jeff Bezos made $13 billion Monday . . . Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos added $13 billion to his net worth Monday, setting a new record for the largest wealth increase in a single day. Bezos’ additional $13 billion comes after Amazon stock jumped 7.9% Monday before the second-quarter earning’s report, according to Fox News. Bezos’ total net worth sits at $189 billion after increasing $74.4 billion this year, according to the Billionaire
Index. Daily Caller
Wow. I didn't even make half of that Monday.
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At least 15 people shot at Chicago funeral . . . At least 15 people were shot Tuesday evening in the Gresham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side and one person was in custody, authorities said. About 6:30 p.m., shots were fired at attendees of a funeral in the 1000 block of 79th Street from a black vehicle speeding west, according to First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter, who spoke at the scene Tuesday night.
The funeral attendees exchanged gunfire with those in the vehicle, he said. The vehicle then turned north on Carpenter Street, and shots continued to be fired at the funeral attendees, Carter said, before the vehicle crashed midway down the block. Those inside the vehicle fled, he said. Chicago Tribune
Thank God the mayor has the situation under control or things could get bad.
Twiter bans 7,000 QAnon accounts . . . Twitter announced Tuesday that it has begun taking sweeping actions to limit the reach of QAnon content, banning many of the conspiracy theory's followers because of problems with harassment and misinformation. Twitter will stop recommending
accounts and content related to QAnon, including material in email and follow recommendations, and it will take steps to limit circulation of content in features like trends and search. The action will affect about 150,000 accounts. The spokesperson said that as part of its new policy, the company had taken down more than 7,000 QAnon accounts in the last few weeks for breaking its rules on targeted harassment. NBC News
I'm not a QAnon fan. But I don't get it. Why aren't people allowed to have a conspiracy theory? And who decides what's a conspiracy theory?
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Fifty-mile wide swarm of ants seen over UK . . . A 50-mile-wide swarm of flying ants has been making its way over the UK - and it's so huge that it has been spotted from space. The enormous cloud of insects was picked up by the Met Office's weather radar over Kent and Sussex, on England's southeast coast. The weather service said smaller swarms could be seen over London. Sky News
New England invaded by chipmunks . . . There were plenty of acorns this spring, and now the chipmunks are driving people nuts. Their frenetic activities can be entertaining. But this summer in New England the varmints are making a nuisance of themselves, darting to and fro, digging holes in gardens, and tunneling under lawns.
Plentiful acorns last fall meant there was still plenty of food on the ground when the chipmunks emerged from winter and got busy breeding this spring. The result is a bumper crop of the critters. Fox News
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Keith
Keith Koffler
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