Trump news – live: Drug taken by president linked to increased risk of death, as poll shows 60 per cent of Americans disapprove of coronavirus response
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Donald Trump today declared churches, synagogues and mosques as essential and ordered governors to reopen them immediately, comparing them to liquor stores and abortion clinics that have been considered essential businesses during the coronavirus lockdowns.
The president said if governors don't do it, here would override them so houses of worship could operate over the Memorial Day weekend. Trump's coronavirus taskforce, meanwhile, said people could go outside and hike or visit the beach to enjoy the long weekend so long as social distancing remained in place.
Going into the weekend, Trump finished up his two-week course of hydroxychloroquine as new research linked the anti-malaria drug to an increased risk of death.
And while his feud with Fox News continued after the network revealed polling that showed Joe Biden ahead by eight points in a nationwide match-up, tensions warmed somewhat as both the president and the cable network revealed in the criticism of the former vice president's viral comments that if you don't vote democrat, "you ain't black".
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Joe Biden has gained eight-point lead over Trump, Fox News poll shows
Here's Justin Vallejo with a reminder of the probable cause for the president raging at his favourite broadcaster on Twitter last night.
Trump resumes Fox rant with first tweets of the day
Speak of the devil, as they say...
Jimmy Kimmel roasts Trump after he again falsely claims he was ‘Man of the Year’ in Michigan
Here's John T Bennett on some fine work from the late night host, sending up one of the president's weirder bogus claims.
Baltimore mayor tells Trump to 'Stay at home!' over Memorial Day weekend and not visit his city
You might recall the president calling the troubled Maryland port "a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" a year ago as he insulted the state's late and much lamented congressman Elijah Cummings.
Well, he's planning a visit there anyway to see Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and ignoring lockdown rules to do it.
But mayor Bernard Young would really rather he didn't.
Justin Vallejo has more on what promises to be another contentious trip.
Cuomo compares coronavirus to the flu
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving his daily coronavirus update right now, during which he always drops some pearls of wisdom to mine.
First up today, he's comparing coronavirus to flu. Which most people were doing in early 2020 until things got out of hand. Looks like New York is flattening the curve back to the flu.
"If you have any symptoms of Covid, which are basically the same symptoms as the flu. If you have any symptoms, get a test," Cuomo said.
Cuomo takes a jab at so-called coronavirus experts like the CDC. "It came from Europe", he says
The so-called "experts" should start taking their science-based, data-driven advice from New York Governor Cuomo, who continues to push his unilateral redistribution of coronavirus origin from China to Europe.
During his coronavirus briefing, one of the most infuriating things about the virus are those pesky "facts" that keep changing. Which means they're not facts at all.
"Nobody's fault, but since we didn't know about the virus we had certain assumptions that, quote-unquote experts made, and those facts change," he said.
"From day one it started that this virus was coming from China. So everybody's looking to the west coast from the west and it turns out the virus came from the east, it came from Europe.
"Now they're not so sure if you're immune if you have the antibodies. Started children were not going to be affected by coronavirus. Now we're not so sure."
Most recently, he said, the CDC has changed its advice on infected surfaces. Advice that saw the NYC public transit system shut down 24-hour operation for the first time.
"When we started it was about affected surfaces and you can get it from infected surfaces and that was a major problem. We have a very aggressive disinfecting campaign going on across the state,"
"Public transit etcetera, now the CDC says that's not a major source, it's airborne. It's droplets that's a major source."
Pence having lunch out – again – in a battleground state that is reopening
Vice President Mike Pence, even before his boss, has been on a coronavirus tour of states that will political operatives on both sides of the aisle say will decide the election in November. Your correspondent detailed that here a few weeks back.
He was in Florida on Wednesday, where he dined – sans protective mask – with Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis, who also wore no face covering. (The VP's office says everyone there was given temperature checks and Mr Pence is tested for Covid-19 regularly.)
The VP touched down on Friday morning in Marietta, Georgia. First on his agenda, according to the White House: Lunch with Republican Governor Brian Kemp at the Star Café. When Mr Pence got off Air Force Two, a pool reporter traveling with him filed this dispatch: "VP was not wearing a mask but also kept his distance from greeters."
Here was his chief of staff, Mark Short, on why the VP is dining at restaurants with patrons just days after he was exposed to coronavirus: "It's an important visual the rest of the country needs to see."
For those scoring at home, 29 Electoral College votes are up for grabs in Florida. Another 16 could be in play in Georgia.
New York small-business relief program to provide $100 million in loans
Cuomo today announced a small business relief program committing $100m for loans to small businesses, which make up 90 per cent of the state's economy.
"We're to focus on true small businesses 20 or fewer employees, less than $3 million in gross revenues," he said.
Trump 'N' Roses
We hope these bikers mind the famous Rose Garden as they rev their hogs around the White House grounds today.
Ever noticed how Guns 'N' Roses always seems to be playing while Trump waits for official proceedings to begin? Today's it's Sweet Child O' Mine.
'You ain't black', says Joe Biden to popular African American radio personality
Wait, what?
In an interview with "The Breakfast Club" co-host Charlamagne tha God, Biden defended his black credentials.
Charlamagne told Biden that it was a long way until November and he had more questions for the ex-VP, to which Biden came back with this response.
"You've got more questions? Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."
When Charlamagne said it wasn't about Trump, it was about wanting to help his community, Biden double-downed.
"Take a look at my record, man! I extended the Voting Rights [Act] 25 years. I have a record that is second-to-none," he said. "The NAACP's endorsed me every time I've run. I mean, come on. Take a look at the record."
Context in such things matters, so watch the full interview a the clip below.
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