Sessions claps back at Trump: ‘You’re damn fortunate’ I recused from Russia probe

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/23/jeff-sessions-recusal-trump-tuberville-275241

Jeff Sessions strongly rebuked President Donald Trump late Friday after the president told Alabama voters to “not trust” the former attorney general over his recusal from the Justice Department’s probe of Russian election meddling.

“Look, I know your anger, but recusal was required by law. I did my duty & you're damn fortunate I did,” Sessions tweeted. “It protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration.”

Sessions faces Tuberville in a July 14 runoff. A poll conducted by Cygnal shows Tuberville leading Sessions by more than 20 percentage points.

Watch: The Key Challenge Trump Fails Against Every Other President Facing Crisis | MSNBC

Trump Wants Churches Reopened As U.S. Deaths Near 100,000 | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Jon Meacham: Trump Makes Richard Nixon Look Like Mr. Rogers | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Trump's Snake Oil Fail

A preeminent British medical journal, The Lancet, published the results of a massive study of the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine. Trump has repeatedly recommended the drug, asking Americans, "What have you got to lose?" Science has now answered Trump's question.

Coronavirus: Over 40 Covid-19 cases traced to church service in Germany

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52786242

The service was held on 10 May at a Baptist church in Frankfurt.
Church officials say they followed social distancing rules and disinfected the building ahead of the service.
Each of Germany's 16 states determines its own lockdown exit plans. Hesse, where Frankfurt located, relaxed restrictions on worship on 1 May.
Those attending services have to be kept 1.5m (5ft) apart, and provided with hand sanitiser.
Wladimir Pritzkau, the deputy head of Frankfurt's Evangelical Christian Baptist congregation, told German media that the rules were adhered to during the 20 May service.
Six of those infected were taken to hospital.

Judge in Flynn case hires lawyer as appeals court reviews his decision not to dismiss: report

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/judge-sullivan-lawyer-wilkinson-flynn-case

U.S. District Court Judge Emmett G. Sullivan has taken the unusual step of hiring an attorney to represent him as an appeals court reviews his decision not to immediately grant the Justice Department's (DOJ's) request to dismiss its case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

A long list of scholars, including Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, signed onto a brief arguing against the DOJ's motion to dismiss.
"This case is ultimately about judicial independence and the integrity of the Judicial Branch and therefore about the rule of law in our constitutional democracy," the brief reads.
"The government’s motion to dismiss the case against Michael Flynn, after he twice pled guilty ... asks this Court to place its imprimatur on the Executive Branch’s virtually unprecedented decision to dismiss a prosecution after the case has been won."

Mike Pompeo's disturbing actions

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/20/opinions/mike-pompeos-disturbing-actions-ghitis/index.html

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has surged into the headlines atop a geyser of revelations so dramatic that they may even help President Donald Trump distract the public from his disastrous pandemic response. 

Investigations by a number of news organizations allege a pattern familiar in the Trump administration: possible abuse of power for personal gain; disdain and circumvention of accepted procedures, and a propensity to treat a government position as a personal fiefdom with little regard for both the taxpayers' money and common decency.

 

In short, it looks like Pompeo brought the swamp to Foggy Bottom.

 

One of the most distinctive and harmful traits of the Trump administration is its disdain for ethics and integrity in government. But another, is its pattern of leaving political appointees stained, their reputation in tatters, a prospect that should worry Pompeo.

Priest: Mr. President, we don't need to open churches to practice our faith

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/opinions/churches-reopening-trump-covid-19-beck/index.html

What most of us have not done is put ourselves and our parishioners in danger by gathering in large groups for Mass or other religious services "as usual." That would have been — and would continue to be, in this time of contagion — irresponsible and sinful. It would also violate the right to life of many. Yes, responsible action with regard to religious organizations during this pandemic is a right-to-life issue. This is a right that needs to apply to those who live after birth, too. 

I don't see the logic there. No one is prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Though we are in the teeth of a pandemic, in which a very dangerous coronavirus can be transmitted by, among other things, close physical proximity, people can and do continue to worship, albeit in temporarily altered circumstances and in novel ways. To use the "freedom of religion" argument to demand carte blanche the opening of religious venues is to proffer a fallacious argument that can potentially lead to physical harm and, in the worst case, death. 

President Trump wants governors to "allow churches and places of worship to open right now." That would be foolhardy and dangerous. Most churches and places of worship are not yet ready to fully implement the most recent guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which serve only as recommendations. Some congregations, particularly in areas with high infection rates, are not willing to risk reopening even with the new guidelines.

C.D.C. Test Counting Error Leaves Epidemiologists ‘Really Baffled’

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/us/politics/coronavirus-tests-cdc.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

The Centers for Disease Control has been lumping together tests for active coronavirus with tests for recovered patients, boosting testing totals but muddying the pandemic’s course.

Hydroxychloroquine in patients with mainly mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019: open label, randomised controlled trial

https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1849

Conclusions Administration of hydroxychloroquine did not result in a significantly higher probability of negative conversion than standard of care alone in patients admitted to hospital with mainly persistent mild to moderate covid-19. Adverse events were higher in hydroxychloroquine recipients than in non-recipients.

"לנהוג במשנה זהירות, שלא ניפרד שוב מבית הכנסת"

https://www.kikar.co.il/360978.html

הגאון רבי אשר וייס מתייחס לפתיחת בתי הכנסת ומספר על הדילמה שלו כיצד להגיד למרבית המתפללים שאסור להם להגיע עקב חוסר המקום בבית מדרשו • צפו בוידאו

67 NJ Pastors Say They'll Sue if Not Allowed to Reopen, Question Why People Can Go to Home Depot but Not Church

https://www.newsweek.com/67-nj-pastors-say-theyll-sue-if-not-allowed-reopen-question-why-people-can-go-home-depot-not-1506187

Sixty-seven New Jersey pastors said they will sue the state if they are not allowed to reopen their churches to in-person services, according to a letter sent to Governor Phil Murphy Thursday.

Agudath Israel Welcomes NYS Religious Gatherings Update

https://agudah.org/agudath-israel-welcomes-nys-religious-gatherings-update/

Today, Governor Cuomo announced that beginning Thursday, May 21st, religious gatherings of up to 10 people in a house of worship will be allowed, statewide, if strict social distancing measures are enforced and all participants wear masks.

We thank the governor for his attention to Agudath Israel’s and others’ advocacy on this important issue. With Shavuos and Kabolas HaTorah soon arriving, we look forward to the day when our batei knessios and batei midrashim will once again be lively centers of Torah and tefillah.