Linkee-poo Tuesday

"One of the largest pieces of uncontrolled space debris fell back down and landed on Earth today, passing directly over Los Angeles and Central Park in New York City and landing in the Atlantic Ocean… However, for a few tense hours, its re-entry path and eventual landing site were a mystery to those tracking its fall."

"The scientists who study how diseases emerge in a changing environment knew this moment was coming. Climate change is making outbreaks of disease more common and more dangerous… Over the past few decades, the number of emerging infectious diseases that spread to people — especially coronaviruses and other respiratory illnesses believed to have come from bats and birds — has skyrocketed. A new emerging disease surfaces five times a year. One study estimates that more than 3,200 strains of coronaviruses already exist among bats, awaiting an opportunity to jump to people."

"The U.S. now has at least 80,000 confirmed deaths due to coronavirus, with more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, according to the latest data on May 11. There are more than 4 million confirmed cases worldwide, and nearly 285,000 people have died from COVID-19."

"Speaking remotely during a unique Senate health committee hearing, Fauci told lawmakers that his concern is that if some areas 'jump over' guidelines from the federal government and 'prematurely open up,' there will be 'little spikes that turn into outbreaks.'"

"Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was receiving treatment at hospital, Russian news agencies reported."

"A Colorado restaurant that opened for full service on Mother’s Day in defiance of state rules banning sit-down dining was ordered to close Monday and had its license suspended indefinitely by health officials." Waits for the inevitable cries of "freedom" and government overreach with their attendant lawsuits. "'We figured if we’re going to crash, we’re going to go down and see how many people stand with us,' (restaurant owner) Jesse Arellano told the station." What most people forget that going down in a blaze of glory still leaves you dead at the end.

"Simon Property Group says it plans to have roughly 50% of its malls and outlet centers reopened again within the next week, as states begin to loosen their lockdown restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic." I'm sure that will be fine (strong side-eye).

"A Pennsylvania mask factory postponed a visit from President Donald Trump last week because it worried that the event could spread the coronavirus among workers."

"But a new report from the Small Business Administration's inspector general found that businesses owned by people of color may not have received loans as intended under the Paycheck Protection Program. There was no evidence, the report said, that the SBA told lenders to prioritize business owners in 'underserved' markets, including business owners of color — something the CARES Act had specifically instructed the SBA to do." Oopsie.

"The federal stimulus payments aimed at helping Americans weather the economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic seem to have generated as much anxiety as relief. At the top of the list are how and when the checks are being distributed, with the IRS noting on Friday that it has issued 130 million payments worth a total of $200 billion… That still leaves about 20 million Americans awaiting their money."

"Consumer prices in April took their biggest drop in history going back to at least 1957 as the economy reeled from restrictions imposed to control the coronavirus… The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday that the CPI excluding food and energy prices slumped 0.4%, the steepest monthly drop since records have been kept." So, how's your grocery bills doing?

"President Donald Trump is reportedly considering another way to get more money to struggling Americans by letting them take an advance on their Social Security benefits." Don't fall for it.

"Gunmen stormed a hospital in the west of Kabul on Tuesday, killing two newborn babies and at least 11 other people while triggering a battle with security forces, Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said."

"The shooting death of a Georgia man has thrust a complicated and often misunderstood legal tenet into the spotlight. The concept of 'citizen's arrest' is a common cultural trope, but it's also at the center of the case of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was shot and killed after a pair of men pursued him with the alleged intent of making such an arrest." This was a lynching, not a citizen's arrest.

"President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to encourage sweeping investigations of his predecessor Barack Obama met a unanimous response from Senate Republicans: No thanks." Oo, they're standing up. Nope, they've already done the investigations and found nothing. But of course they're going to continue to investigate others, because fuck all that's why.

"'I think it's a little bit classless, frankly, to critique an administration that comes after you,' McConnell told President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, during a Trump campaign live stream. 'You had your shot, you were there for eight years. I think the tradition that the Bush's set up -- of not critiquing the president who comes after you -- is a good tradition.'" Hey Mitchell, funny how you don't mention the tradition of the current president not critiquing previous administrations. Also, Merrick Garland. And finally, fuck off turtle-brain.

Meanwhile, on Bullshit Mountain… "Barack Obama is apoplectic… The always sanctimonious former president is now upset that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will not likely spend time behind bars, or the rest of his life as a convicted felon… In fact, Flynn was not even charged with perjury. He pled guilty to one count of making false statements to the FBI." That's some Olypmic grade mental gymnastics there, Sean. But they're not medal grade given the Q Anon folks and OANN people.