Decoded by POLITICO

States are lifting restrictions. The masks are coming off. But coronavirus is still here. POLITICO’s Dan Diamond explains why the White House has gone quiet on the crisis even as cases spike — and looks at how public health experts are struggling to find a unified message on protesting during the pandemic. Plus, confirmed cases in the US top 2 million. And Trump is headed to Oklahoma for one of his signature rallies.

Dan Diamond is a health policy reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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“America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse.” With that statement in 1971, President Richard Nixon’s war on drugs began — and policies that target black and brown communities became embedded in America’s criminal justice system. POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig explains how decades of drug policy have fueled the crisis in policing that’s unfolding today. Plus, George Floyd is laid to rest. And the WHO walks back confusing claims about asymptomatic spread of coronavirus.

Natalie Fertig is a cannabis policy reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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Joe Biden says he opposes the growing movement to defund police departments amid national outrage over police brutality. But President Trump is still using it as a rallying cry against the Democratic nominee. POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki explains what defunding really is — and how it’s forcing Biden to tread a fine line between scaring off moderates and alienating activists. Plus, Romney is working on his own police reform bill. And Trump is hitting the rally road again.

Natasha Korecki is a national correspondent for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: Trump's latest attempt to tag Biden as a radical flops

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“I don’t want it to just be the brutal murder of a black person on camera that gets people out into the streets.” Ijeoma Oluo, author of “So You Want to Talk About Race,” discusses what she hopes is next for the national conversation about police brutality — and why she thinks reforms need to happen at the local level. Plus, Minneapolis lawmakers vow to disband the city’s police department. And the National Guard withdraws from the nation’s capitol.

Ijeoma Oluo is the author of "So You Want to Talk About Race."
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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America is facing a trio of crises that are disproportionately hitting black people: police violence, coronavirus and a flailing economy. POLITICO’s Laura Barrón-López explains why it’s a moment that could help Democrats galvanize disillusioned young black voters — but could also further alienate them. Plus, a memorial is held in honor of George Floyd. And a study that raised concerns about hydroxychloroquine is retracted.

Laura Barrón-López is a national political reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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Mass gatherings increase the risk of exposure to coronavirus. But health experts are expressing support for protests over the killing of George Floyd — and are calling for police brutality against people of color to be seen as a public health crisis. POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein breaks down the complicated relationship between the protests and the pandemic. Plus, Democrats are pushing for a police reform package in Congress. And Mattis breaks his silence on Trump’s response.

Alice Miranda Ollstein is a health care reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: Mass protests could undo hard-won progress in pandemic

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“This is giving adversaries a cudgel to hit America with.” Other countries are closely watching US demonstrations over police violence — and how the Trump administration is responding. POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi and Ryan Heath explain what that means for international relations and America’s status on the world stage. Plus, Steve King is out. And Trump says the GOP is pulling its convention from North Carolina.

Nahal Toosi is a foreign affairs reporter for POLITICO.
Ryan Heath is a senior editor at POLITICO and author of the Global Translations newsletter.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
 

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“I am mobilizing all federal resources, civilian and military to stop the rioting and looting.” That’s what President Trump told the nation in a Rose Garden address Monday night, as police fired tear gas at protestors outside. POLITICO’s Nancy Cook looks at why Trump skirted calls for unity amid national demonstrations over the death of George Floyd and instead went all in on declaring himself “a president of law and order.” Plus, a DHS memo warns that extremist groups could exploit the protests. And the Justice Department tries to force a dismissal of the Michael Flynn case.

Nancy Cook is a White House reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: How Trump’s scattered team scrambled to respond to historic protests

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"They're in the street because they have no choice." POLITICO brings an inside look at the protests in Minneapolis that have sparked action across the country — through the eyes of an activist who says he and other black demonstrators have had enough and a journalist who's stretched thin covering the unrest. Plus, health officials worry the protests could complicate coronavirus contact tracing. And Trump says the US government will designate ANTIFA as a terrorist organization.

Mel Reeves is an activist and organizer in Minneapolis.
Ricardo Lopez is  the senior political reporter for the Minnesota Reformer.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Thanks to Lauren from Minneapolis for describing her experience for this episode.

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Late last night, President Trump threatened violence against protestors in Minneapolis, saying, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." In response, Twitter put a "glorifying violence" label on the post, further escalating tensions between Trump and the platform, after the president issued an executive order aimed at social media companies Thursday. POLITICO's Nancy Scola breaks down Trump's war with Twitter. Plus, the RNC outline safety guidelines for a coronavirus convention.

Nancy Scola is a senior tech reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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