1/ Trump ordered National Guard troops to begin withdrawing from the streets of Washington, D.C. “now that everything is under perfect control.� Trump warned that the troops “will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed.� The move comes amid a barrage of criticism over his violent response to mostly peaceful protests across the city and his threats to further militarize the government’s response to nationwide demonstrations against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. (New York Times / Washington Post)

2/ Trump privately demanded that the military deploy 10,000 troops onto U.S. streets during a heated argument with White House officials in the Oval Office last week. Trump reportedly faced opposition from Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and AG William Barr. A senior U.S. official said Trump eventually eased his demands after National Guard troops were deployed and Esper recommended that they preposition — but not deploy — active duty soldiers from the 82nd Airborne and other units to the D.C. area. “Having active duty forces available but not in the city was enough for the president for the time,� said the official. (Reuters / CBS News)

3/ White House officials are debating whether to have Trump address the nation on race and national unity. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson suggested that Trump would address the killing of George Floyd and the tensions his death exposed. “I think you’re going to be hearing from the President this week on this topic in some detail,� Carson said. “And I would ask you maybe to reserve judgment until after that time.� (CNN)

4/ Attorney General William Barr defended his decision to have D.C. police violently clear out a crowd of peaceful protesters from Lafayette Park last week so Trump could have his picture taken in front of a church across the street from the White House. Barr also defended his decision to have police use tear gas and so-called “less lethal� projectiles against the group of peaceful protesters, whom Barr claimed “were not peaceful.� Barr also claimed that no chemical irritants were used to clear the crowd. “Pepper spray is not a chemical irritant,� Barr said. “It’s not chemical.� The CDC specifically classifies pepper spray as a form of tear gas, and a spoke...

Global: Total confirmed cases: ~6,446,000; deaths: ~383,000; recoveries: ~2,771,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

U.S.: Total confirmed cases: ~1,848,000; deaths: ~107,000; recoveries: ~464,000

Hydroxychloroquine failed to prevent healthy people exposed to COVID-19 from getting the disease caused by the coronavirus in the first scientifically rigorous study of its potential. Trump has repeatedly promoted the antimalarial drug as a “game changer� and recently said he took it for several days. (Washington Post / Bloomberg)

An oral history of 6:30 to 7:18 p.m. on June 1, 2020. Over the course of 48 minutes, Donald Trump put on a show that may have changed America, yet again. It involved an overture to the nation, a physical attack on Americans, and a Bible. It began suddenly, in the Rose Garden, with a statement about “law and order� and “dangerous thugs.� The president promised justice for the family of George Floyd, whose death in the custody of Minneapolis police last week triggered nationwide protests, looting and violence, and a roiling debate about who we are and what we hope to become. (Washington Post)

How Trump’s idea for a photo op led to havoc in a park. When the history of the Trump presidency is written, the clash with protesters that preceded Trump’s walk across Lafayette Square may be remembered as one of its defining moments. (New York Times)

60 minutes of mayhem: How aggressive politics and policing turned a peaceful protest into a violent confrontation. (CNN)

1/ Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he doesn’t support sending active duty troops into cities to quell protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd, adding that the use of active duty military forces to perform law enforcement responsibilities within the U.S. is “a matter of last resort� and that the National Guard is better-suited for the job. “I don’t think they need to be used […] only in the most urgent and dire situations,� Esper said. “We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act.� On Monday, Trump raised the possibility of invoking the 1807 law in a Rose Garden as federal officers used force to clear peaceful protesters from outside the White House. Esper’s statement comes two days after Trump threatened to send U.S. military forces to cities and states that don’t stop the protests. White House officials are reportedly unhappy with Esper’s comments and when asked whether Trump retains confidence in Esper, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: “As of right now, Secretary Esper is still Secretary Esper, and should the president lose faith, we will all learn about that in the future.� (

Global: Total confirmed cases: ~6,326,000; Total deaths: ~378,000; Total recoveries: ~2,728,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

U.S.: Total confirmed cases: ~1,821,000; Total deaths: ~106,000; Total recoveries: ~458,000

Dr. Anthony Fauci has not spoken or met with Trump in two weeks. The last time the two interacted was on May 18, when Trump asked Fauci to provide medical context during a call with U.S. governors. As of Monday, more than 1.7 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and at least 104,300 have died from it, according to Johns Hopkins University. (CNN)

The Trump administration’s coronavirus testing czar will be “demobilized� from his role at FEMA. Adm. Brett Giroir will stand down from his role in a few weeks. There are no plans to appoint a new “head of efforts� for coronavirus testing. (NPR)

Almost one-third of unemployment benefits owed to Americans who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic haven’t been paid yet. The Treasury disbursed $146 billion in unemployment benefits in the three months through May – short of a total bill that should have reached about $214 billion for the period. (Bloomberg)

1/ Trump threatened to deploy “thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers� to end “riots and lawlessness� if states and cities failed to quell the demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd. In a brief Rose Garden speech, Trump declared himself “your president of law and order� and said he would mobilize every available federal force, both “civilian and military,� to “quickly solve the problem� and end the nationwide protests. Trump denounced the violence as “domestic acts of terror� as he ordered governors and mayors to establish “an overwhelming law enforcement presence.� Trump, however, stopped short of invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy active duty U.S. troops to respond to protests in cities across the country. After Trump made the announcement, he left without taking questions from reporters. (New York Times / Politico / Bloomberg / CNBC / CNN / Axios / NBC News / NPR / Wall Street Journal / New York Times

Global: Total confirmed cases ~6,230,000; Total deaths: ~374,000; Total recoveries: ~2,673,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,800,000; Total deaths: ~105,000; Total recoveries: ~445,000

[Promising news] The coronavirus is losing its potency and has become much less lethal, top Italian doctor says. (Reuters)

[Bad news] Florida’s seen a “statistically significant� uptick in the number of pneumonia and influenza deaths. The CDC said it’s likely COVID-19. (Daily Beast)

[Bad news] Public health and government officials warned that the ongoing protests against police brutality could lead to a new wave of coronavirus infections. The new cases could add to the already disproportionate burden the disease has had on African-American and Latino populations. (Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)

[Interesting theory] Coronavirus May Be a Blood Vessel Disease, Which Explains Everything. 40% of deaths from COVID-19 are related to cardiovascular complications, and the disease starts to look like a vascular infection instead of a purely respiratory one. (Elemental)

While Trump shelters in the White House, America cries out for leadership. Under siege in the White House, Trump is aggravating America’s latest racial anguish in a nation now simultaneously beset by violence-wracked cities, a deadly disease, and staggering economic deprivation. (CNN)

As Protests and Violence Spill Over, Trump Shrinks Back. Trump spent Sunday out of sight, berating opponents on Twitter, even as some of his campaign advisers were recommending that he deliver a televised address to the nation. (New York Times)

1/ After a weekend out of sight, Trump emerged from the White House bunker and called America’s governors “weak� and demanded that they “dominate� the protesters, which he labeled “terrorists.� Trump asked “Why aren’t you prosecuting them?� while demanding “retribution.� He warned governors that they’d look like “a bunch of jerks� if they didn’t send the protesters to “jail for long periods of time.� Otherwise, Trump added, “you’re wasting your time.� Trump, who has not formally addressed the nation since the protests began, continued: “you have to use the military […] we have a wonderful military,� adding that they would look like “fools� if they didn’t take control of the situation. Trump also accused Minnesota of becoming “a laughingstock all over the world.� (New York Times /

Global: Total confirmed cases ~5,886,000; Total deaths: ~363,000; Total recoveries: ~2,469,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,741,000; Total deaths: ~103,000; Total recoveries: ~400,000

The CDC quietly removed warnings contained in guidance for the reopening of houses of worship that singing in choirs can spread the coronavirus. The agency also added new language about the First Amendment to its guidance on reopening houses of worship. (CNBC / Washington Post)

The Trump administration’s initial distribution of remdesivir went to – in some cases – the wrong hospitals, to hospitals with no ICUs and therefore no eligible patients, and to facilities without the refrigeration needed to store it. Remdesivir is the only approved coronavirus medication. (Washington Post)

Congress and the White House are discussing a $450 “return-to-work bonus.� Republican lawmakers have repeatedly claimed that increased unemployment benefits reward workers for staying home. Their idea is to make returning to work more attractive than remaining on unemployment. (Washington Post)

1/ Trump threatened military violence against U.S. citizens in Minneapolis who were protesting the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed, unarmed black man who was killed while pleading for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Trump, who previously called the video of Floyd’s death “shocking,� tweeted that the protesters were “THUGS� and warned that “the Military is with [Gov. Tim Walz] all the way […] Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!� Hours later, the White House reposted Trump’s comment on its official account. Last month, Trump tweeted support for protesters in Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia to “LIBERATE� themselves and defy coronavirus stay-at-home orders. In 2017, when neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville, Va., and a counter-protester was killed, Trump responded by saying there were “very fine people� on “both sides� of the issue. (New York Times / Politico / NBC News / Washington Post / CNN)

A former Minneapolis police officer involved in George Floyd’s death has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The announcement comes days after the release of a video that shows Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed on Floyd’s neck for at least seven minutes. (NPR)

📌

1/ 2.1 million more Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week. Nearly 41 million people have filed for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus pandemic started in mid-March — the equivalent of one out of every four American workers. The pandemic has resulted in a national unemployment rate exceeding 14% – the highest rate since the Great Depression. This is the eighth week in a row, however, that new jobless claims have continued to fall from their peak of around 6.9 million. (New York Times / CNBC / Washington Post)

2/ The Trump administration will not release updated economic projections this summer, which are expected to show the country in a severe economic downturn as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. White House officials are supposed to release a federal budget proposal every February, and they usually follow that up with a “mid-session review� in either July or August that includes updated projections on economic trends such as unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. No other administration has failed to provide economic forecasts in its mid-session review since at least the 1970s. “It gets them off the hook for having to say what the economic outlook looks like,� said a former director of the Congressional Budget Office. (Washington Post)

The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 5% in the first quarter – the biggest quarterly decline in more than a decade. (Politico)

Around 110 publicly traded companies each received $4 million or more in emergency aid from the Paycheck Protection Program. Of those subject to taxes, 12 of the companies used offshore accounts to cut their tax bills. These 12 companies also received more than $104 million in loans from U.S. taxpayers, and seven of them paid no U.S. tax at all for the past year. (Reuters)

3/ Trump signed an executive order seeking to limit the legal protections that shield social media companies from liability for the content users post on their platforms. The order seeks to make it easier for federal regulators to argue that companies like Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Twitter are suppressing free speech when they suspend users or delete posts, among other examples. “Big Tech is doing everything in their very considerable power to CENSOR in advance of the 2020 Election,� Trump tweeted late Wednesday after Twitter applied a fact-checking notice to his tweets about voter fraud. Trump, an attempt to portray the order as an attempt to stamp out political bias on social media platforms, announced on Twitter that “This will be a Big Day for social media and FAIRNESS!� The order directs the Commerce Department to petition the Federal Communications Commission to set up a rule-making proceeding to clarify the scope of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The executive order is expected to draw immediate court challenges. (Washington Post / Axios /

� Global: Total confirmed cases ~5,648,000; Total deaths: ~353,000; Total recoveries: ~2,325,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

🇺🇸 U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,695,000; Total deaths: ~100,000; Total recoveries: ~385,000

💰 Markets: Dow 📈; S&P 500 📈; Nasdaq 📈

Coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have passed 100,000. The toll exceeds the number of U.S. military combat fatalities in every conflict since the Korean War. The U.S. has recorded more COVID-19 deaths than any other country in the pandemic, and almost three times as many as the second-ranking country, Britain, which has recorded more than 37,000 deaths. Trump, meanwhile, has encouraged state governors to reopen businesses in order to boost the economy. (New York Times / NBC News / Washington Post / The Guardian / NPR / Politico / CNBC)

Antibody tests used to identify people who have been infected with the coronavirus might be wrong up to half the time. New CDC guidance says the results from antibody test are not accurate enough to be used to make important policy decisions, including “decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools, dormitories, or correctional facilities.� The guidance also says the results should not be used to make “decisions about returning persons to the workplace.� (CNN)

Dr. Anthony Fauci: Hydroxychloroquine is not an effective treatment for the coronavirus. “The scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy,� Fauci said. (Politico)

💻 Live blogs: New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / The Guardian / CNBC / NBC News

1/ Twitter added a fact-check label to two of Trump’s tweets, marking them as “potentially misleading.� Trump falsely claimed that mail-in voting leads to widespread voter fraud. In response, Twitter – for the first time – added a banner notification underneath each tweet that reads, “Get the facts about mail-in ballots,� and brings the user to news articles about mail-in voting and Trump’s claims when clicked. Trump’s tweets, a...

� Global: Total confirmed cases ~5,551,000; Total deaths: ~349,000; Total recoveries: ~2,270,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

🇺🇸 U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,673,000; Total deaths: ~98,700; Total recoveries: ~380,000

💰 Markets: Dow 📈; S&P 500 📈; Nasdaq 📈

Pandemic lockdowns loosen as U.S. deaths near 100,000. (Wall Street Journal)

The U.S. economy is showing signs of recovering from the shock of the coronavirus, yet Americans are still losing jobs by the millions and other figures — consumer confidence, retail sales, steel output, oil drilling — keep sinking in what is a clear sign that the recovery will be arduous and fitful. (Bloomberg)

World Health Organization warns of “immediate second peak� if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak in areas where COVID-19 declining. (NBC News)

Trump questioned the official coronavirus death toll, suggesting the numbers are inflated. (New York Times)

At least half of states are not going to meet White House’s deadline to test every nursing home resident and staff member for the coronavirus within 14-days. Some states said the logistics, costs, and manpower needs are too great, while others say they need another week or so. (Associated Press)

💻 Live blogs: Washington Post / New York Times / The Guardian / CNN / NBC News / CNBC

1/ Trump spent Memorial Day weekend mocking female politicians, tweeting about conspiracy theories, and golfing as the U.S. death toll from coronavirus neared 100,000. In a series of tweets and retweets, Trump called Stacey Abrams “Shamu,� mocked Nancy Pelosi’s appearance, and called Hillary Clinton a “skank.� Trump also revived a long-debunked conspiracy theory that MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough killed his intern when he was a member of Congress, and claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting consistently results in ballot stuffing and voter fraud. Trump spent both Saturday and Sunday golfing at his private club in Virginia. He made no mention of the sacrifice Americans honor on Memorial Day or the lives lost from the virus. (New York Times / Washington Post /

� Global: Total confirmed cases ~5,179,000; Total deaths: ~337,000; Total recoveries: ~1,991,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

🇺🇸 U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,597,000; Total deaths: ~96,000; Total recoveries: ~299,000

💰 Markets: Dow 📉; S&P 500 📈; Nasdaq 📈

💻 Live blogs: New York Times / Washington Post / The Guardian / NBC News / CNN / Wall Street Journal / CNBC

1/ Trump demanded that governors reopen houses of worship “right now� and threatened to “override� them if restrictions aren’t lifted “by this weekend.� Trump, however, does not have the authority to override state orders to close churches or limit the size of services. Hours later, the CDC released “interim guidance� for reopening places of worship after Trump deemed all places of worship “essential.� (Bloomberg / Associated Press / Axios / CNBC / NBC News / CNN / Politico / Wall Street Journal)

2/ Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that extended lockdowns could cause “irreparable damage� and have “unintended [health] consequences.� Dr. Fauci said he supported states taking cautious steps to restore normality and lift stay-at-home orders, adding that “Now is the time […] to begin seriously looking at reopening the economy, reopening the country to try and get back to some degree of normal.� Dr. Fauci, however, cautioned states against reducing social distancing measures too quickly, adding they must take “very significant precautions.� (CNBC / Business Insider)

3/ The CDC estimates that roughly a third of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic and around 40% of coronavirus transmission occurs before people feel sick. CDC officials cautioned that those numbers are subject to change as they continue to learn more about the virus, and that the cu...

� Global: Total confirmed cases ~5,074,000; Total deaths: ~331,000; Total recoveries: ~1,936,000. (Johns Hopkins University)

🇺🇸 U.S.: Total confirmed cases ~1,563,000; Total deaths: ~94,500; Total recoveries: ~294,300

💰 Markets: Dow 📉; S&P 500 📉; Nasdaq 📉

💻 Live blogs: New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / CNBC / NBC News / The Guardian / Wall Street Journal)

1/ Another 2.4 million workers filed new unemployment claims last week. Since efforts to the contain coronavirus pandemic nine weeks ago, more than 38.6 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits, leading to levels of unemployment not seen since the Great Depression. An analysis of the coronavirus pandemic’s effects on the labor market estimates that 42% of recent layoffs will result in permanent job loss. (Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / Wall Street Journal /Bloomberg)

The White House’s top economic official expressed uncertainty that America’s economy would quickly rebound from the downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic despite Trump’s confidence. Larry Kudlow said there are some “small glimmers of hope,� but “The numbers coming in are not good. In fact, they are downright bad in most cases.� (Washington Post)

📌 Day 1162: A record 3.28 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week – the largest number of unemployment claims ever recorded for a single week since the government began collecting data in 1967. The number shatters the Great Recession peak of 665,000 claims in March 2009 and the all-time mark of 695,000 in October 1982. As a result, the U.S. unemployment rate has likely already risen to 5.5% from 3.5% in February – a level not seen since 2015. A similarly large number of initial unemployment claims is expected next week when the Labor Department releases its report on claims filed this week. In the prior Labor Department report, for the week ended March 14, initial claims totaled 282,000. (NPR /