The Patriot Post® · Thursday News Executive Summary
Above the Fold
“Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) has upgraded the charge against Derek Chauvin … to second-degree murder,” The Hill reports. “Ellison also charged Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane — the other officers who were at the scene of [George] Floyd’s death — with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.” Clearly, the officers should be prosecuted. But as Ben Shapiro points out, “Elevation of the Floyd killing to second-degree is quite risky. It requires proving intent to kill, rather than depraved indifference to human life. That’s a heavy legal burden.” And perhaps a radically heavy scheme by Ellison to upend the justice system.
In a virtual town hall yesterday, Barack Obama pontificated: “To bring about real change, we both have to highlight a problem and make people in power uncomfortable. But we also have to translate that into practical solutions and laws that can be implemented.” He added, “I know enough about that history to say there is something different here. … There is a change in mindset that’s taking place, a greater recognition that we can do better.” Keep in mind, these remarks are coming from the guy who spewed a lot of race-bait rhetoric.
Government & Politics
Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testifies he would not have signed FISA warrant for Trump aide if he knew of problems (Fox News)
Senate passes legislation making it easier for small businesses to use pandemic relief program (Washington Examiner)
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis denounces President Trump, describes him as a threat to the Constitution (The Atlantic)
Joe Biden fundraises off George Floyd’s death (The Daily Wire)
National Security
Antifa planned anti-government insurgency for months, law-enforcement official says (The Washington Times)
Administration slaps sanctions on shipping companies moving Venezuelan oil (The Hill)
China militarizing stolen U.S. tech, State Department says (The Washington Free Beacon)
State Department to label several Chinese media outlets as government propaganda (Washington Examiner)
The Latest on COVID-19
Coronavirus is not mutating to become more dangerous, WHO says (New York Post)
Doubt looms over hydroxychloroquine study that halted global trials; researchers are skeptical of a data analytics company that has not shared data (Ars Technica)
Swedish COVID response architect says policies were too lax, resulted in too many deaths (National Review)
For the record: Liberty University, once accused of being reckless for reopening during pandemic, finishes semester with zero coronavirus cases (The Blaze)
Business & Economy
Weekly jobless claims totaled 1.877 million last week (CNBC)
Trump administration to ban Chinese passenger airlines from flying to U.S. (The Daily Caller)
Companies issue shares at fastest rate ever (Reuters)
Markets clawing back much of pandemic losses (Washington Examiner)
World
South Korea unveils $62 billion “New Deal” to reshape post-virus economy (Bloomberg News)
Paris bans protest over black Frenchman and George Floyd deaths, citing potential social unrest and virus spread (The Daily Caller)
Hong Kong passes controversial bill to make disrespecting China’s national anthem a crime (Business Insider)
Space Wars: China outlines ambitious plan to build space station in orbit (Axios)
Other Notables
Quarterback Drew Brees receives intense backlash from star athletes after remarks about protesting during national anthem (Fox News)
Autopsy report shows George Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19 (AP)
Two NYPD cops shot, one stabbed during cowardly attack in Brooklyn (New York Post)
Virginia Gov. Ralph “Blackface” Northam to order removal of Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond (Fox News)
Closing Arguments
Policy: As cities burn, will Trump invoke the Insurrection Act? And should he? (The Federalist)
Policy: The enduring example of the Tiananmen Square massacre (The Heritage Foundation)
Satire: People who demanded more government for months appalled when they actually get (Genesius Times)
Related satire: Government jealous of rioters’ speed, efficiency in destroying local businesses (The Babylon Bee)
For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights.
The Patriot Post is a certified ad-free news service, unlike third-party commercial news sites linked on this page, which may also require a paid subscription.