WHAT'S BREWING
TRUMP THREATENS TO MOVE GOP CONVENTION Trump threatened to relocate the upcoming Republican National Convention from North Carolina to another state if its Democratic governor doesn’t allow his party “full attendance” at the event. In a series of tweets, Trump targeted Gov. Roy Cooper for being “still in Shutdown mood” during the coronavirus pandemic, saying he would find a more accommodating state if Cooper doesn’t cave to his demand. [HuffPost]
VA GIVES 1,300 VETS UNPROVEN DRUG TOUTED BY TRUMP The Department of Veterans Affairs has been giving 1,300 veterans hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus since late March — even though the drug has not been proven to be effective against the illness and may even trigger fatal heart problems. In a study of 100,000 patients with COVID-19, patients who received hydroxychloroquine had a “significantly higher risk of death” compared to those who were not given the drug. “We were unable to confirm a benefit of hydroxychloroquine” on in-hospital outcomes for COVID-19, the researchers concluded. [HuffPost]
TRUMP'S ECONOMIC ADVISER CALLS AMERICANS 'HUMAN CAPITAL STOCK' Trump’s senior economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, presented a cold view of the U.S. economic system, referring to American workers as “human capital stock.” In an interview on CNN, Hassett predicted that business would pick up again soon.“ Our human capital stock is ready to get back to work,” he said, while admitting at the same time that the nation will continue to struggle with unemployment as high as 23% this month. [HuffPost]
UK'S JOHNSON DEFENDS CHIEF ADVISER AMID LOCKDOWN BREACH SCANDAL U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaped to defend his embattled chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who refused to apologize for multiple breaches of lockdown guidelines. Cummings said he didn't regret traveling 260 miles out of London to his parents’ home with his child and wife -- who had coronavirus symptoms -- at the peak of lockdown in March. He also claimed a drive to the town of Barnard Castle was to have an eye test, as he was worried his vision had been affected by coronavirus. The revelations have sparked a huge backlash among people who adhered to guidelines despite dire circumstances. [HuffPost]
TRUMP CLEARS A PATH FOR FACTORY-FARMING THE OCEANS Making a living has been getting harder for fishermen. Tight regulations, pollution from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and competition from charter boats and amateur anglers were already depleting opportunities in the profession. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. So when Trump ordered the Commerce Department to roll back regulations on commercial fishing earlier this month, many expected some relief. But the main thrust of the May 7 executive order set in motion a process to open federal waters, the stretch of ocean between three to 200 miles off most U.S. coastlines, to private companies farming fish in giant pens. [HuffPost]
FEDERAL JUDGE MAKES WAY FOR THOUSANDS OF EX-FELONS TO VOTE IN FLORIDA U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle ruled over the weekend that hundreds of thousands of ex-felons in Florida can’t be forced to pay back fines and fees owed to the state before they cast a ballot, saying a Republican-backed law passed last year effectively created an unconstitutional “pay-to-vote system.” Florida overwhelming passed a measure in 2018 that restored the voting rights to nearly every felon who had completed “all terms” of their sentences. But in 2019, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill that said the “all terms” provision was only met if all court-issued fees, fines and restitution had also been paid. [HuffPost]
HOW SOME MISSISSIPPI TEENS ARE SAVING THEIR TOWN FROM CLIMATE CHANGE Since 2018, a group of Duck Hill teens and community leaders have been tackling the climate-related problems that their state and local government neglect or haven’t had the capacity to fix. In the process, they have worked to change how their tiny town views climate change. The group is called the ASEEDS Creek Rangers program ― ASEEDS stands for Achieving Sustainability Through Education and Economic Development Solutions ― and it includes about 20 kids between the ages of 12 in 18, led by local leaders and funded through grant money. [HuffPost] | 
