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| THE LEDE Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race on Wednesday, and Joe Biden is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. This can’t be how he pictured it happening. Biden was in his basement in Delaware speaking to a small live audience while Donald Trump gave his daily, meandering, two-hour press conference. This is just another way the coronavirus pandemic has fully eclipsed our lives. Here’s Henry Gomez with the scene: “There was no rallying cry, no call to join him in his effort to defeat Trump this fall. Nearly four years ago, when California’s primary results clinched the nomination for Hillary Clinton, she addressed 3,600 supporters beneath a glass ceiling, a symbolic setting worthy of her historic moment as the first woman to be a major party’s candidate for president. Biden, seated in front of some bookcases, peaked at about 1,700 viewers, according to a YouTube counter. It was another striking example of how the coronavirus has preempted a national election. Biden’s moment wasn’t much of one.”
If you hadn’t done so already It’s worth going back and reading Ruby Cramer’s masterful profile of Bernie Sanders. It’s such a compelling portrait of the man and his movement.
Two important servicey pieces There was a lot packed into the $2 trillion coronavirus aid package that was signed into law last month. But it was written hastily, and many of the provisions are confusing. Sarah Mimms, our DC editor, has written this extremely useful FAQ on how to know if your student loans qualify for relief during the pandemic, as it’s really complicated to figure out. And Mimms and Hill reporter Paul McLeod also have this piece looking at who will get a check from the government and how. READ RECEIPTS Texting with Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won the state in 2018 and, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, has becoame a ubiquitous presence on TV, begging the federal government for help as the Detroit area became a hot spot for coronavirus infections. Trump went after her a few times — including calling her “Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer” in a tweet — but she saidsays things have settled down and she’s working well with the administration now. We texted about how she’s handling the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan, and why she doesn’t want to be Biden’s VP. P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (Monthly memberships are available worldwide.) 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Kate Nocera, Veronica Dulin, and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here. Show privacy notice and cookie policy.
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