THE BIG STORY

FEMA told Congress it had “very little knowledge” about the coronavirus response before March. New documents show it’s been deeply involved since the beginning

On March 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency took over the country’s fractured coronavirus response. Over and over again, the agency’s officials insisted — in sworn testimony, even — that they were not in charge of the disjointed operation that came before that day.

But documents that BuzzFeed News obtained and interviews with former agency officials show that in fact, FEMA leaders were deeply involved in coordinating the government’s response with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Here’s why this matters: FEMA officials have disavowed responsibility for what critics say were disastrous missteps that cost thousands of lives.

But the cache of emails, along with interviews, shows that FEMA officials wanted HHS to take the lead on the response, despite FEMA’s expertise in disaster management, because officials felt the agency was already stretched thin.

One former FEMA supervisor put it like this to us: “Who the hell would want to own it. They knew this whole thing would be a shitshow.”

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s pick for Vice President

Joe Biden has chosen Sen. Kamala Harris of California to be his running mate. Harris, who was at one point Biden’s most critical rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, will be the first Black woman on a major party presidential ticket.

To Biden, who will be 78 on Inauguration Day, Harris represents a potential generational successor. A former vice president himself, he has talked of being a “bridge” to a new era of politicians — like Harris, the 55-year-old daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India.

Politically speaking, President Donald Trump’s attacks on Kamala Harris are all over the place, without a consistent message.

Back in the hugging days. Biden greets Harris during a campaign stop in March. Brendan Mcdermid / Reuters

SNAPSHOTS

Belarus’s opposition candidate has fled to the country as the government cracks down. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the former English teacher who presented the biggest challenge to Alexander Lukashenko in 26 years, disappeared overnight as violent protests gripped Minsk.

Russia just approved the first coronavirus vaccine without completing crucial clinical trials. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the vaccine, called Sputnik V, “passed all necessary tests,” but it has not yet undergone Phase 3 of testing, a key, monthslong trial that can reveal previously unknown side effects.

Ilhan Omar won a bitter primary to keep her seat in Congress. Omar beat a well-funded challenger in her Democrat-heavy Minnesota congressional district, virtually guaranteeing a second term in Congress.

A KKK leader is going to prison for six years for hitting BLM protesters with his truck. Harry Rogers, 36, was convicted of six misdemeanors in connection with the June 7 incident. He still faces three felony counts — one for each of the people he hit with his truck.

A Georgia school district has to quarantine more than 900 people over fears of coronavirus exposure. A week after reopening its schools, the Cherokee County School District mandated a two-week quarantine for 925 people after 59 positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed among students and staff.

STRETCHED TOO FAR

One California Lululemon store shows how difficult it can be for retail workers in the pandemic

California now leads the US in confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state had initial success in controlling the virus, but that unraveled quickly and with deadly consequences.

Experts told BuzzFeed News that California officials reopened businesses too quickly and without enough guidance from state agencies, which left critical health and safety decisions up to counties, cities, and individual businesses.

This played out in the worst ways for people working in the retail sector. Stores and malls reopened without clear orders on masks, and no controls on fitting rooms, leaving businesses to navigate the uncertainty — and their employees to sound the alarm.

Olivia Niland reported on what that looks like inside a flagship Lululemon store. From uncooperative customers to unrealistic expectations, read about the chaos that greeted the store’s staff.

STICKING TOGETHER

Charli D’Amelio called for an end to body-shaming after a “disrespectful” video was posted about fellow influencer Kouvr Annon

Charli came to the defence of fellow TikTok star Kouvr. She was responding to a clip posted on the app, which showed various pictures of Kouvr and had amassed more than 1.7 million views before it was deleted.

Charli called out the creator and labelled the video “disrespectful.” Later on Twitter, the TikTok star wrote that body-shaming is “not cool, it's not funny and it's not a joke.”

Set aside time to invite gratitude into your day,

Elamin