Comment:

• Why the 'Steele Dossier' on Trump-Russia collusion is a total 'nothingburger'
• McCain associate David Kramer was in contact with a dozen reporters regarding Steeledossier

Comment: Merkel too has expressed "cautious hope" at signs of Germany's curve "flattening out" - Germany could start easing restrictions next week. Global carmakers also plan to reopen their plants, promising increased worker safety. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Moscow is tightening control over people's movement, planning to implement a "pass system" for traveling to work, and "if necessary", even movements within districts. Residents will have to apply for these travel passes. Local authorities in two Indian towns are resorting to measures previously adopted by some Chinese authorities: physically locking people in their homes for "breaching quarantine". They must call delivery services to receive essential items.

Hungary's PM Orban says the "real test is yet to come" for his country, despite signs of the crisis "peaking" in other countries. UK PM Johnson has reportedly been moved out of intensive care and will be closely monitored. Gaza Strip has reportedly run out of test kits, and Hamas fears a health sector collapse, saying they will not hesitate to impose a curfew if necessary. According to some medical sources in Ecuador, more than 40 medical workers have died in recent weeks, but such data "has been kept hidden from the public eye." It's hard to say at this point how much is hysteria and disruption of normal operating procedures, and how much is do to a real overloading of the system, as happened in northern Italy.

After the USS Theodore Roosevelt "scandal", Air Force General John Hyten unintentionally said something extremely true:

We have too many ships at sea, we have too many deployed capabilities. There's 5,000 sailors on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. To think it will never happen again is not a good way to plan.

You can say that again. Yankee, go home.

Here's Dr. Fauci back in January. Wonder what changed his mind?

And yesterday, Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the Covid-19 death toll will be "much lower" than models have suggested. Hmm... When the overall impact of the virus turns out to have been much lower than people's expectations, they will be able to say, "See, all our measures were effective!" But will they have been? Or did the virus just run its course fairly naturally?

Comment: So now Pelosi using identity politics to break the backbone of the American economy. We'll see how that works out.

Comment: Politics, especially during election season, are compounded by persuasive factions without accountability. Accusations and bias go unchecked - as long as the money lasts.

See also:

• Bernie Sanders' feeble position on Israel is a serious progressive problem - and the reason I won't vote for him
• Israel 'up in arms' after Sanders says he's open to cutting aid to Israel
• Real election meddling: Israel's UN ambassador calls Bernie Sanders an 'ignorant fool': 'We don't want him in Israel'

Comment: Trump gloats; ABC News lies; Pentagon Intel refutes

President Donald Trump, whose response to the epidemic has been relentlessly criticized by his political opponents, shot some verbal barbs at the news channel.

The disproved ABC story not only cast the Trump administration in a bad light, but also raised questions about the timeline of what appears to be the worst health crisis in a generation. Given the time needed to collect and vet intelligence, it implied that the US military saw the disaster coming weeks before the virus causing Covid-19 was even identified by China as a new pathogen, giving fodder to those who believe the virus is man-made.

Comment: See also:

• Sustained efforts to undermine Douma 'attack' whistleblower underscore importance of his UN testimony
• Worst lie since fake claim sparked Iraq war? OPCW report behind Syria bombings was altered, whistleblower tells UNSC
• 'Brazen disinformation': Syria narrative managers defend Douma chemical weapon hoax as OPCW comes under attack
• Senior OPCW official ordered deletion of 'all traces' of dissenting report on 'Douma chemical attack' - WikiLeaks' new leak

Comment:

• ICIG Michael Atkinson, top Mueller hoax operative, turned in the partisan CIA whistleblower complaint
• Trump cans Michael Atkinson, intelligence IG who started the Democrat impeachment circus by telling Congress about Ukraine phone call
• IG Atkinson can't explain 18-day window between Trump's Ukraine call and whistleblower complaint
• Devin Nunes: 'Republicans have active investigation into (IG Michael) Atkinson' for his whistleblower complaint

In the middle of the investigations into Spygate, Russiagate, and Ukrainegate, Barr is still mindful of citizens' rights:

AG Barr opposes Bill Gates proposal for COVID-19 vaccine certificates

Comment: While MPs can now buy new laptops and heat their homes, even though the weather is around 20°C in London right now, much less fortunate people will be struggling to make it through the coming months.

Many workers have lost their jobs or been furloughed and forced to accept a 20% cut in their wages, while small businesses are sinking and the self-employed are struggling to get help.

But as always, there's nothing to see here folks, just keep calm and carry on clapping the new police state - it'll all be ok!