Viral News: As the pandemic gains speed again, Coronavirus deaths in the United States topped 150,000 yesterday. Another 1,456 Americans died of the virus in the past 24 hours.

  A NY Times survey of 270 colleges and universities has linked 630 cases of the coronavirus to the schools even as they consider whether to fully re-open. The survey included every four-year public college in the country as well as the privates that compete in Division I athletics.

  Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert, who has refused to wear a protective mask, has been diagnosed with the virus. Gohmert, sometimes derided as the stupidest member of Congress, was scheduled to fly to Texas with President Trump and tested positive in pre-screening at the White House. 

  Gohmert said, “I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t been wearing a mask so much in the last 10 days or so, I really wonder if I would have gotten it.”  Please refer back to previous paragraph.

Tactical Withdrawal: Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown says federal tactical teams will begin withdrawing from Portland today as the result of a negotiated stand-down. As part of the deal, state and local police will begin defending federal properties and controlling the surrounding streets. The federal courthouse has been the primary target of protesters.

  Not all the feds will be leaving. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Secy. Chad Wolf said in a statement that he will keep “ augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked.”

  There’s a lot of wiggle room in that. Local authorities can defend, but would have a hard time guaranteeing no attacks by protesters.

  President Trump tweeted the threat that, “If the Mayor and Governor  do not stop the Crime and Violence from the Anarchists and Agitators immediately, the Federal Government will go in and do the job that local law enforcement was supposed to do!”

Econ 101: The Commerce Department is expected to report today that the US gross domestic product fell by more than 10 percent in the second quarter of the year, a stunning figure. 

  The NY Times quotes Gregory Daco, chief US economist for Oxford Economics, saying “Never have we seen such large declines in activity at such a rapid pace.” By comparison, economic output fell 4 percent during the Great Recession 10 years ago — and took 18 months to hit bottom.

  While the economy tanks,  a new report from the Treasury Department says that less than 25% of the trillions in economic stimulus money has been used so far. The common complaint is that the money comes with too many restrictions. 

The Highest Calling: President Trump is not attending the funeral today of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis. The only other living president not going is Jimmy Carter, who doesn’t travel anymore.

  Lewis left behind one last editorial plea to be published on the day of his funeral in The NY Times. In it he says, “Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. He said, “In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.”

The Bulletin Board: NASA has launched its Perseverance rover to Mars, the third spacecraft shot to the red planet this month. — A former US Marine who went to Moscow to see his girlfriend has been sentenced to nine years on charges of assaulting and endangering the lives of two police officers. The defendant, Trevor Reed, says it’s a political prosecution produced by tensions between the US and Russia.  — The average of national presidential polls has Joe Biden leading Donald Trump 50 percent to 41.7 percent, according to the FiceThirtyEight blog.

The Rich Are Different:  Lamborghini is offering a new supercar powered by a V-12, 800 horsepower engine that will not be legal to drive on public roads. The company will keep the car for you and transport it to racetracks so you can drive it. They didn’t give a price, but if you have to ask you can’t afford it.

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