Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020
“Law and Order” President, Autopsy Reports & Facebook’s Virtual Walkout
All the news in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Blinkist.com/news
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to read the latest happenings...
Trump Threatens Military Force
President Trump is taking an especially tough approach to put an end to the chaos around the U.S. In a Rose Garden address, he declared himself the “president of law and order.” Trump said he would deploy thousands of soldiers to Washington, D.C. As he spoke, microphones picked up the sound of tear gas and rubber bullets in the background. Law enforcement officers were pushing peaceful protesters back to clear the way for President Trump to walk to a nearby church. There, he posed for photos while holding a bible.
Read More: AP, CBS News, ABC News, WaPo, EDOW Tweet
Trump Message to Governors
President Trump is urging mayors and governors around the U.S. to do more to stop violence, looting, and what he called “domestic terrorism.” He said cities and states should establish an “overwhelming” and “heavily armed” law enforcement presence. Then, the president threatened to send the military into areas where local officials aren’t able to control the mayhem. Trump also promised that justice will be served for George Floyd, who died at the hands of police.
Read More: USA Today, NY Times, WSJ
Separate Floyd Autopsies
There are now two different reports about what caused George Floyd’s death. One is from the county medical examiner. The other is from private experts hired by Floyd’s family. They both rule Floyd’s death a homicide, but they highlighted different causes for it. The official autopsy said he likely died of heart disease, which was exacerbated by the violent arrest. The independent report found Floyd suffocated to death.
Read More: Minneapolis Star Tribune, USA Today, NBC News, Reuters
7th Day of Protests
For another night, curfews were issued in at least 40 cities from coast to coast. Still, that wasn’t enough to keep the peace everywhere. Early this morning in New York City, police say hundreds of people broke into downtown Manhattan businesses and looted them. In Chicago, shots were reportedly fired at police. In other places, like Los Angeles and Philadelphia, police arrested dozens of protesters who tried to block busy interstates. Still, throughout the day, there were tens of thousands of protesters marching peacefully, gathering in prayer, and singing in the streets.
Read More: NBC News, FOX News
Calls for Peace
We saw more examples of police officers joining protesters in certain cities, like the officers in Kansas City, Missouri who held a sign that read, “End Police Brutality.” There were also emotional moments in Minneapolis yesterday. Terrance Floyd visited the spot where his brother, George Floyd, was killed last week. He spent several minutes sitting on the street and sobbing. Then, he pleaded for peace and chanted for justice alongside protesters.
Protesters and Police Unity: USA Today, Tweet
Message From Floyd’s Brother: USA Today, AP
New Coronavirus Concerns
Coronavirus testing sites reportedly closed during chaotic demonstrations in Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and Illinois. It comes at an especially risky time. Public officials have already been worried about caseloads rising as states reopen, but no one was prepared to see this many people get together so soon. Some health departments, like the one in New York City, tweeted out advice to protesters. Suggestions include using signs and noisemakers instead of yelling, standing as far away from others as possible, staying hydrated, and using hand sanitizer.
Read More: AP, NPR, Politico, NY Health Department
Presidential Primaries Today
By the end of the night tonight, Former Vice President Joe Biden could officially be the Democratic nominee in the race for president. Biden needs 425 more delegates to win the majority, and 479 are at stake today. Presidential primary ballots are due today in Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Washington, D.C. Even though there’s not much suspense in the presidential primaries, all eight locations with elections will also have local races on their ballots.
Read More: CNN, USA Today, AJC, WSJ
Facebook Employees’ Virtual Walkout
Facebook plans to hold a town hall with employees today. It comes after hundreds of staff staged a virtual walkout yesterday. Since most are still working from home, it basically meant they refused to do work. They’re reportedly upset Facebook will not moderate some of President Trump’s posts. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the public should be allowed to decide on their own what to share and believe.
Read More: The Verge, NYT, CNBC
Stars Getting Involved
Celebrities are throwing their weight behind nationwide protests. Actors like Jamie Foxx and Nick Cannon demonstrated with activists in Minneapolis. Other big stars, like Chrissy Teigen and Steve Carell, are donating money to bail protesters out of jail. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick set up a fund to pay their lawyer fees. Facebook’s CEO donated $10 million to organizations fighting for equality.
Zuckerberg Donation: TechCrunch, Mark Zuckerberg
Celebrities Join Protests: AP, E! News
Celebrities Funding Bail: Deadline, Barron’s
Pixel’s New ‘Safety Check’ Feature
Google is rolling out a new feature for Pixel smartphones called “Safety Check.” It lets you ask your phone to check-in on you at a later time to make sure you’re safe. For example, it might be useful after walking home at night or hiking by yourself. At a scheduled time, your phone will ask if you are OK. If you don’t respond, it will alert your emergency contacts. It also gives you the option to share your location or call 911.
Read More: TNW, Engadget
Zappos Listens to Pandemic Worries
Zappos, which is usually known for shoes, revamped its customer service line. Now, it will take calls from people who simply are lonely or need help with basic requests. Customer service reps are available to chat about all kinds of things, like your favorite shows or sports teams. They could also help people find a nearby store or help students with homework. Already, the company has taken about 3,000 of these calls. The Amazon-owned company says it started the service because of the pandemic, but now, it might keep the service around for good.
Read More: NYT, CBS News