Update: Multiple White House officials tell NBC News this morning that there may NOT be a task force briefing today and that Trump may instead open to the press his 4PM Cabinet Room event with industry executives. (The current WH strategy, I’m told, is to show Trump “at work.”)

https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1254743779623518208

As first deadline approaches, Biden and Trump camps begin a delicate transition dance

The administration has until May 3 to form a committee to begin transition planning, but Democrats worry that Trump will be disruptive.

WASHINGTON — It may seem early, but federal law mandates that by Sunday the apparent Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and aides to the president he hopes to unseat must begin planning for a possible transition of power after the November election.

Officials from agencies involved in transition planning said they will follow the law and start the process with Biden on schedule.

The White House, however, declined to comment on whether officials in the West Wing who are responsible for coordinating with Biden's team have plans to do so by the May 3 deadline.

Biden, for his part, has already started preparing a transition team.

"Sounds presumptuous," the former vice president told donors recently. "But it has to happen."

There are concerns among Democrats, however, that President Donald Trump might try to impede preparations for potentially handing over the office after serving one term, given his distrust of career government officials who would be critical to the process and his past musings that election results could be rigged against him.

"They're a 'let's burn the house down on the way out' kind of crowd. I'd like to think it was different, but there's nothing to indicate that they would play it straight," said John Podesta, who was a co-chair of Barack Obama's transition in 2008 and chair of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016.

"One of the challenges will be, which I think with Trump you have to anticipate," Podesta added, "is what if he doesn't accept the results?"

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/first-deadline-approaches-biden-trump-camps-begin-delicate-transition-dance-n1190911

Louisiana pastor again holds church services, defying house arrest orders

April 26, 2020 / 3:05 PM / CBS/AP



A Louisiana pastor is holding services in his church again, defying house arrest orders that followed an assault charge. Tony Spell was charged last week after his decision to hold mass gatherings defied public health orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

A Facebook livestream from Life Tabernacle Church on Sunday showed Spell walking among more than 100 congregants, often repeating the phrase, "I've just got to get to Jesus. ... Come on America, let's get back to Jesus." Nearly all parishioners were not wearing face masks, and social distancing was not being practiced.

The police department in Central, a suburb Baton Rouge, says on their Facebook page that Spell turned himself into the department last week on charges of aggravated assault and improper backing.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-louisiana-pastor-tony-spell-church-services-defying-house-arrest-orders/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=87366680

I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven’t left the White House in many months (except to launch Hospital Ship Comfort) in order to take care of Trade Deals, Military Rebuilding etc., and then I read a phony story in the failing @nytimes about my work.....

....schedule and eating habits, written by a third rate reporter who knows nothing about me. I will often be in the Oval Office late into the night & read & see that I am angrily eating a hamberger & Diet Coke in my bedroom. People with me are always stunned. Anything to demean!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1254474710429110273

For the first time in 6 weeks, Spanish children are allowed to venture outside, as the government eases a #coronavirus lockdown on its youngest citizens.

Children under the age of 14 can now take walks with a parent for up to one hour and within one kilometer from home

https://twitter.com/QuickTake/status/1254420342984114182

“Disinfectant in the body - you know what they call that? They call that embalming - that’s the medical term,” Pelosi says to @jaketapper on @CNNSotu

https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1254399363717234699