The Senate voted 65-19 early Friday morning to advance a bipartisan conservation bill after lawmakers couldn’t reach a deal to skip the procedural vote. 

The vote, conducted after 1:00 a.m., was required to advance the Great American Outdoors Act, which would provide $900 million annually in oil and gas revenues for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

The LWCF funds conservation projects like acquiring land for national parks, and the legislation would separately put $6.5 billion towards addressing a maintenance backlog in the National Park system. 

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The Senate will take three additional votes on Monday on the bill, when, absent an 11th-hour snag, it is expected to pass. 

Sleepy-eyed senators returned to the Capitol in the middle of the night after some members refused to give unanimous approval to move up the vote. 

A private stalemate over the bill spilled into public view on Thursday afternoon when GOP senators warned that they expected to have to return to the Capitol for the rare 1 a.m. vote Friday. 

Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.) moved to end debate on the lands bill Wednesday, meaning under Senate rules the earliest he could have the first vote was as soon as 1 a.m. on Friday absent an agreement. 

Senators routinely agree to move up votes, or delay it until Monday, so that they can leave Washington mid-Thursday. But GOP senators said there was no sign that a deal would be worked out amid a stalemate over allowing amendment votes, none of which are expected to be held. 

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“We would have to have consent, and we don’t have that,” Sen. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Hillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill | Trump administration seeks to use global aid for nuclear projects | EPA faces lawsuit alleging failure to update flaring requirements MORE (R-Mo.), a member of GOP leadership, said about trying to get an earlier vote. “I think that’s primarily over the amendment process.”  

Sen. Mike RoundsMarion (Mike) Michael RoundsSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill | Trump administration seeks to use global aid for nuclear projects | EPA faces lawsuit alleging failure to update flaring requirements Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (R-S.D.) added that some senators want votes on amendments to the bill and “this is their way of sending a message.” 

Any sign that the stalemate might thaw out and let the Senate avoid a middle-of-the-night session appeared unlikely earlier Thursday evening, when Sen. Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ MORE (R-Colo.) warned that they were “tracking” for a 1 a.m. vote. 

The Senate bill is currently on track to be wrapped up without any amendment votes, something that has frustrated senators who want changes to the bill. 

“This legislation was written as if on stone tablets, there is no more to be written, this book is sealed, you can’t have anymore to say … That’s how one would treat a subordinate. And I think it’s insulting not to me but to those I represent,” Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Senate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill Hillicon Valley: Facebook employees speak up against content decisions | Trump’s social media executive order on weak legal ground | Order divides conservatives MORE (R-Utah) said. 

Lee added that the bill is “perpetuating and worsening our already highly problematic federal public lands policy.” 

Lee on Thursday tried to get votes on five amendments — two from himself, one from Sen. Mike BraunMichael BraunSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Senate at logjam over changing ‘qualified immunity’ for police Trump tweets spark fresh headache for Republicans MORE (R-Ind.), one from Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump’s public standing sags after Floyd protests GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police MORE (R-Texas) and one from Sen. John KennedyJohn Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) — but Gardner objected.

Sen. Bill CassidyWilliam (Bill) Morgan CassidySenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senators dodge on treatment of White House protesters The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – US virus deaths exceed 100,000; Pelosi pulls FISA bill MORE (R-La.) also made a pitch to get an amendment on offshore revenue sharing, which has not gotten a a vote, included in the bill, saying that it would pass. 

 

“It deserves a vote, it would pass. It protects so many lives,” Cassidy said.  

Although some Republicans have expressed opposition to the legislation, it is also supported by members of both parties. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE also announced support for funding the LWCF this year, though this was a turnaround from a previous proposal to slash the fund by about 97 percent. 

When he proclaimed his support, the president particularly named Gardner and Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Koch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters MORE (R-Mont.), major backers of the bill, both of whom are up for reelection.

Some view the legislation as an attempt to boost the vulnerable incumbents, but McConnell pushed back on that idea this week, saying “It’s in proximity to the election but nobody said you ought to quit doing things just because there’s an election.”

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump says he’ll leave White House peacefully if Biden wins How Joe Biden wants to keep companies from pulling a Kylie Jenner — and why it’s a bad idea Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg expresses ‘disgust,’ keeps policies | New doomsday cyber bills | QAnon follower favored for congressional seat MORE‘s presidential campaign will not be using the services of an ad and tech group connected to former 2020 Democratic primary contender Michael BloombergMichael BloombergHillicon Valley: Zuckerberg expresses ‘disgust,’ keeps policies | New doomsday cyber bills | QAnon follower favored for congressional seat The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden marks 4th anniversary of Pulse nightclub shooting Biden not using Bloomberg-tied ad agency in campaign: report MORE‘s campaign, according to a new report. 

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Axios reported on Friday that the Biden campaign would not be utilizing Hawkfish, which was founded by Bloomberg last spring ahead of his presidential run, as the presumptive Democratic nominee’s digital platform prepares to face off against President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump reschedules Tulsa rally after criticism of overlap with Juneteenth New York Times endorses Engel primary challenger Trump campaign manager says 300,000 tickets registered for upcoming rally MORE‘s established digital campaign ahead of November. 

Bloomberg paid Hawkfish $69 million to work on his presidential bid, which was centered on the Super Tuesday contests.

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The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that a number of tech experts and progressives within the party voiced opposition to using Hawkfish in Biden’s presidential bid given its ties to Bloomberg and record in his ill-fated campaign. 

Bloomberg is looking to play a role in Democratic efforts to unseat Trump. The Times reported that he invested another $35 million into Hawkfish. 

Trump’s campaign has been pouring money into his digital operation throughout his presidency. Trump Victory, a joint effort between the campaign and the Republican National Committee, said in April it had reached 17 million voters in less than a month and recruited over 276,000 new volunteers since adjusting to an all-virtual campaign on March 13. 

Biden’s campaign has invested heavily in its digital operation as well, launching a number of ads hitting Trump in key battleground states including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Additionally, the campaign announced a number of new digital hires last month. 

Drugstore giants Walgreens and CVS announced Thursday they would no longer place beauty and hair products for women of color inside locked cases.

“We are currently ensuring multicultural hair care and beauty products are not stored behind locked cases at any of our stores,” Walgreens told the Associated Press in an email Thursday.

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CVS told the Guardian in a statement, “hair, beauty or personal care products for communities of color” would no longer be kept in locked shelves, after reviewing the former security policy adjacent to the company’s “firm nondiscrimination policy.”

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The company also said it had grown its inventory of “textured hair and color categories” by 35 percent, pledging to bring in more stock of black-owned and founded brands.

The new measures from Walgreens and CVS mirror Walmart’s decision to remove multicultural personal care products from behind locked-glass doors earlier this week.

The company previously allowed stores to lock away products that were considered more likely to be stolen than others.

Walmart had maintained the practice of keeping certain personal care products behind cases at the discretion of the individual managements from its stores across the country and was even challenged in a 2018 lawsuit over the store’s policy.

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day last month at the hands of police sparked protests about racial injustices and police brutality in the nation, leading many large corporations and organizations to take action responding to criticisms of racial insensitivity.

NASCAR announced Wednesday it would ban the display of the Confederate flag at racing events.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed recent events in the country during Wednesday evening’s draft pick announcements, saying that baseball “can do more as an institution” to fight systemic racism.  

Several MLB club owners announced donations to organizations such as Color of Change, Campaign Zero, and other groups seeking to fight racial injustice.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny PerdueGeorge (Sonny) Ervin PerdueOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senior Interior official contacted former employer, violating ethics pledge: watchdog | Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service | Senate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service Justice Department investigating meat price increases: report MORE on Friday ordered the U.S. Forest Service to expedite environmental reviews on its land, paving the way for more grazing, logging and oil development on public lands.

The directive, announced by Perdue on a trip to Missoula, Mont., comes in the form of an unusual memo to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. He called it “a blueprint for reforms to further provide relief from burdensome regulations, improve customer service, and boost the productivity of our National Forests and Grasslands.”

The move could be welcome news in Montana, where the state’s ranchers, miners, and oil and gas workers have long argued for increased access to public lands.

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But environmentalists say the memo affirms a number of dangerous strategies already underway by the Trump administration.

“This is a roadmap to national forest destruction, and it’s painful to read,” said Randi Spivak, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s public lands program. 

“In the midst of the climate and extinction crises, Perdue offers a dystopian vision of expanding mining, fracking, logging and grazing in national forests. This will increase air and water pollution, kill wildlife and increase carbon pollution. It’s the extractive industry’s agenda on steroids.”

The memo, however, lacks the formal letterhead or signature typical with such documents, and mainly sets broad goals for the Forest Service rather than laying out any specific policy directives. 

Perdue’s trip to Montana coincides with a Senate effort to pass a major conservation bill, led in part by Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senior Interior official contacted former employer, violating ethics pledge: watchdog | Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service | Senate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service Republicans start bracing for shutdown fight in run-up to election MORE (R-M.T.).

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Daines, who is battling former Montana Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senior Interior official contacted former employer, violating ethics pledge: watchdog | Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service | Senate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service Koch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators MORE (D) in his reelection bid, is considered one of the Senate’s more vulnerable Republicans and has relied heavily on land issues in his campaign. 

“Thanks to @SecretarySonny for coming to Montana today to highlight new efforts to increase productivity and access of our forests, streamline environmental review, and improve grazing permitting. The @USDA and @forestservice are in great hands under your leadership,” he wrote on Twitter.

The recommendations align with other efforts already taken by the Trump administration and in some cases regulations already underway at the Forest Service.

The Forest Service is already in the process of rolling back its role under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires robust environmental reviews of any major action taken by the government on public lands. The White House is pursuing a similar rollback of the law through its Council on Environmental Quality. 

Perdue on Friday said the agency should “set time and page limits” of its environmental reviews.

“This is definitely a prelude to the stuff that’s going to come out shortly,” Spivak said, noting that the timing of the memo has political ramifications.

“Why are they doing this now? They’re waving the flag so to speak….I think it is electioneering.”

 

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Senate Democrats are urging President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE to back down from a threat to veto a mammoth defense bill over a provision that would require the Pentagon to rename bases named after Confederate figures. 

Several Democrats — including Democratic Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE (N.Y.) and Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (Mass.) and Jack ReedJohn (Jack) Francis ReedWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee — sent a letter to Trump on Thursday saying they were “deeply troubled” by his tweet saying that he will “not even consider” renaming the bases. 

“As President and Commander-in-Chief, we urge you to stand on the right side of history and support the SASC-adopted proposal to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy from bases and other property of the U.S. military,” they wrote in the letter. 

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In addition to Schumer, Warren and Reed, Democratic Sens. Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Mnuchin indicates openness to more PPP loans in next COVID-19 relief bill On The Money: GOP turning against new round of ,200 rebate checks | Millions of Americans frustrated by delayed unemployment checks | Senate votes to give coronavirus relief program more flexibility MORE (N.H.), Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Mazie HironoMazie Keiko HironoWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases GOP votes to give Graham broad subpoena power in Obama-era probe Federal judges should be allowed to be Federalist Society members MORE (Hawaii), Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Senate panel passes amendment to bar using troops against protesters Defense bill turns into proxy battle over Floyd protests MORE (Va.), Martin HeinrichMartin Trevor HeinrichWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd MORE (N.M.), Gary PetersGary Charles PetersWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Hillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos MORE (Mich.), Tammy DuckworthLadda (Tammy) Tammy DuckworthWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Senate panel votes to require Pentagon to rename bases named after Confederates Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (Ill.) and Doug Jones (Ala.) signed the letter. 

The Senate Armed Services Committee agreed to include an amendment from Warren to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Pentagon to rename bases and other military assets bearing the names of Confederate leaders.

The language included in the mammoth policy bill creates a commission to come up with a plan for renaming bases and other assets. At the end of three years, the Pentagon “shall” remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy or anyone who served voluntarily in the Confederate army, a committee staffer said.

But the idea has faced backlash from Trump and the White House, where press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Wednesday that Trump would veto an NDAA that required renaming the bases.

Trump added in a tweet that “monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage.”

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“Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,” he added.

But Democrats countered in their letter that Trump had a “profound misunderstanding” of the current moment in U.S. history, where the country has been rocked by days of protests after George Floyd’s death. 

“Your rejection of this proposal reflects a profound misunderstanding of this moment in our nation’s history, when Americans are demanding that we reckon with a centuries-old legacy of systemic racism and our military leaders recognize that condoning Confederate symbols undermines their mission and unit cohesion,” they wrote.

They added that changing the names of the bases wouldn’t disrespect the military but instead address a “long-standing harm.” 

“It is long past time for the United States military to cease honoring, commemorating, or otherwise celebrating those who took up arms against the United States in the Civil War, sacrificing hundreds of thousands of American lives in order to preserve the institution of chattel slavery,” they added. 

Boston has declared racism a public health emergency and will divert funds meant for police overtime toward community programs.

Mayor Marty Walsh (D) announced the change on Friday and posted the plan on Twitter. According to the new initiative, 20 percent or about $12 million of police overtime funds from the 2021 fiscal year overtime budget will be reallocated to “community programs for youth, for homelessness, for people struggling with the effects of inequality.”

“The health impacts of historic and systemic racism are clear in our COVID-19 case numbers,” Walsh said. “And the impacts go far beyond this current crisis.”

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“We’ll be backing this declaration with an initial investment of $3 million that’s going to be transferred from the police overtime budget to the Boston Public Health Commission,” Walsh announced. “The health commission will work with our city’s departments, including our police department, on strategies to directly assess any impacts of racism have on the lives and the health of Boston residents.”

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The Boston police commissioner welcomed the mayor’s reforms and said police are being over-relied on for small disputes, according to a report from MassLive.com.

“Quite frankly, what I’ve heard in the community is we wear too many hats anyway,” Boston’s Police Commissioner William Gros said. ” A child doesn’t want to go to school? You call the Boston police. A child’s on the bus being unruly? You call the Boston police. There’s an emotionally disturbed person in a home? You call the Boston police. How many hats do you want us to wear?”

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The new reforms also include the creation of a task force to carry out the changes and plans to look at more proposals for police reform that are part of the viral “8 Can’t Wait” campaign.

Boston’s announcement comes as police departments and lawmakers across the country face pressure to address racism in law enforcement and to prevent police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd. 

Protests have erupted nationwide and globally after Floyd, a black Minneapolis man, died in police custody.

Welcome to Wednesday’s Overnight Health Care.

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care: Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus | COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears | A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army Minnesota AG Keith Ellison says racism is a bigger problem than police behavior; 21 states see uptick in cases amid efforts to reopen Texas experiences third consecutive day of record coronavirus hospitalizations MORE expressed concern about the mass protests spreading the coronavirus. COVID-19 cases in Texas are spiking, and Senate Republicans are in no rush to pass the next coronavirus relief bill.

We’ll start with Fauci:

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Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus

All the people coming together for protests in recent weeks will likely spread the coronavirus, top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned. 

Fauci told ABC’s “Good Morning America” he isn’t surprised that members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard who mobilized in response to the protests had tested positive, but he called the development “disturbing.”

“The issue of physical separation is important. Masks can help, but it’s masks plus physical separation, and when you get congregations like we saw with the demonstrations, like we have said — myself and other health officials — that’s taking a risk,” Fauci said. “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing now is just an example of the kinds of things we were concerned about.”

Fauci said he wouldn’t be surprised if some protesters in D.C. subsequently contracted the novel coronavirus and noted that many of them came from other areas and will return to their home state or city.

“It’s the kind of things we were concerned about and unfortunately we’re seeing it come true right now,” Fauci said.

Read more here.

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COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears 

The indicators coming out of Texas have not been great lately. 

The state has been relatively aggressive about reopening, lifting its stay-at-home order on May 1 and gradually increasing capacity at shops, bars and restaurants since then. 

Now, though, the state is seeing a surge of cases of the coronavirus. The state reached a new high of coronavirus hospitalizations on Monday, with 1,935 people hospitalized with the illness, according to state data. 

Texas is not alone. Arizona and North Carolina have also reached new highs of coronavirus hospitalizations in recent days. South Carolina, Arkansas and Florida are seeing spikes in cases as well. 

Big picture: The data illustrates how the virus is still gathering steam in some areas, even as the situation improves dramatically in old hot spots like New York and New Jersey. 

There has also been an element of unpredictability, though, given that some states, like Georgia, which drew national scrutiny after moving quickly to reopen, have not yet seen spikes in cases. 

Marcia Ory, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health, said “it is not surprising that the numbers of cases are going up as social distancing reduces.”

Read more here.

A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army 

States across the country are turning to one of the most basic practices of epidemiology to stamp out the coronavirus, deploying contact tracers to identify and inform anyone who has come into contact with the virus that they are at risk.

Every day, thousands of tracers and case investigators head to the new front line in the war against the coronavirus, legions armed with iPhones, databases and carefully worded scripts meant to both educate and reassure. They deliver bad news to those they call, and they bear witness to the suffering their communities endure.

Our colleague Reid Wilson spoke to some of these tracers for a look at what their day to day work is like. Read more here.

Don’t hold your breath for another relief bill too soon

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Republican senators are leaning into their go-slow approach on the next coronavirus bill, our colleague Jordain Carney reports. 

Bolstered by last week’s unexpectedly positive jobs report, Senate Republicans are signaling they will not pass another bill before late July. They have also flatly rejected the $3 trillion price tag of the bill passed last month by House Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFloyd’s brother urges Congress to take action Schumer blocks resolution opposing calls to defund police Highest-circulation Kentucky newspaper endorses Charles Booker in Senate race MORE (R-Ky.) indicated to GOP colleagues during a closed-door policy lunch on Tuesday that he does not anticipate the chamber will take up another coronavirus relief package before leaving for a two-week July 4 recess, according to senators in the meeting.

Instead, McConnell told Republicans he viewed the next work period — which runs from July 20 to Aug. 7 — as the time to take up and pass a bill, setting up a crucial three-week window.

“That seemed like a pretty wise strategy,” said Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneSenate at logjam over changing ‘qualified immunity’ for police Hillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Overnight Health Care: Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus | COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears | A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army MORE (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, “and we’ll have a better sense for what we’ll need to do probably a few weeks down the road.”

Read more here.

Americans divided on return to regular routines: poll

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Americans are divided on returning to their regular routines about three months after the country shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a poll released Wednesday. 

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that 49 percent of respondents said they feel comfortable returning to their normal routines after the shutdowns, compared to 50 percent who say they do not. In May’s poll, 41 percent said they felt comfortable returning to regular life, and 58 percent said they did not. 

The level of comfort is split among partisan lines, with 73 percent of Republicans, 53 percent of independents and 23 percent of Democrats polled saying they are comfortable returning to regular life.

Out of those who are not comfortable going back to normal life, 17 percent say they will probably or definitely return to their regular routines by the end of the year, while 32 percent say regular life will not begin until 2021. 

Read more here. 

What we’re reading

Trump’s task force warns governors of COVID spike tied to protests (Daily Beast)

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U.S. states accuse 26 drugmakers of generic drug price fixing in sweeping lawsuit (Reuters)

12 states see rising Covid-19 hospitalizations as Arizona asks hospitals to activate emergency plans (CNN.com) 

State by state

An ‘Unprecedented’ Number Of Coloradans Are Enrolling in Medicaid Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic (CPR News)

New coronavirus hot spots emerge across South and in California, as Northeast slows (Kaiser Health News)

States are wrestling on their own with how to expand testing, with little guidance from the Trump administration (Washington Post)

Tennessee to allow limited visitation at nursing homes beginning June 15 (News Channel 5 Nashville)

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Senior White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Friday there is a growing disparity in how Republican-led states and Democratic-led states are recovering from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The thing that as an economist gives me pause as I look forward is that there’s a radical difference right now in the data between red states and blue states,” Hassett told Fox News.

Hassett made an example of a “blue state like Vermont, which elected a socialist senator,” referring to Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersNew York Times endorses Engel primary challenger Progressive challenger out-raises Engel in months leading up to runoff Sirota criticizes secrecy surrounding Biden advisers MORE (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist. Under Vermont’s Republican governor, Phil Scott, the state has kept many restrictions in place despite having a low infection rate.

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“Other states are wide open,” Hassett said. “So I think that there is going to be increasing divergence between the economies of blue states — where unemployment is going to be staying very, very high and the economies are going to stay closed — and the red states that are mostly open.”

Public health officials have linked early and aggressive closures with lower rates of infection. A number of Republican-led states, like Texas and Arizona, have seen recent spikes in their coronavirus cases as they continue opening businesses, though other states such as California have also seen rising cases amid reopening.

Hassett claimed Friday that President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump reschedules Tulsa rally after criticism of overlap with Juneteenth New York Times endorses Engel primary challenger Trump campaign manager says 300,000 tickets registered for upcoming rally MORE was the only person who predicted the positive May jobs report, which showed that the economy added 2.5 million jobs — pushing the unemployment rate down to 13.3 percent — as businesses began to reopen after coronavirus-related closures.

“Hopefully the surprises will continue to be on the upside,” Hassett said. “Right now the models are not working very well and what we need is somebody who has the instinct of running lots of businesses to help guide us through this, and that’s what the president is doing.”

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More than 1.5 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits during the first week of June, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

In the week between May 31 and June 6, the total number of seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits fell to 1,542,000 from a revised total of 1,897,000 in the final week of May. 

Roughly 705,676 Americans also filed new claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), an extension of jobless benefits to workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic but do not qualify for standard unemployment insurance.

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Weekly new claims for unemployment still remain far above historic levels but have dropped steadily from a peak of 6.9 million in April. The new batch of claims also came less than a week after a surprisingly strong May employment report showed the U.S. adding 2.5 million jobs that month, largely due to 2.7 million workers returning from furloughs.

More than 40 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits since March, and the economy had lost more than 21 million jobs before May’s reversal

Even so, nearly 300,000 Americans lost their jobs permanently in May and more than 15 million others who are currently on temporary layoffs are at risk to join them.

The gradual improvement in the labor market is boosting hopes of a quicker than expected recovery.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpFed chairman warns of ‘long road’ to recovery House panel again presses Pentagon leaders to testify on military’s role in protests A ‘sacred trust,’ from George Marshall to Jim Mattis MORE, who’s reelection chances may depend largely on the state of the economy, has seized the slight rebound proof of the country’s “transition to greatness” from the coronavirus pandemic.

While experts see some reason for optimism in the new data, they warn that the U.S. is far from a full recovery from the pandemic-driven recession.

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“The key thing people need to understand is that there’s just a lot of work to do in the labor market. We’re going to stick with this and support that until the work is done,” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday, warning of a “long road” to recovery.

“You could see significant job growth in coming months as people return to their jobs, but you’re still going to face, probably, an extended period where it will be difficult for many people to find work,” Powell said.

More than 1,000 tons of plastic per year is being deposited from the atmosphere into protected national parks and wilderness areas in the Western U.S., a new study has found. 

Scientists found microplastics, very small pieces that can pollute the environment, at 11 national parks and wilderness areas, including the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountains. The 1,000 tons of plastic is equivalent to more than 123 million plastic water bottles. 

The plastic is being deposited in both wet form, as plastic rain, and in dry form from the atmosphere, the scientists determined. 

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“Several studies have attempted to quantify the global plastic cycle but were unaware of the atmospheric limb,” said a statement from Janice Brahney, one of the study’s authors. 

“Our data show the plastic cycle is reminiscent of the global water cycle, having atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial lifetimes,” Brahney said. 

The statement said that the impact atmospheric plastic will have on organisms is unknown, but the sizes of the microplastics observed were within the range of those that can accumulate in lung tissue. 

Brahney said that the finding raises “widespread ecological and societal concerns.”

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