6.11.2020

Good morning. It's Thursday, June 11, and we're covering testimony on police reform, an advance in the fight against ALS, a new Twitter feature, and more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Floyd's Brother Testifies to Congress

Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, testified yesterday before the House Judiciary Committee, delivering a personal plea for lawmakers to take up the issue of police reform. The appearance comes one day after his brother, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers sparked weeks of nationwide and global protests, was buried.

Floyd was joined by 11 other witnesses, including Houston police chief and head of the Major Cities Chiefs Association Art Acevedo, who argued efforts to defund police (see background) may disproportionally affect minority communities, depending on implementation. Access all prepared witness statements here.

Separately, President Trump is reportedly readying an executive order on police reform; any actions are said to be separate from a bill being led by Sen. Tim Scott (R, SC). As an African American, Scott has spoken about his own experiences with racial discrimination extensively in the past. House and Senate Democrats unveiled a reform package earlier this week proposing substantial changes to police procedures and reporting while stopping short of acting on calls to defund police departments.

In related news, separate crowds in Virginia tore down Confederate statues in Richmond and Portsmouth overnight.

Flynn Case Rolls On

An outside counsel appointed to review the Justice Department's decision to drop prosecution of former national security adviser Michael Flynn concluded the case against Flynn should continue. John Gleeson, a former federal judge asked by Judge Emmet Sullivan who is currently overseeing the Flynn case, also accused the department of abuse of power in seeking to drop the charges.

Charged as part of the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials after the election but before President Trump assumed office. Flynn was also forced to resign after misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the contact—though Pence has since suggested Flynn may have unintentionally lied.

Flynn's case burst back into the public consciousness after documents revealed FBI deliberations over how to handle the investigation. The decision of whether to deny the request to drop prosecution of Flynn ultimately rests with Sullivan (and any further appeals of the decision).

Fed to Keep Rates Low

The Federal Reserve said yesterday it would keep benchmark interest rates near zero through the end of 2022 in an effort to help the US economy recover from the effects of the coronavirus. The statement provides some long-term certainty around the central bank's plans, though markets were a mixed bag. The Dow and S&P 500 fell 1% and 0.5%, respectively, while the Nasdaq rose 0.7%.

Commercial banks are able to borrow money from the Fed, and low interest rates allow them to provide cheaper lending for consumers and businesses. In principle, this spurs more spending, providing a boost to the economy (primer here). Since 1990, rates have typically floated between 2% and 5%, with the Fed aiming to keep inflation low.

Officials also painted a grim picture of the near-term economy, with a drop of 6.5% in GDP on the year and 9.3% unemployment by the end of the year. Projections have unemployment falling to 5.5% by the end of 2022.

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A HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL

Since stay-at-home orders began, alcohol sales in the US have risen at least 34%. While this is just a noteworthy data point for some, it has very real and serious implications for many others. According to the CDC, nearly 40 million Americans drink too much. And Monument is here to help.

Monument is an online platform built to help people change their relationship with alcohol. Their founder, Mike, built Monument based on the tools he used to ultimately stop drinking, including medication and therapy, along with the resources he wished he had when he made the decision. With the free anonymous Monument community, a collection of world-class resources, and a network of specialized physicians and therapists, Monument is looking to create a world where a healthy relationship with alcohol is attainable and celebrated by all.

Monument is customizable, affordable, and available entirely online (anonymously!), so you can make progress on your own terms. Give Monument a try today for a healthier relationship with alcohol.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> NASCAR prohibits Confederate flag from races just days after Bubba Wallace, the only African American driver in the Cup series, called for its ban (More) | “Gone with the Wind” temporarily pulled from HBO Max; will return with opening message providing context for historical depictions in the film (More)

> Major League Soccer resumes July 8 with the MLS is Back Tournament featuring all 26 teams competing at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando (More) | Disneyland in California set to reopen July 17 (More)

> Coachella and Stagecoach musical festivals, scheduled for mid-October, canceled due to ongoing fears over the coronavirus (More)

Science & Technology

> Genetic defect linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, identified; mutation disrupts the brain's mechanism for removing toxin buildup around neural cells (More)

> Twitter to test feature asking whether users have actually opened and read an article before they retweet it; company says feature is an effort to slow the spread of misinformation (More)

> Researchers spot a never-before-seen phase of matter inside liquid crystals; the "ferroelectric nematic" phase, in which all the liquid molecules point in the same direction, was hypothesized more than 100 years ago (More)

Business & Markets

> Reddit names Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel to board after cofounder Alexis Ohanian resigned last week and recommended he be replaced with a black director (More)

> Amazon will ban use of its facial recognition technology from police for one year (More) | Zoom closes account of Chinese activists based in US (More)

> Just Eat Takeaway to acquire Grubhub to create largest food delivery company outside China; Grubhub was also in discussions with Uber which fell apart (More) | Starbucks to close up to 400 locations amid changing consumer preferences (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Jacksonville, Florida appears likely to host the Republican National Convention in August; North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) rejected a full-scale event in Charlotte over coronavirus concerns (More) | President Trump to hold first campaign rally since the pandemic began next Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma (More)

> US breaks 2 million coronavirus cases, with 112,924 deaths as of this morning; deaths rose less than 1% since yesterday (More) | Hospitalizations spike in nine states following Memorial Day (More)

> Officials find remains of two Idaho children, identifying parents as primary suspects; case drew global attention due to parents' doomsday beliefs and deaths of two former spouses (More)

IN-DEPTH

Nextdoor's 'Karen Problem'

The Verge | Makena Kelly. Nextdoor thinks of itself as the world's premier localized social network. But in the wake of protests over police brutality, many users of color have encountered a slew of inflammatory posts endemic to social media. The only difference? The posters are their neighbors. (Read)

Who Discovered the First Vaccine?

Wired | Cody Cassidy. Many vaccines rely on weakened or neutralized forms of the viruses against which they are meant to protect. But that idea—intentionally infecting a patient—was once both ludicrously dangerous and the best-known defense against deadly diseases. (Read, $$)

TREATMENT BUILT AROUND YOU

Whether your goal is sobriety or moderation with alcohol, Monument has the solution for you. All plans are personalized to members' goals and lifestyles so you can get from where you are to where you want to be. And with monthly plans that are more affordable than most therapy options, you'll find yourself with a sustainable and holistic treatment program that's much more competitive than other options.

They recently made their virtual therapist-moderated support groups entirely free, so you can get the support you need through these particularly trying times. Give Monument a try today to get help for good.

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ETCETERA

How the coronavirus compares to 100 years of deadly events. ($$, NYT)

The pandemic has crushed our perception of time.

Watch drone footage of 64,000 nesting turtles.

From our partners: Is your company working remotely? This product empowers businesses to work productively - from anywhere - with Apple devices. Create your free account here. #Ad

Merriam-Webster updates its definition of racism.

Demand for antiracist literature is skyrocketing at bookstores.

See the story behind this prize-winning photo of a whale and her calf.

Astronaut Kathy Sullivan becomes the first woman to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

A hidden bird feeder camera snaps close-up candids of birds.

Clickbait: When your dog discovers mirrors.

Historybook: Politician and suffragist Jeannette Rankin born (1880); JFK sends in National Guard to integrate University of Alabama (1963); Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington are first two women to become generals in the US Army (1970); RIP film star John Wayne (1979); RIP actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee (2014).

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

- John Wayne

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