Former New York senator Al D’Amato who, it so happens, was nicknamed Senator Pothole back in the day was driving to Long Island last week when his car was badly damaged by a monster pothole along the Brooklyn-Queens border. Two days later the pothole was filled. Total coincidence, the Transportation Department claims. [City Room/NYT]
The party of the fewer people
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has COVID-19
On Wednesday evening, @FirstLadyVA and I were notified that a member of our official residence staff had developed symptoms and tested positive for #COVID19. We both received PCR nasal swab tests yesterday and both tested positive.
Pam is experiencing mild symptoms, and I am asymptomatic. Per @VDHgov guidelines, we will isolate at home for 10 days and then reevaluate our symptoms. I am in constant contact with my cabinet and staff, and will continue working from the Executive Mansion.
As I have been reminding Virginians throughout this crisis, #COVID19 is very real and very contagious. We are grateful for your thoughts and support, but the best thing you can do for us—and most importantly, for your fellow Virginians—is to take this virus seriously.
It’s unclear if today’s attack is linked to the Charlie Hebdo terrorism trial, which is currently underway
At least two people were wounded in a knife attack Friday near the former offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, police said Friday. A suspect has been arrested.
A Paris police official said that while authorities initially thought two attackers were involved, they now believe it was only one person, who was detained near the Bastille plaza in eastern Paris, a city police official said. The official said police are still searching the area while they question the arrested suspect.
Just release a list of the retired senior officials who aren’t backing Biden
Nearly 500 retired senior military officers, as well as former Cabinet secretaries, service chiefs and other officials, have signed an open letter in support of former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, saying that he has “the character, principles, wisdom and leadership necessary to address a world on fire.”
The letter, published Thursday morning by National Security Leaders for Biden, is the latest in a series of calls for President Trump’s defeat in the November election.
“We are former public servants who have devoted our careers, and in many cases risked our lives, for the United States,” it says. “We are generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans and Democrats, and Independents. We love our country.
“Unfortunately, we also fear for it.”
The letter has been signed by 489 people.
Biden probably needs to come up something to say
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden questioned President Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power on Wednesday.
Asked about the president’s remarks during his briefing, Biden told reporters, “What country are we in?”
“I’m being facetious. I said, what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don’t know what to say,” Biden added, according to a pool report.
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