Covid-19 has caused a lot of problems in the United States, and that looks like continuing for months at least, with a resurgence of the spread, cases and deaths. Even Donald Trump has conceded, deciding to can the Republican convention he was previously determined to go ahead with in Florida after North Carolina ruled it out due to Covid.
Alongside that are the race protests that refuse to go away following the death of George Floyd, with Trump intent on clamping down on protests or inflaming the situation.
A snapshot of current news:
- U.S. charges 18 Portland protesters as it sends tactical police to Seattle
U.S. prosecutors on Friday unveiled charges against 18 Portland, Oregon protesters ranging from assaulting police to arson and trespassing, a day after the Trump administration expanded the deployment of tactical police to Seattle. - Chicago takes down statues of Columbus, plans review of all monuments
Chicago temporarily removed two statues of Christopher Columbus on Friday and announced it would reassess the appropriateness of all its monuments, a week after protesters had tried to topple one of the statues, leading to a violent clash with police. - Trump signs orders to lower prescription drug prices
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed four executive orders aiming at lowering prices that Americans pay for prescription drugs as he faces an uphill re-election battle and criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. - As U.S. coronavirus surges, Trump officials press back-to-school plan
With just weeks to go before U.S. schools begin to open, federal health and education officials on Friday stressed the need for children to get back into the classroom despite parents’ fears about safety as coronavirus infections surge.
Administration officials said reopening schools was critical for children’s mental and emotional well-being, as well as to allow parents to get back to work to boost the economy, a priority for President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election in November. - The wealthy Republicans who want to oust Trump in November’s election
Jimmy Tosh, who runs a multi-million dollar hog and grain farm in Tennessee, is a lifelong Republican. He is pro-gun, supports lower taxes and agrees with most of Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda. “I agree with 80% of the things he does; I just cannot stand a liar,” Tosh, 70, said of Trump. - Explainer: Why Election Day could be just the start of a long battle over the U.S. presidency
President Donald Trump’s refusal this week to say if he would accept the results of November’s election, and his repeated assertions that the vote will be “rigged” because of mail-in ballots, have raised the specter of a disputed election that could take weeks, or even months, to resolve
- Pompeo Urges More Assertive Approach to “Frankenstein” China
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took fresh aim at China on Thursday and said Washington and its allies must use “more creative and assertive ways” to press the Chinese Communist Party to change its ways, calling it the “mission of our time.” - China Tells U.S. to Close Chengdu Consulate in Retaliatory Move
China has ordered the closure of the US consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu, in a tit-for-tat escalation between the two countries. China said the move was in response to the US closing its consulate in Houston, and accused staff in Chengdu of meddling in its internal affairs.
The US is not a happy place, with no sign of them getting over Covid nor racial and political division any time soon.