Ed. note: The New York Times editor for The Morning newsletter David Leonhardt wrote an instructive piece May 13 on the threat to democracy this country now faces. This quote sums-up the context, “The Republican Party is sliding into authoritarianism at a terrifyingly rapid clip,” Jonathan Chait has written in New York Magazine. “That fate of American democracy is the biggest issue in American politics.” Worth the read, click here

*** SELECT NATIONAL NEWS FRIDAY ***

+ KING-5 TV: Masks and social distancing may still be needed for people with compromised immunity

+ CNBC: CDC cheered and criticized for new mask policy; retail workers don’t want to be vaccine ‘police’

+ Business Insider: Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s are dropping mask requirement for vaccinated people [Kroger’s QFC and Fred Meyer stores still require masks.]

+ Truthout: Pelosi Says Masks to Remain, Since Most GOP Lawmakers Aren’t Vaccinated

+ CNBC: Political ideology is real reason people remain unvaccinated, says Dr. Peter Hotez

+ PolitiFact and The Washington Post: More than 400 people have been charged following the January 6 breach of the US Capitol

+ The Washington Post: This facial recognition website can turn anyone into a cop — or a stalker

*** SELECT TRUMP NEWS FRIDAY ***

The New Yorker’s Jayne Mayer: Can Cyrus Vance, Jr., Nail Trump? Insiders say that the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation has dramatically intensified since the former President left office. “It’s like night and day,” says one. According to another, “They mean business.”

The Wall Street Journal: Trump Considers Contenders to Be His New Social-Media Outlet After Big Tech Crackdown

The Washington Post: The stampede away from the GOP begins

The Daily Kos: Active duty Marine arrested and charged in Jan 6. pro-Trump riot at U.S. Capitol

Rolling Stone: QAnon Followers Think JFK Jr. Is Coming Back on the 4th of July [Ed. note: This is the 2nd coming, the first was predicted for October 2020 just before the election, where JFK, Jr. would re-appear and support Trump’s re-election.]

The Daily Kos: Proud Boys leader to former guy: ‘F*ck you Trump. You left us on the battlefield bloody and alone’

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: Shielding Trump from extradition if he’s indicted is an actual thing people are working on