NEWS: President Biden announces the US, in coordination with the G7 & EU, is revoking PNTR (permanent normal trade relations, aka Most Favored Nation status) for Russia.

The US is also banning the import of key goods from the Russian economy, including seafood, vodka & diamonds Most Favored Nation gives all countries with the status equal trade advantages, such as paying lower tariffs.

By stripping this, tariffs on Russian imports would rise — at a time when Russia’s economy is already in free fall.

NEWS: "We believe that the Russian government is responsible for widespread cyberattacks on Ukrainian banks this week," says Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber Anne Neuberger, citing technical information linking Russia's GRU to the attacks Neuberger said that the US government believes Russian cyber actors have also likely targeted the Ukrainian government, including military and critical infrastructure networks, to collect intelligence and preposition for more disruptive attacks to accompany a potential invasion

President Biden said "I stand squarely behind my decision" to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. He acknowledged the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan “did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated," but that
it reinforced the decision to withdraw now "was the right decision.” President Biden blamed Afghan political leaders like Pres Ghani for fleeing the country and Afghan forces for giving up mostly w/out a fight, saying “American troops cannot and should not be fighting and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.”

Senator Cruz confirms to reporters he'd planned to stay in Cancun through the weekend.

When the power went out at his home & school was canceled, his kids said "let's go somewhere where it's not so cold," so they booked the trip to Cancun.

"It's been a tough week," he said. He claims he started having second thoughts "almost from the moment I sat down on the plane."

He also notes he "saw the initial firestorm" after arriving in Cancun and that, coupled with his "second thoughts," prompted him to change his flight.

Also expected today: an executive order on eliminating the use of private prisons, per a draft schedule viewed by @CBSNews.

In an interview, @RepBonnie, who has introduced legislation on this, called today's expected EO "very good news" and a "good first step."

https://twitter.com/BoKnowsNews/status/1353908311960256516

"We're the most incarcerating country in the world," @RepBonnie told @CBSNews. "But the use of private prisons, I think, is even more of a distasteful issue. Because you've created this industry that needs bodies in order to succeed."

NEW: @CBSNews has obtained several state reports by the WH Coronavirus Task Force, which warn:

"There is now aggressive, unrelenting, expanding broad community spread across the country, reaching most counties, without evidence of improvement but rather, further deterioration." More from the White House Coronavirus Task Force:

"Current mitigation efforts are inadequate and must be increased to flatten the curve to sustain the health system for both COVID and non-COVID emergencies."

NEW: In an interview with @CBSNews, Jerry Falwell Jr. says he resigned Liberty U late last night because the Board put him on leave--which he says they weren't allowed to per his contract--for showing his belly in a picture. He said there is no animosity between him and the Board Falwell told @CBSNews he'd initially had second thoughts about resigning, and had felt it would be a mistake to resign over the "90% false" Reuters article alleging his participation in his wife's affair with a pool attendant.

"I didn't sit and watch anything, that's stupid."

President Trump: "The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA)--and that's such a powerful term--for a treatment known as convalescent plasma."

As @weijia reported last week, Dr. Collins, Dr. Fauci & others at NIH warned FDA Commissioner Hahn against approving the EUA Dr. Hahn on convalescent plasma EUA: "There was a 35% improvement in survival...We're waiting for more data, we're gonna continue to gather data, but this clearly meets the criteria that we've established for emergency use authorization and we're very pleased with these results."

"George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators."--former President Obama in his eulogy for John Lewis Former President Obama: "Even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting....even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots to keep us from getting sick."

DC Nat Guard Major DeMarco testified that 6/1 in Lafayette Park:
-He was "deeply disturbed" by "excessive use of force"
-Protesters were peaceful
-He felt irritation in eyes/nose consistent w/ tear gas;found used canisters
-Protesters didn't seem cognizant of warnings to disperse DeMarco also quoted the late Rep. John Lewis in his testimony that "When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something," and said he felt compelled to speak out about what he witnessed

NEWS: President Trump announces the cancellation of the Jacksonville, FL portion of the Republican National Convention, saying "it's not the right time" for such a large gathering given the ongoing coronavirus spike in Florida The delegates will still gather in Charlotte, NC for the nomination, says President Trump, and they will have telerallies/other virtual events throughout the week.

The President will still deliver a nomination acceptance speech, but "in a different form."

A real change in tone for President Trump here on coronavirus:

"It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better. Something I don't like saying about things but that's the way it is. That's what we have." President Trump: "We're instead asking Americans to use masks, socially distance, and employ vigorous hygiene...We are imploring young Americans to avoid packed bars and other crowded indoor gatherings. Be safe and be smart."

At an infrastructure(!!) event in Atlanta, the President announced an overhaul of the infra approval process, which he says will cut federal permitting timelines for projects down from as many as 20 years to 2 yrs or less. He said Biden wants to increase the permit process length He stressed they still plan to maintain clean air and water. He said the US currently has the cleanest air & water "ever," meaning the past 40 years b/c he doesn't want the media to say "what about 200 yrs ago...when the lake was that beautiful virgin lake nobody every touched?"

Yesterday, WH trade advisor Peter Navarro sent a laundry list of complaints about Dr. Fauci to @PaulaReidCBS. Senior officials--including some on the task force--told @CBSNews that Dr. Fauci has become a "source of controversy" at the WH, "creating headlines that are not helpful"

https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning/status/1282638907587338240

The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has released a statement in support of Dr. Fauci:

"America should be applauding Dr. Fauci for his service and following his advice, not undermining his credibility at this critical time.”

NEW: In a call, VP told Govs we're in a better place than we were 2 months ago, but "that doesn’t minimize any of the developments that we are seeing in southern states," per audio obtained by @CBSNews. Dr. Birx called TX and AZ "significant hotspots." (h/t @jackturmanIII) Dr. Birx noted increasing positivity in NM, and said they're monitoring upticks in OH, Madison, WI, & Knoxville, TN. She warned that mortality could increase "if we don't intervene comprehensively now." She said this wave is different, as many of the cases are people under age 40

The VP responded to @PaulaReidCBS by saying "Freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble is enshrined in the constitution of the United States and even in a health crisis the American people don’t forfeit our constitutional rights."

https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1276582811688931335

The VP also defended the Tulsa rally, saying that almost a week out from the rally, Oklahoma's positivity rate has declined as of today, and said people there are "using common sense" and being "responsible"

This backtrack comes after the President told Axios that he would "maybe think about" meeting with Maduro. The interview raised swift backlash from lawmakers in South Florida.

A former senior official tells @CBSNews the President has mused about meeting with Maduro since 2017

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1275072468709859328

Former official on Trump wanting to Maduro: "It's Florida that's kept him from saying it before and it's Florida that's kept him from acting on it...I don't think he thought through those political implications when he said it." w/ @MelissaQuinn97 @CBSNews cbsnews.com/news/trump-mad…

An extremely Bolton line from the Bolton book, after recounting US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal:

“A lot remained to be done to bring Iran to its knees, or to overthrow the regime, Trump’s stated policy to the contrary notwithstanding, but we were off to a great start.” More tidbits from the Bolton book:

After it leaked to press that WH staffer Kelly Sadler said it didn't matter how McCain would vote on Haspel's CIA nomination because "he's dying anyway," Trump wanted her promoted. "Trump rewarded her with a hug and a kiss" in the Oval Office

NEW: A senior administration official tells @PaulaReidCBS that Secretary Esper’s comments this morning during his presser were not well received inside the WH @CBSNews

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1268185637921964032

Press Sec tells @weijia she's not aware of Secretary Esper having expressed his views about active duty forces to President Trump before his remarks this morning @CBSNews

NEWS: Pres Trump just exited the WH and walked over to St. John’s Church, with AG Barr, Sec Esper, COS Meadows, NSA O’Brien, Ivanka, Jared, Press Sec, and a large security detail.

He held up a Bible and said “We have the greatest country in the world. We’re gonna keep it safe.” Reporters asked the President if he was escalating tensions by using the military, and if he’s prepared to use the military against US citizens. He did not answer.

President Trump calls himself "an ally of all peaceful protesters," saying "we cannot allow righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob." Pres Trump says he told Govs to deploy the National Guard to est an "overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence is quelled."

He warns that if a city/state refuses to take the "necessary action," he'll deploy the US military to "quickly solve the problem for them"