The DC: Trump gives WHO 30 days to show independence from China, and... 🔍 Do you support Graham’s probe into the origins of the FBI Russia investigation?

by Causes | 5.20.20

Welcome to Wednesday, May 20th, poets and playwrights...

Trump is giving the WHO 30 days to show its independence from China.

President Donald Trump sent a letter to World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warning that if WHO doesn’t demonstrate its independence from the People’s Republic of China in the next 30 days, the current suspension of U.S. funding to the WHO will become a permanent cut.

The WHO - the United Nations’ lead public health agency - has faced global criticism for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, stemming from its failure to investigate the outbreak during its early stages in Wuhan, China.

“It is clear that the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world," Trump wrote, adding:

"I cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that, in its present state, is so clearly not serving America’s interests.”

Should the U.S. permanently cut funding to the WHO?

For a politics-free guide to how to protect you and your loved ones from corona, click on over to our Coronavirus Info Center.

On the Radar

Graham: 'I Want to Do It Before the Election' 

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says he wants to wrap his committee’s investigation into the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe before November’s election.

"I want to do it before the election — I want to get all the information out there," Graham told reporters on Tuesday.

"I'm trying to explain to the American people what happened in Crossfire Hurricane [the FBI’s codename for the Russia investigation.] I gave Mueller all the space he needed to do his job. He's done his job, we got the Mueller report, we're going to do this by October."

Graham said the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on June 4 to subpoena dozens of Obama and Trump administration officials connected to the FBI investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Do you support Graham’s probe into the origins of the FBI Russia investigation?

Under the Radar

Corruption Pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak poses a greater threat to people living in countries with high levels of corruption as kleptocrats disrupt humanitarian assistance supply chains for their own personal gains.

At a lower level, many local anti-corruption practices - such as procurement processes to ensure fiscal transparency - are being ignored.

Items that are in high demand but short supply are especially vulnerable to corruption. Currently, this includes personal protective equipment, swabs, ventilators, therapeutic medicines, and other COVID-19 related medical equipment.

In March 2020, for example, the IMF held up 5.5 billion dollars in humanitarian funding for Ukraine because the country was unable to meet the required anti corruption-benchmarks.

Read the latest piece from We Hold These Truths, then tell your reps:

Are you concerned COVID-19 may be creating a corruption pandemic?

And, in the End…

On this date in 1932, Amelia Earhart embarked on her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman to accomplish the feat.

Whether you're flying solo or have the co-pilot you always wanted, I hope you're enjoying the trip,

—Josh Herman

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