7 Things: Biden wanted Flynn unmasked, COVID-19 lawsuit protection gains steam, no new State House with CARES Act dollars and more …

7. Professor offended by “War Eagle”

Dr. Jesse A. Goldberg, Ph.D. has been hired to be the “Lecturer of African American & American Literature and Composition in the English department at Auburn University,” according to his social media account, and he’s already making waves for saying he won’t say “War Eagle” because it has the word “war” in it.
Goldberg explained that this is just “the kind of language thing that sticks with me.” He describes himself as “radical anti-racist white (Jewish) teacher,” but the official Auburn University responded that Goldberg just needs to “give it some time” and he’ll see what it means.

6. Biden up nationally

Much like 2016, the American media and their Democrats are fixated on national polls that show former Vice President Joe Biden with a clear and decisive lead over President Donald Trump. A new CNN poll shows the lead at 51-46.
But that same poll shows Trump in a good position for his reelection campaign when you break out 15 different swing states. In those states, the president leads his challenger 52-45. Obviously, those states will play a bigger role in deciding the winner of the 2020 election than New York, New Jersey and California will.

5. Americans don’t think more stimulus will fix this

While Democrats insist we create a fifth stimulus program that will total $3 trillion dollars, the American people are finding becoming increasingly wary of the idea that the nation can stay shutdown forever and buy our way out of this. A poll shows 56% of Americans (across all demographics and affiliations) feel this way.
Alabama businesses have received over $1.5 billion in assistance across 30,647 small businesses in the state. Nationally, there has been $189 billion worth of loans paid out of the $310 billion in the program. The average loan size nationally is $73,000.

4. Jones wants everyone to wear a mask

U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) appeared on CNN where he discussed the issue of wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic, and he said that he saw a group of Republicans exit the internal Capitol subway and “not a single one of them or their staffs were wearing masks.” He added that “sends a wrong message.”
Jones went on to say that he wants to see President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence wearing masks “whenever they are out.” Jones even said that while he’s “nervous” about Alabama reopening, he reiterated Governor Kay Ivey’s comments that people need to continue wearing masks and practice social distancing.

3. No, CARES Act funds won’t be used for a new State House

State Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) has put to rest arguments that CARES Act funding provided to Alabama would be used in part to build a new State House, with Marsh’s spokesman Will Califf saying it’s “clear that the funds could not be used to build a new State House.”
Califf also clarified that the list of things that could be paid for with the CARES Act relief funds was “the first draft of potential uses for these funds as a starting point for discussion.”

2. Protecting Alabama businesses from lawsuits

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 20 other attorney generals in sending a letter to the U.S. Congress asking that there be legal protection for businesses from civil lawsuits related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter was written with the premise that the “COVID-19 pandemic is likely to create a surge in civil litigation targeting well-intentioned businesses.” The goal is to ensure that businesses are protected from frivolous lawsuits “while still ensuring victims are able to seek legal redress and compensation where appropriate.”

1. Here’s who wanted to “unmask” Flynn

During the presidential transition period, officials from the Obama administration wanted to “unmask” former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and now the list of those officials has been released.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell declassified the documents, which revealed that former Vice President Joe Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennen, Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper are all included on the list of those who requested to “unmask” Flynn.