Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) extended the state's stay-at-home order through June 12, via an executive order on Friday.
Why it matters: Michigan now has a stay-at-home order that is set to outlast all other states, per a New York Times analysis. Nearly every state across the U.S. has taken steps to at least reopen certain regions and industries that are seen as "low-risk" for spreading the virus.
The Health and Human Services inspector general will begin examining how effectively the agency distributed $50 billion to health care providers to weather the coronavirus pandemic, the watchdog said on Friday.
The big picture: This oversight only captures a portion of one piece of the federal aid that hospitals and health care providers are eligible to receive.
President Trump wants to throw open the houses of worship "right now," claiming they are essential services.
What he's saying: “The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now. For this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors," he said during a press conference on Friday.
Jo Rae Perkins, who won Oregon's Republican Senate primary this week, is refuting her own campaign's statement from Wednesday that she does not believe in the QAnon conspiracy theory.
What's new: Perkins reiterated her support for QAnon to ABC News in an interview out Friday. The Senate nominee said she was “literally physically in tears” after reading the campaign statement with her name on it, which claimed she "would never describe herself as a follower."
Joe Biden defended on Friday his ties to the African American community during an interview with Charlamagne tha God on the radio show "The Breakfast Club," saying "you ain't black" if "you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or [President] Trump."
Why it matters: The show has become a popular venue for Democratic candidates to sell their message to black voters during this election cycle, given its young, diverse audience and wide syndication.
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday ordered an internal review of the investigation of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, whether any employees engaged in misconduct during the investigation and if any improvements need to be made.
The big picture: Earlier this month, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the criminal case against Flynn, which is now before a judge. Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI.
President Trump announced Friday that he was declaring churches and places of worship as "essential places that provide essential services," and said that he would override governors to allow them to open "right now."
What he's saying: "Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential, but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It's not right," Trump said from the White House podium.
Joe Biden is facing growing scrutiny over sexual assault allegations made by a former Senate staffer.
The big picture: Business Insider last week published two on-the record corroborations of parts of allegations by Tara Reade, who claims Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993. The former vice president then appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to publicly deny the allegations for the first time.
Douglas Wigdor, whose firm has represented plaintiffs in high-profile discrimination cases, announced Friday that he was no longer representing Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who has accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993.
The state of play: While Wigdor did not provide a reason behind his firm's decision, he did say that the move is "by no means a reflection" on the veracity of her allegations.
The Senate failed millions of small businesses Thursday by ending its week without passing an extension to the number of weeks that PPP loan recipients have to use their funds.
Why it matters: People may lose their jobs while politicians dither.
Joe Biden told Stephen Colbert on CBS' "The Late Show" on Thursday that he still doesn't know who he will pick as his running mate, but acknowledged that a "very invasive process" of vetting is now underway.
The big picture: Biden told Colbert that his campaign already reached out to "a preliminary list of people" — and a team of lawyers will begin examining "every vote they've taken ... everything from their financial statements to their health circumstances."
Some women are eager participants as the coronavirus spurs conversations about politics on video calls with their families and friends. Others are less enthusiastic about the trend.
Here's how women describe their Zoom conversations about politics — and how they're wrestling with what those talks mean for November.
She can't be a soccer mom because soccer's canceled. She's not a conventional security mom since America's biggest threat is now measured in microns. In an election year defined by the coronavirus, the new voter to watch is the Zoom mom.
Why it matters: The presidency may hinge on the women's vote — how many white, suburban women who backed President Trump in 2016 will abandon him now, and how many women of color who stayed home four years ago will turn out for Joe Biden.
Former Vice President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign kicked reporters off the question-and-answer portion a Thursday evening fundraising call after five minutes of opening remarks.
Why it matters: It's an unusual move for Biden's campaign, which has typically been transparent and allowed reporters to cover its fundraising events in their entirety. The campaign indicated that press restrictions would be implemented looking ahead.
