crooksandliars--2020-08-14--The Spread Of ‘Accelerationism’ And Its White-Supremacist Violence Is Now A Global Threat

Of all the radical right ’ s multiple permutations in the era of Donald Trump—Proud Boys , QAnon conspiracy theorists , “ Patriot ” militiamen , and “ Boogaloo Bois ” among them—the most worrisome by far is the spread of white-power “ accelerationism ” : a belief system predicated on the idea that modern human civilization ( and especially its multicultural features ) is a blight , and that the only solution is to encourage its destruction through acts of terroristic violence .
Its followers explicitly embrace violence as the only viable means for change , because they see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That phenomenon—like QAnon—is now spreading globally .
A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center ’ s Jason Wilson explores how a notorious “ accelerationist ” neo-Nazi group called The Base—which has made headlines in the U.S. for various acts of domestic terrorism—has found fresh recruits in both Europe and Australia , including connections to the killer responsible for the March 2019 mosque massacres in Christchurch , New Zealand .
Rinaldo Nazzaro , aka “ Norman Spear , ” the founder and main organizer of The Base—previously exposed by Wilson as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories about creating a white homeland in the Pacific Northwest , but now appears to operate in Russia—has apparently been spreading his toxic ideology abroad as well .
It appears that Nazzaro targeted existing white-nationalist groups overseas for recruitment .
In Australia , the bulk of the recruits came from the ranks of men who were involved in existing far-right groups .
One of these—the Lads Society , cofounded by a longtime anti-Muslim activist named Blair Cottrell and other key figures in the far-right scene—promotes a violent brand of white nationalism that inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tarrant .
The group once invited Tarrant to join them , but he declined ; however , they remained a mutual admiration society , even after the massacres .
Wilson ’ s report illustrates the mindset of the “ accelerationists ” : Tarrant had been a devoted online follower of United Patriots Front ( Cottrell ’ s anti-Muslim group ) , and Cottrell in particular .
When Cottrell and Sewell livestreamed their ecstatic reaction to the election of Donald Trump in November 2016 , Tarrant reportedly wrote a series of comments on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Knocked it out of the park tonight Blair , ” he wrote .
`` Your retorts had me smiling , nodding , cheering and often laughing .
He added , “ Never believed we would have a true leader of the nationalist movement in Australia , and especially not so early in the game ” .
Their private chats indicate members of the Base are gearing up for what they hope will be a civil war or a “ race war ” : “ [ I ] approve of wht [ sic ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes the wound deeper and more real for all involved , ” wrote one online chat participant .
“ They don ’ t deserve to be spared in guerilla [ sic ] attacks.
” However , as Justin Ward observes , “ the main purpose of The Base is to facilitate real-life meet-ups of ‘ action-oriented ’ white nationalists to build interpersonal ties as the basis for future organized armed struggle .
The network holds regional ‘ activity contests ’ where members are encouraged to go out in the woods and practice survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Base first attracted notice in 2019 when Nazzaro purchased a plot of forested land in a remote corner of northeastern Washington state and began holding paramilitary training exercises .
Shortly afterward , its first involvement in domestic terrorism was manifested when a member from New Jersey was charged in a series of synagogue vandalisms in Michigan and Wisconsin , having traveled hundreds of miles to strike his targets .
Accelerationists , as SPLC analyst Cassie Miller explains , reject “ political solutions ” as inadequate to dealing with the threat of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hysterically fallacious belief that “ white culture ” faces an existential threat from multiculturalism and a demographic tide of nonwhite people : “ the accelerationist set sees modern society as irredeemable and believe it should be pushed to collapse so a fascist society built on ethnonationalism can take its place.
” Base leader Rinaldo Nazarro , when explaining why he had chosen to devote himself to “ system collapse ” rather than mass-movement or electoral politics on a December 2017 podcast , likewise cited demographics : “ As time goes on , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps getting ramped up on whites cause that ’ s not gon na end .
… Like , look , there ’ s no turning back the clock .
Our numbers are just not gon na increase from here.
” With a shrinking white political bloc , Nazarro and many others contend , why pursue electoral strategies ?
Among a growing segment of the white power movement , there is a pervasive sense that they are out of time and out of institutional or political remedies .
Violence culminating in genocide is its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to downplay its embrace of violence when first recruiting young followers .
As Miller observes , however , “ there is no moderate , non-violent version of white nationalism .
The “ optics debate ” was never just a discussion of strategy , but an attempt to distract from the fact that everyone who embraces white nationalism also—transparently or not—necessarily accepts violence as a political tool.
” The spread of this view globally will have consequences well beyond the United States—and stopping it will entail reforms in what kind of material social-media platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observes : The Base ’ s success in drawing on members of existing local groups , such as the Lads Society , shows how groups seeking to export accelerationist ideology can exploit existing networks of young men who have already commenced down the path of radicalization .
They are also aided by their use of information and communication technologies , including encrypted messaging platforms , which allow them to build global networks , away ( or so they think ) from the prying eyes of law enforcement and antiracist activists .

Of all the radical right’s multiple permutations in the era of Donald Trump—Proud Boys, QAnon conspiracy theorists, “Patriot” militiamen, and “Boogaloo Bois” among them—the most worrisome by far is the spread of white-power “accelerationism”: a belief system predicated on the idea that modern human civilization (and especially its multicultural features) is a blight, and that the only solution is to encourage its destruction through acts of terroristic violence. Its followers explicitly embrace violence as the only viable means for change, because they see politics as a waste of time.
That phenomenon—like QAnon—is now spreading globally. A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Jason Wilson explores how a notorious “accelerationist” neo-Nazi group called The Base—which has made headlines in the U.S. for various acts of domestic terrorism—has found fresh recruits in both Europe and Australia, including connections to the killer responsible for the March 2019 mosque massacres in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rinaldo Nazzaro, aka “Norman Spear,” the founder and main organizer of The Base—previously exposed by Wilson as a New Jersey man who stewed in neo-Nazi theories about creating a white homeland in the Pacific Northwest, but now appears to operate in Russia—has apparently been spreading his toxic ideology abroad as well.
It appears that Nazzaro targeted existing white-nationalist groups overseas for recruitment. In Australia, the bulk of the recruits came from the ranks of men who were involved in existing far-right groups. One of these—the Lads Society, cofounded by a longtime anti-Muslim activist named Blair Cottrell and other key figures in the far-right scene—promotes a violent brand of white nationalism that inspired, among others, Christchurch killer Brenton Tarrant. The group once invited Tarrant to join them, but he declined; however, they remained a mutual admiration society, even after the massacres.
Wilson’s report illustrates the mindset of the “accelerationists”:
Tarrant had been a devoted online follower of United Patriots Front (Cottrell’s anti-Muslim group), and Cottrell in particular. When Cottrell and Sewell livestreamed their ecstatic reaction to the election of Donald Trump in November 2016, Tarrant reportedly wrote a series of comments on the group’s Facebook wall. “Knocked it out of the park tonight Blair,” he wrote. "Your retorts had me smiling, nodding, cheering and often laughing. He added, “Never believed we would have a true leader of the nationalist movement in Australia, and especially not so early in the game”.
Their private chats indicate members of the Base are gearing up for what they hope will be a civil war or a “race war”: “[I] approve of wht [sic] McVeigh did. Killing innocent children only makes the wound deeper and more real for all involved,” wrote one online chat participant. “They don’t deserve to be spared in guerilla [sic] attacks.”
However, as Justin Ward observes, “the main purpose of The Base is to facilitate real-life meet-ups of ‘action-oriented’ white nationalists to build interpersonal ties as the basis for future organized armed struggle. The network holds regional ‘activity contests’ where members are encouraged to go out in the woods and practice survival skills or engage in arms training.”
The Base first attracted notice in 2019 when Nazzaro purchased a plot of forested land in a remote corner of northeastern Washington state and began holding paramilitary training exercises. Shortly afterward, its first involvement in domestic terrorism was manifested when a member from New Jersey was charged in a series of synagogue vandalisms in Michigan and Wisconsin, having traveled hundreds of miles to strike his targets.
Accelerationists, as SPLC analyst Cassie Miller explains, reject “political solutions” as inadequate to dealing with the threat of what they call “white genocide”—the hysterically fallacious belief that “white culture” faces an existential threat from multiculturalism and a demographic tide of nonwhite people: “the accelerationist set sees modern society as irredeemable and believe it should be pushed to collapse so a fascist society built on ethnonationalism can take its place.”
Base leader Rinaldo Nazarro, when explaining why he had chosen to devote himself to “system collapse” rather than mass-movement or electoral politics on a December 2017 podcast, likewise cited demographics: “As time goes on, our numbers continue to dwindle, the pressure keeps getting ramped up on whites cause that’s not gonna end. … Like, look, there’s no turning back the clock. Our numbers are just not gonna increase from here.” With a shrinking white political bloc, Nazarro and many others contend, why pursue electoral strategies? Among a growing segment of the white power movement, there is a pervasive sense that they are out of time and out of institutional or political remedies.
Violence culminating in genocide is its ultimate agenda, though it may seek to downplay its embrace of violence when first recruiting young followers. As Miller observes, however, “there is no moderate, non-violent version of white nationalism. The “optics debate” was never just a discussion of strategy, but an attempt to distract from the fact that everyone who embraces white nationalism also—transparently or not—necessarily accepts violence as a political tool.”
The spread of this view globally will have consequences well beyond the United States—and stopping it will entail reforms in what kind of material social-media platforms continue to enable. As Jason Wilson observes:
The Base’s success in drawing on members of existing local groups, such as the Lads Society, shows how groups seeking to export accelerationist ideology can exploit existing networks of young men who have already commenced down the path of radicalization. They are also aided by their use of information and communication technologies, including encrypted messaging platforms, which allow them to build global networks, away (or so they think) from the prying eyes of law enforcement and antiracist activists.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Donnie And Melania Request Mail-in Ballots In Florida

Now we know why Donald Trump said that Florida 's mail-in voting is 'beautiful ' while continually attacking the entire concept of absentee voting for the rest of us .
On Thursday , Trump repeated his ignorant but very calculated propaganda about mail-in voting during an unprecidented pandemic .
Trump claimed with no proof that mail-in voting would lead to “ the greatest rigged election in history ” and “ the greatest fraud ever perpetrated . ''
Obviously this is a lie and a big one .
He 's trying to defund the USPS to help his re-election plans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression has been the # 1 voting model by Republicans for decades .
Trump has been claiming that absentee ballots are fine , but a form of `` universal ballots '' can be rigged by anybody .
However , election experts recently told The Washington Post that there is `` no real distinction between absentee ballots and voting by mail .
The fact that the terms are often used interchangeably has confused some Republican voters — a concern for party leaders worried about low turnout this fall . ''
Trump 's claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his hand-picked , newly-appointed judges is demanding to see proof that there is voter fraud in Pennsylvania .
A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump gave the president ’ s campaign one day to turn over evidence to support its claims of widespread mail-in voting fraud or admit that it doesn ’ t exist .
The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee sued Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and local election boards on June 29 over their plan for mail-in balloting for the November 3 elections .

Now we know why Donald Trump said that Florida's mail-in voting is 'beautiful' while continually attacking the entire concept of absentee voting for the rest of us.
President Trump, whose campaign has tried to thwart mail-in voting, has requested an absentee ballot that will allow him to cast a Florida primary ballot via the U.S. Postal Service. https://t.co/TbumEoLW9Z — NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2020
On Thursday, Trump repeated his ignorant but very calculated propaganda about mail-in voting during an unprecidented pandemic.
Trump claimed with no proof that mail-in voting would lead to “the greatest rigged election in history” and “the greatest fraud ever perpetrated."
Obviously this is a lie and a big one. He's trying to defund the USPS to help his re-election plans. This is not exactly new. Voter suppression has been the #1 voting model by Republicans for decades.
Trump has been claiming that absentee ballots are fine, but a form of "universal ballots" can be rigged by anybody.
However, election experts recently told The Washington Post that there is "no real distinction between absentee ballots and voting by mail. The fact that the terms are often used interchangeably has confused some Republican voters — a concern for party leaders worried about low turnout this fall."
Trump's claims of voter fraud is so ludicrous that one of his hand-picked, newly-appointed judges is demanding to see proof that there is voter fraud in Pennsylvania.
A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump gave the president’s campaign one day to turn over evidence to support its claims of widespread mail-in voting fraud or admit that it doesn’t exist. The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee sued Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and local election boards on June 29 over their plan for mail-in balloting for the November 3 elections.


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell Lets GOP Senate Take A Month's Vacation

Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the U.S. Senate for the rest of August on Thursday after failing to come anywhere close to approving another Covid-19 relief package , leaving tens of millions of out-of-work , hungry , and eviction-prone Americans without additional financial aid as the pandemic and economic crisis continue with no end in sight .
`` During the worst economic crisis since the 1930s , Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans think they can take a long vacation while millions of Americans face hunger and eviction .
That is morally obscene , '' Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
`` It 's time for the do-nothing Republican Senate to finally do its damn job . ''
The departure of the Republican-controlled Senate comes after an attempt to revive Covid-19 relief talks earlier this week quickly failed as Democratic leaders and Trump administration officials remained far apart on key issues , from emergency funding for the U.S .
Postal Service to aid to faltering state and local governments .
In her weekly press conference Thursday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said White House negotiators refused to budge from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not expected to return until September 8 , when economic conditions are likely to be even more dire for the 40 million people at risk of eviction , 30 million facing drastic income cuts due to the lapse in enhanced unemployment benefits , and 14 million households with children that do n't have enough to eat .
`` This is pathetic and devastating , '' consumer advocacy group Public Citizen tweeted after McConnell adjourned the upper chamber until after Labor Day .
Just before skipping town , the Kentucky Republican advanced five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judicial nominees .
Earlier Thursday , the Labor Department reported ( pdf ) that 963,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week—a figure that corporate news outlets presented as the first time since March that initial weekly jobless claims dipped below a million .
But Julia Wolfe , state economic analyst at the Economic Policy Institute , wrote in a blog post Thursday that the Labor Department 's report downplays the number of workers who filed for unemployment benefits last week .
The actual figure , according to Wolfe , is 1.3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to claim UI , and we are still 12.9 million jobs short of February employment levels , '' Wolfe wrote .
`` And yet , Senate Republicans allowed the across-the-board $ 600 increase in weekly UI benefits—the most effective economic policy crisis response so far—to expire . ''
`` In an unserious move of political theater , the Trump administration has proposed starting up an entirely new system of restoring wages to laid-off workers through executive order ( EO ) , '' Wolfe continued .
`` But even in their EO wishlist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal contribution to enhanced unemployment benefits in half , to $ 300 .
This inaction and ongoing uncertainty is causing significant economic pain for workers who have lost their job during the pandemic and their families . ''
With tens of millions of low-income and middle-class Americans facing financial ruin as the White House and congressional Republicans stonewall an additional relief package , the Washington Post 's Heather Long reported Thursday that the coronavirus-induced recession `` is over for the rich . ''
`` U.S. stocks are hovering near a record high , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new phase the economy has entered : The wealthy have mostly recovered .
The bottom half remain far from it , '' Long wrote .
`` This dichotomy is evident in many facets of the economy , especially in employment .
Jobs are fully back for the highest wage earners , but fewer than half the jobs lost this spring have returned for those making less than $ 20 an hour . ''
In a statement Thursday , Kyle Herrig , president of advocacy group Accountable.US , slammed the Republican-controlled Senate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington for a month without making a new deal to assist American workers and small business owners . ''
`` The luxuries of paid time off and premium health insurance afforded to senators is of little help to the millions of Americans who lost their jobs during this crisis , '' said Herrig .
`` Where is the urgency to get workers and their families the help they need ? ''
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) , one of the architects of the now-expired $ 600-per-week unemployment insurance boost , tweeted : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal an election .
Almost 30 million are on unemployment and 160,000 Americans are dead .
McConnell just adjourned the Senate for a month . ''
`` Every time I think Republicans ca n't run this country any further into the ground , '' Wyden wrote , `` they prove me wrong . ''

Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the U.S. Senate for the rest of August on Thursday after failing to come anywhere close to approving another Covid-19 relief package, leaving tens of millions of out-of-work, hungry, and eviction-prone Americans without additional financial aid as the pandemic and economic crisis continue with no end in sight.
"During the worst economic crisis since the 1930s, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans think they can take a long vacation while millions of Americans face hunger and eviction. That is morally obscene," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in response to McConnell's decision. "It's time for the do-nothing Republican Senate to finally do its damn job."
The departure of the Republican-controlled Senate comes after an attempt to revive Covid-19 relief talks earlier this week quickly failed as Democratic leaders and Trump administration officials remained far apart on key issues, from emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service to aid to faltering state and local governments. In her weekly press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said White House negotiators refused to budge from their insufficient relief offers.
The Senate is not expected to return until September 8, when economic conditions are likely to be even more dire for the 40 million people at risk of eviction, 30 million facing drastic income cuts due to the lapse in enhanced unemployment benefits, and 14 million households with children that don't have enough to eat.
"This is pathetic and devastating," consumer advocacy group Public Citizen tweeted after McConnell adjourned the upper chamber until after Labor Day. Just before skipping town, the Kentucky Republican advanced five more of President Donald Trump's right-wing judicial nominees.
Senate adjourned until 9/8, but not before @senatemajldr moved forward on 5 more of Trump’s judicial nominees. It’s shameful that McConnell is focused on stacking the courts instead of saving USPS, funding elections, and extending census deadlines. Our democracy deserves better. https://t.co/cR6tr664i5 — Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) August 13, 2020
Earlier Thursday, the Labor Department reported (pdf) that 963,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week—a figure that corporate news outlets presented as the first time since March that initial weekly jobless claims dipped below a million.
But Julia Wolfe, state economic analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, wrote in a blog post Thursday that the Labor Department's report downplays the number of workers who filed for unemployment benefits last week. The actual figure, according to Wolfe, is 1.3 million.
"Astonishingly high numbers of workers continue to claim UI, and we are still 12.9 million jobs short of February employment levels," Wolfe wrote. "And yet, Senate Republicans allowed the across-the-board $600 increase in weekly UI benefits—the most effective economic policy crisis response so far—to expire."
"In an unserious move of political theater, the Trump administration has proposed starting up an entirely new system of restoring wages to laid-off workers through executive order (EO)," Wolfe continued. "But even in their EO wishlist, the Trump administration would slash the federal contribution to enhanced unemployment benefits in half, to $300. This inaction and ongoing uncertainty is causing significant economic pain for workers who have lost their job during the pandemic and their families."
With tens of millions of low-income and middle-class Americans facing financial ruin as the White House and congressional Republicans stonewall an additional relief package, the Washington Post's Heather Long reported Thursday that the coronavirus-induced recession "is over for the rich."
"U.S. stocks are hovering near a record high, a stunning comeback since March that underscores the new phase the economy has entered: The wealthy have mostly recovered. The bottom half remain far from it," Long wrote. "This dichotomy is evident in many facets of the economy, especially in employment. Jobs are fully back for the highest wage earners, but fewer than half the jobs lost this spring have returned for those making less than $20 an hour."
NEW: The recession is largely over for the rich. The working class remain in deep pain. -Stocks r near record highs
-Home values at all-time highs
-Jobs r back for affluent Meanwhile...
-Jobs less than 1/2 recovered for low-wage workers
-$600 UI expired https://t.co/csGZqYefLN pic.twitter.com/c88yBcCeVo — Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) August 13, 2020
In a statement Thursday, Kyle Herrig, president of advocacy group Accountable.US, slammed the Republican-controlled Senate for opting to "pack up and leave Washington for a month without making a new deal to assist American workers and small business owners."
"The luxuries of paid time off and premium health insurance afforded to senators is of little help to the millions of Americans who lost their jobs during this crisis," said Herrig. "Where is the urgency to get workers and their families the help they need?"
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), one of the architects of the now-expired $600-per-week unemployment insurance boost, tweeted: "Donald Trump is suppressing votes to steal an election. Almost 30 million are on unemployment and 160,000 Americans are dead. McConnell just adjourned the Senate for a month."
"Every time I think Republicans can't run this country any further into the ground," Wyden wrote, "they prove me wrong."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Barack Obama Defends USPS; Attacks 'Administration' For 'Suppressing The Vote'

In normal times , a former president does not criticize a sitting president .
These are not normal times .
@ @ @ @ @ Obama does not mention Donald Trump by name because he does n't have to .
@ @ @ @ @ .
Seniors for their Social Security , veterans for their prescriptions , small businesses trying @ @ @ @ @ .
They ca n't be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the @ @ @ @ @ .
I talked to @ davidplouffe about these attempts to undermine the election , what @ @ @ @ @ now , and why we have to do everything we can to elect @ JoeBiden @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/9bqgWVUncE If you 're in a state where you have the option to vote @ @ @ @ @ .
The more votes in early , the less likely you 're going to see @ @ @ @ @ both at polling places and in states where mail-in ballots are permitted .
Then tell @ @ @ @

In normal times, a former president does not criticize a sitting president. These are not normal times.
And of course, Barack Obama does not mention Donald Trump by name because he doesn't have to.
Everyone depends on the USPS. Seniors for their Social Security, veterans for their prescriptions, small businesses trying to keep their doors open. They can't be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 14, 2020
I talked to @davidplouffe about these attempts to undermine the election, what’s at stake right now, and why we have to do everything we can to elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. https://t.co/9bqgWVUncE — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 14, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Friday News Dump: Michael Cohen Knows Where The Bodies Are Buried, And Other News

.
@ NatashaBertrand on Michael Cohen 's book : “ It ’ s pretty remarkable how much the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ book to come out , to the point that a judge last month said this @ @ @ @ @ never seen in my two decades of being on the bench.
” https : //t.co/m9IqGMJ35P @ @ @ @ @ Hayes ( @ allinwithchris ) August 14 , 2020

.@NatashaBertrand on Michael Cohen's book: “It’s pretty remarkable how much the Trump administration doesn’t want this book to come out, to the point that a judge last month said this is something I’ve never seen in my two decades of being on the bench.” https://t.co/m9IqGMJ35P
— All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) August 14, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Susan Collins Expresses 'Concerns' Over Delays In Mail Delivery

Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) is at it again , writing her not so sternly-worded letters of 'concern ' over Trump 's criminal behavior .
The internet let her have it .
Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) called on the postmaster general Thursday to address `` delays in mail delivery '' that have been reported following the Trump administration 's efforts to change some operational procedures at the U.S .
Postal Service .
In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , the senator wrote that though she supports returning the Postal Service to a financially stable path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expense of Americans .
`` I write to request that you promptly address the delays in mail delivery that have occurred following recent operational changes at the United States Postal Service ( USPS ) , '' wrote Collins .
`` I have talked to postal employees and received calls from my constituents in Maine who expressed concern regarding the delays in delivery of critically needed mail , including prescriptions . ''
`` I share the goal of putting the USPS back on a financially sustainable path , '' she added .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved by shortchanging service to the public . ''

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is at it again, writing her not so sternly-worded letters of 'concern' over Trump's criminal behavior. The internet let her have it.
Source: MSN
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called on the postmaster general Thursday to address "delays in mail delivery" that have been reported following the Trump administration's efforts to change some operational procedures at the U.S. Postal Service.
In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the senator wrote that though she supports returning the Postal Service to a financially stable path, it cannot be done at the expense of Americans.
"I write to request that you promptly address the delays in mail delivery that have occurred following recent operational changes at the United States Postal Service (USPS)," wrote Collins. "I have talked to postal employees and received calls from my constituents in Maine who expressed concern regarding the delays in delivery of critically needed mail, including prescriptions."
"I share the goal of putting the USPS back on a financially sustainable path," she added. "However, this goal cannot be achieved by shortchanging service to the public."


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Now They're Illegally Taking The Mailboxes Away In Oregon

The USPS is literally backing up trucks to mailboxes and taking them away .
Here are photos of mailboxes being @ @ @ @ @ Portland and Eugene , Ore .
Check out how many are already on the trucks @ @ @ @ @ is probably going to be about `` golden showers '' instead .
pic.twitter.com/qROzgpZS0P

The USPS is literally backing up trucks to mailboxes and taking them away. Here are photos of mailboxes being “decommissioned” in SE Portland and Eugene, Ore. Check out how many are already on the trucks! But today's news is probably going to be about "golden showers" instead. pic.twitter.com/qROzgpZS0P
— Janet Harris, M.P.Aff. (@ThinkUpstream) August 13, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-14--Mika Brzezinski Goes Off On Extended Rant, Calls Trump 'Pathetic'

Mika Brzezinski was just disgusted , listening to Trump accuse Joe Biden of playing politics over coronavirus .
`` The president just lied four times in a row .
And I just cut it short because we do n't need to hear him lying .
He says Joe Biden has been wrong every step of the way , '' she said .
She pointed out that Biden wrote an op-ed warning that a pandemic was coming back in January , one that spelled out everything Trump needed to do .
`` Was he wrong or were you wrong when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over the place saying if you want a test , you can test a test -- when no one could get a test ?
Or maybe were you wrong when you said it would go away miraculously ?
Maybe , were you wrong , when you said it was one person coming from China ?
Maybe , were you wrong when you said perhaps you do n't want to use the Defense Production Act to mobilize a nationalized response to testing and contact tracing ?
Like other countries have done and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you might be keeping the testing numbers down , by slowing down testing , which is just utter stupidity , talk about ditzy , talk about a ditzy , stupid , botched response to a pandemic that is killing tens of thousands of people , over 160,000 right now , this is on you .
Many of those deaths , Mr. President , are on you and your terrible response to this virus .
Obvious terrible response .
You ca n't even show leadership on masks . ''
She said there 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this than Trump .
`` Look at the facts .
Look at the numbers .
Look at the record-breaking deaths .
Families losing people by the day .
Mothers , fathers , sisters , brothers , and yes , yes , President Trump , little children actually die from the coronavirus .
She said no one who has been more wrong than him , `` and you 're the president of the United States . ''
`` And your botched response to this is leading to you losing so badly that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grader looking at the paper next to him during a test .
You tell everyone you 're going to mess up this election , undermine the post office so that the ballots ca n't be counted so that the election ca n't be -- you are pathetic at this point .
and every network that shows his lies every day , please do it , because every day this president looks more ridiculous . ''

Mika Brzezinski was just disgusted, listening to Trump accuse Joe Biden of playing politics over coronavirus.
"The president just lied four times in a row. And I just cut it short because we don't need to hear him lying. He says Joe Biden has been wrong every step of the way," she said.
She pointed out that Biden wrote an op-ed warning that a pandemic was coming back in January, one that spelled out everything Trump needed to do.
"Was he wrong or were you wrong when you went to the CDC spewing your germs all over the place saying if you want a test, you can test a test -- when no one could get a test? Or maybe were you wrong when you said it would go away miraculously? Maybe, were you wrong, when you said it was one person coming from China? Maybe, were you wrong when you said perhaps you don't want to use the Defense Production Act to mobilize a nationalized response to testing and contact tracing? Like other countries have done and their numbers are gone down.
And while you might be keeping the testing numbers down, by slowing down testing, which is just utter stupidity, talk about ditzy, talk about a ditzy, stupid, botched response to a pandemic that is killing tens of thousands of people, over 160,000 right now, this is on you. Many of those deaths, Mr. President, are on you and your terrible response to this virus. Obvious terrible response. You can't even show leadership on masks."
She said there's "nobody' who has been more wrong about this than Trump.
"Look at the facts. Look at the numbers. Look at the record-breaking deaths. Families losing people by the day. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and yes, yes, President Trump, little children actually die from the coronavirus.
She said no one who has been more wrong than him, "and you're the president of the United States."
"And your botched response to this is leading to you losing so badly that you pathetically have to cheat like a sixth grader looking at the paper next to him during a test. You tell everyone you're going to mess up this election, undermine the post office so that the ballots can't be counted so that the election can't be -- you are pathetic at this point. and every network that shows his lies every day, please do it, because every day this president looks more ridiculous."


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--Americans Are Going Hungry While McConnell Vacations And Trump Golfs

On AM Joy this morning , host Tiffany Cross highlighted the shocking number of Americans in food lines while Trump golfs and Sen. Mitch McConnell stays on vacation .
She showed B-roll footage of a heartbreakingly long line of cars she saw at a Silver Spring , Maryland food bank .
“ 37 million Americans were estimated to be food insecure in 2019 , ” Cross said .
“ That was precoronavirus .
What we ’ re seeing now , it ’ s just , it ’ s incomprehensible.
” Cross asked guest Joel Berg , CEO of Hunger Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope or help to the millions of suffering Americans .
Berg recommended people apply for food stamps ( SNAP ) and WIC benefits which , he said , “ dwarf the charities.
” But Berg also stressed the need for a people ’ s movement to demand the Senate pass the relief package known as the Heroes Act .
BERG : We can offer the hope that a people 's movement will push the Republican senate to pass the Heroes Act , which passed with very significant food aid , through the Democratic-controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know Silver Spring , Maryland well .
It 's a suburb of Washington , D.C .
I lived there for a decade in the '90s and Montgomery County , where it 's located , is really a microcosm of the United States .
In some respects , it 's one of the wealthiest counties in the United States .
It has very wealthy communities , like Potomac , Maryland .
But Silver Spring , even before this crisis , had a lot of working-poor people who just did n't earn enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has skyrocketed with schools being closed and no more school meals , senior centers being closed , with no more senior-center meals , a huge spike in unemployment .
And so while Mitch McConnell has taken a vacation and while the president has gone on repeated golfing trips , hunger does n't take a vacation .
Hunger does n't take golf trips .
And while we want to press the Democrats to come through on this and really be forceful , and I watched your previous segment very carefully and know that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of color , who are struggling against poverty , but also white working-class people in swing states who are among the poorest people in America in swing states .
… This act that passed the House would provide $ 133 million in food aid to Kentucky and over $ 700 million of food aid to Florida .
So people should stand up , push their senators , their Republican senators to pass this food aid .
They can contact organizations like ours at Hunger Free America , hungerfreeamerica.org .
… We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get help .

On AM Joy this morning, host Tiffany Cross highlighted the shocking number of Americans in food lines while Trump golfs and Sen. Mitch McConnell stays on vacation. She showed B-roll footage of a heartbreakingly long line of cars she saw at a Silver Spring, Maryland food bank.
“37 million Americans were estimated to be food insecure in 2019,” Cross said. “That was precoronavirus. What we’re seeing now, it’s just, it’s incomprehensible.”
Cross asked guest Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, if he could offer any hope or help to the millions of suffering Americans. Berg recommended people apply for food stamps (SNAP) and WIC benefits which, he said, “dwarf the charities.”
But Berg also stressed the need for a people’s movement to demand the Senate pass the relief package known as the Heroes Act.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--GOP Will 'Own This Outrage' If They Don't Stand Up To Trump On Killing The Post Office

During a panel discussion on MSNBC 's Deadline : White House this Friday , Real Clear Politics editor A.B .
Stoddard had a warning for all of the Republican lawmakers who have remained silent on Trump 's overt destruction of the United States Postal Service , and the real harm it 's doing to the only constituents that any of them seem to care about : stay silent on this , and you 're going to own the well deserved outrage from your voters .
Sen. Susan Collins and a handful of other Republicans have finally expressed some `` concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service that is holding up everything from prescriptions to Social Security checks to utility bills .
Democrats have demanded answers on the mail slowdown from Trump 's lackey Postmaster Louis DeJoy , only to be stymied with DeJoy repeatedly refusing to honor their requests .
Apparently , most Republicans still believe any short term pain is worth the long term gain , but Stoddard called it a `` boneheaded '' political move as well , and I tend to agree with her .
MENENDEZ : A.B.
, to Donna 's point , take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post .
Postal Service warning 46 states their voters could be disenfranchised by delay in mail-in ballots .
I mean , how do you keep the public confidence when you see headlines like that , and is shaking their confidence in fact , part of the chaos that this administration is trying to sow .
STODDARD : Right , well I think Democrats are going to be very clear about messaging on this – how their voters need to find out about voting , whether it 's requesting an absentee ballot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are in shorter lines and safer from the fear of infection than they would be on election day , that everyone needs to take care of their vote plan now .
What 's interesting about how early this has happened , when we woke up this morning , we had all only seen one account of state being warned that they were n't going to be able to have their ballots processed .
That was Pennsylvania , and now , in the afternoon , it 's 46 .
We 're halfway through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to think he has snuck up with this plan on the American people .
No .
People in every community in this country are already noticing that their mail is slow .
The veterans , who have representatives , unlike civilian seniors and sick people , have already reported their medication delays are two and three and four and five times what they used to be .
These things will be felt and noticed across not only the country , but the Trump coalition .
People in rural communities , seniors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's so politically boneheaded .
It 's amazing to me that Republicans have stood by in silence .
I want to give credit to Senators Daines and Murkowski and Blunt and Collins who have come out against this and said this is a huge problem because they represent rural communities that are gong to suffer .
But if the other Republicans ca n't stand up and see how completely stupid this is , that they 'll have to own this outrage if they do n't stand up to the president who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every voter in their communities and their districts are going to feel this .
It 's going to wreck the economy more .
It 's going to make people sicker and it 's going to be a huge scandal for anyone standing for election this fall .

During a panel discussion on MSNBC's Deadline: White House this Friday, Real Clear Politics editor A.B. Stoddard had a warning for all of the Republican lawmakers who have remained silent on Trump's overt destruction of the United States Postal Service, and the real harm it's doing to the only constituents that any of them seem to care about: stay silent on this, and you're going to own the well deserved outrage from your voters.
Sen. Susan Collins and a handful of other Republicans have finally expressed some "concern" over the deadly delays to mail service that is holding up everything from prescriptions to Social Security checks to utility bills. Democrats have demanded answers on the mail slowdown from Trump's lackey Postmaster Louis DeJoy, only to be stymied with DeJoy repeatedly refusing to honor their requests.
Apparently, most Republicans still believe any short term pain is worth the long term gain, but Stoddard called it a "boneheaded" political move as well, and I tend to agree with her.
MENENDEZ: A.B., to Donna's point, take a look at this headline from The Washington Post. Postal Service warning 46 states their voters could be disenfranchised by delay in mail-in ballots. I mean, how do you keep the public confidence when you see headlines like that, and is shaking their confidence in fact, part of the chaos that this administration is trying to sow.
STODDARD: Right, well I think Democrats are going to be very clear about messaging on this – how their voters need to find out about voting, whether it's requesting an absentee ballot, going to an early voting location so they are in shorter lines and safer from the fear of infection than they would be on election day, that everyone needs to take care of their vote plan now.
What's interesting about how early this has happened, when we woke up this morning, we had all only seen one account of state being warned that they weren't going to be able to have their ballots processed. That was Pennsylvania, and now, in the afternoon, it's 46. We're halfway through August.
The administration, the president seems to think he has snuck up with this plan on the American people. No. People in every community in this country are already noticing that their mail is slow. The veterans, who have representatives, unlike civilian seniors and sick people, have already reported their medication delays are two and three and four and five times what they used to be.
These things will be felt and noticed across not only the country, but the Trump coalition. People in rural communities, seniors, veterans. This is not only cruel, it's so politically boneheaded. It's amazing to me that Republicans have stood by in silence.
I want to give credit to Senators Daines and Murkowski and Blunt and Collins who have come out against this and said this is a huge problem because they represent rural communities that are gong to suffer. But if the other Republicans can't stand up and see how completely stupid this is, that they'll have to own this outrage if they don't stand up to the president who is trying to break the Post Office, every voter in their communities and their districts are going to feel this. It's going to wreck the economy more. It's going to make people sicker and it's going to be a huge scandal for anyone standing for election this fall.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--Sen. Manchin Promises ‘One Heck Of A Fight’ To Save The Postal Service

Manchin is no leader of the Trump Resistance .
But he sounded pretty darned riled up on MTP Daily yesterday about Trump ’ s attempt to steal the election both with his refusal to properly fund the Postal Service and by having his unqualified crony postmaster general destroy it .
MANCHIN : [ The post office ] is a lifeline to many West Virginians and it ’ s something we have an affection for because a lot of people get their necessities – whether it be their healthcare , whether it be , basically , their medicine , whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And a lot of areas in rural America and rural West Virginia do not have good connectivity so broadband , high speed , all that ’ s not available .
That 's the only lifeline they have .
And if they think they 're going to discredit it and turn it over to the private sector , it ’ s gon na be one heck of a fight from me and many other Democrats and Republicans .
I just wish my Republican colleagues would speak up .
They ’ re having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Todd asked if Manchin has “ any confidence ” in Postmaster General Louis DeJoy .
MANCHIN : Not at all , Chuck , not at all , no .
No .
No .
… He should n't even be there to begin with and any way you can get rid of him , please do so .
He won ’ t even talk to us , Chuck .
… I understand he 's not talking to anybody .
The answer we got from one of his top people was , well , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress , probably until September or whenever , when he figures out how to run his post office .
He 's going to destroy it before he figures out how to run it and we ’ re not gon na let that happen .
What Manchin worries about , he said , is the postal service losing the confidence and support of the public .
If that occurs , “ I guarantee you we 'll lose our Postal Service as we know it and i 'm not going to let that happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as fed up with Trump .
MANCHIN : If this is the intent of the president , to basically have a scenario and the theories that he comes up with continuously , and you know , I 've tried to work with the president .
I 've always -- whoever my president is , I want my president to succeed .
But Chuck , I 've given it my best shot , I really have .
And I ’ m gon na continue to try , but this is wrong .
… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a scapegoat if the election does n't go his way .
This is not what the Postal Service is about .
This is not what they 're trained to do and it 's not the lifeline that they provide for so many people .
We can not let this be -- you know , to be used in this way , it 's just so callous .
And the people that depend on it so much , it 's unbelievable .
And the people who are working , the carriers , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be caught up in a political fight .

Manchin is no leader of the Trump Resistance. But he sounded pretty darned riled up on MTP Daily yesterday about Trump’s attempt to steal the election both with his refusal to properly fund the Postal Service and by having his unqualified crony postmaster general destroy it.
MANCHIN: [The post office] is a lifeline to many West Virginians and it’s something we have an affection for because a lot of people get their necessities – whether it be their healthcare, whether it be, basically, their medicine, whether it would be their checks, their lifeline. And a lot of areas in rural America and rural West Virginia do not have good connectivity so broadband, high speed, all that’s not available. That's the only lifeline they have. And if they think they're going to discredit it and turn it over to the private sector, it’s gonna be one heck of a fight from me and many other Democrats and Republicans. I just wish my Republican colleagues would speak up. They’re having the same concerns I have.
Host Chuck Todd asked if Manchin has “any confidence” in Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
MANCHIN: Not at all, Chuck, not at all, no. No. No. … He shouldn't even be there to begin with and any way you can get rid of him, please do so. He won’t even talk to us, Chuck. … I understand he's not talking to anybody. The answer we got from one of his top people was, well, he's not gonna talk to anybody in Congress, probably until September or whenever, when he figures out how to run his post office. He's going to destroy it before he figures out how to run it and we’re not gonna let that happen.
What Manchin worries about, he said, is the postal service losing the confidence and support of the public. If that occurs, “I guarantee you we'll lose our Postal Service as we know it and i'm not going to let that happen,” he said.
Manchin sounded just as fed up with Trump.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--How To Vote In The 2020 Election

How To Vote In The 2020 Election

The USPS is under attack by the Trump administration , using the U.S. Mail as a voter suppression tactic during a pandemic .
The 2020 Presidential Election will decide the future of our country , it 's time for Americans to vote Trump and his crew OUT .
Knowing how to vote in the 2020 election is critical to defeating Donald Trump .
Donald Trump is trying to steal the 2020 election .
Our `` President '' admitted in an TV interview that he 's trying to damage the ability of Americans to vote by mail during a pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hide the fact they want to steal the election .
They believe they will get away with it — but we ca n't let this happen .
Every American needs to fight back , we need to do all we can to VOTE , and to help others VOTE .
FIND OUT HOW TO VOTE IN YOUR STATE FiveThirtyEight created a guide to in person and absentee voting and voter registration deadlines for every state in the United States and the District of Columbia .
The FiveThirtyEight guide is great and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan to vote .
Are you going to vote by mail or vote in person ?
The leader of our country is more concerned with trying to steal the election than to solve the pandemic , and the GOP Senate just left town for a month , so we should all assume that September , October and November will be a hellscape .
Make your decision on how to cast your vote and do what is needed to execute your plan .
It 's going to get worse on all fronts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After you make your plan to vote — make a back-up plan !
There is nothing more important than making sure your vote counts because there are many forces trying to stop us from voting .
Be prepared !
Here in my red state , we can vote by mail .
But you have to sign-up online , THEN print out a form , fill out the form , and mail it in !
My state does n't just send out mail-in ballots .
Help other people resister to vote , and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Call your local election office , call your local representative to see what programs are already in place .
Ask your older neighbors or the family with little kids if you can help .
If you have other suggestions or ideas , please tell me in the comments section .
I want to know as many ways as possible how we can fight the efforts to cancel our votes .
We can do this .
Let 's get to work .

The USPS is under attack by the Trump administration, using the U.S. Mail as a voter suppression tactic during a pandemic. The 2020 Presidential Election will decide the future of our country, it's time for Americans to vote Trump and his crew OUT.
Knowing how to vote in the 2020 election is critical to defeating Donald Trump. Donald Trump is trying to steal the 2020 election. Our "President" admitted in an TV interview that he's trying to damage the ability of Americans to vote by mail during a pandemic.
Trump and his crew aren't trying to hide the fact they want to steal the election. They believe they will get away with it — but we can't let this happen. Every American needs to fight back, we need to do all we can to VOTE, and to help others VOTE.
FIND OUT HOW TO VOTE IN YOUR STATE
FiveThirtyEight created a guide to in person and absentee voting and voter registration deadlines for every state in the United States and the District of Columbia. The FiveThirtyEight guide is great and will be updated until November 3rd.
MAKE A PLAN
Make a plan to vote. Are you going to vote by mail or vote in person? The leader of our country is more concerned with trying to steal the election than to solve the pandemic, and the GOP Senate just left town for a month, so we should all assume that September, October and November will be a hellscape. Make your decision on how to cast your vote and do what is needed to execute your plan.
MAKE A BACK-UP PLAN
It's going to get worse on all fronts the closer we are to the election. After you make your plan to vote — make a back-up plan! There is nothing more important than making sure your vote counts because there are many forces trying to stop us from voting. Be prepared!
HELP OTHER PEOPLE VOTE
Here in my red state, we can vote by mail. But you have to sign-up online, THEN print out a form, fill out the form, and mail it in! My state doesn't just send out mail-in ballots. Help other people resister to vote, and if needed, register for a mail-in ballot. Call your local election office, call your local representative to see what programs are already in place. Ask your older neighbors or the family with little kids if you can help.
If you have other suggestions or ideas, please tell me in the comments section. I want to know as many ways as possible how we can fight the efforts to cancel our votes. We can do this. Let's get to work.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--Postal Carriers Union Endorses Joe Biden

The National Association of Letter Carriers publicly endorsed Joe Biden on Friday , warning that “ the very survival ” of the U.S .
Postal Service is at stake .
The union has long criticized Donald Trump and his administration for the way they have handled funding related to the post office .
In the scorching statement , NALC president Fredric Rolando , said the following : Vice President Biden is – was – and will continue to be – a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service ( USPS ) , letter carriers , and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s endorsement and our support come down to Joe ’ s steadfast support of us and his unwavering dedication to improving the lives of all working people throughout this great nation .
Since coming to the Senate in 2016 , Senator Kamala Harris has put letter carriers and working families first .
In her role on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee , she has stanchly defended maintaining a healthy , financially stable Postal Service and has consistently acted to ensure that those who are nominated to run the Postal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Together , Biden and Harris fully exhibit the experience , dedication , thoughtfulness and steady hands that will work to ensure that letter carriers and working families are put first .
The Executive Council ’ s decision to endorse the Biden/Harris ticket was based on the input of our membership through polling , surveys , responses to our candidate questionnaire , and a discussion with the Vice President .
The decision is also partly informed by what we have seen from the current administration with regards to the Postal Service .
In 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Postal Task Force report called for the revocation of collective bargaining rights by America ’ s postal unions , massive cuts to services , and the potential privatization of the agency .
Since that time , we have continued to see the administration take steps outside of the public eye to undermine the Postal Service and letter carriers .
And now , our country struggles to withstand the public health and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 virus .
This pandemic threatens the very survival of USPS .
Yet , while postal employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services to the public every day , the current administration refuses to provide the necessary financial relief that would strengthen the agency during this pandemic .
The Postal Service must not be allowed to fail .
We must do everything we can to help the Postal Service thrive , not only for the men and women of the Postal Service but for the communities and businesses that we serve during this critical time .
For those reasons , NALC is proud to stand with Vice President Biden and Senator Harris in November and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , leading to an increased reliance in prescriptions by mail and expected exponential growth in mail in ballot requests , the White House installed a Trump friendly Postmaster , Louis DeJoy .
DeJoy has been kneecapping the Post Office through cutting hours , eliminating overtime ( when demand is highest ! )
, removing sorting machines and physical removal of blue post office boxes scattered all across America .
Oh , and Trump and the GOP are refusing to infuse to USPS with much needed cash .
On Thursday , Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They want $ 25 billion for the post office .
Now , they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots .
But if they don ’ t get those two items , that means you can ’ t have universal mail-in voting because they ’ re not equipped to have it.
” He has literally tied funding the USPS to him losing the election and will stop at nothing to interfere and put up blockades to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign had no comment on the endorsement .
Shocking .
They do not care .

The National Association of Letter Carriers publicly endorsed Joe Biden on Friday, warning that “the very survival” of the U.S. Postal Service is at stake. The union has long criticized Donald Trump and his administration for the way they have handled funding related to the post office.
In the scorching statement, NALC president Fredric Rolando, said the following:
Vice President Biden is – was – and will continue to be – a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service (USPS), letter carriers, and our fellow postal brothers and sisters. NALC’s endorsement and our support come down to Joe’s steadfast support of us and his unwavering dedication to improving the lives of all working people throughout this great nation. Since coming to the Senate in 2016, Senator Kamala Harris has put letter carriers and working families first. In her role on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, she has stanchly defended maintaining a healthy, financially stable Postal Service and has consistently acted to ensure that those who are nominated to run the Postal Service are held to the highest standard. Together, Biden and Harris fully exhibit the experience, dedication, thoughtfulness and steady hands that will work to ensure that letter carriers and working families are put first. The Executive Council’s decision to endorse the Biden/Harris ticket was based on the input of our membership through polling, surveys, responses to our candidate questionnaire, and a discussion with the Vice President. The decision is also partly informed by what we have seen from the current administration with regards to the Postal Service. In 2018, legislative recommendations from the White House Postal Task Force report called for the revocation of collective bargaining rights by America’s postal unions, massive cuts to services, and the potential privatization of the agency. Since that time, we have continued to see the administration take steps outside of the public eye to undermine the Postal Service and letter carriers. And now, our country struggles to withstand the public health and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 virus. This pandemic threatens the very survival of USPS. Yet, while postal employees are on the front lines providing essential services to the public every day, the current administration refuses to provide the necessary financial relief that would strengthen the agency during this pandemic. The Postal Service must not be allowed to fail. We must do everything we can to help the Postal Service thrive, not only for the men and women of the Postal Service but for the communities and businesses that we serve during this critical time. For those reasons, NALC is proud to stand with Vice President Biden and Senator Harris in November and beyond.
While the pandemic has ravaged the country, leading to an increased reliance in prescriptions by mail and expected exponential growth in mail in ballot requests, the White House installed a Trump friendly Postmaster, Louis DeJoy. DeJoy has been kneecapping the Post Office through cutting hours, eliminating overtime (when demand is highest!), removing sorting machines and physical removal of blue post office boxes scattered all across America. Oh, and Trump and the GOP are refusing to infuse to USPS with much needed cash.
On Thursday, Donald Trump told Fox Business Network: “They want $25 billion for the post office. Now, they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.” He has literally tied funding the USPS to him losing the election and will stop at nothing to interfere and put up blockades to stop Americans from voting.
Trump’s campaign had no comment on the endorsement. Shocking. They do not care.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--Fox Really Doesn't Want To Talk About Trump's USPS Sabotage Harming Veterans And Seniors

Does anyone think that if we had a Democratic president actively sabotaging the United States Postal Service , and causing delays to things like prescription medications for veterans and seniors all across the country , Fox would n't be making this their lead story on every single show and running segments multiple times per hour interviewing people who had personally been impacted by the sabotage ?
Yeah , me neither .
Because it 's Trump doing just that and not a Democrat , the network has been virtually mum on the topic .
While a transcript search over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of topics such as the police , riots , protests , defunding the police , Chicago , Seattle and Portland , there are only a handful of results , or none in connection to the Postal Service story when searching for keywords such as veterans , seniors , or sabotage .
And when the topic of the Postal Service has been mentioned on the network , it 's almost always in the context of the Democrats asking for funding as part of a new coronavirus relief package , and attacking vote-by-mail as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search of Fox 's website yields similar results , with no mentions in recent weeks of prescriptions being delayed , the impact those delays are having on veterans , the fact that Trump 's choice to head the Post Office has glaring conflicts of interest , or the fact that the Post Office has been `` removing mail sorting machines from facilities around the country without any official explanation or reason given . ''
Given the average age of their viewers , and the likelihood that many of them are being personally affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going on right now , I 've got to wonder how long Fox can try to completely ignore what 's happening , and who they 're going to try to blame if they do finally start to cover the issue .
I assume they 're finally start paying attention to what 's happening when they figure out how to pin it on the postal union and/or Democrats .
Do n't ever expect them to give any substantial coverage to DeJoy 's conflicts of interest or the fact that the only way Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cheat .

Does anyone think that if we had a Democratic president actively sabotaging the United States Postal Service, and causing delays to things like prescription medications for veterans and seniors all across the country, Fox wouldn't be making this their lead story on every single show and running segments multiple times per hour interviewing people who had personally been impacted by the sabotage?
Yeah, me neither. Because it's Trump doing just that and not a Democrat, the network has been virtually mum on the topic. While a transcript search over the last week of Fox yields hundreds of instances of topics such as the police, riots, protests, defunding the police, Chicago, Seattle and Portland, there are only a handful of results, or none in connection to the Postal Service story when searching for keywords such as veterans, seniors, or sabotage.
And when the topic of the Postal Service has been mentioned on the network, it's almost always in the context of the Democrats asking for funding as part of a new coronavirus relief package, and attacking vote-by-mail as they did in the segment above.
A search of Fox's website yields similar results, with no mentions in recent weeks of prescriptions being delayed, the impact those delays are having on veterans, the fact that Trump's choice to head the Post Office has glaring conflicts of interest, or the fact that the Post Office has been "removing mail sorting machines from facilities around the country without any official explanation or reason given."
Given the average age of their viewers, and the likelihood that many of them are being personally affected by the slowdown of the mail that's going on right now, I've got to wonder how long Fox can try to completely ignore what's happening, and who they're going to try to blame if they do finally start to cover the issue. I assume they're finally start paying attention to what's happening when they figure out how to pin it on the postal union and/or Democrats. Don't ever expect them to give any substantial coverage to DeJoy's conflicts of interest or the fact that the only way Trump believes he can win the election is to cheat.


crooksandliars--2020-08-15--Will White People’s Participation In Black Lives Matter Protests Yield Real Change?

The first wave of the Black Lives Matter movement , which crested after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson , had the support of less than half of white Americans .
Given that Americans tend to have a very narrow definition of racism , many at that time were likely confused by the juxtaposition of Black-led protests , implying that racism was persistent , alongside the presence of a Black family in the White House .
Barack Obama ’ s presidency was seen as evidence that racism was in decline .
The current , second wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the past months of protests have been multiracial .
The media and scholars have noted that whites ’ sensibilities have become more attuned to issues of anti-Black police violence and discrimination .
After the first wave of the movement in 2014 , there was little systemic change in response to demands by Black Lives Matter activists .
Does the fact that whites are participating in the current protests in greater numbers mean that the outcome of these protests will be different ?
Will whites go beyond participating in marches and actually support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and discrimination ?
As a scholar of political science and African American studies , I believe there are lessons from the civil rights movement 60 years ago that can help answer those questions .
The challenges that Black Americans face today do not precisely mimic those of the 1960s , but the history is still relevant .
During the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century , there was a concerted effort among Black freedom fighters to show white Americans the kinds of racial terrorism the average Black American lived under .
Through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to see with their own eyes how respectable , nonviolent Black youth were treated by police as they sought to push the U.S. to live up to its creed of liberty and equality for all of its citizens .
Monumental legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed , purportedly guaranteeing protection from racial discrimination in many public spaces and equal opportunity to register to vote and cast a ballot .
Additionally , whites were increasingly likely to report attitudes that many would now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades .
For example , white Americans were more willing to have a nonwhite neighbor .
They were less likely to support ideas of biological racism or the idea that whites should always have access to better jobs over Blacks .
But these changed values and attitudes among whites never fully translated into support for government policies that would bring racial equality to fruition for Blacks .
White Americans remained uncommitted to integrating public schools , which has been shown to drastically reduce the so-called racial achievement gap .
Whites never gave more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action policies aimed to level the playing field for jobs and higher education .
This phenomenon – the distance between what people say they value and what they are willing to do to live up to their ideals – is so common that social scientists have given it a name : the principle-policy gap .
White Americans ’ direct witness of police brutality led to a shift in racial attitudes and the passage of significant legislation .
But even these combined changes did not radically change the face of racial inequality in American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , political leaders would capitalize on whites ’ sentiments that efforts for racial equality had gone too far .
That created an environment that allowed the retrenchment of civil rights-era gains .
The Republican Party ’ s so-called “ Southern Strategy , ” which aimed to turn white Southern Democrats into Republican voters , was successful in consolidating the support of white Southerners through the use of racial dog whistles .
And the War on Drugs would serve to disproportionately target and police already segregated Black communities .
By the 1990s , racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools began to resegregate , and federal and state policies that created residential segregation and the existing racial wealth gap were never adequately addressed .
Scholars have made efforts to reveal the intricate and structural nature of racism in the U.S. Their analyses range from showing how racial disparities across various domains of American life are intricately connected rather than coincidental ; to highlighting the ways in which race-neutral policies like the GI Bill helped to set the stage for today ’ s racial wealth gap ; to explaining that America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But my research shows that white Americans , including white millennials , have largely become accustomed to thinking about racism in terms of overt racial prejudice , discrimination and bigotry .
They don ’ t see the deeper , more intractable problems that scholars – and Black activists – have laid out .
[ Get the best of The Conversation , every weekend .
Sign up for our weekly newsletter . ]
Consequently , it has taken a filmed incident of incendiary racism to awaken whites to the problems clearly identified by Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous generations .
My research also shows that individuals ’ understanding of the problem influences their willingness to support various policies .
A big issue that our society faces , then , is that white Americans ’ understanding of racism is too superficial to prompt them to support policies that have the potential to lead to greater justice for Black Americans .
Some have suggested that this second wave of the Black Lives Matter movement is the largest social movement in American history .
These protests have led local representatives to publicly proclaim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government officials and corporations to decry and remove Confederate symbols and racist images ; and congressional as well as local attempts to address police accountability .
But , as after the civil rights era , the principle-policy gap seems to be reappearing .
Attitudes among whites are changing , but the policies that people are willing to support do not necessarily address the more complex issue of structural racism .
For example , polling reveals that people support both these protests and also the way that police are handling them , despite evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows that the majority of Americans believe that police are more likely to use deadly force against Black Americans than against whites .
But only one-quarter of those polled are willing to support efforts to reduce funding to police – a policy aimed to redistribute funds to support community equity .
More whites are willing to acknowledge white racial privilege , but only about one in eight support reparations to Blacks .
Americans may choose to dig deeper this time around .
Some state legislators , for example , are attempting to leverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond policing – in schools , judicial systems and health matters .
But ultimately , Americans will have to overcome two intertwined challenges .
First , they will have to learn to detect forms of racism that don ’ t lend themselves to a mobile-phone filming .
And they will have to recognize that dismantling centuries of oppression takes more than acknowledgment , understanding and well-meaning sentiment .
It takes sacrifice and action .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Candis Watts Smith, Pennsylvania State University
The first wave of the Black Lives Matter movement, which crested after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, had the support of less than half of white Americans.
Given that Americans tend to have a very narrow definition of racism, many at that time were likely confused by the juxtaposition of Black-led protests, implying that racism was persistent, alongside the presence of a Black family in the White House. Barack Obama’s presidency was seen as evidence that racism was in decline.
The current, second wave of the movement feels different, in part because the past months of protests have been multiracial. The media and scholars have noted that whites’ sensibilities have become more attuned to issues of anti-Black police violence and discrimination.
After the first wave of the movement in 2014, there was little systemic change in response to demands by Black Lives Matter activists. Does the fact that whites are participating in the current protests in greater numbers mean that the outcome of these protests will be different? Will whites go beyond participating in marches and actually support fundamental policy changes to fight anti-Black violence and discrimination?
As a scholar of political science and African American studies, I believe there are lessons from the civil rights movement 60 years ago that can help answer those questions.
Universal History Archive/Getty
Principles didn’t turn into policy
The challenges that Black Americans face today do not precisely mimic those of the 1960s, but the history is still relevant.
During the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century, there was a concerted effort among Black freedom fighters to show white Americans the kinds of racial terrorism the average Black American lived under.
Through the power of television, whites were able to see with their own eyes how respectable, nonviolent Black youth were treated by police as they sought to push the U.S. to live up to its creed of liberty and equality for all of its citizens.
Monumental legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed, purportedly guaranteeing protection from racial discrimination in many public spaces and equal opportunity to register to vote and cast a ballot.
Additionally, whites were increasingly likely to report attitudes that many would now view as nonracist over the following several decades. For example, white Americans were more willing to have a nonwhite neighbor. They were less likely to support ideas of biological racism or the idea that whites should always have access to better jobs over Blacks.
But these changed values and attitudes among whites never fully translated into support for government policies that would bring racial equality to fruition for Blacks.
White Americans remained uncommitted to integrating public schools, which has been shown to drastically reduce the so-called racial achievement gap. Whites never gave more than a modicum of support for affirmative action policies aimed to level the playing field for jobs and higher education.
This phenomenon – the distance between what people say they value and what they are willing to do to live up to their ideals – is so common that social scientists have given it a name: the principle-policy gap.
White Americans’ direct witness of police brutality led to a shift in racial attitudes and the passage of significant legislation. But even these combined changes did not radically change the face of racial inequality in American society.
Going backward
By the 1970s and 1980s, political leaders would capitalize on whites’ sentiments that efforts for racial equality had gone too far.
That created an environment that allowed the retrenchment of civil rights-era gains. The Republican Party’s so-called “Southern Strategy,” which aimed to turn white Southern Democrats into Republican voters, was successful in consolidating the support of white Southerners through the use of racial dog whistles. And the War on Drugs would serve to disproportionately target and police already segregated Black communities.
By the 1990s, racial disparities in incarceration rates had skyrocketed, schools began to resegregate, and federal and state policies that created residential segregation and the existing racial wealth gap were never adequately addressed.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
From understanding to action?
Scholars have made efforts to reveal the intricate and structural nature of racism in the U.S. Their analyses range from showing how racial disparities across various domains of American life are intricately connected rather than coincidental; to highlighting the ways in which race-neutral policies like the GI Bill helped to set the stage for today’s racial wealth gap; to explaining that America’s racial hierarchy is a caste system.
But my research shows that white Americans, including white millennials, have largely become accustomed to thinking about racism in terms of overt racial prejudice, discrimination and bigotry. They don’t see the deeper, more intractable problems that scholars – and Black activists – have laid out.
[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]
Consequently, it has taken a filmed incident of incendiary racism to awaken whites to the problems clearly identified by Black activists, just as it did for previous generations.
My research also shows that individuals’ understanding of the problem influences their willingness to support various policies. A big issue that our society faces, then, is that white Americans’ understanding of racism is too superficial to prompt them to support policies that have the potential to lead to greater justice for Black Americans.
Attitudes and policies don’t match
Some have suggested that this second wave of the Black Lives Matter movement is the largest social movement in American history. These protests have led local representatives to publicly proclaim that Black Lives Matter; policymakers, government officials and corporations to decry and remove Confederate symbols and racist images; and congressional as well as local attempts to address police accountability.
But, as after the civil rights era, the principle-policy gap seems to be reappearing. Attitudes among whites are changing, but the policies that people are willing to support do not necessarily address the more complex issue of structural racism.
For example, polling reveals that people support both these protests and also the way that police are handling them, despite evidence of ongoing brutality.
The polling also shows that the majority of Americans believe that police are more likely to use deadly force against Black Americans than against whites. But only one-quarter of those polled are willing to support efforts to reduce funding to police – a policy aimed to redistribute funds to support community equity.
More whites are willing to acknowledge white racial privilege, but only about one in eight support reparations to Blacks.
Americans may choose to dig deeper this time around. Some state legislators, for example, are attempting to leverage this moment to create more systemic changes beyond policing – in schools, judicial systems and health matters.
But ultimately, Americans will have to overcome two intertwined challenges. First, they will have to learn to detect forms of racism that don’t lend themselves to a mobile-phone filming. And they will have to recognize that dismantling centuries of oppression takes more than acknowledgment, understanding and well-meaning sentiment. It takes sacrifice and action.
Candis Watts Smith, Associate Professor of Political Science & African American Studies, Pennsylvania State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--Democrats Threaten Postmaster General With ‘Arrest’ If He Refuses To Testify

Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly ( D ) on Sunday suggested that the House committee could move to jail Postmaster General Louis DeJoy if he refuses to testify at an upcoming hearing .
Democrats on Sunday called for DeJoy ’ s testimony after President Donald Trump suggested that he is undermining the U.S .
Postal Service in order to win the election .
“ The President has explicitly stated his intention to manipulate the Postal Service to deny eligible voters access to the ballot in pursuit of his own re-election , ” House Democrats said in a statement .
“ Alarmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mega-donor – has acted as an accomplice in the President ’ s campaign to cheat in the election , as he launches sweeping new operational changes that degrade delivery standards and delay the mail.
” In a tweet , Connolly insisted that DeJoy ’ s appearance “ is not optional.
” He said that Democrats should be prepared to use “ inherent contempt ” to force the Postmaster General ’ s compliance .
Although “ inherent contempt ” has not been used by Congress in nearly a hundred years , it allows for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to one year , ” according to the Congressional Research Service .
Rep. Jim Cooper ( D-TN ) is also on record supporting an “ arrest ” of the Postmaster General if he refuses to testify .

Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D) on Sunday suggested that the House committee could move to jail Postmaster General Louis DeJoy if he refuses to testify at an upcoming hearing.
Democrats on Sunday called for DeJoy’s testimony after President Donald Trump suggested that he is undermining the U.S. Postal Service in order to win the election.
“The President has explicitly stated his intention to manipulate the Postal Service to deny eligible voters access to the ballot in pursuit of his own re-election,” House Democrats said in a statement. “Alarmingly, the Postmaster General – a Trump mega-donor – has acted as an accomplice in the President’s campaign to cheat in the election, as he launches sweeping new operational changes that degrade delivery standards and delay the mail.”
In a tweet, Connolly insisted that DeJoy’s appearance “is not optional.” He said that Democrats should be prepared to use “inherent contempt” to force the Postmaster General’s compliance.
A note to DeJoy: this invite is not optional. Congress must assert itself if he wont appear. That means subpoenas and if we have to then we must use inherent contempt. https://t.co/bxVJe5VoIb — Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) August 16, 2020
Although “inherent contempt” has not been used by Congress in nearly a hundred years, it allows for “a substantial fine and imprisonment for up to one year,” according to the Congressional Research Service.
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) is also on record supporting an “arrest” of the Postmaster General if he refuses to testify.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--House Oversight Committee Calls Louis Dejoy To Testify On August 24th

Trump megadonor and political lackey , Louis DeJoy , has been dismantling the United States Postal Service ever since he took over as Postmaster General in June .
His decisions have clearly been made to slow the mail processing , reduce efficiency and lead to widespread questions about mail in ballots .
In addition to cutting back hours and eliminating overtime , he has begun removing sorting machines that expedite mail processing .
DeJoy has even ordered the removal of tons of post office boxes nationwide .
DeJoy conducted his own Friday night massacre where he fired numerous high level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union sees what Trump and DeJoy are doing and actually endorsed Joe Biden on Friday .
And there were even protests in front of DeJoy 's DC condo on Saturday .
The Democrats finally did something - they have set up a hearing in the House Oversight Committee on August 24th .
I am 99 % sure that DeJoy will find a reason to delay or skip the hearing , but who knows .
Tiffany Cross broke the news about the hearing on MSNBC and had an interview with Rep. Tlaib , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CROSS : Some breaking news , the House Oversight Committee is calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify at an urgent hearing about the crisis at the U.S .
Postal Service and Donald Trump 's apparent efforts to undermine it ahead of the November election .
Joining me now a member of that committee , Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib .
Congresswoman , I 'm so happy you are here with us to talk about this .
We have a lot to talk about but we definitely have to start with that .
Tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi calling the House back , this will be a field hearing and do you think DeJoy will show up ?
In this administration you do n't know .
TLAID : I can tell you especially in my district folks can see that the President is trying to defund the Postal Service and dismantle it so he can be able to hijack this election in coming November , but also the fact that there has always been an attempt to privatize our postal service , it 's been there , many folks he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written papers how to dismantle and take over the postal service , just like they did to our educational system , the correction system , so many areas of our government has been privatized and made into for-profit schemes and he 's trying to do it here in the middle of a critical election .
Yes , as early as August 24th our House Oversight Committee under the leadership of Chairwoman Maloney is going to hold a hearing , a very critical hearing .
You know , folks and the American people need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the watchdogs , we have to oversee especially illegal activity , especially things we feel like are very much circumventing our political process , our democracy and in this case it is the President of the United States trying to defund our U.S .
Postal Service for his own self-interest .
CROSS : I think a lot of people , you know , I think sometimes on the Sunday shows it 's very Beltway-centric and it 's , you know , very political people talking to and for each other but for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Oversight Committee and the House is up for grabs , too .
I tell people ' '' Imagine if Republicans controlled the House , '' the Oversight Committee has been a crucial point in the balance of government .
I appreciate you pointing that out and you are definitely a crucial member on that Committee .
Something that people do n't understand about the postal service it costs zero dollars in taxpayer money .
Zero .
Zero .
And I think that 's a misconception that folks have .
What is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from DeJoy ?
TLAIB : I think we really want to be able to understand what are these decisions being made because right here in Michigan in one of our central stations they took the sorting machines out .
TLAIB : I will ask my colleagues , I think we should start showing up to these postal service places and actually go in and see exactly what 's happening because these are being done behind closed doors in hopes that the American people does n't see and that 's the Oversight Committee has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see who is behind it and what the true intentions are because it 's not to make sure that folks have access to voting .
It 's not to make sure that people have access to their medication and everything that is involved because , yes , this is about our democracy but so many of the most vulnerable in our community rely on the postal service .
This is an agency that people do n't understand , yes , it 's not a pharmacy , but sure enough a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their medication , a lot of people do n't understand they get their documents for unemployment , their stimulus payments , many of which still have not gotten their stimulus payments .
I get calls every single day that Mnuchin and the IRS and folks in the Trump administration have still held up many of the folks that really rely and have been living check by check are still waiting for their relief payment .
So it is so critical that we understand the Postal Service is important to the quality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have to hold this administration accountable and we ca n't allow him to hijack and dismantle and defund the Postal Service .
CROSS : That 's right and you bring up insulin insulin .
My mother gets so annoyed when I talk about her on the air but she gets her insulin from the Postal Service .
It 's true , the Postal Service is a crucial part of our lives , PPE comes through the Postal Service and they employ over 600,000 people , a lot of black and brown @ @ @ @

Trump megadonor and political lackey, Louis DeJoy, has been dismantling the United States Postal Service ever since he took over as Postmaster General in June. His decisions have clearly been made to slow the mail processing, reduce efficiency and lead to widespread questions about mail in ballots. In addition to cutting back hours and eliminating overtime, he has begun removing sorting machines that expedite mail processing. DeJoy has even ordered the removal of tons of post office boxes nationwide. DeJoy conducted his own Friday night massacre where he fired numerous high level staff at USPS. The Postal Carriers Union sees what Trump and DeJoy are doing and actually endorsed Joe Biden on Friday. And there were even protests in front of DeJoy's DC condo on Saturday.
The Democrats finally did something - they have set up a hearing in the House Oversight Committee on August 24th. I am 99% sure that DeJoy will find a reason to delay or skip the hearing, but who knows. Tiffany Cross broke the news about the hearing on MSNBC and had an interview with Rep. Tlaib, a member of the House Oversight Committee.
CROSS: Some breaking news, the House Oversight Committee is calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify at an urgent hearing about the crisis at the U.S. Postal Service and Donald Trump's apparent efforts to undermine it ahead of the November election. Joining me now a member of that committee, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Congresswoman, I'm so happy you are here with us to talk about this. We have a lot to talk about but we definitely have to start with that. Tell me how this is happening. Is Pelosi calling the House back, this will be a field hearing and do you think DeJoy will show up? In this administration you don't know.
TLAID: I can tell you especially in my district folks can see that the President is trying to defund the Postal Service and dismantle it so he can be able to hijack this election in coming November, but also the fact that there has always been an attempt to privatize our postal service, it's been there, many folks he has appointed to his administration have actually written papers how to dismantle and take over the postal service, just like they did to our educational system, the correction system, so many areas of our government has been privatized and made into for-profit schemes and he's trying to do it here in the middle of a critical election. Yes, as early as August 24th our House Oversight Committee under the leadership of Chairwoman Maloney is going to hold a hearing, a very critical hearing. You know, folks and the American people need to know House Oversight Committee we are the watchdogs, we have to oversee especially illegal activity, especially things we feel like are very much circumventing our political process, our democracy and in this case it is the President of the United States trying to defund our U.S. Postal Service for his own self-interest.
CROSS: I think a lot of people, you know, I think sometimes on the Sunday shows it's very Beltway-centric and it's, you know, very political people talking to and for each other but for many people they don't know the function of the Oversight Committee and the House is up for grabs, too. I tell people '"Imagine if Republicans controlled the House," the Oversight Committee has been a crucial point in the balance of government. I appreciate you pointing that out and you are definitely a crucial member on that Committee. Something that people don't understand about the postal service it costs zero dollars in taxpayer money. Zero. Zero. And I think that's a misconception that folks have. What is it that you want to hear specifically from DeJoy?
TLAIB: I think we really want to be able to understand what are these decisions being made because right here in Michigan in one of our central stations they took the sorting machines out.
CROSS: That's right.
TLAIB: I will ask my colleagues, I think we should start showing up to these postal service places and actually go in and see exactly what's happening because these are being done behind closed doors in hopes that the American people doesn't see and that's the Oversight Committee has to do is open up the curtain and see who is behind it and what the true intentions are because it's not to make sure that folks have access to voting. It's not to make sure that people have access to their medication and everything that is involved because, yes, this is about our democracy but so many of the most vulnerable in our community rely on the postal service. This is an agency that people don't understand, yes, it's not a pharmacy, but sure enough a lot of folks get their insulin through the mail, their medication, a lot of people don't understand they get their documents for unemployment, their stimulus payments, many of which still have not gotten their stimulus payments. I get calls every single day that Mnuchin and the IRS and folks in the Trump administration have still held up many of the folks that really rely and have been living check by check are still waiting for their relief payment. So it is so critical that we understand the Postal Service is important to the quality of life of our neighbors across this nation and we have to hold this administration accountable and we can't allow him to hijack and dismantle and defund the Postal Service.
CROSS: That's right and you bring up insulin insulin. My mother gets so annoyed when I talk about her on the air but she gets her insulin from the Postal Service. It's true, the Postal Service is a crucial part of our lives, PPE comes through the Postal Service and they employ over 600,000 people, a lot of black and brown people as well.