npr--2020-08-20--Former Uber Executive Charged With Paying 'Hush Money' To Conceal Massive Breach

Former Uber Executive Charged With Paying 'Hush Money ' To Conceal Massive Breach Federal prosecutors have charged Uber 's former chief security officer with covering up a massive 2016 data breach by arranging a $ 100,000 payoff to the hackers responsible for the attack .
The personal data of 57 million Uber passengers and drivers was stolen in the hack .
Prosecutors are charging Joe Sullivan with obstructing justice and concealing a felony for the alleged cover-up .
Sullivan `` engaged in a scheme to withhold and conceal '' the breach from regulators and failed to report it to law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complaint filed in federal court in California on Thursday .
`` Sullivan is being charged with a corporate cover-up and Sullivan is being charged with the payment of hush money to conceal something that should have been revealed , '' David Anderson , U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California , told NPR .
A spokesperson for Sullivan sent a statement saying there was no merit to the charges and that he was part of larger team that worked on security .
`` If not for Mr. Sullivan 's and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all , '' he said .
The spokesperson said Uber 's legal team , rather than Sullivan , was responsible for deciding whether and to whom the matter should be disclosed .
Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said : `` We continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice 's investigation .
Our decision in 2017 to disclose the incident was not only the right thing to do , it embodies the principles by which we are running our business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountability . ''
Sullivan not only allegedly hid the breach from authorities , but also concealed it from many other Uber employees , including top management — with one exception .
According to the complaint , Uber 's CEO at the time , Travis Kalanick , knew about the incident and about the steps Sullivan took to allegedly cover it up , including making the $ 100,000 payout under Uber 's `` bug bounty '' program .
Kalanick has not been charged and would n't comment for this story .
Like many tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hat '' hackers to test its systems for vulnerabilities .
But the payment Uber made in this case was much larger than any bug bounty it had paid before , the complaint said , noting the company 's program `` had a nominal cap of $ 10,000 . ''
Uber required the hackers to sign nondisclosure agreements , also not standard practice for a bug bounty , the complaint alleged .
Those agreements falsely said that the hackers did not take or store any data .
`` The problem is that this hush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Anderson said .
`` We allege that this entire course of conduct reflects [ Sullivan 's ] consciousness of guilt and desperation to conceal . ''
The charges are the latest turn in a saga that dates back to November 2016 , when Sullivan received an email from a hacker calling himself `` John Doughs , '' who claimed to have found a `` major vulnerability in uber . ''
The hacker said , `` I was able to dump uber database and many other things , '' according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for a separate 2014 breach that was carried out the same way `` John Doughs '' accessed Uber 's data .
In both cases , hackers got hold of keys to get into Uber 's Amazon cloud servers , where the company stored data on drivers and customers , the complaint said .
In the 2014 breach , a hacker gained access to the names and driver 's licenses of about 50,000 drivers .
The 2016 intrusion was much larger ; those hackers got hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of about 600,000 drivers , as well as the names , email addresses and phone numbers of 57 million passengers and drivers .
After receiving John Doughs ' email , Sullivan quickly notified Kalanick that he had `` something sensitive '' to update him about , according to the complaint .
A text message from Kalanick cited in the complaint discussed paying the hackers through the bug bounty program .
`` Need to get certainty of what he has , sensitivity/exposure of it and confidence that he can truly treat this as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be flexible in order to put this to bed but we need to document this very tightly , '' Kalanick wrote , according to the complaint .
Sullivan never told the FTC about the new breach , even though he was closely involved in responding to the agency 's investigation of the earlier hack , according to the complaint .
`` Witnesses reported Sullivan was visibly shaken by the events , '' the complaint said .
`` A witness also reported that Sullivan stated in a private conversation that he could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the team had to make sure word of the breach did not get out . ''
The breach came fully to light a year after Sullivan first learned about it , and only after Kalanick was forced out following a string of scandals over Uber 's aggressive competitive behavior and toxic work environment .
Sullivan initially lied about the circumstances surrounding the breach to Kalanick 's successor , Dara Khosrowshahi , according to the complaint .
In November 2017 , Khosrowshahi disclosed the breach to the FTC , issued a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the FTC and agreed to audits of its privacy and security systems every two years for 20 years .
The company also paid a record $ 148 million penalty to settle lawsuits brought by all 50 states and the District of Columbia .
Last year , Anderson 's office charged two men with the breach : Brandon Glover of Winter Springs , Fla. , and Vasile Mereacre of Toronto .
They pleaded guilty to computer hacking and extortion — not just in the Uber intrusion , but in a subsequent breach of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the results of the cover-up is that the hackers continued to hack other companies in a way similar to what they had done to Uber , '' Anderson said .
`` Because the Uber hack was concealed , law enforcement was not able to respond , law enforcement was not able to take the hackers into custody , law enforcement was not able to disrupt what they were doing . ''
In addition , the complaint against Sullivan alleged that the two hackers shared the Uber data they stole with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That person could still have the data , Anderson said .
Sullivan is well-known in Silicon Valley .
He has served as chief security officer at Internet security company Cloudflare since 2018 .
Before joining Uber in 2015 , he worked at Facebook for six years , including as chief security officer .
Before moving into tech , Sullivan spent two years prosecuting computer hacking and intellectual property crimes as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of California — the office that brought the charges against him .
If he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eight years in prison , as well as potential fines of up to $ 500,000 .
Editor 's note : Uber is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Former Uber Executive Charged With Paying 'Hush Money' To Conceal Massive Breach
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Federal prosecutors have charged Uber's former chief security officer with covering up a massive 2016 data breach by arranging a $100,000 payoff to the hackers responsible for the attack. The personal data of 57 million Uber passengers and drivers was stolen in the hack.
Prosecutors are charging Joe Sullivan with obstructing justice and concealing a felony for the alleged cover-up. Sullivan "engaged in a scheme to withhold and conceal" the breach from regulators and failed to report it to law enforcement or the public, according to a complaint filed in federal court in California on Thursday.
"Sullivan is being charged with a corporate cover-up and Sullivan is being charged with the payment of hush money to conceal something that should have been revealed," David Anderson, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, told NPR.
A spokesperson for Sullivan sent a statement saying there was no merit to the charges and that he was part of larger team that worked on security. "If not for Mr. Sullivan's and his team's efforts, it's likely that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all," he said. The spokesperson said Uber's legal team, rather than Sullivan, was responsible for deciding whether and to whom the matter should be disclosed.
Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said: "We continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice's investigation. Our decision in 2017 to disclose the incident was not only the right thing to do, it embodies the principles by which we are running our business today: transparency, integrity, and accountability."
An unusually large "bug bounty"
Sullivan not only allegedly hid the breach from authorities, but also concealed it from many other Uber employees, including top management — with one exception. According to the complaint, Uber's CEO at the time, Travis Kalanick, knew about the incident and about the steps Sullivan took to allegedly cover it up, including making the $100,000 payout under Uber's "bug bounty" program.
Kalanick has not been charged and wouldn't comment for this story.
Like many tech companies, Uber pays so-called "white hat" hackers to test its systems for vulnerabilities. But the payment Uber made in this case was much larger than any bug bounty it had paid before, the complaint said, noting the company's program "had a nominal cap of $10,000."
Uber required the hackers to sign nondisclosure agreements, also not standard practice for a bug bounty, the complaint alleged. Those agreements falsely said that the hackers did not take or store any data.
"The problem is that this hush money payment was not a bug bounty," Anderson said. "We allege that this entire course of conduct reflects [Sullivan's] consciousness of guilt and desperation to conceal."
Sullivan never notified FTC about breach
The charges are the latest turn in a saga that dates back to November 2016, when Sullivan received an email from a hacker calling himself "John Doughs," who claimed to have found a "major vulnerability in uber." The hacker said, "I was able to dump uber database and many other things," according to the complaint.
At the time, Uber was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for a separate 2014 breach that was carried out the same way "John Doughs" accessed Uber's data. In both cases, hackers got hold of keys to get into Uber's Amazon cloud servers, where the company stored data on drivers and customers, the complaint said.
In the 2014 breach, a hacker gained access to the names and driver's licenses of about 50,000 drivers. The 2016 intrusion was much larger; those hackers got hold of names and driver's license numbers of about 600,000 drivers, as well as the names, email addresses and phone numbers of 57 million passengers and drivers.
After receiving John Doughs' email, Sullivan quickly notified Kalanick that he had "something sensitive" to update him about, according to the complaint. A text message from Kalanick cited in the complaint discussed paying the hackers through the bug bounty program.
"Need to get certainty of what he has, sensitivity/exposure of it and confidence that he can truly treat this as a [bug] bounty situation... resources can be flexible in order to put this to bed but we need to document this very tightly," Kalanick wrote, according to the complaint.
Sullivan never told the FTC about the new breach, even though he was closely involved in responding to the agency's investigation of the earlier hack, according to the complaint.
"Witnesses reported Sullivan was visibly shaken by the events," the complaint said. "A witness also reported that Sullivan stated in a private conversation that he could not believe they had let another breach happen and that the team had to make sure word of the breach did not get out."
Yearlong delay in reporting the hack
The breach came fully to light a year after Sullivan first learned about it, and only after Kalanick was forced out following a string of scandals over Uber's aggressive competitive behavior and toxic work environment. Sullivan initially lied about the circumstances surrounding the breach to Kalanick's successor, Dara Khosrowshahi, according to the complaint.
In November 2017, Khosrowshahi disclosed the breach to the FTC, issued a public apology and fired Sullivan.
Uber settled with the FTC and agreed to audits of its privacy and security systems every two years for 20 years. The company also paid a record $148 million penalty to settle lawsuits brought by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Last year, Anderson's office charged two men with the breach: Brandon Glover of Winter Springs, Fla., and Vasile Mereacre of Toronto. They pleaded guilty to computer hacking and extortion — not just in the Uber intrusion, but in a subsequent breach of LinkedIn's Lynda.com learning platform.
"One of the results of the cover-up is that the hackers continued to hack other companies in a way similar to what they had done to Uber," Anderson said. "Because the Uber hack was concealed, law enforcement was not able to respond, law enforcement was not able to take the hackers into custody, law enforcement was not able to disrupt what they were doing."
In addition, the complaint against Sullivan alleged that the two hackers shared the Uber data they stole with a third person who has not been charged. That person could still have the data, Anderson said.
Sullivan is well-known in Silicon Valley. He has served as chief security officer at Internet security company Cloudflare since 2018. Before joining Uber in 2015, he worked at Facebook for six years, including as chief security officer.
Before moving into tech, Sullivan spent two years prosecuting computer hacking and intellectual property crimes as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of California — the office that brought the charges against him.
If he is found guilty, Sullivan faces up to eight years in prison, as well as potential fines of up to $500,000.
Editor's note: Uber is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-08-20--Judge Rejects Trump's Latest Effort To Keep His Tax Records From Manhattan DA

Judge Rejects Trump 's Latest Effort To Keep His Tax Records From Manhattan DA A federal judge has dismissed President Trump 's latest attempt to block a subpoena for his tax records from the district attorney of Manhattan .
Thursday 's ruling by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero came in response to a filing by the president 's personal attorneys that sought to prevent Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance from obtaining eight years of his tax records .
The president 's legal team has argued that the subpoena to Trump 's accounting firm , Mazars USA , is `` overbroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge said Trump 's legal team failed to show the subpoena was issued in `` bad faith . ''
Marrero wrote , `` Justice requires an end to this controversy . ''
The decision follows a ruling from the Supreme Court in July that the president is not immune from a subpoena for his financial records from Vance 's office .
Chief Justice John Roberts penned the court 's opinion , writing , `` In our system , the public has a right to every man 's evidence , '' and `` since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man has included the President of the United States . ''
The court did , however , say Trump could return to the lower courts to raise objections to the subpoena .
Vance is investigating whether Trump or the Trump Organization violated New York state laws in connection with hush-money payments made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels and other women who have said they had affairs with the president .
The president has denied those allegations .
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Thursday after a meeting with Iraqi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news a `` continuation of the witch hunt . ''
`` There 's never been anything like it , '' he said , `` where people want to examine every deal you 've ever done , to see if they can find that there 's a comma out of place .
No president has every had to go through this .
The Supreme Court should n't have allowed this to happen . ''
The president added : `` We 'll probably end up back in the Supreme Court . ''
Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency motion asking the judge to stop the president 's accounting firm from releasing Trump 's tax returns until the attorneys can appeal .
Regardless of the court 's response , the president 's tax records are not expected to become public before the November election , ensuring it will remain an issue in the campaign .
Following the Supreme Court 's ruling last month , Democratic nominee Joe Biden tweeted a video tying the issue to corruption and transparency , telling the president to release his records or `` shut up @ @

Judge Rejects Trump's Latest Effort To Keep His Tax Records From Manhattan DA
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images
A federal judge has dismissed President Trump's latest attempt to block a subpoena for his tax records from the district attorney of Manhattan.
Thursday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero came in response to a filing by the president's personal attorneys that sought to prevent Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance from obtaining eight years of his tax records. The president's legal team has argued that the subpoena to Trump's accounting firm, Mazars USA, is "overbroad."
In his ruling, the judge said Trump's legal team failed to show the subpoena was issued in "bad faith." Marrero wrote, "Justice requires an end to this controversy."
The decision follows a ruling from the Supreme Court in July that the president is not immune from a subpoena for his financial records from Vance's office.
Chief Justice John Roberts penned the court's opinion, writing, "In our system, the public has a right to every man's evidence," and "since the founding of the Republic, every man has included the President of the United States."
The court did, however, say Trump could return to the lower courts to raise objections to the subpoena.
Vance is investigating whether Trump or the Trump Organization violated New York state laws in connection with hush-money payments made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels and other women who have said they had affairs with the president. The president has denied those allegations.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Thursday after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Trump called the news a "continuation of the witch hunt."
"There's never been anything like it," he said, "where people want to examine every deal you've ever done, to see if they can find that there's a comma out of place. No president has every had to go through this. The Supreme Court shouldn't have allowed this to happen."
The president added: "We'll probably end up back in the Supreme Court."
Following the ruling, Trump's legal team filed an emergency motion asking the judge to stop the president's accounting firm from releasing Trump's tax returns until the attorneys can appeal.
Regardless of the court's response, the president's tax records are not expected to become public before the November election, ensuring it will remain an issue in the campaign. Following the Supreme Court's ruling last month, Democratic nominee Joe Biden tweeted a video tying the issue to corruption and transparency, telling the president to release his records or "shut up."


npr--2020-08-20--Germany's Proposed Dog Walking Law Stirs Consternation Among Pet Owners

This week , German Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner proposed an animal welfare ordinance that has some pet owners barking mad : a mandate to exercise one 's dog twice a day .
The ordinance would require that dogs be `` permitted to exercise outside of a kennel at least twice a day for a total of at least one hour , '' according to the ministry .
`` This is to ensure that dogs are given sufficient exercise and contact with environmental stimuli . ''
`` Pets are not cuddly toys — their needs must be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ministry suggested the exercise might take the form of a walk , or letting the dog run around outside .
The ordinance has stirred much discussion in the German press .
`` Two hours of walking will soon be mandatory ? ''
asks one headline .
`` Is the paternalism going too far ? ''
demands another .
`` I do n't believe in regulation ! ''
golden retriever owner Helge Melzer told the tabloid Bild .
`` Every dog is different , has a different age , different diseases , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot temperatures of the last few days , you should n't let your dog out for longer . ''
Bärbel Kleid owns a Yorkshire terrier in Berlin .
`` I find it patronizing to be told how long I should take my dog out for .
And who is going to check up on me ?
Will the neighbor call the police if they suspect me of not taking Sam for long enough walks ? ''
she told The Guardian .
But Julia Duden , who owns a 6-year-old Labrador , supported the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should definitely be a must ! ''
she told Bild .
`` It is absolutely correct and important that you go out with your dog for at least an hour every day . ''
There 's one question on everyone 's mind , in a nation with 9 million dogs : How would such a rule be enforced ?
It would be up to Germany 's states to figure that out .
A spokeswoman for the ministry said that authorities would not likely be ringing doorbells , asking dog owners if they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear whether the proposed rules are aimed at pushing ordinary dog owners to give their pets more exercise , or if the measures are really aimed at commercial dog breeders .
A spokesman for VDH , the German dog breeders ' association , said that a rule requiring specific amounts of time for dog walking does n't hit the mark .
VDH spokesman Udo Kopernik told the magazine Der Spiegel that the new rules would create minimum standards for dog dealers who do n't take animal welfare seriously .
But for normal dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A rule for all dogs is probably well meant , but unrealistic .
Just like us humans , dogs are very different .
There are dogs that need a lot more and some dogs that even get by with less , '' Kopernik said in an interview with Bild .
`` With very old dogs , it is enough to just lead them around the block twice a day . ''
The ordinance includes other provisions that have drawn less attention , including a ban on keeping dogs tethered to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs under certain conditions .
Also included is a ban on exhibiting dogs at dog shows that have `` tortured breeding characteristics . ''
This might include breeds such as the French bulldog or the pug , which often have breathing problems due to their breeding for a short snout .
The new rule is meant to remove incentives to breed such dogs and reduce demand for them , according to a ministry press release .
The German animal welfare association called the proposed regulations a step in the right direction — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far enough .
The group 's president , Thomas Schröder , said prospective dog owners should be required to prove expertise on dog care and training before purchase .
`` A dog needs daily exercise in the open air and social contacts according to its needs .
We welcome the fact that there are now more specific requirements , '' Schröder said .
And he had a suggestion that would likely aid enforcement of any dog exercise laws : `` If you want to protect dogs , you should also require owners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Germany's Proposed Dog Walking Law Stirs Consternation Among Pet Owners
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Probst/AP Michael Probst/AP
This week, German Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner proposed an animal welfare ordinance that has some pet owners barking mad: a mandate to exercise one's dog twice a day.
The ordinance would require that dogs be "permitted to exercise outside of a kennel at least twice a day for a total of at least one hour," according to the ministry. "This is to ensure that dogs are given sufficient exercise and contact with environmental stimuli."
"Pets are not cuddly toys — their needs must be taken into account," Klöckner said. The ministry suggested the exercise might take the form of a walk, or letting the dog run around outside.
The ordinance has stirred much discussion in the German press. "Two hours of walking will soon be mandatory?" asks one headline. "Is the paternalism going too far?" demands another.
"I don't believe in regulation!" golden retriever owner Helge Melzer told the tabloid Bild. "Every dog is different, has a different age, different diseases, and we have different climates. With the hot temperatures of the last few days, you shouldn't let your dog out for longer."
Bärbel Kleid owns a Yorkshire terrier in Berlin. "I find it patronizing to be told how long I should take my dog out for. And who is going to check up on me? Will the neighbor call the police if they suspect me of not taking Sam for long enough walks?" she told The Guardian.
But Julia Duden, who owns a 6-year-old Labrador, supported the law. "Going for a walk should definitely be a must!" she told Bild. "It is absolutely correct and important that you go out with your dog for at least an hour every day."
There's one question on everyone's mind, in a nation with 9 million dogs: How would such a rule be enforced?
It would be up to Germany's states to figure that out. A spokeswoman for the ministry said that authorities would not likely be ringing doorbells, asking dog owners if they had walked Fido yet.
It's not clear whether the proposed rules are aimed at pushing ordinary dog owners to give their pets more exercise, or if the measures are really aimed at commercial dog breeders.
A spokesman for VDH, the German dog breeders' association, said that a rule requiring specific amounts of time for dog walking doesn't hit the mark.
VDH spokesman Udo Kopernik told the magazine Der Spiegel that the new rules would create minimum standards for dog dealers who don't take animal welfare seriously. But for normal dog owners, he predicted little would change.
"A rule for all dogs is probably well meant, but unrealistic. Just like us humans, dogs are very different. There are dogs that need a lot more and some dogs that even get by with less," Kopernik said in an interview with Bild. "With very old dogs, it is enough to just lead them around the block twice a day."
The ordinance includes other provisions that have drawn less attention, including a ban on keeping dogs tethered to a chain, with an exception for working dogs under certain conditions.
Also included is a ban on exhibiting dogs at dog shows that have "tortured breeding characteristics." This might include breeds such as the French bulldog or the pug, which often have breathing problems due to their breeding for a short snout. The new rule is meant to remove incentives to breed such dogs and reduce demand for them, according to a ministry press release.
The German animal welfare association called the proposed regulations a step in the right direction — but said the new rule doesn't go far enough. The group's president, Thomas Schröder, said prospective dog owners should be required to prove expertise on dog care and training before purchase.
"A dog needs daily exercise in the open air and social contacts according to its needs. We welcome the fact that there are now more specific requirements," Schröder said.
And he had a suggestion that would likely aid enforcement of any dog exercise laws: "If you want to protect dogs, you should also require owners to identify and register their four-legged friends."


npr--2020-08-20--Why Rural America Is Fighting The Trump Administration On The Post Office

Why Rural America Is Fighting The Trump Administration On The Post Office Todd Troyer retired as an ironworker in Milwaukee and moved to rural Wisconsin 15 years ago .
The Vietnam veteran has diabetes and heart conditions and gets his prescriptions and insulin through the mail .
When his supply runs low , Troyer , 69 , phones in an order to the pharmacy at the nearest VA hospital , in Madison more than an hour 's drive away .
He depends on the mail especially now during the pandemic , as cases in his region are continuing to rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm worried about : Is it going to make it here or is n't it ?
I do n't know , '' Troyer says .
As if things were n't already stressful enough , he says , now mail deliveries could be further delayed amid a standoff over the Postal Service 's future .
`` What 's the deal with screwing over the mail ? ''
Troyer says .
`` I mean , mail has been running since we had horse riders bringing it . ''
In fact , you can trace the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Benjamin Franklin became the country 's first postmaster general .
A lot of people in rural areas , who were key to electing President Trump , are angry and organizing to save the Postal Service .
The agency overseen by the president is mandated to deliver to all of America , especially remote ZIP codes where private carriers wo n't go because it 's not profitable .
Amid a growing outcry from rural leaders , the Postal Service director recently backed down from planned broad cuts to overtime for mail carriers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down anymore facilities .
In many small towns , the post office is n't just a lifeline , it 's also a community hub , where folks meet their neighbors and catch up on local news and gossip .
`` More importantly for many folks who live in rural areas , their only daily contact may be the mail carrier , '' says Lois Davis , senior policy researcher at the Rand Corporation .
A recent study she led at the California-based security think tank showed that the Postal Service ranks high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public has trust in .
In an era when , generally , faith in institutions seems to be eroding , this does n't go unnoticed .
The post office 's revenue comes from all of us mailing stuff , which was on the decline even before the lockdown .
But Davis says the government has put a lot of restrictions on its ability to raise new funds .
`` We 've hamstrung their ability to turn a profit , but at the same time , we require them to do this universal service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement of , '' Davis says .
There was a push by some conservative lawmakers to privatize all mail deliveries long before the recent political battle over mail-in voting .
But there has been a bipartisan backlash to the Trump administration 's recent cuts , even in red states that the president carried easily .
`` If our mail is n't right , what other connections are we going to lose ? ''
says Rich Judge , an organizer with the newly formed left-leaning group Rural America 2020 .
His group is fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to threatened shutdowns of post offices and routes in Iowa , Michigan , Minnesota and Wisconsin .
Judge runs a small communications business from his home in rural Sauk County , Wis. , where , he says , small businesses and family dairy farmers are getting squeezed , working longer hours while also seeing their profits and savings decline .
`` You 're telling people who already have to work harder than they did 20 years ago , 'By the way , we 're going to impede your progress even more by hamstringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Judge sees the fight over the post office not unlike what is going on with the lack of high-speed Internet here and says rural America stands to keep falling further behind .

Why Rural America Is Fighting The Trump Administration On The Post Office
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Weaver/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Paul Weaver/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Todd Troyer retired as an ironworker in Milwaukee and moved to rural Wisconsin 15 years ago. The Vietnam veteran has diabetes and heart conditions and gets his prescriptions and insulin through the mail.
When his supply runs low, Troyer, 69, phones in an order to the pharmacy at the nearest VA hospital, in Madison more than an hour's drive away. He depends on the mail especially now during the pandemic, as cases in his region are continuing to rise.
"That's the thing I'm worried about: Is it going to make it here or isn't it? I don't know," Troyer says.
As if things weren't already stressful enough, he says, now mail deliveries could be further delayed amid a standoff over the Postal Service's future.
"What's the deal with screwing over the mail?" Troyer says. "I mean, mail has been running since we had horse riders bringing it."
In fact, you can trace the agency's roots back some 245 years, when Benjamin Franklin became the country's first postmaster general.
A lot of people in rural areas, who were key to electing President Trump, are angry and organizing to save the Postal Service. The agency overseen by the president is mandated to deliver to all of America, especially remote ZIP codes where private carriers won't go because it's not profitable.
Amid a growing outcry from rural leaders, the Postal Service director recently backed down from planned broad cuts to overtime for mail carriers and office hours and vowed not to shut down anymore facilities.
In many small towns, the post office isn't just a lifeline, it's also a community hub, where folks meet their neighbors and catch up on local news and gossip.
"More importantly for many folks who live in rural areas, their only daily contact may be the mail carrier," says Lois Davis, senior policy researcher at the Rand Corporation.
A recent study she led at the California-based security think tank showed that the Postal Service ranks high in terms of federal institutions that the public has trust in. In an era when, generally, faith in institutions seems to be eroding, this doesn't go unnoticed.
The post office's revenue comes from all of us mailing stuff, which was on the decline even before the lockdown. But Davis says the government has put a lot of restrictions on its ability to raise new funds.
"We've hamstrung their ability to turn a profit, but at the same time, we require them to do this universal service obligation that no other carrier has that requirement of," Davis says.
There was a push by some conservative lawmakers to privatize all mail deliveries long before the recent political battle over mail-in voting. But there has been a bipartisan backlash to the Trump administration's recent cuts, even in red states that the president carried easily.
"If our mail isn't right, what other connections are we going to lose?" says Rich Judge, an organizer with the newly formed left-leaning group Rural America 2020.
His group is fighting everything from the recent tariffs facing farmers to threatened shutdowns of post offices and routes in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Judge runs a small communications business from his home in rural Sauk County, Wis., where, he says, small businesses and family dairy farmers are getting squeezed, working longer hours while also seeing their profits and savings decline.
"You're telling people who already have to work harder than they did 20 years ago, 'By the way, we're going to impede your progress even more by hamstringing the Postal Service,' " Judge says.
Judge sees the fight over the post office not unlike what is going on with the lack of high-speed Internet here and says rural America stands to keep falling further behind.