cnbc--2020-09-10--Trump officials altered intel to downplay threats from Russia, White supremacists, DHS whistleblower

Trump officials altered intel to downplay threats from Russia, White supremacists, DHS whistleblower says

WASHINGTON – A former acting undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security accused top officials there of ordering him to stop sharing intelligence assessments on Russia 's efforts to interfere in the U.S. election because they `` made the President look bad . ''
According to a whistleblower complaint filed by Brian Murphy , former head of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS , top brass also told Murphy to downplay a threat assessment about White supremacy .
The formal whistleblower complaint describes a `` repeated pattern of abuse of authority , attempted censorship of intelligence analysis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Russian efforts to influence and undermine United States interests . ''
Among the most serious allegations are that acting Secretary Chad Wolf earlier this year instructed Murphy `` to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference in the United States , and instead start reporting on interference activities by China and Iran . ''
According to Murphy , Wolf told him the order came directly from President Donald Trump 's national security advisor , Robert O'Brien .
Murphy said he refused to comply with these instructions .
Homeland Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the homeland regardless of ideology .
The Acting Secretary is focused on thwarting election interference from any foreign powers and attacks from any extremist group , '' Woltornist said in a statement to CNBC .
White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews also denied that O'Brien tried to `` dictate the Intelligence Community 's focus on threats to the integrity of our elections or on any other topic . ''
`` Politicizing election security , a topic on which the National Security Council has convened dozens of high-level policy meetings in recent months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which on their face are rank hearsay , damages the national security of the United States , '' Matthews said in a statement .
Murphy 's complaint also described how the routine distribution of a Homeland Threat Assessment ( HTA ) report was `` prohibited due to concerns raised by Messrs. Wolf and [ acting Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ken ] Cuccinelli regarding how the HTA would reflect upon President Trump .
Two sections were specifically labeled as concerns : White Supremacy and Russian influence in the United States . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murphy to modify an assessment on White supremacy in order make `` the threat appear less severe , as well as include information on the prominence of violent 'left-wing ' groups . ''
The House Intelligence Committee announced Wednesday that it had received Murphy 's complaint and requested that he testify before the committee as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged intelligence manipulation at DHS .
Neither the White House nor DHS immediately responded to CNBC 's request for comment on the whistleblower complaint .
`` Mr. Murphy 's allegations are serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Russia 's election interference and making false statements to Congress about terrorism threats at our southern border , to modifying intelligence assessments to match the President 's rhetoric on Antifa and minimizing the threat posed by white supremacists , '' said Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , in a statement .
Schiff added that the complaint `` puts into stark relief how dangerous and harmful it is for American voters that the Trump Administration has decided to end briefings to Congress about foreign interference in our upcoming election .
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Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during a press conference with the other House impeachment managers before the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump resumes at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – A former acting undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security accused top officials there of ordering him to stop sharing intelligence assessments on Russia's efforts to interfere in the U.S. election because they "made the President look bad." According to a whistleblower complaint filed by Brian Murphy, former head of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS, top brass also told Murphy to downplay a threat assessment about White supremacy. The formal whistleblower complaint describes a "repeated pattern of abuse of authority, attempted censorship of intelligence analysis and improper administration of an intelligence program related to Russian efforts to influence and undermine United States interests." Among the most serious allegations are that acting Secretary Chad Wolf earlier this year instructed Murphy "to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference in the United States, and instead start reporting on interference activities by China and Iran."
U.S. President Donald President Trump listens to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf during a briefing on Hurricane Laura at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, August 27, 2020. Carlos Barria | Reuters
According to Murphy, Wolf told him the order came directly from President Donald Trump's national security advisor, Robert O'Brien. Murphy said he refused to comply with these instructions. Department spokesman Alexei Woltornist said DHS denies Murphy's allegations. Homeland Security "is working to address all threats to the homeland regardless of ideology. The Acting Secretary is focused on thwarting election interference from any foreign powers and attacks from any extremist group," Woltornist said in a statement to CNBC. White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews also denied that O'Brien tried to "dictate the Intelligence Community's focus on threats to the integrity of our elections or on any other topic." "Politicizing election security, a topic on which the National Security Council has convened dozens of high-level policy meetings in recent months, through specious complaints based on false allegations, which on their face are rank hearsay, damages the national security of the United States," Matthews said in a statement. Murphy's complaint also described how the routine distribution of a Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA) report was "prohibited due to concerns raised by Messrs. Wolf and [acting Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ken] Cuccinelli regarding how the HTA would reflect upon President Trump. Two sections were specifically labeled as concerns: White Supremacy and Russian influence in the United States."
Acting Director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli speaks during a briefing at the White House August 12, 2019, in Washington, DC. The administration of US President Donald Trump announced Monday new rules that aim to deny permanent residency and citizenship benefits to migrants who receive food stamps, Medicaid and other public welfare. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-09-10--Leaders of progressive donor fund launch new PAC focusing on down-ballot races

The leaders of a progressive donor fund are launching a political action committee aiming to help down-ballot candidates .
The committee , called Way to Lead , is meant to act as a hybrid PAC that will contribute to candidates at state and federal levels .
The group 's affiliated state PACs are also slated to help .
The overall effort will include spending on advertisements and voter outreach .
It is being run by a co-founder of Way to Win , a fundraising hub dedicated to helping progressive candidates and organizations .
Way to Win has moved over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far in the 2020 election cycle .
The new PAC is being run by Jenifer Ancona , a co-founder of Way to Win .
The committee plans to launch on Thursday with over $ 5 million that will be spent on targeting voters in key states , such as Arizona , Florida , Pennsylvania , North Carolina , Texas and Georgia , Ancona said in an interview with CNBC .
The first wave of endorsements is for Democratic candidates battling it out in federal and statewide races .
Some of the PAC 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a philanthropist and the daughter of Democratic donor James Simons ; Susan Stowell Pritzker , a member of the wealthy Pritzker family that includes Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and President Barack Obama 's former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker ; and philanthropist Faye Straus .
Many of the PAC 's advisors have ties to the larger progressive movement .
Among them are Alexandra Rojas , the executive director of Justice Democrats , and Sean McElwee , a co-founder of the nonprofit think tank Data for Progress .
Way to Lead hopes to target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , including young people who do n't always participate in elections .
Ancona says they are n't looking to focus on publishing ads that attack President Donald Trump but , instead , produce spots that have a bigger-picture story on the importance of voting in the upcoming election .
Their first digital ad , called `` What 's Possible , '' highlights what the group believes is a future under policies that match the Democratic Party 's platform , such as the raising of wages and fighting back against climate change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under President Donald Trump .
It shows video of recent protests that occurred after the police killing of George Floyd , calls out tax cuts for the highest earners and ends with a slate that says `` vote Democrats . ''

The leaders of a progressive donor fund are launching a political action committee aiming to help down-ballot candidates.
The committee, called Way to Lead, is meant to act as a hybrid PAC that will contribute to candidates at state and federal levels.
The group's affiliated state PACs are also slated to help. The overall effort will include spending on advertisements and voter outreach. It is being run by a co-founder of Way to Win, a fundraising hub dedicated to helping progressive candidates and organizations.
Way to Win has moved over $60 million to progressive Democratic causes so far in the 2020 election cycle.
The new PAC is being run by Jenifer Ancona, a co-founder of Way to Win. The committee plans to launch on Thursday with over $5 million that will be spent on targeting voters in key states, such as Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia, Ancona said in an interview with CNBC. The first wave of endorsements is for Democratic candidates battling it out in federal and statewide races.
Some of the PAC's early financial supporters include Liz Simons, a philanthropist and the daughter of Democratic donor James Simons; Susan Stowell Pritzker, a member of the wealthy Pritzker family that includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and President Barack Obama's former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker; and philanthropist Faye Straus.
Many of the PAC's advisors have ties to the larger progressive movement. Among them are Alexandra Rojas, the executive director of Justice Democrats, and Sean McElwee, a co-founder of the nonprofit think tank Data for Progress.
Way to Lead hopes to target what Ancona calls "high potential" voters, including young people who don't always participate in elections. Ancona says they aren't looking to focus on publishing ads that attack President Donald Trump but, instead, produce spots that have a bigger-picture story on the importance of voting in the upcoming election.
Their first digital ad, called "What's Possible," highlights what the group believes is a future under policies that match the Democratic Party's platform, such as the raising of wages and fighting back against climate change, and contrasts with what's taken place under President Donald Trump. It shows video of recent protests that occurred after the police killing of George Floyd, calls out tax cuts for the highest earners and ends with a slate that says "vote Democrats."


cnbc--2020-09-10--How James and Kathryn Murdoch became a political power couple in the Trump era

The powerful Murdoch family is often linked to conservative politics , particularly through its control of Fox News .
Yet James Murdoch , one of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch 's sons , and spouse Kathryn Murdoch are working to create their own legacy by supporting causes across the political spectrum .
They have have used their cash and influence to become a political power couple in a fractured Washington .
A list from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics showing the 2020 election cycle 's top donors ranks James and Kathryn Murdoch 13th among a group of 100 contributors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Murdochs have contributed over $ 11 million to political causes , with over $ 2.5 million going to Democrats .
They have also focused some of their efforts on opposing President Donald Trump .
In an exclusive interview with CNBC , Kathryn Murdoch discussed how she and her husband became involved with what she describes as standing up for democracy reform .
She also said she sees Trump and his administration standing in the way of several reforms .
Murdoch points to Trump 's dismissive attitude toward climate change and his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to push back on the concept of expanded voting by mail , as reasons she believes it 's time for Joe Biden to become president .
`` I think it is disappointing that the administration is relying on feelings about things , gut instincts , rather than on data and science , '' Kathryn Murdoch said Wednesday , when asked about Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It was a real missed opportunity from the White House .
I think they are going to end up harming their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well served by the postal service and that 's an example of those feelings getting in the way of data and the science , '' she said in discussing Trump 's push back against mail-in ballots .
Voting by mail has been expanded in certain states in the wake of a pandemic that has made in-person voting a risky proposition for many voters and volunteers .
Kathryn Murdoch noted Biden 's professed reliance on science and data is one of the reasons she and and her husband are supporting the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June to contribute over $ 1.2 million to the Biden Victory Fund , a joint fundraising operation between Biden 's campaign and the Democratic National Committee , according to Federal Election Commission records .
Still , the story of how the couple has become influential donors while remaining largely out of the political limelight starts , at least in part , around the time of the 2018 congressional midterm elections , when Democrats won the majority in the House .
For a group known as Unite America , it was a time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent nominees that the nonpartisan organization endorsed that year ended up losing .
Its political action committees , according to records , ended up having at least $ 230,000 on hand at the end of the 2018 election cycle .
Their 501 ( c ) 3 , called the Unite America Institute , finished with just over $ 10,000 in net assets , according to its 2018 disclosure report .
The group needed a new path and more funding .
After receiving multiyear donor commitments from their network , they turned to Kathryn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blog post by Unite America says the group first met Murdoch in December 2017 .
Just before she became the co-chair of Unite America in 2019 , the couple 's foundation , Quadrivium , conducted a study that depicted where best to put financial resources to fight against what she saw as gridlock in Washington .
She also aimed to increase voter participation and combat climate change , among other initiatives , she told CNBC .
That road map , which was presented to Unite America 's executive director , Nick Troiano at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hoping to move toward in the coming years , and the two organizations `` combined forces , '' she explained .
Charles Wheelan , the founder of Unite America , declined to comment .
Quadrivium , Murdoch said , has continued to help many of the groups they originally planned to finance , including Defending Democracy Together , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization led by Republican Bill Kristol , a former member of President Ronald Reagan 's administration and a staunch Trump critic .
The group has crafted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the intention of taking down Trump in November .
Those projects include the Republican Voters Against Trump , Republicans for the Rule of Law and Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden .
A list of Quadrivium grantees provided to CNBC shows that Republicans for the Rule of Law has received funding from the Murdoch backed foundation .
A spokeswoman for Defending Democracy Together confirmed that Quadrivium did help fund the group , which was founded nearly two years ago .
Another group that received assistance from Quadrivium , Murdoch said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that brings together America 's leading creative , analytic and media agencies to shift the narrative on climate change , '' according to its website .
Another group is Represent Us , which , according to their website , is `` a powerful movement of independents , progressives , and conservatives building on America 's long tradition of pursuing federal reform through the states . ''
Their board includes actress Jennifer Lawrence and actor Ed Helms .
Quadrivium is listed on the Represent Us website as a foundation that 's given at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Energy did not return a request for comment .
Outside of Kathryn 's ongoing ventures through Quadrivium , the Murdochs ' total donations to federal candidates and outside fundraising committees rank in the top 20 for the first time since at least 2010 , according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
They 've contributed just under $ 12 million so far this cycle , data shows , with some going toward Biden 's campaign for president in the second quarter .
James and Kathryn Murdoch have so far given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soros , Reid Hoffman and Haim Saban , according to the data .
The Murdoch family , headed by Rupert Murdoch , controls Fox Corp. and News Corp. James ' brother Lachlan Murdoch is the CEO of Fox , which has multiple assets including Fox News .
James Murdoch recently decided to step down from the News Corp. board and was CEO of 21st Century Fox before it was acquired by Disney .
Fox News ' primetime hosts have often publicly supported Trump and his policies .
Meanwhile , James Murdoch himself began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infamous rallies in Charlottesville , Virginia , during which an anti-racism protester was killed .
In an email , while he was the CEO of 21st Century Fox , Murdoch told friends , `` I ca n't even believe I have to write this : standing up to Nazis is essential ; there are no good Nazis .
Or Klansmen , or terrorists .
Democrats , Republicans , and others must all agree on this , and it compromises nothing for them to do so . ''
His comments came after Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides '' of those protests .
Murdoch noted in the email that he and Kathryn Murdoch would be donating $ 1 million to the Anti-Defamation League .
Murdoch said in July of this year that he was leaving the board of News Corp. `` due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company 's news outlets and certain other strategic decisions . ''
He did not expand on what specific disagreements he had .
News Corp. 's businesses include the New York Post and Dow Jones , which publishes The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Forbes , is worth $ 18 billion .
James Murdoch declined CNBC 's request to be interviewed for this story .
James and Kathryn Murdoch 's financial might has been on full display during the 2020 election cycle .
Kathryn Murdoch has given over $ 8 million to Unite America 's PAC since joining the team early last year , data from CRP shows .
That 's over half of the $ 14 million raised this cycle alone .
She has privately encouraged other donors in her network of wealthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people familiar with the matter , who declined to be named as those efforts are often in private .
The Unite America Fund , according to its website , has a slew of groups in its donor portfolio that focus on a range of political issues , including those looking to make an impact on gerrymandering and vote by mail .
Those who have worked with Kathryn Murdoch recently say that her efforts with Unite America are why she 's become such a key player in the political finance world .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really started to convince the philanthropic community that political philanthropy is the greatest contribution they can make to the country right now , '' former U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo , R-Fla. , told CNBC in an interview .
Curbelo , who joined Unite America 's board a few months ago , said that in a recent Zoom conference call with the group 's leaders and potential new donors , Murdoch made her own personal pitch as to why financiers should pitch in .
Murdoch was `` just trying to put business and civic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political philanthropy that will lead to meaningful reforms , '' he said in describing her message .
`` For philanthropy , investing in politics has never been a thing , and in her case it 's the most important thing right now . ''
he said .
Others on the board with ties to the business and philanthropic community include Marc Merrill , the co-founder of video game developer Riot Games ; Shawn Riegsecker , the CEO of Centro ; and Katherine Gehl , the former CEO of Gehl Foods .
Unite America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved with primary elections , backing both Democrats and Republicans .
One of its affiliated super PACs , called Fix Congress Now , looked to make an impact in the Republican primary against Rep. Steve King , R-Iowa .
The PAC donated $ 50,000 to Priorities for Iowa , a super PAC that spent almost $ 340,000 supporting Randy Feenstra , King 's primary opponent , CRP data shows .
Feenstra went on to beat King to become the Republican nominee for Iowa 's Fourth District .
Murdoch , according to a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved with deciding to give to the PAC , but she and other board members were in favor of backing Feenstra over King , who has a long history of racist remarks .
In the 2020 cycle , seven out of 10 Unite America congressional candidates and 18 out of 22 state legislative candidates the group supported won their primaries .
Giving to Democrats and others This cycle also marks the most Kathryn Murdoch herself has spent on individual candidates and outside political efforts .
With the exception of Unite America , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A person close to her said her decisions on whom to support are tied to what she believes is a threat to democracy .
She gave $ 615,000 to the Biden Victory Fund , a joint fundraising committee between Biden 's campaign and the Democratic National Committee , according to Federal Election Commission filings .
She gave $ 1 million to the Senate Majority PAC , a super PAC dedicated to helping Democrats become the majority in the U.S. Senate .
She 's also given $ 540,000 to Future Forward USA , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going after Trump .
After his tenure as CEO of 21st Century Fox ended last year , James Murdoch founded an investment firm in March 2019 called Lupa Systems .
Since then , Murdoch has been giving heavily to Democrats .
Though he was a supporter of Hillary Clinton 's 2016 run for president while he was in charge at Fox , he has surpassed prior donation amounts as of about two months until the upcoming Election Day .
One of the biggest checks James Murdoch wrote was $ 615,000 to the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also gave a small check to Pete Buttigieg 's presidential campaign for president during the primary .
James Murdoch also recently donated $ 250,000 to Change Now , a super PAC that has targeted Trump .
He gave $ 60,000 to Black PAC , a super PAC that focuses on mobilizing Black voters .
The committee has spent $ 1.2 million targeting Trump and $ 1.6 million backing Biden , records show .
Murdoch has also contributed max checks of $ 2,800 to a variety of Senate races that are in play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to Democrats running in Maine , Iowa , Arizona , Colorado and Montana .
Of those five states , all are considered toss-ups except for Arizona , which is now marked as `` lean Democrat '' by the Cook Political Report .
Murdoch is also on the board of Center for a New American Security , a bipartisan think tank that has teamed up with Quadrivium , the Murdoch foundation , to counter what they call `` high tech illiberalism . ''
Through a grant given by Quadrivium , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. and allied strategy to curb China 's ability to use digital infrastructure to contravene international standards for freedom and transparency . ''

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James Murdoch (L) and his wife Kathryn Hufschmid arrive at St Bride's church on Fleet Street in central London on March 5, 2016, to attend a ceremony of celebration a day after the official marriage of Australian born media magnate Rupert Murdoch and former model Jerry Hall. Justin Tallis | AFP | Getty Images
The powerful Murdoch family is often linked to conservative politics, particularly through its control of Fox News. Yet James Murdoch, one of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch's sons, and spouse Kathryn Murdoch are working to create their own legacy by supporting causes across the political spectrum. They have have used their cash and influence to become a political power couple in a fractured Washington. A list from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics showing the 2020 election cycle's top donors ranks James and Kathryn Murdoch 13th among a group of 100 contributors from both parties. Data shows that the Murdochs have contributed over $11 million to political causes, with over $2.5 million going to Democrats. They have also focused some of their efforts on opposing President Donald Trump. In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Kathryn Murdoch discussed how she and her husband became involved with what she describes as standing up for democracy reform. She also said she sees Trump and his administration standing in the way of several reforms. Murdoch points to Trump's dismissive attitude toward climate change and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly his efforts to push back on the concept of expanded voting by mail, as reasons she believes it's time for Joe Biden to become president. "I think it is disappointing that the administration is relying on feelings about things, gut instincts, rather than on data and science," Kathryn Murdoch said Wednesday, when asked about Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. "It was a real missed opportunity from the White House. I think they are going to end up harming their own voters because lots of rural people are well served by the postal service and that's an example of those feelings getting in the way of data and the science," she said in discussing Trump's push back against mail-in ballots. Voting by mail has been expanded in certain states in the wake of a pandemic that has made in-person voting a risky proposition for many voters and volunteers. Kathryn Murdoch noted Biden's professed reliance on science and data is one of the reasons she and and her husband are supporting the former vice president's campaign. The two combined in June to contribute over $1.2 million to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising operation between Biden's campaign and the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission records.
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Into the limelight
Still, the story of how the couple has become influential donors while remaining largely out of the political limelight starts, at least in part, around the time of the 2018 congressional midterm elections, when Democrats won the majority in the House. For a group known as Unite America, it was a time of reflection and recalculation. Many of the independent nominees that the nonpartisan organization endorsed that year ended up losing. Its political action committees, according to records, ended up having at least $230,000 on hand at the end of the 2018 election cycle. Their 501(c)3, called the Unite America Institute, finished with just over $10,000 in net assets, according to its 2018 disclosure report. The group needed a new path and more funding. After receiving multiyear donor commitments from their network, they turned to Kathryn Murdoch for a potential partnership. A blog post by Unite America says the group first met Murdoch in December 2017. Just before she became the co-chair of Unite America in 2019, the couple's foundation, Quadrivium, conducted a study that depicted where best to put financial resources to fight against what she saw as gridlock in Washington. She also aimed to increase voter participation and combat climate change, among other initiatives, she told CNBC. That road map, which was presented to Unite America's executive director, Nick Troiano at the time, mirrored what the group was hoping to move toward in the coming years, and the two organizations "combined forces," she explained. Charles Wheelan, the founder of Unite America, declined to comment. Quadrivium, Murdoch said, has continued to help many of the groups they originally planned to finance, including Defending Democracy Together, a 501(c)(4) organization led by Republican Bill Kristol, a former member of President Ronald Reagan's administration and a staunch Trump critic. The group has crafted numerous projects involving other Republican officials, with the intention of taking down Trump in November. Those projects include the Republican Voters Against Trump, Republicans for the Rule of Law and Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden. A list of Quadrivium grantees provided to CNBC shows that Republicans for the Rule of Law has received funding from the Murdoch backed foundation. A spokeswoman for Defending Democracy Together confirmed that Quadrivium did help fund the group, which was founded nearly two years ago. Another group that received assistance from Quadrivium, Murdoch said, is Potential Energy, a nonprofit "that brings together America's leading creative, analytic and media agencies to shift the narrative on climate change," according to its website. Another group is Represent Us, which, according to their website, is "a powerful movement of independents, progressives, and conservatives building on America's long tradition of pursuing federal reform through the states." Their board includes actress Jennifer Lawrence and actor Ed Helms. Quadrivium is listed on the Represent Us website as a foundation that's given at least $100,000. A representative for Potential Energy did not return a request for comment.
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Outside of Kathryn's ongoing ventures through Quadrivium, the Murdochs' total donations to federal candidates and outside fundraising committees rank in the top 20 for the first time since at least 2010, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. They've contributed just under $12 million so far this cycle, data shows, with some going toward Biden's campaign for president in the second quarter. James and Kathryn Murdoch have so far given more than several megadonors such as George Soros, Reid Hoffman and Haim Saban, according to the data. The Murdoch family, headed by Rupert Murdoch, controls Fox Corp. and News Corp. James' brother Lachlan Murdoch is the CEO of Fox, which has multiple assets including Fox News. James Murdoch recently decided to step down from the News Corp. board and was CEO of 21st Century Fox before it was acquired by Disney. Fox News' primetime hosts have often publicly supported Trump and his policies. Meanwhile, James Murdoch himself began publicly resisting Trump in 2017 after the infamous rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which an anti-racism protester was killed. In an email, while he was the CEO of 21st Century Fox, Murdoch told friends, "I can't even believe I have to write this: standing up to Nazis is essential; there are no good Nazis. Or Klansmen, or terrorists. Democrats, Republicans, and others must all agree on this, and it compromises nothing for them to do so." His comments came after Trump said there were "very fine people on both sides" of those protests. Murdoch noted in the email that he and Kathryn Murdoch would be donating $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League. Murdoch said in July of this year that he was leaving the board of News Corp. "due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company's news outlets and certain other strategic decisions." He did not expand on what specific disagreements he had. News Corp.'s businesses include the New York Post and Dow Jones, which publishes The Wall Street Journal. The Murdoch family, according to Forbes, is worth $18 billion. James Murdoch declined CNBC's request to be interviewed for this story.
2020 election arrives
James and Kathryn Murdoch's financial might has been on full display during the 2020 election cycle. Kathryn Murdoch has given over $8 million to Unite America's PAC since joining the team early last year, data from CRP shows. That's over half of the $14 million raised this cycle alone. She has privately encouraged other donors in her network of wealthy philanthropists to back the organization, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as those efforts are often in private. The Unite America Fund, according to its website, has a slew of groups in its donor portfolio that focus on a range of political issues, including those looking to make an impact on gerrymandering and vote by mail. Those who have worked with Kathryn Murdoch recently say that her efforts with Unite America are why she's become such a key player in the political finance world. "She's a powerhouse and she's really started to convince the philanthropic community that political philanthropy is the greatest contribution they can make to the country right now," former U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., told CNBC in an interview. Curbelo, who joined Unite America's board a few months ago, said that in a recent Zoom conference call with the group's leaders and potential new donors, Murdoch made her own personal pitch as to why financiers should pitch in. Murdoch was "just trying to put business and civic leaders in the mindset in investing into political philanthropy that will lead to meaningful reforms," he said in describing her message. "For philanthropy, investing in politics has never been a thing, and in her case it's the most important thing right now." he said. Others on the board with ties to the business and philanthropic community include Marc Merrill, the co-founder of video game developer Riot Games; Shawn Riegsecker, the CEO of Centro; and Katherine Gehl, the former CEO of Gehl Foods. Unite America promotes itself as only looking to get involved with primary elections, backing both Democrats and Republicans. One of its affiliated super PACs, called Fix Congress Now, looked to make an impact in the Republican primary against Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. The PAC donated $50,000 to Priorities for Iowa, a super PAC that spent almost $340,000 supporting Randy Feenstra, King's primary opponent, CRP data shows. Feenstra went on to beat King to become the Republican nominee for Iowa's Fourth District. Murdoch, according to a person familiar with the matter, wasn't involved with deciding to give to the PAC, but she and other board members were in favor of backing Feenstra over King, who has a long history of racist remarks. In the 2020 cycle, seven out of 10 Unite America congressional candidates and 18 out of 22 state legislative candidates the group supported won their primaries.
Giving to Democrats and others
This cycle also marks the most Kathryn Murdoch herself has spent on individual candidates and outside political efforts. With the exception of Unite America, all of her contributions are to Democrats. A person close to her said her decisions on whom to support are tied to what she believes is a threat to democracy. She gave $615,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Biden's campaign and the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. She gave $1 million to the Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC dedicated to helping Democrats become the majority in the U.S. Senate. She's also given $540,000 to Future Forward USA, which has so far spent $2 million going after Trump. After his tenure as CEO of 21st Century Fox ended last year, James Murdoch founded an investment firm in March 2019 called Lupa Systems. Since then, Murdoch has been giving heavily to Democrats. Though he was a supporter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 run for president while he was in charge at Fox, he has surpassed prior donation amounts as of about two months until the upcoming Election Day. One of the biggest checks James Murdoch wrote was $615,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, FEC records show. He also gave a small check to Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign for president during the primary. James Murdoch also recently donated $250,000 to Change Now, a super PAC that has targeted Trump. He gave $60,000 to Black PAC, a super PAC that focuses on mobilizing Black voters. The committee has spent $1.2 million targeting Trump and $1.6 million backing Biden, records show. Murdoch has also contributed max checks of $2,800 to a variety of Senate races that are in play for Democrats this cycle. He's given to Democrats running in Maine, Iowa, Arizona, Colorado and Montana. Of those five states, all are considered toss-ups except for Arizona, which is now marked as "lean Democrat" by the Cook Political Report. Murdoch is also on the board of Center for a New American Security, a bipartisan think tank that has teamed up with Quadrivium, the Murdoch foundation, to counter what they call "high tech illiberalism." Through a grant given by Quadrivium, one of the CNAS projects includes focusing "on developing a U.S. and allied strategy to curb China's ability to use digital infrastructure to contravene international standards for freedom and transparency."


cnbc--2020-09-10--When does vote by mail and early voting start? A state by state guide

An election worker opens envelopes containing vote-by-mail ballots for the August 4 Washington state primary at King County Elections in Renton , Washington on August 3 , 2020 .
The contest between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has officially entered the voting phase .
North Carolina was scheduled to start mailing out more than 600,000 absentee ballots on Friday .
The state , a hotly contested battleground , is the first to begin its vote-by-mail process .
Other states will follow suit in the coming days , with more than half starting to send out their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eight states are also scheduled to open up early in-person voting in September .
Early voting , whether in person or by mail , is generally consequential , with more than 40 million Americans casting ballots ahead of Election Day in 2016 .
But because of the Covid-19 pandemic , it could be dramatically more important in 2020 .
According to an NBC|SurveyMonkey poll released this week , 52 % of adults plan to vote early this year , the bulk of which say they will do so via the mail .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will vote by mail , while both Republicans and Democrats are about as likely to say they will vote early in person .
Below , you can see when your state starts sending out absentee ballots and when it opens in-person early voting .
The data is compiled from the National Conference of State Legislatures and Vote.org .
It is possible that dates may have changed in response to coronavirus , however , and it is best to check directly with your local elections office .

An election worker opens envelopes containing vote-by-mail ballots for the August 4 Washington state primary at King County Elections in Renton, Washington on August 3, 2020.
The contest between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has officially entered the voting phase.
North Carolina was scheduled to start mailing out more than 600,000 absentee ballots on Friday. The state, a hotly contested battleground, is the first to begin its vote-by-mail process.
Other states will follow suit in the coming days, with more than half starting to send out their ballots before the start of October. Eight states are also scheduled to open up early in-person voting in September.
Early voting, whether in person or by mail, is generally consequential, with more than 40 million Americans casting ballots ahead of Election Day in 2016. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it could be dramatically more important in 2020.
According to an NBC|SurveyMonkey poll released this week, 52% of adults plan to vote early this year, the bulk of which say they will do so via the mail. Democrats are far more likely to say they will vote by mail, while both Republicans and Democrats are about as likely to say they will vote early in person.
Below, you can see when your state starts sending out absentee ballots and when it opens in-person early voting. The data is compiled from the National Conference of State Legislatures and Vote.org.
It is possible that dates may have changed in response to coronavirus, however, and it is best to check directly with your local elections office.


cnbc--2020-09-11--A guide to 2020's most important Senate races

Whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden gets sworn in as president in January , the composition of the Senate will shape what they can accomplish .
Republicans and Democrats have settled into the final weeks of a high-stakes fight for two years of Senate control .
The party that wins a majority will not only dictate what policies the president can pass — on issues from health care to taxes and climate change — but also play a role in who he puts on federal courts .
The GOP holds a 53-47 advantage in the Senate .
The party has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared with 12 for Democrats .
To gain control of the chamber , Democrats need to flip a net three seats if Biden wins ( or four if he loses ) .
The Republican-held Senate has bolstered Trump during his first term in office .
Not only has it confirmed a flood of his judicial appointments and cast aside a bevy of legislation passed by the Democratic-held House , but also it acquitted the president this year after the House impeached him .
Read below for a look at the states and candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate .
Read more : When does vote by mail and early voting start ?
A state by state guide How to read this guide : Follow along from start to finish , or use the below table of contents to find the section ( s ) you want to learn more about .
Democratic Sen. Doug Jones has the toughest path to reelection of any incumbent this year .
He faces Republican former college football coach Tommy Tuberville in a state Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points in 2016 .
Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election to complete Republican Jeff Sessions ' term when the senator left to become Trump 's attorney general .
Tuberville , 65 , then beat Sessions in this year 's GOP primary .
Jones has touted bipartisan work as he represents a red state , including in trying to rein in the Trump administration 's trade war with China .
Still , he has sided with Democrats on some of the most important votes he has taken .
Jones voted to remove Trump from office after his impeachment trial and opposed Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP also targeted him in September for voting against a Republican coronavirus stimulus bill that Democrats unanimously opposed .
Tuberville , who coached at Auburn University in Alabama , has run as a staunch Trump ally .
He has pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act and push back on gun safety measures , among other policies .
Another one of the toughest races for senators running this year , the Arizona contest pits Republican Sen. Martha McSally against Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly .
The special election will decide who serves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's term into 2023 .
McSally , 54 , was appointed to the Senate in December 2018 after she lost the race for Arizona 's second seat in the chamber to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema .
The state is one of a handful that will play a major role in determining both the Senate majority and the resident of the White House .
Trump won the state by more than 3 percentage points in 2016 , but Democrats see the opportunity for more gains there this year .
Kelly , 56 , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money than McSally .
In another election year when health care is top of mind , Democrats have criticized the incumbent for her vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as a House member in 2017 .
McSally , an Air Force veteran , has promoted her efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic .
She joined this year with Sens .
Mitt Romney , R-Utah , and Susan Collins , R-Maine , to put forward an unemployment benefits plan more generous than the one her party 's leaders initially proposed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tough reelection push in a state that has taken on more of a blue hue .
He will run against former two-term Gov .
John Hickenlooper in November .
Colorado has recently become less hospitable for the GOP statewide .
Hillary Clinton carried the state by about 5 percentage points in 2016 .
Then , Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis won it by more than 10 percentage points in 2018 .
Gardner , 46 , has touted work with Democrats on issues including the relaxation of marijuana laws and public lands preservation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposing party argues he has not done enough to check the president .
He was among several GOP senators running for reelection who voted not to remove Trump from office earlier this year .
Hickenlooper , like most Democrats seeking Senate seats this year , has run on preserving health-care coverage .
The 68-year-old has criticized the chamber over Congress ' delays in passing coronavirus relief .
While early polls found Hickenlooper leading the race , a ruling that he violated state ethics rules as governor sparked criticism from both his Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not won a Senate or presidential race in Georgia since 2000 .
The party has ambitious goals for 2020 with two Senate seats and the state 's electoral votes up for grabs .
Republican Sen. David Perdue , 70 , seeks his second term in the Senate .
He faces 33-year-old Democrat Jon Ossoff , an investigative journalist who lost a closely watched U.S. House special election in 2017 .
Perdue , a Trump ally , has faced backlash for a flurry of stock trades an advisor made near the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one company that makes personal protective equipment .
He has denied wrongdoing .
The senator has said his portfolio manager has since stopped investing in individual companies .
Ossoff has focused much of his campaign messaging on Republicans ' handling of the pandemic .
He went into isolation at one point during the race after his wife , Emory University physician Alisha Kramer , tested positive for Covid-19 .
Perdue won his Senate race by about 8 percentage points in 2014 .
Polling averages have found him leading Ossoff .
GOP Sen. Johnny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year opened up a messy race to succeed him .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler , the 49-year-old Republican appointed to succeed him , faces a tough path to keeping the seat this year .
Polls show Loeffler , Republican U.S. Rep Doug Collins , Democratic pastor Raphael Warnock and Democratic teacher Matt Lieberman leading a packed field .
If no candidate garners more than half of the vote – which appears likely – the race will go to a runoff between the top two candidates in January .
Loeffler faced criticism after she and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sprecher , started a sale of more than $ 1 million in stocks on the same day as a senators-only briefing on the pandemic in January .
Loeffler has denied wrongdoing , and the Justice Department eventually dropped a probe into the sales .
Still , opponents such as Collins have seized on the episode as evidence Loeffler is unfit for office .
Loeffler , owner of the WNBA 's Atlanta Dream , has also criticized the basketball league for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement this year during a national reckoning over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then donned shirts supporting Warnock .
Lieberman , the son of former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman , has faced calls to drop out because of a book he wrote in 2018 that the head of the state NAACP said contains `` racist tropes . ''
His presence in the race could potentially hurt Warnock 's efforts to secure a spot in a runoff election .
Trump ran away with Iowa in 2016 .
Four years later , polls suggest the state 's presidential and Senate races could be competitive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks a second term in the Senate .
She faces 56-year-old Democratic businesswoman Theresa Greenfield in November .
Ernst won her first Senate election by more than 8 percentage points in 2014 .
While the senator enters the final stretch of the election with more cash at her disposal than Greenfield has , polls have found a close race for the seat .
Ernst has touted her work on economic issues in her first term , including pushing for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns for farmers in Iowa .
Greenfield has focused in particular on Ernst 's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017 .
She says rolling back the health-care law would jeopardize the state 's Medicaid expansion and coverage for people with pre-existing conditions .
Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces the toughest reelection bid of her more than 20-year Senate career .
She runs against Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon , 48 , in a state that typically leans blue in presidential election years .
Collins , 67 , seeks her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator has long tried to build a record of bipartisan cooperation , her efforts to appease a broad swath of voters have proved more difficult during Trump 's first term .
While she cast a critical 2017 vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act , Collins also sparked outrage among liberals the next year by voting to confirm Kavanaugh .
The senator has most recently touted her role in crafting the Paycheck Protection Program loan program that buoyed many small businesses during the pandemic .
Gideon , like most Democrats trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign based around preserving health-care coverage .
Polling averages have found a narrow edge for the Democrat .
In 2018 , Democratic Gov .
Janet Mills and independent Sen. Angus King ( who caucuses with Democrats ) won statewide races in Maine .
Democratic Rep. Jared Golden flipped the state 's 2nd Congressional District in a narrow victory over Republican incumbent Bud Poliquin .
Clinton won the 2016 statewide vote by about 3 percentage points , and won three of Maine 's four electoral votes ( which it partly apportions by congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of only two senators from his party running in a state Trump won in 2016 .
The potential for Michigan to be competitive gives Republicans hope John James can flip the seat .
The president carried Michigan by a razor-thin margin of about 11,000 votes in 2016 .
Polling averages show Biden leading a close race there this year following a series of Democratic triumphs in 2018 .
Peters , 61 , seeks a second term in the Senate after he tried to define himself as a bipartisan pragmatist during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee , the senator has recently taken a leading role in oversight of the U.S .
Postal Service after concerns that changed overseen by new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy led to mail slowdowns .
James , a 39-year-old Army veteran and businessman , runs for Senate for a second time after losing to Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018 .
James and Republicans have characterized Peters as a reliable vote for Democrats who has failed to make ground on local issues .
Polling averages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a competitive contest .
North Carolina could swing the races for both the White House and Senate majority .
The state appears to pose bigger problems for the GOP this year than it did in 2016 .
Trump carried the state by more than 3 percentage points as Republican Sen. Richard Burr won by an even wider margin .
In 2020 , polling averages show Trump locked in a dead heat with Biden , while they find GOP Sen. Thom Tillis trailing Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham in a close race .
Tillis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hagan in 2014 .
Tillis has recently tied himself closely to Trump on issues including the president 's impeachment and the emergency declaration diverting military funds to construction of a border wall .
He has run as a staunch supporter of lower taxes and the Paycheck Protection Program small business loan program .
Cunningham , a 47-year-old former state senator , has pushed for the Senate to pass more coronavirus aid during a months-long impasse over providing more relief .
He has also backed Medicaid expansion in North Carolina .
Democrats have high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House seats in Texas this year .
Winning statewide will be another challenge entirely .
Republican Sen. John Cornyn , 68 , seeks a fourth term in the Senate .
Democratic Air Force veteran MJ Hegar , 44 , hopes to upset Cornyn and notch her party 's first U.S. Senate election win in Texas in more than 30 years .
When Trump last led the Republican ticket four years ago , he carried Texas by about 9 percentage points .
During a strong midterm year for Democrats in 2018 , former Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points short of GOP Sen. Ted Cruz .
Cornyn , like many of his GOP colleagues , has run on the funding his state got from coronavirus aid packages .
He has touted legislation passed in recent years including a law to strengthen gun background checks and the 2017 GOP tax plan .
Hegar has targeted Cornyn both over his support for repealing the Affordable Care Act and his push this year for liability protections for businesses as part of coronavirus relief legislation .

Getty Images
How to read this guide Follow along from start to finish or use the navigation to jump to specific Senate races you want to learn more about.
Whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden gets sworn in as president in January, the composition of the Senate will shape what they can accomplish. Republicans and Democrats have settled into the final weeks of a high-stakes fight for two years of Senate control. The party that wins a majority will not only dictate what policies the president can pass — on issues from health care to taxes and climate change — but also play a role in who he puts on federal courts. The GOP holds a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. The party has to defend 23 seats this year, compared with 12 for Democrats. To gain control of the chamber, Democrats need to flip a net three seats if Biden wins (or four if he loses). The Republican-held Senate has bolstered Trump during his first term in office. Not only has it confirmed a flood of his judicial appointments and cast aside a bevy of legislation passed by the Democratic-held House, but also it acquitted the president this year after the House impeached him. Read below for a look at the states and candidates that will decide the battle for the Senate.
Alabama
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Democratic Sen. Doug Jones has the toughest path to reelection of any incumbent this year. He faces Republican former college football coach Tommy Tuberville in a state Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points in 2016. Jones, 66, won a 2017 special election to complete Republican Jeff Sessions' term when the senator left to become Trump's attorney general. Tuberville, 66, then beat Sessions in this year's GOP primary. Jones has touted bipartisan work as he represents a red state, including in trying to rein in the Trump administration's trade war with China. Still, he has sided with Democrats on some of the most important votes he has taken. Jones voted to remove Trump from office after his impeachment trial and opposed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. The GOP also targeted him in September for voting against a Republican coronavirus stimulus bill that Democrats unanimously opposed. Tuberville, who coached at Auburn University in Alabama, has run as a staunch Trump ally. He has pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act and push back on gun safety measures, among other policies.
Arizona
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Another one of the toughest races for senators running this year, the Arizona contest pits Republican Sen. Martha McSally against Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly. The special election will decide who serves the remainder of the late Sen. John McCain's term into 2023. McSally, 54, was appointed to the Senate in December 2018 after she lost the race for Arizona's second seat in the chamber to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. The state is one of a handful that will play a major role in determining both the Senate majority and the resident of the White House. Trump won the state by more than 3 percentage points in 2016, but Democrats see the opportunity for more gains there this year. Kelly, 56, has consistently led in polls and raised more money than McSally. In another election year when health care is top of mind, Democrats have criticized the incumbent for her vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as a House member in 2017. McSally, an Air Force veteran, has promoted her efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. She joined this year with Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, to put forward an unemployment benefits plan more generous than the one her party's leaders initially proposed.
Colorado
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Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado faces a tough reelection push in a state that has taken on more of a blue hue. He will run against former two-term Gov. John Hickenlooper in November. Colorado has recently become less hospitable for the GOP statewide. Hillary Clinton carried the state by about 5 percentage points in 2016. Then, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis won it by more than 10 percentage points in 2018. Gardner, 46, has touted work with Democrats during his first Senate term on issues including the relaxation of marijuana laws and public lands preservation. But the opposing party argues he has not done enough to check the president. He was among several GOP senators running for reelection who voted not to remove Trump from office earlier this year. Hickenlooper, like most Democrats seeking Senate seats this year, has run on preserving health-care coverage. The 68-year-old has criticized the chamber over Congress' delays in passing coronavirus relief. While early polls found Hickenlooper leading the race, a ruling that he violated state ethics rules as governor sparked criticism from both his Democratic primary opponent and Republicans.
Georgia (regular election)
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Democrats have not won a Senate or presidential race in Georgia since 2000. The party has ambitious goals for 2020 with two Senate seats and the state's electoral votes up for grabs. Republican Sen. David Perdue, 70, seeks his second term in the Senate. He faces 33-year-old Democrat Jon Ossoff, an investigative journalist who lost a closely watched U.S. House special election in 2017. Perdue, a Trump ally, has faced backlash for a flurry of stock trades he says an advisor made near the start of the pandemic, including investment in at least one company that makes personal protective equipment. He has denied wrongdoing. The senator has said his portfolio manager has since stopped investing in individual companies. Ossoff has focused much of his campaign messaging on Republicans' handling of the pandemic. He went into isolation at one point during the race after his wife, Emory University physician Alisha Kramer, tested positive for Covid-19. Perdue won his Senate race by about 8 percentage points in 2014. Polling averages have found him leading Ossoff.
Georgia (special election)
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GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson's retirement from the Senate last year opened up a messy race to succeed him. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, the 49-year-old Republican appointed to succeed him, faces a tough path to keeping the seat this year. Polls show Loeffler, Republican U.S. Rep Doug Collins, Democratic pastor Raphael Warnock and Democratic teacher Matt Lieberman leading a packed field. If no candidate garners more than half of the vote – which appears likely – the race will go to a runoff between the top two candidates in January. Loeffler faced criticism after she and her husband, Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher, started a sale of more than $1 million in stocks on the same day as a senators-only briefing on the pandemic in January. Loeffler has denied wrongdoing, and the Justice Department eventually dropped a probe into the sales. Still, opponents such as Collins have seized on the episode as evidence Loeffler is unfit for office. Loeffler, owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, has also criticized the basketball league for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement this year during a national reckoning over systemic racism. Players across the league then donned shirts supporting Warnock. Lieberman, the son of former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, has faced calls to drop out because of a book he wrote in 2018 that the head of the state NAACP said contains "racist tropes." His presence in the contest could potentially hurt Warnock's efforts to secure a spot in a runoff election.
Iowa
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Trump ran away with Iowa in 2016. Four years later, polls suggest the state's presidential and Senate races could be competitive. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, 50, seeks a second term in the Senate. She faces 56-year-old Democratic businesswoman Theresa Greenfield in November. Ernst won her first Senate election by more than 8 percentage points in 2014. While the senator enters the final stretch of the election with more cash at her disposal than Greenfield has, polls have found a close race for the seat. Ernst has touted her work on economic issues in her first term, including pushing for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol. Both were major concerns for farmers in Iowa. Greenfield has focused in particular on Ernst's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017. She says rolling back the health-care law would jeopardize the state's Medicaid expansion and coverage for people with preexisting conditions.
Maine
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Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces the toughest reelection bid of her more than 20-year Senate career. She runs against Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, 48, in a state that typically leans blue in presidential election years. Collins, 67, seeks her fifth term in the Senate. While the senator has long tried to build a record of bipartisan cooperation, her efforts to appease a broad swath of voters have proved more difficult during Trump's first term. While she cast a critical 2017 vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act, Collins also sparked outrage among liberals the next year by voting to confirm Kavanaugh. The senator has most recently touted her role in crafting the Paycheck Protection Program loans that buoyed many small businesses during the pandemic. Gideon, like most Democrats trying to unseat Republicans this year, has run a campaign based around preserving health-care coverage. Polling averages have found a narrow edge for the Democrat. In 2018, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and independent Sen. Angus King (who caucuses with Democrats) won statewide races in Maine. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden flipped the state's 2nd Congressional District in a narrow victory over Republican incumbent Bud Poliquin. Clinton won the 2016 statewide vote by about 3 percentage points, and won three of Maine's four electoral votes (which it partly apportions by congressional district).
Michigan
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Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is one of only two senators from his party running in a state Trump won in 2016. The potential for Michigan to be competitive gives Republicans hope John James can flip the seat. The president carried Michigan by a razor-thin margin of about 11,000 votes in 2016. Polling averages show Biden leading a close race there this year following a series of Democratic triumphs in 2018. Peters, 61, seeks a second term in the Senate after he tried to define himself as a bipartisan pragmatist during his first six years. As the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the senator has recently taken a leading role in oversight of the U.S. Postal Service after concerns that changes overseen by new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy led to mail slowdowns. James, a 39-year-old Army veteran and businessman, runs for Senate for a second time after losing to Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018. James and Republicans have characterized Peters as a reliable vote for Democrats who has failed to make ground on local issues. Polling averages have found a lead for Peters in a competitive contest.
Montana
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Two-term Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock's entry into the Montana Senate race this year instantly made the contest more competitive. But he would still have to overcome a challenging environment for his party to unseat first-term Republican Sen. Steve Daines. The last time Trump topped the ticket in Montana in 2016, the president carried the state by a whopping 20 percentage points. Even so, Bullock won reelection by 4 percentage points in the same year. Daines, 58, has touted recent work on bipartisan public lands legislation. He has also promoted efforts to secure federal funds to rein in wildfires that burned in the state in early September. Bullock, 54, has put particular emphasis on his health-care record as governor. The state expanded Medicaid during his tenure. The rivals both entered the final months of the race with more than $7 million in the bank. Polling in the race has been limited relative to many other states, but surveys show an edge for Daines.
North Carolina
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North Carolina could swing the races for both the White House and Senate majority. The state appears to pose bigger problems for the GOP this year than it did in 2016. Trump carried the state by more than 3 percentage points as Republican Sen. Richard Burr won by an even wider margin. In 2020, polling averages show Trump locked in a dead heat with Biden, while they find GOP Sen. Thom Tillis trailing Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham in a close race. Tillis, 60, unseated incumbent Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in 2014. Tillis has recently tied himself closely to Trump on issues including the president's impeachment and the emergency declaration diverting military funds to construction of a border wall. He has run as a staunch supporter of lower taxes and the Paycheck Protection Program. Cunningham, a 47-year-old former state senator, has pushed for the Senate to pass more coronavirus aid during a months-long impasse over providing more relief. He has also backed Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.
Texas
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cnbc--2020-09-11--Prosecutor quits Durham probe of Trump-Russia investigation over concern about political pressure, r

Prosecutor quits Durham probe of Trump-Russia investigation over concern about political pressure, report says

Connecticut prosecutor Nora R. Dannehy gets into a cab as she leaves the Law offices of Patton & Boggs after interviewing Karl Rove May 15 , 2009 in Washington , DC .
Tom Carson , a spokesman for Durham 's office in Connecticut , told CNBC in an email , `` We 're confirming that she has resigned from the Department of Justice and not commenting further . ''
`` They said she has been considering resignation for weeks , conflicted by loyalty to Durham and concern about politics , '' the Courant reported .
But the newspaper also reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a supporter of President Donald J. Trump and has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from [ Attorney General William ] Barr — who appointed Durham — to produce results before the election . ''
Dannehy 's email to colleagues in Durham 's office , in the District of Connecticut , `` said nothing about political pressure , '' the Courant reported .
The Hartford Courant on Friday reported that Nora Dannehy , the top aide to U.S. Attorney John Durham in his controversial probe , told colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A top prosecutor in the probe into the origins of the investigation of President Donald Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has quit , reportedly in part due to fears that political concerns were behind pressure to produce a report before the probe 's work is completed .
This 2018 portrait released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Connecticut 's U.S. Attorney John Durham .
A spokesman for Barr , who heads the Justice Department , which in turn supervises the nation 's United States attorneys and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request for comment .
The resignation comes two months before the presidential election , in which the Republican Trump faces Democratic nominee Joe Biden , the former vice president .
Barr last month said he could reveal at least some of Durham 's findings before the election , sparking concerns that such an announcement could help Trump politically .
`` We 'll develop this case to the extent we can before the election , and we 'll use our prudent judgment to decide what 's appropriate before the election and what should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr said at the time .
Dannehy , who had previously worked in the Connecticut U.S. Attorney 's office , including serving as that office 's acting chief , was lured out of the private sector last year to work for Durham in his special assignment of investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia probe by the Justice Department and the FBI .
Durham was tapped to run that investigation in May 2019 by Barr .
Critics of the Durham investigation have said it is a politically motivated effort by Barr and the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel Robert Mueller , whose probe led to multiple successful criminal prosecutions of Trump associates .
Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn. last year tweeted that `` Trump & AG Barr are politically weaponizing DOJ [ Department of Justice ] — threatening a return to its darkest days . ''
`` Targeting law enforcers as enemies—simply because they have the spine to stand up to corrupt power—is deeply dangerous , indeed chilling .
This line must not be crossed , '' said Blumenthal , who previously held Durham 's job as U.S. Attorney for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during an appearance on MSNBC on Friday , said , `` The whole point of this investigation is political . ''
`` It began for a political reason , it will end for a political reason and the whole push by Barr to get something out , the push by Trump to get this report , interim report out before the election , is so transparently political , '' said Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee .
`` So if indeed this is why this career prosecutor retired or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of sense , '' he added , referring to Dannehy .
Dannehy 's email to colleagues announcing her resignation came hours after Trump declined to say whether he had confidence in Durham 's probe , which so far has led to one criminal case .
Last month , former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to altering the text of an email .
That email had been used by the FBI to seek court approval to eavesdrop on Carter Page , a former Trump campaign aide , in 2017 .
Clinesmith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge that he thought he was putting in accurate information in the email .
`` I ca n't tell you that yet , '' Trump said during a White House press conference Thursday when asked about his confidence in Durham 's investigation .
`` I have to see .
I 'm not involved in it , '' Trump continued .
`` I purposely stayed uninvolved .
I 'm , I guess , considered the chief law enforcement officer of the country .
I could be involved if I wanted to .
I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't .
I think it 's better if our great attorney general handles it .
He has Durham , who is a very , very respected man , and we 're going to see what it is . ''
Asked if he wanted to see Durham prosecute more people in his investigation , Trump said , `` I can tell you this : They — they lied , they cheated , they leaked , they got caught .
They spied on my campaign .
Never in history has there been anything like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roles were reversed and I was on the Democrat side , people would have been in jail at the very highest level , '' the president said .
`` People would have been in jail for two years already .
Nothing like this has ever happened .
And the term would be for many , many years , because it 's treason and other words can be used also . ''

Connecticut prosecutor Nora R. Dannehy gets into a cab as she leaves the Law offices of Patton & Boggs after interviewing Karl Rove May 15, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Tom Carson, a spokesman for Durham's office in Connecticut, told CNBC in an email, "We're confirming that she has resigned from the Department of Justice and not commenting further."
"They said she has been considering resignation for weeks, conflicted by loyalty to Durham and concern about politics," the Courant reported.
But the newspaper also reported that "colleagues said Dannehy is not a supporter of President Donald J. Trump and has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from [Attorney General William] Barr — who appointed Durham — to produce results before the election."
Dannehy's email to colleagues in Durham's office, in the District of Connecticut, "said nothing about political pressure," the Courant reported.
The Hartford Courant on Friday reported that Nora Dannehy , the top aide to U.S. Attorney John Durham in his controversial probe, told colleagues on Thursday night that she had resigned.
A top prosecutor in the probe into the origins of the investigation of President Donald Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has quit, reportedly in part due to fears that political concerns were behind pressure to produce a report before the probe's work is completed.
This 2018 portrait released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Connecticut's U.S. Attorney John Durham.
A spokesman for Barr, who heads the Justice Department, which in turn supervises the nation's United States attorneys and their offices, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The resignation comes two months before the presidential election, in which the Republican Trump faces Democratic nominee Joe Biden, the former vice president.
Barr last month said he could reveal at least some of Durham's findings before the election, sparking concerns that such an announcement could help Trump politically.
"We'll develop this case to the extent we can before the election, and we'll use our prudent judgment to decide what's appropriate before the election and what should wait until after the election," Barr said at the time.
Dannehy, who had previously worked in the Connecticut U.S. Attorney's office, including serving as that office's acting chief, was lured out of the private sector last year to work for Durham in his special assignment of investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia probe by the Justice Department and the FBI. Durham was tapped to run that investigation in May 2019 by Barr.
Critics of the Durham investigation have said it is a politically motivated effort by Barr and the Trump administration to smear the investigation by then-special counsel Robert Mueller, whose probe led to multiple successful criminal prosecutions of Trump associates.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. last year tweeted that "Trump&AG Barr are politically weaponizing DOJ [Department of Justice] — threatening a return to its darkest days."
"Targeting law enforcers as enemies—simply because they have the spine to stand up to corrupt power—is deeply dangerous, indeed chilling. This line must not be crossed," said Blumenthal, who previously held Durham's job as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., during an appearance on MSNBC on Friday, said, "The whole point of this investigation is political."
"It began for a political reason, it will end for a political reason and the whole push by Barr to get something out, the push by Trump to get this report, interim report out before the election, is so transparently political," said Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
"So if indeed this is why this career prosecutor retired or resigned from the case, it makes a lot of sense," he added, referring to Dannehy.
Dannehy's email to colleagues announcing her resignation came hours after Trump declined to say whether he had confidence in Durham's probe, which so far has led to one criminal case.
Last month, former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to altering the text of an email. That email had been used by the FBI to seek court approval to eavesdrop on Carter Page, a former Trump campaign aide, in 2017. Clinesmith, in pleading guilty, told a judge that he thought he was putting in accurate information in the email.
"I can't tell you that yet," Trump said during a White House press conference Thursday when asked about his confidence in Durham's investigation.
"I have to see. I'm not involved in it," Trump continued. "I purposely stayed uninvolved. I'm, I guess, considered the chief law enforcement officer of the country. I could be involved if I wanted to. I thought it would be better if I wasn't. I think it's better if our great attorney general handles it. He has Durham, who is a very, very respected man, and we're going to see what it is."
Asked if he wanted to see Durham prosecute more people in his investigation, Trump said, "I can tell you this: They — they lied, they cheated, they leaked, they got caught. They spied on my campaign. Never in history has there been anything like this."
"And I guarantee if the roles were reversed and I was on the Democrat side, people would have been in jail at the very highest level," the president said.
"People would have been in jail for two years already. Nothing like this has ever happened. And the term would be for many, many years, because it's treason and other words can be used also."


cnbc--2020-09-11--Justice Department caved to Trump ‘pressure campaign’ to drop Michael Flynn prosecution, lawyer char

Justice Department caved to Trump ‘pressure campaign’ to drop Michael Flynn prosecution, lawyer charges

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn exits a vehicle as he arrives for his sentencing hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington , December 18 , 2018 .
A former federal judge said in a court filing Friday that the Justice Department 's unusual effort to dismiss its prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn seems like a `` corrupt and politically motivated favor '' done after pressure by President Donald Trump .
Former judge John Gleeson 's harsh words came as he urged the judge in Flynn 's case , Emmet Sullivan , to reject the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then sentence Flynn for his crime of lying to the FBI .
Gleeson , who is now an attorney in private practice , was appointed by Sullivan earlier this year to argue against the DOJ 's effort , which is pending in Washington federal court .
In his filing , Gleeson wrote that the Justice Department , in its own court records seeking a dismissal , `` makes virtually no effort to deny or rebut the powerful evidence that its ... motion improperly seeks to place this Court 's imprimatur on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President 's friend and ally . ''
Gleeson wrote that the Justice Department had made `` patently pretextual attempts to justify what is plainly a corrupt political errand for the President . ''
Flynn , a retired Army lieutenant general who briefly served as Trump 's national security advisor , pleaded guilty nearly three years ago to lying to FBI agents about his discussions with a Russian diplomat in the weeks leading up to Trump 's inauguration .
He has yet to be sentenced in the case .
For more than a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conviction by arguing misconduct by prosecutors and the FBI .
The Justice Department until several months ago had fought against Flynn 's effort .
But then it abruptly asked that the case be dismissed .
Then-interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia , Timothy Shea , argued in the dismissal request that the FBI 's interview of Flynn was not justified by a counterintelligence investigation and that his lies about what he said to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak were not `` material '' to that probe .

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn exits a vehicle as he arrives for his sentencing hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington, December 18, 2018.
A former federal judge said in a court filing Friday that the Justice Department's unusual effort to dismiss its prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn seems like a "corrupt and politically motivated favor" done after pressure by President Donald Trump.
Former judge John Gleeson's harsh words came as he urged the judge in Flynn's case, Emmet Sullivan, to reject the Department of Justice's request to drop its prosecution and then sentence Flynn for his crime of lying to the FBI.
Gleeson, who is now an attorney in private practice, was appointed by Sullivan earlier this year to argue against the DOJ's effort, which is pending in Washington federal court.
In his filing, Gleeson wrote that the Justice Department, in its own court records seeking a dismissal, "makes virtually no effort to deny or rebut the powerful evidence that its ... motion improperly seeks to place this Court's imprimatur on a corrupt, politically motivated favor for the President's friend and ally."
Gleeson wrote that the Justice Department had made "patently pretextual attempts to justify what is plainly a corrupt political errand for the President."
Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who briefly served as Trump's national security advisor, pleaded guilty nearly three years ago to lying to FBI agents about his discussions with a Russian diplomat in the weeks leading up to Trump's inauguration.
He has yet to be sentenced in the case. For more than a year, he has tried to undo his conviction by arguing misconduct by prosecutors and the FBI.
The Justice Department until several months ago had fought against Flynn's effort. But then it abruptly asked that the case be dismissed.
Then-interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Timothy Shea, argued in the dismissal request that the FBI's interview of Flynn was not justified by a counterintelligence investigation and that his lies about what he said to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak were not "material" to that probe.


cnbc--2020-09-11--Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly gets new show on radio station owned by Trump ally

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has landed a new show on a New York-based radio station owned by one of President Donald Trump 's allies .
77 WABC has signed O'Reilly to a show that will air Monday through Friday from 10-11 p.m. , the station 's owner , John Catsimatidis , told CNBC .
O'Reilly 's first show on the network is set for Monday , he added .
Catsimatidis has been a vocal supporter of the president 's .
He bought the station last year and has created a show lineup with a slew of Trump loyalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's attorney Rudy Giuliani .
The new show , called `` Common Sense with Bill O'Reilly , '' marks the latest stage of O'Reilly 's attempted comeback since he left Fox News under controversial circumstances .
O'Reilly , 71 , has been accused by multiple former Fox News employees of sexual harassment .
He has denied any wrongdoing .
The network ended his show in 2017 after the revelation of several expensive settlements for the alleged harassment .
Before he left the network , his show had been a major ratings driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox , O'Reilly called reporting of the accusations and settlements by The New York Times a `` smear '' and has moved on from his `` O'Reilly Factor '' into a show called `` No Spin News . ''
It airs on his website , on YouTube and on a conservative over-the-top streaming network known as `` The First . ''
The channel streams on several platforms , including Pluto TV , an internet television service owned by ViacomCBS .
O'Reilly has also interviewed Trump himself after leaving Fox News .
Catsimatidis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.8 billion and also owns the New York City grocery chain Gristedes , said O'Reilly will be following Giuliani 's show , which will move from the 3 p.m. slot to 9 p.m. Catsimatidis has been contemplating a run for mayor of New York City in 2021 and recently told the New York Post that he would be willing to spend $ 100 million if he decides to get into the race .
Catsimatidis ran for mayor in 2013 but lost in the Republican primary .
CNBC first reported on O'Reilly 's contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his attorney Fred Newman confirmed at the time the two sides were in high-level discussions and expecting a show in the fall .
Newman did not respond to a request for comment on Friday .
Juliet Huddy , who was once a Fox News personality and has previously accused O'Reilly of harassment , is a co-host of one of WABC 's shows .
Huddy , after the initial report on O'Reilly 's possible contract with the station , tweeted : `` Company Christmas party should be a real zinger this year . ''

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has landed a new show on a New York-based radio station owned by one of President Donald Trump's allies.
77 WABC has signed O'Reilly to a show that will air Monday through Friday from 10-11 p.m., the station's owner, John Catsimatidis, told CNBC.
O'Reilly's first show on the network is set for Monday, he added. Catsimatidis has been a vocal supporter of the president's. He bought the station last year and has created a show lineup with a slew of Trump loyalists, including a program hosted by the president's attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The new show, called "Common Sense with Bill O'Reilly," marks the latest stage of O'Reilly's attempted comeback since he left Fox News under controversial circumstances. O'Reilly, 71, has been accused by multiple former Fox News employees of sexual harassment. He has denied any wrongdoing. The network ended his show in 2017 after the revelation of several expensive settlements for the alleged harassment. Before he left the network, his show had been a major ratings driver since 1996.
Since his departure from Fox, O'Reilly called reporting of the accusations and settlements by The New York Times a "smear" and has moved on from his "O'Reilly Factor" into a show called "No Spin News." It airs on his website, on YouTube and on a conservative over-the-top streaming network known as "The First." The channel streams on several platforms, including Pluto TV, an internet television service owned by ViacomCBS.
O'Reilly has also interviewed Trump himself after leaving Fox News.
Catsimatidis, who has a net worth of $2.8 billion and also owns the New York City grocery chain Gristedes, said O'Reilly will be following Giuliani's show, which will move from the 3 p.m. slot to 9 p.m. Catsimatidis has been contemplating a run for mayor of New York City in 2021 and recently told the New York Post that he would be willing to spend $100 million if he decides to get into the race. Catsimatidis ran for mayor in 2013 but lost in the Republican primary.
CNBC first reported on O'Reilly's contract negotiations with WABC in August, as his attorney Fred Newman confirmed at the time the two sides were in high-level discussions and expecting a show in the fall. Newman did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Juliet Huddy, who was once a Fox News personality and has previously accused O'Reilly of harassment, is a co-host of one of WABC's shows. Huddy, after the initial report on O'Reilly's possible contract with the station, tweeted: "Company Christmas party should be a real zinger this year."


cnbc--2020-09-11--Bahrain follows Emirates and normalizes ties with Israel

U.S. President 's senior adviser , Jared Kushner ( R ) meets Bahrain 's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa ( L ) , during his visit to Manama , Bahrain , September 1 , 2020 .
Bahrain News Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY .
Bahrain joined the United Arab Emirates in striking an agreement to normalize relations with Israel on Friday , a dramatic move aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East .
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted the news after he spoke by phone to both Bahrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , the White House said .
`` This is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East , '' the United States , Bahrain and Israel said in a joint statement .
`` Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase stability , security , and prosperity in the region , '' it said .
The United Arab Emirates last month agreed to normalize ties with Israel under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be signed on Sept. 15 at a White House ceremony hosted by Trump and attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan .
The easing of relations with Israel comes amid a backdrop of shared fears about the threat of Iran to the region .
The Trump administration has tried to coax other Sunni Arab countries to engage with Israel .
The most powerful of those , Saudi Arabia , has signaled it is not ready .
Bahrain , a small island state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the site of the U.S. Navy 's regional headquarters .
Riyadh in 2011 sent troops to Bahrain to help quell an uprising and , alongside Kuwait and the UAE , in 2018 offered Bahrain a $ 10 billion economic bailout .
Friday 's deal makes Bahrain the fourth Arab country to reach such an agreement with Israel since exchanging embassies with Egypt and Jordan decades ago .
Last week , Bahrain said it would allow flights between Israel and the UAE to use its airspace .
This followed a Saudi decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over it on the way to the UAE .

U.S. President's senior adviser, Jared Kushner (R) meets Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (L), during his visit to Manama, Bahrain, September 1, 2020. Bahrain News Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Bahrain joined the United Arab Emirates in striking an agreement to normalize relations with Israel on Friday, a dramatic move aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted the news after he spoke by phone to both Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said.
"This is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East," the United States, Bahrain and Israel said in a joint statement.
"Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase stability, security, and prosperity in the region," it said.
The United Arab Emirates last month agreed to normalize ties with Israel under a U.S.-brokered deal. That deal is scheduled to be signed on Sept. 15 at a White House ceremony hosted by Trump and attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
The easing of relations with Israel comes amid a backdrop of shared fears about the threat of Iran to the region.
The Trump administration has tried to coax other Sunni Arab countries to engage with Israel. The most powerful of those, Saudi Arabia, has signaled it is not ready.
Bahrain, a small island state, is a close ally of Saudi Arabia and the site of the U.S. Navy's regional headquarters. Riyadh in 2011 sent troops to Bahrain to help quell an uprising and, alongside Kuwait and the UAE, in 2018 offered Bahrain a $10 billion economic bailout.
Friday's deal makes Bahrain the fourth Arab country to reach such an agreement with Israel since exchanging embassies with Egypt and Jordan decades ago.
Last week, Bahrain said it would allow flights between Israel and the UAE to use its airspace. This followed a Saudi decision to allow an Israeli commercial airliner to fly over it on the way to the UAE.


cnbc--2020-09-11--Joe Biden and Mike Pence meet and elbow bump at 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York City, refle

Joe Biden and Mike Pence meet and elbow bump at 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York City, reflecting coronavirus concern

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ( L ) and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence ( R ) greet each other during a 9/11 memorial service at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on September 11 , 2020 in New York City .
Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden greeted each other with an elbow bump Friday at the 9/11 memorial service in New York City , a moment reflecting the risks of a coronavirus pandemic whose death toll every month dwarfs the fatalities from the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terror attacks .
The friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ground Zero was also a solemn , brief pause of what has been a bitter campaign between President Donald Trump and Biden , the Democratic nominee looking to win the White House this fall .
Trump did not attend the event .
Biden also elbow bumped Pence 's wife , Karen Pence .
Biden 's wife Jill likewise exchanged similar bumps with the Pences at the event , held at the lower Manhattan site of what had been the World Trade Center 's iconic Twin Towers before they were toppled by two hijacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pences , former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other attendees at the memorial event for the 19th anniversary all were wearing masks as a precaution against transmitting Covid-19 .
Bloomberg , who had sought the Democratic presidential nomination this year , became mayor four months after the terror attacks , succeeding Rudy Giuliani , who now serves as Trump 's personal lawyer .
As of Friday , there have been nearly 6.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States .
And more than 191,800 Americans have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 , a total of at least 2,977 people were killed in the terror attacks in New York , at the Pentagon in northern Virginia and at Shanksville , Pennsylvania , where Flight 93 , one of four planes hijacked that day by Islamic extremists , crashed to the ground .
Most of the deaths occurred in New York .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (L) and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (R) greet each other during a 9/11 memorial service at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2020 in New York City.
Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden greeted each other with an elbow bump Friday at the 9/11 memorial service in New York City, a moment reflecting the risks of a coronavirus pandemic whose death toll every month dwarfs the fatalities from the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The friendly physical exchange between Pence and Biden at Ground Zero was also a solemn, brief pause of what has been a bitter campaign between President Donald Trump and Biden, the Democratic nominee looking to win the White House this fall. Trump did not attend the event.
Biden also elbow bumped Pence's wife, Karen Pence. Biden's wife Jill likewise exchanged similar bumps with the Pences at the event, held at the lower Manhattan site of what had been the World Trade Center's iconic Twin Towers before they were toppled by two hijacked planes 19 year ago.
The Bidens, Pences, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other attendees at the memorial event for the 19th anniversary all were wearing masks as a precaution against transmitting Covid-19.
Bloomberg, who had sought the Democratic presidential nomination this year, became mayor four months after the terror attacks, succeeding Rudy Giuliani, who now serves as Trump's personal lawyer.
As of Friday, there have been nearly 6.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States. And more than 191,800 Americans have died from the virus.
On Sept. 11, 2001, a total of at least 2,977 people were killed in the terror attacks in New York, at the Pentagon in northern Virginia and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93, one of four planes hijacked that day by Islamic extremists, crashed to the ground. Most of the deaths occurred in New York.