alternet--2020-10-29--'Dangerously authoritarian': Trump says 'hopefully' courts will stop states from counting ballots af

'Dangerously authoritarian': Trump says 'hopefully' courts will stop states from counting ballots after Election Day

President Donald Trump on Wednesday once again openly voiced hope that U.S. courts—now packed with his right-wing judges—will intervene and stop states from counting legally submitted ballots after November 3 , remarks that came just before the U.S. Supreme Court suggested it could invalidate late-arriving Pennsylvania votes after Election Day .
`` Hopefully the few states remaining that want to take a lot of time after November 3rd to count ballots , that wo n't be allowed by the various courts because as you know we 're in courts on that , '' Trump said during a press conference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tout as a `` big victory '' the Supreme Court 's ruling earlier this week barring Wisconsin from extending its absentee ballot deadline past November 3 at 8:00 pm local time .
`` The president is essentially saying he will litigate to try and stop the count of absentee ballots ( the count of which is never completed on Election Day ) , '' tweeted Sherrilyn Ifill , president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund .
According to one estimate , `` about 10 percent of all votes '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Election Day .
`` Also , when is he imagining that military mail-in votes will be counted ? ''
asked Ifill .
`` He is trying to make this sound normal .
It 's not . ''
`` He 's saying it out loud : he wants courts to block legally cast ballots from being counted , '' said Brian Klaas , a Washington Post contributor and associate professor of global politics University College London .
`` This is so dangerously authoritarian . ''
The president 's comments came shortly before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pennsylvania to extend their arrival deadlines for mail-in ballots , blocking Republican efforts to require strict Election Day deadlines .
But , as Common Dreams reported , the high court left open the possibility of invalidating late-arriving Pennsylvania ballots shortly after the election .
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito , joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch , said he only `` reluctantly '' denied the Pennsylvania GOP 's push for the rejection of ballots that arrive after Election Day and said the high court could take up the case again after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may throw out ballots that arrive after Election Day—even though they are valid under current law , '' warned Slate 's Mark Joseph Stern .
`` DO NOT MAIL YOUR BALLOT .
Drop it off or vote in person .
Do n't leave your vote in the hands of the Supreme Court . ''

President Donald Trump on Wednesday once again openly voiced hope that U.S. courts—now packed with his right-wing judges—will intervene and stop states from counting legally submitted ballots after November 3, remarks that came just before the U.S. Supreme Court suggested it could invalidate late-arriving Pennsylvania votes after Election Day.
"Hopefully the few states remaining that want to take a lot of time after November 3rd to count ballots, that won't be allowed by the various courts because as you know we're in courts on that," Trump said during a press conference in Las Vegas.
Trump went on to tout as a "big victory" the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this week barring Wisconsin from extending its absentee ballot deadline past November 3 at 8:00 pm local time.
"The president is essentially saying he will litigate to try and stop the count of absentee ballots (the count of which is never completed on Election Day)," tweeted Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. According to one estimate, "about 10 percent of all votes" cast in the 2016 election were counted after Election Day.
"Also, when is he imagining that military mail-in votes will be counted?" asked Ifill. "He is trying to make this sound normal. It's not."
Watch:
"He's saying it out loud: he wants courts to block legally cast ballots from being counted," said Brian Klaas, a Washington Post contributor and associate professor of global politics University College London. "This is so dangerously authoritarian."
The president's comments came shortly before the Supreme Court late Wednesday permitted North Carolina and Pennsylvania to extend their arrival deadlines for mail-in ballots, blocking Republican efforts to require strict Election Day deadlines.
But, as Common Dreamsreported, the high court left open the possibility of invalidating late-arriving Pennsylvania ballots shortly after the election. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, said he only "reluctantly" denied the Pennsylvania GOP's push for the rejection of ballots that arrive after Election Day and said the high court could take up the case again after November 3.
"The Supreme Court may throw out ballots that arrive after Election Day—even though they are valid under current law," warnedSlate's Mark Joseph Stern. "DO NOT MAIL YOUR BALLOT. Drop it off or vote in person. Don't leave your vote in the hands of the Supreme Court."


alternet--2020-10-29--‘We have a fight’: Ted Cruz is warning Trump that Texas really is in play for Biden

In the 2020 presidential race , the Cook Political Report has moved Texas from `` leans Republican '' to `` toss up '' — meaning that Cook believes the Lone Star State really is in play for former Vice President Joe Biden .
GOP presidential candidates have a long history of double-digit wins in Texas , but recent polls show this year 's presidential race to be shockingly close in that state .
And according to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin , one of the Texas Republicans who is sounding the alarm is Sen. Ted Cruz .
Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of Biden defeating President Donald Trump in Texas , which Trump won by 9 % in 2016 .
But that 's 9 % compared to Republican Mitt Romney 's 16 % victory over President Barack Obama in 2012 .
And when Cruz defeated Democrat Beto O'Rourke by only 2 % in Texas ' U.S. Senate race in 2018 , it was obvious that Texas had gone from deep red to light red .
Many GOP strategists were hoping that O'Rourke 's performance in 2018 was an anomaly , but polls — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or slightly behind him — indicate it was n't : Texas is still red , but not as red as it used to be .
And Cruz , according to Martin , is warning Trump 's campaign that he needs to take Biden 's performance in Texas seriously .
Cruz , Martin reports , told Trump , `` We have a fight '' and `` there 's no doubt that it 's a real race . ''
`` They may be on opposite sides of the partisan divide , but Texas Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived : the state is a true presidential battleground , and either candidate could prevail next week , '' Martin notes .
`` Although a Democrat has not carried Texas ( in a presidential race ) since 1976 , recent public and private polls suggest a highly competitive race , with some surveys showing Mr. Biden up narrowly and others showing Mr. Trump enjoying a small lead . ''
Martin speculates that Biden himself may not believe that Texas really is in play for him .
The last Democratic presidential candidate to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But states evolve politically .
California , during the 1950s , 1960s and 1970s , was a red state — the San Francisco Bay Area used to be an oasis of liberalism in a state where Orange County , San Diego , Bakersfield , Burbank , Santa Barbara , Fresno and Glendale were all GOP strongholds .
Now , California is overwhelmingly Democratic .
Virginia and Arizona used to be deep red ; now , they 're swing states .
Martin explains , `` Even as leading figures in both parties urge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously , the campaigns are still reluctant to spend precious remaining time and money there .
Neither Mr. Trump nor Mr. Biden is expected to appear in the state before the election , the president has not spent a cent on television commercials , and until this week , Mr. Biden had resisted advertising in Texas ' two largest markets : Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth . ''
In other words , Biden 's campaign is competitive in Texas despite not taking it nearly as seriously as he takes Florida , Arizona or Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit Texas before Election Day .
`` Though the state is n't essential to a Biden victory , '' Martin observes , `` Democrats have been more aggressive here .
Mr. Biden is dispatching his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , to Texas on Friday , and Democrats have also planned a multi-city bus tour across the state .
A pair of Democratic billionaires , Dustin Moskovitz and Michael R. Bloomberg , have separately poured money into the state at the 11th hour . ''
Even if Biden narrowly loses Texas to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 4 % , that would be bad news for the GOP .
It shows Democrats making progress in a state that in the past , they automatically assumed they would lose by 15 % or 20 % in a presidential race .
Texas ' other big statewide race in 2020 is its U.S. Senate race .
Democrat M.J. Hegar has been trailing incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn in most recent polls , but only by single digits .
And Cornyn is taking Hegar 's campaign seriously , saying that `` the thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much Democrats have been spending on her campaign .
Martin notes , `` A Biden win ( in Texas ) would doom Mr. Trump 's chances for reelection .
More significantly , it would herald the arrival of a formidable multiracial Democratic coalition in the country 's largest red state .
That would hand the Democrats an electoral upper hand nationwide and all but block Republicans from the White House until they improve their fortunes with college-educated white voters , younger people and minorities . ''
As Martin puts it , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas-sized . ''

In the 2020 presidential race, the Cook Political Report has moved Texas from "leans Republican" to "toss up" — meaning that Cook believes the Lone Star State really is in play for former Vice President Joe Biden. GOP presidential candidates have a long history of double-digit wins in Texas, but recent polls show this year's presidential race to be shockingly close in that state. And according to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, one of the Texas Republicans who is sounding the alarm is Sen. Ted Cruz.
Republicans and Democrats alike have been skeptical about the possibility of Biden defeating President Donald Trump in Texas, which Trump won by 9% in 2016. But that's 9% compared to Republican Mitt Romney's 16% victory over President Barack Obama in 2012. And when Cruz defeated Democrat Beto O'Rourke by only 2% in Texas' U.S. Senate race in 2018, it was obvious that Texas had gone from deep red to light red.
Many GOP strategists were hoping that O'Rourke's performance in 2018 was an anomaly, but polls — which show Biden either slightly ahead of Trump or slightly behind him — indicate it wasn't: Texas is still red, but not as red as it used to be. And Cruz, according to Martin, is warning Trump's campaign that he needs to take Biden's performance in Texas seriously.
Cruz, Martin reports, told Trump, "We have a fight" and "there's no doubt that it's a real race."
"They may be on opposite sides of the partisan divide, but Texas Republicans and Democrats alike believe the long-awaited moment has arrived: the state is a true presidential battleground, and either candidate could prevail next week," Martin notes. "Although a Democrat has not carried Texas (in a presidential race) since 1976, recent public and private polls suggest a highly competitive race, with some surveys showing Mr. Biden up narrowly and others showing Mr. Trump enjoying a small lead."
Martin speculates that Biden himself may not believe that Texas really is in play for him. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Texas was Jimmy Carter 44 years ago.
But states evolve politically. California, during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, was a red state — the San Francisco Bay Area used to be an oasis of liberalism in a state where Orange County, San Diego, Bakersfield, Burbank, Santa Barbara, Fresno and Glendale were all GOP strongholds. Now, California is overwhelmingly Democratic. Virginia and Arizona used to be deep red; now, they're swing states.
Martin explains, "Even as leading figures in both parties urge their respective presidential nominees to take Texas seriously, the campaigns are still reluctant to spend precious remaining time and money there. Neither Mr. Trump nor Mr. Biden is expected to appear in the state before the election, the president has not spent a cent on television commercials, and until this week, Mr. Biden had resisted advertising in Texas' two largest markets: Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth."
In other words, Biden's campaign is competitive in Texas despite not taking it nearly as seriously as he takes Florida, Arizona or Pennsylvania. And O'Rourke has implored Biden to visit Texas before Election Day.
"Though the state isn't essential to a Biden victory," Martin observes, "Democrats have been more aggressive here. Mr. Biden is dispatching his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, to Texas on Friday, and Democrats have also planned a multi-city bus tour across the state. A pair of Democratic billionaires, Dustin Moskovitz and Michael R. Bloomberg, have separately poured money into the state at the 11th hour."
Even if Biden narrowly loses Texas to Trump by 2%, 3% or 4%, that would be bad news for the GOP. It shows Democrats making progress in a state that in the past, they automatically assumed they would lose by 15% or 20% in a presidential race.
Texas' other big statewide race in 2020 is its U.S. Senate race. Democrat M.J. Hegar has been trailing incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn in most recent polls, but only by single digits. And Cornyn is taking Hegar's campaign seriously, saying that "the thing that worries me the most" is how much Democrats have been spending on her campaign.
Martin notes, "A Biden win (in Texas) would doom Mr. Trump's chances for reelection. More significantly, it would herald the arrival of a formidable multiracial Democratic coalition in the country's largest red state. That would hand the Democrats an electoral upper hand nationwide and all but block Republicans from the White House until they improve their fortunes with college-educated white voters, younger people and minorities."
As Martin puts it, "The stakes here are, well, Texas-sized."


alternet--2020-10-30--At least 6 Trump cabinet secretaries are accused or under investigation for violating federal law

An Additional Eight or More Administration Officials Also Accused or Under Investigation At least six Trump Cabinet secretaries are under investigation for violating federal law or are accused of violating federal law , as are an additional eight or more administration officials .
The Cabinet secretaries include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , Attorney General Bill Barr , Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , Interior Secretary David Bernhardt , Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf .
In recent days White House officials have been assisting President Donald Trump 's re-election efforts so intensely that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign advisor – in addition to being paid by the taxpayers for their day job inside the executive branch .
It 's causing a great deal of outrage in some quarters .
An NCRM investigation finds more than a dozen White House officials are either under investigation or according to a government ethics watchdog or others , should be under investigation for appearing to be in violation of the federal law known as the Hatch Act .
Take White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , who is now traveling with the president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 campaign `` senior advisor . ''
CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins pointed out the startling `` title '' addition on Tuesday : McEnany appears to have done it again today : The New York Times 's Maggie Haberman on Thursday described this as `` further blurring the lines between government and political activity . ''
In one appearance earlier this week , in which she was announced as both a campaign senior adviser and the White House press secretary , Ms. McEnany talked up the president 's political rallies .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was with the president , we made three stops on Lancaster and all across the state , '' she said in the interview .
“ And in each of those stops we played a video for the public .
Joe Biden said roll the tape , President Trump .
When did I say ban fracking ?
Well , we rolled it . ''
McEnany is far from the only one `` blurring '' the lines .
Senior advisor to the president Stephen Miller , the Trump White House white nationalist who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , held a Trump campaign call with reporters on Wednesday .
It was a disaster , with Miller spewing lies about Joe Biden , leading one reporter to describe his attacks this way : `` Stephen Miller basically describing to reporters the plot of the Purge if Joe Biden wins the election . ''
Today , top Trump White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow will hold another Trump campaign call with reporters .
And then there 's White House senior advisor and First Daughter , Ivanka Trump : Some other Trump Cabinet Secretaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Carson , are raising eyebrows for travel that appears to be campaign-adjacent .
So is any or all of this illegal ?
Here 's what CREW , Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , has to say : There 's of course also White House trade advisor Peter Navarro : It 's not just McEnany , Miller , Navarro , Ivanka , and Kudlow .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is under investigation for several `` potential '' Hatch Act violations .
The nation 's top law enforcement officer , Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CREW of violating the Hatch Act : Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt caused some to accuse him of a Hartch Act violastion over this video : Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is under investigation : Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is accused of a Hatch Act violation by a sitting U.S .
Congressman : Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is also under investigation : And then there 's the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection , Mark Morgan , in another apparent Hatch Act violation : These are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in July also said White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows should be investigated for Hatch Act violstions :

An Additional Eight or More Administration Officials Also Accused or Under Investigation
At least six Trump Cabinet secretaries are under investigation for violating federal law or are accused of violating federal law, as are an additional eight or more administration officials.
The Cabinet secretaries include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General Bill Barr, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.
In recent days White House officials have been assisting President Donald Trump's re-election efforts so intensely that at least one has been officially named a campaign advisor – in addition to being paid by the taxpayers for their day job inside the executive branch.
It's causing a great deal of outrage in some quarters.
An NCRM investigation finds more than a dozen White House officials are either under investigation or according to a government ethics watchdog or others, should be under investigation for appearing to be in violation of the federal law known as the Hatch Act.
Take White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who is now traveling with the president and appearing on Fox News as a Trump 2020 campaign "senior advisor."
CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins pointed out the startling "title" addition on Tuesday:
This morning Kayleigh McEnany appeared on Fox News from what looked like the studio the campaign uses. She was introduced as a Trump 2020 senior adviser and White House press secretary. @betsy_klein is told she “was appearing in her personal capacity as a private citizen." pic.twitter.com/J9SlhXHCXs
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 27, 2020
McEnany appears to have done it again today:
McEnany has taken this odd shift in her media appearances lately. Note she is still employed as a government spokesperson, her salary for White house Press Secretary paid for by American taxpayers. Now she has been referred to as a Trump 2020 campaign adviser. pic.twitter.com/QG6cSTWX12
— Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) October 29, 2020
The New York Times's Maggie Haberman on Thursday described this as "further blurring the lines between government and political activity."
In one appearance earlier this week, in which she was announced as both a campaign senior adviser and the White House press secretary, Ms. McEnany talked up the president's political rallies.
“At each of our rallies yesterday, I was with the president, we made three stops on Lancaster and all across the state," she said in the interview. “And in each of those stops we played a video for the public. Joe Biden said roll the tape, President Trump. When did I say ban fracking? Well, we rolled it."
McEnany is far from the only one "blurring" the lines.
Senior advisor to the president Stephen Miller, the Trump White House white nationalist who is the architect of its child separation policy, held a Trump campaign call with reporters on Wednesday. It was a disaster, with Miller spewing lies about Joe Biden, leading one reporter to describe his attacks this way: "Stephen Miller basically describing to reporters the plot of the Purge if Joe Biden wins the election."
Today, top Trump White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow will hold another Trump campaign call with reporters.
A day after WH Senior Advisor Stephen Miller led a press call with reporters, and on the same day Kayleigh McEnany appears on Fox as a "Trump 2020 campaign adviser," the Trump campaign is holding a call with Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow. pic.twitter.com/Nqa8hLrA1v
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) October 29, 2020
And then there's White House senior advisor and First Daughter, Ivanka Trump:
You'll never guess what happened after we called out Ivanka Trump for violating federal law 8 times in 48 hours....
She broke the same law another 30 times. Seriously.https://t.co/X7btvrQClE — Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) October 29, 2020
Some other Trump Cabinet Secretaries, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, are raising eyebrows for travel that appears to be campaign-adjacent.
So is any or all of this illegal?
Here's what CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has to say:
The Hatch Act is a federal law!
It's a scandal that in the final week of an election, the White House has only ramped up its legal violations, from Kayleigh McEnany, to Ivanka Trump, to Peter Navarro. https://t.co/O9lQzyurQJ — Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) October 29, 2020
(CREW previously called for McEnany to be investigated for apparent Hatch Act violations. They also called for investigations into Pence chief of staff Marc Short and Trump National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.)
There's of course also White House trade advisor Peter Navarro:
Peter Navarro should be removed from federal service for repeatedly breaking the law. https://t.co/shA9JVvCUV
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) October 29, 2020
It's not just McEnany, Miller, Navarro, Ivanka, and Kudlow.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is under investigation for several "potential" Hatch Act violations.
Office of Special Counsel opens 2 investigations into @SecPompeo for Hatch Act violations — critics say he is campaigning for Trump using taxpayer resources. We reported OSC also has 2 investigations into State Dept. handling of illnesses in China & Cuba: https://t.co/xbFBfEfxvSpic.twitter.com/pcZcZ1NIND
— Edward Wong (@ewong) October 26, 2020
The nation's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Bill Barr, is accused by CREW of violating the Hatch Act:
There is no place in the government for Attorney General Bill Barr and his law-breaking behavior.https://t.co/kHJcWxPK3O
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) October 24, 2020
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt caused some to accuse him of a Hartch Act violastion over this video:
The @realDonaldTrump Administration has accomplished historic feats for conservation, securing the largest investment in our national parks and public lands, opening 4 million acres to new hunting and fishing opportunities, and recovering a record number of endangered species. pic.twitter.com/LoOuCPqJXm
— Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) October 27, 2020
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is under investigation:
I know this is getting repetitive but Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is ALSO under investigation for violating the Hatch Act after she went on FoxNews and used her official position to attack Trump's political opponents. 17/ https://t.co/yrKWtn7PW2
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 22, 2020
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is accused of a Hatch Act violation by a sitting U.S. Congressman:
The Agriculture Department and Secretary Perdue have quietly been among the most corrupt in the Trump Administration. Recipients of food aid boxes are mailed a "letter from Trump."
Perdue recently violated the Hatch Act by campaigning for Trump using official resources. 10/ pic.twitter.com/0Rx9AP4T6T — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 22, 2020
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is also under investigation:
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf staged a citizenship ceremony for the Republican National Convention, which is under investigation for violating the Hatch Act. https://t.co/5NcVntithj He's using DHS operations to influence the campaign. 9/https://t.co/dnMc6hjTlM
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 22, 2020
And then there's the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mark Morgan, in another apparent Hatch Act violation:
CBP's Mark Morgan just said there will be "an illegal invasion" if Biden is elected and rolls back Trump immigration policies
— Nick Miroff (@NickMiroff) October 29, 2020
These are all recent potential violations or investigations.
CREW back in July also said White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows should be investigated for Hatch Act violstions:
Kellyanne Conway Marc Short Kayleigh McEnany Peter Navarro Robert O'Brien Add Mark Meadows to the list of recent Trump officials who've likely violated the Hatch Act and endangered the integrity of our elections. https://t.co/RdIUVfa8AN
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 18, 2020


alternet--2020-10-30--Melania Trump claims her husband 'sees potential' in gay people

In a bizarre moment , the first lady announced that President Donald Trump is all for gay people .
Speaking to a crowd in Atglen , Pennsylvania , Melania Trump described the president as someone `` who sees potential in everyone he meets , no matter their gender , race , religion or sexual orientation . ''
She did n't use the typical term LGBTQ or even mention transgender people .
But mentioning LGBTQ voters likely is n't a good idea in the Trump administration because of the laundry list of things they 've done to hurt the community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ loves seeing those around him and his country succeed , '' Mrs. Trump added , claiming he has a `` very big heart and a great sense of humor . ''
The Human Rights Campaign has a long list of ways that Trump has hurt LGBTQ America .
Trump opposed the Equality Act , none of Trump 's judges are LGBTQ and in fact those he has appointed do n't support LGBTQ rights .
Trump even joked that Vice President Mike Pence wants to kill LGBTQ people when he said , `` Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them all ! ''
Trump supports discrimination for LGBTQ people at work , he banned transgender people from serving in the military , he rolled back former President Barack Obama 's rules about protecting people from discrimination , and even gave an exemption so that companies could fire LGBTQ people claiming `` a religious exemption . ''
Anyone with HIV/AIDS is now no longer able to serve in the military , and Trump cut $ 1.35 billion from the budget to fight HIV/AIDS around the world .
They removed healthcare protections that ensured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on healthcare policies .
The Department of Health and Human services even created a division to help defend doctors who refuse to treat LGBTQ patients .
That list does n't even include the battle that conservatives have because they decided they ca n't go to the bathroom in the same room as a transgender person .
There are many , many more .
Just last week , Trump 's daughter Tiffany spoke out at an LGBTQ Trump rally in Florida with her mother , Trump 's second wife , Marla Maples .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean , let 's just — I mean , some of her best friends when she was on Broadway — unfortunately , one of her best friends passed away from AIDS , '' Tiffany said .
See a clip of Melania 's speech below :

In a bizarre moment, the first lady announced that President Donald Trump is all for gay people.
Speaking to a crowd in Atglen, Pennsylvania, Melania Trump described the president as someone "who sees potential in everyone he meets, no matter their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation."
She didn't use the typical term LGBTQ or even mention transgender people. But mentioning LGBTQ voters likely isn't a good idea in the Trump administration because of the laundry list of things they've done to hurt the community.
"Donald loves helping people and he loves seeing those around him and his country succeed," Mrs. Trump added, claiming he has a "very big heart and a great sense of humor."
The Human Rights Campaign has a long list of ways that Trump has hurt LGBTQ America. Trump opposed the Equality Act, none of Trump's judges are LGBTQ and in fact those he has appointed don't support LGBTQ rights. Trump even joked that Vice President Mike Pence wants to kill LGBTQ people when he said, "Don't ask that guy—he wants to hang them all!"
Trump supports discrimination for LGBTQ people at work, he banned transgender people from serving in the military, he rolled back former President Barack Obama's rules about protecting people from discrimination, and even gave an exemption so that companies could fire LGBTQ people claiming "a religious exemption."
Anyone with HIV/AIDS is now no longer able to serve in the military, and Trump cut $1.35 billion from the budget to fight HIV/AIDS around the world. They removed healthcare protections that ensured LGBTQ people could never be discriminated against on healthcare policies. The Department of Health and Human services even created a division to help defend doctors who refuse to treat LGBTQ patients.
That list doesn't even include the battle that conservatives have because they decided they can't go to the bathroom in the same room as a transgender person. There are many, many more.
Just last week, Trump's daughter Tiffany spoke out at an LGBTQ Trump rally in Florida with her mother, Trump's second wife, Marla Maples.
"Back in the Broadway days — I mean, let's just — I mean, some of her best friends when she was on Broadway — unfortunately, one of her best friends passed away from AIDS," Tiffany said.
See a clip of Melania's speech below:


alternet--2020-10-30--GOP violently out-fundraised by Democrats as small-dollar donations dominate campaign fundraising

There are only four days left until Election Day in the United States and the Republican Party has yet another hurdle—fundraising .
Regardless of whether who takes the Oval Office on November 3 , Republicans will still have to rethink their fundraising strategies being out-fundraised and outspent by the Democratic Party .
For the last several weeks , Democrats have raked in massive amounts of cash due to small-dollar donations .
The Democratic windfall has helped the party to heavily campaign in multiple , notably red states that have now categorized as potential toss-ups in the election .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bells are going off for Republicans as they fight to retain control of the Senate and the White House .
Multiple Republican lawmakers have weighed in on the need for need fundraising strategies within the party , according to The Hill .
`` I 'm sure we 'll be going to school on how the Democrats are so successful because we just ca n't afford to be outspent by these huge margins and expect to be successful , '' said Sen. John Cornyn ( R-Texas ) When asked if the Republican Party should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they approach small-dollar donations , Sen. John Thune ( R-S.D . )
said , `` Oh my gosh , yes , absolutely , yeah . ''
He went on to admit that Democrats ' small-dollar donation mechanism is not only effective but it has `` crushed '' Republicans financially .
`` They 've created a mechanism that 's very effective and we 're trying to catch up , '' Thune said , noting Republicans `` were just getting crushed . ''
Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) also commended the Democrats ' fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ActBlue are way ahead ...
Hats off to them , they did a really good job . ''
He also admitted , `` We 're [ Republicans ] just behind . ''
The fundraising haul has ultimately changed the scope of the presidential and Congressional races in many states .
Multiple seats that were initially thought to be sure-fire wins for the Republican Party are now in jeopardy .
One Republican official explained how this election may lead to a re-evaluation of fundraising to improve Republicans ' cash flow later on down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` It pays dividends down the road .
I think that you will absolutely see people raising the spending disparities as something that affected the outcome in certain races and highlighting it as something that needs to improve on our side for the next cycle . ''

There are only four days left until Election Day in the United States and the Republican Party has yet another hurdle—fundraising.
Regardless of whether who takes the Oval Office on November 3, Republicans will still have to rethink their fundraising strategies being out-fundraised and outspent by the Democratic Party. For the last several weeks, Democrats have raked in massive amounts of cash due to small-dollar donations.
The Democratic windfall has helped the party to heavily campaign in multiple, notably red states that have now categorized as potential toss-ups in the election.
As a result of the campaign haul, alarm bells are going off for Republicans as they fight to retain control of the Senate and the White House. Multiple Republican lawmakers have weighed in on the need for need fundraising strategies within the party, according to The Hill.
"I'm sure we'll be going to school on how the Democrats are so successful because we just can't afford to be outspent by these huge margins and expect to be successful," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)
When asked if the Republican Party should consider taking a post-election analysis of how they approach small-dollar donations, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said, "Oh my gosh, yes, absolutely, yeah."
He went on to admit that Democrats' small-dollar donation mechanism is not only effective but it has "crushed" Republicans financially.
"They've created a mechanism that's very effective and we're trying to catch up," Thune said, noting Republicans "were just getting crushed."
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) also commended the Democrats' fundraising strategy saying, "I think Democrats with ActBlue are way ahead... Hats off to them, they did a really good job." He also admitted, "We're [Republicans] just behind."
The fundraising haul has ultimately changed the scope of the presidential and Congressional races in many states. Multiple seats that were initially thought to be sure-fire wins for the Republican Party are now in jeopardy. One Republican official explained how this election may lead to a re-evaluation of fundraising to improve Republicans' cash flow later on down the line.
The Republican official said, "It pays dividends down the road. I think that you will absolutely see people raising the spending disparities as something that affected the outcome in certain races and highlighting it as something that needs to improve on our side for the next cycle."


alternet--2020-10-30--Democrats' Senate map is expanding in some very unexpected places

If you 're seeking evidence that the Senate map is expanding , not contracting , for Democrats , look no further than Cook Political Report 's ratings change in the Mississippi Senate race from `` solid '' to `` likely '' Republican .
Republicans will most likely hold that seat on election night , but the idea that things are loosening even a tad in a state like Mississippi is somewhat astonishing .
The movement in such an unlikely state also suggests Democrats are very much in the running to bring home some of the lower-tier Senate races .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickup in a state that initially fell below the radar appears to be Montana , where Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock is in striking distance of unseating GOP Sen. Steve Daines .
A new poll released Wednesday by Montana State University put Bullock up 1 point , 48 % -47 % , with 5 % undecided .
And although Donald Trump is still running 7 points ahead of Joe Biden , 52 % -45 % , the other statewide races for governor the state 's at-large congressional seat are neck and neck .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Mike Cooney and GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte are tied at 45 % , while Republican at-large candidate Matt Rosendale holds a one-point lead over Democrat Kathleen Williams , 47 % -46 % .
In other words , Montana looks to be very competitive and Democrats could pick up some important seats there .
In Kansas , Democrat Barbara Bollier won the endorsement of the Kansas City Star , which compared Bollier 's GOP opponent Rep. Roger Marshall to the highly unpopular Republican , Kris Kobach .
`` Do n't be fooled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall is every bit as conservative as Kobach .
Bollier is far better prepared to meet this moment . ''
Kansas.com also endorsed her as `` an independent thinker , '' writing , `` It 's no surprise that more than 80 current and former Republican leaders have endorsed her campaign . ''
An internal poll conducted by GBAO found Bollier leading by 1 point , 46 % -45 % , with Libertarian Jason Buckley drawing 4 % and 4 % undecided .
Yet apparently , Marshall feels so good about the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final debate altogether .
In a pretty stunning move , Marshall suggested he got `` set up '' after the Topeka TV Station KSNT tried to contact him repeatedly and even sent a certified letter inviting him to participate in the debate .
In South Carolina , Cook Political has the race between Democrat Jaime Harrison and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in tossup territory .
Since Harrison 's eye-popping $ 57 million fundraising haul in the third quarter , he has also picked up the endorsement of the South Carolina 's oldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's forecast model is also `` unclear which candidate will win , '' putting the race in the same category as other tight races that have been viewed as slightly more ripe for Democratic pickups , such as the two Georgia Senate races along with the one in Iowa .
Some Democratic Senate candidates are obviously much better poised to deliver wins on election night , but if there 's one thing that unites nearly all these races—from the `` very likely '' flips to the `` unclear '' —it 's that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to forecasts and recent polling .
That 's a good sign and suggests Democrats might walk away with an unexpected victory or two in some of the scrappier races that were n't originally viewed as being in the offing for Democrats .

If you're seeking evidence that the Senate map is expanding, not contracting, for Democrats, look no further than Cook Political Report's ratings change in the Mississippi Senate race from "solid" to "likely" Republican. Republicans will most likely hold that seat on election night, but the idea that things are loosening even a tad in a state like Mississippi is somewhat astonishing.
The movement in such an unlikely state also suggests Democrats are very much in the running to bring home some of the lower-tier Senate races. One of Democrats' best chances for a pickup in a state that initially fell below the radar appears to be Montana, where Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock is in striking distance of unseating GOP Sen. Steve Daines.
A new poll released Wednesday by Montana State University put Bullock up 1 point, 48%-47%, with 5% undecided. And although Donald Trump is still running 7 points ahead of Joe Biden, 52%-45%, the other statewide races for governor the state's at-large congressional seat are neck and neck. In the gubernatorial race, Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte are tied at 45%, while Republican at-large candidate Matt Rosendale holds a one-point lead over Democrat Kathleen Williams, 47%-46%. In other words, Montana looks to be very competitive and Democrats could pick up some important seats there.
In Kansas, Democrat Barbara Bollier won the endorsement of the Kansas City Star, which compared Bollier's GOP opponent Rep. Roger Marshall to the highly unpopular Republican, Kris Kobach. "Don't be fooled," wrote the Star, "Marshall is every bit as conservative as Kobach. Bollier is far better prepared to meet this moment." Kansas.com also endorsed her as "an independent thinker," writing, "It's no surprise that more than 80 current and former Republican leaders have endorsed her campaign." An internal poll conducted by GBAO found Bollier leading by 1 point, 46%-45%, with Libertarian Jason Buckley drawing 4% and 4% undecided. Yet apparently, Marshall feels so good about the state of play that he decided to skip the final debate altogether. In a pretty stunning move, Marshall suggested he got "set up" after the Topeka TV Station KSNT tried to contact him repeatedly and even sent a certified letter inviting him to participate in the debate.
In South Carolina, Cook Political has the race between Democrat Jaime Harrison and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in tossup territory . Since Harrison's eye-popping $57 million fundraising haul in the third quarter, he has also picked up the endorsement of the South Carolina's oldest newspaper, The State. The Economist's forecast model is also "unclear which candidate will win," putting the race in the same category as other tight races that have been viewed as slightly more ripe for Democratic pickups, such as the two Georgia Senate races along with the one in Iowa.
Some Democratic Senate candidates are obviously much better poised to deliver wins on election night, but if there's one thing that unites nearly all these races—from the "very likely" flips to the "unclear"—it's that they are trending in Democrats' direction, according to forecasts and recent polling.
That's a good sign and suggests Democrats might walk away with an unexpected victory or two in some of the scrappier races that weren't originally viewed as being in the offing for Democrats.


alternet--2020-10-30--A federal court just jeopardized thousands of Minnesota ballots in the last leg of the 2020 race

A federal appeals court on Thursday ordered Minnesota to `` segregate '' all absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day , Nov. 3 , but arrive in the mail over the subsequent days .
The decision was a stark warning the courts may end up disqualifying these votes in post-election litigation .
`` The Secretary [ of State ] 's instructions to count mail-in ballots received up to seven days after Election Day stand in direct contradiction to Minnesota election law governing presidential elections… [ and ] are likely to be declared invalid under the Electors Clause of Article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Eighth Circuit said in a 2-1 split decision that found Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon lacked authority to extend the ballot-return deadline .
`` The Secretary and his respective agents… are ordered to identify , segregate , and otherwise maintain and preserve all absentee ballots , '' the order continued , `` in a manner that would allow for their respective votes [ for president and vice-president ] … to be removed from vote totals in the event a final order is entered by a court . ''
The appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal court that has thrown into question a subclass of absentee ballots—those postmarked by Election Day but arriving in the mail days later — that GOP officials have sought to disqualify via an ultraconservative interpretation of election law .
Republicans , in Minnesota and in other 2020 swing states , have contended that only a state 's legislature has the authority to adopt rules governing how elections with federal candidates are to be run .
On Wednesday , the U.S. Supreme Court issued two decisions where non-legislative actors had extended their state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , the state 's supreme court extended the deadline by three days to November 6 .
In North Carolina , the state 's election board extended it to November 12 .
In these states , the Supreme Court let the ballot-return deadlines stand , saying that it was too close to Election Day to alter it without confusing voters .
But statements by several conservative justices in those rulings said that post-Election Day litigation could likely disqualify the late-arriving ballots for the same reasons cited in the Minnesota ruling : that non-legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state constitution and a state board of elections ) had made decisions affecting the `` time , place and manner '' of federal elections without authority under the federal Constitution .
`` Simply put , the Secretary [ of State ] has no power to override the Minnesota Legislature , '' the appellate court said .
`` In fact , a legislature 's power in this area is such that it ' can not be taken from them or modified ' even through 'their state constitutions . '
'' Late last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar ruling for Wisconsin , another swing state , when it decided not to overturn an appeals court ruling that concluded its absentee ballots had to be returned by Election Day because Wisconsin 's legislature had not extended the ballot-return deadline .
In reaction to Wednesday 's Supreme Court ruling , Pennsylvania told the high court that it would `` segregate '' the absentee ballots arriving after Tuesday and through its Friday deadline .
While Pennsylvania officials have not said much about that decision , election law experts have said the move would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been returned from possible GOP challenges .
In Pennsylvania , 3.1 million voters applied for absentee ballots .
The press office for the North Carolina State Board of Elections did not respond to an inquiry Thursday asking whether it might follow Pennsylvania 's lead and also segregate the ballots arriving in the mail between November 3 and November 12 .
Voting rights groups , including North Carolina 's NAACP state chapter , discussed the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday to assess its legal options for defending properly postmarked ballots arriving after Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 852,000 absentee ballots have been returned by North Carolinians .
Across the state , 1.45 million voters have applied for the ballots .
In Minnesota , Secretary of State Steve Simon told the Star-Tribune newspaper before the ruling was issued , `` If that [ ballot return deadline ] is reversed , it would be extraordinarily disruptive — not to mention disenfranchising . ''
His office 's website did not have a comment on the ruling .
Statewide , more than 1.7 million absentee ballots have been requested in Minnesota , the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 29 , 1.19 million Minnesotans have voted early—a mix of in-person early voting and absentee ballots .
The state combines these figures .
Stepping back , it appears the Republican Party and its allies have found a way that may disqualify potentially large volumes of late-arriving absentee ballots in four swing states : Minnesota , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and North Carolina .
The basis for that prospect is the contention that no authority other than a state legislature can regulate federal elections .

A federal appeals court on Thursday ordered Minnesota to "segregate" all absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, but arrive in the mail over the subsequent days. The decision was a stark warning the courts may end up disqualifying these votes in post-election litigation.
"The Secretary [of State]'s instructions to count mail-in ballots received up to seven days after Election Day stand in direct contradiction to Minnesota election law governing presidential elections… [and] are likely to be declared invalid under the Electors Clause of Article II of the United States Constitution," the Eighth Circuit said in a 2-1 split decision that found Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon lacked authority to extend the ballot-return deadline.
"The Secretary and his respective agents… are ordered to identify, segregate, and otherwise maintain and preserve all absentee ballots," the order continued, "in a manner that would allow for their respective votes [for president and vice-president]… to be removed from vote totals in the event a final order is entered by a court."
The appeals court ruling is the latest decision by a federal court that has thrown into question a subclass of absentee ballots—those postmarked by Election Day but arriving in the mail days later — that GOP officials have sought to disqualify via an ultraconservative interpretation of election law. Republicans, in Minnesota and in other 2020 swing states, have contended that only a state's legislature has the authority to adopt rules governing how elections with federal candidates are to be run.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two decisions where non-legislative actors had extended their state deadline for accepting absentee ballots. In Pennsylvania, the state's supreme court extended the deadline by three days to November 6. In North Carolina, the state's election board extended it to November 12. In these states, the Supreme Court let the ballot-return deadlines stand, saying that it was too close to Election Day to alter it without confusing voters.
But statements by several conservative justices in those rulings said that post-Election Day litigation could likely disqualify the late-arriving ballots for the same reasons cited in the Minnesota ruling: that non-legislative actors (a state supreme court citing a state constitution and a state board of elections) had made decisions affecting the "time, place and manner" of federal elections without authority under the federal Constitution.
"Simply put, the Secretary [of State] has no power to override the Minnesota Legislature," the appellate court said. "In fact, a legislature's power in this area is such that it 'cannot be taken from them or modified' even through 'their state constitutions.'"
Late last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a similar ruling for Wisconsin, another swing state, when it decided not to overturn an appeals court ruling that concluded its absentee ballots had to be returned by Election Day because Wisconsin's legislature had not extended the ballot-return deadline.
In reaction to Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling, Pennsylvania told the high court that it would "segregate" the absentee ballots arriving after Tuesday and through its Friday deadline. While Pennsylvania officials have not said much about that decision, election law experts have said the move would shield 2.1 million absentee ballots that already have been returned from possible GOP challenges. In Pennsylvania, 3.1 million voters applied for absentee ballots.
The press office for the North Carolina State Board of Elections did not respond to an inquiry Thursday asking whether it might follow Pennsylvania's lead and also segregate the ballots arriving in the mail between November 3 and November 12.
Voting rights groups, including North Carolina's NAACP state chapter, discussed the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday to assess its legal options for defending properly postmarked ballots arriving after Nov. 3. As of October 29, 852,000 absentee ballots have been returned by North Carolinians. Across the state, 1.45 million voters have applied for the ballots.
In Minnesota, Secretary of State Steve Simon told the Star-Tribune newspaper before the ruling was issued, "If that [ballot return deadline] is reversed, it would be extraordinarily disruptive — not to mention disenfranchising." His office's website did not have a comment on the ruling.
Statewide, more than 1.7 million absentee ballots have been requested in Minnesota, the U.S. Elections Project reported. As of October 29, 1.19 million Minnesotans have voted early—a mix of in-person early voting and absentee ballots. The state combines these figures.
Stepping back, it appears the Republican Party and its allies have found a way that may disqualify potentially large volumes of late-arriving absentee ballots in four swing states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The basis for that prospect is the contention that no authority other than a state legislature can regulate federal elections.


alternet--2020-10-30--Let's admit it: Republican actively want Americans to get sick

With revelations that herd immunity is n't just the accidental result of Donald Trump 's inaction , but the policy actually being pursued by the Scott Atlas-dominated coronavirus task force , something that has never made any sense finally clicks into place .
Why have Trump , White House officials , Republicans in Congress , and right-wing media all conspired to constantly attack the simplest tool in fighting COVID-19 ?
Why have they been waging a war on masks ?
Masks are cheap .
Masks are effective .
Wearing masks is the most straightforward step that can be taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Studies have directly tied the use of masks not just to lower rates of infection , but to lower levels of hospitalization .
In September , Trump railed against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) Director Robert Redfield for saying that masks are actually more effective than a vaccine for bringing COVID-19 under control .
Redfield said that masks were not just the nation 's `` best defense , '' but medicine 's most important weapon against the disease .
On Thursday morning , the CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that neither vaccines nor treatments against COVID-19 represent a `` silver bullet . ''
Instead , he said that people should keep wearing masks , and expect to be wearing masks into the next year .
At the same time , The Wall Street Journal is running an editorial that continues the war on masks by calling them a `` distraction . ''
The reason is obvious : because the right wants everyone to hurry up and get sick .
And that 's not a joke .
Misinformation about masks is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of consistency among experts .
It 's the other way around .
Confusion is being generated by misinformation specifically generated to give the appearance that masks are either ineffective or that experts are in disagreement .
The Wall Street Journal editorial by cardiologist Joseph Ladapo is a primary example .
Ladapo—who has been the Scott Atlas of The Wall Street Journal 's editorial page for months—begins his anti-mask manifesto by looking at why health officials began insisting that wearing masks was important .
He 's correct in saying that the discovery of asymptomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's hugely incorrect in saying this is `` a weak rationale '' for masks .
He 's also hugely deceptive in citing as proof a study that looked at how face masks and other factors worked against flu , and representing it as a general study on a `` respiratory virus . ''
It 's not .
He goes on to attack researchers for not anticipating that COVID-19 might spread without symptoms because `` presymptomatic spread of respiratory viruses is n't a novel phenomenon . ''
But there 's a very good reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading without symptoms ; it 's called the SARS-CoV virus .
People who catch SARS become symptomatic before becoming highly infectious , with first symptoms appearing about five days before the patient begins to expel virus at a high rate .
That was a major factor in how SARS was isolated and defeated .
It was completely understandable that experts expected these two very similar viruses would behave in a similar way .
Asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of COVID-19 was a genuine surprise .
Ladapo then goes on to dismiss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic cases by saying : `` Asymptomatic or mild cases appear to contribute more to Covid-19 transmission , but this happens in flu cases , too , though no one has called for mask mandates during flu season . ''
Why would that be ?
Here 's what the same study that Ladapo cited as evidence against masks being effective had to say about flu : In COVID-19 , that percentage of hospitalization has been in double digits around the world .
The rate of death from COVID-19 is an order of magnitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu .
After more than 9 million cases , the case fatality rate for COVID-19 in the United States is still over 2.5 % .
After this , Ladapo devotes the center of his essay to demeaning the idea that masks are effective , which largely involves dismissing all the evidence that masks are effective .
And it includes a section that needs to be quoted in full : This is a medical doctor attacking not just the entire basis of human trials , but delivering a backhand to the entire scientific process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of specific tests is exactly because they can tell you something about the general experience .
If they can not , someone should call the vaccine manufacturers and tell them to stop the trials .
But all of this is only leading up to the main theme , to the point where Ladapo pulls off his own masks and gets down to what he 's really selling .
As Joe Biden said in the second and final debate , Americans are n't learning to `` live with '' COVID-19 , they 're learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the White House , is selling herd immunity .
And he 's not attacking masks because they do n't work .
He 's attacking masks because they do .
As a study just released Wednesday from Vanderbilt University demonstrates , there is a direct connection between the rate of mask-wearing in an area and the rate of hospitalization .
Vanderbilt University study showing link between mask-wearing and decreased rates of hospitalization .
Vanderbilt medical school originally did this analysis in August , and repeated it again with data through early October .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread mask-wearing are dramatic .
The study looks at county-level data to show that not only are masks effective , mask mandates are effective .
The University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation review in August also demonstrated that masks not only cut the rate of infection , they prevented the kind of sharp spikes that tipped healthcare systems over the edge .
Masks work .
They work best in areas with mandates and a very high level of use .
The war on masks is an extension of the push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind it are making that more and more evident .

With revelations that herd immunity isn't just the accidental result of Donald Trump's inaction, but the policy actually being pursued by the Scott Atlas-dominated coronavirus task force, something that has never made any sense finally clicks into place. Why have Trump, White House officials, Republicans in Congress, and right-wing media all conspired to constantly attack the simplest tool in fighting COVID-19? Why have they been waging a war on masks?
Masks are cheap. Masks are effective. Wearing masks is the most straightforward step that can be taken to instantly reduce the spread of disease. Studies have directly tied the use of masks not just to lower rates of infection, but to lower levels of hospitalization. In September, Trump railed against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield for saying that masks are actually more effective than a vaccine for bringing COVID-19 under control. Redfield said that masks were not just the nation's "best defense," but medicine's most important weapon against the disease.
On Thursday morning, the CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck doubled down on Redfield's statement by saying that neither vaccines nor treatments against COVID-19 represent a "silver bullet." Instead, he said that people should keep wearing masks, and expect to be wearing masks into the next year.
At the same time, The Wall Street Journal is running an editorial that continues the war on masks by calling them a "distraction." The reason is obvious: because the right wants everyone to hurry up and get sick. And that's not a joke.
Misinformation about masks isn't being generated by confusion or a lack of consistency among experts. It's the other way around. Confusion is being generated by misinformation specifically generated to give the appearance that masks are either ineffective or that experts are in disagreement. TheWall Street Journal editorial by cardiologist Joseph Ladapo is a primary example.
Ladapo—who has been the Scott Atlas of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page for months—begins his anti-mask manifesto by looking at why health officials began insisting that wearing masks was important. He's correct in saying that the discovery of asymptomatic transmission was a major factor. He's hugely incorrect in saying this is "a weak rationale" for masks. He's also hugely deceptive in citing as proof a study that looked at how face masks and other factors worked against flu, and representing it as a general study on a "respiratory virus." It's not.
He goes on to attack researchers for not anticipating that COVID-19 might spread without symptoms because "presymptomatic spread of respiratory viruses isn't a novel phenomenon." But there's a very good reason that experts were surprised to find the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading without symptoms; it's called the SARS-CoV virus. People who catch SARS become symptomatic before becoming highly infectious, with first symptoms appearing about five days before the patient begins to expel virus at a high rate. That was a major factor in how SARS was isolated and defeated. It was completely understandable that experts expected these two very similar viruses would behave in a similar way. Asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of COVID-19 was a genuine surprise.
Ladapo then goes on to dismiss the idea of using masks to protect against asymptomatic cases by saying: "Asymptomatic or mild cases appear to contribute more to Covid-19 transmission, but this happens in flu cases, too, though no one has called for mask mandates during flu season."
Why would that be? Here's what the same study that Ladapo cited as evidence against masks being effective had to say about flu:
Most influenza virus infections cause mild and self-limiting disease; only a small fraction of case-patients require hospitalization.
In COVID-19, that percentage of hospitalization has been in double digits around the world. The rate of death from COVID-19 is an order of magnitude higher than the rate of hospitalization from flu. After more than 9 million cases, the case fatality rate for COVID-19 in the United States is still over 2.5%.
After this, Ladapo devotes the center of his essay to demeaning the idea that masks are effective, which largely involves dismissing all the evidence that masks are effective. And it includes a section that needs to be quoted in full:
Policy makers and the media point to low-quality evidence, such as a study of Covid-19 positive hairstylists in Missouri or a Georgia summer camp with an outbreak. These anecdotes, while valuable, tell us nothing about the experience of other hairdressers or other summer camps that adopted similar or different masking practices.
This is a medical doctor attacking not just the entire basis of human trials, but delivering a backhand to the entire scientific process. The reason you look at results of specific tests is exactly because they can tell you something about the general experience. If they cannot, someone should call the vaccine manufacturers and tell them to stop the trials.
But all of this is only leading up to the main theme, to the point where Ladapo pulls off his own masks and gets down to what he's really selling.
… mask mandates have the unintended consequence of delaying public acceptance of the unavoidable truth. In countries with active community transmission and no herd immunity, nothing short of inhumane lockdowns can stop the spread of Covid-19, so the most sensible and sustainable path forward is to learn to live with the virus.
As Joe Biden said in the second and final debate, Americans aren't learning to "live with" COVID-19, they're learning to die from it. Ladapo, like the White House, is selling herd immunity. And he's not attacking masks because they don't work. He's attacking masks because they do.
As a study just released Wednesday from Vanderbilt University demonstrates, there is a direct connection between the rate of mask-wearing in an area and the rate of hospitalization.
Vanderbilt University study showing link between mask-wearing and decreased rates of hospitalization.
Vanderbilt medical school originally did this analysis in August, and repeated it again with data through early October. In both instances, the effects of widespread mask-wearing are dramatic. The study looks at county-level data to show that not only are masks effective, mask mandates are effective. The University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation review in August also demonstrated that masks not only cut the rate of infection, they prevented the kind of sharp spikes that tipped healthcare systems over the edge.
Masks work. They work best in areas with mandates and a very high level of use. The war on masks is an extension of the push for herd immunity, and the forces behind it are making that more and more evident.


alternet--2020-10-30--Elizabeth Warren rips into the plot to sabotage the Postal service — and the election

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday blasted members of the U.S .
Postal Service Board of Governors for `` acting as accomplices '' to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy while he sabotages the mail—and , as a result , the election—after the panel rejected her request for financial disclosure filings and refused to commit to reversing DeJoy 's destructive policy changes .
`` The USPS Board of Governors has refused to release information about their own financial ties and has doubled down on their support of Louis DeJoy , '' the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement .
`` Once again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release their financial disclosure forms , remove DeJoy , and do their jobs by reversing DeJoy 's actions . ''
In August , as Common Dreams reported , Warren sent a letter demanding that the six members of the Board of Governors—all of whom were appointed by President Donald Trump—release their federal financial disclosure documents so lawmakers and the public could determine whether they `` have investments or outside responsibilities that potentially pose conflicts of interest . ''
But in a letter ( pdf ) to Warren dated last week , USPS Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as chairman of the Republican National Committee—said the board `` respectfully declines to publicly release the financial disclosures of its individual members , '' citing ethics regulations that exempt so-called Special Government Employees from financial disclosure requirements .
Warren has previously dismissed the exemption as a `` dumb loophole . ''
In a separate letter ( pdf ) released by Warren 's office Wednesday , Duncan made clear that the board has no intention of removing DeJoy—a Republican megadonor to Trump—or working to reverse his operational changes that caused major and persistent mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about mass disqualification of ballots that arrive late due to no fault of the voter .
The Board of Governors , wrote Duncan , `` remains fully confident that Mr. DeJoy is the right person for the job '' —an assessment Warren slammed as `` absurd . ''
`` The ongoing postal delivery delays , '' Warren replied , `` reveal that there is no reason for their confidence . ''

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday blasted members of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors for "acting as accomplices" to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy while he sabotages the mail—and, as a result, the election—after the panel rejected her request for financial disclosure filings and refused to commit to reversing DeJoy's destructive policy changes.
"The USPS Board of Governors has refused to release information about their own financial ties and has doubled down on their support of Louis DeJoy," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement. "Once again, I call on the board members to release their financial disclosure forms, remove DeJoy, and do their jobs by reversing DeJoy's actions."
In August, as Common Dreamsreported, Warren sent a letter demanding that the six members of the Board of Governors—all of whom were appointed by President Donald Trump—release their federal financial disclosure documents so lawmakers and the public could determine whether they "have investments or outside responsibilities that potentially pose conflicts of interest."
But in a letter (pdf) to Warren dated last week, USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan—who previously served as chairman of the Republican National Committee—said the board "respectfully declines to publicly release the financial disclosures of its individual members," citing ethics regulations that exempt so-called Special Government Employees from financial disclosure requirements.
Warren has previously dismissed the exemption as a "dumb loophole."
In a separate letter (pdf) released by Warren's office Wednesday, Duncan made clear that the board has no intention of removing DeJoy—a Republican megadonor to Trump—or working to reverse his operational changes that caused major and persistent mail delays across the country, intensifying concerns about mass disqualification of ballots that arrive late due to no fault of the voter.
The Board of Governors, wrote Duncan, "remains fully confident that Mr. DeJoy is the right person for the job"—an assessment Warren slammed as "absurd."
"The ongoing postal delivery delays," Warren replied, "reveal that there is no reason for their confidence."


alternet--2020-10-30--Trump's own officials are terrified about what he'll do the day after the election: NYT

Journalist Ron Suskind has talked with multiple current and former Trump administration officials who say they 're deeply concerned about what President Donald Trump will do the day after the election next week .
In multiple interviews , these officials sketched out a scenario in which Trump would encourage his supporters to disrupt voting in cities in key swing states .
`` Disruption would most likely begin on Election Day morning somewhere on the East Coast , where polls open first , '' Suskind writes .
`` Miami and Philadelphia ( already convulsed this week after another police shooting ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be likely locations .
It could be anything , maybe violent , maybe not , started by anyone , or something planned and executed by any number of organizations , almost all of them on the right fringe , many adoring of Mr .
Trump . ''
The big danger , these officials tell Suskind , is that early news of unrest at polling places will spark further instances across the country .
`` News of even a few incidents could summon a violent segment of Mr. Trump 's supporters into action , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and distribute , spreading what is , after all , news of mayhem to the wider concentric circles of Mr. Trump 's loyalists , '' he writes .
Officials then say Trump will claim some kind of `` victory '' on November 4th even if the vote tallies show him behind .
`` If the streets then fill with outraged people , he can easily summon , or prompt , or encourage troublemakers among his loyalists to turn a peaceful crowd into a sea of mayhem , '' Suskind writes .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , presuming it pleases their leader . ''
One FBI official tells Suskind that the agency has been gaming out how it will handle weeks of unrest that could come after the election .
`` We 've been talking to our state and local counterparts and gearing up for the expectation that it 's going to be a significant law-enforcement challenge for probably weeks or months , '' this official said .
`` It feels pretty terrifying . ''
Read the whole story here .

Journalist Ron Suskind has talked with multiple current and former Trump administration officials who say they're deeply concerned about what President Donald Trump will do the day after the election next week.
In multiple interviews, these officials sketched out a scenario in which Trump would encourage his supporters to disrupt voting in cities in key swing states.
"Disruption would most likely begin on Election Day morning somewhere on the East Coast, where polls open first," Suskind writes. "Miami and Philadelphia (already convulsed this week after another police shooting), in big swing states, would be likely locations. It could be anything, maybe violent, maybe not, started by anyone, or something planned and executed by any number of organizations, almost all of them on the right fringe, many adoring of Mr. Trump."
The big danger, these officials tell Suskind, is that early news of unrest at polling places will spark further instances across the country.
"News of even a few incidents could summon a violent segment of Mr. Trump's supporters into action, giving foreign actors even more to amplify and distribute, spreading what is, after all, news of mayhem to the wider concentric circles of Mr. Trump's loyalists," he writes.
Officials then say Trump will claim some kind of "victory" on November 4th even if the vote tallies show him behind.
"If the streets then fill with outraged people, he can easily summon, or prompt, or encourage troublemakers among his loyalists to turn a peaceful crowd into a sea of mayhem," Suskind writes. "They might improvise on their own in sparking violence, presuming it pleases their leader."
One FBI official tells Suskind that the agency has been gaming out how it will handle weeks of unrest that could come after the election.
"We've been talking to our state and local counterparts and gearing up for the expectation that it's going to be a significant law-enforcement challenge for probably weeks or months," this official said. "It feels pretty terrifying."
Read the whole story here.


alternet--2020-10-31--Experts warn Trump HHS is 'endangering people' by covering up key data

s surging coronavirus hospitalizations across the U.S. push already-strained medical facilities to the brink of full capacity , internal documents obtained by NPR show that the Trump administration is withholding from the public critical hospital data that experts say would be extremely useful in helping communities prepare for , track , and overcome Covid-19 outbreaks .
NPR reported Friday that the documents—which are based on hospital data collected and analyzed daily by the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) — '' highlight trends in hospitalizations and pinpoint cities nearing full hospital capacity and facilities under stress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain on hospitals across the country that could help local citizens decide when to take extra precautions against Covid-19 . ''
`` The documents show that detailed information hospitals report to HHS every day is reviewed and analyzed—but circulation seems to be limited to a few dozen government staffers from HHS and its agencies , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health , '' NPR noted .
`` Only one member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , Adm. Brett Giroir , appears to receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most recent internal report obtained by NPR shows that around 24 % of the nation 's hospitals—including facilities in major cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis—are utilizing more than 80 % of their intensive care unit capacity and names specific hospitals that are over 95 % capacity .
The document also shows an uptick in ventilator usage over the past month as coronavirus infections continue to rise at a record-shattering rate .
Experts said the detailed local data currently only circulated among a small group of Trump administration officials would , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in better informing Americans and health officials about nearby hotspots and encouraging greater safety precautions .
`` The neighborhood data , the county data , and metro-area data can be really helpful for people to say , 'Whoa , they 're not kidding , this is right here , ' '' Lisa Lee , former chief science officer for public health surveillance at the CDC , told NPR .
`` It can help public health prevention folks get their messages across and get people to change their behavior . ''
While some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports for their own state , the inability to view broader regional data leaves them without potentially crucial information .
`` Hospitals in Tennessee serve patients who are from Arkansas and Mississippi and Kentucky and Georgia and vice versa , and so we 're a little bit blind to what 's going on there , '' said Melissa McPheeters , adjunct research professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center .
`` When we see hospitals that are particularly near those state borders having increases , one of the things we ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals in an adjacent state are full ?
What 's going on there ?
And that could be a really important piece of the picture . ''
Ryan Panchadsaram , co-founder of the website Covid Exit Strategy and a former data official in the Obama administration , said the decision to keep the detailed hospitalization data out of public view is `` reckless , '' particularly in the face of soaring coronavirus cases and hospitalizations nationwide .
`` It 's endangering people , '' Panchadsaram told NPR .
`` We 're now in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our only way out is really open , transparent , and actionable information . ''
In a tweet Friday , Panchadsaram wrote that `` there 's a mismatch : the rigorous work that 's happening internally by the rank and file at HHS/CDC/USDS [ United States Digital Service ] and what is being shared externally by the administration . ''
According to publicly available data analyzed by the Covid Tracking Project , more than 46,000 people in the U.S. are currently hospitalized due to the coronavirus as of Thursday , which saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Approaching the eve of the election , President Trump has downplayed the steep rise in cases , attributing much of it to increased testing , '' the New York Times noted earlier this week .
`` But the number of people hospitalized for the virus tells a different story , climbing an estimated 46 percent from a month ago and raising fears about the capacity of regional healthcare systems to respond to overwhelming demand . ''
Dr. Leana Wen , an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health , tweeted Friday that the HHS hospitalization data `` needs to be available to the public . ''
`` It is critical to hospital surge planning and guiding local and state policies , '' said Wen .

s surging coronavirus hospitalizations across the U.S. push already-strained medical facilities to the brink of full capacity, internal documents obtained by NPR show that the Trump administration is withholding from the public critical hospital data that experts say would be extremely useful in helping communities prepare for, track, and overcome Covid-19 outbreaks.
NPRreported Friday that the documents—which are based on hospital data collected and analyzed daily by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—"highlight trends in hospitalizations and pinpoint cities nearing full hospital capacity and facilities under stress. They paint a granular picture of the strain on hospitals across the country that could help local citizens decide when to take extra precautions against Covid-19."
"The documents show that detailed information hospitals report to HHS every day is reviewed and analyzed—but circulation seems to be limited to a few dozen government staffers from HHS and its agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health," NPR noted. "Only one member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Adm. Brett Giroir, appears to receive the documents directly."
Dated October 27, the most recent internal report obtained by NPR shows that around 24% of the nation's hospitals—including facilities in major cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis—are utilizing more than 80% of their intensive care unit capacity and names specific hospitals that are over 95% capacity. The document also shows an uptick in ventilator usage over the past month as coronavirus infections continue to rise at a record-shattering rate.
Experts said the detailed local data currently only circulated among a small group of Trump administration officials would, if made widely available, play a significant role in better informing Americans and health officials about nearby hotspots and encouraging greater safety precautions.
"The neighborhood data, the county data, and metro-area data can be really helpful for people to say, 'Whoa, they're not kidding, this is right here,'" Lisa Lee, former chief science officer for public health surveillance at the CDC, told NPR. "It can help public health prevention folks get their messages across and get people to change their behavior."
While some state officials are able to access HHS reports for their own state, the inability to view broader regional data leaves them without potentially crucial information.
"Hospitals in Tennessee serve patients who are from Arkansas and Mississippi and Kentucky and Georgia and vice versa, and so we're a little bit blind to what's going on there," said Melissa McPheeters, adjunct research professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "When we see hospitals that are particularly near those state borders having increases, one of the things we can't tell is: Is that because hospitals in an adjacent state are full? What's going on there? And that could be a really important piece of the picture."
Ryan Panchadsaram, co-founder of the website Covid Exit Strategy and a former data official in the Obama administration, said the decision to keep the detailed hospitalization data out of public view is "reckless," particularly in the face of soaring coronavirus cases and hospitalizations nationwide.
"It's endangering people," Panchadsaram told NPR. "We're now in the third wave, and I think our only way out is really open, transparent, and actionable information."
In a tweet Friday, Panchadsaram wrote that "there's a mismatch: the rigorous work that's happening internally by the rank and file at HHS/CDC/USDS [United States Digital Service] and what is being shared externally by the administration."
According to publicly available data analyzed by the Covid Tracking Project, more than 46,000 people in the U.S. are currently hospitalized due to the coronavirus as of Thursday, which saw a daily record of 90,400-plus new cases.
"Approaching the eve of the election, President Trump has downplayed the steep rise in cases, attributing much of it to increased testing," the New York Timesnoted earlier this week. "But the number of people hospitalized for the virus tells a different story, climbing an estimated 46 percent from a month ago and raising fears about the capacity of regional healthcare systems to respond to overwhelming demand."
Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University's Milken School of Public Health, tweeted Friday that the HHS hospitalization data "needs to be available to the public."
"It is critical to hospital surge planning and guiding local and state policies," said Wen.


alternet--2020-10-30--Federal judge invokes 'extraordinary measures' to ensure mail-in ballots get delivered on time

A federal judge on Friday ordered the United States Postal Service to take `` extraordinary measures '' at numerous processing centers in order to guarantee the timely delivery of millions of ballots by Election Day .
Reuters reports U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said the order is in line with the USPS 's October 20 `` Extraordinary Measures Memorandum , '' ( pdf ) which states that `` the proper handling and timely delivery of election mail ... remains our number one priority . ''
USPS said the measures include , but are not limited to , `` expedited handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... to collect blank ballots entered by election officials to voters , or completed ballots returned by voters . ''
Affected locations include : Alabama ; Alaska ; Atlanta ; central Pennsylvania ; Colorado ; Detroit ; Fort Worth , Texas ; Indiana ; Louisiana ; the mid-Carolinas ; Mississippi ; northern New England ; Oklahoma ; South Carolina ; and other areas .
Sullivan said the measures apply to places where election mail processing scores did not exceed 90 % for at least two days between October 26 and 28 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Postal Service to provide written explanation for each district where less than 80 % of ballots are delivered on time each day .
Attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice blamed staffing issues and increased mail volume for such delays .
`` At the same time that staffing unavailability has become a factor , there has been an increase volume in package and market dominant products , '' John Robinson , a DOJ lawyer , said in a legal filing reported by the Post .
Friday 's order comes three days after Sullivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late trips as needed to boost USPS 's on-time delivery rate .
Earlier this month , the judge—who is an appointee of President Bill Clinton—ruled that it is in the public interest to block USPS policies that have caused widespread delays since July .
Earlier this week , USPS urged voters to mail their ballots by October 27 in order to ensure on-time arrival and counting eligibility by Election Day , which is November 3 .
While postal workers have tried to keep up with deliveries , the sheer number of early ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call politically motivated delays caused by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , have resulted in major issues affecting delivery times .
Last week , the USPS inspector general issued a report ( pdf ) that found changes made by DeJoy—including reducing extra delivery trips and changes in the way mail is sorted— '' negatively impacted the quality and timeliness of mail delivery . ''
On Thursday , USPS said it had delivered over 122 million ballots , both blank and completed , as Tuesday 's election fast approaches .
Early voting has occurred at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Elections Project at the University of Florida , more than 85 million Americans have already cast their ballots .

A federal judge on Friday ordered the United States Postal Service to take "extraordinary measures" at numerous processing centers in order to guarantee the timely delivery of millions of ballots by Election Day.
Reutersreports U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said the order is in line with the USPS's October 20 "Extraordinary Measures Memorandum," (pdf) which states that "the proper handling and timely delivery of election mail... remains our number one priority."
USPS said the measures include, but are not limited to, "expedited handling, extra deliveries, and special pickups... to collect blank ballots entered by election officials to voters, or completed ballots returned by voters."
Affected locations include: Alabama; Alaska; Atlanta; central Pennsylvania; Colorado; Detroit; Fort Worth, Texas; Indiana; Louisiana; the mid-Carolinas; Mississippi; northern New England; Oklahoma; South Carolina; and other areas.
Sullivan said the measures apply to places where election mail processing scores did not exceed 90% for at least two days between October 26 and 28.
The Washington Postreports Sullivan also ordered the Postal Service to provide written explanation for each district where less than 80% of ballots are delivered on time each day. Attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice blamed staffing issues and increased mail volume for such delays.
"At the same time that staffing unavailability has become a factor, there has been an increase volume in package and market dominant products," John Robinson, a DOJ lawyer, said in a legal filing reported by the Post.
Friday's order comes three days after Sullivan directed postal employees to complete as many late trips as needed to boost USPS's on-time delivery rate. Earlier this month, the judge—who is an appointee of President Bill Clinton—ruled that it is in the public interest to block USPS policies that have caused widespread delays since July.
Earlier this week, USPS urged voters to mail their ballots by October 27 in order to ensure on-time arrival and counting eligibility by Election Day, which is November 3.
While postal workers have tried to keep up with deliveries, the sheer number of early ballots cast, as well as what critics call politically motivated delays caused by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, have resulted in major issues affecting delivery times.
Last week, the USPS inspector general issued a report (pdf) that found changes made by DeJoy—including reducing extra delivery trips and changes in the way mail is sorted—"negatively impacted the quality and timeliness of mail delivery."
On Thursday, USPS said it had delivered over 122 million ballots, both blank and completed, as Tuesday's election fast approaches. Early voting has occurred at a record pace in 2020—according to the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida, more than 85 million Americans have already cast their ballots.