talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--WSJ: Admin Reverses Course, Says CDC Will Regain Control Of COVID Data Collection

The Trump administration appears to be reversing course and giving COVID-19 hospital data collection duties back to the the Centers for Disease Control , the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday , citing comments from White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Deborah Birx .
Last month , the administration abruptly informed hospitals that they were to stop submitting COVID-19 data to the CDC , and instead begin logging it with TeleTracking , a private firm based in Pittsburgh , rather than the CDC .
The rapid change and lack of clear communication from the administration led to weeks of chaos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week told government officials and hospital executives in Arkansas that it was “ solely an interim system , ” the Journal reported .
“ CDC is working with us right now to build a revolutionary new data system so it can be moved back to the CDC , and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE , ” Birx said , according to the Journal .
At least one Trump administration official denied the Journal ’ s reporting : Michael Caputo , the assistant secretary for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services , called it “ false ” on Twitter and said “ the process for # COVID data reporting has not and is not changing.
” The CDC and HHS did not immediately reply to a request for comment .
Samantha Gaspar , a spokesperson for TeleTracking , declined to answer questions and referred TPM to HHS .
The news took at least one state hospital association by surprise .
“ I ’ m learning a lot in the last 30 seconds , ” said Dave Dillon , a spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard about the development on the phone with TPM .
He noted the switch would be yet another change Missouri hospitals would have to accommodate .
“ We ’ ve managed to get all of our hospitals to participate in the push to TeleTracking.
” It ’ s not clear yet how the messy changeover and technological issues created by last month ’ s shift affected hospitals ’ ability to handle the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Obviously , these data are important and any delays or inaccuracies present challenges for the COVID-19 response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the Kaiser Family Foundation , told TPM .
“ It ’ s unclear what actually happened with the changeovers in the database , but they appear to have taken up a lot of time and energy and hopefully did not detract from the response.
” Questions about whether TeleTracking had the capacity and ability to take on the job of recording hospitals ’ COVID-19 data peppered the abrupt switch — announced last month — from the start .
Besides highlighting that the company is well-versed in tracking patients ’ progress through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TeleTracking offered little explanation as to why it was chosen by the federal government to handle such a massive influx of data .
Experts said they were unfamiliar with the company .
“ The biggest issue with this new data system is , they are not the gold standard with data , ” Karen Hoffmann , former president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology ( APIC ) , told TPM last month .
“ They have no history with infection preventionists , where the CDC is really considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track and use their expertise and their technical support for collecting data.
” TeleTracking had never before had such a large government contract as the $ 10.2 million one they got to partner with the HHS and elbow the CDC out of the data-collection process .
The HHS touted TeleTracking as a more “ effective ” alternative to the CDC ’ s National Healthcare Safety Network ( NHSN ) , which had been tracking COVID-19 data since March .
But it left unanswered questions about why a company with 1,000 hospitals in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC , with its years of practice recording the kind of information hospitals were submitting .
“ This decision took some by surprise and raises a lot of questions going forward about how this private company is going to achieve that additional speed , ” Kates told TPM when the switch was made .
TeleTracking , and the CDC before it , is collecting data such as hospital bed use , ICU capacity and patient flow .
Whereas the CDC ’ s NHSN has a years-old track record with its survey tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was new and led to some confusion .
In Missouri and elsewhere , for example , states lost out on days or weeks of hospitalization because the numbers coming through the TeleTracking survey were not yet reliable enough .
Recently , the TeleTracking contract raised more red flags when an attorney writing for the company informed Sens .
Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) and Patty Murray ( D-WA ) that the contract itself was covered by a non-disclosure agreement — something experts told TPM was extremely unusual .
This post has been updated @

The Trump administration appears to be reversing course and giving COVID-19 hospital data collection duties back to the the Centers for Disease Control, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing comments from White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Deborah Birx.
Last month, the administration abruptly informed hospitals that they were to stop submitting COVID-19 data to the CDC, and instead begin logging it with TeleTracking, a private firm based in Pittsburgh, rather than the CDC. The rapid change and lack of clear communication from the administration led to weeks of chaos, as TPM has reported.
But Birx this week told government officials and hospital executives in Arkansas that it was “solely an interim system,” the Journal reported.
“CDC is working with us right now to build a revolutionary new data system so it can be moved back to the CDC, and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE,” Birx said, according to the Journal.
At least one Trump administration official denied the Journal’s reporting: Michael Caputo, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, called it “false” on Twitter and said “the process for #COVID data reporting has not and is not changing.”
HHS made repeated attempts to explain to @RWhelanWSJ of @WSJ that the process for #COVID data reporting has not and is not changing. This false reporting will sow more confusion and only undermines the public health response. https://t.co/CRw46s8tXS — Michael R. Caputo (@SpoxHHS) August 20, 2020
The CDC and HHS did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Samantha Gaspar, a spokesperson for TeleTracking, declined to answer questions and referred TPM to HHS.
The news took at least one state hospital association by surprise.
“I’m learning a lot in the last 30 seconds,” said Dave Dillon, a spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association, who first heard about the development on the phone with TPM. He noted the switch would be yet another change Missouri hospitals would have to accommodate. “We’ve managed to get all of our hospitals to participate in the push to TeleTracking.”
It’s not clear yet how the messy changeover and technological issues created by last month’s shift affected hospitals’ ability to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Obviously, these data are important and any delays or inaccuracies present challenges for the COVID-19 response,” Jen Kates, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, told TPM. “It’s unclear what actually happened with the changeovers in the database, but they appear to have taken up a lot of time and energy and hopefully did not detract from the response.”
Questions about whether TeleTracking had the capacity and ability to take on the job of recording hospitals’ COVID-19 data peppered the abrupt switch — announced last month — from the start. Besides highlighting that the company is well-versed in tracking patients’ progress through hospitals and the usage of hospital beds, TeleTracking offered little explanation as to why it was chosen by the federal government to handle such a massive influx of data.
Experts said they were unfamiliar with the company. “The biggest issue with this new data system is, they are not the gold standard with data,” Karen Hoffmann, former president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), told TPM last month. “They have no history with infection preventionists, where the CDC is really considered the gold standard to be able to track and use their expertise and their technical support for collecting data.”
TeleTracking had never before had such a large government contract as the $10.2 million one they got to partner with the HHS and elbow the CDC out of the data-collection process. The HHS touted TeleTracking as a more “effective” alternative to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), which had been tracking COVID-19 data since March. But it left unanswered questions about why a company with 1,000 hospitals in its client base and 300 employees would trump the CDC, with its years of practice recording the kind of information hospitals were submitting.
“This decision took some by surprise and raises a lot of questions going forward about how this private company is going to achieve that additional speed,” Kates told TPM when the switch was made.
TeleTracking, and the CDC before it, is collecting data such as hospital bed use, ICU capacity and patient flow. Whereas the CDC’s NHSN has a years-old track record with its survey tracking health-care associated infections, the TeleTracking survey was new and led to some confusion. In Missouri and elsewhere, for example, states lost out on days or weeks of hospitalization because the numbers coming through the TeleTracking survey were not yet reliable enough.
Recently, the TeleTracking contract raised more red flags when an attorney writing for the company informed Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) that the contract itself was covered by a non-disclosure agreement — something experts told TPM was extremely unusual.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--Trump Immediately Appeals After Judge OKs Manhattan DA Getting Tax Returns

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for Manhattan ’ s top prosecutor to get President Donald Trump ’ s tax returns , rejecting a last-ditch attempt by his lawyers to block a subpoena issued to his accounting firm .
Trump ’ s lawyers immediately appealed U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ’ s decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals .
Marrero ’ s ruling echoed his prior decision in the case that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last month .
The high court had returned the case to Marrero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Vance has been seeking Trump ’ s tax returns from the president ’ s longtime accounting firm , Mazars USA , for more than a year , since Trump ’ s former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , told Congress that the president had misled tax officials , insurers and business associated about the value of his assets .
Trump ’ s lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Organization , disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1 , 2015 , through Sept. 20 , 2018 .
That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women , including porn actress Stormy Daniels , to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump .
Trump has denied the affairs .
Messages seeking comment on the ruling were left with Trump ’ s lawyer .
A spokesperson for Vance ’ s office declined comment .
Trump , through his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was issued in bad faith , might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him , especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas .
Vance ’ s attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a “ complex financial investigation ” and they cited in their papers public reports of “ extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.
” In July , the Supreme Court rejected Trump ’ s arguments that he can ’ t even be investigated , let alone charged with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the court left open the prospect that Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced .
Vance isn ’ t the only one pursuing Trump ’ s financial records , though his office ’ s request specifically included the president ’ s taxes .
Congress has also tried to access Trump ’ s financial records .
Also in July , the Supreme Court kept a hold on banking and other documents about Trump , family members and his businesses that Congress has been seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case to a lower court .
Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public , and before he was elected he promised to release them .

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for Manhattan’s top prosecutor to get President Donald Trump’s tax returns, rejecting a last-ditch attempt by his lawyers to block a subpoena issued to his accounting firm.
Trump’s lawyers immediately appealed U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero’s decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Marrero’s ruling echoed his prior decision in the case that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last month.
The high court had returned the case to Marrero to give Trump’s lawyers a chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
Vance has been seeking Trump’s tax returns from the president’s longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associated about the value of his assets.
Trump’s lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the president’s company, the Trump Organization, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015, through Sept. 20, 2018.
That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women, including porn actress Stormy Daniels, to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.
Messages seeking comment on the ruling were left with Trump’s lawyer. A spokesperson for Vance’s office declined comment.
Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.
Vance’s attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a “complex financial investigation” and they cited in their papers public reports of “extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.”
In July, the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s arguments that he can’t even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office. But the court left open the prospect that Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced.
Vance isn’t the only one pursuing Trump’s financial records, though his office’s request specifically included the president’s taxes. Congress has also tried to access Trump’s financial records. Also in July, the Supreme Court kept a hold on banking and other documents about Trump, family members and his businesses that Congress has been seeking for over a year and returned the case to a lower court.
Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public, and before he was elected he promised to release them.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--The Rise And Fall Of ‘We Build The Wall’: Catch Up On TPM’s Coverage

Manhattan federal prosecutors dropped a bombshell indictment on Thursday morning alleging that “ We Build The Wall , ” a grassroots campaign that aimed to privately fund President Donald Trump ’ s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border , was a scam orchestrated by former Trump campaign chairman Stephen Bannon and group founder Brian Kolfage .
Here ’ s a synopsis of TPM ’ s coverage of the comically inept project , which had raised at least $ 25 million on GoFundMe since its launch in late 2018 : Border Wall GoFundMe Campaign Celebrates First Mile , Asks For More Money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kolfage cheered on Facebook on May 27 .
The follow-up : “ DONATE NOW to fund more walls !
We have many more projects lined up !
” GoFundMe Border Wall Ordered To Cease And Desist After Failing To Provide Permit Then the project got tangled in legal woes literally the next day .
Kobach-Backed Wall GoFundMe Presses On With Construction After Permit Issues But no fear !
“ We Build The Wall ” kept up its efforts , which anti-immigration hardliner and failed Senate candidate Kris Kobach enthusiastically endorsed .
Kobach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ List To Fundraise For Senate Campaign It was later revealed that he used the group ’ s mailing list to raise donations for his eventually doomed campaign .
The organization also pursued questionable partnerships with anti-government extremists .
GoFundMe Border Wall Group Reaches Out To Oath Keepers , Other Right-Wing Militias In July 2019 , the Mexican government revealed that the wall had breached the border .
Kolfage did nothing but throw up his hands and state that his contractor would not remove the debris .
How A Border Wall Fundraiser Jumped Head-First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to April 2020 , when Kolfage suddenly decided he would get involved in the medical shortage crisis amid COVID-19 .
His efforts were less than lackluster .
‘ The Government Sucks At Designing Things , ’ Said Border Wall Builder Whose Project Might Now Collapse ( TPM member exclusive ) Kolfage argued that “ it takes the private industry to get modern solutions solved , ” but the private industry should probably make sure that its solutions aren ’ t at risk of getting washed away by the Rio Grande .

Manhattan federal prosecutors dropped a bombshell indictment on Thursday morning alleging that “We Build The Wall,” a grassroots campaign that aimed to privately fund President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, was a scam orchestrated by former Trump campaign chairman Stephen Bannon and group founder Brian Kolfage.
Here’s a synopsis of TPM’s coverage of the comically inept project, which had raised at least $25 million on GoFundMe since its launch in late 2018:
“WE DID IT!!!” Kolfage cheered on Facebook on May 27. The follow-up: “DONATE NOW to fund more walls! We have many more projects lined up!”
Then the project got tangled in legal woes literally the next day.
But no fear! “We Build The Wall” kept up its efforts, which anti-immigration hardliner and failed Senate candidate Kris Kobach enthusiastically endorsed.
It was later revealed that he used the group’s mailing list to raise donations for his eventually doomed campaign.
The organization also pursued questionable partnerships with anti-government extremists.
…several times.
In July 2019, the Mexican government revealed that the wall had breached the border. Kolfage did nothing but throw up his hands and state that his contractor would not remove the debris.
Fast-forward to April 2020, when Kolfage suddenly decided he would get involved in the medical shortage crisis amid COVID-19. His efforts were less than lackluster.
Kolfage argued that “it takes the private industry to get modern solutions solved,” but the private industry should probably make sure that its solutions aren’t at risk of getting washed away by the Rio Grande.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--Trump Vows To Station Law Enforcement At Polling Sites On Election Day

President Donald Trump on Thursday night pledged to have law enforcement monitor polling places during the elections on November 3 , dialing up his bogus claims of election fraud to another extreme .
During an interview , Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Trump if he planned to send “ poll watchers ” to the sites “ to know that it ’ s a real vote from a real American.
” “ We ’ re gon na have everything , ” the President replied .
“ We ’ re gon na have sheriffs and we ’ re gon na have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have hopefully U.S. attorneys , and we ’ re going to have everybody .
And attorney generals.
” Though Trump has repeatedly peddled the false claim that mail-in voting leads to election fraud , his comments indicated that his baseless fearmongering on the topic now extends to in-person voting as well .
As he continues to trail Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the polls , Trump has been trying to preemptively paint Biden ’ s potential victory as illegitimate due to voter fraud and signaling that he won ’ t accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see what ’ s happening , ” Trump said when asked earlier this week if he ’ d allow a peaceful transition of power if he lost the race , claiming that “ you ’ re never going to have a fair election ” with mail-in voting .

President Donald Trump on Thursday night pledged to have law enforcement monitor polling places during the elections on November 3, dialing up his bogus claims of election fraud to another extreme.
During an interview, Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Trump if he planned to send “poll watchers” to the sites “to know that it’s a real vote from a real American.”
“We’re gonna have everything,” the President replied. “We’re gonna have sheriffs and we’re gonna have law enforcement and we’re going to have hopefully U.S. attorneys, and we’re going to have everybody. And attorney generals.”
Though Trump has repeatedly peddled the false claim that mail-in voting leads to election fraud, his comments indicated that his baseless fearmongering on the topic now extends to in-person voting as well.
As he continues to trail Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the polls, Trump has been trying to preemptively paint Biden’s potential victory as illegitimate due to voter fraud and signaling that he won’t accept the election results.
“You have to see what’s happening,” Trump said when asked earlier this week if he’d allow a peaceful transition of power if he lost the race, claiming that “you’re never going to have a fair election” with mail-in voting.
Listen to Trump below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--A Rundown Of Election Mail Sabotage Claims DeJoy Will Have To Answer For

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has scandalized the nation in recent days with cost-cutting measures that he has said are meant to improve the Postal Service ’ s finances — even at the expense of mail delivery times .
And with Election Day fast approaching and state and local officials expecting record-breaking numbers of ballots to be cast by mail , the USPS shenanigans could end up impacting the vote tally itself .
Still , the flurry of reports in recent days has been relentless , and it ’ s tough to distinguish potentially significant obstacles to voting rights from what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With DeJoy set to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday , and again before the House Oversight Committee on Monday , here ’ s a rundown of what may actually affect election-related mail , and what we ’ ve learned about it in the past week : 1 .
Cuts to overtime , and leaving mail behind Reports that USPS employees were being told that they were no longer going to be permitted to work overtime — and thus , mail would need to be left behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for the scheduled departure of mail carriers — set off some early alarm bells for election experts , who had been watching the Postal Service closely after the departure this springof leaders with whom they ’ d built a close relationship .
Adding just a day to the amount of time it took a ballot to get to a voter or back to an election official could result in thousands of ballots being rejected come November .
The ballot rejection trends from spring and summer primaries showed that , already , thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to election officials in time to be counted during the pandemic , particularly in the states with limited vote-by-mail experience .
Veteran mail-in election administrators told TPM they have come to expect an all-hands-on-deck approach from their local postal partners , who often brought them into USPS facilities to help monitor the usually nonstop work of getting ballots back to election offices .
USPS headquarters at first played down the idea that there had been an overtime policy change , and claimed the instructions to postal workers obtained by the Washington Post , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nationwide document .
But DeJoy has since acknowledged that longer delivery times were a consequence of the cost cutting he was trying to do at the agency .
His statement this week announcing that he was putting his “ initiatives ” on pause until after the election didn ’ t fully clear up the matter , as it implied that nothing had actually changed in the overtime policy and that overtime was being “ approved as needed.
” This has left election wonks guessing about the circumstances in which overtime work will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that election mail delivery is being exempted from any limitations on overtime .
Amid the rising concerns about overtime cuts , USPS issued letters to 46 states ( though some say they didn ’ t receive them ) warning them that their deadlines for the absentee voting process were not aligned with the USPS delivery standards .
In fairness to USPS , for years election experts had been warning states that their timelines for voters requesting and receiving ballots were outdated .
But many of those states had only a very small percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway — at least until the pandemic , during which the use of absentee voting exploded .
When combined with the overtime cuts , however , the new emphasis from USPS on the potential that ballots wouldn ’ t make it to election officials in time had many vote-by-mail experts wondering whether these warnings meant the USPS was abandoning a longstanding approach of doing everything it could to get ballots delivered , even if it meant working nonstop in the days leading up to an election .
It wasn ’ t clear whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general precaution , given that the pandemic was increasing vote-by-mail use , or if they were a reflection of how DeJoy ’ s broader cost-cutting policies stood to impact ballot delivery .
One vote-by-mail expert suggested the letters could be a “ CYA ” move , so that if the new policies that slowed delivery times delayed ballots , USPS could blame election officials for not listening to their advice on moving back their deadlines .
At the very least , it wasn ’ t likely that most election officials were going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about their deadlines , which are usually set by state legislatures ( and many legislatures don ’ t have plans to reconvene in time to fix the issue . )
The warnings about the deadlines were entwined with the wonky issue of postage price .
For years , experienced mail-in administrators have used a cheaper marketing rate — which , when combined with other discounts , brings the per-ballot postage cost down to 20 cents from the first class 55 cent postage rate .
Marketing-rate mail is technically a slower delivery class , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the understanding that USPS workers were giving all ballots a priority treatment , akin to first class , even when they were mailed at a cheaper rate .
Election officials new to large scale vote-by-mail have also been looking to adopt that cost-saving tactic , as state and local budgets have already been stretched by the pandemic .
But in the state letters and other USPS guidance , the agency implied a “ get what you pay for ” approach to delivering ballots , by stressing that election officials should not expect delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards say .
This apparent shift in message began before DeJoy officially took over as postmaster general .
But the lack of transparency about what was driving the new warnings to states caused panic .
And DeJoy echoed the rhetoric even as he promised he wasn ’ t slowing election mail .
Regardless , the issue of cost is a real one — even if there were good intentions behind the USPS ’ warning against marketing rates .
Even officials in established vote-by-mail states , where the turnaround time isn ’ t as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USPS ’ warnings they will likely need to spend more to upgrade at least some of their ballot deliveries to first class .
Viral photos of mail boxes on the back of USPS trucks have spread panic in recent days , with commenters ( and TPM emailers ) worried that DeJoy is seeking to cut off one method for returning ballots through the mail .
USPS spokespeople have told various news outlets , including TPM , that the shifts are part of regular maintenance and the normal movement of low-traffic dropboxes to higher-traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite a bit of backlash , that “ blue collection boxes will remain where they are , ” but that did not address the fate of mailboxes that have already been shuffled around or removed from streets .
And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) said Wednesday , after meeting with DeJoy , that he had no intention of replacing the mailboxes that had been removed .
Notably , David C. Williams , a former member of the Postal Service Board of Governors , told lawmakers Thursday that the removal of blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans , to my knowledge ” at the time of his resignation in late April .
“ As a matter of fact , ” he continued , “ Secretary Mnuchin wanted that done .
His study of the Postal Service asked that it be done .
I asked the Postal Service about it and they said there would be no reason to.
” “ I am not sure how it went from that , several weeks ago to this , where they ’ re being uprooted from all over , ” Willams added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who vote by mail actually return their ballots in person , or otherwise use their own mailboxes to send the outgoing mail , according to Tammy Patrick , a senior adviser at Democracy Fund .
And it ’ s possible that , given the sharp COVID-19-related decline in mail volume , boxes might have been legitimately moved around .
But , she said , the Postal Service hasn ’ t shared the traffic data driving these movements , and the timing is troubling .
“ Ballots mail out a month from today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s incredibly problematic that there are so many changes happening so close to an election cycle.
” News of sorting machines being removed from mail processing centers offered , at least compared to the blue box panic , a more measurable story : According to the Washington Post , which cited a postal workers ’ union labor grievance , USPS was planning on decommissioning 671 mail sorting machines — about 10 % of its total inventory .
The machines , which sort through letters orders of magnitude more quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less use in recent months due to the overall drop in mail ( rather than package ) volume that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic .
It ’ s not clear how many machines in total were decommissioned before DeJoy said in his statement Wednesday that he was “ suspending ” the decommissioning .
But what does seem clear is that the machines that were unplugged aren ’ t coming back , at least for now .
In an email obtained by Vice News , USPS higher-ups instructed maintenance managers , “ We are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been disconnected.
” And at least some of those decommissioned machines have been trashed : Does this matter for election mail ?
Or are the remaining machines enough to cover the expected demand for mail sorting during the election ?
The move to decommission the machines could be legitimate and without ill intent , but experts told TPM the lack of clear communication and justification from USPS set off alarm bells .
As former Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman told reporters Tuesday , “ part of it is a lack of transparency — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There has not been clarity about what has happened with regard to mail processing equipment.
” This is a somewhat newer issue than the others on this list , but the ability of postal workers to act as witnesses for mail-in voters could have a significant impact in certain areas , especially isolated places where there simply may not be other people around to serve as witnesses .
The Anchorage Daily News first reported on the apparent rule change this week , after voters around the state complained that — unlike in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told them they were prohibited from serving as witnesses despite state law recognizing them as “ authorized officials ” with that authority .
A USPS official , responding to a query from Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai , said postal employees “ are prohibited from serving as witnesses in their official capacity while on duty , due in part to the potential operational impacts.
” But , the spokesperson added , “ The Postal Service does not prohibit an employee from serving as a witness in their personal capacity off-duty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was obtained by the Anchorage Daily News .
That didn ’ t clear things up much .
Nor did another USPS spokesperson who told the Daily News , “ My understanding is this is a national thing that went out .
It ’ s not just Alaska.
” TPM has reached out to the USPS for comment and we ’ ll update this piece if we hear back .
It ’ s worth noting that in some states this election cycle , voters will be allowed to skip the witness requirement for mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented by COVID-19 .

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has scandalized the nation in recent days with cost-cutting measures that he has said are meant to improve the Postal Service’s finances — even at the expense of mail delivery times. And with Election Day fast approaching and state and local officials expecting record-breaking numbers of ballots to be cast by mail, the USPS shenanigans could end up impacting the vote tally itself.
Still, the flurry of reports in recent days has been relentless, and it’s tough to distinguish potentially significant obstacles to voting rights from what otherwise might be typical USPS operations.
With DeJoy set to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, and again before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, here’s a rundown of what may actually affect election-related mail, and what we’ve learned about it in the past week:
1. Cuts to overtime, and leaving mail behind
Reports that USPS employees were being told that they were no longer going to be permitted to work overtime — and thus, mail would need to be left behind if it wasn’t processed in time for the scheduled departure of mail carriers — set off some early alarm bells for election experts, who had been watching the Postal Service closely after the departure this springof leaders with whom they’d built a close relationship.
Adding just a day to the amount of time it took a ballot to get to a voter or back to an election official could result in thousands of ballots being rejected come November. The ballot rejection trends from spring and summer primaries showed that, already, thousands of ballots were not making it back to election officials in time to be counted during the pandemic, particularly in the states with limited vote-by-mail experience.
Veteran mail-in election administrators told TPM they have come to expect an all-hands-on-deck approach from their local postal partners, who often brought them into USPS facilities to help monitor the usually nonstop work of getting ballots back to election offices.
USPS headquarters at first played down the idea that there had been an overtime policy change, and claimed the instructions to postal workers obtained by the Washington Post, TPM and others were not an official, nationwide document. But DeJoy has since acknowledged that longer delivery times were a consequence of the cost cutting he was trying to do at the agency.
His statement this week announcing that he was putting his “initiatives” on pause until after the election didn’t fully clear up the matter, as it implied that nothing had actually changed in the overtime policy and that overtime was being “approved as needed.” This has left election wonks guessing about the circumstances in which overtime work will be allowed. They want a guarantee that election mail delivery is being exempted from any limitations on overtime.
2. Warnings to states on deadlines
Amid the rising concerns about overtime cuts, USPS issued letters to 46 states (though some say they didn’t receive them) warning them that their deadlines for the absentee voting process were not aligned with the USPS delivery standards.
In fairness to USPS, for years election experts had been warning states that their timelines for voters requesting and receiving ballots were outdated. But many of those states had only a very small percentage of their voters casting ballots by mail anyway — at least until the pandemic, during which the use of absentee voting exploded.
When combined with the overtime cuts, however, the new emphasis from USPS on the potential that ballots wouldn’t make it to election officials in time had many vote-by-mail experts wondering whether these warnings meant the USPS was abandoning a longstanding approach of doing everything it could to get ballots delivered, even if it meant working nonstop in the days leading up to an election. It wasn’t clear whether the warnings were being sent as a general precaution, given that the pandemic was increasing vote-by-mail use, or if they were a reflection of how DeJoy’s broader cost-cutting policies stood to impact ballot delivery.
One vote-by-mail expert suggested the letters could be a “CYA” move, so that if the new policies that slowed delivery times delayed ballots, USPS could blame election officials for not listening to their advice on moving back their deadlines.
At the very least, it wasn’t likely that most election officials were going to be able to heed the USPS warnings about their deadlines, which are usually set by state legislatures (and many legislatures don’t have plans to reconvene in time to fix the issue.)
3. First class mail v. marketing class
The warnings about the deadlines were entwined with the wonky issue of postage price.
For years, experienced mail-in administrators have used a cheaper marketing rate — which, when combined with other discounts, brings the per-ballot postage cost down to 20 cents from the first class 55 cent postage rate. Marketing-rate mail is technically a slower delivery class, but veteran vote-by-mail administrators have long had the understanding that USPS workers were giving all ballots a priority treatment, akin to first class, even when they were mailed at a cheaper rate. Election officials new to large scale vote-by-mail have also been looking to adopt that cost-saving tactic, as state and local budgets have already been stretched by the pandemic.
But in the state letters and other USPS guidance, the agency implied a “get what you pay for” approach to delivering ballots, by stressing that election officials should not expect delivery times quicker than what the general USPS standards say.
This apparent shift in message began before DeJoy officially took over as postmaster general. But the lack of transparency about what was driving the new warnings to states caused panic. And DeJoy echoed the rhetoric even as he promised he wasn’t slowing election mail.
Regardless, the issue of cost is a real one — even if there were good intentions behind the USPS’ warning against marketing rates. Even officials in established vote-by-mail states, where the turnaround time isn’t as tight, say that, due to USPS’ warnings they will likely need to spend more to upgrade at least some of their ballot deliveries to first class.
4. ‘Blue boxes’ being moved around
Viral photos of mail boxes on the back of USPS trucks have spread panic in recent days, with commenters (and TPM emailers) worried that DeJoy is seeking to cut off one method for returning ballots through the mail. USPS spokespeople have told various news outlets, including TPM, that the shifts are part of regular maintenance and the normal movement of low-traffic dropboxes to higher-traffic areas.
DeJoy said Tuesday, after quite a bit of backlash, that “blue collection boxes will remain where they are,” but that did not address the fate of mailboxes that have already been shuffled around or removed from streets. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Wednesday, after meeting with DeJoy, that he had no intention of replacing the mailboxes that had been removed.
Notably, David C. Williams, a former member of the Postal Service Board of Governors, told lawmakers Thursday that the removal of blue boxes was “not part of ongoing plans, to my knowledge” at the time of his resignation in late April.
“As a matter of fact,” he continued, “Secretary Mnuchin wanted that done. His study of the Postal Service asked that it be done. I asked the Postal Service about it and they said there would be no reason to.”
“I am not sure how it went from that, several weeks ago to this, where they’re being uprooted from all over,” Willams added.
Some context is required: Most people who vote by mail actually return their ballots in person, or otherwise use their own mailboxes to send the outgoing mail, according to Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser at Democracy Fund. And it’s possible that, given the sharp COVID-19-related decline in mail volume, boxes might have been legitimately moved around.
But, she said, the Postal Service hasn’t shared the traffic data driving these movements, and the timing is troubling. “Ballots mail out a month from today in every state,” she said. “It’s incredibly problematic that there are so many changes happening so close to an election cycle.”
5. Decommissioning mail sorting machines
News of sorting machines being removed from mail processing centers offered, at least compared to the blue box panic, a more measurable story: According to the Washington Post, which cited a postal workers’ union labor grievance, USPS was planning on decommissioning 671 mail sorting machines — about 10% of its total inventory. The machines, which sort through letters orders of magnitude more quickly than humans can, may have seen less use in recent months due to the overall drop in mail (rather than package) volume that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s not clear how many machines in total were decommissioned before DeJoy said in his statement Wednesday that he was “suspending” the decommissioning. But what does seem clear is that the machines that were unplugged aren’t coming back, at least for now. In an email obtained by Vice News, USPS higher-ups instructed maintenance managers, “We are not to reconnect any machines that have previously been disconnected.” And at least some of those decommissioned machines have been trashed:
.@USPS GR Patterson location has pieces of the mail sorting machines out in the parking lot. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/OuugjhTbfE — Heather Walker (@_HeatherWalker) August 19, 2020
Does this matter for election mail? Or are the remaining machines enough to cover the expected demand for mail sorting during the election? The move to decommission the machines could be legitimate and without ill intent, but experts told TPM the lack of clear communication and justification from USPS set off alarm bells. As former Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman told reporters Tuesday, “part of it is a lack of transparency — we just don’t know. There has not been clarity about what has happened with regard to mail processing equipment.”
6. Barring postal employees from serving as ballot witnesses
This is a somewhat newer issue than the others on this list, but the ability of postal workers to act as witnesses for mail-in voters could have a significant impact in certain areas, especially isolated places where there simply may not be other people around to serve as witnesses.
The Anchorage Daily News first reported on the apparent rule change this week, after voters around the state complained that — unlike in other l election years — postal workers had told them they were prohibited from serving as witnesses despite state law recognizing them as “authorized officials” with that authority.
A USPS official, responding to a query from Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, said postal employees “are prohibited from serving as witnesses in their official capacity while on duty, due in part to the potential operational impacts.” But, the spokesperson added, “The Postal Service does not prohibit an employee from serving as a witness in their personal capacity off-duty, if they so choose.” The correspondence was obtained by the Anchorage Daily News.
That didn’t clear things up much. Nor did another USPS spokesperson who told the Daily News, “My understanding is this is a national thing that went out. It’s not just Alaska.”
TPM has reached out to the USPS for comment and we’ll update this piece if we hear back. It’s worth noting that in some states this election cycle, voters will be allowed to skip the witness requirement for mail-in ballots entirely, given the unique circumstances presented by COVID-19.
Cristina Cabrera contributed reporting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--An ‘Ally Of The Light’ Makes His Case

An ‘Ally Of The Light’ Makes His Case

In an emotional , direct address forced by the virtual convention format , Democratic nominee Joe Biden set the stage for less of an election and more of a cosmic battle between good and evil : A battle for the soul of the nation .
“ I ’ ll be an ally of the light , not the darkness , ” he began .
He painted a picture of President Donald Trump ’ s American carnage , reeling off the horrifying statistics of Americans dead and sick and out of work .
“ History has delivered us to one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced , ” he said , later adding : “ We lead the world in cases , we lead the world in deaths , our economy is in tatters.
” The state of our union , he said , is “ unforgivable.
” He described an America battered and tired , rent by a pandemic , an economic crisis , a cry for racial justice and facing cataclysmic environmental peril all at the same time .
“ I understand how hard it is to have any hope right now , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment of the speech , he turned his attention directly to those who lost loved ones to the novel coronavirus .
The father of two dead children and husband of a dead wife , he did what Trump never has : acknowledged Americans ’ grief and pain and anger from the vantage point of someone who ’ s felt the same things , who knows how “ mean , cruel and unfair ” life can be .
“ I ’ ve found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pivoting to the America he envisions .
He called social security a “ sacred promise , ” vowing never to endanger it as Trump has threatened to do .
He promised “ pay , ” not just “ praise , ” for frontline workers , and laid out his intention to distribute COVID-19 tests and protective equipment to prepare schools for the fall and to take the “ muzzle ” off of experts .
He promised to protect the franchise of voting , the institution that has come under recent fire from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers , ” he said , his voice hardening .
“ Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise , voting.
” He voiced the hope that this can be the generation that “ wipes the stain of racism from our national character , ” relaying the story of George Floyd ’ s young daughter telling him that her father changed the world .
In Trump ’ s world of grievance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an America that ’ s generous and hopeful .
Using imagery with echoes of his Catholic faith , he called on believers in love and decency to swell his ranks , and support him in his most important battle yet .
“ Let us begin , you and I together , one nation under God , united in our love for America , united in our love for each other , ” he said .
“ For love is more powerful than hate , hope is more powerful than fear , light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is our moment .
”

In an emotional, direct address forced by the virtual convention format, Democratic nominee Joe Biden set the stage for less of an election and more of a cosmic battle between good and evil: A battle for the soul of the nation.
“I’ll be an ally of the light, not the darkness,” he began.
He painted a picture of President Donald Trump’s American carnage, reeling off the horrifying statistics of Americans dead and sick and out of work.
“History has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced,” he said, later adding: “We lead the world in cases, we lead the world in deaths, our economy is in tatters.”
The state of our union, he said, is “unforgivable.”
He described an America battered and tired, rent by a pandemic, an economic crisis, a cry for racial justice and facing cataclysmic environmental peril all at the same time.
“I understand how hard it is to have any hope right now,” he said. And in perhaps the most compelling moment of the speech, he turned his attention directly to those who lost loved ones to the novel coronavirus. The father of two dead children and husband of a dead wife, he did what Trump never has: acknowledged Americans’ grief and pain and anger from the vantage point of someone who’s felt the same things, who knows how “mean, cruel and unfair” life can be.
“I’ve found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose,” he said, pivoting to the America he envisions.
He called social security a “sacred promise,” vowing never to endanger it as Trump has threatened to do. He promised “pay,” not just “praise,” for frontline workers, and laid out his intention to distribute COVID-19 tests and protective equipment to prepare schools for the fall and to take the “muzzle” off of experts.
He promised to protect the franchise of voting, the institution that has come under recent fire from the Trump administration.
“Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers,” he said, his voice hardening. “Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise, voting.”
He voiced the hope that this can be the generation that “wipes the stain of racism from our national character,” relaying the story of George Floyd’s young daughter telling him that her father changed the world.
In Trump’s world of grievance and anger, Biden made the case for an America that’s generous and hopeful.
Using imagery with echoes of his Catholic faith, he called on believers in love and decency to swell his ranks, and support him in his most important battle yet.
“Let us begin, you and I together, one nation under God, united in our love for America, united in our love for each other,” he said. “For love is more powerful than hate, hope is more powerful than fear, light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--Dem Convention Becomes Rallying Cry For Casting Ballot Amid Voter Suppression

Throughout this year ’ s historically virtual ceremony , Democrats have rallied around the cause of mail-in voting amid GOP efforts to restrict it and to withhold funding from the already cash-strapped U.S .
Postal Service that will carry ballots in November .
Speakers returned again and again to the theme of voting by mail and larger efforts to suppress the vote , decrying Trump ’ s baseless claims that absentee voting leads to fraud .
And from the first night of the convention , Democrats signaled that they ’ re not taking the USPS crisis lightly after the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee that all ballots would be delivered in time to be counted .
Here are some remarks from convention speakers highlighting concerns of voter disfranchisement : Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ( D-NV ) joined night one ’ s calls to take the USPS crisis seriously , explaining to convention viewers that marking ballots at home is how they will exercise “ one of our most fundamental rights ” amid the COVID-19 pandemic , despite Trump ’ s false claims .
“ But despite what the President says , voting by mail has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cortez Masto said , before taking aim at Trump by saying that Nevada and America are “ not intimidated by you.
” Obama delivered a poignant speech that addressed the importance of mail-in voting , and included a jab at Trump .
“ Right now , folks who know they can not win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting , ” Obama said , citing the closure of polling places in minority neighborhoods , the purging of voter rolls and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the security ” of ballots .
“ We ’ ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now , tonight , and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they ’ re received .
And then make sure our friends and families do the same.
” “ We have got to grab our comfortable shoes , put on our masks , pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too , because we ’ ve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening appearance ahead of her VP acceptance speech , Harris urged voters to figure out a “ voting plan ” for the November election in light of Trump spreading misinformation and GOP voter suppression efforts .
“ Amidst the excitement and enthusiasm for this election , you ’ ve also heard about obstacles and misinformation and folks making it harder for you to cast a ballot , ” Harris said .
“ We need to ask ourselves , why don ’ t they want us to vote — why is there so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer is because when we vote , things change.
” Clinton urged voters to cast ballots in “ overwhelming ” numbers as she reflected on her experience losing the 2016 election to Trump .
“ Don ’ t forget : Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose .
Take it from me , ” Clinton said in a video recorded from her home in Chappaqua , New York .
“ We need numbers overwhelming , so Trump can ’ t sneak or steal his way to victory.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , arguing that the President and those in power “ who benefit from keeping things the way they are ” are “ counting on your cynicism.
” “ They ’ re hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and to convince you that your vote does not matter .
That is how they win , ” Obama said , before urging early voting .
“ Do not let them take away your power , do not let them take away your democracy , ” he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how you ’ re going to get involved and vote .
Do it as early as you can , and tell your family and friends how they can vote too.
” When asked by night four host Julia Louis-Dreyfus about whether Atlanta is ready for Election Day , Bottoms insisted that her city will be ready and will “ do everything that we can to make sure that voting goes smoothly.
” “ But we are encouraging people , if you can vote early in your state , to please do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis .
“ In his parting essay written to us , Congressman Lewis expressed his pride in the activism that has swept our country , ” Bottoms said .
“ And he reminded us that if we fail to exercise our right to vote , we can lose it.
” In a joint video segment with Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson , Padilla demanded that voters not “ let anyone keep you from exercising your most sacred right.
” “ Make your plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the polls the first day they ’ re open .
Or request your ballot and send it in right away , ” Padilla said .
“ Know this .
Election results may take a little longer this year , but Democrats will fight to make sure your ballot is counted .
”

Mail-in voting is the 2020 Democratic National Convention’s fight song.
Throughout this year’s historically virtual ceremony, Democrats have rallied around the cause of mail-in voting amid GOP efforts to restrict it and to withhold funding from the already cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service that will carry ballots in November.
Speakers returned again and again to the theme of voting by mail and larger efforts to suppress the vote, decrying Trump’s baseless claims that absentee voting leads to fraud. And from the first night of the convention, Democrats signaled that they’re not taking the USPS crisis lightly after the agency warned 46 states that it could not guarantee that all ballots would be delivered in time to be counted.
Here are some remarks from convention speakers highlighting concerns of voter disfranchisement:
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) joined night one’s calls to take the USPS crisis seriously, explaining to convention viewers that marking ballots at home is how they will exercise “one of our most fundamental rights” amid the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Trump’s false claims.
“But despite what the President says, voting by mail has been a secure, prudent option for decades,” Cortez Masto said, before taking aim at Trump by saying that Nevada and America are “not intimidated by you.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama
Obama delivered a poignant speech that addressed the importance of mail-in voting, and included a jab at Trump.
“Right now, folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting,” Obama said, citing the closure of polling places in minority neighborhoods, the purging of voter rolls and referencing how Trump is “lying about the security” of ballots. “We’ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they’re received. And then make sure our friends and families do the same.”
“We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because we’ve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to,” she continued.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
During a surprise opening appearance ahead of her VP acceptance speech, Harris urged voters to figure out a “voting plan” for the November election in light of Trump spreading misinformation and GOP voter suppression efforts.
“Amidst the excitement and enthusiasm for this election, you’ve also heard about obstacles and misinformation and folks making it harder for you to cast a ballot,” Harris said. “We need to ask ourselves, why don’t they want us to vote — why is there so much effort to silence our voices? The answer is because when we vote, things change.”
Hillary Clinton
Clinton urged voters to cast ballots in “overwhelming” numbers as she reflected on her experience losing the 2016 election to Trump.
“Don’t forget: Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me,” Clinton said in a video recorded from her home in Chappaqua, New York. “We need numbers overwhelming, so Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.”
Barack Obama
The former president got right to the point, arguing that the President and those in power “who benefit from keeping things the way they are” are “counting on your cynicism.”
“They’re hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and to convince you that your vote does not matter. That is how they win,” Obama said, before urging early voting.
“Do not let them take away your power, do not let them take away your democracy,” he continued. “Make a plan right now for how you’re going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can, and tell your family and friends how they can vote too.”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
When asked by night four host Julia Louis-Dreyfus about whether Atlanta is ready for Election Day, Bottoms insisted that her city will be ready and will “do everything that we can to make sure that voting goes smoothly.”
“But we are encouraging people, if you can vote early in your state, to please do so,” Bottoms said, before going on to pay tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis.
“In his parting essay written to us, Congressman Lewis expressed his pride in the activism that has swept our country,” Bottoms said. “And he reminded us that if we fail to exercise our right to vote, we can lose it.”
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla
In a joint video segment with Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, Padilla demanded that voters not “let anyone keep you from exercising your most sacred right.”
“Make your plan to vote. Grab your mask and head to the polls the first day they’re open. Or request your ballot and send it in right away,” Padilla said. “Know this. Election results may take a little longer this year, but Democrats will fight to make sure your ballot is counted.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--Report: Bannon Claims He’s Been Talking To Trump In Recent Months

Former top adviser to the President , Steve Bannon , claims he has recently been in touch with President Donald Trump .
A source close to the Trump campaign told CNN that Bannon has spoken about talks with Trump as recently as a few months ago .
The revelation comes as Bannon was arrested Thursday and now faces charges of fraud for allegedly dipping into donations made to a campaign to privately fund a wall at the US-Mexico border .
Trump swiftly began to distance himself from his former strategist and the We Build The Wall fundraising campaign within hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A second campaign source told CNN that Bannon and Trump spoke “ weeks ago ” but just for a few minutes .
The source said that the two men were unlikely to ever repair their relationship as the President was displeased with Bannon ’ s involvement in the wall fundraiser .
During a pool spray on Thursday , when asked about Bannon ’ s arrest , Trump told reporters that he has not been “ dealing ” with Bannon “ at all.
” “ I haven ’ t been dealing with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said , adding , that while Bannon was involved in the Trump campaign , Bannon had also worked for Goldman Sachs and “ for a lot of companies.
” Trump added that Bannon had also worked “ for a small part of the administration , very early on.
” The President appeared to show pity for his former strategist calling Bannon ’ s arrest “ sad.
” Bannon had been forced from his seven-month perch in the White House in 2017 , after undercutting the President on North Korea policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany drilled down on the effort to forge the appearance of distance between the two men .
“ President Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the Administration , and he does not know the people involved with this project , ” McEnany said in a statement .
But Trump did know at least two of the “ We Build the Wall ” project organizers — aside from Bannon , former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early 2019 of a phone conversation with Trump in which the President gave enthusiastic approval for the project .

Former top adviser to the President, Steve Bannon, claims he has recently been in touch with President Donald Trump.
A source close to the Trump campaign told CNN that Bannon has spoken about talks with Trump as recently as a few months ago.
The revelation comes as Bannon was arrested Thursday and now faces charges of fraud for allegedly dipping into donations made to a campaign to privately fund a wall at the US-Mexico border.
Trump swiftly began to distance himself from his former strategist and the We Build The Wall fundraising campaign within hours of Bannon’s arrest on Thursday.
A second campaign source told CNN that Bannon and Trump spoke “weeks ago” but just for a few minutes. The source said that the two men were unlikely to ever repair their relationship as the President was displeased with Bannon’s involvement in the wall fundraiser.
During a pool spray on Thursday, when asked about Bannon’s arrest, Trump told reporters that he has not been “dealing” with Bannon “at all.”
“I haven’t been dealing with him for a long period of time,” Trump said, adding, that while Bannon was involved in the Trump campaign, Bannon had also worked for Goldman Sachs and “for a lot of companies.”
Trump added that Bannon had also worked “for a small part of the administration, very early on.” The President appeared to show pity for his former strategist calling Bannon’s arrest “sad.”
Bannon had been forced from his seven-month perch in the White House in 2017, after undercutting the President on North Korea policy, among other things.
Also on Thursday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany drilled down on the effort to forge the appearance of distance between the two men.
“President Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the Administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project,” McEnany said in a statement.
But Trump did know at least two of the “We Build the Wall” project organizers — aside from Bannon, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach had boasted during a New York Times interview in early 2019 of a phone conversation with Trump in which the President gave enthusiastic approval for the project.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

• Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced on Tuesday that he would pause his aggressive overhaul of the U.S .
Postal Service until after the election , amid an outcry that changes at the agency would hamper mail-in voting in the November election .
• But a former deputy postmaster general told reporters that he was skeptical of DeJoy ’ s assurances .
• After a call with DeJoy on Wednesday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) said that the postal service chief did not plan to replace the famous blue mail collection boxes that have been removed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that DeJoy did not offer a plan for “ adequate overtime ” to ensure the timely delivery of mail .
• DeJoy appeared Friday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs , where he assured lawmakers that the postal service will still prioritize mail-in ballots , even if they didn ’ t carry first-class postage .
• However , DeJoy said he did not plan to reinstate high-volume mail sorting machines , confirming that those that had been decommissioned will remain so .
• Catch up on all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
Another Ex-Trump Official Hit With Federal Charges • We didn ’ t see this one coming : Former White House strategist and onetime Trump campaign manager Steve Bannon was indicted on Thursday for allegedly personally cashing in on a fundraising effort to build a wall on the U.S.-southern border .
• TPM has been covering the fundraising effort , dubbed “ We Build The Wall , ” for the past year .
• In a twist of irony , U.S .
Postal Service agents arrested Bannon on a yacht off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to distance himself from both Bannon and the wall-funding effort , telling reporters he thought the news was “ sad ” but that he hadn ’ t been associated with Bannon for some time .
• TPM ’ s Josh Kovensky took a look at another probe Bannon faces — separate from the border wall venture .
• The entire staff live-blogged every twist and turn of the story here .
• Over the course of four nights this week , Democrats held a virtual convention to officially deliver the nomination to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unsurprisingly , amid Trump ’ s war on mail-in voting , Democrats focused on the importance of voting early .
• The roll-call vote nominating Biden amounted to an endearing tour of the country and its diversity .
A plate of calamari during Rhode Island ’ s time in the spotlight stole the show .
But the restaurant ’ s owner insists the fried squid is strictly bipartisan .
• During Biden ’ s closing speech , the former veep drew a sharp contrast between Trump and himself .
“ I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the darkness , ” Biden said .
• Catch up on what you may have missed with our convention recap podcasts .
You can find the final episode of the week right here , and wherever you listen to podcasts .

The California State Bar is arguing that recent criminal charges against John Eastman in Fulton County, Georgia should not prevent…


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--Trump Campaign Fails To Produce Evidence Of Voter Fraud In PA Lawsuit

Even in response to a federal judge , the Trump campaign was unable to provide evidence of voter fraud in its crusade against drop boxes in Pennsylvania .
Last week , a Trump-appointed federal judge ordered the campaign to show examples to back up their argument that drop boxes , where voters can deposit their ballots , will open the door to widespread voter fraud .
In their response , campaign lawyers declined to do so .
“ Neither the original Complaint nor the Amended Complaint contains an allegation that ‘ ballot harvesting , ’ ‘ manipulating and destroying ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud from mail-in and absentee ballots actually occurred during the Primary Election , ” the lawyers wrote .
“ The claims asserted by the plaintiffs do not hinge on evidence of voter fraud actually occurring , ” they added .
The campaign argued that though it has no proof that fraud of this type has happened , it could — and that ’ s grounds enough for barring the boxes .
The campaign then loaded the 524-page document with articles about a handful of cases of voter fraud unrelated to mail-in voting or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicholas Ranjan asked the Trump campaign to respond last week after the Sierra Club and Citizens for Pennsylvania ’ s Future , two intervenor-defendants in the case , argued that the campaign “ should not be permitted to raise such spectacular fraud-related claims , particularly in this national climate , and refuse to provide discoverable information to substantiate those claims.
” In his order , Ranjan said that “ If there are no responsive documents , Plaintiffs must state as such.
” The embarrassment is par for the course for the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , frequently attacks mail-in voting as rife with widespread fraud .
Experts of all stripes deny that assertion , and Trump himself often votes absentee .
He has openly admitted that he refused to negotiate on a COVID-19 relief package because it would fund the U.S .
Postal Service and help the agency process mailed ballots this fall .
The Trump administration and campaign ’ s crusade against mail-in voting became a theme of the Democratic National Convention , where many power-brokers in the party urged voters to disregard his fear mongering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .
“ Right now , folks who know they can not win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting , ” said former first lady Michelle Obama during her keynote speech .
“ We ’ ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now , tonight , and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they ’ re received .
And then make sure our friends and families do the same .
”

Even in response to a federal judge, the Trump campaign was unable to provide evidence of voter fraud in its crusade against drop boxes in Pennsylvania.
Last week, a Trump-appointed federal judge ordered the campaign to show examples to back up their argument that drop boxes, where voters can deposit their ballots, will open the door to widespread voter fraud.
In their response, campaign lawyers declined to do so.
“Neither the original Complaint nor the Amended Complaint contains an allegation that ‘ballot harvesting,’ ‘manipulating and destroying ballots,’ double voting, and/or voter fraud from mail-in and absentee ballots actually occurred during the Primary Election,” the lawyers wrote.
“The claims asserted by the plaintiffs do not hinge on evidence of voter fraud actually occurring,” they added. The campaign argued that though it has no proof that fraud of this type has happened, it could — and that’s grounds enough for barring the boxes.
The campaign then loaded the 524-page document with articles about a handful of cases of voter fraud unrelated to mail-in voting or drop boxes.
U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan asked the Trump campaign to respond last week after the Sierra Club and Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, two intervenor-defendants in the case, argued that the campaign “should not be permitted to raise such spectacular fraud-related claims, particularly in this national climate, and refuse to provide discoverable information to substantiate those claims.”
In his order, Ranjan said that “If there are no responsive documents, Plaintiffs must state as such.”
The embarrassment is par for the course for the Trump campaign, which, led by President Donald Trump, frequently attacks mail-in voting as rife with widespread fraud. Experts of all stripes deny that assertion, and Trump himself often votes absentee.
He has openly admitted that he refused to negotiate on a COVID-19 relief package because it would fund the U.S. Postal Service and help the agency process mailed ballots this fall.
The Trump administration and campaign’s crusade against mail-in voting became a theme of the Democratic National Convention, where many power-brokers in the party urged voters to disregard his fear mongering and get their ballots in as early as possible.
“Right now, folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting,” said former first lady Michelle Obama during her keynote speech. “We’ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they’re received. And then make sure our friends and families do the same.”
Read the Trump campaign’s response here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-21--McCarthy Denounces QAnon: There Is ‘No Place’ For Conspiracy Theory In GOP

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) disavowed the QAnon conspiracy on Thursday night , speaking out against a growing trend of GOP candidates who have pledged their adherence to the far-right conspiracy as even President Donald Trump appears to be lending them his endorsement .
When asked about the emergence of Republican candidates who supported QAnon , McCarthy said he did not support the movement , which has been identified as a potential domestic terrorist threat by the FBI .
“ Let me be very clear , ” McCarthy told Fox News host Shannon Bream on Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon in the Republican Party .
I do not support it.
” The comments come after President Trump on Wednesday appeared to give a nod to the baseless conspiracy which falsely claims that he is saving the world from a cult of pedophiles and cannibals .
“ I don ’ t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much , which I appreciate , ” Trump said during a news conference .
Earlier this month , Trump congratulated known QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Green , as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The President gushed about Greene being a “ future Republican Star ” who is “ strong on everything.
” On Thursday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to distance the President from the conspiracy theory in spite of his clear praise for its followers .
McEnany claimed to Fox News that Trump does not support the movement , has never mentioned it and doesn ’ t know much about it .
Meanwhile Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse — one of the few Republicans on Capitol Hill known to criticize the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon-aligned candidates and failed to denounce the conspiracy .
“ QAnon is nuts — and real leaders call conspiracy theories conspiracy theories , ” Sasse said on Thursday , adding , that if Democrats win majority in the Senate in November , “ this will be a big part of why they won.
” During the Fox News interview , McCarthy also seized the opportunity to lash out at Democratic lawmakers who he said have failed to “ stand up ” against anti-Semitic remarks .
McCarthy singled out Reps. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) who were widely criticized last year as anti-Semitic over their support for Palestine .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) disavowed the QAnon conspiracy on Thursday night, speaking out against a growing trend of GOP candidates who have pledged their adherence to the far-right conspiracy as even President Donald Trump appears to be lending them his endorsement.
When asked about the emergence of Republican candidates who supported QAnon, McCarthy said he did not support the movement, which has been identified as a potential domestic terrorist threat by the FBI.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Thursday night said that "there is no place for QAnon in the Republican party. I do not support it." The GOP lawmaker also took aim at the Democratic party for what he sees as failures to denounce anti-Semitic remarks. pic.twitter.com/t5F9eYRRE3 — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) August 21, 2020
“Let me be very clear,” McCarthy told Fox News host Shannon Bream on Thursday night. “There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party. I do not support it.”
The comments come after President Trump on Wednesday appeared to give a nod to the baseless conspiracy which falsely claims that he is saving the world from a cult of pedophiles and cannibals.
“I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate,” Trump said during a news conference.
Earlier this month, Trump congratulated known QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Green, as she celebrated a GOP primary win in Georgia.
The President gushed about Greene being a “future Republican Star” who is “strong on everything.”
On Thursday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to distance the President from the conspiracy theory in spite of his clear praise for its followers. McEnany claimed to Fox News that Trump does not support the movement, has never mentioned it and doesn’t know much about it.
Meanwhile Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse — one of the few Republicans on Capitol Hill known to criticize the President — called out Republicans who have supported QAnon-aligned candidates and failed to denounce the conspiracy.
“QAnon is nuts — and real leaders call conspiracy theories conspiracy theories,” Sasse said on Thursday, adding, that if Democrats win majority in the Senate in November, “this will be a big part of why they won.”
During the Fox News interview, McCarthy also seized the opportunity to lash out at Democratic lawmakers who he said have failed to “stand up” against anti-Semitic remarks. McCarthy singled out Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI) who were widely criticized last year as anti-Semitic over their support for Palestine.