talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Ex-DeVos Aide Joins Anti-Trump Group Led By Former Administration Officials

Josh Venable , the former chief of staff to Education Secretary Betsy Devos , has joined an anti-Trump group founded by former administration officials as an adviser .
Venable , who now serves as an adviser to the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform , was DeVos ’ first chief of staff from the start of the Trump administration until his resignation in October 2018 .
Prior to his term as DeVos ’ top aide , Venable worked for the Windquest Group , DeVos ’ family investment office .
Additionally , Venable served as an adviser to former Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his 2016 presidential campaign as well as Bush ’ s education group , the Foundation for Excellence in Education .
The Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform was launched on Thursday by former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor and Elizabeth Neumann , another former senior Trump DHS official .
Members of the anti-Trump group include current and former Trump administration officials , in addition to other Republican leaders who are breaking from President Trump in the November presidential election .
Anthony Scaramucci , whose term as White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mere 10 days , is among the 26 Republicans in the anti-Trump group .
According to Politico , Taylor claimed that a current senior Trump administration official is also in the group , but declined to disclose that person ’ s name .
“ We are interested in promoting ideas .
We are committed to founding principles , ” Taylor said in a statement , according to Politico .
“ And we are eager to outline a more hopeful vision of America ’ s future.
” Olivia Troye — who served as Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and counterterrorism adviser and his top staffer on the COVID-19 task force , before she left the administration last month — has joined the group as well .
On Thursday , Troye made headlines as she came out for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in a two-minute video from the anti-Trump group Republican Voters Against Trump .
Troye called Trump ’ s supporters “ disgusting ” and that the President ’ s handling of the COVID-19 crisis shows that “ he doesn ’ t actually care about anyone else but himself.
” Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a Republican , she said that she plans to vote for Biden “ because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis .
”

Josh Venable, the former chief of staff to Education Secretary Betsy Devos, has joined an anti-Trump group founded by former administration officials as an adviser.
Venable, who now serves as an adviser to the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform, was DeVos’ first chief of staff from the start of the Trump administration until his resignation in October 2018. Prior to his term as DeVos’ top aide, Venable worked for the Windquest Group, DeVos’ family investment office.
Additionally, Venable served as an adviser to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush where he worked on his 2016 presidential campaign as well as Bush’s education group, the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
The Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform was launched on Thursday by former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor and Elizabeth Neumann, another former senior Trump DHS official. Members of the anti-Trump group include current and former Trump administration officials, in addition to other Republican leaders who are breaking from President Trump in the November presidential election.
Anthony Scaramucci, whose term as White House communications director in 2017 lasted a mere 10 days, is among the 26 Republicans in the anti-Trump group.
According to Politico, Taylor claimed that a current senior Trump administration official is also in the group, but declined to disclose that person’s name.
“We are interested in promoting ideas. We are committed to founding principles,” Taylor said in a statement, according to Politico. “And we are eager to outline a more hopeful vision of America’s future.”
Olivia Troye — who served as Vice President Mike Pence’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser and his top staffer on the COVID-19 task force, before she left the administration last month — has joined the group as well.
On Thursday, Troye made headlines as she came out for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in a two-minute video from the anti-Trump group Republican Voters Against Trump. Troye recalled Trump seeing a silver lining to COVID: “I don’t have to shake hands with these disgusting people.” By Troye’s account, Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis shows that “he doesn’t actually care about anyone else but himself.”
Although Troye stated in the video that she’s a Republican, she said that she plans to vote for Biden “because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis.”
Correction: The post has been corrected to reflect that Troye herself didn’t claim Trump supporters are “disgusting.” She attributed that description to Trump. We regret the error.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--WATCH: Ex-Pence Aide Who Worked On COVID Task Force Comes Out For Biden

A former top staffer for Vice President Mike Pence alleged in a new anti-Trump video Thursday that the President called his supporters “ disgusting ” and said the COVID-19 pandemic might be a positive development because he no longer had to shake their hands .
In the two-minute video , from the anti-Trump group Republican Voters Against Trump , former Pence staffer Olivia Troye said that in one White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting , “ the President said ‘ maybe this COVID thing is a good thing — I don ’ t like shaking hands with people .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with these disgusting people . '
” “ Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about , ” Troye said in the video .
Troye , who left the administration in August , served as Pence ’ s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser and his top staffer on the COVID-19 task force .
She told The Washington Post , “ I was the 24-hours-on-call person for major events for two years for him in the role.
” She said in the new video that though she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting for Joe Biden “ because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis.
” “ At this point , it ’ s country over party , ” Troye said .
Toward the middle of February , Troy said in the video , the task force knew COVID-19 would become a “ big pandemic ” in the United States .
“ But the President didn ’ t want to hear that , because his biggest concern was that we were in an election year , and how is this going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his record of success ?
” Troye said .
“ The truth is , he doesn ’ t actually care about anyone else but himself , ” she said .
If Trump had made an effort to take the virus seriously or communicate its seriousness , Troye said , “ he would have slowed the virus spread , he would have saved lives.
” Pence ’ s national security adviser , Keith Kellogg , called Troye “ disgruntled ” in a statement shared with TPM .
He said that at the time she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no longer capable of keeping up with her day-to-day duties.
” “ Ms .
Troye directly reported to me , and never once during her detail did she ever express any concern regarding the Administration ’ s response to the Coronavirus to anyone in her chain of command , ” Kellogg said .
“ By not expressing her concerns , she demonstrated an incredible lack of moral courage.
” TPM has reached out to Troye for comment on Kellogg ’ s statement .

A former top staffer for Vice President Mike Pence alleged in a new anti-Trump video Thursday that the President called his supporters “disgusting” and said the COVID-19 pandemic might be a positive development because he no longer had to shake their hands.
In the two-minute video, from the anti-Trump group Republican Voters Against Trump, former Pence staffer Olivia Troye said that in one White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting, “the President said ‘maybe this COVID thing is a good thing — I don’t like shaking hands with people. I don’t have to shake hands with these disgusting people.'”
“Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about,” Troye said in the video.
Troye, who left the administration in August, served as Pence’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser and his top staffer on the COVID-19 task force. She told The Washington Post, “I was the 24-hours-on-call person for major events for two years for him in the role.”
She said in the new video that though she’s a Republican, she’ll be voting for Joe Biden “because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis.”
“At this point, it’s country over party,” Troye said.
Toward the middle of February, Troy said in the video, the task force knew COVID-19 would become a “big pandemic” in the United States.
“But the President didn’t want to hear that, because his biggest concern was that we were in an election year, and how is this going to affect what he considered to be his record of success?” Troye said.
“The truth is, he doesn’t actually care about anyone else but himself,” she said. If Trump had made an effort to take the virus seriously or communicate its seriousness, Troye said, “he would have slowed the virus spread, he would have saved lives.”
Pence’s national security adviser, Keith Kellogg, called Troye “disgruntled” in a statement shared with TPM. He said that at the time she left the White House, “she was no longer capable of keeping up with her day-to-day duties.”
“Ms. Troye directly reported to me, and never once during her detail did she ever express any concern regarding the Administration’s response to the Coronavirus to anyone in her chain of command,” Kellogg said. “By not expressing her concerns, she demonstrated an incredible lack of moral courage.” TPM has reached out to Troye for comment on Kellogg’s statement.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Gender Wage Gap Higher In Donald ‘Champion For Women’ Trump WH Than It Is Nationally

New analysis of the 2020 median salaries in the White House found a more than $ 33,000 pay gap between the median salary for men and women staffed under President Trump — making wage discrimination greater in the Trump administration than it is nationally .
The 19th , a news organization focused on gender and politics , reports that while the median salary for a male White House staffer is $ 106,000 , the median salary for women is $ 72,700 .
The staggering finding translates to women staffers making roughly 69 cents to every dollar earned by a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeds the national pay gap that sits at women earning 82 cents to the each dollar earned by men , according to Census Bureau data from 2018 .
The salaries , accurate as of June 26 , reflect what economists call the “ raw ” gender pay gap — not making adjustments to the scale for differences in experience , education , title or other factors which further complicate a long history of wage differences between men and women .
The finding comes as the President ’ s prominent women supporters have attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on women and have claimed that the President prizes gender equality .
In a video clip aired during the Republican National Convention last month , former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway called the President “ a champion for women.
” First Lady Melania Trump also falsely claimed during her remarks that her husband had “ an unprecedented number of women in leadership roles ” in his administration .
In 2017 , Trump rolled back an Obama-era rule requiring large companies to report gender and race pay data in a move intended to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency .
The gap still existed , but was smaller among staffers who worked under former President Barack Obama ’ s administration .
In Obama ’ s final year , women were being paid 89 cents on the dollar , with that rate dropping to 63 cents on the dollar during the first year Trump was in office , according to an analysis by the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute .
Trump ’ s courtship of female voters is crucial as 2016 exit polls showed that 53 percent of the electorate was female .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ average salaries have increased by roughly 7 percent for female staffers over three years , while decreasing for male staffers by about a half-percent .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to the 19th ’ s findings saying in a statement that the President “ implements policies that empower women.
” She highlighted historic low unemployment rate for women in 2019 as an example — even though historic high unemployment soars across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ President Trump has taken unprecedented action to support women and girls , @ @ @ @

New analysis of the 2020 median salaries in the White House found a more than $33,000 pay gap between the median salary for men and women staffed under President Trump — making wage discrimination greater in the Trump administration than it is nationally.
The 19th, a news organization focused on gender and politics, reports that while the median salary for a male White House staffer is $106,000, the median salary for women is $72,700.
The staggering finding translates to women staffers making roughly 69 cents to every dollar earned by a man working for Trump — a gap that exceeds the national pay gap that sits at women earning 82 cents to the each dollar earned by men, according to Census Bureau data from 2018.
The salaries, accurate as of June 26, reflect what economists call the “raw” gender pay gap — not making adjustments to the scale for differences in experience, education, title or other factors which further complicate a long history of wage differences between men and women.
The finding comes as the President’s prominent women supporters have attempted to vouch for Trump’s record on women and have claimed that the President prizes gender equality.
In a video clip aired during the Republican National Convention last month, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway called the President “a champion for women.” First Lady Melania Trump also falsely claimed during her remarks that her husband had “an unprecedented number of women in leadership roles” in his administration.
In 2017, Trump rolled back an Obama-era rule requiring large companies to report gender and race pay data in a move intended to help close the wage gap through greater pay transparency.
The gap still existed, but was smaller among staffers who worked under former President Barack Obama’s administration.
In Obama’s final year, women were being paid 89 cents on the dollar, with that rate dropping to 63 cents on the dollar during the first year Trump was in office, according to an analysis by the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute.
Trump’s courtship of female voters is crucial as 2016 exit polls showed that 53 percent of the electorate was female.
The White House told the 19th that average salaries have increased by roughly 7 percent for female staffers over three years, while decreasing for male staffers by about a half-percent.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to the 19th’s findings saying in a statement that the President “implements policies that empower women.” She highlighted historic low unemployment rate for women in 2019 as an example — even though historic high unemployment soars across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“President Trump has taken unprecedented action to support women and girls,” McEnany contended.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Federal Judge Blocks Postal Services Changes That Could Hamper Election Mail

NEW YORK , NEW YORK - AUGUST 05 : A United States Postal Service ( USPS ) mail box stands @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 in New York City .
The United States Postal Service ( USPS ) @ @ @ @ @ national mail carrier se ... NEW YORK , NEW YORK - AUGUST 05 : A @ @ @ @ @ USPS ) mail box stands in Manhattan on August 05 , 2020 in New York @ @ @ @ @ Postal Service ( USPS ) , the nation ’ s national mail carrier service , @ @ @ @ @ politicians who are warning that the agency is not prepared to handle the tens of @ @ @ @ @ are expected to be sent for the November election .
President Trump in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ `` a joke '' as the agency is experiences delays in mail delivery due to @ @ @ @ @ pressures .
( Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images )

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: A United States Postal Service (USPS) mail box stands in Manhattan on August 05, 2020 in New York City. The United States Postal Service (USPS), the nation’s national mail carrier se...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: A United States Postal Service (USPS) mail box stands in Manhattan on August 05, 2020 in New York City. The United States Postal Service (USPS), the nation’s national mail carrier service, is under increased scrutiny from politicians who are warning that the agency is not prepared to handle the tens of millions of mail-in ballots which are expected to be sent for the November election. President Trump in recent weeks has called the Postal Service "a joke" as the agency is experiences delays in mail delivery due to the coronavirus pandemic and financial pressures. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--WH COVID Doc Sics Trump Lawyer On Stanford Medical Faculty

President Trump ’ s favorite dubious COVID doctor kicked the battle over his own credentials up a notch on Wednesday .
A lawyer for Scott Atlas , a member of the White House ’ s COVID-19 task force , threatened a defamation lawsuit against a group of 78 Stanford Medical School researchers and doctors who sent a letter last week that accused him of hawking “ falsehoods and misrepresentations of science.
” But Atlas , who lacks experience with infectious disease treatment or research , didn ’ t turn to just any lawyer to make the threat .
He enlisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for his beligerent email persona , who penned the missive , purportedly to every signatory of the letter .
“ Accordingly , your letter , which you wrote and sent with no regard for the truth , maliciously defames Dr. Atlas , ” the note reads .
“ We therefore demand that you immediately issue a press release withdrawing your letter and that you contact every media outlet worldwide that has reported on it to request an immediate correction of the record.
” As of this writing , TPM had received no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical School .
Michale Fischbach , a signatory to the letter , posted it on his Twitter account on Wednesday .
“ I stand by everything we said , ” he wrote .

President Trump’s favorite dubious COVID doctor kicked the battle over his own credentials up a notch on Wednesday.
A lawyer for Scott Atlas, a member of the White House’s COVID-19 task force, threatened a defamation lawsuit against a group of 78 Stanford Medical School researchers and doctors who sent a letter last week that accused him of hawking “falsehoods and misrepresentations of science.”
But Atlas, who lacks experience with infectious disease treatment or research, didn’t turn to just any lawyer to make the threat.
He enlisted Marc Kasowitz, the longtime Trump attorney known for his beligerent email persona, who penned the missive, purportedly to every signatory of the letter.
“Accordingly, your letter, which you wrote and sent with no regard for the truth, maliciously defames Dr. Atlas,” the note reads. “We therefore demand that you immediately issue a press release withdrawing your letter and that you contact every media outlet worldwide that has reported on it to request an immediate correction of the record.”
As of this writing, TPM had received no such request from anyone associated with Stanford Medical School.
Michale Fischbach, a signatory to the letter, posted it on his Twitter account on Wednesday.
“I stand by everything we said,” he wrote.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Ham And Cheese Scott Walker Is Trying To Fill Harris’ Shoes For Pence Debate Prep

Anything for a fellow Midwestern ex-governor and buddy , right ?
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that former Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ R ) has been playing Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , Democratic presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ mate , to help Vice President Mike Pence prepare for the upcoming vice presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ weeks away .
Walker reportedly kept a tight lip about his and Pence ’ s @ @ @ @ @ I can say is that I worked with him four years and was happy to @ @ @ @ @ the Post .
“ That ’ s it.
” Besides the obvious , the ex-governor @ @ @ @ @ have much in common : One is a law school graduate and became one of @ @ @ @ @ California , and the other dropped out of college and ate an estimated 18,980 ham @ @ @ @ @ lifetime leading up to the 2016 election .
America will see whether Walker ’ s @ @ @ @ @ debate begins on October 7 at the University of Utah .

Anything for a fellow Midwestern ex-governor and buddy, right?
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has been playing Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate, to help Vice President Mike Pence prepare for the upcoming vice presidential debate a little less than three weeks away.
Walker reportedly kept a tight lip about his and Pence’s prep activities.
“All I can say is that I worked with him four years and was happy to help,” he told the Post. “That’s it.”
Besides the obvious, the ex-governor and Harris don’t have much in common: One is a law school graduate and became one of the most prominent prosecutors in California, and the other dropped out of college and ate an estimated 18,980 ham and cheese sandwiches in his lifetime leading up to the 2016 election.
America will see whether Walker’s playacting pays off when the debate begins on October 7 at the University of Utah.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--FBI Warns Of ‘Active Efforts’ To ‘Denigrate’ Biden As DHS Hides Russian Disinfo Scheme

FBI director Christopher Wray on Thursday described “ very active ” efforts by Russians to exert influence on the November presidential election , with a meddling campaign focused on denigrating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
During his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee , Wray said that “ the intelligence community consensus is that Russia continues to try to influence our elections , ” which he said differs from interference efforts during the 2016 presidential election involving the hack of Democrats ’ emails and state election systems .
Wray pointed out that Russian influence in the November election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation campaigns .
“ We certainly have seen very active , very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020 through what I would call more than malign foreign influence , ” Wray said , which he stated is being carried out by Russians through social media , use of proxies , state media and online journals .
Wray added that Russian influence in the November election appears to be an effort to “ sow divisiveness and discord ” and “ primarily to denigrate Vice President Biden and what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment.
” Wray ’ s remarks come as Trump and several other top administration downplay reports that Russia is working to help him win re-election , and instead stoke a theory that China is meddling in the November election to assist Biden .
Earlier this month , ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security intervened to stop the release of an intelligence bulletin that detailed a Russian scheme to attack Biden by painting him to be in poor mental health — a claim that Trump has repeatedly lobbed at the former VP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported on another DHS bulletin showing Russia boosting the same disinformation as Trump on voting by mail , which the President continues to baselessly claim leads to voter fraud .
Last month , national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien dismissed the notion of imposing additional sanctions against Russia even after the DNI warned for the first time that the country detailed a campaign to “ denigrate ” Biden in the November election .

FBI director Christopher Wray on Thursday described “very active” efforts by Russians to exert influence on the November presidential election, with a meddling campaign focused on denigrating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
During his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, Wray said that “the intelligence community consensus is that Russia continues to try to influence our elections,” which he said differs from interference efforts during the 2016 presidential election involving the hack of Democrats’ emails and state election systems.
Wray pointed out that Russian influence in the November election thus far appears to zero in on misinformation campaigns.
“We certainly have seen very active, very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020 through what I would call more than malign foreign influence,” Wray said, which he stated is being carried out by Russians through social media, use of proxies, state media and online journals.
Wray added that Russian influence in the November election appears to be an effort to “sow divisiveness and discord” and “primarily to denigrate Vice President Biden and what the Russians see as kind of an anti-Russian establishment.”
Wray’s remarks come as Trump and several other top administration downplay reports that Russia is working to help him win re-election, and instead stoke a theory that China is meddling in the November election to assist Biden.
Earlier this month, ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security intervened to stop the release of an intelligence bulletin that detailed a Russian scheme to attack Biden by painting him to be in poor mental health — a claim that Trump has repeatedly lobbed at the former VP.
The next day, ABC News reported on another DHS bulletin showing Russia boosting the same disinformation as Trump on voting by mail, which the President continues to baselessly claim leads to voter fraud.
Last month, national security adviser Robert O’Brien dismissed the notion of imposing additional sanctions against Russia even after the DNI warned for the first time that the country detailed a campaign to “denigrate” Biden in the November election.
Watch Wray’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Trump Officials Stay Silent As Subordinates Rant, Froth At Mouth

There ’ s no other agency with as much power to respond to COVID-19 as the Department of Health and Human Services .
That ’ s part of what made exiled HHS spokesman Michael Caputo ’ s litany of wrongdoing so egregious .
Not only did he try to assert political control over key weekly reports on the spread of the virus , he also went on an unhinged rant Sunday in which he forecasted a civil war after the November election and said that he was being persecuted by leftist hit squads operating in the CDC .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inauguration , the shooting will begin , ” Caputo said .
“ If you carry guns , buy ammunition , ladies and gentlemen , because it ’ s going to be hard to get.
” He added that “ there are scientists who work for this government who do not want America to get well , not until after Joe Biden is president.
” But what ’ s been the consequence for Caputo ?
Not even dismissal .
Rather , he attributed the problems to a medical issue and took a 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Take a look at how far various Trump administration officials went toward condemning Caputo .
Dr. Redfield told Congress on Wednesday that he found it depressing .
“ It deeply saddened me that those false accusations were made by a group of really unbelievably professional people that serve this nation , ” Redfield said .
What about HHS Secretary Alex Azar ?
He is Caputo ’ s ostensible boss , after all , with firing authority over the former Roger Stone driver .
“ I ’ m not going to comment on somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Azar told The Tennessean after the comments came to light .
“ Obviously , some of those statements are concerning .
Michael Caputo has been a valued member of our coronavirus response but I ’ m not otherwise going to get into that.
” Caputo himself tapped into a coursing vein of emotion in Trumpworld , which is at least rhetorically laying the groundwork for the need to instigate post-election violence .
Another former Trump official , Michael Anton , recently wrote an essay called “ The Coming Coup , ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to violently overthrow the Trump administration — an echo of many of the same themes about which Caputo ranted .
Recall that Anton spent much of tenure at the National Security Council under siege for apocalyptic posts about a forthcoming civil war and calling for an end to birthright citizenship .
But it wasn ’ t for that that he left the government ; rather , Anton resigned because John Bolton was coming to lead the NSC .
It ’ s a pattern for scandals in the Trump era .
As for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to returning to work — after the election .
He told TPM in an email on Wednesday that he would “ be back ” and that he had set the agency “ up for success .
”

There’s no other agency with as much power to respond to COVID-19 as the Department of Health and Human Services.
That’s part of what made exiled HHS spokesman Michael Caputo’s litany of wrongdoing so egregious. Not only did he try to assert political control over key weekly reports on the spread of the virus, he also went on an unhinged rant Sunday in which he forecasted a civil war after the November election and said that he was being persecuted by leftist hit squads operating in the CDC.
“When Donald Trump refuses to stand down at the inauguration, the shooting will begin,” Caputo said. “If you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s going to be hard to get.”
He added that “there are scientists who work for this government who do not want America to get well, not until after Joe Biden is president.”
But what’s been the consequence for Caputo?
Not even dismissal. Rather, he attributed the problems to a medical issue and took a 60 day leave to resolve the problem.
Take a look at how far various Trump administration officials went toward condemning Caputo.
Dr. Redfield told Congress on Wednesday that he found it depressing.
“It deeply saddened me that those false accusations were made by a group of really unbelievably professional people that serve this nation,” Redfield said.
What about HHS Secretary Alex Azar? He is Caputo’s ostensible boss, after all, with firing authority over the former Roger Stone driver.
“I’m not going to comment on somebody’s personal social media posts,” Azar told The Tennessean after the comments came to light. “Obviously, some of those statements are concerning. Michael Caputo has been a valued member of our coronavirus response but I’m not otherwise going to get into that.”
Caputo himself tapped into a coursing vein of emotion in Trumpworld, which is at least rhetorically laying the groundwork for the need to instigate post-election violence.
Another former Trump official, Michael Anton, recently wrote an essay called “The Coming Coup,” in which he accused the Democratic Party of preparing to violently overthrow the Trump administration — an echo of many of the same themes about which Caputo ranted.
Recall that Anton spent much of tenure at the National Security Council under siege for apocalyptic posts about a forthcoming civil war and calling for an end to birthright citizenship. But it wasn’t for that that he left the government; rather, Anton resigned because John Bolton was coming to lead the NSC.
It’s a pattern for scandals in the Trump era.
As for Caputo, he seems to be looking forward to returning to work — after the election.
He told TPM in an email on Wednesday that he would “be back” and that he had set the agency “up for success.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--Schumer Unleashes Unflattering Monikers On Trump And McConnell Amid COVID Relief Stalemate

A group of congressional Democrats flanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) at her usual Thursday press conference , with freshmen and party leaders alike laying out the grim realities of a country plagued by COVID-19 .
Of the group , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) came out the most aggressive .
On President Donald Trump , Schumer said : “ What a despicable man , how low can you go ?
” And referring to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) : “ The keeper of the graveyard.
” ( Though in fairness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , once calling himself the “ groundskeeper of a cemetery.
” ) Aside from the creative monikers , the Democrats hit many familiar notes on the dearth of COVID-19-relief , a result of the months-long stalemate between Democratic leadership and White House negotiators .
The entrenchment seemed lately to be putting the squeeze on Pelosi , as moderates in the caucus feared that the American people wouldn ’ t differentiate between them and the White House as the obstructionists in the negotiations .
That pressure has increased with the time passed since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HEROES Act , in May .
But on Wednesday , Trump blithely shifted the pressure back to his own party .
“ I like the larger amount , I ’ ve said that , ” Trump said from the White House Wednesday evening .
“ Some of the Republicans disagree , but I think I can convince them to go along with that because I like the larger number .
I want to see people get money.
” He tweeted along the same lines , though he incorrectly characterized Democrats ’ position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged that after months of the Senate Republicans insisting on shortchanging the massive needs of the American people , President Trump is now calling on Republicans to ‘ go for the much higher numbers ’ in the next coronavirus relief package , ” Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement .
“ We look forward to hearing from the president ’ s negotiators that they will finally meet us halfway with a bill that is equal to the massive health and economic crises gripping our nation.
” Congressional Republicans have dug in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and put up a “ skinny ” $ 300 billion bill last week , which was blocked by Senate Democrats .
Senate Majority Whip John Thune ( R-SD ) sounded unwilling to support a higher price point on Wednesday , despite Trump ’ s comments .
“ I ’ m not sure what higher number means , ” he told CNN , “ but I know sort of what the threshold is for what we can [ get ] Republican votes for in the Senate , and if the numbers are too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate would be passed mostly with Democrat votes and a handful of Republicans .
It ’ s got to have a realistic range if we want to maximize , optimize , the number of Republican senators that will vote for it.
” Unless Republicans bow to the new Trump-imposed pressure , the two sides are still as far apart as ever .
The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled a $ 1.5 billion proposal this week , but Republicans balked at the price tag and Democrats said it fell short .
Pelosi implied during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seeking an even more expensive relief package now , to address the economic wreckage left by the pandemic .
“ The needs have only grown — some of the needs for small businesses , needs for restaurants , needs for transportation and the rest , ” she said .
“ So we ’ re going to have to reallocate some of that money.
” Per Politico , she said the same on a Wednesday call with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , who has been representing the Trump administration during COVID-19 relief talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , have continued to insist that the only way around the nearly-trillion dollar gap between what both sides want to spend is to focus on standalone bills .
Thursday morning , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told airline CEOs that he supported standalone stimulus bills to bail out their businesses , which have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic .
“ I never thought I ’ d say $ 25 billion was a small number , but compared to $ 1.5 trillion , it ’ s a rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially keep 30,000 to 50,000 workers on the payroll , ” Meadows told reporters after the meeting .
Getting a bill like that passed would depend on Pelosi ’ s willingness to bring it to the floor .
So far , she ’ s been largely opposed to “ piecemeal ” COVID-19 relief , though she made an exception that rule last month when she recalled the House to pass a USPS funding bill .

A group of congressional Democrats flanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at her usual Thursday press conference, with freshmen and party leaders alike laying out the grim realities of a country plagued by COVID-19.
Of the group, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) came out the most aggressive.
On President Donald Trump, Schumer said: “What a despicable man, how low can you go?”
And referring to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “The keeper of the graveyard.” (Though in fairness, McConnell brought that one on himself, once calling himself the “groundskeeper of a cemetery.”)
Aside from the creative monikers, the Democrats hit many familiar notes on the dearth of COVID-19-relief, a result of the months-long stalemate between Democratic leadership and White House negotiators.
The entrenchment seemed lately to be putting the squeeze on Pelosi, as moderates in the caucus feared that the American people wouldn’t differentiate between them and the White House as the obstructionists in the negotiations. That pressure has increased with the time passed since the House passed their giant relief package, the HEROES Act, in May.
But on Wednesday, Trump blithely shifted the pressure back to his own party.
“I like the larger amount, I’ve said that,” Trump said from the White House Wednesday evening. “Some of the Republicans disagree, but I think I can convince them to go along with that because I like the larger number. I want to see people get money.”
He tweeted along the same lines, though he incorrectly characterized Democrats’ position on stimulus payments.
Democrats are “heartless”. They don’t want to give STIMULUS PAYMENTS to people who desperately need the money, and whose fault it was NOT that the plague came in from China. Go for the much higher numbers, Republicans, it all comes back to the USA anyway (one way or another!). — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2020
Democratic leadership quickly jumped on the comments.
“We are encouraged that after months of the Senate Republicans insisting on shortchanging the massive needs of the American people, President Trump is now calling on Republicans to ‘go for the much higher numbers’ in the next coronavirus relief package,” Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement. “We look forward to hearing from the president’s negotiators that they will finally meet us halfway with a bill that is equal to the massive health and economic crises gripping our nation.”
Congressional Republicans have dug in on their opposition to another expensive relief package, and put up a “skinny” $300 billion bill last week, which was blocked by Senate Democrats.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) sounded unwilling to support a higher price point on Wednesday, despite Trump’s comments.
“I’m not sure what higher number means,” he told CNN, “but I know sort of what the threshold is for what we can [get] Republican votes for in the Senate, and if the numbers are too high anything that got passed in the Senate would be passed mostly with Democrat votes and a handful of Republicans. It’s got to have a realistic range if we want to maximize, optimize, the number of Republican senators that will vote for it.”
Unless Republicans bow to the new Trump-imposed pressure, the two sides are still as far apart as ever. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled a $1.5 billion proposal this week, but Republicans balked at the price tag and Democrats said it fell short.
Pelosi implied during the press conference that she’d be seeking an even more expensive relief package now, to address the economic wreckage left by the pandemic.
“The needs have only grown — some of the needs for small businesses, needs for restaurants, needs for transportation and the rest,” she said. “So we’re going to have to reallocate some of that money.”
Per Politico, she said the same on a Wednesday call with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who has been representing the Trump administration during COVID-19 relief talks.
The White House’s negotiators, meanwhile, have continued to insist that the only way around the nearly-trillion dollar gap between what both sides want to spend is to focus on standalone bills.
Thursday morning, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told airline CEOs that he supported standalone stimulus bills to bail out their businesses, which have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.
“I never thought I’d say $25 billion was a small number, but compared to $1.5 trillion, it’s a rather small amount of additional assistance that could potentially keep 30,000 to 50,000 workers on the payroll,” Meadows told reporters after the meeting.
Getting a bill like that passed would depend on Pelosi’s willingness to bring it to the floor. So far, she’s been largely opposed to “piecemeal” COVID-19 relief, though she made an exception that rule last month when she recalled the House to pass a USPS funding bill.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-17--PA Supreme Court OKs Ballot Drop Boxes, Postmark Deadlines, In Win For Dems

President Trump ’ s crusade against ballot drop boxes and other absentee voting practices that make the process easier was dealt a major setback Thursday with a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that permitted policies that will facilitate mail-in voting .
The court ’ s decision greenlighted the use of ballot drop boxes at locations other than county elections offices , and it said that ballots received in the three days after the Nov. 3 election could still be counted if they were postmarked by Election Day .
The case was brought in state court by Democrats as a way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had filed targeting the expanded use of drop boxes .
Additionally , the state Supreme Court upheld Pennsylvania ’ s requirement that poll watchers be from the county where they ’ re staffed — another policy the Trump campaign is aiming to reverse in its federal case .
The judge in the federal case , a Trump-appointee , put the Republican lawsuit on hold while the Democratic lawsuit in state court was litigated .
The Democrats did not get everything they wanted with the state Supreme Court decision issued Thursday .
The Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials be required to provide an opportunity for absentee voters to fix deficiencies on their ballots .
It also okayed the rejection of mail-in ballots that were missing a secrecy ballot , an approach Democrats oppose .
Earlier Thursday , the state Supreme Court ruled that the Green Party ’ s presidential candidate would not be included on November ’ s ballot , because the party did not comply with the state ’ s rules for submitting the candidate for ballot placement .
The resolution of that dispute will allow Pennsylvania election officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Trump’s crusade against ballot drop boxes and other absentee voting practices that make the process easier was dealt a major setback Thursday with a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that permitted policies that will facilitate mail-in voting.
The court’s decision greenlighted the use of ballot drop boxes at locations other than county elections offices, and it said that ballots received in the three days after the Nov. 3 election could still be counted if they were postmarked by Election Day.
The case was brought in state court by Democrats as a way to head-off a federal lawsuit the Trump campaign had filed targeting the expanded use of drop boxes. Additionally, the state Supreme Court upheld Pennsylvania’s requirement that poll watchers be from the county where they’re staffed — another policy the Trump campaign is aiming to reverse in its federal case.
The judge in the federal case, a Trump-appointee, put the Republican lawsuit on hold while the Democratic lawsuit in state court was litigated.
The Democrats did not get everything they wanted with the state Supreme Court decision issued Thursday. The Court denied the Dems’ request that election officials be required to provide an opportunity for absentee voters to fix deficiencies on their ballots. It also okayed the rejection of mail-in ballots that were missing a secrecy ballot, an approach Democrats oppose.
Earlier Thursday, the state Supreme Court ruled that the Green Party’s presidential candidate would not be included on November’s ballot, because the party did not comply with the state’s rules for submitting the candidate for ballot placement. The resolution of that dispute will allow Pennsylvania election officials to begin sending out mail-in ballots.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-18--HHS Posted Controversial Testing Guideline On CDC Site Without Proper Scientific Review

The Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) reportedly posted the controversial COVID-19 testing guideline on asymptomatic people on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ( CDC ) site against protests by the agency ’ s scientists .
The New York Times reported on Thursday evening that the guidelines , which state that asymptomatic people need not test for the virus , was uploaded without being properly vetted through scientific review .
An official told the Times that the guidelines “ came from the top down , ” meaning the HHS and the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That policy does not reflect what many people at the CDC feel should be the policy , ” the official said .
HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir told the Times that he didn ’ t know why the guidelines were not first properly screened by CDC health experts and pointed to CDC Robert Redfield for an explanation .
The decision to post the document “ certainly was not any direction from me whatsoever , ” Giroir claimed .
The HHS senior official has denied that the guideline was prompted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .
Redfield told the Times in a statement that the guidelines were “ coordinated in conjunction with the White House Coronavirus Task Force ” and “ received appropriate attention , consultation and input from task force experts.
” That document wasn ’ t the only controversial guideline that got posted into the CDC ’ s website without the agency ’ s knowledge ; the CDC ’ s guideline on reopening schools was also quietly posted on the site , according to the Times .
Additionally , the CDC ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reportedly not undergone the usual internal scientific review .

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reportedly posted the controversial COVID-19 testing guideline on asymptomatic people on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) site against protests by the agency’s scientists.
The New York Times reported on Thursday evening that the guidelines, which state that asymptomatic people need not test for the virus, was uploaded without being properly vetted through scientific review.
An official told the Times that the guidelines “came from the top down,” meaning the HHS and the White House’s COVID-19 task force.
“That policy does not reflect what many people at the CDC feel should be the policy,” the official said.
HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir told the Times that he didn’t know why the guidelines were not first properly screened by CDC health experts and pointed to CDC Robert Redfield for an explanation.
The decision to post the document “certainly was not any direction from me whatsoever,” Giroir claimed.
The HHS senior official has denied that the guideline was prompted by pressure from President Donald Trump or the White House.
Redfield told the Times in a statement that the guidelines were “coordinated in conjunction with the White House Coronavirus Task Force” and “received appropriate attention, consultation and input from task force experts.”
That document wasn’t the only controversial guideline that got posted onto the CDC’s website without the agency’s knowledge; the CDC’s guideline on reopening schools was also quietly posted on the site, according to the Times.
Additionally, the CDC’s new testing guideline expected to drop on Friday has reportedly not undergone the usual internal scientific review.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-18--Is Your State Ready For The Pandemic Election? A Look At CO, MN, WV, LA, MD

Our journey through America ’ s varying levels of pandemic-voting preparedness continues this week with looks at Colorado , Minnesota , West Virginia , Louisiana and Maryland .
Every week , we ’ re looking at what states have done — or not done — to make voting easier during the coronavirus outbreak , where the fights over those moves have been the most contentious , and which states feature the kind of competitive races that could make things extra messy and volatile come November .
Here ’ s this week ’ s installment of our survey , and check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examined .
With a well established vote-by-mail program that still offers ample opportunities to cast ballots in-person , Colorado has served as the model of the type of election practices other states should consider during the pandemic .
But even the Centennial State has had a few curve balls thrown at its election preparations in recent weeks .
State officials were particularly alarmed by U.S .
Postal Service mailers giving voting guidance that ran afoul of Colorado ’ s own policies .
Colorado has had several years to perfect its mail-in voting program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , almost all voters were submitting absentee ballots .
Additionally , election officials in the state innovated the use of vote centers for in-person voting , which utilizes larger voting sites that service an entire county ’ s voters , regardless of their precinct .
In light of the pandemic , that approach is being embraced elsewhere as well .
The state proactively mails all registered voters their mail ballots .
It has several practices in place to keep voter rolls up to date , including online voter registration and automatic voter registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn in those ballots by mail can submit them at the voting sites where in-person early voting will be happening for at least two weeks before the election , or at other drop-off locations .
Election Day registration is offered at in-person voting sites as well .
Because the election officials don ’ t accept any ballots — regardless of postmarks — that come in after Election Day , the state employs major education initiatives stressing that voters submit their mail-in ballots in person once they ’ re within eight days of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were so perturbed by a nationwide USPS mailer giving general mail voting guidance that , according to Colorado , stood to confuse Colorado voters .
In addition to its instruction for how voters should request absentee ballots ( in Colorado , no request is necessary ) , USPS advised that seven days before an election was enough time for casting ballots by mail , cutting a day off of Colorado ’ s own guidance .
Secretary of State Jena Griswold went to court to get USPS to stop sending the guidance .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot receipt requirement is that the state is not expecting any major delays in reporting its results .
It probably won ’ t deal any surprises in the presidential race , where Biden is expected to carry Colorado handily , but a Democratic takeover of the Senate depends on the defeat of GOP incumbent Sen. Cory Gardner , who ’ s facing off against former Gov .
John Hickenlooper .
Additionally , a House race where a QAnon-curious Republican candidate stands favored , but not guaranteed , to win is attracting national attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes it can contest Minnesota this year as it tries to tip it over to their side after Hillary Clinton won it by a surprisingly narrow 45,000-vote margin in 2016 .
The campaign ’ s focus on Minnesota comes as voter fraud alarmists have also targeted the state , trying to pry various forms of voter data out of its clutches that they say would show the need for more restrictive laws .
Meanwhile , Democrats are hoping to flip the state Senate , which would give them full control of the legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this means that the state with the country ’ s highest voter turnout rate will get extra attention for how it ’ s handling its election , though experienced election officials are ahead on planning for potential problems .
Take a look at how the state handled its August primary .
The state faced a “ tidal wave ” of mail-in ballots , in the words of Secretary of State Steve Simon , which threatened to delay results and spawn legal challenges over their validity .
But the state fared relatively well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-elderly poll workers , and was able to report results on time thanks to a state law that extended the counting period for early ballots to two weeks as a COVID-19 response measure .
Furthermore , the state was helped by its voter-friendly requirements : all Minnesotans can vote by mail without needing an excuse .
The state also has same-day and online voter registration , as well as extensive early voting .
But in spite of all that , problems remain .
Results did take longer to be counted in some areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows mail-in ballots to be valid if they ’ re received up to two days after election day , so long as the envelope was postmarked by election day itself .
One right-wing group is suing the state over a mask mandate at polling stations , while Secretary of State Simon has faced criticism from the right for waiving a state regulation that required absentee ballots to be signed by a witness .
Early voting begins this Friday in the state , but the crucial two weeks of extra time to process will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leg up in reporting results on time .
West Virginia had very little vote-by-mail before the pandemic , but the state has taken several steps to open up the option for people who want to use it amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Voters can cite COVID-19 as an excuse to vote absentee , and the state also set up an online portal for applying for a mail ballot .
There is an ID requirement in the state , but its application is limited .
Only first-time voters will need to provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and it does not necessarily have to be a photo identification — while other absentee voters can use digits from their social security numbers or DMV records to confirm their identity .
Still , there are some aspects of West Virginia ’ s election law that make absentee voting less accessible than it is in other states .
In-person submission of mail ballots is limited to county election offices , as remote drop boxes are not permissible under state law .
Ballot collection services ( what Republicans derisively call “ ballot harvesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Although voters do not have to personally return his or her absentee ballot , no one person may deliver more than two voters ’ absentee ballots , ” the Secretary of State ’ s office advises .
Additionally , there ’ s not a uniform policy that ’ s been codified for when there are discrepancies that could cause an absentee ballot to be rejected .
Local election officials are strongly encouraged by the state to reach out to voters who have issues with their absentee ballots , so that those issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t made , then a provisional ballot is sent to those voters , which provides a backstop for getting their votes eventually counted .
Even as they expect a major surge in absentee voting , state election officials are confident that they ’ ll be able to maintain the normal level of in-person voting locations , thanks to a recruitment campaign for poll workers and an executive order that reduced the number of poll workers required for each location .
Early in-person voting is also offered in the state .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps West Virginia ’ s gubernatorial contest .
Incumbent Jim Justice — a former Democrat and billionaire who switched to the GOP in 2017 with President Trump literally at his side — is fighting off a challenge being mounted by Democratic nominee Ben Salango .
In Louisiana , much of November ’ s voting landscape turns on a lawsuit currently wending its way through the courts .
The suit is an attempt by voters and groups including the Louisiana branch of the NAACP to extend for November ’ s general election the expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July and August primaries .
On Wednesday , a federal judge sided with the challengers and resurrected those measures .
She ordered that the early voting period be expanded to 10 days , and that voters be allowed to vote absentee for certain COVID-19-related reasons .
The decision will likely be appealed to the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit .
The more relaxed regime for voting that was in play for the summer elections was crafted by Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin , who got the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of moderate Republicans .
But Republicans warned Ardoin then that they would not allow such broad access for the general election .
Apparently heeding their warning , Ardoin in recent weeks proposed a new , much more restrictive plan that omitted absentee voting allowances for those under a COVID-19 quarantine order , at high risk of severe illness or who have symptoms .
Gov .
John Bel Edwards ( D ) called the plan “ woefully inadequate ” and refused to sign it .
Ardoin admitted that it was “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunately , it ’ s the best plan I thought I could get passed.
” With the state government in a stalemate , the courts will ultimately decide what the fall election looks like .
The clash is creating a time crunch for parish clerks who will need some latitude to expand absentee voting operations if a wider swath of voters is ultimately permitted to vote by mail .
The expansion of Louisiana ’ s normally strict absentee ballot excuses in the summer elections exponentially increased mail-in voter participation to 19 percent this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees three to four percent of voters using absentee ballots .
There aren ’ t a whole lot of competitive races in Louisiana this cycle : President Donald Trump is a lock , and the Senate and U.S. House races are all rated as “ safe ” holds for the party that previously won them .
Maryland voters , like their counterparts across the country , have spent the summer learning about new problems and on-the-go fixes .
For one thing , there aren ’ t enough election judges .
The crowd of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of the COVID-19 pandemic .
And as the Baltimore Sun recently reported , enthusiastic new volunteers seem to be getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle .
That affects voting locations themselves .
Rather than the typical spread of 1,600 precinct-based polling places , Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) on Aug. 10 approved a plan to shift to about 360 “ vote centers , ” which can be utilized by anyone registered in a given county , regardless of their precinct .
The State Board of Elections recommended the plan due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , though it ’ s a first for the state .
Then , in a foreboding move just last week , a ballot-printing vendor cut ties with the state , forcing them to shift the work to a different vendor less than two months before Election Day .
There ’ s also the U.S .
Postal Service : Maryland election officials recently had to clarify for voters that a vague USPS postcard sent nationwide to give vote-by-mail advice didn ’ t really apply to the state .
The USPS mailer suggested voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before Election Day , ” but Maryland ’ s deadlines are a bit tighter : Election officials must receive ballot requests by Oct. 20 , and the state recommends that voters mail in their requests as soon as possible or by Oct. 15 at latest , or else just complete them online .
( Voters who ’ ve missed the deadline can exchange request forms for ballots in-person after Oct. 20 at elections offices , The Washington Post advised . )
Ironically , the state moved up its deadline to receive mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 27 — in response to an August USPS warning that the old timeline could disenfranchise voters .
And the deadlines are more relevant now than just a few months ago .
Whereas all eligible voters in the state received an actual ballot for the June primaries , this time around they ’ ll just get an application for one .
( Between misprints , late and missing ballots , Gov .
Hogan acknowledged “ significant failures ” with the primaries , even though mail-in voting swelled turnout in Baltimore . )
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as those ballots are postmarked by Election Day and received up to 10 days afterward , they ’ ll be counted .
In person early voting begins Oct. 26 .
Among the biggest races in the solidly Democratic ( minus the GOP governor ) state is the Baltimore mayoral contest , and the U.S. congressional race in the district once held by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings ( D-MD ) .

Our journey through America’s varying levels of pandemic-voting preparedness continues this week with looks at Colorado, Minnesota, West Virginia, Louisiana and Maryland.
Every week, we’re looking at what states have done — or not done — to make voting easier during the coronavirus outbreak, where the fights over those moves have been the most contentious, and which states feature the kind of competitive races that could make things extra messy and volatile come November.
Here’s this week’s installment of our survey, and check out the other states we’ve examined.
Colorado
With a well established vote-by-mail program that still offers ample opportunities to cast ballots in-person, Colorado has served as the model of the type of election practices other states should consider during the pandemic.
But even the Centennial State has had a few curve balls thrown at its election preparations in recent weeks. State officials were particularly alarmed by U.S. Postal Service mailers giving voting guidance that ran afoul of Colorado’s own policies.
Colorado has had several years to perfect its mail-in voting program, and, even before the pandemic, almost all voters were submitting absentee ballots. Additionally, election officials in the state innovated the use of vote centers for in-person voting, which utilizes larger voting sites that service an entire county’s voters, regardless of their precinct. In light of the pandemic, that approach is being embraced elsewhere as well.
The state proactively mails all registered voters their mail ballots. It has several practices in place to keep voter rolls up to date, including online voter registration and automatic voter registration. Those who do not wish to turn in those ballots by mail can submit them at the voting sites where in-person early voting will be happening for at least two weeks before the election, or at other drop-off locations. Election Day registration is offered at in-person voting sites as well.
Because the election officials don’t accept any ballots — regardless of postmarks — that come in after Election Day, the state employs major education initiatives stressing that voters submit their mail-in ballots in person once they’re within eight days of an election.
This is why election officials were so perturbed by a nationwide USPS mailer giving general mail voting guidance that, according to Colorado, stood to confuse Colorado voters. In addition to its instruction for how voters should request absentee ballots (in Colorado, no request is necessary), USPS advised that seven days before an election was enough time for casting ballots by mail, cutting a day off of Colorado’s own guidance. Secretary of State Jena Griswold went to court to get USPS to stop sending the guidance.
An upshot of Colorado’s Election Day ballot receipt requirement is that the state is not expecting any major delays in reporting its results. It probably won’t deal any surprises in the presidential race, where Biden is expected to carry Colorado handily, but a Democratic takeover of the Senate depends on the defeat of GOP incumbent Sen. Cory Gardner, who’s facing off against former Gov. John Hickenlooper. Additionally, a House race where a QAnon-curious Republican candidate stands favored, but not guaranteed, to win is attracting national attention.
Minnesota
The Trump campaign has signaled it believes it can contest Minnesota this year as it tries to tip it over to their side after Hillary Clinton won it by a surprisingly narrow 45,000-vote margin in 2016. The campaign’s focus on Minnesota comes as voter fraud alarmists have also targeted the state, trying to pry various forms of voter data out of its clutches that they say would show the need for more restrictive laws. Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping to flip the state Senate, which would give them full control of the legislature and governor’s mansion.
All this means that the state with the country’s highest voter turnout rate will get extra attention for how it’s handling its election, though experienced election officials are ahead on planning for potential problems.
Take a look at how the state handled its August primary. The state faced a “tidal wave” of mail-in ballots, in the words of Secretary of State Steve Simon, which threatened to delay results and spawn legal challenges over their validity. But the state fared relatively well. It was able to sign up enough non-elderly poll workers, and was able to report results on time thanks to a state law that extended the counting period for early ballots to two weeks as a COVID-19 response measure. Furthermore, the state was helped by its voter-friendly requirements: all Minnesotans can vote by mail without needing an excuse. The state also has same-day and online voter registration, as well as extensive early voting.
But in spite of all that, problems remain. Results did take longer to be counted in some areas, in part because the state, allows mail-in ballots to be valid if they’re received up to two days after election day, so long as the envelope was postmarked by election day itself. One right-wing group is suing the state over a mask mandate at polling stations, while Secretary of State Simon has faced criticism from the right for waiving a state regulation that required absentee ballots to be signed by a witness. Early voting begins this Friday in the state, but the crucial two weeks of extra time to process will likely give the land of 10,000 lakes a leg up in reporting results on time.
West Virginia
West Virginia had very little vote-by-mail before the pandemic, but the state has taken several steps to open up the option for people who want to use it amid the coronavirus outbreak. Voters can cite COVID-19 as an excuse to vote absentee, and the state also set up an online portal for applying for a mail ballot. There is an ID requirement in the state, but its application is limited. Only first-time voters will need to provide a copy of an ID to vote absentee — and it does not necessarily have to be a photo identification — while other absentee voters can use digits from their social security numbers or DMV records to confirm their identity.
Still, there are some aspects of West Virginia’s election law that make absentee voting less accessible than it is in other states. In-person submission of mail ballots is limited to county election offices, as remote drop boxes are not permissible under state law.
Ballot collection services (what Republicans derisively call “ballot harvesting”) is also severely limited. “Although voters do not have to personally return his or her absentee ballot, no one person may deliver more than two voters’ absentee ballots,” the Secretary of State’s office advises.
Additionally, there’s not a uniform policy that’s been codified for when there are discrepancies that could cause an absentee ballot to be rejected. Local election officials are strongly encouraged by the state to reach out to voters who have issues with their absentee ballots, so that those issues can be fixed. If such contact isn’t made, then a provisional ballot is sent to those voters, which provides a backstop for getting their votes eventually counted.
Even as they expect a major surge in absentee voting, state election officials are confident that they’ll be able to maintain the normal level of in-person voting locations, thanks to a recruitment campaign for poll workers and an executive order that reduced the number of poll workers required for each location. Early in-person voting is also offered in the state.
The most notable race on the ballot is perhaps West Virginia’s gubernatorial contest. Incumbent Jim Justice — a former Democrat and billionaire who switched to the GOP in 2017 with President Trump literally at his side — is fighting off a challenge being mounted by Democratic nominee Ben Salango.
Louisiana
In Louisiana, much of November’s voting landscape turns on a lawsuit currently wending its way through the courts. The suit is an attempt by voters and groups including the Louisiana branch of the NAACP to extend for November’s general election the expanded voter access state lawmakers okayed for the July and August primaries. On Wednesday, a federal judge sided with the challengers and resurrected those measures. She ordered that the early voting period be expanded to 10 days, and that voters be allowed to vote absentee for certain COVID-19-related reasons. The decision will likely be appealed to the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
The more relaxed regime for voting that was in play for the summer elections was crafted by Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, who got the support of the Democratic governor, Democratic lawmakers and a handful of moderate Republicans. But Republicans warned Ardoin then that they would not allow such broad access for the general election. Apparently heeding their warning, Ardoin in recent weeks proposed a new, much more restrictive plan that omitted absentee voting allowances for those under a COVID-19 quarantine order, at high risk of severe illness or who have symptoms. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) called the plan “woefully inadequate” and refused to sign it. Ardoin admitted that it was “not the best plan,” but “unfortunately, it’s the best plan I thought I could get passed.” With the state government in a stalemate, the courts will ultimately decide what the fall election looks like. The clash is creating a time crunch for parish clerks who will need some latitude to expand absentee voting operations if a wider swath of voters is ultimately permitted to vote by mail.
The expansion of Louisiana’s normally strict absentee ballot excuses in the summer elections exponentially increased mail-in voter participation to 19 percent this summer in a state that usually only sees three to four percent of voters using absentee ballots.
There aren’t a whole lot of competitive races in Louisiana this cycle: President Donald Trump is a lock, and the Senate and U.S. House races are all rated as “safe” holds for the party that previously won them.
Maryland
Maryland voters, like their counterparts across the country, have spent the summer learning about new problems and on-the-go fixes.
For one thing, there aren’t enough election judges. The crowd of typically elderly poll workers has thinned in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. And as the Baltimore Sun recently reported, enthusiastic new volunteers seem to be getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle.
That affects voting locations themselves. Rather than the typical spread of 1,600 precinct-based polling places, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Aug. 10 approved a plan to shift to about 360 “vote centers,” which can be utilized by anyone registered in a given county, regardless of their precinct. The State Board of Elections recommended the plan due to the staffing crunch, the Sun reported, though it’s a first for the state.
Then, in a foreboding move just last week, a ballot-printing vendor cut ties with the state, forcing them to shift the work to a different vendor less than two months before Election Day.
There’s also the U.S. Postal Service: Maryland election officials recently had to clarify for voters that a vague USPS postcard sent nationwide to give vote-by-mail advice didn’t really apply to the state.
The USPS mailer suggested voters request a ballot “at least 15 days before Election Day,” but Maryland’s deadlines are a bit tighter: Election officials must receive ballot requests by Oct. 20, and the state recommends that voters mail in their requests as soon as possible or by Oct. 15 at latest, or else just complete them online. (Voters who’ve missed the deadline can exchange request forms for ballots in-person after Oct. 20 at elections offices, The Washington Post advised.)
Ironically, the state moved up its deadline to receive mail-in ballot requests by a week — from Oct. 27 — in response to an August USPS warning that the old timeline could disenfranchise voters.
And the deadlines are more relevant now than just a few months ago. Whereas all eligible voters in the state received an actual ballot for the June primaries, this time around they’ll just get an application for one. (Between misprints, late and missing ballots, Gov. Hogan acknowledged “significant failures” with the primaries, even though mail-in voting swelled turnout in Baltimore.) Once voters have their mail ballots, as long as those ballots are postmarked by Election Day and received up to 10 days afterward, they’ll be counted. In person early voting begins Oct. 26.
Among the biggest races in the solidly Democratic (minus the GOP governor) state is the Baltimore mayoral contest, and the U.S. congressional race in the district once held by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD).


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--McConnell: Senate Will Vote On Trump’s Pick To Replace Justice Ginsburg

Securing conservative control of the Supreme Court for the next generation is now in reach for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
McConnell announced Friday that he will move forward with trying to confirm President Trump ’ s nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died Friday evening .
“ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate , ” McConnell said .
How McConnell handled the surprise 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia is a defining moment of his legacy in Republican politics .
If he succeeds at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace Ginsburg , it will be a monumental coda .
Even before McConnell officially announced his intentions , Democrats were already beginning to cry foul given McConnell ’ s position in the 2016 election , in which he claimed that vacancies that occurred once a presidential campaign was underway should be filled by the President who won that election .
Unlike Scalia ’ s passing , which was completely unexpected , the health issues that have plagued Ginsburg in recent years have allowed Republicans to lay the groundwork for jamming through her replacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before or after the 2020 election .
McConnell has not exactly hidden the fact that he did not believe that the position he took in 2016 — when he claimed that vacancies that occurred once a presidential campaign was underway should be filled by the President who won that election — would not constrain him from confirming a Trump nominee this time around .
In his statement Friday , laid out the logic justifying a move that he had already indicated he would likely take , when , in the months before Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of another pre-election vacancy were coming .
V In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia ’ s death in 2016 , Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president ’ s second term , ” McConnell said .
“ We kept our promise .
Since the 1880s , no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president ’ s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.
” This time , he argued , “ Americans reelected our majority in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise.
” To confirm a Trump nominee before next year ’ s inauguration , McConnell can not lose the support of more than three Republican senators .
Coincidentally , Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) said earlier Friday , before news of the Ginsburg ’ s death broke , that she would not support moving forward with a confirmation before the inauguration .
Sen. Susan Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with seating a justice in October or directly after the election .
Murkowksi ’ s later statement on Ginsburg ’ s passing made no reference to how the senator , who us up for reelection in 2022 , would handle the coming confirmation fight .
Collins also did not address the issue in the statement she released after Ginsburg ’ s death .
It is not yet clear which other Republican senators could be willing to break with McConnell and Trump on confirming the yet-to-be-named nominee .
To the President ’ s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war chest that will be deployed to encourage Republicans to hold the line on pushing Ginsburg ’ s replacement through .
The Senate and the nation mourn the sudden passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life .
Justice Ginsburg overcame one personal challenge and professional barrier after another .
She climbed from a modest Brooklyn upbringing to a seat on our nation ’ s highest court and into the pages of American history .
Justice Ginsburg was thoroughly dedicated to the legal profession and to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
Her intelligence and determination earned her respect and admiration throughout the legal world , and indeed throughout the entire nation , which now grieves alongside her family , friends , and colleagues .
In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia ’ s death in 2016 , Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president ’ s second term .
We kept our promise .
Since the 1880s , no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president ’ s Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By contrast , Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise .
President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate .

Securing conservative control of the Supreme Court for the next generation is now in reach for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
McConnell announced Friday that he will move forward with trying to confirm President Trump’s nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday evening.
“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell said.
How McConnell handled the surprise 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia is a defining moment of his legacy in Republican politics. If he succeeds at putting the nominee that Trump selects to replace Ginsburg, it will be a monumental coda.
Even before McConnell officially announced his intentions, Democrats were already beginning to cry foul given McConnell’s position in the 2016 election, in which he claimed that vacancies that occurred once a presidential campaign was underway should be filled by the President who won that election.
Unlike Scalia’s passing, which was completely unexpected, the health issues that have plagued Ginsburg in recent years have allowed Republicans to lay the groundwork for jamming through her replacement, even if in just the weeks before or after the 2020 election.
McConnell has not exactly hidden the fact that he did not believe that the position he took in 2016 — when he claimed that vacancies that occurred once a presidential campaign was underway should be filled by the President who won that election — would not constrain him from confirming a Trump nominee this time around.
In his statement Friday, laid out the logic justifying a move that he had already indicated he would likely take, when, in the months before Ginsburg’s death, questions about the possibility of another pre-election vacancy were coming. V
In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia’s death in 2016, Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president’s second term,” McConnell said. “We kept our promise. Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president’s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.”
This time, he argued, “Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise.”
To confirm a Trump nominee before next year’s inauguration, McConnell cannot lose the support of more than three Republican senators. Coincidentally, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said earlier Friday, before news of the Ginsburg’s death broke, that she would not support moving forward with a confirmation before the inauguration.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has also expressed discomfort with seating a justice in October or directly after the election.
Murkowksi’s later statement on Ginsburg’s passing made no reference to how the senator, who us up for reelection in 2022, would handle the coming confirmation fight. Collins also did not address the issue in the statement she released after Ginsburg’s death.
It is not yet clear which other Republican senators could be willing to break with McConnell and Trump on confirming the yet-to-be-named nominee.
To the President’s and McConnell’s advantage is the incredible war chest that will be deployed to encourage Republicans to hold the line on pushing Ginsburg’s replacement through.
Read the full statement here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Schumer Throws McConnell’s Words On SCOTUS Vacancy Right Back At Him

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) on Friday repeated Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) words back to him verbatim : The Supreme Court vacancy shouldn ’ t be filled by this President .
In a statement on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Schumer posted a tweet that sounded oddly familiar : “ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice , ” he wrote .
“ Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same thing in 2016 in the wake of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia .
One key difference : McConnell ’ s quote came in February in an election year , Schumer ’ s comes in mid-September , with less than seven weeks to go before Election Day .
Senate Republicans refused to consider a replacement for Scalia for months , holding out until President Donald Trump won office .
Democrats in recent months have pressed for the same standard to apply in the case of a new Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he would fill a 2020 Supreme Court vacancy .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Friday repeated Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) words back to him verbatim: The Supreme Court vacancy shouldn’t be filled by this President.
In a statement on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Schumer posted a tweet that sounded oddly familiar: “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” he wrote. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”
The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president. — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2020
McConnell, eagle-eyed observers recalled, said the same thing in 2016 in the wake of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
One key difference: McConnell’s quote came in February in an election year, Schumer’s comes in mid-September, with less than seven weeks to go before Election Day.
Senate Republicans refused to consider a replacement for Scalia for months, holding out until President Donald Trump won office.
Democrats in recent months have pressed for the same standard to apply in the case of a new Supreme Court vacancy. But McConnell, last year, said he would fill a 2020 Supreme Court vacancy.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--WATCH: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Sworn In On August 10, 1993

Washington , DC .
8-10-1993 Ruth Bader Ginsberg is Sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the @ @ @ @ @ Clinton stands behind her as her husband Martin holds the bible as Chief Jus ... @ @ @ @ @ Ruth Bader Ginsberg is Sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the @ @ @ @ @ Clinton stands behind her as her husband Martin holds the bible as Chief Justice William @ @ @ @ @ of Office .
Credit : Mark Reinstein ( Photo by Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images @

Washington, DC. 8-10-1993 Ruth Bader Ginsberg is Sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President William Clinton stands behind her as her husband Martin holds the bible as Chief Jus...
Washington, DC. 8-10-1993 Ruth Bader Ginsberg is Sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President William Clinton stands behind her as her husband Martin holds the bible as Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Adminsters the Oath of Office. Credit: Mark Reinstein (Photo by Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
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talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Ginsburg Officiated A Wedding Less Than A Week Ago

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A tweet Monday from a new bride brought the first sighting of ailing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in months — officiating at an outdoor wedding Sunday .
The photo of the 87-year-old Ginsburg , who announced in July she is being treated for cancer , shows her during the wedding ceremony Sunday of Barb Solish and Danny Kazin , according to Solish ’ s Twitter feed .
“ 2020 has been rough , but yesterday was Supreme , ” Solish tweeted .
In the photo , Ginsburg is wearing her judicial robe with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice is a close friend of one of the families and the festivities took place outdoors at a private residence , court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said .
Solish noted on Twitter that both she and her husband “ tested negative ” before the ceremony , presumably for COVID-19 .
Ginsburg and the rest of the court essentially disappeared from view when the court in March was closed to the public because of the virus outbreak .
The justices began meeting by telephone and held arguments by phone in May , their voices but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The court handed down opinions into the middle of July , but the justices did not take the bench to announce their decisions as they customarily do .
Rather , opinions were posted online .
Shortly after the court finished its work for the summer , Ginsburg announced she was undergoing chemotherapy to treat lesions on her liver .
It ’ s the fifth time she ’ s dealt with cancer in the past 20 years .
At the same time , she said she would continue to serve on the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign Committee and Solish is at the National Alliance on Mental Illness .

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tweet Monday from a new bride brought the first sighting of ailing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in months — officiating at an outdoor wedding Sunday.
The photo of the 87-year-old Ginsburg, who announced in July she is being treated for cancer, shows her during the wedding ceremony Sunday of Barb Solish and Danny Kazin, according to Solish’s Twitter feed.
“2020 has been rough, but yesterday was Supreme,” Solish tweeted.
In the photo, Ginsburg is wearing her judicial robe with a decorative black-and-white embroidered collar.
The justice is a close friend of one of the families and the festivities took place outdoors at a private residence, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. Solish noted on Twitter that both she and her husband “tested negative” before the ceremony, presumably for COVID-19.
Ginsburg and the rest of the court essentially disappeared from view when the court in March was closed to the public because of the virus outbreak. The justices began meeting by telephone and held arguments by phone in May, their voices but not their images available to the public.
The court handed down opinions into the middle of July, but the justices did not take the bench to announce their decisions as they customarily do. Rather, opinions were posted online.
Shortly after the court finished its work for the summer, Ginsburg announced she was undergoing chemotherapy to treat lesions on her liver. It’s the fifth time she’s dealt with cancer in the past 20 years. At the same time, she said she would continue to serve on the court.
Kazin works for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Solish is at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Supreme Court Announces Passing Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The Supreme Court released the following statement announcing the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg : Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington , D.C. , due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer .
She was 87 years old .
Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993 .
She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years .
She is survived by her two children : Jane Carol Ginsburg ( George Spera ) and James Steven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandchildren : Paul Spera ( Francesca Toich ) , Clara Spera ( Rory Boyd ) , Miranda Ginsburg , Abigail Ginsburg , two step-grandchildren : Harjinder Bedi , Satinder Bedi , and one great-grandchild : Lucrezia Spera .
Her husband , Martin David Ginsburg , died in 2010 .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts , Jr. said of Justice Ginsburg : “ Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature .
We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague .
Today we mourn , but with confidence that future generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew her — a tireless and resolute champion of justice.
” Justice Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn , New York , March 15 , 1933 .
She married Martin D. Ginsburg in 1954 .
She received her B.A .
from Cornell University , attended Harvard Law School , and received her LL.B .
from Columbia Law School .
She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Edmund L. Palmieri , Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York , from 1959–1961 .
From 1961–1963 , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Columbia Law School Project on International Procedure .
She was a Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law from 1963–1972 , and Columbia Law School from 1972–1980 , and a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford , California from 1977–1978 .
In 1971 , she was instrumental in launching the Women ’ s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union , and served as the ACLU ’ s General Counsel from 1973–1980 , and on the National Board of Directors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980 .
During her more than 40 years as a Judge and a Justice , she was served by 159 law clerks .
While on the Court , the Justice authored My Own Words ( 2016 ) , a compilation of her speeches and writings .
A private interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery .

The Supreme Court released the following statement announcing the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87 years old. Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years. She is survived by her two children: Jane Carol Ginsburg (George Spera) and James Steven Ginsburg (Patrice Michaels), four grandchildren: Paul Spera (Francesca Toich), Clara Spera (Rory Boyd), Miranda Ginsburg, Abigail Ginsburg, two step-grandchildren: Harjinder Bedi, Satinder Bedi, and one great-grandchild: Lucrezia Spera. Her husband, Martin David Ginsburg, died in 2010.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. said of Justice Ginsburg: “Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature. We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her — a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”
Justice Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 15, 1933. She married Martin D. Ginsburg in 1954. She received her B.A. from Cornell University, attended Harvard Law School, and received her LL.B. from Columbia Law School. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Edmund L. Palmieri, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, from 1959–1961. From 1961–1963, she was a research associate and then associate director of the Columbia Law School Project on International Procedure. She was a Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law from 1963–1972, and Columbia Law School from 1972–1980, and a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, California from 1977–1978. In 1971, she was instrumental in launching the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, and served as the ACLU’s General Counsel from 1973–1980, and on the National Board of Directors from 1974–1980. She was appointed a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980. During her more than 40 years as a Judge and a Justice, she was served by 159 law clerks.
While on the Court, the Justice authored My Own Words (2016), a compilation of her speeches and writings.
A private interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.