buzzfeed--2020-08-21--We Build The Wall And Its Founder Succeeded In Securing Connections With The Trumps

Brian Kolfage filled the board of directors with Trump supporters , visited the White House , and was often photographed with members of the Trump family .
Eight months before he was arrested for allegedly using his We Build the Wall nonprofit to enrich himself , Brian Kolfage was headed to the White House .
He posted a picture of his RSVP confirmation on Twitter for the Dec. 4 visit and tagged it `` # wallBuildersClub . ''
His wife posted Instagram photos of their two children next to Christmas trees in the East Wing .
It 's not clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or what the purpose of his visit was .
The White House did not respond to inquiries about the visit , and Kolfage told BuzzFeed News it was `` most likely an undocumented trip . ''
But nearly immediately after starting a viral campaign that raised more than $ 26 million to build a privately funded border wall along the US–Mexico border , pictures , videos , and social media accounts show that Kolfage and We Build the Wall repeatedly tried to make connections in the White House , the Trump administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeeded .
The president 's son even praised the group at a fundraising event in New Mexico — funds that federal officials now allege were used to personally enrich Kolfage , Bannon , and two other associates .
`` Brian , thank you so much for all your sacrifices , doing this , and showing really what capitalism is all about , '' Donald Trump Jr. told Kolfage in Sunland Park , New Mexico , in July 2019 .
`` This is what private enterprise is at its finest . ''
Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee , also spoke , telling the group gathered for a livestreamed fundraiser : `` Don and I wanted to come down and see what 's going on , and it 's really impressive at what you 've been able to accomplish . ''
As a gift , the group gave the president 's son a custom-built Springfield 1911 handgun emblazoned with their logo on the handle .
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. told BuzzFeed News the praise of the group at the time `` was based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about their supposed intention to help build the wall on our southern border and if he and others were deceived , the group deserves to be held accountable for their actions . ''
She added that Trump Jr. 's involvement with the group was one speech , and that he never gave the group permission to use him as a testimonial .
At the time , We Build the Wall had also offered donors a free autographed copy of Trump Jr. 's book , Triggered .
But after charges of wire fraud and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former top Trump aide Steve Bannon in connection to the fundraising campaign , the White House sought to distance itself from the group .
`` President Trump has no involvement in this project and felt it was only being done in order to showboat , and perhaps raise funds , '' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said .
In July , the president for the first time mentioned the border wall project , saying he `` disagreed with doing this very small ( tiny ) section of wall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private group , '' and suggested that it was `` only done to make me look bad . ''
But We Build the Wall 's board of directors was composed of ardent Trump supporters , including Bannon , Erik Prince , Curt Schilling , Tom Tancredo , and Kris Kobach .
Kolfage was often photographed with members of Trump 's family , including his sons .
In January 2019 , when Kolfage was given an award at Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort recognizing him for his work with the nonprofit , Eric Trump attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokesperson for We Build the Wall said she had been able to speak with President Trump about the nonprofit 's effort to build the private wall .
`` He said I really know my stuff & our group needs to bid the whole wall project , '' Amanda Shea wrote on Twitter after mentioning she had been able to meet personally with the president at the Hamptons .
At one point , Kolfage told BuzzFeed News the group would end up building a `` federal wall '' completely funded by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how such an arrangement would work .
But some of Kolfage 's critics said they did n't believe he or the group had made real inroads at the White House , and were instead using the appearance of having done so to their advantage .
`` Don Jr. gets sent out to make whatever yokel group feel special , but do you really think Don Jr returns from these trips and debriefs his daddy on the organizational structures and membership participation or anything at all ?
Of course not , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2014 won a legal battle against Kolfage over a Facebook harassment incident .
`` With Kolfage , Don Jr probably saw an opportunity to sell his book to a pack of idiots that will clearly throw their money at anything . ''
For some people who worked with Kolfage , news of the indictment were received with a `` feeling of elation . ''
`` We want truth to prevail , and we knew he was pulling the wool over people 's eyes , '' said Savannah Pointer , who worked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I truly hope that people understand that Kolfage and Bannon do n't speak for most conservatives .
They always and forever spoke for ( and looked out for ) themselves , and that 's what eventually brought them down . ''
Lindsay Lowery , who worked in 2017 for Kolfage 's main conservative website , Freedom Daily , said she tried to warn people about his past during the wall fundraising campaign , saying `` many people continued to believe the war hero facade he hides behind . ''
`` Sadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have fallen prey to this relentless bully and con artist , '' she told BuzzFeed News .
In July , after Trump tweeted that he `` disagreed '' with the We Build the Wall project , Kolfage brushed off the comment .
`` He is easily influenced by fake news , '' he told BuzzFeed News in direct messages responding to a report that federal inspectors would be sent to a second wall funded partially by We Build the Wall in Texas that had shown signs of erosion .
`` Trump himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Instead , he alleged opposition to We Build the Wall came from Jared Kushner , President Trump 's senior adviser and son-in-law , and the Army Corps of Engineers .
`` [ They ] do n't like the private industry , '' Kolfage said .
Asked if he had any way to backing up his claim , he said he could n't .
`` You know who I work with , '' he said .
`` They all communicate regularly , [ all ] verbal . ''

Eight months before he was arrested for allegedly using his We Build the Wall nonprofit to enrich himself, Brian Kolfage was headed to the White House.
He posted a picture of his RSVP confirmation on Twitter for the Dec. 4 visit and tagged it "#wallBuildersClub." His wife posted Instagram photos of their two children next to Christmas trees in the East Wing.
It's not clear whom Kolfage met with that night, or what the purpose of his visit was. The White House did not respond to inquiries about the visit, and Kolfage told BuzzFeed News it was "most likely an undocumented trip."
But nearly immediately after starting a viral campaign that raised more than $26 million to build a privately funded border wall along the US–Mexico border, pictures, videos, and social media accounts show that Kolfage and We Build the Wall repeatedly tried to make connections in the White House, the Trump administration, and the first family — and they succeeded. The president's son even praised the group at a fundraising event in New Mexico — funds that federal officials now allege were used to personally enrich Kolfage, Bannon, and two other associates.
"Brian, thank you so much for all your sacrifices, doing this, and showing really what capitalism is all about," Donald Trump Jr. told Kolfage in Sunland Park, New Mexico, in July 2019. "This is what private enterprise is at its finest."
Trump's girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the national chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, also spoke, telling the group gathered for a livestreamed fundraiser: "Don and I wanted to come down and see what's going on, and it's really impressive at what you've been able to accomplish."
As a gift, the group gave the president's son a custom-built Springfield 1911 handgun emblazoned with their logo on the handle.


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Travis Scott Explained Why He Supports The BLM Movement And How He Holds Kanye West Accountable

`` Figuring out ways to make it better , that 's really keeping me motivated .
Whether it 's with @ @ @ @ @ 's trying to go change stuff in the inner city — I 'm just trying @ @ @ @ @ all levels .
”

"Figuring out ways to make it better, that's really keeping me motivated. Whether it's with music, or whether it's trying to go change stuff in the inner city — I'm just trying to turn it up on all levels.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Kamala Harris’s Husband Doug Emhoff Made His Debut: “I Can Go On And On And On” About Kamala

WILMINGTON , Delaware — After Kamala Harris finished the biggest speech of her life on Wednesday , her husband walked on stage to greet her , both hands at his side , palms out , mouth open wide in a gesture of disbelief , awe , and love .
`` You were great ! ''
he exclaimed .
Doug Emhoff spent much of his fifth year of marriage to Harris , a US senator and former presidential candidate , on the campaign trail in Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina , and Nevada .
Now , he is spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the couple celebrates on Saturday , here in Wilmington , Delaware , as one half of a major party presidential ticket .
During his wife 's 11-month presidential campaign , Emhoff carved out a role as the candidate 's biggest fan .
At speeches and debates , he was never far from his wife , cheering her on , forcibly removing a protester , or capturing behind-the-scenes photos for his Instagram page with as much zeal as Twitter ’ s biggest Kamala stans — an unabashed , wide-eyed fandom that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday afternoon , the day after Harris delivered the keynote address on the third night of the Democratic National Convention , Emhoff made his own debut of sorts , with a seven-minute virtual speech during the party 's LGBTQ caucus meeting , his first public remarks since Joe Biden asked Harris to serve as his vice presidential nominee .
`` Time for some real talk first , '' Emhoff said .
`` Being out here on the presidential campaign trail talking about Joe and Kamala is not something I 've ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He spoke from Wilmington from what appeared to be a kitchen or breakfast nook — children 's artwork , pinned to the wall behind Emhoff , could be seen in the background — but the Biden campaign declined to disclose the location of the setup , save to say it was `` a private residence in Wilmington . ''
Asked if this private residence is the place where Emhoff and Harris have been staying during their time in Wilmington this week , a Biden official said she was n't sure .
His remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biography ( born in Brooklyn , raised in Los Angeles , works in entertainment law , now on leave from his firm , he noted , “ so that I can work full-time to help Joe and Kamala win '' ) , his wife 's record ( “ the first thing you need to know is she is the daughter of immigrants ” ) , and his hope for a Biden-Harris administration next January ( `` We need a mandate to show this president does n't define who our country is '' ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck to his script , speaking quietly into his computer , with only a hint of nervous energy .
But Emhoff 's appearance alone — he wore a black polo shirt and a single AirPod in his right ear — seemed a reminder of the curiosity he will present if he reaches the White House .
America has never had a second gentleman before .
Or is it first gentleman , technically , if there is only one ?
Earl Fowlkes , the chair of the Democratic National Committee 's LGBTQ Caucus who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken with the question .
`` Actually , I 'm tingling , I 'm tingling , I 'm tingling , I 'm tingling , '' he said of his excitement about Emhoff becoming a `` major force in our country . ''
Fowles said he has been debating with his friends about what Emhoff 's title would be if Biden wins the election in November .
`` What do we call Mr. Emhoff ?
Do we call him the second spouse ?
The first… ? ''
He trailed off .
`` I heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Wilkes said , seeming to reference Biden 's own description of Emhoff last week when the former vice president introduced the couple in Wilmington at their first joint appearance together .
`` You know , we have time to figure that out between now and Election Day , '' said Wilkes .
During Harris 's presidential campaign , Emhoff grew into a more active surrogate in his own right , delivering his first speech at a state party dinner in Florida and holding organizing meetings in Iowa before his wife dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters at one event that if Harris won , he hoped to launch an effort as first gentleman to increase funding for public defenders and expand access to legal counsel for communities that struggle to afford it .
It ’ s a new level of proximity to politics for the entertainment lawyer : Emhoff said that after he and Harris got engaged , he was stunned to receive a congratulatory voicemail from Biden himself .
“ He is such a great guy and believe it or not , I still have that message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
On Thursday , he did not address Wilkes ' question of what his title would be or say anything about what he would want his own focus to be in a Biden-Harris administration .
For now , it seemed , Emhoff was just excited to be here .
“ I can go on and on and on about what she and Joe are going to do in the job , ” he said .
`` I 'm so proud of her .
”

WILMINGTON, Delaware — After Kamala Harris finished the biggest speech of her life on Wednesday, her husband walked on stage to greet her, both hands at his side, palms out, mouth open wide in a gesture of disbelief, awe, and love.
"You were great!" he exclaimed.
Doug Emhoff spent much of his fifth year of marriage to Harris, a US senator and former presidential candidate, on the campaign trail in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. Now, he is spending the week before their sixth wedding anniversary, which the couple celebrates on Saturday, here in Wilmington, Delaware, as one half of a major party presidential ticket.
During his wife's 11-month presidential campaign, Emhoff carved out a role as the candidate's biggest fan. At speeches and debates, he was never far from his wife, cheering her on, forcibly removing a protester, or capturing behind-the-scenes photos for his Instagram page with as much zeal as Twitter’s biggest Kamala stans — an unabashed, wide-eyed fandom that has engendered his own community of followers online.
On Thursday afternoon, the day after Harris delivered the keynote address on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, Emhoff made his own debut of sorts, with a seven-minute virtual speech during the party's LGBTQ caucus meeting, his first public remarks since Joe Biden asked Harris to serve as his vice presidential nominee.
"Time for some real talk first," Emhoff said. "Being out here on the presidential campaign trail talking about Joe and Kamala is not something I've ever really expected to be doing."
He spoke from Wilmington from what appeared to be a kitchen or breakfast nook — children's artwork, pinned to the wall behind Emhoff, could be seen in the background — but the Biden campaign declined to disclose the location of the setup, save to say it was "a private residence in Wilmington."
Asked if this private residence is the place where Emhoff and Harris have been staying during their time in Wilmington this week, a Biden official said she wasn't sure.
His remarks provided a broad overview of his own biography (born in Brooklyn, raised in Los Angeles, works in entertainment law, now on leave from his firm, he noted, “so that I can work full-time to help Joe and Kamala win"), his wife's record (“the first thing you need to know is she is the daughter of immigrants”), and his hope for a Biden-Harris administration next January ("We need a mandate to show this president doesn't define who our country is").
There were no surprises and he stuck to his script, speaking quietly into his computer, with only a hint of nervous energy. But Emhoff's appearance alone — he wore a black polo shirt and a single AirPod in his right ear — seemed a reminder of the curiosity he will present if he reaches the White House.
America has never had a second gentleman before. Or is it first gentleman, technically, if there is only one?
Earl Fowlkes, the chair of the Democratic National Committee's LGBTQ Caucus who introduced Emhoff on Thursday, seemed equally taken with the question. "Actually, I'm tingling, I'm tingling, I'm tingling, I'm tingling," he said of his excitement about Emhoff becoming a "major force in our country."
Fowles said he has been debating with his friends about what Emhoff's title would be if Biden wins the election in November. "What do we call Mr. Emhoff? Do we call him the second spouse? The first…?" He trailed off. "I heard he was the 'first second gentleman’?" Wilkes said, seeming to reference Biden's own description of Emhoff last week when the former vice president introduced the couple in Wilmington at their first joint appearance together.
"You know, we have time to figure that out between now and Election Day," said Wilkes.
During Harris's presidential campaign, Emhoff grew into a more active surrogate in his own right, delivering his first speech at a state party dinner in Florida and holding organizing meetings in Iowa before his wife dropped out in December 2019. He told voters at one event that if Harris won, he hoped to launch an effort as first gentleman to increase funding for public defenders and expand access to legal counsel for communities that struggle to afford it.
It’s a new level of proximity to politics for the entertainment lawyer: Emhoff said that after he and Harris got engaged, he was stunned to receive a congratulatory voicemail from Biden himself. “He is such a great guy and believe it or not, I still have that message saved on my home,” he said.
On Thursday, he did not address Wilkes' question of what his title would be or say anything about what he would want his own focus to be in a Biden-Harris administration.
For now, it seemed, Emhoff was just excited to be here.
“I can go on and on and on about what she and Joe are going to do in the job,” he said. "I'm so proud of her.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Trump’s False Rhetoric About Mail-In Voting Is Spooking Voters In A Vital State

POTTSTOWN , Pennsylvania — It ’ s been eight months since Carl Metzger ’ s knee surgery and his leg still bothers him a little , so he was thrilled to learn he could vote by mail rather than trudging down to his polling site .
That is , until recently .
The cloud of skepticism around mail-in voting — driven both by President Donald Trump and a recent spike in reporting about troubles with the US Postal Service — has given Metzger , 75 , pause .
Now he may vote in person even if it means waiting outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures intended to avoid spreading the coronavirus .
“ If it comes down to it , I may just end up walking up there and not mailing it , ” he told BuzzFeed News in a Walmart parking lot in Pottstown this week .
Metzger will decide closer to the Nov. 3 election and the decision will hang on one factor : “ Whether more and more people start thinking it 's gon na be a fraud.
” It ’ s the same concern Jessica Gillette struggles with .
Gillette , because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefers to mail in her vote , but she is conflicted because of the political controversy around mail-in voting .
“ I want my vote to count , ” she told BuzzFeed News .
“ I hear all the stuff about this mail-in voting thing , for all I know , if I mail in my ballot and because I 'm a registered Democrat , the Republicans will toss it.
” Metzger and Gillette are Democrats , and their fears signal the president ’ s frequently false messaging on mail-in voting is having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a common theme in more than two dozen interviews with prospective voters held this week in Pennsylvania , a crucial swing state in the 2020 presidential race where voters backed Barack Obama twice and then Trump in 2016 .
This idea , incited by the president , that fraud and an ineffective Postal Service will taint the election and somehow invalidate the results is now another crisis — albeit unfounded — that Americans are coping with during a pandemic , economic downturn , and fight for racial justice .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his base , according to recent polling that suggests more Trump voters will forgo voting by mail and cast their votes in person .
But the rhetoric is also influencing those who oppose the president , at least in Pottstown , where Republicans and Democrats are showing little faith in the United States Postal Service and the government .
“ Snail mail is not what it used to be and I just do n't trust the politics , ” Angie , a first-time voter , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their hands in it and I just do n't know what side.
” Angie , who declined to give her full name , identifies as someone who straddles between both parties , mainly because of her opposition to abortion .
Whomever she votes for in this election , she ’ ll be doing it in person .
“ I ’ d just feel more comfortable if I do it myself , then I know it 's done , ” she said .

POTTSTOWN, Pennsylvania — It’s been eight months since Carl Metzger’s knee surgery and his leg still bothers him a little, so he was thrilled to learn he could vote by mail rather than trudging down to his polling site. That is, until recently.
The cloud of skepticism around mail-in voting — driven both by President Donald Trump and a recent spike in reporting about troubles with the US Postal Service — has given Metzger, 75, pause. Now he may vote in person even if it means waiting outside his polling site because of the social-distancing measures intended to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
“If it comes down to it, I may just end up walking up there and not mailing it,” he told BuzzFeed News in a Walmart parking lot in Pottstown this week. Metzger will decide closer to the Nov. 3 election and the decision will hang on one factor: “Whether more and more people start thinking it's gonna be a fraud.”
It’s the same concern Jessica Gillette struggles with. Gillette, because of preexisting conditions and susceptibility to COVID-19, prefers to mail in her vote, but she is conflicted because of the political controversy around mail-in voting.
“I want my vote to count,” she told BuzzFeed News. “I hear all the stuff about this mail-in voting thing, for all I know, if I mail in my ballot and because I'm a registered Democrat, the Republicans will toss it.”
Metzger and Gillette are Democrats, and their fears signal the president’s frequently false messaging on mail-in voting is having a broader impact on Americans.
It was a common theme in more than two dozen interviews with prospective voters held this week in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state in the 2020 presidential race where voters backed Barack Obama twice and then Trump in 2016. This idea, incited by the president, that fraud and an ineffective Postal Service will taint the election and somehow invalidate the results is now another crisis — albeit unfounded — that Americans are coping with during a pandemic, economic downturn, and fight for racial justice.
Trump’s negative messaging on mail-in voting is resonating with his base, according to recent polling that suggests more Trump voters will forgo voting by mail and cast their votes in person. But the rhetoric is also influencing those who oppose the president, at least in Pottstown, where Republicans and Democrats are showing little faith in the United States Postal Service and the government.
“Snail mail is not what it used to be and I just don't trust the politics,” Angie, a first-time voter, told BuzzFeed News. “I don't know, I think somebody has their hands in it and I just don't know what side.”
Angie, who declined to give her full name, identifies as someone who straddles between both parties, mainly because of her opposition to abortion. Whomever she votes for in this election, she’ll be doing it in person.
“I’d just feel more comfortable if I do it myself, then I know it's done,” she said.


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Pete Buttigieg And Andrew Yang Were Unknown Two Years Ago. Now They’re Helping Shape Democrats’ Futu

Pete Buttigieg And Andrew Yang Were Unknown Two Years Ago. Now They’re Helping Shape Democrats’ Future.

Pete Buttigieg still sees an opportunity to attract Republicans , expand the Democratic Party , and foster a “ sense of belonging.
” Andrew Yang still believes in universal basic income and thinks a Joe Biden administration would be “ tremendously positive ” to that end .
And in interviews with BuzzFeed News , they both addressed the challenge of selling the 77-year-old Biden to younger voters worried about crises new and old — the coronavirus , climate change — and looking for more than a transitional leader who isn ’ t Donald Trump .
The 38-year-old Buttigieg stressed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close and personal for those … who are going to be around to deal in the 2050s with the consequences of decisions that were made in the 2020s.
” Yang , 45 , apologized for leaving future generations “ an awful mess.
” It ’ s not their fault , he said , “ but we need their help to clean it up.
” Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and Yang , an entrepreneur , were unknown to most of America 18 months ago .
But their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them as national figures .
Buttigieg , the first openly gay candidate to run a major campaign for president , offered a generational message that , despite his youth , resonated with older voters who saw him as a model of how a young leader should carry himself .
Yang — one of two Asian Americans in the race along with Sen. Kamala Harris , now Biden ’ s running mate — cobbled together a coalition of young libertarian- and progressive-minded supporters drawn to his push for a universal basic income ( UBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom dividends .
Thursday night , both will be featured in primetime at the Democratic National Convention before Biden formally accepts the party ’ s nomination for president .
Both spoke with BuzzFeed News by telephone last week to share thoughts on what they learned during their campaigns .
They also discussed why they believe Biden , who struggled mightily in the early nominating contests , was able to quickly recover and clear a large field of rivals .
“ I think it 's the moment that people in South Carolina , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority Black electorate , “ got behind Joe in large part because Jim Clyburn endorsed him , ” said Yang , drawing a direct line to Biden ’ s support from the influential lawmaker .
Buttigieg ended his campaign a day after finishing a distant fourth in South Carolina and promptly endorsed Biden .
His moderate tone , his struggles to connect with Black voters , and his past work as a business consultant were often the subject of ridicule on social media .
Buttigieg reflected on the race by conceding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the primaries .
“ The thing above all I learned that , you know , there 's a difference between what you see on Twitter and what you see out there in communities , ” Buttigieg said .
“ People may have strong beliefs but are way more open to other ideas — even to crossing party lines — than you would think , just by following the conversation online and in some of the coverage .
”

Pete Buttigieg still sees an opportunity to attract Republicans, expand the Democratic Party, and foster a “sense of belonging.” Andrew Yang still believes in universal basic income and thinks a Joe Biden administration would be “tremendously positive” to that end.
And in interviews with BuzzFeed News, they both addressed the challenge of selling the 77-year-old Biden to younger voters worried about crises new and old — the coronavirus, climate change — and looking for more than a transitional leader who isn’t Donald Trump.
The 38-year-old Buttigieg stressed that Democrats must “make that choice up close and personal for those … who are going to be around to deal in the 2050s with the consequences of decisions that were made in the 2020s.” Yang, 45, apologized for leaving future generations “an awful mess.” It’s not their fault, he said, “but we need their help to clean it up.”
Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Yang, an entrepreneur, were unknown to most of America 18 months ago. But their own campaigns for president this year elevated them as national figures. Buttigieg, the first openly gay candidate to run a major campaign for president, offered a generational message that, despite his youth, resonated with older voters who saw him as a model of how a young leader should carry himself. Yang — one of two Asian Americans in the race along with Sen. Kamala Harris, now Biden’s running mate — cobbled together a coalition of young libertarian- and progressive-minded supporters drawn to his push for a universal basic income (UBI) in the form of $1,000-a-month freedom dividends.
Thursday night, both will be featured in primetime at the Democratic National Convention before Biden formally accepts the party’s nomination for president.
Both spoke with BuzzFeed News by telephone last week to share thoughts on what they learned during their campaigns. They also discussed why they believe Biden, who struggled mightily in the early nominating contests, was able to quickly recover and clear a large field of rivals.
“I think it's the moment that people in South Carolina,” the fourth contest and the first with a majority Black electorate, “got behind Joe in large part because Jim Clyburn endorsed him,” said Yang, drawing a direct line to Biden’s support from the influential lawmaker.
Buttigieg ended his campaign a day after finishing a distant fourth in South Carolina and promptly endorsed Biden. His moderate tone, his struggles to connect with Black voters, and his past work as a business consultant were often the subject of ridicule on social media. Buttigieg reflected on the race by conceding a point that guided Biden’s advisers during the primaries.
“The thing above all I learned that, you know, there's a difference between what you see on Twitter and what you see out there in communities,” Buttigieg said. “People may have strong beliefs but are way more open to other ideas — even to crossing party lines — than you would think, just by following the conversation online and in some of the coverage.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--A Judge Once Again Ruled That New York Prosecutors Can Get Trump's Tax Returns

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday lost again in his attempt to stop New York prosecutors from getting his tax returns , with a federal judge rejecting the president 's latest round of arguments challenging a grand jury subpoena .
The latest order dismissing Trump 's lawsuit against New York district attorney Cy Vance 's office came just over a month after the US Supreme Court ruled in a 7–2 decision that Trump , as a sitting president , was not entitled to absolute immunity against a grand jury subpoena .
The court had left open the possibility that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawfulness of the subpoena , but US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected those in a 103-page opinion on Thursday .
The judge found that Trump had largely rehashed the same allegations and arguments that he did during the first round of the case , and was trying to shoehorn the immunity argument that the Supreme Court rejected `` through a back door . ''
`` As this Court suggested in its earlier ruling in this litigation , that notion , applied as so robustly proclaimed by the President ’ s advocates , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed , '' the judge wrote .
Trump 's lawyers immediately appealed Marrero 's order to the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit , which ruled against Trump during the first round of the litigation that ended up before the Supreme Court .
Speaking with reporters on Thursday , Trump said the case will `` probably end up back in the Supreme Court . ''
`` Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a fishing expedition , you do n't have to do it , and this is a fishing expedition .
But more importantly , this is a continuation of the witch hunt , the greatest witch hunt in history .
There 's never been anything like it , '' Trump said , according to a pool report .
The New York district attorney 's office is seeking eight years of Trump 's tax returns as part of an investigation that covered hush-money payments that Trump 's former lawyer Michael Cohen orchestrated to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who claimed to have had affairs with the president .
After the case was sent back by the Supreme Court in July , Trump 's lawyers filed a new version of the lawsuit that claimed the subpoena was unlawfully overbroad and that prosecutors in New York acted in bad faith in issuing it to his accountant .
Trump 's lawyers argued the subpoena was n't tailored to the New York investigation — they noted that it mirrored language from congressional subpoenas for Trump 's financial records — and was part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although the president 's absolute immunity argument was no longer on the table , Marrero wrote that Trump 's latest arguments had the `` tenor and practical effect '' of presidential immunity , since he was seeking `` special treatment '' because of his position .
The judge used strong language to once again rebuff what he saw as Trump 's overarching contention that a president can not face criminal investigation while in office .
Marrero acknowledged that the Supreme Court had held that courts should give `` high respect '' to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legal fights , but he said that did n't mean state prosecutors had to meet a special , higher standard of need in order to subpoena a sitting president 's records .
The president 's position meant the court `` must take particular care to correctly apply '' the legal standards for a grand jury subpoena , but it did n't change the substance of those standards , the judge wrote .
`` High respect for the President does not imply diminished respect for the ancient functions of the grand jury or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoenas , '' Marrero wrote .
Marrero wrote that Trump 's efforts to block the subpoena for as long as he 's in office could have the effect of undermining the investigation as it related not only to Trump , but to other potential targets .
If Trump won reelection in November , for instance , Marrero noted that the statute of limitations for bringing certain criminal charges could run out by the time Trump left the White House .
On Trump 's bad faith argument , Marrero found that the president failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts to show that New York prosecutors were trying to get his tax returns for illegitimate reasons .
The fact that Democrats in Congress and the president 's other foes were frustrated by their inability to get his tax returns — Trump broke with historic practice in refusing to release his returns as a candidate and as president — did n't meant that prosecutors lacked a valid reason to subpoena the documents as part of a criminal investigation , the judge wrote .
Even if the district attorney 's office got his tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury secrecy rules meant that Democrats in Congress and the public would n't see them unless they became part of some later , formal criminal prosecution filed in court .
Trump argued that because the district attorney 's investigation was limited to the 2016 hush-money payments , any subpoena would have to be tailored to records that related to those payments .
But Marrero found that Trump failed to show that the investigation was exclusively limited to the 2016 payments .
The judge also wrote a grand jury 's `` broad investigatory powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time frame of whatever criminal conduct it was investigating .
Marrero granted a request by Vance 's office to dismiss Trump 's lawsuit `` with prejudice , '' which means Trump could n't file another version of his complaint to try to press his claims again .
Vance 's office argued that Trump 's legal team was actively trying to create delays in the case to avoid turning over the president 's tax returns .
Marrero said he would n't rule on whether that was true but that allowing Trump to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the investigation .
`` Justice does not require granting leave to re-plead under these circumstances .
Justice requires an end to this controversy , '' the judge wrote .
Jay Sekulow , Trump 's lawyer , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Vance 's office declined to comment .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday lost again in his attempt to stop New York prosecutors from getting his tax returns, with a federal judge rejecting the president's latest round of arguments challenging a grand jury subpoena.
The latest order dismissing Trump's lawsuit against New York district attorney Cy Vance's office came just over a month after the US Supreme Court ruled in a 7–2 decision that Trump, as a sitting president, was not entitled to absolute immunity against a grand jury subpoena.
The court had left open the possibility that Trump could raise other challenges to the lawfulness of the subpoena, but US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected those in a 103-page opinion on Thursday. The judge found that Trump had largely rehashed the same allegations and arguments that he did during the first round of the case, and was trying to shoehorn the immunity argument that the Supreme Court rejected "through a back door."
"As this Court suggested in its earlier ruling in this litigation, that notion, applied as so robustly proclaimed by the President’s advocates, is as unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed," the judge wrote.
Trump's lawyers immediately appealed Marrero's order to the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, which ruled against Trump during the first round of the litigation that ended up before the Supreme Court. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Trump said the case will "probably end up back in the Supreme Court."
"Well, the Supreme Court said if it's a fishing expedition, you don't have to do it, and this is a fishing expedition. But more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch hunt, the greatest witch hunt in history. There's never been anything like it," Trump said, according to a pool report.
The New York district attorney's office is seeking eight years of Trump's tax returns as part of an investigation that covered hush-money payments that Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen orchestrated to two women, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had affairs with the president.
After the case was sent back by the Supreme Court in July, Trump's lawyers filed a new version of the lawsuit that claimed the subpoena was unlawfully overbroad and that prosecutors in New York acted in bad faith in issuing it to his accountant. Trump's lawyers argued the subpoena wasn't tailored to the New York investigation — they noted that it mirrored language from congressional subpoenas for Trump's financial records — and was part of a politically motivated and retaliatory fishing expedition.
Although the president's absolute immunity argument was no longer on the table, Marrero wrote that Trump's latest arguments had the "tenor and practical effect" of presidential immunity, since he was seeking "special treatment" because of his position. The judge used strong language to once again rebuff what he saw as Trump's overarching contention that a president cannot face criminal investigation while in office.
Marrero acknowledged that the Supreme Court had held that courts should give "high respect" to the office of the president in these types of legal fights, but he said that didn't mean state prosecutors had to meet a special, higher standard of need in order to subpoena a sitting president's records. The president's position meant the court "must take particular care to correctly apply" the legal standards for a grand jury subpoena, but it didn't change the substance of those standards, the judge wrote.
"High respect for the President does not imply diminished respect for the ancient functions of the grand jury or the long-established standards governing challenges to its subpoenas," Marrero wrote.
Marrero wrote that Trump's efforts to block the subpoena for as long as he's in office could have the effect of undermining the investigation as it related not only to Trump, but to other potential targets. If Trump won reelection in November, for instance, Marrero noted that the statute of limitations for bringing certain criminal charges could run out by the time Trump left the White House.
On Trump's bad faith argument, Marrero found that the president failed to present concrete, "non-speculative" facts to show that New York prosecutors were trying to get his tax returns for illegitimate reasons.
The fact that Democrats in Congress and the president's other foes were frustrated by their inability to get his tax returns — Trump broke with historic practice in refusing to release his returns as a candidate and as president — didn't meant that prosecutors lacked a valid reason to subpoena the documents as part of a criminal investigation, the judge wrote.
Even if the district attorney's office got his tax returns, the judge noted that grand jury secrecy rules meant that Democrats in Congress and the public wouldn't see them unless they became part of some later, formal criminal prosecution filed in court.
Trump argued that because the district attorney's investigation was limited to the 2016 hush-money payments, any subpoena would have to be tailored to records that related to those payments. But Marrero found that Trump failed to show that the investigation was exclusively limited to the 2016 payments. The judge also wrote a grand jury's "broad investigatory powers" meant it could seek documents beyond the time frame of whatever criminal conduct it was investigating.
Marrero granted a request by Vance's office to dismiss Trump's lawsuit "with prejudice," which means Trump couldn't file another version of his complaint to try to press his claims again. Vance's office argued that Trump's legal team was actively trying to create delays in the case to avoid turning over the president's tax returns. Marrero said he wouldn't rule on whether that was true but that allowing Trump to try again would cause "undue prejudice" to the investigation.
"Justice does not require granting leave to re-plead under these circumstances. Justice requires an end to this controversy," the judge wrote.
Jay Sekulow, Trump's lawyer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Vance's office declined to comment.


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Is In A Coma After Apparently Being Poisoned

“ We suspect that Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank since morning , ” Navalny press secretary Kira Yarmysh tweeted .
KYIV — Russian opposition leader and perennial Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny is in a coma after being poisoned Thursday morning , his press secretary Kira Yarmysh said .
Navalny , 44 , a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin , fell ill on a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow , Yarmysh said .
`` The plane made an urgent landing in Omsk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are going to the hospital , ” Yarmysh tweeted .
Russia ’ s TASS news agency reported that the Omsk Emergency Hospital had confirmed Navalny ’ s admission and that his condition was serious .
“ We suspect that Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank since morning , ” Yarmysh wrote in another tweet .
“ Doctors are saying that the toxic agent absorbed faster through the hot liquid .
Right now Alexei is unconscious.
” Yarmysh said Navalny was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an intensive care unit .
Anatoliy Kalinichenko , the Omsk doctor treating Navalny , told reporters that he is in stable but serious condition , according to a video tweeted by Yarmysh .
Kalinichenko declined to confirm whether Navalny was in a coma or give details about his diagnosis .
Photos and video published online captured the sequence of events .
On Instagram , a man named Pavel Lebedev , who was on the same flight as Navalny , published a picture of the opposition leader sipping tea at the Tomsk airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed aboard the flight that was also published on the Mash Telegram channel , a man said to be Navalny can be heard screaming .
Lebedev wrote on Instagram that Navalny went to the plane ’ s bathroom after takeoff and never came out .
A second video published by Mash appears to shows an immobile Navalny being loaded onto a gurney after the plane made touched down in Omsk .
A local news outlet published a video of him being put into an ambulance on the tarmac of the Omsk airport .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigner , has been a thorn in the side of Putin and the face of the Russian opposition for a decade .
In that time , he has been attacked , beaten , and jailed for various infractions , including calling for unauthorized protests and embezzlement .
He has denounced all charges against him as political .
In July 2019 , while serving a 30-day jail term for organizing unauthorized protests , he fell ill and was diagnosed with “ contact dermatitis.
” But he said he thought he had been poisoned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been exposed to an unknown “ toxic agent.
” In June this year , Navalny described a controversial vote on changes to Russia ’ s constitution that was pushed by Putin as a “ coup ” and a “ violation of the constitution.
” The changes , which were approved in a national referendum , allow Putin to serve another two terms in office and lead the country until 2036 .

Photos and video published online captured the sequence of events.
On Instagram, a man named Pavel Lebedev, who was on the same flight as Navalny, published a picture of the opposition leader sipping tea at the Tomsk airport before takeoff.
In a video Lebedev filmed aboard the flight that was also published on the Mash Telegram channel, a man said to be Navalny can be heard screaming. Lebedev wrote on Instagram that Navalny went to the plane’s bathroom after takeoff and never came out.
A second video published by Mash appears to shows an immobile Navalny being loaded onto a gurney after the plane made touched down in Omsk.
A local news outlet published a video of him being put into an ambulance on the tarmac of the Omsk airport.
Navalny, a lawyer and prominent anti-corruption campaigner, has been a thorn in the side of Putin and the face of the Russian opposition for a decade. In that time, he has been attacked, beaten, and jailed for various infractions, including calling for unauthorized protests and embezzlement. He has denounced all charges against him as political.


buzzfeed--2020-08-21--23 Photos That Show How People Supported Their Party At Political Conventions

23 Photos That Show How People Supported Their Party At Political Conventions In the Before times , when conventions used @ @ @ @ @ people used to go all out on hats and balloons ... .

23 Photos That Show How People Supported Their Party At Political Conventions
In the Before times, when conventions used to be in person, people used to go all out on hats and balloons....


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--A Trump Ethics Board Just Voted To Block Most Fetal Tissue Research

A Trump administration fetal tissue ethics panel voted to scrap 13 of 14 National Institutes of Health medical research proposals already approved for federal funding by scientists , according to a newly released report .
The NIH “ Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board ” was announced more than a year ago , part of a broad Trump administration move to curtail federal research involving fetal cells , which are widely used in medical research but have become a flashpoint for abortion opponents in the last decade .
The ethics board ’ s membership was not revealed until the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it became clear the Trump administration had stacked it with abortion opponents .
Headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham , interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana , the panel overwhelmingly voted to nix the proposals for research involving fetal cells , the new report revealed .
Because of confidentiality rules , the substance of each proposal was not disclosed , only the nature of the discussions and votes .
The only proposal that received a majority of votes needed to be funded used cells already in a repository @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using fetal cells .
The votes now go directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar for final decisions on the funding of the proposals , sidelining NIH chief Francis Collins .
If Azar sits on the report and takes no action by November when federal funding cycles end , he would effectively deny the proposals funding , the Washington Post noted .
Human fetal tissue cultures , cells derived from abortions , have been widely used in medical research and in vaccines for decades , with rules codifying their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least half a dozen current coronavirus vaccine candidates use the cells , widely seen as a “ gold standard ” for tissue studies in many fields including AIDS research , according to a July 28 letter sent to the ethics panel by more than 90 scientific organizations .
Research advocates condemned the vote to nix the research grants , calling the ethics board ’ s decision an imposition of anti-abortion politics into medical research .
“ At a time when the US and the world should be employing every biomedical research avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial tool for investigating viral diseases has been blocked by special interests , ” International Society for Stem Cell Research president Christine Mummery said in a statement .
“ People may die unnecessarily because the administration has allowed an ideological special interest group to hijack biomedical research.
” Meanwhile , abortion opponents applauded the result .
Mallory Quigley of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement that the panel “ was a serious review of the ethical considerations surrounding use of human fetal tissue in research.
” By charter , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of its members be scientists , with other slots set aside for lawyers , doctors , and theologians .
At least 10 of the board ’ s 15 members were opponents of abortion , fetal tissue science , or related research , according to Science Magazine , while only one member , neuroscientist Lawrence Goldstein of the University of California , San Diego , has spoken in favor of fetal tissue research .
Many of the objections to proposals described in the report revolved around the completeness of tissue donation consent forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evaluate the scientific merits of the proposals , many objections involved contentions that the amount of tissue required was excessive or that fetal tissues from spontaneous miscarriages could instead be substituted for ones from abortions .
“ Miscarriages are useless for this research , ” Stanford developmental biologist Irving Weissman told BuzzFeed News in response , noting the implausibility of asking a woman who just had a miscarriage to provide the cells under sterile conditions and the difficulty in retrieving living cells .
`` Its a non-starter . ''
`` This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born humans in the USA and in the World , ” Weissman added by email .
“ It was about imposing religious beliefs strongly held by a distinct minority of people in the US on the rest of us , even though it will surely result in disease and deaths.
” Two board members wrote a dissenting opinion for the report , stating : “ This board was clearly constituted …so as to include a large majority of members who are on the public record as being opposed to human fetal tissue research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to block funding of as many contracts and grants as possible.
” The dissenters noted that panel members had even voted against proposals aimed at developing “ humanized ” mouse cell alternatives to human fetal tissue .
These votes “ will paradoxically fail to reduce the use of human fetal tissue in the development of humanized mice needed for therapy development including for COVID-19 , ” they wrote .
NIH did not provide a statement about the status of its research grants with the release of the July meeting report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call attention to all of this is puzzling but understandable , ” said Weissman .
In the past , NIH officials could take a strong principled stand , and be fired or resign knowing there were many experts to replace them and keep research and clinical trials going .
“ But virtually every person replaced by Trump and his administration has only one quality — complete loyalty to him — not domain expertise , ” Weissman said .
“ So I can understand the personal ethical dilemma of keeping silent on some issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A Trump administration fetal tissue ethics panel voted to scrap 13 of 14 National Institutes of Health medical research proposals already approved for federal funding by scientists, according to a newly released report.
The NIH “Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board” was announced more than a year ago, part of a broad Trump administration move to curtail federal research involving fetal cells, which are widely used in medical research but have become a flashpoint for abortion opponents in the last decade. The ethics board’s membership was not revealed until the morning of its first meeting on July 31, when it became clear the Trump administration had stacked it with abortion opponents.
Headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham, interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana, the panel overwhelmingly voted to nix the proposals for research involving fetal cells, the new report revealed. Because of confidentiality rules, the substance of each proposal was not disclosed, only the nature of the discussions and votes. The only proposal that received a majority of votes needed to be funded used cells already in a repository and was aimed at developing alternatives to using fetal cells.
The votes now go directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar for final decisions on the funding of the proposals, sidelining NIH chief Francis Collins. If Azar sits on the report and takes no action by November when federal funding cycles end, he would effectively deny the proposals funding, the Washington Post noted. By law, Azar can only overrule the panel's votes if he concludes from the report that they were made in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner.
Human fetal tissue cultures, cells derived from abortions, have been widely used in medical research and in vaccines for decades, with rules codifying their use erected in the early 1990s. At least half a dozen current coronavirus vaccine candidates use the cells, widely seen as a “gold standard” for tissue studies in many fields including AIDS research, according to a July 28 letter sent to the ethics panel by more than 90 scientific organizations.
Research advocates condemned the vote to nix the research grants, calling the ethics board’s decision an imposition of anti-abortion politics into medical research.
“At a time when the US and the world should be employing every biomedical research avenue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a crucial tool for investigating viral diseases has been blocked by special interests,” International Society for Stem Cell Research president Christine Mummery said in a statement. “People may die unnecessarily because the administration has allowed an ideological special interest group to hijack biomedical research.”
Meanwhile, abortion opponents applauded the result. Mallory Quigley of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement that the panel “was a serious review of the ethical considerations surrounding use of human fetal tissue in research.”
By charter, the panel is required to have only a third of its members be scientists, with other slots set aside for lawyers, doctors, and theologians. At least 10 of the board’s 15 members were opponents of abortion, fetal tissue science, or related research, according to Science Magazine, while only one member, neuroscientist Lawrence Goldstein of the University of California, San Diego, has spoken in favor of fetal tissue research.
Many of the objections to proposals described in the report revolved around the completeness of tissue donation consent forms. Although the panel was not supposed to evaluate the scientific merits of the proposals, many objections involved contentions that the amount of tissue required was excessive or that fetal tissues from spontaneous miscarriages could instead be substituted for ones from abortions.
“Miscarriages are useless for this research,” Stanford developmental biologist Irving Weissman told BuzzFeed News in response, noting the implausibility of asking a woman who just had a miscarriage to provide the cells under sterile conditions and the difficulty in retrieving living cells. "Its a non-starter."
"This was not about science or the health of born humans in the USA and in the World,” Weissman added by email. “It was about imposing religious beliefs strongly held by a distinct minority of people in the US on the rest of us, even though it will surely result in disease and deaths.”
Two board members wrote a dissenting opinion for the report, stating: “This board was clearly constituted …so as to include a large majority of members who are on the public record as being opposed to human fetal tissue research of any type. This was clearly an attempt to block funding of as many contracts and grants as possible.” The dissenters noted that panel members had even voted against proposals aimed at developing “humanized” mouse cell alternatives to human fetal tissue. These votes “will paradoxically fail to reduce the use of human fetal tissue in the development of humanized mice needed for therapy development including for COVID-19,” they wrote.
NIH did not provide a statement about the status of its research grants with the release of the July meeting report.
“The lack of NIH leadership to call attention to all of this is puzzling but understandable,” said Weissman. In the past, NIH officials could take a strong principled stand, and be fired or resign knowing there were many experts to replace them and keep research and clinical trials going.
“But virtually every person replaced by Trump and his administration has only one quality — complete loyalty to him — not domain expertise,” Weissman said. “So I can understand the personal ethical dilemma of keeping silent on some issues to protect the larger goals.”
With the presidential election coming up on November 3, the panel's vote represents a promise made by the Trump administration to abortion opponents, who widely voted for him in 2016, Heather Pierce of the Association of American Medical Colleges, told BuzzFeed News. "This panel is certainly a political move."
As well as discouraging scientists from pursuing research that could help fight diseases right now, the administration's moves against human fetal tissue research raise concern about more such clashes in the future, said science policy expert Kevin Wilson of the American Society for Cell Biology.
"My concern would be that under a second Trump administration, the attacks on science will go beyond what we've seen already."


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Trump Keeps Talking About This Race To Discredit Mail-In Voting. The Race’s Winner Has Had Enough.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s former representative in Congress wants him to stop talking about her contested primary race as evidence of mail-in voting struggles and instead focus on the upcoming November election .
“ He needs to stop talking about my race and fix the post office , ” Rep. Carolyn Maloney told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview .
Maloney , who represents New York ’ s 12th Congressional District , says the president is using her election to erode voters ' confidence in the electoral process .
Trump has repeatedly referenced her race during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters on Monday to “ take a look at the Carolyn Maloney race . ''
Maloney narrowly defeated her primary opponent Suraj Patel after a nerve-wracking six weeks , during which more than 65,000 mail-in ballots flooded the local Board of Elections from the three-borough district — once home to Trump — because of the coronavirus .
Patel has not conceded the race , as he pushes for more mail-in votes to be counted .
In briefings last week , Trump called the primary a “ disaster ” and at one point called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you probably have to take the Carolyn Maloney race and run it over again , ” Trump told reporters .
“ They are six weeks into it now and they have no clue what ’ s going on , and I think I can say right here and now , you have to rerun that race because it ’ s a mess.
” Patel on Monday tweeted that he ’ s “ angry ” that Trump “ politicizes the post office , undermines vote by mail , and baselessly conflates the mass disenfranchisement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Five states already vote primarily by mail , including Colorado , Hawaii , Oregon , Utah , and Washington .
Trump has repeatedly suggested mail-in voting would be riddled with fraud and that Maloney ’ s race is a sign of things to come in November .
There is no evidence , however , that mail-in voting is more susceptible to fraud .
“ He is undermining the confidence of the election process , ” Maloney told BuzzFeed News .
“ I feel , you know , he ’ s concerned because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden and he ’ s been trying to undermine confidence in the November election.
” Trump has also suggested the United States Postal Service is unable to handle the avalanche of ballots expected in November .
Democrats expressed those same fears , particularly after Trump campaign donor Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he ’ d make operational changes to the agency before the November election .
The reorganization displaces and reassigns nearly three dozen agency executives , according to a company memo .
The restructuring reportedly gives DeJoy more power .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service 's budget and have looked to boost it in the next possible coronavirus aid package .
“ We do need to be helping the post office — not cutting funds , underfunding them , and making major changes to it , ” Maloney said .
“ We need the post office in top form for the November election.
” Maloney said she ’ s spoken to local postal representatives and confirmed that during her race , Postal Service employees worked late into the night and were paid overtime .
On Aug. 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other lawmakers wrote a letter to the inspector general of the Postal Service expressing their concerns about DeJoy ’ s operational changes , including denying overtime and cutting hours at certain post offices .
DeJoy is expected to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Sept. 17 .
In the meantime , Maloney told BuzzFeed News she ’ ll be holding roundtables on the issue as well as touring processing plants during the House ’ s month-long in-district period .
Trump will , however , continue to hold his briefings .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was one of the leaders in the impeachment process , ” Maloney told BuzzFeed News .
“ I think he considers himself above the law since the GOP refused to remove him from office .
”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s former representative in Congress wants him to stop talking about her contested primary race as evidence of mail-in voting struggles and instead focus on the upcoming November election.
“He needs to stop talking about my race and fix the post office,” Rep. Carolyn Maloney told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview.
Maloney, who represents New York’s 12th Congressional District, says the president is using her election to erode voters' confidence in the electoral process. Trump has repeatedly referenced her race during his regular White House coronavirus briefings, telling reporters on Monday to “take a look at the Carolyn Maloney race."
Maloney narrowly defeated her primary opponent Suraj Patel after a nerve-wracking six weeks, during which more than 65,000 mail-in ballots flooded the local Board of Elections from the three-borough district — once home to Trump — because of the coronavirus. Patel has not conceded the race, as he pushes for more mail-in votes to be counted.
In briefings last week, Trump called the primary a “disaster” and at one point called for a recount.
“I think you probably have to take the Carolyn Maloney race and run it over again,” Trump told reporters. “They are six weeks into it now and they have no clue what’s going on, and I think I can say right here and now, you have to rerun that race because it’s a mess.”
Patel on Monday tweeted that he’s “angry” that Trump “politicizes the post office, undermines vote by mail, and baselessly conflates the mass disenfranchisement in our race with voter fraud.”
Five states already vote primarily by mail, including Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Trump has repeatedly suggested mail-in voting would be riddled with fraud and that Maloney’s race is a sign of things to come in November. There is no evidence, however, that mail-in voting is more susceptible to fraud.
“He is undermining the confidence of the election process,” Maloney told BuzzFeed News. “I feel, you know, he’s concerned because he’s losing in the polls to Joe Biden and he’s been trying to undermine confidence in the November election.”
Trump has also suggested the United States Postal Service is unable to handle the avalanche of ballots expected in November.
Democrats expressed those same fears, particularly after Trump campaign donor Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he’d make operational changes to the agency before the November election. The reorganization displaces and reassigns nearly three dozen agency executives, according to a company memo. The restructuring reportedly gives DeJoy more power. Democrats are also broadly concerned with the Postal Service's budget and have looked to boost it in the next possible coronavirus aid package.
“We do need to be helping the post office — not cutting funds, underfunding them, and making major changes to it,” Maloney said. “We need the post office in top form for the November election.” Maloney said she’s spoken to local postal representatives and confirmed that during her race, Postal Service employees worked late into the night and were paid overtime.
On Aug. 7, Maloney, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and other lawmakers wrote a letter to the inspector general of the Postal Service expressing their concerns about DeJoy’s operational changes, including denying overtime and cutting hours at certain post offices.
DeJoy is expected to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Sept. 17. In the meantime, Maloney told BuzzFeed News she’ll be holding roundtables on the issue as well as touring processing plants during the House’s month-long in-district period.
Trump will, however, continue to hold his briefings.
“I think that he is angry that I was one of the leaders in the impeachment process,” Maloney told BuzzFeed News. “I think he considers himself above the law since the GOP refused to remove him from office.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--An Elite Group Of Scientists Tried To Warn Trump Against Lockdowns In March

John Ioannidis ’ s controversial studies claim that the coronavirus isn ’ t that big a threat .
Before the Stanford scientist did any of them , he wanted to take that message to the White House .
Stanford University scientist John Ioannidis has declared in study after study that the coronavirus is not that big of a threat , emboldening opponents of economic shutdowns — and infuriating critics who see fundamental errors in his work .
But even before the epidemiologist had any of that data in hand , he and an elite group of scientists tried to convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country would be the real danger .
In late March , as COVID-19 cases overran hospitals overseas , Ioannidis tried to organize a meeting at the White House where he and a small band of colleagues would caution the president against “ shutting down the country for [ a ] very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this , ” according to a statement Ioannidis submitted on the group ’ s behalf .
Their goal , the statement said , was “ to both save more lives and avoid serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most reliable data.
” Although the meeting did not happen , Ioannidis believed their message had reached the right people .
Within a day of him sending it to the White House , Trump announced that he wanted the country reopened by Easter .
“ I think our ideas have inflitrated [ sic ] the White House regardless , ” Ioannidis told his collaborators on March 28 , in one of dozens of emails that BuzzFeed News obtained through public records requests .
But at this critical juncture , many other public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have the luxury of waiting for perfect data .
In the face of a life-threatening pandemic , they wanted states to order residents to stay at home , immediately , to prevent health care systems from getting crushed .
Ioannidis ’ s ideas “ were scientifically untenable at that time , and untenable from the perspective of decision-making especially , ” Marc Lipsitch , a Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health epidemiologist , told BuzzFeed News .
If you have tips about the coronavirus , reach out to this reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protonmail.com .
And the group ’ s attempt to convey these preliminary ideas directly to the White House is highly unusual for scientists , said Sheila Jasanoff , a Harvard Kennedy School professor who studies the role of science in politics .
“ It creates the impression that the work that the scientists are intending to do will be shaped by a political purpose , maybe even before they have started doing the work , ” Jasanoff said .
Their decision to push an untested theory to influence federal policy , she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science.
” Ioannidis assembled at least eight scientists to try to meet the president .
Two of them told BuzzFeed News that , if a meeting did happen , they would make it clear they did not oppose widespread lockdowns .
But others , including a Nobel laureate , feared that their consequences would be greater than the threat of the virus .
Several were already harnessing their prominent platforms to sound the alarm in media appearances and meetings with politicians .
Their leader , Ioannidis , would go on to conclude in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed a low risk to most people , and hold them up as evidence that lockdowns are an overreaction .
Some of that work has been fiercely called into question , however , and observers have wondered if the iconoclast , lionized for his pioneering critiques of biased and overhyped science , is trying to prove a predetermined conclusion .
Now , the emails reveal that before Ioannidis had collected any data , he was so assured about the dangers of lockdowns that he felt compelled to personally warn the president .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the group that he had submitted their letter to the White House .
His pitch for a meeting — either in DC , or over videoconference — reiterated what he had been saying publicly for days .
“ Dr Ioannidis ( bio below ) is assembling a group of world renowned scientists who can contribute insights to help solve the major challenge of COVID-19 , by intensifying efforts to understand the denominator of infected people ( much larger than what is documented to-date ) and having a science- and data-informed , targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this , ” the statement read .
It continued : “ The aim is to identify the best way to both save more lives and avoid serious damage to the US economy using the most reliable data , since the infection rate may be off by a very large factor versus the number of currently documented cases.
” This statement didn ’ t capture each member ’ s full views of how the country should proceed .
Klausner , for instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders should have lasted no more than 10 days while the hardest-hit local areas prepared , and Katz said that , prior to implementing his strategy , shutdowns would likely still be “ fairly ” widespread .
But both of them said they stood by the statement ’ s opposition to a “ one-size-fits-all ” approach .
Bhattacharya , Levitt , and Fowler , who did not return requests for comment , appear to have been keen participants .
As Ioannidis relayed in one email , “ All three of them had wrtten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they enthusiastically agreed with what I proposed.
” In contrast , two other members told BuzzFeed News they were not in the anti-lockdown camp .
Arthur Reingold , head of UC Berkeley ’ s epidemiology and biostatistics division , said that he was recruited because he “ did not agree with the underlying premise regarding ‘ shelter in place ’ as being unwise in the context of the pandemic in the US.
” Sten Vermund , dean of the Yale School of Public Health , said , “ I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this pandemic.
” He cowrote a letter to the New York Times lambasting Katz ’ s endorsement of herd immunity , and went on a podcast to debate Ioannidis over the importance of lockdowns .
“ That I was part of the group will be interpreted by some that I supported their point of view , which I did not , ” Vermund said .
“ Not in March or April or now.
” He agreed to join , he said , to ensure Trump got accurate guidance .
“ I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re inviting me and they know how I feel , I ought to go because their point of view is not nuanced and I don ’ t think it ’ s going to be good advice for the president to take , ’ ” Vermund said .
“ I was going to tell him to do it intelligently and to definitely do lockdowns.
” What did unite the group — “ the one thing all of us could agree on , ” as Vermund put it — was a desire for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the group he sent in the statement , there were signs the White House was backing away from lockdowns : Trump announced that he wanted the country “ raring to go by Easter , ” or April 12 .
( Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , hastened to add that the timeline was “ really very flexible.
” ) But as European nations issued extended lockdown orders and UK government officials warned they could last for up to six months , Trump changed course , extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of April .
By the end of March , 32 states were telling people to stay at home .
“ Given the about face yet again from the White House with new the [ sic ] 30 day plus national shut down , seems like our thoughts may have hit a wall and bounced back ?
” Klausner asked over email .
“ Frustrating indeed , ” Ioannidis replied .
“ I am still struggling to see whether we can find a way to get in the White House.
” But as days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highly anticipated meeting was not going to happen .
The email thread died off .
White House spokesperson Sarah Matthews said that Trump “ has always acted on the recommendations of his top public health experts throughout this crisis as evidenced by the many bold , data-driven decisions he has made to save millions of lives.
” She added , “ As the President has also said , the cure can not be worse than the disease and it ’ s well-documented the impact staying shut down would have , including suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She did not answer questions about whether Ioannidis ’ s theories influenced the president ’ s decision-making .
As March turned to April , Ioannidis began collecting data to test the theory he ’ d been putting forward for weeks .
On April 3 and 4 , more than 3,000 Silicon Valley residents lined up to have their blood drawn for a study overseen by Ioannidis , Bhattacharya , and other Stanford researchers .
The goal was to look for antibodies indicating if they ’ d already been infected by the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their results , some of the team went on the Fox News show The Next Revolution to promote a “ science-based ” plan to reopen “ safely , but soon.
” Also on air with them that night was David Neeleman , the founder of JetBlue and a vocal opponent of lockdowns .
Later , a whistleblower complaint filed to Stanford would reveal that he was an undisclosed sponsor of the research , and allege that he “ potentially used financial incentives to secure cooperation from ” an external scientist concerned about the @ @ @ @ @

3. The Statement
On the evening of March 24, Ioannidis told the group that he had submitted their letter to the White House. His pitch for a meeting — either in DC, or over videoconference — reiterated what he had been saying publicly for days.
“Dr Ioannidis (bio below) is assembling a group of world renowned scientists who can contribute insights to help solve the major challenge of COVID-19, by intensifying efforts to understand the denominator of infected people (much larger than what is documented to-date) and having a science- and data-informed, targeted approach rather than shutting down the country for very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this,” the statement read.
It continued: “The aim is to identify the best way to both save more lives and avoid serious damage to the US economy using the most reliable data, since the infection rate may be off by a very large factor versus the number of currently documented cases.”
This statement didn’t capture each member’s full views of how the country should proceed. Klausner, for instance, told BuzzFeed News that he thought shelter-in-place orders should have lasted no more than 10 days while the hardest-hit local areas prepared, and Katz said that, prior to implementing his strategy, shutdowns would likely still be “fairly” widespread. But both of them said they stood by the statement’s opposition to a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Bhattacharya, Levitt, and Fowler, who did not return requests for comment, appear to have been keen participants. As Ioannidis relayed in one email, “All three of them had wrtten [sic] to me to say how they enthusiastically agreed with what I proposed.”
In contrast, two other members told BuzzFeed News they were not in the anti-lockdown camp. Arthur Reingold, head of UC Berkeley’s epidemiology and biostatistics division, said that he was recruited because he “did not agree with the underlying premise regarding ‘shelter in place’ as being unwise in the context of the pandemic in the US.”
Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, said, “I’ve been arguing with this crowd from the beginning of this pandemic.” He cowrote a letter to the New York Times lambasting Katz’s endorsement of herd immunity, and went on a podcast to debate Ioannidis over the importance of lockdowns.
“That I was part of the group will be interpreted by some that I supported their point of view, which I did not,” Vermund said. “Not in March or April or now.”
He agreed to join, he said, to ensure Trump got accurate guidance. “I just thought, ‘Look, if they’re inviting me and they know how I feel, I ought to go because their point of view is not nuanced and I don’t think it’s going to be good advice for the president to take,’” Vermund said. “I was going to tell him to do it intelligently and to definitely do lockdowns.”
What did unite the group — “the one thing all of us could agree on,” as Vermund put it — was a desire for more comprehensive testing.
On the day Ioannidis told the group he sent in the statement, there were signs the White House was backing away from lockdowns: Trump announced that he wanted the country “raring to go by Easter,” or April 12. (Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, hastened to add that the timeline was “really very flexible.”)
But as European nations issued extended lockdown orders and UK government officials warned they could last for up to six months, Trump changed course, extending the social distancing guidelines to the end of April. By the end of March, 32 states were telling people to stay at home.
“Given the about face yet again from the White House with new the [sic] 30 day plus national shut down, seems like our thoughts may have hit a wall and bounced back?” Klausner asked over email.
“Frustrating indeed,” Ioannidis replied. “I am still struggling to see whether we can find a way to get in the White House.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-21--USPS Delays Are Causing People To Get Their Prescriptions Late

Lisa Adametz has been waiting for her cholesterol medication since July 29 .
The Postal Service picked it up from a Veterans Affairs hospital weeks ago , but according to the tracking number , it still has n't been shipped , or even processed .
“ I don ’ t know what ’ s going on , it ’ s just sitting there , ” said Adametz , who lives in Nevada about an hour outside of Las Vegas .
Americans all across the country are waiting for the mail .
While that can be annoying if you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people like Adametz , who are awaiting medication shipments , delays can pose a danger to their health .
Although retail pharmacies still dispense a significant majority of all prescriptions nationwide in person , mail-order — fueled in part by insurers and providers that require it — represents an important segment of the $ 500 billion market for prescription drugs .
The US Postal Service shipped 1.2 billion prescriptions last year alone , according to the National Association of Letter Carriers .
People dependent on the mail to receive their medications are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disruptions that the USPS has been experiencing in recent weeks .
CVS , Walgreens , Rite Aid , and ExpressScripts , which are all among the nation ’ s largest pharmacies in terms of volume , told BuzzFeed News they have not been impacted by the problems at USPS .
OptumRx , which fills some 500 million mail-order prescriptions a year , most of them shipped by the Postal Service , said it is monitoring the situation and will change carriers as needed .
Humana , which relies heavily on the Postal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 million customers , recently posted on Facebook , `` Some prescription orders may take a bit longer than expected , but it 's nothing that ca n't be fixed ” ; the company did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
PillPack , a service of Amazon which uses a variety of carriers — including USPS — to deliver prescriptions , also said that it was monitoring any delays .
In emergency cases , it uses UPS to overnight shipments to patients .
The Department of Veterans Affairs said the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescriptions on time .
Still , reports of medication delays are widespread and many people across the country are already clearly experiencing delays receiving critical medications .
In interviews with nearly a dozen people , patients described waiting anywhere from three days to two weeks longer than usual for their medications to arrive .
Some said they feel trapped by mail order , as their insurance plans either oblige them to only use mail order or require them to pay more ( sometimes significantly more ) out of pocket to use a retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural areas , there simply is no local pharmacy to visit .
The delays come after Louis DeJoy , who became postmaster general in June , overhauled the USPS — reducing or eliminating overtime , removing mail-sorting machines , and reorganizing the agency leadership .
Even before DeJoy , the USPS had long been a target for President Trump , who recently said he would block emergency funding to the financially gutted agency .
While this may thwart the agency ’ s ability to quickly deliver millions of ballots sent by in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service for countless Americans — many of whose lives literally depend on timely delivery .
After serving in the first Gulf War , Adametz started having seizures .
She also has post-traumatic stress disorder and had her gallbladder removed when doctors found severe blockages while trying to treat a bout of painful kidney stones .
Because of the seizures , she also doesn ’ t drive .
Although the VA delivers upwards of 80 % of all its prescriptions by mail , it does allow local pickups , but Adametz lives an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she relies instead on the US Postal Service to get her medications .
Without her cholesterol medication that she ran out of at the end of July , she makes sure to watch her diet and stay hydrated — temperatures in Nevada have recently topped 115 degrees .
“ I ’ m at really high risk of kidney stones ” without that medication , she said .
She has enough of her asthma medication for now , but her antidepressants are running low now , too .
Still , she said , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I worry about the people who need heart medication .
There are people who are in worse situations than I am , ” Adametz said .
“ You can ’ t play Monopoly with people ’ s lives , ” she added .
According to Veterans Affairs , prescriptions are taking an average of about three days to ship and 95 % of prescriptions are getting to their patients on time , said Christina Noel , a spokesperson for the department .
( Noel did not specify how this had changed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always encourages Veterans to order routine prescriptions in advance .
When it comes to emergent prescriptions , VA either fills them onsite or uses commercial carriers to ensure timely delivery , ” added Noel .
Still , for veterans like Herbert Arce — who has been ordering his prescriptions a week in advance from the VA for at last 15 years — that alone wasn ’ t enough to get his blood pressure medication and antidepressants on time .
It took three weeks for his July prescriptions to arrive — leaving him without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was getting headaches from not having my blood pressure medication , ” said Arce , and added that he just tried to take more vitamin D to replace his antidepressants in the meantime .
The 54-year-old is three hours from his nearest VA hospital , in a rural town of 1,200 people in northern Maine .
On Aug. 6 , Senator Gary Peters of Michigan posted a call for people experiencing problems with their mail delivery to share their stories .
So far , the survey has received more than 7,000 responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 650 of them , roughly 9 % , mention problems with delivery of their medication , according to an analysis by his office .
“ It ’ s clear that the new policies directed by Postmaster General DeJoy are hurting people who use the Postal Service as a lifeline for everyday needs , including Michiganders who rely on life-saving prescriptions they receive in the mail , ” said Peters , ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , in a statement to BuzzFeed News .
While the need for on-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other kinds of mail , USPS told BuzzFeed News it does not have a separate method to process and deliver prescription medications .
“ These items are handled based on the class in which they are sent , Priority Mail , Priority Mail Express , or First-Class Mail , and the choice is decided by the sender , ” according to their statement .

Lisa Adametz has been waiting for her cholesterol medication since July 29. The Postal Service picked it up from a Veterans Affairs hospital weeks ago, but according to the tracking number, it still hasn't been shipped, or even processed.
“I don’t know what’s going on, it’s just sitting there,” said Adametz, who lives in Nevada about an hour outside of Las Vegas.
Americans all across the country are waiting for the mail. While that can be annoying if you’re waiting on a package from Amazon, for people like Adametz, who are awaiting medication shipments, delays can pose a danger to their health.
Although retail pharmacies still dispense a significant majority of all prescriptions nationwide in person, mail-order — fueled in part by insurers and providers that require it — represents an important segment of the $500 billion market for prescription drugs. The US Postal Service shipped 1.2 billion prescriptions last year alone, according to the National Association of Letter Carriers. People dependent on the mail to receive their medications are left extremely vulnerable to the kind of disruptions that the USPS has been experiencing in recent weeks.
CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and ExpressScripts, which are all among the nation’s largest pharmacies in terms of volume, told BuzzFeed News they have not been impacted by the problems at USPS. OptumRx, which fills some 500 million mail-order prescriptions a year, most of them shipped by the Postal Service, said it is monitoring the situation and will change carriers as needed. Humana, which relies heavily on the Postal Service to deliver prescriptions to its more than 13 million customers, recently posted on Facebook, "Some prescription orders may take a bit longer than expected, but it's nothing that can't be fixed”; the company did not respond to multiple requests for comment. PillPack, a service of Amazon which uses a variety of carriers — including USPS — to deliver prescriptions, also said that it was monitoring any delays. In emergency cases, it uses UPS to overnight shipments to patients. The Department of Veterans Affairs said the vast majority of its patients are still getting prescriptions on time.
Still, reports of medication delays are widespread and many people across the country are already clearly experiencing delays receiving critical medications. In interviews with nearly a dozen people, patients described waiting anywhere from three days to two weeks longer than usual for their medications to arrive. Some said they feel trapped by mail order, as their insurance plans either oblige them to only use mail order or require them to pay more (sometimes significantly more) out of pocket to use a retail pharmacy. For others, particularly in rural areas, there simply is no local pharmacy to visit.
The delays come after Louis DeJoy, who became postmaster general in June, overhauled the USPS — reducing or eliminating overtime, removing mail-sorting machines, and reorganizing the agency leadership. Even before DeJoy, the USPS had long been a target for President Trump, who recently said he would block emergency funding to the financially gutted agency. While this may thwart the agency’s ability to quickly deliver millions of ballots sent by in November, it is already affecting regular mail service for countless Americans — many of whose lives literally depend on timely delivery.
After serving in the first Gulf War, Adametz started having seizures. She also has post-traumatic stress disorder and had her gallbladder removed when doctors found severe blockages while trying to treat a bout of painful kidney stones. Because of the seizures, she also doesn’t drive. Although the VA delivers upwards of 80% of all its prescriptions by mail, it does allow local pickups, but Adametz lives an hour from the local VA hospital, so she relies instead on the US Postal Service to get her medications.
Without her cholesterol medication that she ran out of at the end of July, she makes sure to watch her diet and stay hydrated — temperatures in Nevada have recently topped 115 degrees. “I’m at really high risk of kidney stones” without that medication, she said.
She has enough of her asthma medication for now, but her antidepressants are running low now, too. Still, she said, at least she’s getting by. “I worry about the people who need heart medication. There are people who are in worse situations than I am,” Adametz said. “You can’t play Monopoly with people’s lives,” she added.
According to Veterans Affairs, prescriptions are taking an average of about three days to ship and 95% of prescriptions are getting to their patients on time, said Christina Noel, a spokesperson for the department. (Noel did not specify how this had changed from previous years.)
“The VA always encourages Veterans to order routine prescriptions in advance. When it comes to emergent prescriptions, VA either fills them onsite or uses commercial carriers to ensure timely delivery,” added Noel.
Still, for veterans like Herbert Arce — who has been ordering his prescriptions a week in advance from the VA for at last 15 years — that alone wasn’t enough to get his blood pressure medication and antidepressants on time. It took three weeks for his July prescriptions to arrive — leaving him without medications for two full weeks.
“I was getting headaches from not having my blood pressure medication,” said Arce, and added that he just tried to take more vitamin D to replace his antidepressants in the meantime.
The 54-year-old is three hours from his nearest VA hospital, in a rural town of 1,200 people in northern Maine.
On Aug. 6, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan posted a call for people experiencing problems with their mail delivery to share their stories. So far, the survey has received more than 7,000 responses (mostly from his state) — 650 of them, roughly 9%, mention problems with delivery of their medication, according to an analysis by his office.
“It’s clear that the new policies directed by Postmaster General DeJoy are hurting people who use the Postal Service as a lifeline for everyday needs, including Michiganders who rely on life-saving prescriptions they receive in the mail,” said Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in a statement to BuzzFeed News.
While the need for on-time delivery of medication is urgent compared to many other kinds of mail, USPS told BuzzFeed News it does not have a separate method to process and deliver prescription medications. “These items are handled based on the class in which they are sent, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, or First-Class Mail, and the choice is decided by the sender,” according to their statement.