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| Pelosi says Trump is 'openly working to destroy' the USPS ahead of election – live | Pelosi says Trump is 'openly working to destroy' the USPS ahead of election – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House speaker also criticized ‘complete disarray on the Republican side’ in letter to Democrat colleagues | House speaker also criticized ‘complete disarray on the Republican side’ in letter to Democrat colleagues |
| Newsweek has apologised for an op-ed it published on Kamala Harris that carried disturbing parallels to the “birther” conspiracy theories directed at Barack Obama during his run for the presidency. | |
| In the column, Chapman University law professor John Eastman suggested that Harris, who was born in Oakland, may have questionable citizenship as both her parents were immigrants. | |
| “Before we so cavalierly accept Senator Harris’ eligibility for the office of vice president, we should ask her a few questions about the status of her parents at the time of her birth,” he wrote. | |
| Donald Trump was asked about the article and said he had “no idea if that’s right.” He also said that “the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, talented lawyer”. | |
| Newsweek resisted calls to take the article down, saying they had decided to leave the article up with a clarification in the interests of “transparency”. | |
| “This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize,” read a note at the end of the article. | |
| “The essay, by John Eastman, was intended to explore a minority legal argument about the definition of who is a natural-born citizen in the United States. But to many readers, the essay inevitably conveyed the ugly message that Senator Kamala Harris, a woman of color and the child of immigrants, was somehow not truly American. | |
| “The op-ed was never intended to spark or to take part in the racist lie of Birtherism, the conspiracy theory aimed at delegitimizing Barack Obama, but we should have recognized the potential, even probability, that that could happen. All of us at Newsweek are horrified that this op-ed gave rise to a wave of vile Birtherism directed at Senator Harris.” | |
| Eastman ran unsuccessfully in the 2010 Republican primary as a candidate for California attorney general. Harris eventually won the election against Republican Steve Cooley. | |
| Some important UFO (or technically UAP) news: | |
| The US department of Defense has formed a new body to investigate what it calls “unidentified aerial phenomena” (UAPs) following reported sightings of what most people call UFOs. | |
| The move is likely to spark wide interest in alien hunters worldwide looking for signs that humanity is not alone in the universe. Although the dry language of the Pentagon’s announcement of the new group belied its intent as watchers of the sky for potential first contact. | |
| The Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) was created by the deputy defense secretary, David Norquist, on 4 August, strengthening an already existing effort that since 2018 has been under the purview of the Office of Naval Intelligence. | |
| “The Department of Defense established the UAPTF to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs. The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to US national security,” the Pentagon said in a statement. | |
| And while we’re on the subject, here’s a wonderful alien-themed story from our archive if you have time for a Saturday morning read: | |
| Republican senator, and regular Donald Trump critic, Mitt Romney has said he does not believe mail-in voting fraud is a problem, despite the president’s comments to the contrary. | Republican senator, and regular Donald Trump critic, Mitt Romney has said he does not believe mail-in voting fraud is a problem, despite the president’s comments to the contrary. |
| “I don’t know of any evidence that voting by mail would increase voter fraud,” Romney said during an interview with the Sutherland Institute on Friday. “My biggest concern, frankly, with regards to voting fraud has been that there would be some kind of hacking of our voting electronic systems, and that voting machines or tabulating equipment would be hacked.” | “I don’t know of any evidence that voting by mail would increase voter fraud,” Romney said during an interview with the Sutherland Institute on Friday. “My biggest concern, frankly, with regards to voting fraud has been that there would be some kind of hacking of our voting electronic systems, and that voting machines or tabulating equipment would be hacked.” |
| Although he did not mention Trump specifically, Romney appeared to be referencing Trump’s attack on mail-in voting during another part of the interview. | Although he did not mention Trump specifically, Romney appeared to be referencing Trump’s attack on mail-in voting during another part of the interview. |
| “When politicians attack a judicial system, attack a voting system ... attack a free press, these things threaten the foundation upon which not only our own democracy rests but democracies around the world rest,” he said. | “When politicians attack a judicial system, attack a voting system ... attack a free press, these things threaten the foundation upon which not only our own democracy rests but democracies around the world rest,” he said. |
| The Associated Press reports that a white state trooper has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a 60-year-old black man during a traffic stop: | The Associated Press reports that a white state trooper has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a 60-year-old black man during a traffic stop: |
| A Georgia state trooper was fired and charged with murder on Friday a week after he shot a 60-year-old man who tried to flee a rural traffic stop, authorities said. | A Georgia state trooper was fired and charged with murder on Friday a week after he shot a 60-year-old man who tried to flee a rural traffic stop, authorities said. |
| The president of Georgia’s NAACP chapter called the slaying of Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis another chilling example of a Black man being killed unlawfully by a white law enforcement officer. An attorney for Lewis’ family said the trooper initiated the traffic stop over a burned-out tail light and Lewis was shot almost immediately after the trooper forced his car into a ditch. | The president of Georgia’s NAACP chapter called the slaying of Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis another chilling example of a Black man being killed unlawfully by a white law enforcement officer. An attorney for Lewis’ family said the trooper initiated the traffic stop over a burned-out tail light and Lewis was shot almost immediately after the trooper forced his car into a ditch. |
| “Mr Lewis never got out of the vehicle and the investigation will show that, mere seconds after the crash, he was shot to death, shot in the face and killed,” attorney Francys Johnson said. | “Mr Lewis never got out of the vehicle and the investigation will show that, mere seconds after the crash, he was shot to death, shot in the face and killed,” attorney Francys Johnson said. |
| Johnson said that information was given to the family by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which arrested 27-year-old Jacob Gordon Thompson on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault Friday. The agency did not include those details in its own statement on Thompson’s arrest. | Johnson said that information was given to the family by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which arrested 27-year-old Jacob Gordon Thompson on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault Friday. The agency did not include those details in its own statement on Thompson’s arrest. |
| The GBI said Lewis was fatally shot on 7 August after a chase in rural Screven County, about 60 miles northwest of Savannah. | The GBI said Lewis was fatally shot on 7 August after a chase in rural Screven County, about 60 miles northwest of Savannah. |
| Thompson had tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation when the driver tried to flee, the GBI said in a news release. The agency said the trooper chased the vehicle down several country roads before performing a maneuver that forced the car to come to a stop in a ditch. | Thompson had tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation when the driver tried to flee, the GBI said in a news release. The agency said the trooper chased the vehicle down several country roads before performing a maneuver that forced the car to come to a stop in a ditch. |
| At some point afterward, Thompson fired a single gunshot that hit Lewis, killing him, the GBI said. The trooper was not injured. | At some point afterward, Thompson fired a single gunshot that hit Lewis, killing him, the GBI said. The trooper was not injured. |
| GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles confirmed that Lewis was Black and the trooper was white, but she declined to comment further on the case. Richard Mallard, district attorney for the judicial circuit that includes Screven County, did not immediately return a phone message. | GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles confirmed that Lewis was Black and the trooper was white, but she declined to comment further on the case. Richard Mallard, district attorney for the judicial circuit that includes Screven County, did not immediately return a phone message. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi has written a letter to her Democrat colleagues in which she says Congress’s ongoing inability to agree on a stimulus bill during the Covid-19 pandemic is due to “the complete disarray on the Republican side — as President Trump contradicts his own negotiators and his own positions.” | House speaker Nancy Pelosi has written a letter to her Democrat colleagues in which she says Congress’s ongoing inability to agree on a stimulus bill during the Covid-19 pandemic is due to “the complete disarray on the Republican side — as President Trump contradicts his own negotiators and his own positions.” |
| She also attacked Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s role in the stalled negotiations. “Senator McConnell’s attitude that states should go bankrupt is shared by the White House and has been a significant obstacle inside negotiations,” she wrote. | She also attacked Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s role in the stalled negotiations. “Senator McConnell’s attitude that states should go bankrupt is shared by the White House and has been a significant obstacle inside negotiations,” she wrote. |
| Pelosi added that Donald Trump’s handling of the US Postal Service, and concerns over mail-in voting this November. | Pelosi added that Donald Trump’s handling of the US Postal Service, and concerns over mail-in voting this November. |
| “Before our eyes, President Trump is openly working to destroy the Post Office and sabotage its ability to deliver absentee ballots in time to be counted,” she wrote. “In the time of pandemic, the Postal System is Election Central. All patriots, Democrats, Independents or Republicans, should reject the President’s assault on the Postal System in this election season.” | “Before our eyes, President Trump is openly working to destroy the Post Office and sabotage its ability to deliver absentee ballots in time to be counted,” she wrote. “In the time of pandemic, the Postal System is Election Central. All patriots, Democrats, Independents or Republicans, should reject the President’s assault on the Postal System in this election season.” |
| My colleague Sam Levine has taken a deeper look at why the United States Postal Service’s part in November’s election has come under scrutiny of late: | My colleague Sam Levine has taken a deeper look at why the United States Postal Service’s part in November’s election has come under scrutiny of late: |
| An unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last few months, states across the US have seen record numbers of Americans request ballots and submit votes by mail in primary and other elections. Mail-in ballots may account for 50% of all of the votes cast this fall, according to an estimate by Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who closely tracks voter turnout. That would be a huge increase from 2016 and 2018, when about a quarter of votes came through the mail. | An unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last few months, states across the US have seen record numbers of Americans request ballots and submit votes by mail in primary and other elections. Mail-in ballots may account for 50% of all of the votes cast this fall, according to an estimate by Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who closely tracks voter turnout. That would be a huge increase from 2016 and 2018, when about a quarter of votes came through the mail. |
| That surge means the USPS is going to play a much bigger role in facilitating an American presidential election than ever before. The agency will be responsible for transporting ballots between election officials and voters. Many states require ballots to arrive at election offices by the close of the polls on election day. Others allow ballot postmarked on or before election that arrive within a specified period. There’s concern over whether the USPS, which is already facing a severe financial crisis, will be able get ballots to voters and return them to election offices in time to have them counted. | That surge means the USPS is going to play a much bigger role in facilitating an American presidential election than ever before. The agency will be responsible for transporting ballots between election officials and voters. Many states require ballots to arrive at election offices by the close of the polls on election day. Others allow ballot postmarked on or before election that arrive within a specified period. There’s concern over whether the USPS, which is already facing a severe financial crisis, will be able get ballots to voters and return them to election offices in time to have them counted. |
| So what exactly is Trump doing to the USPS? | So what exactly is Trump doing to the USPS? |
| Over the last few months there have been reports of severe mail delays across the US. In Philadelphia, for example, some residents told the Philadelphia Inquirer they had gone weeks without receiving mail. Concerns over those delays were heightened in early June when Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor and Trump ally, took over as postmaster general, the top role at the USPS. | Over the last few months there have been reports of severe mail delays across the US. In Philadelphia, for example, some residents told the Philadelphia Inquirer they had gone weeks without receiving mail. Concerns over those delays were heightened in early June when Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor and Trump ally, took over as postmaster general, the top role at the USPS. |
| In July, the Washington Post and other news organizations reported the agency was banning overtime and instructing postal workers to leave the mail behind if it delayed them on their routes. There are also reports of the USPS removing mail sorting machines from facilities, which could lead to a further slowdown. | In July, the Washington Post and other news organizations reported the agency was banning overtime and instructing postal workers to leave the mail behind if it delayed them on their routes. There are also reports of the USPS removing mail sorting machines from facilities, which could lead to a further slowdown. |
| Critics suggest Trump and DeJoy are deliberately slowing the mail to make it more difficult to vote by mail. DeJoy has strongly denied any political interference. But on Thursday, Trump openly admitted he was blocking $25bn in proposed aid to the post office because he wanted to make it harder to vote by mail. | Critics suggest Trump and DeJoy are deliberately slowing the mail to make it more difficult to vote by mail. DeJoy has strongly denied any political interference. But on Thursday, Trump openly admitted he was blocking $25bn in proposed aid to the post office because he wanted to make it harder to vote by mail. |
| You can read the full article below: | You can read the full article below: |
| Donald Trump has spent the early part of today retweeting stories that promote the (unproven) theory that mail-in voting is subject to widescale fraud. | Donald Trump has spent the early part of today retweeting stories that promote the (unproven) theory that mail-in voting is subject to widescale fraud. |
| The president retweeted allegations of voting fraud in Paterson, New Jersey, along with the comment: “The Democrats know the 2020 Election will be a fraudulent mess. Will maybe never know who won!” | The president retweeted allegations of voting fraud in Paterson, New Jersey, along with the comment: “The Democrats know the 2020 Election will be a fraudulent mess. Will maybe never know who won!” |
| Studies have concluded that cases of mail-in voting fraud are insignificant. The Washington Post found only 372 cases of double voting or voting on behalf of a dead person in its analysis of 14.6m votes cast in three states. A different study of voter fraud maintained by the conservative Heritage Foundation found 143 cases of criminal convictions involving absentee ballots over the last 20 years. That total is 0.00006% of the votes cast during that period. | Studies have concluded that cases of mail-in voting fraud are insignificant. The Washington Post found only 372 cases of double voting or voting on behalf of a dead person in its analysis of 14.6m votes cast in three states. A different study of voter fraud maintained by the conservative Heritage Foundation found 143 cases of criminal convictions involving absentee ballots over the last 20 years. That total is 0.00006% of the votes cast during that period. |
| As for the Paterson case Trump is referring to, officials there told the Washington Post that they don’t believe the problems highlighted by the president and others there are symptomatic of widespread fraud in the area and that it was uncovered by election officials. | As for the Paterson case Trump is referring to, officials there told the Washington Post that they don’t believe the problems highlighted by the president and others there are symptomatic of widespread fraud in the area and that it was uncovered by election officials. |
| However, there what cannot be denied is the fact that an underfunded USPS may struggle to cope with an increase in mail-in voting this November as Americans look to cast their ballots remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Republicans have shown few signs of wanting to spend the estimated $4bn to pay for a competent mail-in service. | However, there what cannot be denied is the fact that an underfunded USPS may struggle to cope with an increase in mail-in voting this November as Americans look to cast their ballots remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Republicans have shown few signs of wanting to spend the estimated $4bn to pay for a competent mail-in service. |
| Good morning. We start this morning with news that the United States Postal Service’s inspector general will investigate claims that recent changes could affect this November’s presidential election. | Good morning. We start this morning with news that the United States Postal Service’s inspector general will investigate claims that recent changes could affect this November’s presidential election. |
| Donald Trump has long issued baseless claims that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud and there are real concerns that cuts to the service could weaken the agency and mail-in ballots may not arrive on time to be counted. | Donald Trump has long issued baseless claims that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud and there are real concerns that cuts to the service could weaken the agency and mail-in ballots may not arrive on time to be counted. |
| The problem is particularly relevant this year as the Covid-19 pandemic means many people will want to avoid voting in person at crowded polling stations. Earlier this week, the president admitted he is blocking $25bn in proposed aid to the USPS because he wants to make it harder to vote by mail. | The problem is particularly relevant this year as the Covid-19 pandemic means many people will want to avoid voting in person at crowded polling stations. Earlier this week, the president admitted he is blocking $25bn in proposed aid to the USPS because he wants to make it harder to vote by mail. |