Law & Order President
Moments after President Trump finished delivering his Republican presidential nomination speech at the White House, — a speech that made Democrat heads explode around the country — “peaceful” protesters sympathetic to ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter took to the streets to do what they do best: Riot, vandalize, and assault citizens and police.
Numerous police offices were assaulted and even Sen. Rand Paul (R) was assaulted after leaving the White House.
The videos posted on social media documenting the violence are stunning.
This is Biden’s America. Sorry to all of my Democrat Party friends but supporting lawlessness and violence will lose you the election.
While Democratic legislators were quick to attack criticized Trump’s speech and blame him all of the woes of the world, not one of them denounced the violence that took place in Washington.
Where is the condemnation of the ongoing violence and vandalism that has ravaged many U.S. cities?
Advantage: Trump
Oh, here is CNN’s take on the speech:
President Donald Trump's demagogic convention speech played out before a spectacular but norm-crushing White House backdrop in a potential super spreader viral event.
It explained why Democrats warn he must be driven from power at all costs -- and why he may win a second term anyway.
After a GOP gathering that amounted to one of the most sustained displays of propagandizing in the modern history of Western democracy, Trump painted an apocalyptic vision of a nation on the cusp of a takeover by "violent anarchists" who would exploit a "weak" Joe Biden to destroy America. He claimed that Democrats view this country as a "depraved" and "wicked" country that must be punished for its "sins."
In accepting the Republican nomination, Trump turned his back on the crowd and surveyed the executive mansion, stretching out his arms in a gesture that exemplified his vision of ultimate, unaccountable presidential power.
Geesh.
Debates
Now, there is a chance that Biden pulls out of the scheduled debates with Trump. If Biden pulls out, you can stick a fork in him, because the move will be perceived a show of weakness.
Biden will need to debate Trump, or he is done.
The problem for Biden (what his staff fears) is that he may have a senior moment in front of tens of millions of Americans.
Trump would surely pounce on any Biden misstep or “Oops!” moment. READ MORE
Rep. Ted Deutch @RepTedDeutch -Public health experts have been sidelined & silenced throughout this crisis & Americans have paid for it with their lives & their livelihoods. In FL, we became a global hotspot & people waited weeks for test results.More testing is needed to prevent outbreaks. Not less.
Marco Rubio @marcorubio -David Dorn’s widow spoke tonight not just for her late husband but also for the thousands of innocent people who did nothing wrong,yet fell victim to rioters,looters & arsonists and their suffering has been largely minimized or ignored.
Rep Frederica Wilson @RepWilson -The police shooting of an unarmed black man in his back as his children watched is a prime example of why there’s a desperate need for fundamental change, yet Senate Republicans refuse to pass the #JusticeInPolicingAct the House passed 2 months+ ago.
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell @RepDMP -Miami-Dade County still has an average positivity rate around 10% & though cases have stabilized, we still see 800+ cases a day regularly. Testing still takes around 3-7 days on average for results to be reported, & the status of our contact tracing workforce is up in the air.
Rep. Lois Frankel @RepLoisFrankel -The new @CDCgov guidelines on #COVID19 testing are gravely concerning. This pandemic is very real--it's killed +180,000 Americans & we're still struggling to get it under control. Testing for asymptomatic cases is CRUCIAL to tracking its spread.
AG Ashley Moody @AGAshleyMoody -Millions of students are headed back to school—many virtually. That means more time online, making them more vulnerable to online predators. As a mom, I know how scary that is, so I am issuing tips to help parents protect their children.
Rep. Carlos G Smith @CarlosGSmith Trump's Immigration Plan-- more white people. POC not welcome. “Why do we want all these people from AFRICA here? They’re shithole countries ... We should have more people from NORWAY.”
Byron Donalds @ByronDonalds-I'm supporting the guy that will promote economic prosperity, end our reliance on China, cut prescription drug costs, provide school choice, defend our police, and protect our Constitutional rights.That's President @realDonaldTrump #RNC2020 #Trump2020
“Pelosi Says Joe Biden Should Not Debate President Trump” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – Speaker Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that she doesn’t think Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden should have any presidential debates with President Trump, saying she “wouldn’t legitimize a conversation” or debate with Trump. “I don’t think that there should be any debates,” Pelosi told reporters during her weekly press briefing. “I do not think that the President of the United States has comported himself in a way that resembles anybody has any association with truth, evidence, data, and facts.” “I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the Presidency of the United States,” Pelosi added. Pelosi continued her unhinged barrage of hatred towards the president, accusing Trump of having “no respect for the office,” or the “democratic process.” “I think that he’ll probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency, he does that every day, but I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about,” Pelosi said. “They’re not to be about skulduggery on the part of someone who has no respect for the office he holds, much less the democratic process.” The Speaker was asked whether Democrats and Republicans should be doing any in-person campaigning in the last 2 and a half months left of the election amid the coronavirus pandemic. While responding, Pelosi randomly brought up the debate issue, specifically the 2016 debate Trump had against former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“Fried Trashes Trump’s Coronavirus Response” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – Ahead of President Trump’s (R) speech at the Republican National Convention, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D), has released a statement slamming President Trump for his response to the COVID-19 crisis. Writing in a FOX Business Op-ed, Commissioner Fried commented that “if Trump wants to talk about the economy, that’s fine – let’s start that conversation with the economy in America’s largest swing state, Florida.” She argues that that’s “not a conservation he’ll want to have.” The highest-ranking Democrat in the sunshine state argued that “President Trump foolishly rushed to reopen America’s economy while the virus threatened to spiral out of control – and some governors like DeSantis willingly followed his lead.” This has led Democrats in Florida to rally a movement calling for a mask mandate, and some Democrats have even expressed that the country should enact another shutdown in order to combat the rising number of coronavirus cases. In drawing a distinction between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden (D), Fried noted that “Biden has a plan that will help struggling small businesses and working families build back better.” She added that “Biden’s plan extends unemployment benefits, provides relief to small businesses, and invests in American manufacturing, instead of sending jobs offshore.”
“Trump's economy isn't keeping America great: Florida Agriculture Commissioner” by Nikki Fried via Fox News – At this week’s Republican National Convention, President Trump is focusing on the economy as a way to distract from his scattershot response to COVID-19. If Trump wants to talk about the economy, that’s fine -- let’s start that conversation with the economy in America’s largest swing state, Florida. It’s not a conversation he’ll want to have. Florida’s economy is one of America’s biggest economic engines, with a gross domestic product of over $1 trillion. Our state’s economy is built largely on tourism, attracting over 130 million people from around the world annually; those visitors spent $94 billion in Florida last year. But because of COVID-19, tourism has ground to a halt in the Sunshine State, with a 60.5 percent drop last quarter -- and it’s been made worse by President Trump’s erratic response to the virus. With massive losses in state and local sales taxes fueling a record $5.4 billion state budget shortfall, Florida’s economy is on the brink. And that’s before considering the 1.4 million Floridians suddenly out of work. So what have Trump and his Republican allies, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, done to relieve the pressure on Americans and Floridians at this critical time? Very little. President Trump foolishly rushed to reopen America’s economy while the virus threatened to spiral out of control -- and some governors like DeSantis willingly followed his lead. DeSantis prematurely reopened Florida with confusing executive orders, even jumping over White House reopening checkpoints, leading to slow-drip damage to our economy from which it will take years to recover.
“Florida Elections Commission: Sarasota committee didn't break campaign rules” by Sun North Port’s Graig Garrett – A political committee chaired by outgoing Sarasota school board member Eric Robinson did not break state campaign rules, the Florida Elections Commission decided this week. At issue was a political group that Robinson ran accepting $4,000 from a candidate for Sarasota city commission, and that day delivering the money to the Republican Party of Sarasota. The funding was for campaign literature for Martin Hyde, running for the Sarasota City District 2 seat, now held by Liz Alpert. A wealthy Sarasota businessman, Hyde wrote the check for campaign mailers. The strategy, according to documents filed with the state in May 2017, was to get Hyde branded as a Sarasota Republican, which would violate Florida rules in a nonpartisan race. Having him endorsed by Republicans, however, would not violate the rules. Hyde’s contribution was juggled between two political committees, one now inactive, and forwarded within hours to county Republicans, records with the Florida Elections Commission showed. After a March delay due to the coronavirus, the Florida Elections Commission on Wednesday dismissed the complaint against Making a Better Tomorrow, the political committee that Robinson ran. He also chaired another political committee, Legal Reform Now Committee, or LRNC, also alleged to have skirted the rules to forward Hyde’s donation to the Republican Party of Sarasota. The LRNC had since become inactive.
“Florida Primary results certified as General Election looms” by New Service of Florida – The Florida Elections Canvassing Commission on Thursday certified the results of the Aug. 18 primary elections, as the state looks toward the Nov. 3 general election. Statewide turnout for the primaries topped 28%, the highest primary-election turnout since 2002. In all, nearly 3.9 million voters cast ballots, with about 2.3 million voting by mail and more than 558,000 going to early voting sites. More Democrats voted by mail, while more Republicans voted early. Just shy of 1 million voters went to the polls on Aug. 18. With ongoing fears about the coronavirus pandemic, Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley expects a similar trend for the general election, which will include the presidential race. “I still expect a large percentage to be vote-by-mail,” Earley said. “That relieves the pressure on in-person voting. Again, we don’t know exactly what things are going to look like come Election Day in November. That is still several weeks away, and we prepare for the worst.” The registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 5.
“Column: Duval should send applications for in-mail voting” by Jacksonville.com’s Brad Ashwell and Mone Holder – As the coronavirus pandemic ravages Florida and hurricane season bears down, Mike Hogan, Duval County’s supervisor of elections, has a moral and professional obligation to ensure elections are safe, secure and accessible to all registered voters — except he hasn’t. By refusing to proactively send vote-by-mail applications to eligible county residents in the primary, Hogan has robbed them of the chance to vote safely from their homes and increased their risk of contracting COVID-19. Asking Hogan to send vote-by-mail applications is not a radical act. This is the bare minimum in an attempt to balance voter safety with the need to inform county residents of their options. Here are just a few examples of how other counties helped their voters:
· In May, Broward County sent vote-by-mail postcards — which also served as ballot request forms — to one million registered voters.
· By late spring, Hillsborough County had already sent\ approximately 660,000 to their registered voters who hadn’t yet requested one.
· Ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, Pinellas County proactively sent approximately 390,000 to registered voters who didn’t have an order on file.
“Alcoholic Beverage Referendum and Six Amendments to be on General Election Ballot” by Gilchrist County Journal – The November 3, General Election ballot will not only have the Presidential race to vote on but also a local referendum pertaining to alcoholic beverage sales in the unincorporated areas of Gilchrist County. Currently alcoholic beverages can not be sold from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight on Sunday in the county. Voters will have the choice to approve alcoholic beverage sales on Sunday or vote against Sunday alcoholic beverage sales. After the election, the County Commissioners still have to vote for or against Sunday alcoholic beverage sales to change the current ordinance. The Ballot will also have six amendments to the Florida Constitution. Amendment 1, The Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative. This amendment states that only United States Citizens who are at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of Florida and a registered voter, as provided by law, will be allowed to vote in a Florida Election. Sponsor of this amendment is Florida Citizen voters. A yes vote will change current Florida Law from “Every Citizen” and replaces with “Only a Citizen.” Amendment 2, Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage. Currently Florida Minimum Wage is $8.56 per hour this amendment will raise it to $10.00 per hour on September 30, 2021. Then each September it will go up by $1.00 until it reaches $15.00 per hour in September of 2026. From that point forward minimum wage increases shall revert to being adjusted annually for inflation starting September 30, 2027.
Sponsor of this amendment is John Morgan, a Orlando Attorney, (Florida for a Fair Wage).
Yes vote will mean minimum wage will increases to $10.00 per hour on September 30, 2021 and will go up by $1.00 per year until it reaches $15.00 per hour and then will increase by inflation. No vote will keep the current minimum wage with annual inflation adjustments.
“Developer money has influenced local elections for too long | Opinion” by Margaret Moore – Much ado has been made this past election cycle about the influence of big business interests in our local elections. Rightfully so: The influence of organized money in local politics has a significant impact on major decisions about the future of our community and quality of life for all of us. Every resident of Tallahassee has a right to advocate for their interests, including business owners and major landowners. When a handful of wealthy insiders and the multiple entities they control create a political machine to financially support and run political advertisements for their chosen candidates, the voices of everyday people are inevitably drowned out. We are right to question if an entity that donates thousands of dollars through shell corporations and that has business before the City Commission may have interests beyond the public good. As Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi recently reminded readers, items like the proposed sale of public land near Myers Park in 2017, the location of the new police headquarters, the city’s purchase of Northwood Mall and the ongoing conversation within the business community about privatizing our airport all heavily involve local players that have cumulatively donated extraordinary sums to local candidates and sitting commissioners. These same players have benefited handsomely from taxpayer largesse, and seek to steer public policy towards their further benefit.
“Rep. Mucarsel-Powell Introduces Bill to Mandate CDC Guidelines in Florida Schools” by NBC 6’s Ari Odzer – Across the nation, public schools desperately need a cash infusion to deal with the economic crash caused by the pandemic. They also need money to pay for all the enhanced cleaning and physical modifications that need to be done to bring kids back to classrooms. U.S. Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell says schools also need a uniform set of standards, established by the Centers for Disease Control, to guide them in reopening instead of a hodgepodge of benchmarks varying from district to district. “I understand the value of having our children back in school but I also know we have to keep them safe,” Mucarsel-Powell said this morning during a Zoom conference. The Miami Democrat proposed a bill called the SCHOOLS Act, which would mandate the CDC to provide specific guidelines for schools to follow. “It establishes the recommendations and the data needed to guide school reopening and actually provides educators with the tools and funding they need to keep one another and our children safe,” said Mucarsel-Powell, adding that a number of issues need to be considered. “Like how do we handle school meals, how do we keep our students safely distanced while they’re learning in school, how do we send them to school and how many kids can fit in one bus, do we need more buses? Those are all the questions we need to find answers and get answers from CDC.”
“Innocent Florida inmate released after 37 years” by Associated Press’ CURT ANDERSON and TAMARA LUSH – A Florida man who spent the last 37 years in prison on a rape and murder charge was released Thursday, hours after officials revealed dramatic new evidence that proved his innocence. Robert DuBoise walked out of the Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green, Florida, shortly after 2 p.m. With him were his mother and sister. “It’s an overwhelming sense of relief,” Robert DuBoise told reporters outside the prison. “I prayed to God every day and hoped for it.” The 56-year-old was serving a life sentence, having been convicted in 1983 for the murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. She had been raped and beaten while walking home from her job at a Tampa mall. DuBoise’s conviction centered on one piece of evidence: an alleged bite mark on the victim’s face. A jailhouse informant’s testimony also helped convict him. On Thursday, a lawyer from the Innocence Project and a lawyer from the Hillsborough County Conviction Review Unit spoke during an online court hearing and addressed the false evidence that led to DuBoise’s conviction. Experts proved the mark wasn’t from a bite, and the jailhouse informant was not credible. Judge Christopher Nash ruled that DuBoise, who was serving his sentence in Hardee County, Florida, should be released immediately. DuBoise said he will have to learn many modern things, such as how to use a computer and how to shop at a Walmart. But he added he bears no ill will toward those involved in his long incarceration.
“Florida’s Medical Marijuana Patients Can Now Munch on Edibles” by Bay News 9’s Dale Greenstein – Floridians who get a prescription from their doctor and obtain a Registry Identification Card from the state have been allowed to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes since Governor Ron DeSantis overturned a ban in 2019 put in place by his predecessor. Now, they will soon be able to eat edibles manufactured in Florida. New rules that took effect this week include restrictions on edible shapes, colors and ingredients. Edibles produced in Florida must be one of the following shapes:
· Square
· Circle
· Rectangle
· Triangle
· Parallelogram
· Oval
· Diamond
Edibles must be marked with the universal symbol for medical marijuana, but they must not:
· Resemble commercially available candy
· Contain any bright color additives
They can’t contain:
· Meat, poultry or fish
· Anything other than marijuana oil and ingredients “that meet the definition of “food” or “food additive.”
· Nicotine, alcohol or caffeine.
“Florida Judge Rejects Putting Schools Ruling On Hold” by CBS Miami – Siding with teachers unions, a Leon County circuit judge Thursday lifted a stay of his earlier ruling that a state order requiring schools to reopen in August is unconstitutional. Judge Charles Dodson on Monday issued a temporary injunction accusing Gov. Ron DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and other state education officials of ignoring the Florida Constitution by requiring school districts to resume face-to-face instruction this month amid the coronavirus pandemic. School districts risk losing state funding if they don’t comply with the emergency order, issued by Corcoran on July 6. Attorneys for Corcoran and DeSantis immediately filed a notice of appealing Dodson’s ruling to the 1st District Court of Appeal. Under law, that notice of appeal automatically placed a stay on Dodson’s ruling — effectively putting it on hold until the Tallahassee-based appeals court can resolve the case. Late Tuesday, attorneys for the Florida Education Association and the Orange County teachers union asked Dodson to lift the stay. The following day, the state’s lawyers argued the stay should remain in place, saying that failing to do so would “sow confusion and disarray” among students, local school officials and families. But in a three-page order Thursday, Dodson rejected the state’s arguments, writing that they were essentially a rehash of the state’s case presented during a 2 ½-day hearing last week. Pointing to his temporary injunction, Dodson wrote that “there exists a clear evidentiary basis demonstrating compelling circumstances to warrant vacating the automatic stay provided when state defendants appealed.”
“Florida Supreme Court says governor overstepped authority in naming new justice” by The Hill’s Tal Axelrod – Florida’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) overstepped his authority when he appointed a judge to the high court despite her not satisfying the legal requirements, though the judge is still slated to assume a role on the court next month. In a 5-0 decision, the state Supreme Court ruled that Renatha Francis, a former circuit judge in Palm Beach County, was not eligible to be appointed to her post in May because she fell short of the 10-year mandate for someone to be admitted to the Florida Bar before they are eligible for a position on the high court. Francis was admitted to the Florida Bar on Sept. 24, 2010, making her tenure with the bar several months short of the admittance requirement for the Florida Supreme Court under state law. “The Governor did exceed his authority in making this appointment. In a nutshell, when a governor fills by appointment a vacant judicial office, the appointee must be constitutionally eligible for that office at the time of the appointment,” the court ruled. Francis is not on the court and thus was not part of Thursday's ruling. She intends to formally join the bench on Sept. 24 when she will officially meet the 10-year mandate. Justice John Couriel, who was appointed in late May along with Francis, also recused himself from the decision. The state Supreme Court said Thursday that despite its finding there is no action to be taken and Francis’s appointment will still stand because the remedy sought by a state lawmaker cannot be done.
“Judge Napolitano explains if Pelosi could become acting president if election results are delayed past Jan. 20” by Fox News’ Caleb Parke – Could House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., become president if there is no election result by January? Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano told "Varney & Co." on Thursday whether Pelosi would automatically assume the role of acting president if the 2020 election is delayed. "It might be right," Napolitano told host Stuart Varney. "President Trump's term ends at precisely noon on Jan. 20, 2021. If the Electoral College has not yet named a successor, presumably either Donald Trump or Joe Biden, then whoever is the speaker of the House would become the acting president of the United States." He explained, "If the Democrats retain their majority in the House, and it appears likely that they will, but if they do, and if they choose Mrs. Pelosi, knowing at that point that they're choosing the president of the United States, then it would be she." "Stated simply," he added, "whoever is the sitting speaker of the United States, would become president at noon on Jan. 20, 2021, if the Electoral College has failed to elect someone." Napolitano further explained that if the Electoral College is unable to choose a successor, the election would go to the House of Representatives, not for a majority vote, but a vote by state, in which each state delegation would vote on their own, independent of their state's election results, and whoever has a majority of 26 states would become president until Jan. 20, 2025.
“Federal judge gives Trump administration 10 days to answer questions about USPS slowdowns”s by CNN’s Katelyn Polantz – A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to answer questions and turn over evidence about Postal Service policy changes within 10 days as part of a lawsuit brought by a collection of states over mail slowdowns and the impact on the 2020 election. At the hearing on Thursday, Chief Judge Stanley Bastian of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington urged the Trump administration and the Democratic state attorneys general who brought the case to move quickly. He also signaled to the Postal Service not to drag out litigation with procedural fights that could disenfranchise voters. "We don't have much time between now and this election," Bastian said. "I think everyone on this call wants their vote to be counted." "Everybody in this country is relying on the Postal Service to do their job," Bastian added. "I hope at some point we'll be hearing from the Postal Service not a bunch of procedural or jurisdictional arguments, but some assurance to the American public that the Postal Service is up to the challenge to deliver ballots to the voters and back to the states so they can be counted." The coalition of 14 states has asked the Postal Service to share how it is enforcing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's recent pledge that disruptive policy changes will be put on hold until after the election. The states are also asking the Postal Service for details on how it will treat ballots nationwide -- as either marketing mail or mail with a higher priority.
“Walmart Joins Microsoft’s Pursuit of TikTok” by WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer, Georgia Wells and Cara Lombardo – The race to capture TikTok’s U.S. operations took a sharp turn on Thursday, as retail giant Walmart Inc. WMT 4.54% said it is joining Microsoft Corp. MSFT 2.46% ’s bid for the popular video-sharing app after other deep-pocketed suitors dropped out of the running. Walmart’s entry into the global sweepstakes was a surprise, and comes as the parties grapple with a valuation for TikTok, which is facing a potential ban in the U.S. from the Trump administration over national-security concerns. TikTok’s Beijing-based owner ByteDance Ltd. is asking about $30 billion for the U.S. operations, but bidders thus far haven’t been willing to meet that price, according to people familiar with the negotiations. By comparison, Twitter Inc. in recent weeks informally floated a bid closer to $10 billion as a part of a range of pricing and scenarios, said some of the people. Microsoft’s joint bid with Walmart is considered the front-runner, according to people familiar with the matter, while a second consortium including Oracle Corp. also remains in the running. Walmart was initially working on a bid with Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Tokyo-based tech investor SoftBank Group Corp., a person familiar with the discussions said. Google was involved in talks as recently as earlier this week, according to people familiar with the matter. Those talks are now dead and SoftBank is also no longer in the running, people familiar with the matter said. Twitter’s bid has also lost momentum, according to some of the people.
“Trump toBiden ‘extreme’ in closing GOP convention argument” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser – President Trump will take aim at Joe Biden and paint a clear contrast between himself and the Democratic presidential nominee as he gives arguably the most important speech of his 2020 reelection campaign. Delivering his GOP renomination acceptance speech live from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday night as he closes out this week’s Republican National Convention, the president will emphasize that “at no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas.” This, as he makes his case to Americans why he deserves another four years steering the nation. President Trump will take aim at Joe Biden and paint a clear contrast between himself and the Democratic presidential nominee as he gives arguably the most important speech of his 2020 reelection campaign. Delivering his GOP renomination acceptance speech live from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday night as he closes out this week’s Republican National Convention, the president will emphasize that “at no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas.” This, as he makes his case to Americans why he deserves another four years steering the nation. Trump will continue to paint a portrait of the former vice president as a failed career politician, saying “we have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years.” Trump will continue to paint a portrait of the former vice president as a failed career politician, saying “we have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years.” Trump will continue to paint a portrait of the former vice president as a failed career politician, saying “we have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years.”
“Pentagon slams Russia for 'provocative and aggressive behavior' that injured US troops in Syria” by CNN’s Ryan Browne and Barbara Starr – The Pentagon slammed Russia's military on Thursday for what it called "deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior" that injured multiple US military personnel following a collision between American and Russian armored vehicles in eastern Syria. "Russian forces breached our deconfliction arrangement in Syria and injured U.S. service members with their deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior," Chief Pentagon Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement, the Defense Department's first public comments about Tuesday's incident. "We have advised the Russians that their behavior was dangerous and unacceptable. We expect a return to routine and professional deconfliction in Syria and reserve the right to defend our forces vigorously whenever their safety is put at risk," he added. Russia's Defense Ministry had issued a statement of its own earlier on Thursday blaming the US military for the incident and saying the event had been the subject of a Wednesday phone call between Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and his counterpart, Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov. The Russian statement claimed the US had been notified of the movements of the Russian convoy and that the collision had occurred after the US troops tried to block the Russian patrol. But US Central Command, which oversees US military operations, insisted that the US military had not received advance notice of the Russian troop movements.
“Coronavirus-Aid Talks Limp Along Between Democrats, White House” by WSJ’s Kristina Peterson – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats would be willing to accept a slightly smaller coronavirus-aid package than their previous offer, but said they remained at an impasse with the White House. Mrs. Pelosi indicated that a 25-minute call she had with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows hadn’t eased the monthslong stalemate over the next tranche of coronavirus aid. “This conversation made clear that the White House continues to disregard the needs of the American people as the coronavirus crisis devastates lives and livelihoods,” Mrs. Pelosi (D., Calif.) said after the call. “Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously.’’ The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Mrs. Pelosi said that Democrats would be willing to accept a $2.2 trillion package, a modest scaling back of their last offer, but said they wouldn’t consider anything smaller. Democrats had earlier proposed shaving $1 trillion off their roughly $3.5 trillion aid bill, passed by the House in May, if Senate Republicans would add a comparable amount to their own $1 trillion proposal. White House officials said previously that a relief package of roughly $2 trillion to $2.5 trillion was a nonstarter. They have said they want to keep its size closer to $1 trillion, noting that Congress has already authorized about $3 trillion in new spending since March to help mitigate the impact of coronavirus shutdowns.
“Pelosi says Biden shouldn't debate Trump: 'I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him'” by Fox News’ Marisa Schultz – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that former Vice President Joe Biden cancel his three scheduled debates with President Trump because the commander-in-chief would "belittle" the forum and engage in "skullduggery." "I don't think that there should be any debates," Pelosi said out of the blue at a news conference at the Capitol, saying she doesn't want the debates to be "an exercise in skullduggery." "I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States. Now I know that the Biden campaign thinks in a different way about this." Indeed, Biden told MSNBC Thursday he's still planning on showing up to the high-profile faceoffs with the president. "As long as the [debate] commission continues down the straight and narrow as they have, I'm going to debate him," Biden said, adding that he'd call out any Trump lies in real-time. "I’m going to be a fact-checker on the floor as I’m debating him," he added. Pelosi is the latest high-profile Democrat to offer a major piece of advice to the former vice president. Earlier this week, former 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said Biden shouldn't concede the race under any circumstances. Republicans pointed to Pelosi's remarks as another sign that Democrats are trying to hide Biden.
“Government watchdog says Trump action puts Census at further risk” by CNN’s Caroline Kelly and Gregory Wallace – A government watchdog said Thursday that it already considers the 2020 Census to be at high risk for problems, as the data collection endeavor faces a looming deadline next month. In a new report, the Government Accountability Office says that the administration's decision to cut short the counting period puts it at greater risk of producing an inaccurate count, noting that the agency has designated the 2020 Census to be "high risk" since 2017. "Delays, the resulting compressed timeframes, implementation of untested procedures, and continuing challenges such as COVID-19 could escalate census costs and undermine the overall quality of the count," the agency wrote. CNN has reached out to the Census Bureau for comment. The report comes after the Trump administration earlier this month set September 30 -- a full month earlier than originally planned -- as the date to stop collecting responses, despite previously saying it needs extra time due to the pandemic. As recently as July, Census Bureau officials said publicly that they would need an extension to complete an accurate count of the nation's population. A coalition led by the National Urban League asked a federal judge on Tuesday to act promptly and extend the 2020 census response deadline, accusing the Trump administration in a lawsuit last week of illegally and unconstitutionally compressing the time the Census Bureau has to follow up with households that do not respond to the census survey.
“U.S. Warns of Global Bank Heist Campaign by North Korean Hackers” by WSJ’s Dustin Volz and Ian Talley – Hackers tied to the North Korean government are trying to rob banks across the globe by draining ATMs and initiating fraudulent money transfers, in an effort by the cash-strapped Pyongyang regime to fund its nuclear weapons program, multiple federal government agencies warned Wednesday. The campaign includes so-called spearphishing attacks—which use fraudulent email to infect a computer or persuade the victim to reveal a password or other information—and social engineering schemes. It has been under way since at least February and represents a resurgence of operations after an apparent lull in bank robberies by North Korea last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. Cyber Command said in a joint statement. The hackers have also aimed at retail payment infrastructures and interbank payment processors, the agencies said. “North Korean cyber actors have demonstrated an imaginative knack for adjusting their tactics to exploit the financial sector as well as any other sector through illicit cyber operations,” Bryan Ware, assistant director for cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said in a statement. U.S. and U.N. officials say North Korea’s cyber thefts are overseen by nation’s intelligence agency and reap billions of dollars, money that is used by the Kim Jong Un regime to preserve its dictatorial grip on power, fund its vast military and its weapons programs. That revenue has been critical in offsetting income from other activities lost in the wake of economywide U.N. sanctions.
President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump-Democrats and Biden didn’t even mention the Anarchists, Agitators, Looters and so called “Peaceful Protesters” at their Convention. They will allow rampant crime, just as they do in Portland. If they ask us, as they must do, we will end crime in their Democrat run cities, FAST!
Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi -President Trump’s fear tactics have one goal: to convince Americans not to exercise their right to vote. Do not listen to him. Do not let him succeed. @thebeatwithari #DontMessWithUSPS
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