Debate Night
The highly-anticipated debate between President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden was nothing less than a sh*t show with both men interrupting each other and moderator Chris Wallace showing that he preferred Biden over Trump.
It was obvious.
Wallace would interrupt Trump in the middle of an answer and question him on his response, but didn’t do that to Biden.
It was shameful.
In the end, Biden barely survived the event, and Trump (as expected) bulldozed him
A clearly flustered Biden reverted to name-calling (Wallace did not call him out over it) and refused to answer some key question, even saying that he wasn’t going to answer them.
Biden refused to say that he was for “law and order” in fear that he would alienate his base of support. Biden did say he did not support the Green New Deal, which much of that base of support backs wholeheartedly.
Trump clearly won the debate, and at one moment, questioned Biden’s intellect.
“Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me because there’s nothing smart about you, Joe,” Trump added. “Forty-seven years you’ve done nothing.” READ MORE
Trump Wave
The Trump team flooded social media with ads prior to the debate in hopes to get more of a boost from voters and potential voters. READ MORE
Marco Rubio @marcorubi0-Thousands of people have lost their jobs in the hotel & travel industry. Thousands more are about to get laid off. We need another round of #PPP now. Let’s get it done. We can’t wait until after the election.
Rep. Donna E. Shalala @RepShalala-Gov. DeSantis is endangering our communities by prioritizing business over the health of our families. We risk losing more lives to COVID-19 because of our Governor’s reckless acts. Florida deserves better.
US Rep Kathy Castor @USRepKCastor-Trump’s answer to climate change is dangerous and ignorant. Quite a contrast to Joe Biden, who has a detailed plan for the clean energy economy, jobs and more resilient America.
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell @RepDMP-As a former dean at @FIU representing a majority-minority district, I've met hundreds of students who suffer the burden of student loans & the disproportionate impact on Latino & Black students. Crushing debt prevents them from providing for their families & living their dreams.
Rep. Matt Gaetz @RepMattGaetz -Democrats ignore heinous acts of violence when the victims are Republican, or when they’re pro-life, or when they’re Trump supporters. Those lives don’t matter to Democrats.
Jared MASKowitz @JaredEMoskowitz-his will be the First Presidential debate that @femadeclares a disaster area.
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani @AnnaForFlorida-Trump had a softball question to condemn white supremacy and couldn’t do it. Instead he told the Proud Boys to be on stand by and then tried to pivot & distract. His response sounded more like “await further instructions.” That’s not ok, & ppl can’t keep making excuses for him.
Rep. Carlos G Smith @CarlosGSmith-Trump doesn't need the support of white supremacists and Proud Boys to win. He WANTS their support.
Megyn Kelly @megynkelly-
Biden: “Antifa’s an idea, not an organization.”
Trump: “you gotta be kidding me.” Point: TRUMP
“Anna Paulina Luna supports lifetime congressional ban on lobbying” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Republican congressional candidates and Air Force Veteran Anna Paulina Luna may team up with Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) and Conservative stalwart Senator Ted Cruz (R) to block the yellow brick road to riches (lobbying) many former members of Congress take after they leave public service and become lobbyists. In a tweet, Luna said that she would “support a ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists” because she wanted to “end the corruption that plagues” the federal government. Luna’s position is supported by many Americans, but not by as many elected officials, many of whom have probably already packed their special interest parachutes for when they leave office. The Cruz/AOC proposal is also supported by Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R), but not by Luna’s congressional opponent, Rep. Charlie Crist (D), who has yet to oppose a lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress. Considering that Crist has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists over his political career, we don’t expect Crist to smack the hand that has fed his political career.
“Biden Campaign Rejects Trump Campaign Calls For Pre-Debate Inspection For Electronic Earpieces” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – The Trump campaign wants a third-party inspector to inspect both President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ears for electronic devices or transmitters prior to Tuesday night’s presidential debate. Trump has consented to the inspection while the Biden campaign has declined. However, according to a source told Floridian Press that the Biden campaign agreed to such inspection a couple days ago. The Biden campaign has made a special request is pushing for two breaks, one every 30 minutes during the 90-minute commercial-free debate, according to a Fox News report. The Trump campaign denied their request, saying “our guy doesn’t need breaks. He gives 90-minute speeches all the time.” The Commission on Presidential debates – the bipartisan organization producing tonight’s debate as well as the upcoming two debates in October has traditionally pushed back against any such commercial breaks from networks in the past. Trump over the weekend called for both take a drug test before debating, suggesting his rival based on his recent debate performance during the Democratic primary shows that Biden has taken performance-enhancing substance to have “caused this discrepancy,” “I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,” Trump tweeted Sunday morning. “Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record-setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???”
“Scott Celebrates Pledge of Allegiance Resolution” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – Last week, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) took to the Senate floor in support of Senator Mike Braun’s (R) Pledge of Allegiance resolution. With unanimous consent, the resolution passed the Senate. While on the floor, the former Florida Governor voiced his support, arguing that “the left is trying to undo the foundational principles of this country, but freedom is fleeting and worth fighting for, and I won’t stop fighting for the country I was raised in.” Speaking on the important of the Pledge of Allegiance, Braun commented that “the Pledge of Allegiance is meant to remind Americans of our guiding principles and inspire adherence to those ideas which make our country great: Equality under law, and recognized rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” In response, Florida Senator Scott took to Twitter to share his own comments on the Senate floor, saying that Democrats “are calling to defund our law enforcement” and “the left discredits those that believe in a supreme being,” and “they want you to think America was never great.” However, he asserted that, “today, we join to honor the Pledge of Allegiance, the very spirit of our nation. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
“Democrat Pam Keith wants to tackle voter fraud, but could be committing it herself” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Just as the Department of Justice and local authorities announced that they would be investigating what appears to be blatant voter fraud in Minneapolis after supporters of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) are caught on tape illegally harvesting ballots, the cases of alleged voter fraud are popping up across the country, and in Florida, Democratic congressional candidate Pam Keith could also soon be under a potential voter fraud investigation. According to The Heritage Foundation, Keith may have committed voter fraud: “FALSE REGISTRATIONS: Voting under fraudulent voter registrations that either use a phony name and a real or fake address or claim residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not actually live and is not entitled to vote. DUPLICATE VOTING: Registering in multiple locations” Since first running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, the consummate candidate has dismissed the claims that voter fraud exists, but is she committing voter fraud herself by not living where she is registered to vote? Keith has voted in both the primary and general elections in Florida in 2012,2014,2016, and 2018, and has mailed in her absentee ballot in five of those elections.
“Deutch signs Pro-Choice Caucus’ Letter of Concerns” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – With the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the political sphere immediately turned to the long-debated Roe v. Wade ruling that could be overturned with the next Supreme Court Justice that President Trump (R) nominates. Democrats warned that this was a threat to Democracy and to women across the country, and Florida Democrats are now pushing back in opposition after the President nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett. One of the members of Congress that has joined the discussion is Florida rep. Ted Deutch (D). Sharing a tweet from Colorado Rep. Diana Degette (D), the tweet expresses that “as leaders of the Pro Choice Caucus, we know how urgent the fight is to protect a woman’s right to reproductive care.” Moreover, the lawmakers argue that they “know what Trump looks for in a justice.” The Democratic lawmakers are “calling on the Senate to abstain from considering a SCOTUS nominee until after the inauguration,” which comes on the day that the President and former Vice President Joe Biden (D) are set to take the stage for the first presidential debate. In the tweet, Degette also shared the letter, signed by Deutch, that was directed to Senator Mitch McConnell (R), Senator Lindsey Graham (R), rep. Chuck Schumer (D) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D).
“Early Voting: Central Florida poll locations and what to bring” by Fox 35 Orlando – Central Florida residents will soon be able to early vote for the 2020 Presidential election. Here are the counties that have early voting options and where you can vote in-person. Early voting in Orange County starts on October 19th and will go until November 1st. You must bring a form of identification with you to vote, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, student ID, or retirement center ID. All early voting locations are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Find the nearest early voting location to you HERE. OSCEOLA COUNTY Early voting in Osceola County starts on October 19th and will go until November 1st. You must bring a form of identification with you to vote, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, student ID, or retirement center ID. All early voting locations are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Find the nearest early voting location to you HERE. SEMINOLE COUNTY Early voting in Seminole County starts on October 19th and will go until November 1st. You must bring a form of identification with you to vote, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, student ID, or retirement center ID. All early voting locations are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Find the nearest early voting location to you HERE.
“Amendment 2 Would Gradually Raise Florida’s Minimum Wage to $15 By 2026. GOP Leaders Want It Defeated.” by Flaglerlive – Two state Republican leaders added their voices Monday in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would gradually boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Florida. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters, a state senator from Sarasota, and incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, described the ballot initiative as “a Trojan horse,” “a trapdoor,” and “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” that will bring to Florida “failed policies” from liberal cities where streets are “covered in poverty, riots, crime.” “Voting ‘no’ on Amendment 2 may save your favorite restaurant from closing, or your favorite waiter or waitress from losing their job,” Sprowls, who will become House speaker after the November elections, said during an online press event with a top lobbyist for the restaurant and hotel industry. Gruters, a certified public accountant, contended the state’s current minimum wage is primarily for entry level positions and that the ballot measure would destroy hundreds of small businesses across Florida. “This is not about siding with corporations, it’s about siding with Florida families,” Gruters said. “If you want to give individuals opportunities in the future to get those entry level positions, like one of the interns in my office who started at minimum wage, and I’m lucky to keep him at $20 an hour in just under a year and a half.” But prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan, who has spearheaded the drive to pass the amendment, disputed that a minimum-wage increase would result in layoffs or reduced worker hours, as opponents argue.
“Florida Department of Health begins releasing data on COVID-19 in school” by Click Orlando’s Adrienne Cutway – Starting Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health has begun releasing data showing COVID-19 cases in schools across the state. The 13-page document lists schools and colleges that have had COVID-19 cases but it doesn’t provide a cumulative total of cases reported in all Florida schools. “The Department of Health is committed to transparency and providing the most up-to-date COVID-19 information to Floridians. The school report will be updated every Tuesday,” an FDOH spokesperson said in an email. The document is organized alphabetically by county and then by school name. While at least a thousand schools are listed, there does seem to be discrepancies between what the FDOH is reporting and what those campuses are reporting. That could be because most campuses are reporting their totals based on when the semester began while the FDOH data only includes cases that were diagnosed between Sept. 6 through Saturday. For example, the University of Central Florida has its own coronavirus dashboard that shows 534 student cases of COVID-19 have been reported this semester. FDOH lists 160 cases among students, teachers and staff within the past three weeks at UCF. Of those, 121 patients experienced symptoms while 28 did not and the remaining 11 are unknown.
“Central Florida voters react to push for $15 minimum wage” by Click Orlando’s Lauren Cervantes – Come November, Amendment 2 will be on the ballots, giving voters the chance to decide whether or not to increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. People on both sides of the issue had strong opinions on the ballot measure. Evan Dimov, the owner of a restaurant called Too Much Sauce, said businesses are getting squeezed right now. He said this initiative supported by the Florida For A Fair Wage campaign is concerning. Dimov said when he plugged in the numbers, the money is going to have to come from somewhere, whether it be higher prices for customers, or less people working. Attorney John Morgan disagrees with that sentiment. “It’s not true, because if it was true, those people would be fired already; he needs those people,” Morgan said. Morgan led the push to get Amendment 2 on the ballot and said the raise would be gradual, and that it wouldn’t hit $15 until 2026. According to the amendment, each year would see an increase of a dollar. “I didn’t want to surprise business owners, and go ‘Hey, we’re going from $8.57 to $15,’” Morgan said. Dimov said he believes there’s more work to be done before November. “John Morgan, I respect him, but I would ask him to do one thing: let’s sit down with business owners at my level, and let’s talk in a very simple way, how can I make it work," Dimov said.
“After pressure from Florida governor, Miami will open some schools more than two weeks earlier than planned” by Washington Post’s Calerie Strauss – Days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration ordered Miami schools to open more than two weeks earlier than planned, the Miami-Dade County School Board voted Tuesday evening not to buck the state and to start bringing students back into school on Oct. 5. After hours of discussing the repercussions of rejecting Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s directive to reopen early — including the possibility of losing millions of dollars in state funding — board members overseeing the country’s fourth-largest district unanimously agreed to open schools five days a week on a staggered schedule. They also said they would seek dispensation from the state for those schools not ready to open. Parents and teachers testified to the board about their concerns regarding opening early, saying they feared that not all buildings would be properly outfitted with safety equipment to stave off an outbreak of the coronavirus. “In my heart I feel everything is rushed,” said Jeffrey Coachman Jr., a parent of five children. But facing state funding losses from $20 million to possibly $300 million, members said they would open school buildings Oct. 5 on a staggered schedule that would last several days. Any schools that could not be ready in that timeline would be put on a list submitted to the state for permission to reopen later, and students who wanted to return to a school not opening would be accommodated elsewhere. Miami-Dade County schools surveyed parents recently on their preference for continued learning, and 51 percent chose returning to school. Whether families will be allowed to change their preference is unclear.
“Mayors aim to continue to punish face mask violators in South Florida” by Local 10’s Christina Vazquez – Miami-Dade and Broward counties decided to continue to enforce the local orders to wear face masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Gov. Ron DeSantis' Phase 3 delays the county’s request for collections for some time in the future. The second-degree misdemeanor is still in place. “We have a mask mandate. We just can’t collect on those penalties and fees related to COVID-19 violations until after COVID-19 is over,” said Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief, Local mayors are also working to clarify DeSantis' order out of fear that reopening bars and nightclubs and not enforcing social distancing is going to cause coronavirus cases to rise in South Florida. “The reason it has gone down is because we have taken all these steps,” said Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernández. Dr. Andrew Pastewski, intensive care unit medical director at Jackson South Medical Center, said he is concerned about all of the pictures he has seen of people socializing in South Florida.
“Florida inmate COVID-19 deaths up to 132” by News Service of Florida – Another state prison inmate’s death has been linked to COVID-19, bringing the total number to 132 since the pandemic began, according to information released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Corrections. Also, positive tests among inmates and corrections staff members continued to climb. An additional 82 inmate cases were reported Tuesday, bringing the overall total to 16,349. As of noon Tuesday, 136 inmate COVID-19 tests were pending, with the largest number, 35, at Graceville Correctional Facility in Northwest Florida. Also, an additional 25 corrections workers had tested positive, bringing the total to 3,147, according to the numbers released Tuesday by the department.
“Disney to lay off 28,000 at its parks in Florida and California” by Associated Press – Squeezed by limits on attendance at its theme parks and other restrictions due to the pandemic, The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday it planned to lay off 28,000 workers in its parks division in California and Florida. Two-thirds of the planned layoffs involve part-time workers but they ranged from salaried employees to hourly workers, Disney officials said. Disney’s parks closed last spring as the pandemic started spreading in the U.S. The Florida parks reopened this summer, but the California parks have yet to reopen as the company awaits guidance from the state of California. In a letter to employees, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experience and Product, said California's “unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen" exacerbated the situation for the company. D’Amaro said his management team had worked hard to try to avoid layoffs. They had cut expenses, suspended projects and modified operations but it wasn’t enough given limits on the number of people allowed into the park because of social distancing restrictions and other pandemic-related measures, he said. “As heartbreaking as it is to take this action, this is the only feasible option we have in light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic,” he said. California’s health secretary on Tuesday said the state was close to working out a way to have the theme parks reopen in a responsible way.
“Ohio governor predicts Trump will win Buckeye State” by Fox News’ Bradford Betz – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine predicted Tuesday that the presidential race between President Trump and Democrat Joe Biden will be close in his state but will ultimately result in a Trump victory. DeWine’s comments came during one of his twice-weekly briefings where he discussed, among other things, the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the state’s economy, Cleveland's WKYC-TV reported. While discussing the prospects for Republicans of winning Ohio, DeWine said he “never bought into this argument that Ohio’s become a Republican state.” "I mean, Ohio's a swing state," the Republican governor said. "The president won last time by nine points, I think. That was a big, big, surprise. I think he's going to win this time in Ohio. I think it will be close, but I think he will win." The governor’s briefing came a few hours ahead of the first presidential debate between President Trump and Biden in Cleveland. In response to what he thinks Trump will say to make his case for re-election, DeWine said he doesn’t speak for the president but pointed to his track record of nominating Supreme Court justices like Amy Coney Barrett who “respect the U.S. Constitution” and aren’t legislators.
“Schumer, in rare move, takes control of floor to force health care vote” by CNN’s Ted Barrett and Manu Raju – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in an extremely rare move Tuesday, took control of the Senate floor and is forcing a procedural vote on a bill, a step that is typically done only by the Senate majority leader. The top Democrat's action now sets up a vote later this week related to a bill that would protect people with pre-existing conditions if the Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration's Department of Justice and strikes down the Affordable Care Act after arguments are heard in November. Schumer's surprise steps were extraordinary because such motions are typically offered by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who controls the Senate and dictates what gets considered on the floor. Schumer has never before tried to force such a cloture vote in his time as the top minority leader, aides said.
The rules say any senator can do what Schumer did Tuesday but senators typically don't take these extreme steps because doing so regularly would shut down the Senate. That's why it's custom to let the majority leader set the schedule. The push comes as protecting the Affordable Care Act is at the center of Democrats' arguments for winning back the White House, retaking control of the Senate and blocking the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be a justice of the Supreme Court, whom they believe will join with conservatives on the high court to strike down the ACA and the protections for people with pre-existing conditions in the law.
“U.S. to Start Forgiving PPP Loans After Borrowers Complained” by WSJ’s Yuka Hayashi – The Treasury Department said Tuesday it would begin forgiving loans granted to small-business owners under the Paycheck Protection Program, following banks’ and borrowers’ complaints that the process had been bogged down. The government expects to approve and pay forgiveness requests by late this week or early next, a Treasury spokesperson said. The applications are generally expected to be approved quickly, with the exception of loans above $2 million that will get added scrutiny. Business advocates, banks and lawmakers have raised concerns that the process of turning the loans into grants is too complex and slow under the $670 billion federal program, designed to help small businesses respond to the economic fallout of the pandemic with forgivable government-backed loans distributed through banks. “The ultimate success of the program will depend on forgiveness, so small-business owners are eager to learn of [Treasury officials’] decisions,” said Kevin Kuhlman, senior director of government relations for the National Federation of Independent Business, which advocates for small businesses, adding that the group welcomes the development. Since it launched an online portal for loan forgiveness in early August, the Small Business Administration has received more than 96,000 applications from businesses seeking to have their loans forgiven—but none had been approved, William Manger, SBA’s chief of staff and associate administrator, told House lawmakers last week.
“Barrett begins visits with senators as several Dems refuse to meet with her” by Fox News’ Tyler Olson – Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett is set to start meeting with senators on Tuesday as her accelerated confirmation process continues despite multiple Democrats refusing to see her, calling the process that led to her nomination so close to a presidential election "illegitimate." "I believe first the whole process has been illegitimate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Sunday. "And second, because she's already stated that she is for overturning the ACA. I will not meet with her." Schumer, who has said if Barrett is confirmed the GOP "will have stolen two Supreme Court seats," is joined by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Maize Hirono, D-Hawaii, in refusing to meet with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge. "I will oppose the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, as I would any nominee proposed as part of this illegitimate sham process, barely one month before an election as Americans are already casting their votes," Blumenthal said Sunday. Barrett's most high-profile meetings will be with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D, and a joint sit-down with both Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Graham, McConnell and Thune have already declared their support for Barrett, as have a number of other Senate Republicans who are familiar with the judge from her 2017 circuit court confirmation.
“Trump's intel chief declassifies unverified Russian intelligence about Clinton campaign” by CNN’s Jeremy Herb and Zachary Cohen – The top US intelligence official released information Tuesday about unverified Russian intelligence about Hillary Clinton that will likely fuel President Donald Trump's attacks on the Russia investigation and Clinton's 2016 campaign. Democrats charged that Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe was pushing Russian disinformation about Clinton, which Ratcliffe denied. Ratcliffe declassified the summary of a Russian intelligence assessment of Clinton on Tuesday, writing that US intelligence in 2016 obtained a Russian intelligence analysis that alleged Clinton had approved a campaign plan to "stir up a scandal" against Trump by tying him to Russia and the hack of the Democratic National Committee. Ratcliffe wrote to Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, who released the summary, that the intelligence community "does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication."
Ratcliffe's letter to Graham was the latest in a string of declassified documents Ratcliffe and Attorney General William Barr have provided to Senate Republicans and others targeting the FBI's Russia investigation ahead of the November election. Democrats accused Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, of politicizing intelligence and trying to help Trump's campaign. "It's very disturbing to me that 35 days before an election, the director of national intelligence would release unverified Russian 'rumint,'" said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, referring to an intelligence acronym for "rumored intelligence."
“Biden Releases Tax Returns Ahead of Debate With Trump” by WSJ’s Richard Rubin and Ken Thomas – Former Vice President Joe Biden released his 2019 tax returns Tuesday, showing that he paid nearly $300,000 in federal taxes, seeking to draw a contrast with President Trump in the hours before their first debate. Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill, reported receiving $985,233 in adjusted gross income in 2019, a year in which he was mostly running for president. Their tax rate was 29.5%, and their income means they would likely be subject to several of the tax increases Mr. Biden is proposing. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has refused to release any of his tax returns, breaking a 40-year tradition of major-party candidates and presidents. The New York Times reported Sunday that Mr. Trump hasn’t paid federal income taxes in many recent years and paid just $750 for 2016 and the same amount for 2017. Mr. Trump has dismissed the Times’ reporting as inaccurate but has declined to specify any errors. The Times report detailed a series of questionable transactions by Mr. Trump, including deductions for hair styling, claims of large losses and consulting payments to his daughter, Ivanka Trump. The president has said he is still being audited by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS said Tuesday that it had assessed its taxpayer-privacy protections and special safeguards for certain taxpayers and found no issues. The agency also said, however, that it was asking its inspector general to assess the agency’s practices “in an abundance of caution.” Mr. Biden’s campaign said the latest release means he has now released 22 years of tax records—more than most recent presidential contenders—covering years when he served in the Senate representing Delaware, as vice president and his time after he left the Obama administration.
“Rep. Jordan claims Trump 'paid what he owed' in response to NY Times tax report” by Fox News’ Yael Halon – President Trump "paid what he owed" in taxes, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio told Fox News Tuesday, dismissing a New York Times report that the president paid no income tax in 10 of the past 15 years. "He paid what he owed, he gives back his salary, he's done it every single year, and he cut taxes for the American people, for every family in this country," Jordan told Martha MacCallum. The ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee addressed the report after accompanying the president aboard Air Force One for a flight to Cleveland ahead of the first presidential debate. Jordan said the president was in a "great mood" and expressed confidence in his preparedness less than two hours before both candidates will take to the stage. He will be ready like he always is," Jordan said. "Look, the one thing I know about this president is he knows how to win. He thinks like an athlete, he competes, he will be, I think, ready to go tonight I think he will win the debate." Jordan said the president plans to spotlight the accomplishments of his administration, and contrasted Trump's public engagement with Biden's, describing the Democratic nominee as "the first guy to run for president by not running for president." Trump is "going to talk about the amazing things he's done in three-and-a-half years for the American people, done what he said he would do," Jordan said. "I mean, you think about it -- taxes cut, regulations reduced, economy growing at an unbelievable pace before COVID ... out of the Iran deal, embassy in Jerusalem, new NAFTA agreement, building the wall, now rebuilding our economy post-COVID and of course [Supreme Court justices] Gorsuch [and] Kavanaugh on the court and Coney Barrett on deck," Jordan went on.
“Mueller defends investigation after team member criticizes Russia probe” by CNN’s Katelyn Polantz and Devan Cole – Former special counsel Robert Mueller on Tuesday defended his Russia investigation after a former lead prosecutor on the team published a book sharply critical of final decisions not to subpoena President Donald Trump for testimony or pursue a financial autopsy of his records during the probe. In a book published Tuesday, one of Mueller's former top prosecutors, Andrew Weissmann, characterized the lack of pushing for more information from Trump or around Trump's ties to Russia as a negotiation tactic -- while the White House took advantage of Mueller because Trump never intended to give fulsome answers in the probe. Weissmann singled out Mueller deputy Aaron Zebley for criticism.
"It is not surprising that members of the Special Counsel's Office did not always agree, but it is disappointing to hear criticism of our team based on incomplete information," Mueller said in a statement. "My deputy, Aaron Zebley, was privy to the full scope of the investigation and all that was at issue. I selected him for that role because I knew from our ten years working together that he is meticulous and principled. He was an invaluable and trusted counselor to me from start to finish," Mueller said, adding that he stands by the decisions he made in the probe as well as the "conclusions of our investigation." Mueller and Zebley continue to work together at a private law firm in Washington. Weissmann is now an MSNBC commentator, law professor and partner at a different firm. In his book, "Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation," Weissmann slammed Mueller for not fully answering the question of why Trump behaved so pro-Russia during the campaign, because the Russia investigators did not fully seek the President's financial records.
“Pelosi and Mnuchin Make Late Push for Possible Coronavirus Aid” by WSJ’s Kristina Peterson and Natalie Andrews – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are making a late push to try to reach a coronavirus-relief deal before the election, despite skepticism on Capitol Hill that an agreement is possible at this stage. The two talked on the phone for 50 minutes Tuesday morning, one day after House Democrats unveiled a new, less expensive version of their previous aid package. The new bill shaved the price tag to $2.2 trillion, down from $3.5 trillion, and was expected to come up for a vote in the House potentially as soon as Wednesday. Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Mnuchin were also expected to talk again Wednesday. The string of conversations suggested the two officials were making a substantive attempt to see whether they could agree on a stimulus package to bolster the country’s health and economic recovery from the pandemic. Mrs. Pelosi told reporters after the meeting Tuesday that she was hopeful she could reach a deal with Mr. Mnuchin this week. “Our conversation was a positive one. We’ll get back together tomorrow to see how we can find common ground,” Mrs. Pelosi said Tuesday on MSNBC. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said he had spoken with Mr. Mnuchin, along with President Trump. “So hopefully we’ll make some progress and find a solution for the American people,” Mr. Meadows told reporters. Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Mnuchin have struck deals on coronavirus aid in the past and just last week reached an agreement on a separate spending bill that is expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday. Still, lawmakers have been downbeat about the chances of reaching a new bipartisan accord on coronavirus aid with just five weeks left before the election.
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump- Rigged Election
Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi- It is a sign of President Trump’s disdain for America’s working families that he has spent years abusing the tax code while passing a GOP Tax Scam for the rich that gives 83 percent of the benefits to the wealthiest 1 percent.
