kmusser

Monday 8/17

Post Office situation summary.
Some fact-checking on the Post Office situation, there is a lot of false info flying on social media and a lot of the changes were in motion well before DeJoy's appointment. Take the fact-checking with a grain of salt though too as I noticed it's wrong about the USPS board (better source about that) and it also doesn't address the widespread reports of delays already happening.
House recess is cut short as representatives return to DC to try and stop changes to the Post Office, postmaster is to testify next week (source, source).
States are suing administration over Post Office changes (source).
Administration planning on opening Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling (source).
DHS to ignore ruling that two of its executives (Wolf and Cuccinelli) are in their positions illegally (source).
DJT adds a new political appointee to Census Bureau leadership (source).
Court blocks administration rule allowing discrimination against transgender people in health care (source).
New SEC commissioners sworn in, potentially returning it to functionality for first time since 2018 (source).

Tuesday 8/18

USPS suspending all changes until after the election, not taking back what they've already done though (source).
Senate Intelligence Committee report details Paul Manafort's connections to Russian intelligence agencies (source).
The Senate Intelligence Committee also reports making criminal referrals to the DoJ for Don Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Steve Bannon, Erik Prince, and Sam Clovis last year. Not surprisingly it does not appear that the DoJ has acted on those referrals (source).
A look at DJT's record of naming donors as ambassadors, many of who are particularly bad at diplomacy.
Administration expands hunting at wildlife refuges (source).

Wednesday 8/19

DJT sues New Jersey over plan to mail out absentee ballots (source).
DJT press secretary won't say whether he'll accept election results (source).
DJT urges boycott of Goodyear because they won't allow employees to wear political campaign gear while on the job (source).

Thursday 8/20

Steve Bannon is arrested for fraud (source).
U.S. asks the UN to re-impose sanctions against Iran (source).
Court case over DJT's tax returns still pending, not likely to be resolved before the election (source).

Friday 8/21

DJT threatens to send police to polling places in November (source).
Administration to allow Covid-19 tests to be used without any FDA review (source).
DJT vows to complete troop withdrawal from Iraq (source).
DJT says that California is on fire because they haven't cleaned their floors (source).

Maps of the week

Legislative update

Legislation signed into law
- 3 minor bills
Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
- DJT cleared his desk!
Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no action
- 439 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk
Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no action
- 166 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk

21 August 2020