@19:35, , 8/9/20

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1

Administration Officials Defend Executive Action on Pandemic Relief

Emily Cochrane, Alan Rappeport and Luke Broadwater at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

Democrats criticized President Trump’s directives and called on top administration officials to resume talks over a broader agreement.

Trump does not know how to provide pandemic reliefe.

2

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – August 9, 2020

Tony Wikrent at Ian Welsh - 8 hours ago

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – August 9, 2020 by Tony Wikrent Kansas Should Go F— Itself Matt Taibbi, August 2, 2020 Review of Thomas Frank’s new book The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism Frank published What’s the Matter with Kansas? in 2004, at the height of the George W. Bush presidency. The […]

Mostly special pleading by the far left.

3

‘Top Cop’ Kamala Harris’s Record of Policing the Police

Danny Hakim, Stephanie Saul and Richard A. Oppel Jr. at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 14 hours ago

Senator Harris is speaking out amid the police reform movement. But how did she oversee police misconduct as a district attorney and attorney general?

The police were never her job until a probable case was presented.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecutor#United_States

4

Trump Signs Executive Orders for Coronavirus Stimulus

Maggie Haberman, Emily Cochrane and Jim Tankersley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago

President Trump signed the directives after two weeks of stalemate with Democrats over a recovery package, using legally dubious measures to try to restore lapsed benefits.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/us/politics/trump-stimulus-bill-coronavirus.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/business/trump-executive-orders-unemployment.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/us/politics/trump-stimulus-bill-coronavirus.html

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/08/14/us/politics/14reuters-health-coronavirus-usa-congress.html

Political posturing.

5

Rick Gates, Ex-Trump Aide and Mueller Witness, Is Publishing a Memoir

Alexandra Alter at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

“Wicked Game” is slated for release in October, at the height of the presidential campaign, but Mr. Gates says, “It’s not a salacious book.”

"Knowledge is power."

6

The Voting Will End Nov. 3. The Legal Battle Probably Won’t.

Peter Baker, Nick Corasaniti, Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

As the two parties clash over how to conduct an election in a pandemic, President Trump’s litigiousness and unfounded claims of fraud have increased the likelihood of epic postelection court fights.

Count all the votes.

7

How Kristi Noem, Mt. Rushmore and Trump Fueled Speculation About Pence’s Job

Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

After Ms. Noem, the South Dakota governor, flew to Washington on Air Force One, rumors about her ambitions ensued. She made a second trip to smooth things over with Mike Pence.

Simply noise.

8

Pelosi Is Playing Hardball on Coronavirus Relief. She Thinks She’ll Win.

Emily Cochrane and Nicholas Fandos at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Emboldened by Republican divisions and a favorable political landscape, the speaker is refusing to agree to a narrow relief measure, unbothered by charges that she is an impediment to a deal.

The Pelosi win will cost the nation.
The cost is reasonable.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

9

Trump’s Axios Interview, Kanye West’s Campaign: The Latest in the 2020 Race

Astead W. Herndon and Annie Karni at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

President Trump wants to brand Joe Biden as a doddering gaffe machine. But the incumbent’s own rhetoric causes so much controversy it is overwhelming the strategy.

Another failed ploy.

10

How Russia Findings Divided Trump and Intelligence Agencies

Alan Yuhas at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Officials told The New York Times Magazine that the draft of a classified document reporting that Russia favored President Trump in the 2020 election was changed to soften its assessment.

Trump built the barrier.

11

Open Thread

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 1 day ago

Feel free to use the comments to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.

Sooner is better.    As soon as you can is best.

12

Without $600 Weekly Benefit, Unemployed Face Bleak Choices

Ben Casselman and Gillian Friedman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

A federal supplement to jobless pay was a lifeline for millions and for the economy. Its cutoff, even if temporary, may have lasting consequences.

Many will be bankrupt and homeless.

13

Katie Hill is Trying to Move Forward

Jessica Bennett at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Nine months after stepping down from Congress, she is trying to move forward.

She probably should not have jumped.

14

Biden's V.P. Search: Chris Dodd, a D.C. Insider Helping Pick the Democratic Running Mate

Matt Flegenheimer, Rebecca R. Ruiz and Sydney Ember at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

As Biden works to win over progressive voters, he has empowered a Washington uber-veteran long trailed by allegations of personal and financial indiscretion.

No mistake was made.

15

Trump Wants U.S. to Get Cut of Any TikTok Deal. No One Knows How That’d Work.

Michael D. Shear, Alan Rappeport and Ana Swanson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The president has repeatedly called for a big payment to the Treasury Department if a Chinese company sells the app to Microsoft, but there is no provision in the law for that.

It will not work.

16

Unwanted Truths: Inside Trump’s Battles With U.S. Intelligence Agencies

Robert Draper at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Last year, intelligence officials gathered to write a classified report on Russia’s interest in the 2020 election. An investigation from the magazine uncovered what happened next.

Trump does not think.

17

Joe Arpaio Loses Arizona Primary to Reclaim His Old Job as Sheriff

Hank Stephenson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Voters instead backed Jerry Sheridan, Mr. Arpaio’s former chief deputy, who promised to revive many of Mr. Arpaio’s policies but without the showmanship.

Joe Arpaio was not cruel enough.

18

Away From Gridlock in Washington, Trump Puts on a Show for His Club

Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The president held what was billed as a news conference. But there was almost no news, he again said the virus would disappear and his audience seemed at times less the nation than his golf club members.

The play flopped.

19

Postal Service Leader Sets Reorganization Amid Scrutiny Over Mail Ballots

Michael D. Shear at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The Trump donor who runs the post office pledged that such changes would not affect the ability to deliver ballots on time this fall.

The Postmaster General is a criminal.

20

Trump Threatens to Bypass Congress as Stimulus Talks Fail Again

Emily Cochrane and Jim Tankersley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Democrats said the talks had been “disappointing,” and President Trump promised to use executive orders to provide relief if no agreement could be reached.

Trump tried.

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