Bestselling Author: White House Press Should Try This Next Time Trump Lies | HuffPost

Bestselling author Don Winslow, a persistent critic of President Donald Trump, has a suggestion for the White House press corps. The next time Trump lies, interrupt him and demand the truth. If Trump tries to move on to someone else to duck the question, the next person should take up the same line of questioning. And that’s not the only recommendation Winslow has for the media: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/don-winslow-interrupt-trump_n_5f321a18c5b6fc009a5c84e5

Revealed: QAnon Facebook groups are growing at a rapid pace around the world

Guardian investigation finds the Facebook communities are gaining followers as Twitter cracks down on QAnon content
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/11/qanon-facebook-groups-growing-conspiracy-theory

Trump Signs Sham Executive Orders, Takes Credit for Obamacare: A Closer Look

Seth takes a closer look at the president announcing a bunch of meaningless and blatantly unconstitutional executive orders in a PR stunt at his golf course. ....
https://youtu.be/mL-1OdkF0nE

To downplay the scale of the pandemic in the U.S., Trump inflates its scale everywhere else - The Washington Post

One of President Trump’s favorite ways to contextualize the coronavirus pandemic is to remind people that it’s afflicting a lot of other countries, too. When he was first holding regular briefings during the spring, he would consistently point out that more than 180 nations around the world were battling the virus — a number so high that one friend of Trump’s told the president that he “didn’t know we had so many countries in the world” (at least, according to Trump). ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/10/order-downplay-scale-pandemic-us-trump-inflates-its-scale-everywhere-else/

Opinion | George Conway: I (still) believe the president, and in the president - The Washington Post

I believe the president Made America Great Again. I believe we need him reelected to Make America Great Again Again. ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/10/i-still-believe-president-president/

The American Herald Is a ‘News’ Site Bought and Paid for by Donald Trump’s Official Super PAC

The American Herald calls itself “a conservative news platform.” It’s actually just an extension of the Trump political machine.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-american-herald-is-a-news-site-bought-and-paid-for-by-donald-trumps-official-super-pac

Portland protesters targeted by pipe bombs at city park, and activists identify a suspect

... Multiple posts from antifascists identified the man as a onetime Navy SEAL who now operates a business that supplies training materials to police, as well as "threat assessments for schools, businesses, and other venues."
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/8/11/1968248/-Pipe-bombs-targeting-Portland-protesters-appear-to-be-the-latest-twist-in-far-right-tactics

Trump’s latest falsehood: Democrats are trying to end signature verification for ballots - The Washington Post

Democrats are not trying to ban signature verification requirements for mail-in ballots. What Democrats have introduced is a bill that says U.S. election officials must notify any voter whose signature was deemed deficient and give them an opportunity to fix it. That’s not a ban on signature verification, not by any stretch.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/11/trumps-latest-falsehood-democrats-are-trying-end-signature-verification-ballots/

Regret

A lot of people are saying they’re regretting voting for trump... I can see why. https://youtu.be/HvUHLn0iTA8

It’s easy to laugh at Louie Gohmert. But… – Raw Story

A few years ago, while I was president of the Writers Guild of America, East, several union members and I went down to Washington to hold a midday briefing on Capitol Hill about net neutrality. We were in the House Judiciary Committee hearing room in the Rayburn office building. To lure an audience, on a table at the back, we provided a pile of free paper bag lunches for the small crowd. As usual with this sort of event, most of the people who showed up were hungry young congressional staffers but at one point, a colleague poked me in the ribs, pointed and said, “Look—an actual congressman is grabbing a couple of our lunches!” “Doesn’t count,” I replied. “It’s Louie Gohmert.” ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/its-easy-to-laugh-at-louie-gohmert-but/

The Best 2020 Netflix Originals No One Is Talking About

2020 is seeing some Netflix originals getting a lot of positive buzz. From dramas to gripping documentaries, the streaming giant is experimenting with plenty of fresh ideas. With Netflix's release schedule ramping up more than ever, we want to make sure that you don't miss out on any hidden gems. Over the years, there have been endless films and TV shows inspired by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Now, the world's most famous vampire has come back to life once again in a new BBC series, which is available in America exclusively on Netflix. And with the creators of Sherlock working behind the scenes, you know that the writing will be clever and engaging. ....
https://youtu.be/GtpXBZoaX9k

Sergeant Heather Taylor On Ethics And Inequality In Policing (On Point)

Det. Sgt. Heather Taylor joins us to talk about being a Black woman in law enforcement, the violence she’s experienced in her own life, and how that’s shaped her views and hopes for her career and country.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/30/sergeant-heather-taylor-on-ethics-and-inequality-in-policing

QAnon: A Look Inside The Online Conspiracy (On Point)

Conspiracy theories have always woven their way through American history. But with the internet, and the emergence of QAnon, they’ve run wild.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/08/04/qanon-what-to-know-online-conspiracy

The Demon Sex Doctor (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Athiest podast #333)

— Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology!
— Women vandalized the Ten Commandments monument in Arkansas and I got threatened by a senator. (1:12)
— Republican atheist Robert M. Price‘s anti-transgender, anti-feminist remarks in a fantasy anthology’s introduction has angered many of the contributors. (11:30)
— Do we seriously have to talk about the demon sex doctor? (21:00)
— A Christian author says Jesus was white. Because of course he did. (27:45)
— Sen. Tom Cotton said something else idiotic about slavery. (34:10)
— Rep. Louie Gohmert is sick, Herman Cain is dead, and Republicans still don’t care enough about the virus. (38:27)
— Focus on the Family founder James Dobson is fear-mongering about the election… just like he did in 2008. (46:53)
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/friendly-atheist-podcast/ep-333-the-demon-sex-doctor

Friendly Atheist Podcast · Ep. 333 - The Demon Sex Doctor

How do you know that Christianity is the one true worldview? (Ravi Zacharias response)

Exclusivity is one of the most popular charges leveled against the Christian faith. Here, author and apologist Ravi Zacharias challenges the assumption that Christianity is alone in making exclusive claims.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/KwM3WY9d8vA

Religion vs. Government (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #350)

Interview with Casey Brinck. Casey is the Director of Policy and Goverment Affairs for The Secular Coalition for America. We discuss the involvement of religion in government.

Investing Skeptically: Mail bag.
Interview:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/8084919/350-k34VBg

How white supremacy infected Christianity and the Republican Party - The Washington Post

Robert P. Jones, chief executive and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), is fast becoming the leading expert in the values, votes and mind-set of White Christians. His work has explained how loss of primacy in American society fueled a white-grievance mentality — the same mind-set President Trump so effectively read and manipulated. ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/03/how-white-supremacy-infected-christianity-republican-party/

God Brought Us Trump To Show Us Our Weaknesses

"Lord help the Christians who are saying he's a godsend."
https://youtu.be/ZQmlytREqXk

"99 days to the election (with Mehdi Hasan)." (Pod Save the World podcast)

The Intercept’s Mehdi Hasan joins to discuss the state of the presidential campaign now that we’re less than 100 days out, how COVID reached deep into the White House and forced major changes to Trump’s campaign, the latest with COVID relief in Congress, how Trump’s message went from calling Biden soft on China to member of Antifa, and how the media can learn from the mistakes of 2016. Then Jon F. interviews Mother Jones' Ari Berman about voting during the pandemic.

Make sure you're registered, request an absentee ballot, and get involved at votesaveamerica.com/everylastvote.
Interview:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/9513168/99-days-to-the-election-with-mehdi-hasan

Chris Matheson (co-creator of Bill & Ted) (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #349)

Interview with Chris Matheson. He is one of the creators of the Bill & Ted franchise. He has also worked on several other movies. His 2015 book is "The Story of God: A Biblical Comedy about Love (and Hate). We discuss the new movie "Bill & Ted Face the Music" and his new book "The Buddha's Story".
Interview:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/8084919/349-5vEtfP

Should The Electoral College Exist? (On Point)

The electoral college has been a fixture of American democracy — and criticism — since the nation’s founding. We’ll explain why it endures.
Interview:

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/08/05/should-the-electoral-college-exist

“Debate me, coward.” (Pod Save America podcast)

Tuesday’s primaries lead to Missouri victories for Medicaid expansion and Black Lives Matter activist Cori Bush, the Biden campaign announces the biggest advertising buy in history across 15 states, and the Trump campaign makes debate demands while lowering expectations for Joe Biden. Then Manny Garcia and Cliff Walker, the leaders of the Texas Democratic Party, talk to Dan about what it will take to turn the state blue in 2020. And Ben Rhodes talks to Tommy about his new Crooked Media podcast, Missing America.
Interview:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/9513168/debate-me-coward

'I didn't think I'd survive': women tell of hidden sexual abuse by Phoenix police

Within seconds, JeAnna Anderson knew she didn’t want to be alone with the police officer. ....
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/10/phoenix-police-officers-rape-sexual-assault

This state tested whether mask mandates decrease coronavirus cases. The results are dramatic. | TheHill

Kansas counties with mask mandates reduced coronavirus case numbers. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/511343-this-state-tested-whether-mask-mandates-decrease

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson hopes stimulus talks 'remain broken down'

Johnson said in a Friday interview with Breitbart News Tonight that he hopes negotiations stay broken down between the Trump administration and House Democratic leaders on a new pandemic relief package given the trillions Democratic leaders proposed in new spending. "From my standpoint, the breakdown in the talks is very good news. It's very good news for future generations," Johnson said. "I hope the talks remain broken down." https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/10/wisconsin-sen-ron-johnson-hopes-stimulus-talks-remain-broken-down/3334232001/

Reverend reveals what evangelicals say privately about Trump

Reverend Rob Schenck, a former evangelical activist, discusses President Trump's photo-op after police forcibly moved protesters and what evangelicals are now saying about Trump. ....
https://youtu.be/lOBhHs_1n_I

Border agents are allowed to operate 100 miles inside the US. That should worry us

The agents in Portland were members of a special tactical unit with extra-legal powers. They’ve been doing this for decades
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/08/border-agents-us-force

Facing bleak November, Republicans look to stoke BLM backlash - POLITICO

The battle to define the movement comes as the president and fellow GOP candidates try to win back suburban voters.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/10/elections-republicans-black-lives-matterbacklash-389906

Barr: The left 'believes in tearing down the system' | TheHill

Attorney General William Barr on Sunday voiced scathing criticism of the Democratic Party, claiming the left is trying to tear down U.S. institutions in a pursuit for “total victory.” The comments came in an expansive one-hour interview with Fox News host Mark Levin that touched on subjects including Barr’s recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, the Black Lives Matter protests and the expansion of mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/511271-barr-the-left-believes-in-tearing-down-the-system

Joe Biden's Doing What To God?! (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Athiest podast #334)

— A Christian hate-pastor threatened a man over masks at a Dunkin’ coffee shop. Now they’re mandating masks. (1:20)
— Trump claims Joe Biden will “hurt God” if he gets elected. How weak is this God…? (7:00)
— Donald Trump‘s lawyer Jenna Ellis says Michelle Obama needs more Jesus in her life. (13:50)
— What is Jerry Falwell, Jr. doing on his yacht…? (19:32)
— A GOP state lawmaker who spoke at a celebration of a KKK leader was charged with felony theft. (30:57)
— Judge Roy Moore is suing comedian Sacha Baron Cohen for defamation and it may backfire spectacularly. (37:04)
— A Florida pastor says masks get in the way of praying. How…? (41:00)
— The Satanic Temple is now saying Satanic abortions are protected under religious liberty laws. (44:03)
-- We heard some breaking news about Falwell... (50:30)
— Aliens didn’t build the pyramids, Elon Musk. (52:45)
— A study found that the most anti-abortion states offer the least support for women and families. (53:56)
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/friendly-atheist-podcast/ep-334-joe-bidens-doing-what-to-god

Friendly Atheist Podcast · Ep. 334 - Joe Biden's Doing What To God?!

Living Dinosaurs! (No, not Birds) - Creation Today Claims

Living Dinosaur Researcher Dave Woetzel joined Creation Today's Eric Hovind to regale us all with his adventures in looking for famous cryptids like the Loch Ness monster, Lake Champlain's Champ, the Ogopogo, the flying Ropen, and the Mokele-Mbembe sauropod of Congo. Can cryptozoology finally disprove the theory of evolution once and for all?
Interview:
https://youtu.be/8O56LQITICo

James Veitch - Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow 2018

https://youtu.be/J3MAv5LuMfU

US Congressman Jared Huffman - Freethought Caucus (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #351)

Interview with Jared Huffman. Mr. Huffman is the congressman representing California's 2nd District. We talk about the harm caused by the mixing of religion and politics. We also discuss the Freethought Caucus and how its members are trying to make America better for everyone.

Investing Skeptically: The Polaris Plan Part 1 - The overview. Stocks vs Bonds, The Cusion, Budgets, planning for retirement.
Interview:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/8084919/351-bNDNC9

Rep. Ted Yoho, Who Loves God, Is A Vulgar Monster (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Athiest podast #322)

— Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology!
— A Christian non-profit may boot Rep. Ted Yoho from its board for using a vulgarity against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (1:05)
— Arkansas State Rep. Jason Rapert, who opposed the state’s mask mandate, is now hospitalized with COVID. (8:45)
— Anti-abortion Democrats want the party to be more anti-abortion… which is a horrible idea. (12:59)
— Dr. Anthony Fauci can’t throw a pitch, which is perfectly fine. (27:51)
— There’s a new dating site for Christian bigots. (33:50)
— North Dakota’s GOP platform is wildly anti-LGBTQ and they only now realized it. (39:59)
— A Republican policy tells homeless shelters how to spot transgender people by sight. (44:45)
— A Texas lawmaker wants you to know even aliens need Jesus. (49:20)
— Sen. Tom Cotton filed a bill to block the teaching of the 1619 Project. (54:30)
— Satanists launched their own scholarship for students who hate school. (1:08:35)
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/friendly-atheist-podcast/ep-332-rep-ted-yoho-who-loves-god-is-a-vulgar-monster

Friendly Atheist Podcast · Ep. 332 - Rep. Ted Yoho, Who Loves God, Is A Vulgar Monster

NY AG Files to Dissolve the NRA! (Opening Arguments podcast OA410)

In a HUGE breaking news story, the New York Attorney General has sought to dissolve the NRA over rampant corruption! The complaint is nearly a couple hundred pages, but our esteemed Andrew has already read it and has the breakdown for us in a truly rapid response Friday! Questions he answers include: what are the alleged facts? Can NY actually do this? Could LaPierre simply re-form the NRA somewhere else? And more!
Interview:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/opening-arguments

Jed Shugerman on Trump’s “Unfaithful Execution” of the Oath (Opening Arguments podcast OA409)

Jed Shugerman is a Professor of Law at Fordham University. He and his colleague Ethan Leib filed a motion before Judge Amy Berman Jackson regarding Roger Stone’s commutation. They argue “that the Constitution limits the pardon power to uses that are in the public interest, not primarily for self-interest, self-dealing, or self-protection.” For more information and for links to Jed’s law review articles related to these arguments, check out his blog post.
Interview:
https://openargs.com/oa409-jed-shugerman-on-trumps-unfaithful-execution-of-the-oath/

Health insurance whistleblower: I lied to Americans about Canadian medicine - The Washington Post

I sold Americans a lie about Canadian medicine. Now we’re paying the price. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/06/health-insurance-canada-lie/

Abrupt change to census deadline could result in an undercount of Latino and Black communities - The Washington Post

Census experts and advocates warn that the Trump administration’s decision to end the decennial count a month earlier than expected will result in a dramatic undercount of Black and Latino communities across the country, which could have grave effects on federal funding and political representation in their neighborhoods.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abrupt-change-to-census-deadline-could-result-in-an-undercount-of-latino-and-black-communities/2020/08/09/1d074eb6-d8b7-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html

Stephen Miller Is Just Like Donald Trump—but Competent – Mother Jones

A new biography reveals how Miller used provocation and racism to rise from a wealthy real estate family to the White House.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/08/stephen-miller-is-just-like-donald-trump-but-competent/

France, Germany quit WHO reform talks over US involvement: Reuters - Business Insider

Members of the G7 alliance have spent weeks drafting a reform document that will ultimately need to be approved by the G20 and UN to take effect.
https://www.businessinsider.com/france-germany-quit-who-reform-talks-over-us-involvement-reuters-2020-8

Biden says Trump executive order is 'a reckless war on Social Security' | TheHill

One of the several orders Trump signed from his private club in Bedminster, N.J., on Saturday afternoon directs the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payment of employee-side Social Security payroll taxes through the end of the year for Americans making less than roughly $100,000 annually. Trump also said he intends to forgive the deferred payroll taxes and make permanent payroll tax cuts if he is reelected in November. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/511197-biden-says-trump-executive-orders-are-a-reckless-war-on-social-security

Democrats assail Trump actions on payroll tax and jobless aid as unworkable, call for further talks - The Washington Post

White House officials defended the steps Trump took Saturday as necessary given scope of economic pain.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/08/09/trump-executive-actions-economy-democrats/

64-Year-Old Woman Says She Was Punched For Wearing Mask, Supporting Biden

On Friday evening, a 64-year-old woman in Little Rock, Arkansas said she was knocked down after being punched in the face by men in a Kroger grocery store parking lot. The men reportedly hated her face mask and support of Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden. https://www.newsweek.com/64-year-old-woman-says-she-was-punched-wearing-mask-supporting-biden-1523759

NYPD Officers Swarm Home Of Black Lives Matter Protester

Derrick Ingram, a Black Lives Matter protester with the group Warriors in the Garden, livestreamed on Instagram dozens of police officers trying to enter his home. Hours later, police retreated without making any arrest.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosalindadams/dozens-of-nypd-officers-swarmed-the-home-of-a-blm-protester

Iran: How China has benefited from the success of US policy - CSMonitor.com

The history of national security policy is famous for unintended consequences (e.g., the Iraq War and ISIS). Now add to the list the heavy U.S. pressure on Iran and a Chinese foothold in the Middle East. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2020/0807/How-success-of-a-tough-US-policy-on-Iran-has-benefited-China

This 'War Game' Maps Out What Happens If The President Contests The Election (On Point)

Did the president mean it when he told Fox News recently he might not accept the election results in November? What might happen if the results of the presidential election are contested? Former government officials from both parties held a “war game” to think through the consequences. We hear what they discovered.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/28/election-war-games-trump-scenario

Mysterious carvings and evidence of human sacrifice uncovered in Shimao

Crowned by a stepped pyramid more than 200 feet tall, a 4,300-year-old fortress city known as Shimao is challenging traditional narratives about China’s early history.....
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/08/mysterious-carvings-evidence-human-sacrifice-uncovered-ancient-city-china/

Week In The News: Beirut Explosion, Stimulus Struggles, Progressive Primary Wins (On Point)

Congress tussles over a stimulus package with a deadline looming. A massive, deadly explosion in Beirut. It’s all in our week in review.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/08/07/beirut-explosion-stimulus-plan-progressive-primary-wins

The News Roundup — Domestic (The 1A) 2020-08-07

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.) says he “personally agrees” with passing another package for coronavirus relief. But there’s still no deal between Republican and Democratic lawmakers and the White House on another bill. Tens of millions of Americans remain unemployed, and the pandemic has killed over 157,000.

 Twitter announced this week it had temporarily suspended the campaign account of President Donald Trump for violating its policy over COVID-19 misinformation. The account shared a video that included a snippet of an interview Trump did with Fox News where he claimed that children were virtually immune to the coronavirus.

Members of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream walked out of their locker rooms ahead of a game wearing t-shirts that said “Vote Warnock.” Rev. Raphael Warnock is running against incumbent Georgia Sen. and Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler for her seat.

Loeffler has made statements opposing the Black Lives Matter movement and wrote a letter to the WNBA’s commissioner asking her to stop supporting the movement.

We cover the biggest headlines from around the country and more on the News Roundup.
Interview:
https://the1a.org/segments/coronavirus-relief-news-roundup-domestic/

The News Roundup — International (The 1A) 2020-08-07

We continue to learn more about an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. It killed over 130 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes.

And the BBC obtained rare photos and videos inside a Chinese internment camp.

This video rebuts China’s consistent assertion that these camps, which hold mostly Uighur Muslims, are voluntary anti-terrorism facilities.

And we remember that 75 years ago, the United States bombed the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

John Hersey wrote about it in the The New Yorker in 1946.

Just as she turned her head away from the windows, the room was filled with a blinding light. She was paralyzed by fear, fixed still in her chair for a long moment (the plant was 1,600 yards from the center).

Everything fell, and Miss Sasaki lost consciousness. The ceiling dropped suddenly and the wooden floor above collapsed in splinters and the people up there came down and the roof above them gave way; but principally and first of all, the bookcases right behind her swooped forward and the contents threw her down, with her left leg horribly twisted and breaking underneath her. There, in the tin factory, in the first moment of the atomic age, a human being was crushed by books.

Plus, we take a look at the case of a disappearing monarch. Former King Juan Carlos quit Spain over investigations into his finances and business practices in both Spain and Switzerland. We wrap up all the headlines from around the world during this global edition of the News Roundup. Interview:
https://the1a.org/segments/beirut-explosion-news-roundup-international/

Opinion | Trump’s own intelligence officials just undercut efforts to smear Joe Biden - The Washington Post

President Trump’s own intelligence officials just released a statement confirming something we all know: Russia is interfering in our election with the express goal of harming Trump’s opponent, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. But there’s another element to this surprise move that is also worth noting: In so doing, Trump’s intel officials made it a whole lot harder for Trump’s allies to push narratives they’ve been using to smear Biden. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/07/trumps-own-intelligence-officials-just-undercut-efforts-smear-joe-biden/

‘Friday Night Massacre’ at US Postal Service as Postmaster General—a major Trump donor—ousts top officials – Raw Story

Government watchdogs, Democratic lawmakers, and pro-democracy advocates declared it a “Friday Night Massacre” for the U.S. Postal Service after news broke in a classic end-of-the-week dump that Louis DeJoy—a major GOP donor to President Donald Trump and the recently appointed Postmaster General—had issued a sweeping overhaul of the agency, including the ouster of top executives from key posts and the reshuffling of more than two dozen other officials and operational managers. https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/friday-night-massacre-at-us-postal-service-as-postmaster-general-a-major-trump-donor-ousts-top-officials/

Trump considering order on pre-existing condition protections, which already exist - Axios

President Trump announced on Friday he will pursue an executive order requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions, something that is already law. https://www.axios.com/trump-executive-order-insurance-preexisting-conditions-6482b96a-e9fe-4efe-8d40-141d1adee730.html

Lawmakers plead with Trump admin to declassify more about 2020 meddling

"...over the past few days we have received classified briefings about the continuing, absolutely shocking, and startling threats from malign foreign interference in our elections that is potentially ongoing," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday. "It's absolutely chilling, based on the facts we received in a classified setting.""
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/lawmakers-plead-trump-admin-declassify-more-about-2020-meddling-n1236205

Donald Trump's Long History Of Racism Laid Bare In New Ad | HuffPost

From the racist “birther” conspiracy theory about Barack Obama to his attacks on the Central Park Five. ....
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-racism-progressive-pac-ad_n_5f2e4e7bc5b64d7a55f3c364

Trump presses debate commission and Biden for debate advantages. - The Washington Post

President Trump’s efforts to influence the timing and makeup of this fall’s presidential debates, some of the last planned events with the power to shift the trajectory of the campaign, have been rejected, with both the independent debate commission and the Biden campaign showing no interest in altering course. But that has not stopped Trump from trying to gain advantage by making the debates a top-tier issue, as he and his advisers circulate unfounded claims that Joe Biden may try to dodge the events and suggest that the Democrat may try to cheat by using notes if the sessions are held virtually. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-tries-to-muscle-through-changes-in-presidential-debates-to-gain-advantage/2020/08/07/367ffbb8-d8b7-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html

97,000 children reportedly test positive for coronavirus in two weeks as schools gear up for instruction - CBS News

Nearly 100,000 children tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics finds. Just over 97,000 children tested positive for the coronavirus from July 16 to July 30, according to the association. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-kids-schools-in-person-instruction/

'An insidious ploy': Trump admin's decision to cut census short could have dire consequences

Undercounting populations like Black Americans and Native tribes could skew the balance of power in the U.S. for years to come.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/insidious-ploy-trump-admin-s-decision-cut-census-short-could-n1236156

Complaint Filed Against Lawyer Working for Kanye West and Trump Campaigns

Watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a grievance on Friday against a lawyer who may be working for President Donald Trump's reelection campaign and the presidential campaign of performer Kanye West simultaneously.
https://www.newsweek.com/complaint-filed-against-lawyer-working-kanye-west-trump-campaigns-1523757

Unwanted Truths: Inside Trump’s Battles With U.S. Intelligence Agencies - The New York Times

In early July of last year, the first draft of a classified document known as a National Intelligence Estimate circulated among key members of the agencies making up the U.S. intelligence community. N.I.E.s are intended to be that community’s most authoritative class of top-secret document, reflecting its consensus judgment on national-security matters ranging from Iran’s nuclear capabilities to global terrorism. The draft of the July 2019 N.I.E. ran to about 15 pages, with another 10 pages of appendices and source notes.....
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/magazine/us-russia-intelligence.html

Trump hosted press conference filled with falsehoods at NJ golf club - Business Insider

President Donald Trump hosted a press conference at his golf club in New Jersey — filled with a number of falsehoods delivered to dozens in a non-socially-distanced crowd. Trump addressed reporters and patrons in the ballroom of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Friday in a wide-ranging press conference that touched upon the US coronavirus response. ....
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-press-conference-falsehoods-new-jersey-golf-club-2020-8

White House reportedly asked about adding Trump to Mount Rushmore - Business Insider

It's not possible to carve a fifth president's face into South Dakota's Mount Rushmore national memorial — there's no secure surface left, according to the National Park Service. But that didn't stop the Trump administration from asking.
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-gov-noem-trumps-desire-carved-into-mt-rushmore-2020-8

'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions | TheHill

Democrats pounced on President Trump’s announcement Friday that he may sign an executive order to require that health insurers cover all preexisting conditions, claiming that the president is trying to run under accomplishments from the Obama administration. Critical lawmakers were quick to point out that such protections for preexisting conditions were already implemented under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Obama administration’s signature health care law that Trump and Republicans are currently trying to repeal.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/511177-this-already-exists-democrats-seize-on-trump-executive-order-on-preexisting

Trump aides exploring executive actions to curb voting by mail - POLITICO

This past spring, President Donald Trump began a full-fledged assault on voting by mail, tweeting, retweeting and railing about massive fraud and rigged elections with scant evidence. Then the Republican apparatus got to work backing up the president. ....
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/08/trump-wants-to-cut-mail-in-voting-the-republican-machine-is-helping-him-392428

Biden: Trump can't be allowed to open Grand Canyon for uranium mining - Business Insider

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden condemned plans to mine uranium around Arizona's Grand Canyon and said President Trump's nuclear energy plan would "drive a drill into the heart of one of Arizona's cultural and economic cornerstones." https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-trump-cant-be-allowed-open-grand-canyon-uranium-mining-2020-8

Civil death: how millions of Americans lost their right to vote

Voter disenfranchisement is an American tradition – we look at the historical roots of civil death https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/07/americans-voting-rights-disenfranchisement

What Are The Most Atheist Countries? | NowThis World

Religion has played a major role in the development of the culture and society, but in recent years, more and more countries have turned their backs on the whole idea of believing in a central diety. So, which countries are the most atheist, and why? ....
https://youtu.be/uEDObDdOPTA

36 Easy Questions for Atheists

https://youtu.be/pO3NlygMCOA

John Roberts’ stealth attack on abortion rights in June Medical v. Russo just paid off.

A federal appeals court will allow Arkansas to create degrading new hurdles for people seeking abortions.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/08/john-roberts-8th-circuit-abortion-rights-arkansas.html