Decoded by POLITICO

Crammed living quarters. No time off. A lack of protective gear. Advocates warned at the start of the pandemic that farms were ripe for outbreaks. POLITICO’s Ximena Bustillo explains how decades of workplace issues created the “perfect storm” for a coronavirus disaster among farmworkers. Plus, McConnell eyes a vote on a narrow coronavirus relief bill. And Trump expands a ban on offshore drilling.

Ximena Bustillo is an agriculture and trade policy intern for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: Harvest of shame: Farmworkers face coronavirus disaster

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The House of Representatives is set to vote on marijuana legalization later this month — the first time in history either body of Congress will consider removing the drug from the Controlled Substances Act. POLITICO's Natalie Fertig breaks down why Democrats are voting on the bill despite the fact that it'll be dead upon arrival in the Senate.

Natalie Fertig is a cannabis policy reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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Facebook says it will ban political ads the week before the November election. POLITICO's Steven Overly breaks down how the effort aims to prevent the spread of misinformation — and looks at whether big tech giants are going to be able to handle a chaotic election that could be ripe for misinformation. Plus, House Democrats call for an investigation into whether the Trump administration violated the Hatch Act during the RNC. And the EU urges the US reverse sanctions against staff on the International Criminal Court.

Steven Overly covers technology policy for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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Earlier this summer, Covid cases were dipping and states started reopening. Weeks later, there was a resurgence. POLITICO's Dan Goldberg and Dan Diamond explain how the Trump administration is looking at a repeat of that situation — just two months ahead of the election. Plus, Biden and the DNC report record fundraising numbers for August. And the German government says Putin's fiercest critic was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent.

Dan Diamond is a health policy reporter for POLITICO.
Dan Goldberg is a health care reporter for POLITICO. 
Jeremy Siegel  is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

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Clashes between racial justice advocates and Trump supporters. Cries of "Black lives matter" met with chants of "all lives matter." POLITICO's Natasha Korecki gives an on-the-ground look at the city reeling from a police shooting and unrest in its streets. Plus, the Trump administration says it's banning evictions through December. And the Justice Department announces new restrictions on surveillance of campaigns.

Natasha Korecki is a national correspondent for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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Earlier this summer, Hawaii was a Covid success story. Now it’s one of the worst-performing states in the nation. POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein explains why the state’s swift unravelling is a cautionary tale. Plus, Kenosha is on edge ahead of a visit from President Trump. And a court deals a big blow to the House’s investigative powers.

Alice Miranda Ollstein is a health care reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: Paradise lost: How Hawaii went from Covid-19 star to cautionary tale

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Are we a country that's failed disastrously to respond to a global pandemic, or a country that's overrun by protests and violence on the streets? Democrats and Republicans painted wildly different pictures of America at their party conventions this month. POLITICO's Scott Bland breaks down the biggest takeaways from the past two weeks — and what they tell us about what's next in the lead-up to the election. Plus, Trump is set to visit Kenosha. And European leaders call for another election in Belarus.

Scott Bland is a politics editor POLITICO and host of Nerdcast.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Subscribe to POLITICO's Nerdcast.

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Protests are ongoing in several cities after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Pro athletes in multiple leagues are striking to draw attention to racial injustice. And Black Lives Matter organizers are looking to channel that momentum into policy changes. POLITICO's Maya King explores what's next for the movement. Plus, the Trump administration unveils a major expansion of Covid testing. And relief negotiations have resumed ... kinda.

Maya King covers race, demographics and the 2020 election for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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With all eyes on Vice President Mike Pence after his speech at the RNC last night, POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Dan Diamond explore the past 6 months of Pence’s tenure as the leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force — and what it all means for his political future. Plus, the CDC issues new testing guidance. And the intelligence community contradicts Trump’s baseless claims about mail-in voting.

Adam Cancryn is a health reporter for POLITICO.
Dan Diamond is a health care policy reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Stay up on POLITICO's latest coverage of the DNC with POLITICO Minutes.

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Nursing homes across the country have closed their doors to visitors amid the pandemic. POLITICO’s Alexandra Levine explains how that lack of human connection — combined with communication problems — has left nursing home residents and their families in the dark. Plus, airlines are planning massive layoffs if Congress doesn’t renew payroll support. And Wisconsin's governor declares a state of emergency amid protests over a police shooting.

Alexandra Levine is a tech reporter for POLITICO and author of the Morning Tech newsletter.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

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