What A Day

Senate hearings began yesterday to consider Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Democrats tried to keep the focus on the Affordable Care Act, while Republicans treated the day like they were writing a profile of Barrett for a conservative version of Marie Claire. 

With three weeks left until November 3rd, we look at recent polling, what it says about swing voters, and the state of early voting across the country.

And in headlines: the California GOP installs illegal ballot-drop boxes, Facebook announces it will ban Holocaust denial, and the epic battle between Microsoft and Trickbot.

Show Links:

https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/

Senate confirmation hearings begin today for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's Supreme Court nominee. The president is scheduled to return to the campaign trail today just over a week after being hospitalized with COVID-19, after his doctor released a memo saying he’s no longer contagious, but providing no other information. 

Daily new cases of COVID-19 in the US are creeping above 50,000, which is the highest since August. Our guest host for today—epidemiologist and former Detroit health commissioner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—answers our questions on what’s to come this winter, the long-term effects of COVID-19, and how to fight “vaccine hesitancy."

And in headlines: Nigeria’s government disbands a controversial police unit, Pakistan bans TikTok, and Jaime Harrison’s record-breaking fundraising against Senator Lindsey Graham.

Show Links:

America Dissected, hosted by Abdul El-Sayed https://crooked.com/podcast-series/america-dissected/

Thirteen men were charged yesterday in connection to an alleged violent plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. This is unsurprising when you consider Trump’s “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” tweets from earlier in the year that encouraged armed protestors to mount anti-government and anti-COVID restriction rallies. 

The fate of next week’s debate is in question after an extended back-and-forth between the Trump and Biden campaigns, which concluded with Trump insisting that he should be allowed to debate in person next week, even though he could still be contagious. House speaker Nancy Pelosi will introduce legislation today to create a “Commission on Presidential Capacity” that would evaluate the president’s mental and physical health for office. 

And in headlines: Hurricane Delta is set to be 2020’s tenth named hurricane to hit the US, incarcerated inmates can now apply for stimulus checks, and Google’s parent company introduces Waymo. Plus, Crooked's own Tommy Vietor fills in for Gideon.

Show Links:

CARES Act Relief for Incarcerated People (Deadline 10/30/2020)

https://caresactprisoncase.org/

Last night was the first and only vice presidential debate, with Senator Kamala Harris and VP Mike Pence facing off. Their conversation covered police killings of Black Americans, Trump’s response to the pandemic, Roe v. Wade, and more. We discuss a debate that was a lot more measured than the last one, but still very frustrating. 

Trump went back to the Oval Office yesterday and released another long-winded video in which he said contacting COVID-19 was a “blessing from God” and described the antibody cocktail he received as a “cure.” Outside of DC, there are still over 40,000 new cases being identified daily, with the Dakotas and Wisconsin as particular hot spots.

And in headlines: George Floyd killer Derek Chauvin is released on $1 million bail, a Greek neo-fascist political party is found guilty of running a criminal organization, and SNL pays their audience.

Trump said yesterday he won't negotiate with Democrats on another Covid relief before the election. He sent a torrent of other tweets too, all while more people in D.C. continued to test positive, including Trump's senior adviser Stephen Miller and General Mark Milley.

Former South Carolina Democratic party chair Jaime Harrison is tied with Senator Lindsey Graham in a tight senate race according to recent polling. We talk to Harrison about his campaign, his vision for South Carolina, the Supreme Court, and more. 

And in headlines: the FDA announced its guidelines for vaccines, 4 million people have already voted in the US, and Cole Haan debuts Slack shoes.

Show Links:

votesaveamerica.com/getmitch

crooked.com/debate