What A Day

While Trump is casually threatening to be an all out dictator, the economic crisis he continues not to solve continues. New unemployment data show the recovery is slowing down. We look at whether Congress is any closer to another relief package. 

Next week Congress is expected to call in big tech CEOs for another big hearing, this time on Section 230 and the moderation of social media platforms. We explain.

And in headlines: Breonna Taylor protests continue, Eric Trump ordered to testify, and protecting Joshua trees.

Yesterday, the grand jury in Jefferson County, Kentucky announced that only one of the officers who shot at Breonna Taylor would be indicted… and that officer’s charges don’t have anything to do with Taylor’s killing. Last night following the decision, two police officers were shot in downtown Louisville.

We spoke to Kentucky state representative Charles Booker hours after the decision about what comes next. Booker has been organizing and protesting in the streets for months for Breonna Taylor and racial justice.

And in headlines: lawyers for the family of Dijon Kizzee dispute LASD’s account of his shooting, four protestors from Kenosha sue Facebook, and Seattle’s city council overrides the Mayor to cut funding to the police.

Show Links:

Hood To The Holler: https://hoodtotheholler.org/

The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/louisville/?form=donate

Invest/Divest Louisville: https://www.investdivest.org/

America has passed the grim milestone of 200,000 deaths in the COVID-19 crisis, which was made far worse by Trump’s abjectly poor leadership. The FDA is expected to roll out new, more rigorous standards for approving the coronavirus vaccines following concerns that Trump would try to push out an unsafe drug. 

As the election approaches, there have been a deluge of legal cases seeking to address how people can vote during the pandemic. We discuss legal battles in four swing states: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. 

And in headlines: a Black man in Wisconsin is suing police after being held at gunpoint in his own home, the Trump administration tries to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran against the UN’s will, and millions of dollars in mask fines for NFL coaches.

Show links:

"They're called 'naked ballots': Here's why they could play a pivotal role in the election"

https://www.wtae.com/article/theyre-called-naked-ballots-heres-why-they-could-play-a-pivotal-role-in-the-election/34114663#

Info & volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania:

https://votesaveamerica.com/state/pennsylvania/

Arizona Senator Martha McSally said she will support a Senate vote when Trump nominates a Supreme Court Justice, but she might not have a chance to participate if she loses her race against Democrat Mark Kelly in November. Since McSally is an appointed Senator instead of an elected one, she could be replaced by Kelly within the year if she loses. We take a look at the race, and what else is at stake.

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office forecasts more than a doubling of the national debt by 2050, largely due to COVID-19. In Europe, a second wave of coronavirus is hitting Spain, France, and the UK, and could be worse than the first.

And in headlines: Louisville expected to announce grand jury decision in Breonna Taylor case this week, leaked financial documents reveal banks work with warlords and Paul Manafort, and Microsoft buys Bethesda.

Show links: 

votesaveamerica.com/verify

votesaveamerica.com/everylastvote

Supreme Court Justice and gender equality pioneer Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87 on Friday. The immediate response online and elsewhere was a mix of grief, fear, gratitude and determination.

Within 24 hours of her passing, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump both said they would move forward to replace her, despite her dying wish as well as past precedent set in 2016. We talk to constitutional law professor Leah Litman about Ginsburg’s legacy and what’s next for the court. 

And in headlines: Tiktok and WeChat live to die another day, the US passes 200,000 Covid-19 deaths, and why people are buying flights to nowhere.

Show links:

votesaveamerica.com/getmitch

strictscrutinypodcast.com

Two pharma companies released information about their vaccine trials, including details on their timelines and specific metrics they’ll be using to assess efficacy in early data. It’s all part of a push to gain public trust. We explain what to expect, and when. 

While Congress is still stalled on another relief bill, Republicans in the Senate are busy confirming federal judges nominated by Trump.

And in headlines: Bill Barr says all the wrong things, the USPS wanted to send us masks but was stopped, and Banksy loses out to a greeting card company.

Show links:

www.votesaveamerica.com/getmitch