And the USPS makes an important announcement

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At long last, the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee has released its final conclusions in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The 1,000-page report affirms some of the most damning findings of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe. Under the direction of Vladimir Putin, Russia hacked the DNC's servers to obtain and release through WikiLeaks information it thought would damage Hillary Clinton's campaign. With indifference to the fact that it was furthering a Russian election interference effort, the Trump campaign used Roger Stone to get advance information it could exploit from the Russia-WikiLeaks operation. Stone shared his findings directly with Trump. Open and shut. —Mindy Finn

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** 1. Yep, Mueller was right
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The Senate Intelligence Committee today released the fifth and final volume of its report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, which concludes that members of the Trump campaign represented a major "counterintelligence threat." The painstaking bipartisan investigation supports some of the key findings of the probe by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who identified contacts between the campaign and individuals close to the Russian government. ([link removed])
* — Manafort was a major problem. Campaign chair Paul Manafort worked on influence operations for the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and hired and worked closely with Russian national Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the committee calls a "Russian intelligence officer." Manafort's "willingness to share information" with them represented a "grave counterintelligence threat," the committee wrote. —Axios ([link removed])
*
* — Like a trolling Stone. The report also affirms that Trump and senior campaign officials sought information on WikiLeaks dumps through Roger Stone, and Trump spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks on "multiple occasions." Stone also drafted several pro-Russia social media posts for Trump. —Newsweek ([link removed])
*
* — So that explains it. Late last night, Stone unexpectedly dropped the appeal of his seven federal felony convictions for seeking to thwart a House investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Perhaps the report’s revelations had a little something to do with it. —Politico ([link removed])

MORE: Trump retweets Russian propaganda about Biden that US intel agencies say is intended to influence 2020 election —CNN ([link removed])


** 2. USPS is back in business
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Amid intense congressional and public pressure, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced today that the U.S. Postal Service will suspend certain operational changes, like removing mail processing equipment and collection boxes, until after the November election. In his statement, he also reassured Americans that the agency can handle the anticipated surge in mail-in voting. ([link removed])
* — "To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said, noting that some efforts predated his arrival at the USPS in June. "The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall." —The Wall Street Journal ([link removed])
*
* — The announcement came on the heels of a lawsuit. Filed in federal court yesterday by four voters from different states, the suit sought to reverse several of DeJoy's changes to the USPS, including reinstating overtime pay for postal workers and re-implementing sorting machines, and calling for a court order barring DeJoy and President Trump "from engaging in any further attempt to deny [the plaintiffs] the right to mail in their vote." —Politico ([link removed])
*
* — Congress to get briefed. David Williams, who resigned as vice-chair of the USPS Board of Governors in April over "Trump's undue influence," is scheduled to give a private briefing to a group of House Democrats on Thursday. Stay tuned. —NBC News ([link removed])

MORE: Brescia: The USPS is a crucial tool for democracy—helping the left and the right organize —The Washington Post ([link removed])


** 3. Taylor: Trump is a threat to national security
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"Trump showed vanishingly little interest in subjects of vital national security interest, including cybersecurity, domestic terrorism, and malicious foreign interference in U.S. affairs. How can you run a huge organization under those conditions? You can't. At DHS, daily management of its 250,000 employees suffered because of these frequent follies, putting the safety of Americans at risk." — ([link removed]) The Washington Post ([link removed])

Ed. Note: Miles Taylor served at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as chief of staff.

MORE: 'I'm confident he won't make the same mistakes as this president': Former senior Trump official Miles Taylor endorses Joe Biden in damning video —The Independent ([link removed])


** 4. DNC's first virtual convention kicks off
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The Democratic Party's unprecedented virtual convention began last night, without crowds, floor fights, or sign-waving, reflecting social distancing guidelines necessitated by the pandemic. The program was hosted by actress Eva Longoria Baston and mixed live speeches and pre-recorded video packages, including a Zoom-style singing of the national anthem. There were also interviews and video reflections from a wide variety of people explaining how their lives have been affected by the health and financial crises of the Trump era. —The Washington Post ([link removed])
* — NeverTrumpers speak out. Some "unexpected voices" of the evening included four prominent anti-Trump Republicans who are endorsing Democratic nominee Joe Biden—former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Rep. Susan Molinari, and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman. "I'm a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country," Kasich said. —Financial Times ([link removed])
*
* — A powerful condemnation. One of the most poignant speeches of the night was delivered by Kristin Urquiza, whose 65-year-old father died from COVID-19 in June, "alone, in the ICU, with a nurse holding his hand." Urquiza said, "His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that he paid with his life." —The New York Times ([link removed])
*
* — "It is what it is." The keynote speaker was former First Lady Michelle Obama, who hailed Biden as a "profoundly decent man" and highlighted his experience as vice president under her husband's administration. Of Trump she said, "He cannot meet this moment," and she implored Americans to vote "like our lives depend on it." —Politico ([link removed])

MORE: St. Louis couple, Covington Catholic student to speak at Republican National Convention —USA Today ([link removed])


** 5. Williams: Social media dodges blame for spreading hate
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"Earlier this month, the American Psychological Association said that by providing a platform for hateful speech, Facebook is increasing prejudice in the country and 'knowingly harming the welfare of [its] consumers, employees, and shareholders.' And 20 state attorneys general wrote a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Facebook, calling on him to do more to stop his site's role in accelerating the nationwide rise in hate crimes, harassment, and promotion of conspiracy theories that lead to violence." —The Hill ([link removed])

Ed. Note: Juan Williams is an author and political analyst.

MORE: What happens when ex-Navy SEALs go full QAnon? —The Daily Beast ([link removed])
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** 6. COVID-19 now a leading cause of death
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The novel coronavirus is currently the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind only heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of death in the U.S. is higher than in several other countries. Last week, Americans were eight times more likely than Europeans to die from the coronavirus. In total, the U.S. has confirmed more than 5.4 million cases of COVID-19, leading to at least 170,434 deaths. —The Hill ([link removed])
* — Young and oblivious. The coronavirus spread is now being driven by people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, many of whom are unaware they are infected, according to the World Health Organization. The proportion of younger people among those infected has risen globally, putting vulnerable populations, including the elderly and sick, at greater risk. —Reuters ([link removed])
*
* — The coronavirus long-haulers. Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that even young, otherwise healthy individuals can suffer serious lingering coronavirus symptoms for months after getting sick. He made the comments the same day that fellow White House adviser Dr. Deborah Birx said tens of thousands of lives could be saved if people consistently wear masks. —Newsweek ([link removed])
*
* — What happens in Vegas... When it comes to COVID-19, it doesn't stay in Vegas. Casinos reopened in Las Vegas on June 4, and data indicates it has become a likely hotbed for the spread of the coronavirus. But if tourists return home and then test positive for COVID-19, the limitations of contact tracing in the midst of a pandemic make it unlikely such an outbreak would be identified. —ProPublica ([link removed])

MORE: Democracy after coronavirus: Five challenges for the 2020s —Brookings ([link removed])


** 7. Joehnk & Wheeler: In Thailand, protesters go all in
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"At this point, only massive repression could put a lid on the demands for reform aired in recent weeks—on the other hand, bloodshed would most likely be self-defeating for the authorities. Back in 1976, the Oct. 6 massacre spurred thousands of students to join the Communist rebels in the jungle. Students today are not calling for the monarchy's abolition so much as for the authorities' accountability under the law." — ([link removed]) The New York Times ([link removed])

Ed. Note: Tom Felix Joehnk is a journalist and an economist. Matt Wheeler is a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

MORE: Thai anti-government protesters rally in the thousands, as challenge to the once-untouchable monarchy grows —The Washington Post ([link removed])


** 8. We can't even agree on how to vote
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Undermining the integrity of our elections has apparently worked for Donald Trump, as 45% of voters are not confident that the results of the election will be counted accurately, according to a poll by NBC News/The Wall Street Journal. An equal percentage does have confidence in the vote count, but that's down from 59% in 2016. Further, voters' plans for how to cast their ballots differ widely based on which candidate they support. ([link removed])
* — Pro vote-by-mail. Nearly half (47%) of Biden supporters say they plan to vote by mail. An additional 21% say they will cast a vote before Election Day at an early in-person voting site. Only about a quarter of Biden voters plan to vote on Election Day at a polling place. ([link removed])
*
* — Pro in-person voting. On the other side, 66% of Trump supporters say they will vote in person on Election Day. Just 11% say they plan to vote by mail, and 20% say they will vote early in person. —NBC News ([link removed])
*
* — A lone voice. Sen. Mitt Romney said recently that politicians attacking vote-by-mail are threatening global democracy and urged the federal government to ensure that people are able to vote this November. "That's more important even than the outcome of the vote," he said. "We have got to preserve the principle of democracy, or the trend we’re on is going to continue to get worse." —PBS ([link removed])

MORE: Shafer: The empty threats behind Trump's mail-in voting mischief —Politico ([link removed])


** 9. Callan: What if Trump doesn't leave?
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"The peaceful and voluntary presidential transition is one of the enduring glories of American democracy. The precedent was established by George Washington, who refused to run for a third term despite pressure to do so in 1797. No American president has ever sought to retain the presidency after losing an election." —CNN ([link removed])

MORE: In Mankato, Trump rips critics, vows to win Minnesota —MPR News ([link removed])


** 10. An American Story: Nurse helps out colleagues in need
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Nurse Stacy Mason instituted a free pantry at Mary Washington Hospital in Virginia to help colleagues struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic. Mason has worked in the hospital's ICU for over seven years, and established the "team cupboard" in May 2020. ([link removed])
* — The initiative started as an effort to help workers in the ICU, but quickly grew to include the entire hospital system. Since launching the pantry, donations—including non-perishable food, baby products, and toiletries—have poured in from the surrounding community. ([link removed])
*
* — So many donations have been made that the hospital created three permanent donation and pick-up locations at Mary Washington Hospital, Stafford Hospital, and the Mary Washington Healthcare corporate office. ([link removed])
*
* — "Our ICU is truly like a family, especially now more than ever. We bond together, we celebrate the good times, and mourn the bad times," Mason said. "So when this started happening, we began looking after one another. So I thought if we can do this as an ICU, why can't we do this for the hospital and the whole healthcare system?" — ([link removed]) CNN ([link removed]) (via Karunavirus ([link removed]) )

Ed. Note: Would you like to suggest "An American Story" from your local news? If so, please forward a link to the story to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Thank you!
The only logical explanation for President Trump to oppose any aid to states for mail-in voting (which millions of Americans use every election with near-zero fraud) and aid to the Postal Service (which has been hampered by financial requirements not forced on any other organization, public or private) prior to the November election is because he knows he won't win. His personal character, divisiveness, racism, misogyny, bullying, name-calling, self-serving policies, lawlessness, and other activities and characteristics unbefitting of the Office of the President of the United States are a very clear reason to not elect him to a second term. Those members of Congress who support him in this view are no better. They know the only way to maintain power (in the short term) is to prevent people from voting at all costs. (And when they finally lose power, the pendulum will swing with equal momentum in the opposite direction.) This is because they no longer represent the voice of the people.
—Keith R., Oregon

I really enjoyed Lee B.'s commentary on our founding fathers and the great experiment. Thank you, Lee B.! —Melissa J., Utah

Lee B. from Utah got it right! I'm grateful for our noble and great American heritage and I honor the brave but imperfect souls who founded this nation. They had remarkable vision. —Barbara B., Utah
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** The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.
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Got feedback about THE TOPLINE? Send it to Melissa Amour, Managing Editor, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

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