InProgress: A Weekly reCAP
<[link removed]>

====================
The Rush To Replace RBG
====================

The nation lost a hero last Friday. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was a role model for millions, a powerful voice for the people, and a tireless defender of fairness and justice. She never stopped fighting, right up to the end, and we should honor her by fighting for her values and not allowing a replacement that will oppose everything she fought for.

With Election Day less than 40 days away and early voting already taking place in some states, polls show <[link removed]> that a wide majority of Americans think that Justice Ginsburg's seat should be held open until the election is decided. Yet President Donald Trump has announced that he will make a nomination this Saturday and the Senate will move forward with a vote, even though this appears to conflict with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) own rule that he cited when refusing to vote on President Barack Obama's nominee several months before the 2016 election.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has gone as far as announcing <[link removed]> that the Senate Republicans already have the votes needed to confirm the next Justice-even before knowing who the nominee is. This is making a mockery of the Senate's responsibility to "advise and consent" and adding insult to injury by signaling that this is a bigger priority for them than passing legislation to help Americans struggling to get by in the midst of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

It's important, however, to see past this avalanche of hypocrisy and focus on why they are such a rush: Immediately in the crosshairs will be the Affordable Care Act, even as nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19, a new preexisting condition. This is also a chance to undo decades of progress in LGBTQ rights, disability rights, voting rights, abortion rights, access to health care, access to clean air and water ... the list goes on.

Generation Progress, the youth advocacy arm of CAP, has an action that you can take right away to make sure we honor Justice Ginsburg's legacy and protect the rights of all Americans. Tell the Senate: No New SCOTUS Nominee Until After Inauguration <[link removed]>.


-------------------------------------
In the Spotlight: Breonna Taylor

"Breonna Taylor"

This week, a grand jury announced charges six months after Breonna Taylor was killed by police as she slept. Not only are these charges not enough to achieve justice for Breonna Taylor, according to media reports, not one of the three counts announced in the indictment relate to the actual killing of Breonna. This is not an isolated incident in Louisville, Kentucky, but something that Black and other marginalized communities encounter nationwide, every day.

As a country, we need to press our elected leaders to make sure that police departments and officers are held accountable to the people they are sworn to protect and serve. Police departments across the country have an expansive authority and have been granted wide latitude to police without meaningful oversight or accountability. It is critical to right-size the role of the police and hold them accountable to the people they serve, with more transparency and emphasis on community-based solutions <[link removed]>.

-------------------------------------
In the Spotlight: Debate Night

The first presidential debate of the 2020 election is coming up on Tuesday, September 29, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST. Please join CAP on Twitter <[link removed]> and watch the debate with us! No matter your topic of interest, our experts have you covered. Here are some of the thought leaders who will be tweeting throughout the evening:

*Criminal Justice: Ed Chung (@edchungDC <[link removed]>)

*Courts: Maggie Jo Buchanan (@mags_buchanan <[link removed]>)

*Disability Justice: Rebecca Cokley (@RebeccaCokley <[link removed]>)

*Early Childhood: MK Falgout (@mkfalgout <[link removed]>)

*Energy and Environment: Sally Hardin (@sallyahardin <[link removed]>)

*Gun Violence Prevention: Chelsea Parsons (@ChelseaCParsons <[link removed]>)

*Health Care: Emily Gee (EmilyG_DC <[link removed]>) and Nicole Rapfogel (NicoleRapfogel <[link removed]>)

*Immigration: Tom Jawetz (@TomJawetz <[link removed]>)
*K-12 Education: Khalilah Harris (@Ed2BeFree <[link removed]>)

*National Security: Katrina Mulligan (@NatSecMulligan <[link removed]>)

*Women's Rights: Shilpa Phadke (@shilpaphadke <[link removed]>)

-------------------------------------
The Solutions We Need

To address the most acute challenges of our time, policy experts must center solutions on difficult, chronic problems <[link removed]>. That has never been more evident than right now, as current events highlight and deepen the disparities that have long existed in the United States.

As Danyelle Solomon, CAP's vice president of Race and Ethnicity Policy, said in a new video <[link removed]>: "The racial wealth gap is worsening, people are still being killed at the hands of law enforcement, and Black and brown communities are disproportionately suffering from COVID-19. This is the result of deliberate policy decisions."

That's why CAP is showcasing its own policy solutions to meet this moment, work that speaks to what government should do to capitalize on opportunities for structural change at this inflection point in the nation's history. Bookmark this page to follow all the latest additions <[link removed]> and watch this space for highlights.

-------------------------------------
Major Stories This Week

The USDA Made the COVID-19 Hunger Crisis Worse
An agricultural tycoon determined to gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) now finds himself charged with responding to a growing hunger crisis amid a devastating pandemic. The poorest Americans are having even more difficulty meeting their basic needs.
<[link removed]>

The Importance of Poll Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We need new poll workers to replace older workers who have resigned due to health concerns related to the virus. We also need to make these workers feel safe and to offer them recognition for their notable service to our democracy.
<[link removed]>

How Trump Has Harmed Faith Communities
A commonly held but misleading perception in our discourse is that the Trump administration's policies have been largely favorable to faith communities. In reality, the administration caters to a select group of conservative white Christians who make up only a portion of America's diverse faith traditions.
<[link removed]>

The Path to Rural Resilience
We must ensure that rural communities hit hard by changing economic and environmental trends have the resources and support they need to chart a new future and create high-quality, sustainable jobs.
<[link removed]>

-------------------------------------
Upcoming Events

EVENT SERIES: Ensuring a Quality Education for Every Child
This five-part online event series will explore five key issue areas that a new public education agenda should include. Check out all the events <[link removed]> and sign up for the upcoming installments:

Friday, October 2, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
By Us for Us: Youth Voice in Education Policymaking | RSVP <[link removed]>

Friday, October 9, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
From Education to the Workforce: Building a Pipeline for LGBTQ Youth | RSVP <[link removed]>

Friday, October 16, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Increasing Federal Investment in K-12 Public Education With an Equity Lens | RSVP <[link removed]>

SUPPORT CAP'S WORK <[link removed]>

-------------------------------------
FOLLOW US ON:

"Facebook" <[link removed]>

"Twitter" <[link removed]>

"Instagram" <[link removed]>

"YouTube" <[link removed]>

Privacy Policy <[link removed]>

Manage Email Preferences <[link removed]>

Unsubscribe <[link removed]>

Center for American Progress | 1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor | Washington, D.C. xxxxxx

This email was sent to [email protected].