Plus: Debate night, the policy solutions we need right now, and more.
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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in a discussion during the Library of Congress National Book Festival in 2019
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 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 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.

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.

Join Us For 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 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:

The Solutions We Need
Twitter video with Danyelle Solomon
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To address the most acute challenges of our time, policy experts must center solutions on difficult, chronic problems. 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: "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 and watch this space for highlights.

Major Stories This Week

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue attend an event in the White House about the food supply chain during the coronavirus pandemic
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.

A poll worker assists voters during early voting in Boston
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.

Black clergy members stand with other attendees during a Mass for racial healing on Castle Island in South Boston
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.

Elementary school students walk to class in Weaverville, California
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.

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 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

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

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

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