The week began with questions swirling about the health of President Donald Trump following his COVID-19 diagnosis. In the Washington Post, John Fortier explored a worst-case scenario in which the death or incapacitation of a presidential candidate could result in someone who never appeared on a presidential ballot to ultimately assume the office after the election. Bill Hoagland unpacked the mixed messages from the Trump White House throughout the week about the prospects for further economic relief before the election. Elsewhere, Theresa Cardinal Brown weighed in on changes to the H-1B visa program that could effectively lock out high-skilled workers.

Voting is an essential part of a functioning democracy. Although voting may look very different in 2020 than in past presidential elections, we can work together to ensure that voters can safely cast their ballots while limiting the spread of COVID-19. The Bipartisan Policy Center partnered with the Cleveland Clinic to provide guidance on precautions voters, election officials, and poll workers can take to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community from further spread while exercising the right to vote.

The Bipartisan Policy Center is proud to be a partner of #TrustedInfo2020, and we hope that our involvement amplifies the voices of state and local election officials so voters get the correct information they need to cast their ballot this November. By driving voters directly to election officials’ websites and social media pages, we will ensure voters are getting accurate election information and cut down on the misinformation and disinformation that surrounds elections.

BPC Convened two virtual “trips” this week between Democratic and Republican members of Congress to learn about each other’s districts and legislative priorities. U.S. Reps. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-31) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4) met online and discussed, among other issues, cybersecurity with students and faculty at Cal State University San Bernardino. Also, U.S. Reps. Michael Waltz (R-FL-6) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) had the opportunity to learn about each other’s military service and meet with senior leaders of AmeriCorps and other groups to discuss national service.