1. This Week in Elections  
 (Only 19 days to go!) 
 

🎙️ The second Presidential debate, which was scheduled for tonight, has been cancelled after Trump refused to take part in a virtual debate format. The non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates had decided to hold the debate virtually for safety reasons after Trump contracted the coronavirus. In response, the Biden and Trump campaigns will be holding dueling town halls tonight at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on ABC and NBC respectively. 1 

📈 According to a joint NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Biden is leading Trump in national polls by 11 percentage points -- 53% to 42% -- just 19 days before the election. Biden's margin is smaller in key states, including in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (8 points), Michigan (7 points), and Arizona and Florida (3 points). 

💻 Online social media giants Facebook and Twitter have restricted the distribution of an unsubstantiated New York Post article critical of Biden. Facebook revealed it had altered its recommendation algorithm to give third-party fact checkers time to evaluate the veracity of the story. Twitter went so far as to block users from posting links to the article. This marks an unprecedented level of action from the platforms in combating the spread of misinformation that was a hallmark of the 2016 elections.
 

 

 2. Election Analysis 
 

War-loving, Iran-hating Lindsey Graham is on the brink of losing his Senate seat
Jamal Abdi, Executive Director - NIAC Action

Chuckling with his buddies on Fox and Friends in late 2018, Lindsey Graham couldn't resist brandishing his trademark sense of humor and cracking a joke about taking a DNA test a la Elizabeth Warren. "It'll probably turn out I'm Iranian. That would be, like, terrible," he quipped on national TV, prompting uneasy reactions from even his Fox News sycophants (and eventually an on-air rationalizing and semi-atonement from the Senator).

Now the joke is on Lindsey Graham, who may no longer be a Senator in just a few short months. 

Graham's disdain for Iranians, and failure to distinguish between the Iranian government and the Iranian people, has been part of a long pattern. For years he has advocated deliberately brutal sanctions against ordinary Iranians in the name of "freedom" while acknowledging they would likely fail. He tried to commit the U.S. to backing Netanyahu attacking Iran and has called for the U.S. to "neuter" Iran with military strikes that he acknowledged would lead to war. 

Now, he is in the race of his life, going against a charismatic, skilled challenger in Jaime Harrison, and is increasingly desperate to salvage his Senate career.

📌 Donate to support Jaime Harrison and oust Lindsay Graham >

📰 Read the full analysis >


 3. Actions To Take This Week 
 

Phonebank for Yassamin Ansari this Weekend!
Join us on Saturday, October 17th at 3pm PT/6pm ET to phone bank for NIAC Action endorsee Yassamin Ansari. Yassmin, a climate activist and rising political star in the Iranian-American community, is running for Phoenix City Council (District 7, Arizona) and she needs your help! If elected, Yass will be the first Iranian American woman to hold public office in Arizona. Her campaign staff will provide quick training to attendees, and then we'll get right to work making calls together. 

📞 RSVP here to join Saturday's phone bank and help Yassamin cross the finish line!

Make your 2020 voting plan today!
Living during a global pandemic makes it more important than ever to have a solid plan to cast your vote, including by figuring out how and when you will vote ahead of Election Day. NIAC has put together a voting plan worksheet in both English and Persian to help you create your own plan. And why should you make a voting plan?2 Because studies show that creating a voting plan can increase turnout among eligible-voters. So make sure to create your plan today!

✏️  Fill Out Your 2020 Voter Plan Worksheet

✏️  برنامه خود برای رأی دادن در انتخابات ۲۰۲۰ را تنظیم کنید

Support cAmpaigns Like these.
Donate Today.

1. Find out how you can watch town-halls live here.
2. Watch all videos of prominent Iranian Americans sharing why you must vote here.

NIAC Action is dedicated to building political power for the Iranian-American community to advance peace & diplomacy, secure equitable immigration policies, and protect the civil rights of all Americans. NIAC, the 501(c)(3) sister organization of NIAC Action, is dedicated to educating & engaging the Iranian-American community in order to further advance these priorities.

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