It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. We think of it as a mini-magazine in your Inbox.

FIVE SIGNIFICANT NEW FINDINGS ABOUT RUSSIA
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews

Amid the rapid-fire news surrounding Democrats’ impeachment probe of President Donald Trump, today the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report covering an important piece of what used to be the most high-profile investigation at the Capitol: the investigation of Russia’s attacks on the 2016 U.S. election.

The committee published an 85-page report on how the Russians used social media during the election, and why. The document is significant not only for the depth of work involved, but for the fact that it was issued jointly by both Republicans and Democrats on the Senate committee.

Their top-line conclusions mirror what U.S. intelligence agencies have repeated to Congress in the past. 

• The Russians engaged in broad information warfare to influence the 2016 election.
• Their goals were to “undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary (Hillary) Clinton and harm her electibilty and potential presidency.” This included efforts to boost her Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., and Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
• The committee also found the Russians were “overtly and almost invariably supportive of then-candidate Trump.”  

But there is more in this report not to be missed. 

African-Americans were top targets for social media attacks

Revealing more about how the Russians hoped to inflame the country, the committee “found that no single group of Americans was targeted by (Russian) information operatives more than African-Americans.”  The conclusions are sharp.  “By far, race and related issues were the preferred target of the information warfare campaign designed to divide the country in 2016,” the report found.

Russians coordinated their attacks with U.S. campaign schedules 

Significant increases in attacks were seen around key campaign events, including the Democratic primary debate in January, the presidential debates in the fall of 2016 and Election Day, according to the committee.

Behind the scenes with Russians on Election Day

One communication obtained by investigators includes exchanges between workers at the Russia-based Internet Research Agency behind the cyberattacks, recounting the intensity of Election Day.  “On Nov. 9, 2016, a sleepless night was ahead of us,” a Russian employee wrote, according to the report. “And when around 8 a.m. (local time) the most important result of our work arrived, we uncorked a tiny bottle of champagne … took one gulp each and looked into each other’s yes … We uttered almost in unison, ‘We made America great.’”

Russians actually increased activity after Trump won.

Post-Election Day, the committee writes, Instagram activity by Russians increased 238 percent while Facebook and Twitter activity jumped by more than 50 percent each. 

And they changed their target -- to Trump.

The committee notes that their investigation is focused on what happened leading up to the 2016 election. But, the report details, “the committee’s analysis indicates that post-election (Russian) activity shifted to emphasize and provoke anti-Trump sentiment on the left.”



FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By  Alex D’Elia, @AlexDEliaNews
Politics production assistant

New York City wants to put a climate change ‘laboratory’ on Governors Island -- Oct. 6. The Big Apple is working to turn a harbor island into a hub for combating climate change. Why it matters: States and cities are experimenting more and more with ways to tackle or mitigate  the issue. -- The New York Times

Former President Jimmy Carter's 'No. 1 priority' is building Habitat homes in Nashville, even after fall -- Oct. 7. Former President Carter received 14 stitches after falling in his home, then went on to participate in a Habitat for Human project in Tennessee. Why it matters: The former president continues to show resilience in his decades-long humanitarian effort to provide affordable housing across the country. -- Nashville Tennessean

Harris proposes six months of government-paid family leave -- Oct. 7. Senator Harris’ plan extends beyond children and is double her original proposal of three-months. Why it matters: The race for the Democratic presidential nomination moves forward as candidates continue to release policy proposals as ways to stand out. -- POLITICO

Minneapolis Mayor Frey to Trump: Pay your bills -- Oct. 8. Trump’s upcoming rally at the city-owned Target Center in Minneapolis will cost an estimated $530,000 -- a bill that the mayor insists the Trump campaign cover. Why it matters: As Donald Trump alternates between President Trump and candidate Trump, questions and battles over rally fundings may rise. -- The Minneapolis StarTribune

‘I’m friends with George Bush’: Ellen DeGeneres defends watching football with former GOP president -- Oct. 8. The television host enjoyed Sunday’s Cowboys-Packers game next to former Republican President George W. Bush, later saying that it is OK to “be kind to everyone,” including those whose beliefs differ from yours. Why it matters: Their friendship demonstrates how -- even during a time of stark political partisanship in Washington and across the country -- bipartisanship is still possible. -- The Washington Post


#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer

Yesterday in 2003, this man -- who would go on to host the Celebrity Apprentice later in his career -- was elected to public office for the first time. Who was it?

Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last week, we asked: … On this day in 1957, U.S. paper currency first featured the phrase “In God We Trust.” It became the official motto of the U.S. in 1956, replacing the de facto motto, “E Pluribus Unum.” The phrase was adapted from a song lyric that said: “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’” Who wrote that lyric? The answer is Francis Scott Key.

Congratulations to our winner: Bruce Stacy!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.