Drop boxes are safe

Trump lies about them. I plan to place my ballot in one. This is just typical Republican voter suppression.

Half the country's voters can use a drop box: Heres the list of states that have them https://t.co/yDs8L2aaN0 pic.twitter.com/fJautdQsl4
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) August 25, 2020

For the record: drop boxes are a secure, efficient way for voters to return their ballots on time & ensure they are counted. Period.

And: the primary reason we need drop boxes is due to the increasing inefficiency & unreliability of @USPS.

Don't like 'em? Fully fund the @USPS. https://t.co/8Ok3VMxgPC
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) August 23, 2020

Another big win for the @prioritiesUSA voting rights team & @marceelias. We are not done yet. Stay tuned. https://t.co/tmiw2mWxRf
— Guy Cecil (@guycecil) August 25, 2020

They want each county to be limited to a single dropbox, at the county board of elections. One dropbox for all ~1.1M voters in Philadelphia, one for all 900K voters in Allegheny. https://t.co/yRufITmxCt
— Adam Bonin (@adambonin) August 9, 2020

Recently I dropped my wife’s primary ballot off in a dropbox in front of the Bergen County, NJ municipal building. There were security officers there. The dropbox was clean, but I didn’t have to touch it because there was a narrow, clearly marked slot to put the ballot in! https://t.co/rrRlHEGQ8X
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 23, 2020

Ohio Democratic Party sues Secretary of State Frank LaRose over ballot dropbox limitationshttps://t.co/Gav1OzPQua
— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) August 25, 2020

Send em out by October 20 (the latest but not guaranteed to arrive by Nov 4) OR drop them off in-person at an approved drop box! https://t.co/oskyRBv6CY
— Sarah Whittle 🥚 (@rudeunicorns) August 24, 2020

THREAD

We believe there is nothing in Ohio statute limiting drop boxes to one per county, so we filed suit in court today to prove it.

But I want to take a moment to highlight the pernicious impact of only one drop box per county for voters who rely on public transit.

1/ https://t.co/s2BFOZWVMh
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) August 25, 2020

Covers: Fever (Little Willie John song)

“Fever” was a #1 R&B hit for Little Willie John in 1956. The most famous cover is by Peggy Lee from 1958. I probably first heard it by the McCoys, best known for their earlier “Hang On Sloopy”. Beyonce and Madonna have also recorded it.

Coronavirus spread from the Sturgis Motorcycle rally

At least 260 coronavirus cases in 12 states associated with Sturgis, SD motorcycle rally

CNN surveyed state health departments across the United States and has tallied cases in at least 12 states.
— David P Gelles (@gelles) August 31, 2020

“A Minnesota biker who attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has died of covid-19 —- the first fatality from the virus traced to the 10-day event that drew more than 400,000 to South Dakota.” https://t.co/EdLSOGvagn
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) September 2, 2020

More than 100 coronavirus cases in 8 states linked to massive Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota https://t.co/jQaD3t8DKG
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 26, 2020

More than 100 Sturgis motorcycle rally attendees have tested positive for COVID-19.

61% of all U.S. counties have been visited by someone who attended Sturgis, cell phone data shows.https://t.co/8asGUbu7H1
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) August 26, 2020

Coronavirus cases linked to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally have been confirmed in South Dakota and at least 7 other states. https://t.co/LKASPr1fUK
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 25, 2020

In the world's most depressingly predictable news, having 250,000+ people pack into a small town during a raging pandemic isn't a good idea. These selfish motorcyclists likely seeded dozens of fresh outbreaks across the US, which will lead to many deaths. https://t.co/jU19iWBIYX
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) August 22, 2020

Why Sturgis was a really terrible idea:
This visualization was created using anonymized cell phone location data records from the rally, showing where those devices were active leading up to, during, and after the event.
The rally has already been linked to multiple Covid cases. pic.twitter.com/0RG3M9XJPJ
— Decoherence (@DecoherenceWave) August 22, 2020

Dozens of coronavirus infections traced back to Sturgis Rally https://t.co/SZ3OFNlrAA
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 25, 2020

Coronavirus cases in multiple states have been linked back to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, which saw hundreds of thousands convene over 10 days.https://t.co/K6iYM8EtyH
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 24, 2020

South Dakota's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is over, but public health departments across the U.S. are trying to measure how much the coronavirus spread during the gathering before hundreds of thousands of bikers traveled home. https://t.co/uZJso0J88N
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 24, 2020

South Dakota's Governor, Kristi Noem, can now proudly state that hers is the first state in the country to have had a third, sharp spike in COVID-19 cases (with a little help from the Sturgis Rally she declined to constrain). pic.twitter.com/aRkLbxZszI
— Bob Morris, MD, PhD (@rdmorris) August 23, 2020

At least seven Covid-19 cases in Nebraska's Panhandle region have been tied to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota last week, public health officials say. https://t.co/jh8oBfhFlg
— CNN (@CNN) August 21, 2020

Reporting from today: Current known COVID-19 cases linked to Sturgis is 112 in 8 states, and that is an early, early tally as contact tracing continues. https://t.co/HselPInxPn
— jayfug (@jayfug) August 26, 2020

Covers: Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson II song)

“Help Me” was originally recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1963. I know it best from the 1974 cover by Van Morrison.

Climate update 08/25/20

Let’s not forget about the climate. The next president can undo some of the damage Trump has done but not four years of climate change. Sad!

Down the road, some parts of the US could become unlivable. Who will be stuck there? Poor people. Rich people will leave just like they left New York City during the worst of the pandemic.

Biden has climate goals – see tweet below.

#ClimateChange doesn't care if the president thinks its a "hoax" or not. https://t.co/orQJRK3MGu
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) September 7, 2020

Senate Democrats unveiled their plan to tackle climate change, @yayitsrob reports. It uses new goals, surges of investment, and a playbook from industrial policy to decarbonize the economy. https://t.co/0iHUQPAzxA
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) August 25, 2020

Devastating: https://t.co/dZjQjDc4gE pic.twitter.com/3UTM4donCh
— Popular Science (@PopSci) May 14, 2019

Two thousand years of global temperatures in twenty seconds pic.twitter.com/zHArHtRnoi
— James Veitch (@veitchtweets) August 19, 2020

Greenland's ice sheet has melted to a point of no return, and efforts to slow global warming will not stop it from disintegrating, according to a new study https://t.co/nZe7yvmwic
— CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2020

Climate change doesn't care if the president of the United States thinks it is a "hoax." https://t.co/ltmEQ6jB89
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) August 22, 2020

For the last 60 years, every decade has been hotter than the last, and 2020 is poised to be among the hottest years ever. See what it’s like to live in extreme heat around the world. https://t.co/UkeACz4cN1
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 9, 2020

The Post is now making its analysis of U.S. climate data accessible to the public to promote a deeper understanding of the regional and local effects of climate change.

More info ➡️ https://t.co/hqJmuVR3OO https://t.co/xhAiHNniZr
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 7, 2020

If the world does nothing to mitigate sea level rise, coastal flooding will become so extreme and destructive that it could cause damage worth up to 20% of global gross domestic product by 2100, according to new research https://t.co/8ruFONo0FR
— CNN (@CNN) July 30, 2020

Wildfires, record warmth and rapidly melting ice: Arctic climate goes further off the rails this summer https://t.co/DAL33y9wnX
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 29, 2020

Meanwhile…. https://t.co/Hi6t2xFxhu
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 27, 2020

As the planet heats and crops fail, millions of people will be forced to choose between flight or death.

New research suggests that climate change will cause humans to move at an unprecedented scale.

And for many, this great migration has already begun. https://t.co/jcjsvTrI3L
— NYT Magazine (@NYTmag) July 23, 2020

From @pewscience: Two-Thirds of Americans Think Government Should Do More on Climate https://t.co/MX2rlnXoBY pic.twitter.com/yAk73JuO5Z
— Pew Research Fact Tank (@FactTank) July 19, 2020

Siberian heat streak and Arctic temperature record virtually "impossible" without global warming, study says https://t.co/Wi1lpmgVLA
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 16, 2020

BIDEN CLIMATE PLAN

—100% carbon-free electricity by 2035
—1 million green auto jobs
—Zero-emission public transport in 100K+ cities
—Upgrade 4M buildings (w/ cash rebates)
—Weatherize 2M homes in four years
—1.5M sustainable homes/units
—250K jobs plugging abandoned wells/mines
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 14, 2020

Fake Trump and Manson pic

lol!

I approve of this fake picture. It would make a great black velvet painting.

Dead https://t.co/v2qmB1bf0g
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 25, 2020

Lots of lies at the Republican National Convention (RNC) Day One

Trump lies so his defenders have to lie to support him.

CNN: RNC night one was a "parade of dishonesty…" https://t.co/Sz5lkxnqIB

WaPo: A "fire hose" of false or misleading claims… https://t.co/RuyBxi5CBo

NYT: A "fierce and misleading defense" of Trump's political record… https://t.co/M5iDYnQhKL
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 25, 2020

Covers: Tennessee Jed

“Tennessee Jed” is a Grateful Dead song that first appeared on their live album “Europe ’72”. I don’t think they were ever better than they were then. There’s a fine cover by Levon Helm.

Before it was released on Europe ’72.

Covers: Suffering with the Blues

“Suffering with the Blues” was made famous by Little Willie John which was released in October 1956. I didn’t know that there was an earlier version by Joe Medlin in February 1956. I encourage you to look at the site Second Hand Songs which has great information about covers.

James Brown recorded an outstanding version on a tribute album Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things in 1968 soon after Little Willie John died. I first heard Brown’s version on the excellent two CD anthology Messing with the Blues (1990) which is explores Brown’s covers of songs that inspired him. You can really hear the pain in his voice.

Ike and Tina Turner!

Pompeo shouldn’t talk at the Republican convention

Trump has politicized everything. Pompeo won’t follow guidance he gave his employees.

Pompeo RNC speech while in Israel for official business is worth investigating. https://t.co/kCdhvE2843
— Jill Wine-Banks (@JillWineBanks) September 6, 2020

Secretary of State Pompeo sent a cable to all U.S. diplomatic missions last month warning diplomats that under federal law they should not take overt sides in the presidential campaign.

On Tuesday, he plans to ignore his own warning by speaking to the RNC https://t.co/YWpsVAy40D
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 25, 2020

Another State diplomat reached out to blast Pompeo’s RNC address tonight:

Pompeo and Trump “have obliterated the line between government work and politics. Everything in the US government is now bent in service of the president, not the American people.”
— Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) August 25, 2020

Rules don't apply to @realDonaldTrump and his merry men. https://t.co/h4taaFOKEY
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 25, 2020

Colin Powell, in 2004, on refusing to attend the Republican convention: "As secretary of state, I am obliged not to participate in any way, shape, fashion, or form in parochial, political debates. I have to take no sides in the matter."https://t.co/fDMG0n96I4
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 25, 2020

The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is launching an investigation into Mike Pompeo's RNC address from Jerusalem for potentially violating rules that prohibit federal employees from engaging in political activities. https://t.co/g2TDlRJ7KR
— Axios (@axios) August 25, 2020

Good. Pompeo is one of the most corrupt members of a stunningly corrupt administration. He should be held to account for that. https://t.co/h9ddl45ECY
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) August 25, 2020

SCOOP: Just a few months ago, SecState Mike Pompeo approved updated restrictions on State Dept employees’ political activities – rules that seem to govern himself, too. Now he’s going to appear at the Republican National Convention. Weird, no? My latest: https://t.co/np9LjsGT7V
— Nahal Toosi (@nahaltoosi) August 24, 2020

“Longtime State Department employees I spoke to are furious with Pompeo’s decision to feature in the Republican Party’s showpiece.” https://t.co/RyZ26gV84i
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) August 24, 2020

It is unprecedented in modern times for a Secretary of State to address a political convention. This is not wise at a time when our chief diplomat should be focussed on restoring America’s lost global credibility. https://t.co/BGYlJULy3w
— Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) August 24, 2020

Pompeo's speech to the #RNCConvention2020 makes a mockery of the memo warning against this behavior that he issued to State Department officials. What kind of example does this set? pic.twitter.com/FERoMFXser
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) August 24, 2020

“We should not be using American diplomacy for partisan political purposes,” a State Department official critical of Pompeo’s upcoming RNC address told me https://t.co/JYP2q8rUV7
— Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) August 24, 2020

What is depressing about Pompeo’s legacy at State is he knows better. He graduated first from West Point and went to Harvard Law. Still he plays down to the ignorant autocrat tearing away at the heritage of America’s political and constitutional norms. https://t.co/tfT74NekAt
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 24, 2020