ink-stained wretches June 24, 2011

Would You Like to Imagine for a Few Minutes That There Is No Such Thing As the Internet?

By Noreen Malone

Here, enjoy an amble through Gay Talese’s day. [Atlantic Wire]

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Would You Like to Imagine for a Few Minutes That There Is No Such Thing As the Internet?

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THE FEED

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Died: Updates

The enormous political ramifications of her death are already starting to play out.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life Remembered in Pictures

By Intelligencer Staff

A look back at key moments in the Supreme Court justice’s pioneering career, and her ascent to icon status in American culture.

ruth bader ginsburg

ruth bader ginsburg

Why Mitch McConnell Will Try to Fill RBG’s Court Seat

By Jonathan Chait and Benjamin Hart

After RBG’s death, the Senate majority leader will do everything he can to push the balance of the court to the right. Odds are in his favor.

Most Popular

Will Trump Rush to Replace RBG on the Supreme Court?

It’s obvious the GOP will view RBG’s sad demise as a windfall. But odds remain high that her replacement will be made by the next president

How the Battle to Fill RBG’s SCOTUS Seat Could Spark a Constitutional Crisis

It turns that the United States didn’t need to wait until Election Day to undergo a political meltdown.

ruth bader ginsburg

ruth bader ginsburg

Here’s Who Trump Might Nominate to Replace RBG on the Supreme Court

The judges and politicians on Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist hold extremely conservative views on voting rights, abortion, and even contraception.

The Glorious RBG

I learned, while writing about her, that her precision disguised her warmth.

the national interest

the national interest

Biden’s Campaign Has a New, Populist Theme. Will It Work?

By Jonathan Chait

Out: the soul of America. In: Scranton versus Park Avenue.

extreme weather

extreme weather

The 2020 Hurricane Season Is Officially Out of Names

The record-breaking hurricane season has forced meteorologists to use the Greek alphabet to name storms for only the second time in history.

3:18 p.m.

Based on what, exactly?

TRUMP: “We expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April.”

—@ryanstruyk

New, Highly Credible Polls Offer Bad News For Trump

Trump is not doing well in states he really needs to win (like Arizona), and his troubles are dragging down Republican Senate candidates.

2:24 p.m.

The CDC’s credibility has taken a major hit

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.@CDCgov

—@carlquintanilla

the national interest

the national interest

A White House Aide Just Warned Us That Donald Trump Is a Sociopath

By Jonathan Chait

“Flat-out disregard for human life.” Sounds dangerous.

How Democrats’ Reliance on Mail-In Voting Could Help Trump

Even if the Postal Service does a perfect job this November.

12:34 p.m.

Another good poll for Biden shows a mostly familiar picture

NPR/PBS/Marist national poll

LIKELY VOTERS

Biden/Harris 52%
Trump/Pence 43%

**

Men: Trump+4
Women: Biden+20

White no college: Trump+30
White college+: Biden+35

Independents: Biden+21

Suburban: Biden+14

White evangelicals: Trump+46

65 or older: Biden+4

—@sahilkapur

coronavirus stimulus

coronavirus stimulus

Trump Nibbles at Stimulus Compromise As Pressure for Deal Increases

The stalemated talks may unfreeze as Trump calls for compromise and restive Democrats press Pelosi to cut a deal.

11:14 a.m.

Tell this to any parent

Mayor de Blasio tells @WNYC the reopening of schools was a “greater challenge than anyone foresaw.”

—@yoavgonen

10:26 a.m.

McConnell has always been about a level playing field

MCCONNELL: “After they change the filibuster, they’re going to admit the District as a state. They’re going to admit Puerto Rico as a state. That’s four new Democratic senators in perpetuity. Once they get a hammerlock on the Senate, they’re going to then pack the Supreme Court.”

—@ryanstruyk

Trump Administration to Ban WeChat and TikTok From App Stores

By Benjamin Hart

But TikTok will still be available to use for at least a few weeks, and probably beyond.

Trump Announces a ‘National Commission to Support Patriotic Education’

In announcing his intention for the authoritarian measure, Trump claimed that teaching “critical race theory” to students was “a form of child abuse.”

Former Pence Aide Endorses Biden: ‘Trump Doesn’t Care About Anyone Else’

“It was shocking to see the president saying that the virus was a hoax,” said Olivia Troye, Pence’s former top aide on the COVID-19 task force.

A Rational Case for How Trump Could Win the Election Without Stealing It

Sean Trende argues Trump’s relatively high approval ratings, an improving economy, and Biden’s base problems could reelect Trump in another upset.

Overshadowed by 2020 Crises, California Ballot Initiatives Are Still a Big Deal

Bringing back affirmative action, paring back Prop 13, and fighting benefits for gig workers are among the initiatives on the line this year.

9/17/2020

The USPS had planned to send millions of masks to Americans, but the White House killed the plan

Some top administration officials even hoped to tap the mail service’s vast network — and its unrivaled ability to reach every U.S. Zip code — to help Americans obtain personal protective equipment. The idea originated out of the Department of Health and Human Services, which suggested a pack of five reusable masks be sent to every residential address in the country, with the first shipments going to the hardest-hit areas.

At the time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been working on coronavirus guidance that recommended face coverings, a reversal of its previous position, in the face of mounting evidence that people could spread the coronavirus without experiencing symptoms. The Postal Service prepared for the possibility it might be deputized in the effort, drawing up a news release touting that it was “uniquely suited” to help. The service specifically identified Orleans and Jefferson parishes in Louisiana as the first areas to receive face coverings, with deliveries shortly thereafter to King County, Wash.; Wayne County, Mich.; and New York, according to the newly unearthed document, which is labeled a draft.

Before the news release was sent, however, the White House nixed the plan, according to senior administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share internal deliberations. Instead, HHS created Project America Strong, a $675 million effort to distribute “reusable cotton face masks to critical infrastructure sectors, companies, healthcare facilities, and faith-based and community organizations across the country.” About 600 million of the 650 million masks ordered have been distributed, according to an HHS spokesperson, including 125 million set aside for schools.

Newly revealed USPS documents show an agency struggling to manage Trump, Amazon and the pandemic

—Washington Post

the national interest

the national interest

William Barr Lays Out Terrifying Theory for Corrupting Justice Department

By Jonathan Chait

The law is whatever Barr says it is.

authoritarianism

authoritarianism

It Is Not Undemocratic to Call Trump’s Presidency ‘Illegitimate’

Fear of Trump’s authoritarianism isn’t hysteria, and disputing the legitimacy of his rule isn’t anti-democratic.

Polls: Biden Maintains Electoral College Lead, But It’s Fragile

Polls show a slightly eroding Biden lead nationally, but he’s in great shape unless the margin falls below 3 percent.

De Blasio Delays NYC School Opening — Again

New York City’s indecisive mayor has left teachers and parents alike in the lurch.

9/17/2020

A major – and majorly good for Democrats – development in Pennsylvania

🚨🚨🚨

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has extended PA’s mail ballot deadline, ordering ballots to be counted if counties receive them by mail by 5 pm Friday, Nov. 6 and either are postmarked by Election Day or have no evidence of being sent after it.https://t.co/8fLKI5gbhW

—@Elaijuh

9/17/2020

After all that, NYC schools aren’t totally reopening on 9/21

BREAKING: NYC schools will NOT physically reopen for all students on Monday. The city is doing a phased-in reopening instead, by grade levels, throughout the next few weeks. This is the second time the mayor has delayed in-person classes. More soon.

—@elizashapiro