Meadows blames Pelosi for impasse on coronavirus relief

Meadows blames Pelosi for impasse on coronavirus relief-politico:  White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Sunday blamed the impasse on a new coronavirus relief bill on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying the Trump administration‘s offer of $1.3 trillion deserves the Democrats’ serious attention.

What We Still Don’t Know About Trump

What We Still Don’t Know About Trump-politico:  Two former Democratic presidents last week tried to build up by Joe Biden in part by taking down Trump. When they did, there were some important distinctions in how they spoke about the man in their party’s crosshairs.

Trump officials pressured CDC to change virus testing guidelines

Trump officials pressured CDC to change virus testing guidelines-politico:  Top Trump administration officials involved with the White House coronavirus task force ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Protection to stop promoting coronavirus testing for most people who have been exposed to the virus but aren't showing symptoms, according to two people with knowledge of the process.

Trump breaks with precedent on second night of convention

Trump breaks with precedent on second night of convention-thehill:  Trump broke with precedent on the second night of the Republican National Convention, granting a pardon and participating in a naturalization ceremony at the White House in videos that aired Tuesday during the primetime event.

FDA chief issues mea culpa for his plasma treatment claims

FDA chief issues mea culpa for his plasma treatment claims-politico:  FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn issued a mea culpa late Monday, conceding that he had overstated the benefits of convalescent plasma as a treatment of coronavirus at a press conference last weekend with Trump.  Hahn had been the subject of intense criticism following his appearance Sunday alongside the president.

More than two dozen ex-GOP lawmakers join Republicans for Biden

More than two dozen ex-GOP lawmakers join Republicans for Biden-politico:  More than two dozen former Republican lawmakers endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday.  The announcement from the former vice president’s campaign coincided with its launch of “Republicans for Biden,” a national effort aimed at encouraging GOP voters supporting Biden to organize in their communities ahead of the November election.

Biden gives his closing argument for booting Trump: Key moments from the final night

Biden gives his closing argument for booting Trump: Keymoments from the final night-politico:  It was Joe’s turn in the spotlight.  Democrats spent three days casting the former vice president as the antidote to Trump’s America, and on Thursday night, Joe Biden personally delivered his case to the country.

How Howard University could help deliver a Biden-Harris Victory

How Howard University could help deliver a Biden-Harris victory-politico:  As Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic nomination for vice president, her fellow Howard alumni and graduates of other historically Black colleges and universities are gearing up to support her historic run. The Biden-Harris campaign, however, has yet to reveal how they plan to tap this active segment of the Black community — a core demographic they desperately need to turn out in high numbers in November.

California police reform push could shift the national conversation

California police reform push could shift the national conversation-politico: California cops battled previous attempts by state lawmakers to rein in the use of force. Now, they are active participants in negotiations to curtail policing powers, a sign of shifting dynamics that means California could, yet again, set the national standard on a major policy debate.

Biden seeks to win over progressives and Republicans on night one

Biden seeks to win over progressives and Republicans on night one-thehill: Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden gambled on Monday night that he could use his nominating convention to win over skeptical progressives and swing Republicans, a balancing act his campaign hopes will cut off President Trump’s path to reelection.

House interrupting recess to act on Postal Service ‘sabotage’

House interrupting recess to act on Postal Service ‘sabotage’-rollcall: Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling House lawmakers back to Washington this coming week to vote on legislation to bar the U.S. Postal Service from implementing changes to “operations or level of service.”

Trump opposes funding Postal Service because it would increase vote by mail

Trump opposes funding Postal Service because it would increase vote by mail-rollcall: Trump said Thursday he opposed emergency funding for election operations and the Postal Service because it could allow more people to vote by mail.

COVID-19 relief talks look dead until September

COVID-19 relief talks look dead until September-thehill:  Talks on a new coronavirus relief package are going nowhere, increasing the likelihood that there won’t be a deal until at least September and the economy will be cut off from additional stimulus for weeks. The stalemate could pose a risk to both parties, but there is little pressure for Congress to move for the time being.

Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee

Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee-politico:  Joe Biden has selected Kamala Harris to be his running mate, elevating a charismatic blue-state senator, former prosecutor and onetime 2020 primary rival who has built a reputation as an unyielding antagonist of the Trump administration.

Democrats seize on Trump's payroll tax deferral as an attack on Social Security, Medicare

Democrats seize on Trump's payroll tax deferral as an attack on Social Security, Medicare-politico:  Democrats are pouncing on Trump’s new, temporary freeze on payroll taxes as his secret plan to end Social Security and Medicare — traditional priorities for older voters that have not been central themes in this year’s presidential campaign.

Trump signs COVID-19 economic relief actions

Trump signs COVID-19 economic relief actions-rollcall:  Trump on Saturday signed a series of executive actions intended to extend and expand COVID-19 relief, including suspending payroll tax collection and boosting federal support for unemployment benefits.

Wary GOP eyes Meadows shift from brick-thrower to dealmaker

 Wary GOP eyes Meadows shift from brick-thrower to dealmaker-thehill:  White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who as a conservative lawmaker in the House lambasted congressional dealmakers from the outside, is now the guy in the room where it happens that Republicans are depending on to craft a coronavirus relief package.

Newsom searches for messaging rhythm as coronavirus fatigue sets in

Newsom searches for messaging rhythm as coronavirus fatigue sets in-politico:  California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press conferences were must-see TV at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, crisis fatigue among residents and a summer surge have prevented Newsom from getting into a messaging rhythm.

Fauci says nation can survive Covid-19 without another shutdown

Fauci says nation can survive Covid-19 without another shutdown-politico:  Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, says the United States is facing a "concerted challenge" to navigate the resurgent Covid-19 outbreak — but if Americans band together, the nation can avert another extended shutdown.

Kobach and Clay go down: Takeaways from a big primary night

Kobach and Clay go down: Takeaways from a big primary night-politico:  Republicans went into Tuesday’s primaries with problems lurking all over the ballot, but they ended the night thanking their voters for cleaning up a potential mess.

Republicans struggle to break logjam on coronavirus relief

Republicans struggle to break logjam on coronavirus relief-politico:  Senate GOP leaders and the White House have shown no clear plan to break a deadlock with Democrats over a new coronavirus relief package, said Republican senators and Trump administration officials.

What to watch in Tuesday’s primaries

What to watch in Tuesday’s primaries-rollcall: Kansas Republicans will decide whether to pick a Senate candidate the national party would rather they didn’t, and several House incumbents — including one recently charged with voter fraud and another who is part of the “squad” — face challengers Tuesday as five states hold congressional primaries.