Your Daily Roundup for August 14th

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Good morning. As the COVID-19 pandemic takes a toll on life in America, our team at Future Majority is tracking the latest updates: 

The United States Postal Service is under attack -- by the federal government:

President Trump made clear yesterday that he is undermining funding and the operation of the United States Postal Service to put mail-in voting in jeopardy ahead of the November elections, in which millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail.

He did not veil his scheme: “They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots” … “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

The United States Postal Service consists of 600,000 hard-working Americans who deliver critical mail -- from paychecks, to medications, to Social Security benefits. Undermining this essential service will hurt Americans. 

As Trump puts a marker down on no funding for the USPS, states are also in dire straits:

The U.S. Senate adjourned yesterday until after Labor Day, despite not reaching a deal on much-needed COVID-19 economic relief for tens of millions of unemployed and struggling Americans and small businesses. The Senate refused to hear the HEROES Act passed nearly three months ago.

The HEROES Act would provide aid to state and local governments that are bearing the brunt of the virus response but unlike the federal government, must balance their budgets. One estimate found that states could be met with a $555 billion budget deficit through 2022

New national polls shed light on Trump’s approval rating:

Three new polls out late this week show Americans are largely disapproving of President Trump’s job performance.

An NPR/PBS/Marist poll has his approval below the 40% mark:

  • Approve: 39%
  • Disapprove: 54%

While a Fox News poll shows voters are slightly more approving:

  • Approve: 44%
  • Disapprove: 54%

Finally, a Monmouth poll shows the President is 11 points under water:

  • Approve: 42%
  • Disapprove: 53%