August 19, 2020

Trump’s Tire Tantrum

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

You can certainly tell it’s an election year,
When the pettiest of slights becomes a smear.
Because the company prohibits
Employees wearing MAGA hats,
President Trump calls on all Americans to boycott Goodyear.

Trump Wanted to Swap Puerto Rico for Greenland

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

“He wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico, ‘could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland,’ because, in his words, ‘Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor.’”

— Former Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor confirmed to MSNBC that President Trump inquired about “selling” Puerto Rico.

Poll: Susan B. Anthony Pardon Was Just Pandering

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

54%

A new YouGov poll finds just 24% of Americans think President Trump’s pardon of Susan B. Anthony was genuine, while 54% think it was pandering.

Americans Angered, Embarrassed by U.S. Coronavirus Response

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

69%

A new CNN poll finds 69% of Americans say the U.S. response to the coronavirus outbreak makes them feel embarrassed. “And Americans are angry. About 8 in 10 say they are at least somewhat angry about the way things are going in the country today, including an astonishing 51% who say they are very angry.”

Whitmer’s Got One Hot Mic

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

“I have learned about the hot mic.”

— Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), quoted by The Recount, after mouthing an expletive ahead of her speech at the Democratic convention.

Manafort Used 10 Encryption Apps

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

10

The final Senate Intelligence Committee report finds Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort used ten different encrypted messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Wickr, Signal, Threema, Skype, Snapchat, Fiber, Hushmail, WeChat and Voxer.

Trump Needles New Zealand on COVID

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

“You’ve seen what’s going on in New Zealand? Big surge in New Zealand. It’s terrible. We don’t want that.”

— President Trump, quoted by the Washington Post, after New Zealand reported 22 new coronavirus cases in two days. The United States is currently averaging 50,000 new cases every day.

Michelle Obama: Things Can Get Worse

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

“So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don’t make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.”

— Michelle Obama, speaking at the Democratic Convention

Trump’s Unemployment Exec Order Only Good for Three Weeks

August 19, 2020 Buck Banks

3

“Out-of-work Americans may see only a three-week boost to their unemployment benefits, as state and federal officials scramble to stretch out a limited pot of money and implement President Trump’s recent policy order,” the Washington Post reports. “The Trump administration offered the new details about its directive Monday, pledging additional aid would reach workers in a matter of weeks — even as its guidance quickly rekindled criticism that the White House’s actions alone are insufficient to help people weather the economic crisis wrought by the pandemic.”

“He wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico, ‘could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland,’ because, in his words, ‘Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor.’”

— Former Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor confirmed to MSNBC that President Trump inquired about “selling” Puerto Rico.

54%

A new YouGov poll finds just 24% of Americans think President Trump’s pardon of Susan B. Anthony was genuine, while 54% think it was pandering.

69%

“I have learned about the hot mic.”

— Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), quoted by The Recount, after mouthing an expletive ahead of her speech at the Democratic convention.

10

The final Senate Intelligence Committee report finds Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort used ten different encrypted messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Wickr, Signal, Threema, Skype, Snapchat, Fiber, Hushmail, WeChat and Voxer.

“You’ve seen what’s going on in New Zealand? Big surge in New Zealand. It’s terrible. We don’t want that.”

— President Trump, quoted by the Washington Post, after New Zealand reported 22 new coronavirus cases in two days. The United States is currently averaging 50,000 new cases every day.

“So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don’t make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.”

— Michelle Obama, speaking at the Democratic Convention

3

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“In America today‚ 2024, women have fewer rights than their mothers or their grandmothers had, because of Donald Trump. I don’t think we’re going to let him get away with it, do you?”

— President Biden at a campaign stop in Tampa, reported by Tampa Bay Times.

“Mr. Blanche, you’re losing all credibility with this court.”

— Judge Juan Merchan, quoted by NBC News, to Donald Trump’s lawyer in the “hush money” criminal trial.

— Miami Herald

“We care more about the safety of our staff than a name attached to an article.”

— Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX), on CNN.

Numerati

250,000

77%

A new Siena poll finds that by a 54% to 30% margin, New Yorkers say Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial is “legitimate” — the view of 77% of Democrats and 44% of independents — rather than a “witch hunt,” the view of 66% of Republicans.

51% to 48%

300 million

Spotify said Taylor Swift’s new album was the first to have over 300 million streams in a single day on Friday.

28%