August 17, 2020

The Democratic National Convention officially kicks off tonight at 9 p.m. (ET).

https://www.demconvention.com

Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the House back early from its August recess to vote on legislation that would prohibit operational changes at the USPS that reduce service levels from those in effect in January. Democratic Committee Chairs have also called on the Postmaster General and other top officials to come testify in the next month about changes to post office processes. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/trumps-attacks-on-the-postal-service-deserve-sustained-red-alert-coverage-from-the-media/2020/08/14/6eac0e50-de2f-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html?utm_source=nextdraft&utm_medium=email

The “SalivaDirect” test - developed by Yale and tested in partnership with the NBA - was given emergency authorization by the FDA. Also, the New York Times spoke with scientists who now say herd immunity would be reached with 45 percent to 50 percent of the population infected, down from the original 75 percent. 

https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1294654256763609090?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

Protests over last week’s presidential election in Belarus continued over the weekend, with over 200k demonstrators gathering across the country.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/aug/16/belarus-protesters-gather-minsk-for-biggest-ever-opposition-rally-in-pictures

A rare storm called a derecho with hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour left almost $4 billion dollars in damage in its wake in Iowa. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iowa-hurting-derecho-storm-recovery/

Robert S. Trump, the President's Younger Brother, Dies at 71.

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