Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.) raised $11.6 million for her presidential bid in the third quarter, the campaign said in a statement on Tuesday.

That amount is in line with Harris’s fundraising from the prior two quarters — she raised $11.8 million in the second quarter and $12 million in the first quarter.

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The campaign says it has $10 million cash on hand and plans to double the number of organizers it has on the ground in Iowa and South Carolina, two key early primate states, in the weeks ahead.

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“This is a campaign that is growing, expanding, and built to win this primary,” said campaign manager Juan Rodriguez.

“As we have spent the summer months strengthening our infrastructure, we enter this final stretch of 2019 with ample resources to execute a winning game plan. With hundreds of organizers and staff in the early states and Super Tuesday California, we are ready to harness the energy of our thousands of grassroots volunteers to phone bank, knock doors and turn out the vote for Kamala in these 2020 contests.”

The Harris campaign has reportedly undergone a shake-up in recent weeks, as the California senator has drifted downward in the polls.

Politico reported on Tuesday that Harris has elevated two senior staff members to share new responsibilities with Rodriguez, the campaign manager.

Rodriguez suggested in a statement that those plans were long in the works and not indicative of a campaign in need of a reset.

“We continue to grow our organization as we enter the fourth quarter, and it has always been the plan to bring on additional management to oversee an expanded staff,” Rodriguez said.

“As we double our organizers in Iowa and South Carolina and expand our digital team, we’re in a strong position to execute our plan and win the nomination,” he continued.

Harris sprung into contention after attacking Biden over his record on racial busing at the first Democratic presidential debate in July.

However, she has stalled in the polls ever since, with some questioning her positions on key issues such as “Medicare for All.”

Harris is in fifth place in the RealClearPolitics average of polls, at 4.6 percent support nationally.

The Harris campaign said Tuesday that its average donation was $34 and that it has received contributions from more than 850,000 individual donors this year.   

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) has so far raised the most money in the third quarter, although former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) have yet to announce their fundraising hauls.

Sanders’s campaign said it had raised $25.3 million, while South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE brought in $19.1 million. Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J). posted a $6 million third quarter haul after a last-minute fundraising blitz.

Campaigns have until Oct. 15 to file their fundraising and spending reports with the Federal Election Commission, though many candidates are expected to release fundraising totals beforehand. 

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE holds a 12-point lead over his closest competitor, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.), in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, based on a new national poll. 

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Biden had a slight 1-point uptick in the weekly Morning Consult poll released Monday and now has 33 percent support

Warren’s support remained steady at 21 percent. ADVERTISEMENT

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) closely trails Warren at 19 percent, unchanged from last week. 

Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) stayed in a dead heat with 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. 

Support for former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and tech entrepreneur Andrew YangAndrew YangGeorge Floyd protests show corporations must support racial and economic equality Andrew Yang discusses his universal basic income pilot program Andrew Yang on the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis MORE remained constant at 3 percent each, and Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) dipped 1 point to 2 percent. 

Biden holds a slightly larger 15-point lead ahead of Warren and Sanders in early voting states, based on the poll. 

Biden has 33 percent support from voters in those states, compared to 18 percent apiece for Warren and Sanders.

Billionaire philanthropist Tom SteyerTom SteyerBloomberg wages war on COVID-19, but will he abandon his war on coal? Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil Ocasio-Cortez, Schiff team up to boost youth voter turnout MORE, who is at 1 percent in the general national poll, stands at fourth place in the early voting states with the backing of 8 percent of respondents. 

The poll is based on a survey conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 with 16,529 voters. There is a margin of error of 1 percentage point. There were 713 respondents in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Those results have a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Regular Fox News guest Sean Parnell on Wednesday announced that he will challenge Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE praised Parnell earlier this month during a visit to Pittsburgh, saying he would be a formidable challenger to Lamb. 

“I am so excited to announce that today I’m declaring my candidacy for the great people of Pennsylvania’s 17th District for Congress of the United States,” Parnell, an Army veteran, said in an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

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“I think that Pennsylvanians and specifically the people of western Pennsylvania deserve leadership that truly represents them,” he continued. “Right now, my opponent does not represent them at all.” 

“He is a self-described moderate Democrat, but the truth of the matter is that he’s voted in lockstep with [Speaker] Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE 98 percent of the time, and the policies that he’s advocating for would be absolutely devastating to the people of western Pennsylvania,” he said. 

In the Pittsburgh visit a few weeks ago, Trump hinted that Parnell would run for Lamb’s seat, calling him a “fantastic military man.”

“There’s a guy named Sean Parnell, who is a fantastic military man. Brilliant. Got everything going,” Trump said. “And I heard, fellas — maybe my genius congressman can tell me — I hear that Sean is going to — Sean Parnell is going to run against Conor Lamb. That will help the energy business a lot. And he should win. He should win. And Sean will vote for us, and he’ll work for us.” 

Lamb, a Marine veteran and rising star in the Democratic Party, defeated former Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-Pa.) in the only national race pitting two incumbents against one another in 2018 after the 17th District was redrawn. 

The congressman is also facing another GOP challenge from Air Force veteran and small business owner Scott Timko. 

The Cook Political Report rates the state’s 17th Congressional District as “likely Democratic.”

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California Gov. Gavin NewsomGavin NewsomLatino Victory to boost Alex Padilla to fill Harris’s potential Senate seat Our country is on fire — will political leaders help? GOP wants more vision, policy from Trump at convention MORE (D) launched a new plan to more slowly reopen his state’s economy after an alarming spike in coronavirus cases across the Golden State over the summer.

Under the new framework announced Friday, Newsom will allow each county to oversee their reopening based on a four-tier system based on the seriousness of the spread of COVID-19 in the areas. The tiers are based on the number of cases per 100,000 residents and percentage of coronavirus tests that come back positive. 

The new platform requires at least 21 days to pass in the counties’ initial tier before proceeding to the next phase. 

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Additionally, the counties will be required to prove to Sacramento that they are “targeting resources” and making the “greatest efforts” to blunt the spread of the pandemic. The plan also leaves in place requirements that Californians wear masks when they’re with people outside their household and maintain social distancing with people who don’t live with them.

The new plan is an effort to implement statewide standards for combatting the coronavirus after Newsom caught flak for allowing localities to implement a hodgepodge of standards for curbing the spread of the disease. The governor appeared to recognize the criticism, saying the new outline was an effort to implement “a uniform state framework, with four categories instead of 58 different sets of rules.”

“This Blueprint is statewide, stringent and slow,” said Newsom. “We have made notable progress over recent weeks, but the disease is still too widespread across the state. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and we all need to adapt. We need to live differently. And we need to minimize exposure for our health, for our families and for our communities.”

Among other things, the new plan would prohibit indoor business operations in counties that are in the bottom tier, though allows shopping centers and retail stores to open indoors in all counties with a 25-percent capacity cap. 

The new framework comes as California looks to move past a sharp surge in coronavirus cases over the summer after the state initially appeared to have a hold on its outbreak earlier in the year.

There have been more than 698,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in California, the most of any state in the U.S., and 12,840 people have died there.

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Fox News is asking a judge to consider imposing sanctions on the law firm that represented a woman who alleged she was a victim of sexual harassment by network hosts Tucker CarlsonTucker Carlson Victor Davis Hanson: The cowards of ‘cancel culture’ Legal battle heats up over sexual harassment allegations against Carlson, Hannity GOP lawmaker says fatal shooting at Kenosha protest ‘100% justified self defense’ MORE, Sean HannitySean Patrick HannityLegal battle heats up over sexual harassment allegations against Carlson, Hannity Trump says he’s become more ‘guarded’ after four years in office Sean Hannity advised Gaetz on deleting Cohen tweet MORE and Howard Kurtz, arguing her allegations are “patently false.”

In court documents filed Aug. 7 but made public on Thursday, attorneys representing Fox accused Cathy Areu of engaging in “serious misconduct by making patently false allegations of sexual misconduct” against the Fox News employees.

Attorneys for Fox News said Areu’s former law firm, Wigdor LLP, should be punished by the court for allegedly failing to investigate text messages and emails that, according to Fox, contradict her accusations.

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A letter from the Fox News attorneys to the judge said Areu “knew her claims to be false and that Wigdor either knew the same or should have known through the most basic investigation.”

“These false allegations have inflicted serious reputational harm on the Defendants, and this harm has been exacerbated by the sensationalized press release that Wigdor issued, which caused the false allegations to be widely reported in the news media,” the letter went on to say.

Areu was initially represented by Wigdor. She has since sought representation from Valli Kane & Vagnini.

The Hill has reached out to both firms for comment.

A representative for Wigdor told The Wrap that Fox News’s claims were “preposterous” and said the firm had requested the judge prohibit attorneys for the network to file a motion seeking sanctions against Wigdor.

Areu made her allegations in a lawsuit last month, prompting a staunch denial from the network.

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“Based on the findings of a comprehensive independent investigation conducted by an outside law firm, including interviews with numerous eyewitnesses, we have determined that all of Cathy Areu’s claims against FOX News, including its management as well as its hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity & Howard Kurtz … are false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit,” Fox News said in a July 20 statement.

That same lawsuit, filed in federal court by Douglas Wigdor and Michael Willemin on behalf of Areu and Jennifer Eckhart, alleged ex-Fox News host Ed Henry sexually harassed both women and raped Eckhart. It also said Fox News supported and promoted Henry after receiving complaints of sexually inappropriate behavior and only fired him because of an impending lawsuit.

An attorney for Henry denied their allegations, while Fox News said it took swift action in firing Henry after learning of Eckhart’s claims, adding that it was unaware of her claims beforehand.

Attorneys for Fox News told the judge this month that if Areu does not retract her allegations against Carlson, Hannity and Kurtz by Friday then she and her former firm should be punished by the court.

“In short, if Areu’s false claims are not withdrawn by Friday, August 28, then she and Wigdor must face the consequences,” the letter concludes.

Trump administration officials are interviewing to replace President TrumpDonald John TrumpKanye West sues to get on Wisconsin ballot after being rejected Mary Trump reveals recordings of Trump’s sister swiping at Ivanka, Eric Leonard Cohen lawyer considers legal action after RNC uses song after Trump acceptance speech MORE‘s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Joe Simons, Politico reports.

Simons, a Republican, has reportedly resisted the president’s pressure to have the FTC crack down on social media platforms as Trump has ramped up criticism of platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Politico reports at least one person has been interviewed for the top FTC role, though Simons has thus far not signaled plans to resign. The FTC chair cannot be removed by the president unless there is evidence of gross negligence, as the agency is independent of the administration. 

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But Simons could resign for unrelated reasons after the November election, even though his term is slated to last through 2024.

Politico reported that former FTC member and Fox Corp. executive Gail Slater was the person interviewed, citing two sources.

The White House and FTC declined to comment to Politico for its report.

Trump has frequently feuded with social media companies, and recently lashed out at Twitter for fact-checking his tweets about mail-in voting. 

In May, Trump signed an executive order that aims to strip certain legal protections from social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook, though legal experts say the measure is vulnerable to court challenges.

Trump’s order would strip protections that shield companies like Twitter, Google and Facebook from being held liable for the content appearing on their platforms.

Another section of Trump’s order would direct users’ complaints about political bias to the FTC and task the agency with reviewing whether allegations amount to “unfair or deceptive business practices.”

Experts say that if the FTC were to reach the same conclusions as Trump, it would cut against how the courts have long interpreted Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

However, if there were a vacancy in the FTC leadership, a new chief could be named who is willing to carry out the new actions outlined in Trump’s executive order.

The Pentagon on Thursday called out China over test launches of ballistic missiles in the South China Sea, a move that the United States views as “counterproductive” to quelling tensions in the region.

The Defense Department — in a confirmation of reports that Beijing’s military launched up to four ballistic missiles during military exercises around the Paracel Islands — said the action violates China’s 2002 commitment to “avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.”

“Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability,” the Defense Department said in a statement. “The [People’s Republic of China’s (PRC)] actions, including missile tests, further destabilize the situation in the South China Sea.”

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A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense later said during a briefing in Beijing that the country had conducted previously planned drills but did not mention the missile launches and said that the exercises “are not directed at any country.”

Ties between the United States and China have grown increasingly strained over sovereignty over the South China Sea, where Beijing has steadily built up military installations on several disputed reefs.

China claims more than 80 percent of a 1.4 million-square-mile section of the sea where Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have territorial claims.

The United States, which maintains that the area must remain open for free passage for all international vessels, on Wednesday increased pressure on China when it announced it is implementing travel restrictions on some Chinese officials over the nation’s moves to bolster its presence in the disputed waters.

“This military exercise is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors,” the Pentagon said.

It added that the Defense Department in July alerted China that the U.S. government urges it to “reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors” in the region.

But it said “the PRC chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles.”

Welcome to Friday’s Overnight Health Care. 

A top FDA spokeswoman was ousted after 11 days on the job. Local health departments say the CDC testing change undermines their work. And Trump’s pressure on both agencies risks undermining public trust.

We’ll start with the pressure:

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Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust

The Trump administration’s moves pushing science agencies to take controversial steps on the coronavirus are threatening to undermine public confidence in health experts at a moment when they have become uniquely visible.

On Sunday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19. Scientific studies are inconclusive about taking that approach, and some said authorizing its use will hinder the ability to conduct more definitive research.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also quietly changed its guidance on testing those who have come into contact with a COVID-19 patient. The agency no longer recommends those contacts be tested, despite what is known about the risk of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of the virus.

Both decisions appear tinged by politics: A new treatment, announced by President TrumpDonald John TrumpKanye West sues to get on Wisconsin ballot after being rejected Mary Trump reveals recordings of Trump’s sister swiping at Ivanka, Eric Leonard Cohen lawyer considers legal action after RNC uses song after Trump acceptance speech MORE on the eve of the Republican National Convention, has been presented as evidence that the nation is on the brink of a miraculous recovery. At the same time, guidance suggesting fewer people ought to be tested is likely to lead to lower case counts, even as the virus continues to spread widely.

Read more here.

In a related move, the FDA commissioner on Friday reportedly fired the agency’s top spokeswoman

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Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days

Top Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokeswoman Emily Miller has been removed from her position after 11 days on the job, according to multiple reports.

Miller’s removal comes amid the fallout over the agency’s decision to issue an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients.

The move was first reported by The New York Times. The FDA did not return a request for comment to The Hill.

Miller’s name is no longer listed on the agency’s official Twitter account or its website.

Hiring controversy: Miller was a political appointee, not a civil servant. She previously worked for One America News Network, the far-right media outlet that promotes conspiracy theories and has openly declared allegiance to President Trump. She worked for Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzOvernight Health Care: Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust | Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days: report Sen. Rand Paul says he and his wife were ‘attacked by an angry mob’ after Trump speech MORE‘s (R-Texas) reelection campaign and has written extensively about gun rights advocacy. She has no science or medical background. 

Read more here.

 

Local health departments say CDC testing change undermines their work

Groups representing local health departments asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday to reverse a change to coronavirus testing guidance that they argue would hurt their ability to slow the spread of the disease.

The CDC’s testing guidance was quietly updated Monday to say people without symptoms “do not necessarily” need to get tested, even if they’ve been in close contact with a COVID-19 case.

“As public health professionals, we are troubled about the lack of evidence cited to inform this change,” National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Big Cities Health Coalition wrote in a letter to CDC Director Robert Redfield and Adm. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services.

“CDC’s own data suggest that perhaps as many as 40 percent of COVID-19 cases are attributable to asymptomatic transmission. Changing testing guidelines to suggest that close contacts to confirmed positives without symptoms do not need to be tested is inconsistent with the science and the data,” the groups added.

President Trump has repeatedly downplayed the importance of testing, saying that more testing means more cases.

Why it matters: Forgoing testing of close contacts to COVID-19 cases would miss infections in people who don’t show symptoms of the disease but can spread it to high-risk individuals who may in turn become seriously ill or die.

Read more here.

 

Researchers find first U.S. case of COVID-19 reinfection

Researchers have documented what appears to be the first instance in the U.S. of someone getting reinfected with COVID-19.

In a preprint of a paper submitted to the journal The Lancet, researchers said a 25-year-old man in Nevada was reinfected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in late May, after recovering from a relatively mild case of COVID-19 the month before.

The patient in Nevada initially tested positive for coronavirus in April, after exhibiting symptoms  including a sore throat, cough, headache, nausea and diarrhea. 

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The patient eventually reported having no more symptoms, and subsequently tested negative twice.

But 48 days later, the patient started exhibiting symptoms again, with a much more severe case. He was hospitalized and required oxygen.

Unique case? The reinfection isn’t what interested researchers – it was that the patient’s case was more severe the second time.

Don’t panic: Infectious disease experts said reinfections are normal and should be expected, and caution against drawing broad conclusions. 

Read more here.

 

COVID safety on the campaign trail…Tillis says he ‘fell short’ by not wearing mask

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Sen. Thom TillisThomas (Thom) Roland TillisOvernight Health Care: Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust | Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days Tillis says he ‘fell short’ by not wearing mask for Trump speech Democrats worry about voter backlash in suburbs MORE (R-N.C.) said Friday he “fell short” of his own standard when he did not wear a face mask at the White House for President Trump’s speech accepting the GOP nomination for reelection.

Tillis, who is in the midst of his own fierce reelection fight against former state Sen. Cal Cunningham (D-N.C.), used his mea culpa to accept responsibility and go on the offensive against his opponent.

“I’ve stressed the importance of mask wearing throughout this pandemic and have tried to lead by example on this issue, but last night I fell short of my own standard,” Tillis said in a statement.

“The difference between Cal Cunningham and I is that I can accept responsibility for my actions, while he lies and makes excuses for his, like how he has misused taxpayer dollars for his own personal gain and broke his promise not to raise taxes on hardworking North Carolinians,” he added.

Tillis released the statement amid criticism from Cunningham and North Carolina Democrats who accused the senator of hypocrisy for not wearing a mask during Trump’s entire speech at the Republican National Convention after he had touted the importance of wearing face masks in public.

Read more here. 

 

FDA expands use of remdesivir

Hospitalized patients with moderate cases of COVID-19 may benefit from the use of remdesivir, according to a new expanded authorization for the drug. According to manufacturer Gilead, a shorter 5-day course of treatment was more effective than a 10-day regimen when compared to the normal standard of care.

Previously, the experimental drug was only authorized for the most severe hospitalized cases.

 

Virtual Event: Science & American Advancement — Monday, August 31

Science and advancement go hand-in-hand. However, the way science works, not by straight lines, but sometimes by accident, can frustrate strict timelines and investment efforts. Why is continued scientific investment so important? Can science overcome many of the challenges it faces today in order to lead us to a brighter future? The Hill will bring policy-makers and thought leaders together to look at the historical contributions science has made to American advancement and the status of the scientific community today, featuring former NSF Director France Córdova, Rep. Mikie SherrillRebecca (Mikie) Michelle SherrillOvernight Health Care: Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust | Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days Overnight Defense: House chair announces contempt proceeding against Pompeo | Top general says military has no role in election disputes | Appeal court rejects due process rights for Gitmo detainees OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law | Administration faces rough week in court | Trump hits Biden on climate at convention MORE (D-N.J.), Rep. Trey HollingsworthJoseph (Trey) Albert HollingsworthOvernight Health Care: Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust | Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law | Administration faces rough week in court | Trump hits Biden on climate at convention The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech MORE (R-Ind.), Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar and more. RSVP today: https://bit.ly/2FT87wT.

 

What we’re reading

Several have been reinfected with COVID-19. Here’s what that means. (STAT)

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern for researchers, health officials (The Wall Street Journal)

UK to allow emergency use of any effective COVID-19 vaccine (Associated Press) 

 

State by state

California’s new rules for coronavirus reopenings: It’s not all or nothing (San Francisco Chronicle) 

Alabama reentry COVID numbers were low, so why the spike? (AL.com)

Iowa sees record 2,579 cases and 79% coronavirus positivity rate (The Gazette) 

Trump DOJ targets Democratic governors for COVID-19 outbreaks in veterans homes (HuffPost)

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Trump reaches for optimism as weapon against Biden Five takeaways on GOP’s norm-breaking convention Trump taunts Democrats in White House speech: ‘We’re here and they’re not’ MORE said Thursday he plans to visit the Gulf Coast region damaged by Hurricane Laura, probably as soon as this weekend.

Trump also told reporters that he considered postponing his keynote speech to the Republican National Convention — scheduled for Thursday evening — to visit storm-ravaged areas but that he didn’t need to once the storm weakened.

“I was actually prepared to postpone the speech tonight and make it on Monday,” Trump told reporters during a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) briefing on the hurricane, saying he was planning to travel to Texas, Louisiana and possibly Arkansas.

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“But now it turned out we got a little bit lucky. It was very big and it was very powerful but it passed quickly, and so, everything is on schedule,” he continued.

The president said he would be touring storm damage “very shortly,” likely either on Saturday or Sunday.

Laura made landfall in Louisiana on Thursday morning, weakening from a Category 4 to a Category 2 hurricane. The storm brought damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding, causing hundreds of thousands of people to lose power.

The White House added the FEMA briefing to Trump’s schedule on Thursday morning. The president has spoken with the governors of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas in the midst of the storm.

Trump is slated to deliver remarks accepting the GOP nomination for president to a live audience from the White House later Thursday. He is expected to mention the storm in his speech.

“The president will talk about the hurricane and the preparations that have been made and ask for God’s blessing for the people who are in its path,” Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh told reporters on Thursday.

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Top officials involved in the US-UK trade partnership said Thursday that crafting a trade deal this year remains a top priority on both sides of the Atlantic, taking on new urgency as both economies struggle to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Neither British Ambassador to the United States Karen Pierce nor Congressional UK Caucus co-chair Rep. George HoldingGeorge Edward Bell HoldingGOP lawmaker says US-UK negotiators working ‘fast and furious’ on trade deal Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Whiskey, workers and friends caught in the trade dispute crossfire MORE (R-N.C.) committed to a firm timeline for the deal in their remarks at The Hill’s “Global Trade’s Evolution” event on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention, but they both lauded progress so far on an agreement.

Holding told The Hill’s Steve Clemons that negotiators are working “fast and furious” on the deal and that U.S. Trade Representative Robert LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerWhiskey, workers and friends caught in the trade dispute crossfire GOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be ‘huge mistake’ Pelosi casts doubt on USMCA deal in 2019 MORE has it as a “main focus.” 

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“For a trade agreement to endure, it has to be a win-win for both sides,” said Holding, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “A prosperous United Kingdom is good for making a prosperous United States and vice versa.”

Two rounds of formal negotiations took place in May and June, with a goal of completing a deal this year, a priority for the UK since it left the European Union in January. The Financial Times reported in July, however, that UK negotiators had abandoned hopes of a deal before the U.S. presidential election due to disagreements over agricultural imports.

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Both sides have roughly 100 officials going through various chapters of the deal, and are finding agreement on small- and medium-sized businesses, Pierce said.

“Both sides are negotiating well — we’ll have to see where we eventually get to, but we really want to go at pace this autumn,” she said at Thursday’s event.

Pierce acknowledged negotiations have been complicated by the pandemic, but said the deal offers opportunities to both countries on the economic recovery front.

“One of the important things as we face the COVID pandemic is to try and get the world economy moving again, and free trade agreements can absolutely do that,” she said. “That’s one reason why we attach so much importance to our free trade agreement with our closest partner, the United States.”

The longtime allies are already top trading partners, but Lighthizer has committed to crafting a “comprehensive” new trade deal, especially after Brexit.

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Both Holding and Pierce said the pandemic underscored the importance of ensuring supply chains for critical goods remain in allied countries.

“We’ve learned the lesson that we cannot become dependent for critical needs, our critical supply chains, on countries that perhaps are not going to be our friends,” said Holding, who is retiring at the end of this congressional term. “This is a great opportunity for the United States and the United Kingdom — the pharmaceutical industry is a perfect example of where our two countries work incredibly well together.”

Pierce said the deal could set a “gold standard” for the future in how it deals with rapidly evolving sectors of the economy. Traditionally, trade deals have been focused on commodities, but Pierce noted the new deal would have to address blockchains, driverless cars, and quantum technology.

“With the world economy changing, with the new innovations in technology and life sciences, with a much greater focus on digital and data, trade agreements are going to need to keep up,” she said. “We have to have a trade agreement that’s looking forward to the future and isn’t just based on the goods of the past, even though some of those will still be very important.”