House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyHouse Republicans hopeful about bipartisan path forward on police reform legislation Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names McConnell: States should make decision on Confederate statues MORE on Thursday panned 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’s prospects in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, calling the former vice president the “Jeb Bush of this cycle.”

“I think Biden, no disrespect, is the Jeb Bush of this cycle,” the California Republican said at an Axios event. “I think he could have run at a different time and he would have been the nominee. I think he has too much to apologize for.”

McCarthy argued that 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.), who has trailed Biden in recent national polls, “has a much better chance” of winning the Democratic nomination. He noted that candidates need an energized base to sustain and fund their campaigns, saying Sanders “has a bigger base for a longer duration of the time.”

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Bush, the former governor of Florida, entered the 2016 Republican presidential primary as a heavy favorite, given his high name recognition as the brother and son of two former presidents as well as his breadth of experience serving as the governor of a swing state.

But then-candidate Donald 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 repeatedly mocked him as “low energy” and the former governor’s big-dollar campaign failed to break through the large GOP field. Bush dropped out of the race in February 2016 after a poor showing in the South Carolina primary.

Asked on Thursday about the presidential bid of his home-state senator, Democrat 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, McCarthy said he hoped that the first-term California senator would “accomplish something” and gain more experience in Congress before running for president.

A group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday raised concerns around the ability of overseas U.S. voters to cast a ballot in the upcoming general election due to mail delays and COVID-19 interruptions. 

Senate Rules Committee ranking member Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharKaren Pence stumps for GOP SC congressional candidate Hillicon Valley: Democrats demand answers over Russian interference bulletin | Google Cloud wins defense contract for cancer research | Cyberattack disrupts virtual classes DHS cyber agency issues order boosting cybersecurity vulnerability reporting MORE (D-Minn.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezSenators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report VOA visa decision could hobble Venezuela coverage Bottom line MORE (D-N.J.) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to almost two dozen U.S. embassies raising concerns around the ability of overseas U.S. voters to participate in the November election.

“In every election, postal delivery issues and strict state deadlines mean that ballots from some voters living abroad go uncounted,” the senators wrote. “Obstacles to voting coupled with concerns that their ballots will not count mean that many Americans living overseas will decide not to vote at all.”

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According to the Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), there are around 3 million U.S. citizens eligible to vote living overseas, though according to the senators, only around 7 percent of these citizens successfully voted in the 2016 U.S. elections, a number the senators described as “unacceptable.”

“We are deeply concerned that delays and confusion resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will make matters worse,” the senators wrote. “The United States Postal Service (USPS) has warned election officials across the U.S. that the delivery of election mail may be delayed, and the situation may be even worse for many voters living overseas.”

The Senate Democrats asked the U.S. embassies to provide answers by Sept. 16 outlining the steps each embassy was taking to help Americans living in that country to vote, what the current mail delivery time typically was, whether the embassy would allow the use of diplomatic pouch services to send the election mail, and information around voter education campaigns.

The letter was sent to U.S. embassies in countries including the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Mexico, Israel, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, among several others.

The concerns over ballot delivery were raised following weeks of Democratic criticism of recent reforms made to the Postal Service that have slowed down mail delivery, and following repeated attacks on the process of mail-in voting by President TrumpDonald John TrumpKenosha mayor lifts curfew citing several ‘peaceful’ nights MSNBC’s Joy Reid concedes ‘framing’ of Muslim comments ‘didn’t work’ Conway says even more ‘hidden, undercover’ Trump voters will help him win reelection MORE.

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“We recognize that some conditions that could make voting more difficult may be beyond the control of U.S. officials, but we must take steps now to attempt to overcome the challenges we can address,” the senators wrote on Wednesday. “It is vital that all Americans be able to cast their votes during the pandemic. Many Americans are serving our country overseas and their voices must be heard in the democracy they are working hard to serve.”

The letter to the embassies was sent two months after Klobuchar, Menendez, Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenOn The Money: Deficit to reach record .3 trillion | Senate Democrats push to overturn Trump’s payroll-tax deferral | Private sector adds 428K workers in August as job growth slows Democrats demand answers on report DHS withheld Russian election interference intelligence Senate Democrats raise concerns over ability of US overseas voters to cast ballots MORE (D-Ore.) and almost a dozen other senators sent a separate letter to Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: US sanctions ICC prosecutor amid probe of alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan | Senators urge Pentagon to keep Stars and Stripes running Pompeo: State Department review found GOP convention speech lawful Senate Democrats raise concerns over ability of US overseas voters to cast ballots MORE urging him to take steps to ensure military personnel and other U.S. overseas voters could vote in November.

At the time, a spokesperson for the State Department told The Hill that the agency “is committed to ensuring that U.S. citizens abroad are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world. Our embassies and consulates communicate regularly to U.S. citizens regarding options available to register to vote and to vote from overseas.”

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The Navajo Nation has joined other groups in calling for a full investigation into a series of deaths at Fort Hood, including a member of the nation last week.

Fort Hood officials said Pvt. Carlton L. Chee of Pinehill, N.M., died Wednesday after collapsing following a fitness training exercise, The Associated Press reported. Chee was the 28th soldier at the post to die this year.

“We are deeply disturbed by the string of deaths at Fort Hood, and if there is any malfeasance or negligence involved, the Navajo Nation calls on our national leaders to pursue every available avenue to protect the lives of our Navajo warriors and those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,” Speaker of the Navajo Council Seth Damon said.

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Army officials said Chee’s death is under investigation and that the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas will perform an autopsy, according to the AP.

“Our young Navajo warriors who choose to continue the valorous legacy shared by our Navajo Code Talkers deserve the greatest assurances from our military leaders that their service is not in vain,” Damon added.

The Army announced changes to Fort Hood leadership last week as part of its investigation into the slaying of another soldier, Spc. Vanessa Guillen. A fellow soldier is accused of bludgeoning Guillen to death, sparking a broader controversy on the military’s handling of gendered violence.

Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, instead of taking over as commander for Fort Bliss’ 1st Armored Division, will remain at Fort Hood and serve as deputy commanding general, Army leadership announced earlier in the month.

“The Army will announce the name of a new commander for the 1st Armored Division, which Efflandt had previously been designated to lead. That announcement is expected in the coming days,” according to a service statement.

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A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration stop detaining migrant children at hotels prior to deporting them.

U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee, an Obama appointee, said the practice violated “fundamental humanitarian protections” and ran afoul of a 20-year rule dictating the treatment of migrant children in government custody. The order mandates border agencies to halt the placement of children in hotels by Sept. 15 and remove those already there as soon as possible.

Gee also dismissed arguments that hotels provided a safer place to detain children during the coronavirus pandemic.

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“This court is sensitive to the exigencies created by COVID-19 and recognizes that the pandemic may require temporary, emergency modifications to the immigration system to enhance public safety. But that is no excuse for [the Department of Homeland Security] to skirt the fundamental humanitarian protections that the Flores Amendment guarantees for minors in their custody, especially when there is no persuasive evidence that hoteling is safer than licensed facilities,” she wrote.

Gee added that “the Court is obliged to ensure that minors in DHS custody are not left in a legal no-man’s land.”

The Trump administration has put at least 577 unaccompanied children in hotels in Texas and Arizona since March before then typically placing them on deportation flights.

The Friday ruling orders the government to resume sending unaccompanied children to Department of Health and Human Services’s (HHS) shelters where they can receive legal services, education and the opportunity to be placed with relatives already in the U.S. The ruling also gives immigration lawyers access to children the government is trying to deport under an emergency declaration put in place during the pandemic, and it applies to children with parents who crossed the border with no authorization. 

The government “cannot seriously argue in good faith that flouting their contractual obligation to place minors in licensed programs is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Gee wrote.

Her decision still allows hotels to be used for short stays of one or two nights as the minors travel between locations. 

The Trump administration has argued that the court does not have the authority to prevent it from using hotels because the minors do not fall under the Flores Amendment court settlement outlining how children can be detained. 

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding the ruling, though it can appeal Gee’s order.

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More than 200 people were rescued by the National Guard from a wildfire in a recreational area in California, officials said Sunday. 

The Madera County Sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that officials had rescued people sheltering-in-place at Mammoth Pool, a reservoir on the San Joaquin River about 45 miles north of Fresno, during the wildfire which was named the Creek Fire.  

Twenty of those rescued have been transported to area hospitals and “any others in need of medical attention are being treated,” the sheriff’s office said. 

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A National Guard spokesman told CBS San Francisco a Chinook helicopter airlifted the first 50 to 60 evacuees to Fresno Airport, adding that some had “been injured by the flame of the fire.” 

“A Blackhawk helicopter is also involved in the rescue,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma said in an email to the outlet. “At the airport, emergency response, fire and medical elements from the 144th Fighter Wing are on hand to assist. Both rotary wings are returning to the fire site to evacuate more people immediately.”

The California National Guard tweeted photos and video of the evacuees on and exciting the helicopter. 

The Creek Fire started Friday and by Saturday afternoon head spread to 56 square miles. It cut off the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman said, according to KTLA 5. 

Tune said campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews could gain access to the site, KTLA 5 reported.

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One of the Trump administration’s latest efforts to help workers amid the coronavirus pandemic is off to a rocky start.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSchumer calls for investigation into reports of campaign finance improprieties by DeJoy’s former company McCarthy told Trump trashing mail-in voting will hurt Republicans: report Iran broadcasts wrestler’s confession following Trump tweet MORE signed a memo last month directing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payroll taxes from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 for employees making less than $4,000 on a biweekly basis.

White House economic adviser Larry KudlowLarry KudlowMORE told reporters Friday he thinks the deferral will be “extremely helpful,” and the administration is pushing for the deferred taxes to be forgiven.

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But few businesses are expected to participate in the deferral, in part because of the administrative burdens but also because it could result in their employees receiving less in take-home pay in the first few months of 2021.

There’s also no guarantee Congress will pass legislation to forgive the deferred taxes.

Here are five things to know about President Trump’s payroll tax deferral.

Smaller paychecks likely in 2021 for those who participate

Under the IRS guidance, employers are allowed to stop withholding the 6.2 percent employee-side Social Security tax from paychecks through the end of the year.

However, employers who participate will then need to recoup that money by increasing the amount of taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks from January through April.

The result is that workers whose taxes are deferred would see bigger paychecks this year and smaller than typical ones next year, unless legislation is enacted to forgive the deferred taxes.

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Implementation still clouded in uncertainty

The IRS guidance is only three pages long and did not answer all of the questions that business and tax professionals have about implementation.

A key question that wasn’t answered was how employers should collect deferred payroll taxes from employees who depart before the end of April. The IRS says that if necessary, employers can make arrangements to collect the taxes from employees, but it does not provide further detail.

Businesses also have questions about how deferring payroll taxes would interact with state laws and collective-bargaining agreements.

Many businesses are unlikely to participate

Business groups expect many of their members to continue withholding Social Security payroll taxes from paychecks, because there’s no guarantee the deferred taxes will be forgiven and they don’t want to be in a position where their employees are seeing less in take-home pay for the first four months of 2021.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups representing private-sector employers argue that the only good way to provide payroll tax relief is for the White House and Congress to come together on legislation.

Businesses that have an interest in participating may not be able to do so immediately since it may take some time to update their payroll systems.

Robert Delgado, principal-in-charge of the compensation and benefits group in the Washington national tax practice of KPMG, said businesses might have to manually track some information to appropriately defer the taxes.

“I think it’s a significant disincentive to businesses with all the uncertainties, the unknowns and the complications, as well as the expense of having to potentially manually process this,” he said.

Federal workers are expected to see their taxes deferred

The most prominent employer to announce participation in the payroll tax deferral program is the federal government. The Office of Management and Budget said the government will defer employee taxes in order to provide immediate relief during the pandemic.

Unions that represent federal employees are upset that the deferral appears to be mandatory for eligible government workers, and are urging the Trump administration to allow employees to have a choice. Unions and Democratic lawmakers also want more information about plans for collecting the deferred taxes.

Democrats have expressed concerns that the administration is treating federal workers as “guinea pigs,” noting that private-sector businesses are wary of participating in the deferral.

Trump wants to forgive the deferred taxes, Democrats want to block the deferral

Before signing the deferral memo in August, Trump spent months pushing for coronavirus relief legislation to include a payroll tax holiday, but the idea faced resistance from both Democrats and Republicans. The president is hoping to turn his deferral into a payroll tax cut, pledging to forgive the postponed taxes if reelected.

Eliminating the deferred taxes, however, would require congressional action. Rep. Kevin BradyKevin Patrick BradyOn The Money: Five takeaways from the July jobs report Stimulus checks debate now focuses on size, eligibility Pelosi huddles with chairmen on surprise billing but deal elusive MORE of Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters Wednesday that he intends to introduce legislation to accomplish Trump’s goal.

But there’s no guarantee that forgiveness becomes law. Democrats and Republicans have yet to reach an agreement on another coronavirus relief package after months of on-and-off negotiations.

Marc Gerson, head of the government affairs practice at Miller & Chevalier, said the amount of pressure on Congress to forgive the deferred taxes will depend on the number of people who are poised to see less in take-home pay early next year. He also said the pressure will increase as the collection period for the taxes approaches.

“The real political pressure point is the magnitude of employees facing reduced paychecks in the New Year,” Gerson said.

Democrats want to overturn IRS guidance on the deferral.

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Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSchumer calls for investigation into reports of campaign finance improprieties by DeJoy’s former company Companies developing COVID-19 vaccines planning to issue joint safety pledge Schumer calls for accountability in Daniel Prude death in Rochester MORE (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenHouse Democrat offers measures to block Trump’s payroll tax deferral Hillicon Valley: Russia ‘amplifying’ concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week for a determination about whether the IRS notice is a “rule” for purposes of the Congressional Review Act. If the guidance is considered a rule, Senate Democrats could offer a resolution to disapprove of it and force a vote on the Senate floor.

Rep. John Larson John Barry LarsonHouse Democrat offers measures to block Trump’s payroll tax deferral Senate Democrats take step toward vote on overturning Trump’s payroll-tax deferral Conservatives urge Trump to take unilateral action to suspend payroll tax collection MORE (D-Conn.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Social Security, on Friday introduced a bill to nullify the IRS guidance. He also introduced a resolution to overturn the guidance. A spokesperson for Larson said Friday that lawmakers haven’t yet heard from GAO.

Even if Congress were to send a resolution to Trump’s desk, they would need a veto-proof majority since the president would almost certainly use veto the measure.

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The German hospital treating Alexei Navalny, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinDon’t expect Europe to hold Putin accountable in Navalny poisoning Dealing with Russia: Bringing the outlaw state to justice Pelosi: Trump ‘engaged in fright and fear’ in efforts to ‘discredit’ voters MORE, said it was able to take him out of a medically-induced coma Monday.

Navalny became ill on a domestic flight in late August and was flown to Germany. He is believed to have been poisoned by the same nerve agent suspected in the death of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

“The patient has been removed from his medically induced coma and is being weaned off mechanical ventilation,” Berlin’s Charite hospital said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. ”He is responding to verbal stimuli. It remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.”

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The hospital made the announcement the day after German officials indicated a planned German-Russian gas pipeline agreement might be at stake if Russia does not thoroughly investigate the case.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany could pull its backing for the Baltic Sea pipeline if it feels the Kremlin is not taking the investigation seriously.

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“The chancellor also believes that it’s wrong to rule anything out,” Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters Monday, in reference to Maas’ comments.

Seibert added that Merkel’s office does not necessarily expect Russia to respond within days.

“I can’t express a clear, time-limited expectation, except that we are certainly not talking about months or the end of the year,” he said, according to the AP.

Robert Habeck, leader of Germany’s Green Party, said the pipeline should be abandoned regardless, saying it “divides Europe, it is economically nonsensical and oversized, and it is wrong in security policy terms.”

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Allowing the project to go forward, he said, “would mean that Russia can do what it wants. This signal must not be sent.”

Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna, suggested without evidence that opponents of the pipeline were somehow connected to the Navalny incident.

“Suspicious coincidence of Navalny case and the final stage of Nord Stream 2 construction, which some states desperately want to be closed. I am not fond of conspiracy theories but it is obvious that the tragic events with Navalny are very timely and helpful for opponents of [the pipeline],” he tweeted.

Pope FrancisPope FrancisPope: Pandemic shows benefit of giving planet a ‘rest’ Pope: Coronavirus pandemic ‘exposed and aggravated’ social inequalities Pope: It would be ‘sad’ if rich are prioritized for coronavirus vaccine MORE is planning his first trip outside of Rome since the coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year, with the pontiff set to travel north to the town of Assisi next month.

The Holy See press office announced that the pope would travel to Assisi on Oct. 3, one day before the Feast of St. Francis, who was born in a small town near the center of Italy.

A spokesman for the Assisi Basilica confirmed Saturday that Francis would sign a new encyclical during his trip to the area, Reuters reported.

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The encyclical is the most distinguished form of papal literature and is expected to highlight what Francis thinks the world should look like post-pandemic.

The encyclical will be titled “Brothers All…” and comes after the pontiff last month urged followers to acknowledge how “the pandemic has revealed how vulnerable and interconnected we all are.”

“The visit will take place in private, without the participation of the faithful,” Father Enzo Fortunato said in a statement about Francis’s trip, according to Reuters.

This week, the pontiff held the first weekly general audience in public for the first time in six months, showing signs of some return to normalcy at the Vatican following its coronavirus lockdown.

The Nevada Senate passed a bill that would give the state’s Electoral College votes to the winner of the presidential election’s national popular vote, sending the legislation to the desk of Gov. Steve Sisolak (D).

The state Senate passed the measure on a 12-8 vote on Tuesday, CNN reported.

If Sisolak signs the measure into law, Nevada would become the latest state to join the National Popular Vote interstate compact, an agreement among a number of states to give their Electoral College votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the popular vote.

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Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to join the pact, which will only take effect if a number of states holding the majority of the Electoral College’s 538 electoral votes join the agreement. 

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The total is currently at 189, and Nevada’s six electoral votes would boost the number to 195, CNN noted.

Lawmakers in Maine passed a similar bill earlier this month and it currently waits to either be signed or vetoed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D). 

There have only been five instances where a presidential candidate has been elected without winning the popular vote since the Electoral College was created in 1787.

Most recently, 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 won office in the 2016 election after losing the popular vote to Democratic nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE by nearly 3 million votes. However, Trump won the election by securing 304 electoral votes.

Federal Prosecutors in Washington, D.C., reportedly issued subpoenas to 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’s Florida Mar-a-Lago resort and the political fundraising committee Trump Victory for records relating to Republican donor Li “Cindy” Yang and her businesses and associates. 

The Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal reported on the subpoenas this week. 

Investigators are reportedly looking into whether Yang fed Chinese money into Trump’s reelection campaign or violated other campaign finance rules. They are not probing Mar-a-Lago or Trump Victory, but are rather gathering information as they put together a possible case against Yang and others who are close to her, according to the Herald.

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One subpoena requires Mar-a-Lago to give prosecutors any documents or communications related to Yang and 11 others and seven companies and a charity she is connected to, a person familiar with the matter told the Herald. The other subpoena demands from Trump Victory campaign finance records related to Yang and others, according to the newspaper. 

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Trump Victory is a fundraising committee for Trump and the Republican National Committee. 

The Hill has reached out to the U.S. attorney’s office in D.C. and the Trump Organization for comment.  

A Trump Victory official told the Miami Herald, “Trump Victory makes every effort possible to ensure that all contributions are made in accordance with the law.”

“While we can’t comment on any possible ongoing investigations, of course our committee would comply with any request from law enforcement to ensure all contributions are made legally,” the official added. 

Yang has reportedly marketed access to Trump at Mar-a-Lago on her consulting firm’s website. She has also appeared in a selfie with the president. 

Yang was also the owner of a Florida spa where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others were accused of participating in prostitution, but had sold the spa prior to the prostitution sting. Kraft is friends with Trump.