{"articles":[{"id":34875,"title":"The DC: Trump discussed Biden with Ukraine, and... 🧾 Should presidential candidates have to release their tax returns to be on the ballot?","html_content":"

by Causes | 9.23.19

Welcome to Monday, September 23rd, uppers and downers...

President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that he discussed former Vice President Joe Biden with Ukraine’s president.

\"The conversation I had was largely congratulatory, with largely corruption — all of the corruption taking place — largely the fact that we don't want our people like Vice President Biden and his son creating to the corruption already in the Ukraine and Ukraine has got a lot of problems.\"

Some believe this is the conversation where Trump made an alleged \"promise\" to a foreign leader, prompting an American intelligence official to file a formal whistleblower complaint with the inspector general of the intelligence community.

There is speculation that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine until the country promised to investigate Biden and his son. However, Trump on Sunday was adamant there was \"no quid pro quo.\"

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) told CNN's \"State of the Union\" Sunday that if the allegations are true, Democrats may have no choice but to impeach Trump.

\"The president is pushing us down this road and if in particular — after having sought foreign assistance and welcomed foreign assistant in the last presidential campaign as a candidate, he is now doing the same thing again but now using the power of the presidency — then he may force us to go down this road.\"

How do you feel about Trump discussing Biden with Ukraine?

On the Radar

Election Security

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved three FY2020 spending bills on Thursday, including an amendment by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to the financial services & general government bill which would provide an additional $250 million in election security grants.

McConnell, who has been derided as “Moscow Mitch” by Democrats for refusing to bring up election security bills that passed on party-line votes in the Democratic House, said on the Senate floor that “I am proud to have helped to develop this amendment and to co-sponsor it in committee.”

He added that if it becomes law, it will bring the total election security funding enacted since FY2018 to $600 million ($380 million of which was enacted through the FY2018 omnibus spending bill ahead of the midterm elections).

Should the Senate pass McConnell’s election security funding?

Under the Radar

CA Law Forcing Candidates to Release Tax Returns Blocked

A federal judge has issued a temporary block on a new California law that requires presidential candidates to publicly disclose their tax returns or forfeit appearing on the Golden State ballot.

President Trump had sued the state last month to block implementation of the law.

U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. said there would be “irreparable harm without temporary relief” for Trump and other candidates from the law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, named as defendant in the lawsuits, said in a statement that he'd wait to see the written ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

“We remain firm in our belief that SB 27 is constitutional and provides invaluable transparency for voters as they decide who will hold the most powerful office in the United States.\"

Should presidential candidates have to release their tax returns to be on the ballot?

Area 51 Raid

Alien-hunters descended on Area 51 this past weekend for a planned raid of the secretive facility in the Nevada desert.

The raid, which began as a Facebook meme in June, came the same week the U.S. said three videos showing reported encounters between Navy aircraft and UFOs are real.

The Air Force took the threat of a raid seriously, and promised to stand \"ready to protect America and its assets.\"

Storm Area 51, a.k.a. \"Alienstock,\" attracted hundreds of people in search of intelligent life outside earth's borders.

\"A bunch of random people in weird costumes standing outside of a government base, why would you want to miss that?\" said YouTuber Atozy. \"That's a once in a lifetime experience.\"

Do you believe in aliens?

Your Gov at a Glance 👀

The White House: President Trump in NY

At 11:30am EDT, the president will lead the United Nations Event on Religious Freedom.
At 1:00pm EDT, the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of Pakistan.
At 2:25pm EDT, the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of Poland.
At 3:00pm EDT, the president will participate in a pull-aside with the prime minister of New Zealand.
At 3:40pm EDT, the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of Singapore.
At 4:15pm EDT, the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of Egypt.
At 5:15pm EDT, the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of South Korea.

The House of Representatives: Out

The House will return Tuesday, September 23rd.

The Senate: In

\nTaking a procedural vote on the nomination of a deputy under secretary of the Treasury.

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should Congress Rescind Trump’s Executive Order for ‘Mass Deportations’?

(Follow Bryan's comment here.)

(Follow middle.class.old.lady's comment here.)

Also Worth a Click

And, in the End…

It's National Dogs in Politics Day.

Here's some good boys and girls who went from doghouse to White House:

Happy autumn,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at contact [at] countable.us. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.

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