Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Homeland Security Held Back Info On Russian Scheme To Question Biden's Mental Health: Report
ABC News: DHS Withheld July Intelligence Bulletin Calling Out Russian Attack On Biden’s Mental Health
In early July the Department of Homeland Security withheld publication of an intelligence bulletin warning law enforcement agencies of a Russian scheme to promote “allegations about the poor mental health” of former Vice President Joe Biden, according to internal emails and a draft of the document obtained by ABC News. The draft bulletin, titled “Russia Likely to Denigrate Health of US Candidates to Influence 2020 Election,” was submitted to the agency’s legislative and public affairs office for review on July 7. The analysis was not meant for public consumption, but it was set to be distributed to federal, state and local law enforcement partners two days later, on July 9, the emails show. (Margolin, Bruggeman, Steakin and Karl, 9/2)
CNN: DHS Withheld Intelligence Bulletin Calling Out Russian Attack On Biden's Mental Health, ABC News Reports
Emails also show, according to the network, that DHS Chief of Staff John Gountanis stopped the bulletin from being sent out. "Please hold on sending this one out until you have a chance to speak to [acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf]," Gountanis wrote, ABC News reported. (Duster, 9/2)
Also —
The Washington Post: Postal Service Audit Finds Gaps In Election Mail Processing, Delivery
How ready is the U.S. Postal Service to process and deliver election mail on time come November? Not ready enough, the agency’s watchdog says in a new report. In its audit of election mail processing, the agency’s Office of Inspector General listed several potential trouble spots, including ballots mailed without bar codes used for tracking; ballot mailpiece designs that impede processing; election and political mail sent too close to Election Day for the mail service to deliver it on time; postmark requirements for ballots; and outdated voter addresses. (Denham, 9/1)
Axios: USPS Watchdog Flags Possible Problems With Timely Process, Delivery Of Election Mail
More Americans than ever are expected to mail in their ballots in November's election as the coronavirus pandemic persists and voters aim to avoid possible exposure. The audit also comes as Democratic lawmakers worry that recent operational changes made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy threaten the USPS's ability to handle the anticipated surge in mail-in ballots. (Ayesh, 9/1)
In other election news —
AP: Vegas Hotel That Held Trump Event Fined Over COVID-19 Rule
A Las Vegas hotel that hosted a faith-based Donald Trump rally and a beauty pageant, and is battling the governor’s office and city officials over coronavirus crowd limits, has been fined for failure to comply with COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures, officials said. Ahern Hotel and Convention Center was assessed a $10,930 penalty, according to a state Occupational Safety and Health Administration report posted Monday. (9/1)
The Hill: Biden To Tear Into Trump Over Coronavirus, School Reopenings In Delaware Remarks
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will tear into President Trump in remarks from Delaware on Wednesday, going after the White House’s handling of the coronavirus and its impact on school reopenings. Biden will be joined by his wife, Jill Biden, an educator herself, and several experts for a briefing on the issue of opening schools and will then give remarks “on how Trump’s failure to address COVID-19 is impacting students, educators, and children, and his plan to safely and effectively reopen schools,” according to his campaign. (Axelrod, 9/2)
Kaiser Health News: Listen: Control Of U.S. Senate Could Hinge On Obamacare Positions
KHN senior correspondent Markian Hawryluk joined KUNC’s Erin O’Toole on “Colorado Edition” to discuss his recent story about how the Affordable Care Act is affecting the close Colorado Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner and Democratic former Gov. John Hickenlooper. That race and five others involving vulnerable Republican incumbents who sought to repeal the health care law could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate in 2021. Public sentiment about the health care law, also known as Obamacare, has shifted. What was a political liability in 2014 for candidates has become a selling point amid the loss of jobs and health insurance for millions of people during the coronavirus pandemic. (9/1)
