- Ice’s ex-acting head: Trump is using federal agents as his ‘goon squad’
- Chad Wolf: the Trump official leading the crackdown in Portland
- DoJ to investigate federal forces’ tactics in US cities
- Florida hospitals stretched to capacity by outbreak
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2.23pm BST
The Guardian’s Daniel Strauss reports:
The former acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which works under the Department of Homeland Security, has condemned the Trump administration’s handling of protests in Portland by deploying federal agents into the city.
Related: Trump is using federal agents as his ‘goon squad’, says Ice’s ex-acting head
2.03pm BST
The Cook Political Report has changed the electoral college ratings of four states — all in Democrats’ favor.
Most notably, the perennial swing state of Florida has been moved from “toss up” to “lean Democrat.”
In Florida, as COVID-19 cases started to rise this summer, Trump has seen his vote margin and his job approval rating drop. …
[A] July Quinnipiac poll found Biden leading Trump by 20 points on who is best able to handle the coronavirus, including an eight-point lead with those 65 and older. For months, Trump has questioned the severity of this crisis. But in Florida, 83 percent of voters see coronavirus as a serious problem, and 66 percent are very, or somewhat worried that they will get this virus. The only group not taking coronavirus seriously are Republican voters; 52 percent say they think the virus is under control. …
Continue reading…Ice’s ex-acting head: Trump is using federal agents as his ‘goon squad’Chad Wolf: the Trump official leading the crackdown in PortlandDoJ to investigate federal forces’ tactics in US citiesFlorida hospitals stretched to capacity by outbreakSign up to our First Thing newsletter 2.23pm BSTThe Guardian’s Daniel Strauss reports:The former acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which works under the Department of Homeland Security, has condemned the Trump administration’s handling of protests in Portland by deploying federal agents into the city. Related: Trump is using federal agents as his ‘goon squad’, says Ice’s ex-acting head 2.03pm BSTThe Cook Political Report has changed the electoral college ratings of four states — all in Democrats’ favor. Most notably, the perennial swing state of Florida has been moved from “toss up” to “lean Democrat.” In Florida, as COVID-19 cases started to rise this summer, Trump has seen his vote margin and his job approval rating drop. …[A] July Quinnipiac poll found Biden leading Trump by 20 points on who is best able to handle the coronavirus, including an eight-point lead with those 65 and older. For months, Trump has questioned the severity of this crisis. But in Florida, 83 percent of voters see coronavirus as a serious problem, and 66 percent are very, or somewhat worried that they will get this virus. The only group not taking coronavirus seriously are Republican voters; 52 percent say they think the virus is under control. … Continue reading…