Thread by @SamIngalls

I won’t agree with @JoeBiden on plenty, but this November 3rd I will be voting for him as our next President.

I hope you will too. Here’s why:

100 Days. Because Joe cares about preserving and strengthening our global relationships. While T has trashed our allies in NATO, Joe recognizes the importance of trans-Atlantic diplomacy:

“Defending the liberal international order requires that we resist the forces of European disintegration and maintain our longstanding insistence on a Europe whole, free, and at peace.” Because yes, “The EU has been an indispensable partner of the United States.”
–JB (Jan 2017)

99 Days. Joe’s lived the American dream. The oldest son of a car salesman in a middle-class Irish Catholic family, they moved from Scranton to Delaware in hope of new opportunity when Joe was 13.

Although Joe had a stutter, his parents encouraged him to persevere which we still see today. When he couldn’t afford to attend Archmere Academy, he worked manual labor in the summer months to make it possible. Too skinny, he was still a star wide receiver / halfback.

When he wanted to run for student body president, well...he couldn’t, because he had too many demerits; senior class president would have to do. Despite the obstacles, Joe’s early life shows a proven fighter.

98 Days. Joe’s commited to immigration reform. We’ve seen targeting of communities, due process violations, and anti-immigrant sentiments from this WH. Here’s what Joe pledges to do: joebiden.com/immigration/

Highlights for me:
–Clean up where we’ve moved backwards since 2017 (bare minimum)
–Assylum reform, ensuring we protect and value those seeking a new life in this nation
–Investment in case management vs. prolonged detention
–New standards for ICE/CBP
–Reinstate DACA

–Decrease hurdles to citizenship for green card holders + long-time residents
–Increase visas, rights for families, and channel migration towards economic development
–Bring North and Central American nations to the table (regional migration problems require regional solutions

–Improve border security through better technology, cross-agency collaboration, and partnering with our neighbors (vs. some silly, ineffective wall)

97 Days. Joe can take a stand. Here he is in 1986 addressing Secretary of State George P. Schultz over American policy in South Africa, where apartheid was alive and well.

The context: Dems sought economic sanctions against South Africa. Reagan disagreed with the punitive measures, preferred action by Executive Order. In the above hearing, Schultz opposes sanctions, noting South Africa had already received a “message sent by the marketplace”.

Joe may come across as animated, but systems like apartheid have no place in modern society. And America agreed; two months later in bipartisan fashion, the House (313-83) and Senate (78-21) voted to override the President’s veto of the resultant bill.

latimes.com/archives/la-xp…

96 Days. Like so many Americans, including yours truly, Joe loves ice cream.

No really, he doesn’t smoke or drink, he just loves...you say not enough proof? Well, here.

95 Days. Joe’s not an unblemished candidate. There’s gobs of missteps and gaffes over his almost five decades in public service. What’s important: he owns up to his mistakes and learns.

Today’s example: Joe’s first run for President (1988).

businessinsider.com/plagiarism-sca…

Joe was seen as a strong contender for the Dem nomination. But only a few months in (Sep ‘87), news broke that lines from Joe’s speeches were near-identical to the words of politician Neil Kinnock (UK Labour Leader).

More digging showed borrowing from Hebert Humphrey, Jack and Bobby Kennedy. And then an additional revelation of plagiarism on a law school paper.

Joe owned up to both, but denied any deliberate misleading. As the questions and media over it grew, he dropped out.

Later on: "All I had to say was 'Like Kinnock.' If I'd just said those two words, 'Like Kinnock,' and I didn't. It was my fault, nobody else's fault." He’s right.

As for his paper, plagiarism is rarely malevolent and happens en masse. For his misdeed, Joe retook the course.

When eventual nominee Michael Dukakis learned of his staff’s involvement in pushing the plagiarism scandal, they were promptly fired and Dukakis issued an apology to Biden.

It would be 20 years before Joe attempted to run again.

94 Days. Joe’s dedicated to our veterans. He recognizes their sacrifice—and the enduring gratitude we owe them, while on active duty and after their service.

joebiden.com/veterans/

Joe’s record speaks for itself. As Senator, he fought for key medical benefits, life-saving military supplies, and the DC veteran memorials. As a father, he saw his son deploy to Iraq. As VP, we saw the homeless population *and* unemployment rate of veterans cut by half.

As President, he’s committed to:
–Rebuild trust in the VA
–Restore infrastructure and increase national access to healthcare
–Reverse the transgender military ban
–Improve health services for female veterans
–Increase R&D funding for treatments

–Fight the veteran suicide epidemic by securing mental health services across the board
–Expand education + work opportunities for veterans reentering civilian life
–Protect undocumented immigrants and their families serving our country
–Improve VA management and accountability

93 Days. Joe’s one of our nation’s longest-serving public officials.

–2 years as New Castle County Councilman
–36 years as US Senator for Delaware
–8 years as VP

From Nixon to Bush II, Joe served as Senator under 7 POTUS administrations before his own two terms in the WH.

You may be inclined to say ‘such an incredibly long tenure shouldn’t be possible’, or smells ‘swampy’.

By golly, we should have term limits, right? ~74% of Americans agree—but not so quick, there’s serious negative consequences.

S/o to @GrayWhitsett ⬇️
google.com/amp/s/www.broo…

Term limits can:
–Deplete Congressional potential for progress (policymaking is a learned skill)
–Lessen incentives for policy expertise
–Automatically kick out effective lawmakers
–Increase reliance on lobbyists and agencies/bureaucrats
–Worsen the revolving door phenomenon

For the same reasons term limits don’t work, we see why Joe’s extended public service makes him so qualified to serve as our next President.

Between his experience in the legislative and executive branches, Joe knows Washington and what it takes to lead our federal government.

92 Days. Joe Biden—because we need dogs back in the White House.

Champ and Major are up for the task.

91 Days. Joe’s one of the few Americans to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. In one of his last acts in Jan ‘17, President Obama surprised his VP with:

"the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

A big thank you to @BarackObama (on his birthday) for recognizing Joe’s unyielding service to this nation and its progress.

90 Days. Joe’s committed to ethics.

Recently his campaign made the unprecedented decision to limit staff from trading stocks, taking the additional step to prevent conflicts of interest.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

While we *still haven’t seen* our current President’s tax returns, Joe’s been releasing his to the public since 1998.

Here’s Joe’s financial disclosures and tax returns since 2016:
joebiden.com/financial-disc…

For most of his career, he’s lived up to the “Middle Class Joe” image. Only after leaving office has the Bidens’ wealth soared—a majority of which from book royalties and speaking engagements.

businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-…

Day 89. Joe was the highest-ranking official to initially endorse same-sex marriage. On May 6, 2012, his answer on @MeetThePress came as a surprise, but also served as a tippping point for the Obama administration and the LGBTQ+ movement.

Like most long-serving officials, there’s been an evolution. Most notably, Joe voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and argued in the 2000s he didn’t want to redefine what constitutes marriage. Alas, Joe saw it was time for change.

nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/…

“Did JB evolve on the issue of marriage like most of the country?” @SarahEMcBride, transgender activist and Delawarean, asked.

“Yes. Frankly, we should all want leaders with big minds and open hearts who are willing to evolve and, in the case of JB, bring the country along.”

88 Days. Through his own life’s twists, Joe shares empathy for all who’ve lost loved ones too soon.

On December 18, 1972, Joe’s wife, Neilia, and infant daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car accident.

Only just been elected to the US Senate a month prior, a 30 year old Joe was left to consider resigning to care for his two sons. Persuaded to fulfill his service by Sen. Mike Mansfield, Joe was sworn in at his recovering son’s bedside on January 5, 1973.

For five years he raised Beau and Hunter as a single father, traveling back and forth on the Amtrak from DC to Wilmington.

Joe was never out of communication with his sons, he went through the motions of being a Senator, and he struggled to understand.

“I liked to go at night [into seedy neighborhoods] when I thought there was a better chance of a fight. I was always looking for a fight. I had not known I was capable of such rage.”

Later, reflecting on the impact on his faith, “I felt God had played a horrible trick on me.”

Forty-six years later Joe does not work on the anniversary of the accident, December 18.

87 Days. Joe was an early advocate for addressing climate change.

Six years before the Kyoto Protocol (1992) and thirty years before the Paris Agreement (2016), Joe introduced the Global Climate Protection Act of 1986.

congress.gov/bill/99th-cong…

While the proposal initially failed, Joe’s remarks on the Senate floor were particularly prudent.

Later, a version of the bill was included as an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act and signed by President Reagan on December 12, 1987.

86 Days. Common-sense gun safety policies are overdue; Joe’s committed to the fight to end gun violence.

joebiden.com/gunsafety/

Quick history: In 1986, Joe compromised with Senate GOP on a bill the NRA called “the law that saved gun rights”.

Later, Joe successfully passed bills on background checks (1993) and banning weapons of war (1994), earning himself an F rating from the NRA.
nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna9…

As President, Joe will:
–Ban the manufacture/sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; institute a buy back program
–Require background checks for all gun sales + close multiple existing loopholes
–Hold gun manufacturers accountable
–End the online sale of firearms

–Incentivize gun licensing programs and “red flag” laws for states
–Establish task force on connection between mass shootings, online harassment, extremism, and domestic violence
–Move towards smart gun technology
–Put checks in place to prevent minors from accessing guns

–Target straw purchasers
–Stop “ghost guns” (unlicensed homemade and 3D printed guns)
–Use proven strategies to tackle urban gun violence
–Address the epidemic of suicide by firearms
–Improve and expand trauma-informed care for survivors and communities

85 Days. Joe is a fresh breath of air as a uniter during one of the most divisive moments in a generation. This won’t be the last example of Joe’s heart for others, regardless of political affiliation.

Today: his friendship with Sen. John McCain.

A young Senator in the 1970s, Joe was placed on the Foreign Relations Committee. It wasn’t long before he met notable POW and Senate Navy liaison, John McCain. The two hit it off, and Joe would often pick John to accompany him on international business.

While they disagreed plenty on policy, they never let it impact their personal relationship. Referring to Joe in his last book, “The Restless Wave”, John said:

“Joe and I argued a lot over the years, but he is a first-class human being, and it’s a lucky thing to be his friend.”

On August 30, 2018, Joe eulogized John. His remarks say it all. To Joe, John was an optimist, a fighter, a devoted family man, a war hero, and a brother who believed in the promise of America.

84 Days. Joe’s committed to the next generation of leadership, and Americans coast to coast.

On August 11, 2020, after vetting a field of talented women, Joe picked Sen. Kamala Harris to serve as his VP.

Quick intro to Kamala—she’s the daughter of two first-generation Americans from India and Jamaica. Born in Oakland, she grew up in Berkeley and Montréal. In the 1980s, she graduated from @HowardU, worked on Capitol Hill, and later received her JD from @UCHastingsLaw.

Kamala’s lengthy career in the judicial system began in 1990, and led to her election as San Francisco DA in 2003, and California AG in 2010. In 2016, she was elected to the US Senate, and most recently sought the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination.

Like Joe, Kamala isn’t perfect; no one ever is. What is important is she cares about this nation, you, and has the experience and wisdom to lead.

I look forward to elaborating on what makes Kamala so special in the weeks to come.

For now a warm welcome and congratulations to @KamalaHarris! #BidenHarris2020

83 Days. In honor of International #YouthDay, Joe’s agenda for students includes:
–Build a green energy economy while fighting climate change
–Ensure training and education opportunities provide a path to the middle class
–End the gun violence epidemic

joebiden.com/joes-agenda-fo…

Joe believes we need a Clean Energy Revolution, starting with a historic investment in clean energy and environmental justice. His plan also aims to: reduce greenhouse gases and methane pollution, protect biodiversity, and preserve our natural, national treasures.

In an increasingly competitive economy, K-12 doesn’t always cut it, and attending college can lead to unmanageable debt. Joe aims to: provide community college or quality training programs debt-free, increase Pell grants, and ease the national student loan burden.

From the lasting trauma to the lives lost, school shootings are an albatross on a generation. It’s time for proactive policies addressing gun violence, and protecting our most vulnerable.

Here’s what Joe plans on doing if elected:

https://twitter.com/samingalls/status/1292628441980960770?s=21

https://t.co/XdRXeVCjGG

82 Days. In March 1975, Joe’s brother Frank set him up on a blind date with a one Jill Stevenson. Forty-five years later, the two are still going strong.

A look into Dr. Jill Biden, her passions, and what we could expect from our prospective First Lady.

Jill (née Jacobs) was born in NJ, moved around, and primarily grew up in the Philadelphia metro area. A rebellious high school student, she always enjoyed English class and intended on having her own career. In ~1970, she started community college and married her first husband.

By 1975, Jill was graduating @UDelaware and going through a divorce proceeding when she met Joe. The two hit it off, but she was hesitant about marriage, the limelight, and her career.

Two years and 5 proposals later, Jill said yes. In her own words:
time.com/longform/jill-…

As she started a new family, Jill jumped into teaching and continued her studies. While pregnant to their daughter, Ashley, Jill finished her M.Ed. at @WCUofPA in 1981. Later she’d earn a MA in English at @VillanovaU in 1987, and D.Ed. at @UDelaware in 2007.

A teacher at heart, Jill spent 13 years in a public high school, 5 years at a psychiatric hospital for adolescents, and 15 years as an instructor in English composition & writing at @delawaretech.

Jill firmly believes community colleges are “one of America’s best-kept secrets.”

As Second Lady, she continued teaching and, if Joe’s elected, she doesn’t plan on stopping.

In Jill, we have a leader who’s brought attention to the sacrifices made my military families, highlighted the importance of education, and raised awareness around women’s issues.

81 Days. Joe started his political career defeating incumbents.

As the nation turned a corner in 1968, Joe was registered as an independent. Then, as a public defender, he met Sid Balick, a locally active Democrat who brought Joe in on an effort to revitalize the state party.

Later that year, Joe surprised the state when he won a county council seat in a usual Republican stronghold.

A strong push for public housing in the suburbs was passionately scrutinized by some constituents, still, Joe won with the help of energetic supporters and his family.

The rumblings of a Senate run for 1972 started almost immediately. Joe was seen as honest, a family man, an ambitious rising statesman, and maybe “Delaware’s JFK”.

Read about Joe, the young politician:
newspapers.com/image/?clippin…

Two years later, as predicted, Joe faced longtime Delaware politician, Cale Boggs (2x Governor, 2x Senator).

Joe’s agenda centered around the environment, civil rights, mass transit, health care, withdrawing from Vietnam, and the public’s frustration with politics as usual.

Down near 30 points the summer before the election with little resources, Joe relied on his family and grassroots organizing to compete.

And on November 7, 1972, Joe beat Sen. Boggs by just ~3k votes (50.5% to 49.1%) to become one of the youngest Senators in modern history.

80 Days. Joe has his agenda, but he’s not afraid to bring other valuable ideas to the forefront when he spots them—today we look at his endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s proposal for bankruptcy reform.

joebiden.com/bankruptcyrefo…

For a dive into the backstory, reasoning, and the proposal, the consumer financial protection sage @ewarren in her own words:
elizabethwarren.com/plans/bankrupt…

The Problem:
–90% of families file for bankruptcy b/c of a job loss, medical problem, or family breakup; not reckless spending
–In 2005, a bill backed by big banks made it more difficult to discharge debts, and significantly worsened the 2008 financial crisis

To give Americans a better chance of getting back on their feet, the proposal calls to:
–Streamline and reduce the cost of the bankruptcy filing process
–Ensure limitations placed on filers are mindful of family necessities
–End the prohibition on discharging student debt

–Establish federal exemptions that protect filers’ home and car
–Allow modifications of mortgages in bankruptcy, like other debts
–Evalute the racial and gender disparities and abuse in bankruptcy
–Close loopholes benefitting wealthy filers
–Hold creditors accountable for abuse

79 Days. Joe’s received a plethora of recognition over his career, including 15 honorary doctorate degrees.

1976: @univofscranton
1981: @saintjosephs
2000: @WidenerUniv
2003: @EmersonCollege
2003: @DelStateUniv
2004: @UDelaware
2005: @Suffolk_U
2009: @SyracuseU
2009: @WakeForest
2013: @Penn
2014: @MDCollege
2014: @UofSC
2016: @tcddublin
2017: @MorganStateU
2017: @ColbyCollege

Tens of thousands have witnessed his commencement addresses. As he ever does, Joe speaks from the heart, cracks jokes, gets real about the challenges we face, and looks ahead with optimism.

Here’s his words to the University of Pennsylvania, c/o 2013:

78 Days. A blemished moment of Joe’s, and another instance where he’s taken responsibility for a misstep: his vote to authorize military action in Iraq.

nytimes.com/2020/01/12/us/…

Summer 2002: Bush officials alert Congress to the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction under Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joe also feared this “relentless pursuit” by Hussein:
nytimes.com/2002/07/31/opi…

Bush sought more open-ended power in managing Iraq, anti-war legislators feared the foreign entanglement, Joe proposed a middle ground.

With Sen. Richard Luger, the bipartisan bill mandated international support and narrowed authority to dismantling a WMD program.

Then, Bush agreed to a bill with Democratic leader Rep. Dick Gephardt, sinking alternative efforts, including Joe’s.

As Congress grappled with the Iraq Resolution, the political climate of the time can’t go unmentioned:

Arguably the most consequential single vote in the 21st century, the war powers authorization led to the toppling of the Iraqi regime, conflict in the Middle East to this day—and a bane to the list of officials who now regret that vote.

Sen. Barbara Boxer recalled Joe’s efforts: “They fought very hard to get us on board and we fought very hard to stop them...Once he saw that it was a mistake, he really stepped up to the plate to try and come up with a way out of this war.”

77 Days. Joe loves cars. Being the son of a car salesman, it tracks.

When it came for @DRIVE to pick the politicians who actually love cars:

See Joe behind the wheel of a few classics with Jay Leno:

76 Days. Why and how Democratic nominee Barack Obama picked Joe for VP.

For a superb view of the 2008 election, “Game Change” is a major source here. Chapter 19 details how the VP selection process played out.

In 2007, Joe Biden made his second run for President. Hungry for redemption after dropping out of the 1988 race, Joe felt this might be his last opportunity.

While he was a prominent voice among the candidates, Joe stumbled early and 1% in Iowa put his second run to rest.

In June 2008, the young Senator—now Democratic nominee—Obama looked to fill the ticket; focus groups told his brain trust the pick was a white-haired establishment type.

After a vigorous primary with Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama wondered why not her? Joe agreed, she was fit.

But Obama also increasingly liked the idea of Joe. The way he handled the trail, his working-class appeal, his decades of experience.

In early August, Joe went incognito to Minneapolis, stating on the flight, “This is the first time in decades I’ve been on a job interview.”

Obama knew Joe had been eyeing Secretary of State, but what would it take for him to be VP. Joe stated it would need to be a partnership in governing, and a relationship built on candor.

Obama replied, “I know you’ll be candid. Are you ready for me to be?”
“Absolutely.”

A few months later, Obama/Biden beat McCain/Palin, to win the 2008 presidential election. His attempts at the top of the ticket may have faltered, but Joe had finally made it to the White House.

75 Days. Like Joe, Kamala’s backstory says plenty of her own American Dream.

The child of two accomplished, immigrant parents, growing up in a changing nation, Kamala represents so many Americans who hope for a better future.

Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, November 20, 1964, to Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, who moved from India and Jamaica to complete their doctoral studies.

As Kamala says, the two “met and fell in love at Berkeley while participating in the civil rights movement.”

Considering Kamala’s own parents success, it’s easy to see where she and her sister, Maya, get it from.
mercurynews.com/2019/02/10/kam…

Shyamala herself, the child of an Indian diplomat and women’s rights activist, noted “Kamala comes from a long line of kick-ass women.” As a biologist, she went on to become a prominent breast cancer researcher.

Following the news and tuning into Walter Cronkite was essential:

Donald, a professor of economics at Stanford, became known for his work in applying Post-Keynesian ideas to development economics.

To show his daughters their heritage, Donald ensured they made trips to Jamaica, for its “richness and complexity”. Recalling a favorite memory:

As Kamala entered elementary school, desegregation efforts put her on a bus to a predominantly white school. While a national debate over racial equality transpired, young Kamala was living through it.
amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/59…

Talking about how her mother raised them, Kamala said, "She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident Black women."

At 7, Kamala’s parents separated, and her mother became her and Maya’s primary caregiver.

In her own words about her mother:

74 Days. Joe’s committed to the backbone of our nation: small businesses. Now more than ever, our local companies and mom-and-pop shops need our support.

joebiden.com/smallbusinesse…

In April, Joe applauded Congressional Democrats for upping the PPP funding to small businesses. But he also believes this funding didn’t go far enough, and too many small companies have been overlooked for the well-connected and corporations.

medium.com/@JoeBiden/joe-…

The #BidenHarris proposal seeks to:
–Reserve half of small business PPP funds for companies w/ <50 employees
–Track loans to check minority business owners aren’t being left out
–Ensure small non-profits are eligible

–Hold large firms accountable for taking more than revenue lost
–Guarantee funding for all eligible firms
–Expand loans beyond payroll support
–Extend payroll forgiveness for the duration of the crisis

Beyond the crisis, Joe knows the valuable role entrepreneurship and a competitive marketplace play in the development of our economy.

In this 2018 speech at the @KelloggSchool, Joe hits on his vision in light of growing economic inequity.

bidenforum.org/geography-can-…

73 Days. A look at Joe, Kamala, and the death penalty.

While both have a complicated relationship with the issue, they agree the government-sanctioned practice is ultimately costly and capricious.

Throughout his time in the Senate, Joe’s been seen as a proponent of capital punishment. Yet in June 2019, that position changed; an evolution if you will.

As the nation’s adjusted with the issue, well known tough-on-crime officials have flipped.

For Kamala, ending the death penalty has been a policy position since her first run for San Francisco DA in 2003.

In a 2009 interview, Kamala said, “It’s no secret I think the death penalty is a flawed system, but I will uphold the law.”

While it continues to be Kamala’s position, it’s also come with criticism over her record at the helm of California’s judicial system.

abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/k…

Lagniappe: In 1988, a question about capital punishment posed to Gov. Michael Dukakis panned him as dispassionate. Whether it was just the way he answered or a lethal policy take, today, it seems the death penalty as an issue has moved to the back burner.

72 Days. Joe & Kamala are committed to our Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Their pledge to the fastest growing American ethnic groups is one of protecting opportunities for advancement, and elevating AAPI voices in our government.

joebiden.com/joe-bidens-age…

Some background:
–2000-2015: the US Asian population grew 72% (11.9M to 20.4M Americans)
–An incredibly diverse group hailing from 20+ countries across East and SE Asia, and the Indian subcontinent
–Slated to be the US’s largest ethnic group by 2055

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017…

The 2018 Asian American Voter Survey showed an increase in AAPI candidates was a main factor in the group’s increased civic participation and activism.

Two years later, we continue to see an unprecedented number of AAPI candidates run for office.
aapidata.com/wp-content/upl…

As the first major ticket nominee of South Asian ancestry, Kamala knows firsthand the myriad of challenges facing this diverse community of Americans.

Like any other group, they need access to healthcare, quality education, training, and jobs, and a safe and clean environment.

Beyond what all Americans deserve, almost a third of the AAPI community are limited English proficient which means eliminating language barriers to vital services and resources is essential. Anything from learning and job opportunities to navigating healthcare and voting.

The Obama admin appointed more AAPI judges than all previous administrations combined—because federal officials should reflect the rest of America.

Joe’s committed to bringing key AAPI leaders + stakeholders to the table to ensure they’re a part of the decision-making process.

Last for now, but not least, we need to counter hate crimes towards the AAPI community. Xenophobia, racism, and hate should have no place in this nation. A President that doesn’t decry entire groups of people or incite hate would be a nice start.

This May op-ed by Joe and @SenDuckworth is on point.

nbcnews.com/think/opinion/…

71 Days. In Kamala, we have a role model that our kids can look up to. Someone who listens, responds thoughtfully, and is empathetic to others. Someone who can empower our children to dream big.

In her campaign, she made it a point to speak to children.

Last August, when Kamala ran into @TimRyan’s family on the campaign trail:

In October, Kamala pushing a little boy to say, “I am a leader”, and welcoming him to the fellow leader club:

Kamala lending some advice to Caroline, a South Carolina 8th grader running for class president:

Meeting Ally, who was personally inspired by Kamala’s campaign announcement speech about “truth” in Oakland:

Lagniappe: In 2017, Kamala spoke to young women from across California at the Girls Build Leadership Summit. Her remarks are poignant. Women are creative, influential, and valuable participants in our nation—importantly, seek out good mentors and friends.

harris.senate.gov/news/press-rel…

70 Days. When COVID-19 struck the nation, uncertainty over the future hit all of us. Seven-odd months in, we still wait for federal guidance ensuring we make it out of this moment stronger.

e.g. Joe & Kamala’s plan to protect our essential workers.

joebiden.com/joe-bidens-4-p…

While it *may* feel that we’re on the tail-end of this virus, it’s worth mentioning that there will be another at some point. Now’s as great a time as any to recognize that, too often, we take essential workers for granted.

The #BidenHarris four point plan would:

1. Ensure all frontline workers qualify for priority access to PPE, and testing based on risk of exposure. From grocery store employees to childcare staff and medical support.

2. Expand access to effective PPE, implement the Defense Production Act, and appoint a “Supply Commander” to coordinate the critical resources need across the nation.

Here were Joe’s recommendations to the current administration back in March:

medium.com/@JoeBiden/stat…

3. Establish key health + safety standards for workplaces. As done during the H1N1 epidemic, empower the CDC and OSHA to issue and enforce guidelines for infectious disease standards. Increase OSHA capacity to work w/ state + local agencies in ensuring comprehensive protection.

4. Enact premium pay for frontline workers. Work with Congress to pass the Senate Democrats’ Heroes Act, giving essential workers a raise. Needed now more than ever, this also aligns w/ Joe’s call to raise the minimum wage.

More recommendations in April:
medium.com/@JoeBiden/joe-…

69 Days. Joe’s a fighter in just about every regard, including his own health. Seemingly at the top of every voter’s mind as he’s slated to be our oldest elected President at 78 years old.

Joe grew up playing sports, and has maintained his trim build through his career. A longtime abstainer of alcohol and smoking, he’s described his crutches more in the vein of football, driving, and skiing.

Then in 1988, Joe started experiencing headaches. Months after he’d dropped out of the Democratic primary, he suffered two brain aneurysms that required immediate surgery. Given 50% chance of full recovery, Joe was isolated for several months recuperating.
amp.delawareonline.com/amp/3002961002

Given the incidents, the Bidens’ wondered if his dropping out wasn’t a blessing in disguise. By August 1988, Joe said he felt “really rested” for the first time in his life, and doctors gave him the go-ahead to return to work. In his own words about his life-threatening moment:

Since then, Joe hasn’t experienced any additional medical scares. Both aneurysms fully treated, Dr. Neal Kassell—who completed the surgery exposing Joe’s brain three decades ago—stated:

With five candidates over 70yo in the 2020 primaries, @politico took a dive into the implications of electing a septuagenarian in Aug 2019.

Their findings:
–Strong chance of fulfilling term
–Candidates = privileged subgroup
–Potential of “superagers”

politico.com/story/2019/08/…

Experts on aging and the brain state concerns over Joe’s age and mental fitness are overblown, relying too much on actuarial tables and mental flubs, when these candidates’ lifestyles and education often make a longer life more likely.

Joe’s own parents passed at 86 and 92. Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Joe’s physician, has given him a clean bill of health. Dr. Kassell also adding in his two cents about his vote.

68 Days. In 1998, Kamala was recruited by San Francisco District Attorney, Terence “Kayo” Hallinan, to serve as assistant DA. What ensued put Kamala in the spotlight and led to a job change.

Hallinan’s press secretary at the time, Fred Gardner, shares:
theava.com/archives/128883

A prosecutor for the Alameda County DA’s office, Kamala was highly recommended when Kayo placed her at the helm of the SFDA Career Criminal Division.

During Fred’s orientation, Kayo “spoke with special respect and affection for Kamala Harris – ‘a great hire,’ he called her.”

Enter California Proposition 21: notably giving prosecutors greater authority to litigate and punish juvenile defendants. Kayo was the only DA in the state who opposed Prop 21, yet Kamala was the one receiving increasing media attention for her No-on-21 campaign advocacy.

Darrell Salomon then became Kayo’s Chief Assistant, and promptly discouraged media inquiries about Prop 21 for Kamala. Her ambition irked Salomon, who believed she was eyeing DA in 2003.

The conversation between Salomon and Fred is one for the books:

Despite Salomon & Kayo’s efforts to centralize the SFDA office’s external communications, it wouldn’t last. Assistant DAs were most familiar with the facts of the cases, and allowing the media to speak to them directly provided the most transparency and lessened the DA’s load.

Fred never heard of any disloyal plans by Kamala. Better yet, he remembers her passion in a fiery encouragement she gave to a peer prosecuting the “Rebar Man”. That Kamala was a hell of a teacher and terrific mentor. And someone who’d avoid making their boss look bad.

Salomon didn’t last a year. Kamala was set-up and demoted. She left for the city attorney’s office, where she ran the Family & Children’s Services Division.

Three years later Kamala would return to the SFDA office, having defeated Kayo, for her first term as District Attorney.

67 Days. Joe & Kamala are committed to strengthening our education system. Their plan centers around 1) supporting educators and 2) investing in all children, so they have an opportunity to succeed.

joebiden.com/education/

In 2018, public school teachers earned 21.4% less than workers with similar education and experience, and the average weekly wage hasn’t increased *since 1996*.

The below excerpt perfectly describes how important, and yet undervalued, teachers are:

Joe’s plan for teacher pay will:
–Triple the funding for Title I schools
–Invest in teacher mentoring, leadership, and continuing education
–Fix and simplify the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to ease the burden teachers with students loans face

To ensure we develop physically and emotionally healthy adults:
–Double the # of guidance counselors, nurses, and social workers to provide quality mental healthcare
–Empower students and parents via community-led organizing
–Ensure schools are safe and healthy environments

To ensure *all* students receive equal opportunity:
–Eliminate the funding gap
–Improve teacher diversity
–Build innovative schools in low-income communities
–Reinstate policy that supports desegregation efforts
–Fully fund special education

To prepare students for fulfilling careers:
–Invest in school vocational training
–Partner with community colleges and employers, giving students access to learn skills and earn credentials
–Expand opportunities for students to take practical classes that lead to certification

To develop the next generation:
–Provide quality, universal pre-K
–Utilize early childhood experts working with pediatricians to support families
–Expand home visiting for families who need additional support from childhood experts

Not to be forgotten, with #BidenHarris in the White House, we have a partner in Dr. Jill Biden, who’s worked as an educator for 30+ years.

66 Days. Like so many Americans, food and cooking are a love language for Kamala. Growing up in a kitchen of incredible cooks and smells, it’s easy to see why.

@politico says:

Here’s Kamala with sous chef @DouglasEmhoff preparing her go-to roast chicken.

https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1153338161948495873

More of a sweet tooth? Maybe bacon-fried apples on some flapjacks are more your flavor. Kamala joins her Iowa Chair, Deidre, for some delectable cooking and conversation:

Big fan of @mindykaling here, so seeing her and Kamala share some laughs, memories, and masala dosa is a delight. Kamala’s onion-chopping skills 🔥

https://twitter.com/kamalaharris/status/1199115549705265152

65 Days. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Joe presided over his fair share of memorable hearings. Tonight, a look at the 1987 confirmation hearings of Judge Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

nytimes.com/1987/10/08/us/…

In the summer of 1987, moderate Justice Lewis Powell announced his retirement, Democrats were quick to tell President Reagan they’d fight an “ideological extremist”.

Flanking their desire, Saturday Night Massacre alum and well-known conservative, Bork, was officially nominated.

What proceeded was an unprecedented SCOTUS nomination and debate.

Bork’s interpretation of the founders’ intent did not include, notably, a right to privacy or abortion. Opposition was relentless from Senate Democrats and left-leaning special interest groups.

A presidential candidate when the hearings started, the 44yo Joe also disagreed with Bork’s appointment and knew he needed to be prepared.

While his campaign fell a part in the middle, Joe didn’t let it faze his responsibilities as committee chair.

After the grueling hearings and added public campaign against Bork’s nomination, the committee rejected Bork by a vote of 9-5. Upon arrival in the full Senate, Bork was rejected 58-42.

For more on Bork:

In 2002, the Oxford English Dictionary added “Bork” as a verb:

While Joe saw the end of his 1988 presidential bid, he left the Bork hearings with bipartisan praise for his presiding skills.

64 Days. The thread’s first double-header. Sticking with Joe’s time at the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fast-forward to the 1991 nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

Four years after Bork, the Senate and media erupted over another SCOTUS nomination.

In June 1991, the Court’s first African-American justice and civil rights icon, Thurgood Marshall, announced his retirement.

As promised, President George H.W. Bush nominated a “true conservative” in 43yo Clarence Thomas, a judge and former chairman of the EEOC.

Like Bork, Thomas faced an immediate barrage of negative attention, notably in regard to his philosophy on affirmative action and property rights, as well as his short tenure as judge.

Despite these concerns, and unlike Bork, the committee hearings concluded w/ minimal fanfare.

Then, as the Senate prepared to vote on Thomas, news broke of sexual harassment complaints against Thomas by former colleague and law professor, Anita Hill.

A reluctant witness, Hill, was called by Joe to appear in front of the all-white, all-male Judiciary Committee.

As the media frenzy ignited and hearings resumed, Hill withstood a barrage of questions. Senators believed both Hill and Thomas were credible witnesses with powerfully convincing testimonies, but it was ultimately a debate of “he said, she said.”

As chair, Joe presided and participated in a hearing many saw as grueling and humiliating for Hill, and a set back for women looking to come forward about sexual harassment.

Joe: “To this day, I regret I couldn’t give her the kind of hearing she deserved.”

In 2019, reflecting on the treatment of Anita Hill, Joe reached out to her to communicate his regrets. Hill left the call still unsatisfied with Joe; it’s hard to blame her.

Another instance where Joe recognized his mistake and owned up to it.

nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/…

63 Days. An even stronger American economy amid the COVID-19 recession won’t materialize without a multifaceted approach to #BuildBackBetter.

Today, a look at Joe & Kamala’s plan to build sustainable infrastructure and an equitable, clean energy future.

joebiden.com/clean-energy/

While our nation is vulnerable under an admin that consistently denies science, Joe wants to modernize our infrastructure and create hundreds of thousands of middle-class jobs that prioritize environmental justice.

The #BidenHarris plan includes historic investments in:

To build a modern infrastructure:
–Restore crumbling infrastructure
–Ignite the second railroad revolution
–Expand municipal transit networks
–Ensure clean water nationally
–Diminish the digital divide by expanding broadband connection
–Redevelop unused properties and facilities

To boost the US auto industry:
–Incentivize manufacturers and consumers to go clean
–Major expansion of electric vehicle charging stations
–Accelerate research on battery technology
–Procurement commitment to clean, US-made vehicles
–Ensure all buses are zero-emissions by 2030

To create millions of jobs through clean energy infrastructure:
–Historic investment in clean energy development
–Electrify transportation
–Revamp and extend incentives for clean energy production and jobs
–Leverage private funding to maximize clean energy growth

To retrofit, upgrade, and expand infrastructure:
–Upgrade 4M buildings creating up to 1M jobs
–Direct cash rebates for energy efficient home enhancements
–Multi-year national effort to rebuild and modernize school buildings
–Construct 1.5M affordable, sustainable homes

To spark a clean energy revolution:
–Create a new cross-agency for targeting affordable, game-changing technology
–Dramatically increase R&D funding
–Accelerate supply-chain innovation
–Invest in our national laboratories
–Empower academic institutions to join in the fun

To strengthen agriculture and conservation:
–Mobilize the next generation of conservationists via a “Civilian Climate Corps”
–Clean up communities impacted by left-behind corporations
–Bolster our farmers through new technology, smart trade policy, and increased protections

To secure environmental justice:
–Allocate 40% of clean energy funding to disadvantaged communities
–Create a data-driven tool for identifying disadvantaged communities
–Prioritize environmental justice at the DOJ + EPA, and hold polluters accountable

62 Days. In Kamala, the LGBTQ+ community has an ally with a track record of supporting equal rights.

On Valentine’s Day 2004, the young San Francisco District Attorney, Kamala Harris, was officiating some of the first legal same-sex marriages in the nation.

A month later, the California Supreme Court would shut down SF Mayor Gavin Newsom’s order, nullifying those marriages—putting progress on hold.

In 2008, the CA Court overturned the ruling, but months after, the state voted yes on Prop 8, once again barring same-sex marriage.

As Kamala ran for state Attorney General in 2010, her support for marriage equality was explicit; as AG she’d refuse to defend Prop 8.

Among several lawsuits, @HRC filed a legal challenge on behalf of couple Kris Perry & Sandy Stier, leading to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.

Kamala filed a friend of the court brief for Hollingsworth v. Perry, and when the SCOTUS narrowly struck down Prop 8, Kamala once-again was officiating the first same-sex weddings in the nation.

Two years later, the right to marry extended nationally in Obergefell v. Hodges.

As California AG and U.S. Senator, Kamala continues to prioritize the LGBTQ+ community. When selected as VP, @HRC praised the decision, noting her proactive experience and substantive LGBTQ+ agenda as a 2020 presidential candidate.

hrc.org/news/hrc-presi…

Of course, Kamala also faces criticism. @shoeleatherkate reports on why Kamala’s record on trans rights and sex work decriminalization give some LGBTQ+ voters pause:
19thnews.org/2020/08/kamala…

As the Democratic VP candidate, Kamala’s record serves in direct opposition to VP Pence and the current admin’s LGBTQ+ record.

Today, Kamala continues to fight for repealing anti-LGBTQ+ orders, ensuring equality, and centering transgender issues.

glaad.org/blog/joe-biden…

61 Days. Joe & Kamala are committed to ending the opioid crisis and ensuring access to effective substance use disorder treatment.

joebiden.com/opioidcrisis/

Background:
–Opioids = prescription pain relievers, heroin, fentanyl
–Widespread prescription starting in the 1990s led to addiction and misuse
–Today: devastating loss of human life and economic burden of $78.5B/yr (@CDCgov)
–By the numbers:

To hold Big Pharma responsible:
–Direct the DOJ to make actions that spurred the crisis an investigative priority
–Ban incentives drug manufacturers provide to prescribers
–Terminate the industry tax break for advertising spending

To ensure access to treatment:
–Continue expanding insurance (ACA)
–Target our most vulnerable locales
–Invest in evidence-based prevention programs and orgs
–Expand Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
–Provide first responders w/ supplies and training needed for overdoses

To end overprescription:
–Support development of less addictive medications and alternative treatments
–Expand coverage for alternative pain management
–Crack down on misleading treatment facility marketing
–Target inappropriate overprescription of opioids

To reform the criminal justice system:
–End all incarcerations for drug use alone
–Shift to drug courts, treatment, and social services

To stem the flow of illicit drugs:
–Disrupt movement across borders through an international and interagency effort

60 Days. A part of Joe’s image is his affinity for trains. Through decades of riding from his home in Delaware to his office in DC, and back again, he’s earned the nickname “Amtrak Joe”.

An advocate for mass transit as a young candidate, Joe never needed the train more than when he was first elected to the US Senate in 1972.

Tragedy had struck his family, and as a single father, commuting was his only option. It would be the start of a decades long habit.

https://twitter.com/SamIngalls/status/1291952803796131842

@MarkLeibovich writes about seeing Joe firsthand on a DC to Wilmington train in early September 2008.

Different from his years of commuting, in a flash, Joe was then VP candidate. Joe’s charisma and love for the rails is on full display in this account:
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/rid…

In 2011, Joe authored the op-ed “Why America Needs Trains”.

Joe touches on the important role trains played in his own life, his routine, trains’ economic impact, and his hope that trains can “carry us all into a leaner, cleaner, greener 21st century.”

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_41…

When Joe announced his campaign for President on April 25, 2019, a fellow rider noted his presence on the train later that day.

https://twitter.com/pdanahar/status/1121411369402867713

Finally, during the #DNC2020 a favorite moment featured Joe’s special relationship with @Amtrak and the individuals that keep it running. Joe’s character couldn’t be clearer.

59 Days. Joe & Kamala are committed to continued growth and partnership with the people and nations of Central America.

To start: recognizing US aid and support is a vital investment in the success of the region, and our own prosperity.

joebiden.com/centralamerica/

Background: the Northern Triangle—comprised of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—has been an epicenter of chronic violence, corruption, and economic instability, directly impacting the Western Hemisphere.

For a deep dive, @CFR_org’s backgrounder:
cfr.org/backgrounder/c…

As President, Joe will reverse the current admin’s counterproductive refugee policies, and address migration from the Northern Triangle at its roots. Without sustained international support and necessary reform, we risk only kicking the can down the road.

The #BidenHarris plan includes a four-year regional strategy to:
–Empower countries to undertake substantive reform and root out corruption
–Ensure verifiable progress for taxpayer funds
–Marshal private investment and uplift women as powerful forces for development

To improve security and order:
–Strengthen security and judicial systems to ensure violence reduction and justice for victims

To address endemic corruption:
–Boost anti-corruption personnel and partner with a regional commission to fight organized crime and illicit activity

To prioritize poverty reduction and economic development:
–Address food insecurity
–Target developing human capital
–Help establish effective tax reform and a comprehensive climate strategy
–Bolster foreign investment that creates sustainable jobs and modernizes infrastructure

58 Days. On this Labor Day Eve, a look at the labor unions who’ve endorsed the #BidenHarris ticket in 2020.

Only a fraction, here are some of the largest organizations and their member size:

@AFLCIO: 13mm
@AFGENational: 670k
@AFSCME: 1.3mm
@AFTunion: 1.7mm
@APWUnational: 330k
@CBTU72: 1.2mm
@CWAUnion: 700k
@IAFFNewsDesk: 313k
@MachinistsUnion: 570k
@IBEW: 725k
@Teamsters: 1.4mm
@SEIU: 1.9mm
@UAPipeTrades: 330k
@UAW: 390k
@UFCW: 1.3mm
@steelworkers: 1.2mm

It was quite the coincidence running into this yard sign earlier this evening in East Nashville.

Read more on the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW) endorsement of Joe in Feb 2020: ibew.org/media-center/A…

57 Days. Happy #LaborDay!

As we celebrate all who’ve fought for economic justice, the #BidenHarris plan for workers and unions recognizes their deep contributions to our nation, and the important role they can play in our future.

joebiden.com/empowerworkers/

The 40-hour work week, paid leave, healthcare, safe work environments, and much more, all thanks to the workers who organized for stronger labor protections.

Many cite decreasing union membership—35% in the 1950s to 10.5% today—has contributed to growing income inequality.

To check corporate power over labor:
–Hold executives personally accountable for anti-organizing efforts
–Bolster investigations + withhold federal dollars for employers who violate labor laws
–Penalize companies “surface bargaining”
–Pass the PRO Act:

help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

To encourage union organizing and collective bargaining:
–Ease workers’ ability to unionize
–Guarantee bargaining rights for public sector employees
–Repeal “right to work” laws prohibitive to union development
–Establish cabinet-level working group on addressing labor

To encourage organizing and bargaining (cont’d):
–Empower the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to fulfill its purpose
–Codify the Browning-Ferris Industries ruling
–Expand overdue rights to farmers and domestic workers
–Extend bargaining rights to independent contractors

To ensure dignity for all workers:
–Increase federal minimum wage to $15
–Apply “prevailing wage” protections
–Ensure overtime pay
–Protect gig economy workers
–Eliminate non-compete and mandatory arbitration clauses
–End unnecessary occupational licensing requirements

Published earlier this morning in the @PittsburghPG, Joe writes with @RichardTrumka, President of the AFL-CIO, about the state of the labor movement, investing in quality jobs, and increasing workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain.

post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/…

56 Days. Relocating is tough for any family, and can be particularly difficult for kids: leaving behind valuable memories and friends; starting anew.

At 12 years old, a young Kamala did exactly that when her family moved from Berkeley to Montreal.

In 1976, Kamala’s mother, Shyamala, started work at Jewish General Hospital and @mcgillu. Kamala would spend those key high school years finding her voice in a changing Quebec.

David Schribman writes for @latimes about Kamala’s time at @westmounthigh.

latimes.com/politics/story…

Classmates describing Kamala said she was “very outgoing, popular, and positive”, bound for big things, and carried herself impressively as a young adult. Schribman touches on Westmount, the cultural moment for Montreal at the time, and the diverse setting that molded Kamala.

In May 2019, @caseytolan dove into what current Westmount students had to say about Kamala, her earliest activism and extracurriculars, and what classmates remember about the young leader.

mercurynews.com/2019/05/07/kam…

My own family moved frequently growing up, so learning Kamala was able to move across the continent and excel in a new environment is heartening.

Diversity in experience is important—and no doubt—Kamala’s time abroad expanded her perspective and contributed to who she is today.

Lagniappe: In the 1960s, Quebec saw massive change leading to the election of René Lévesque in ‘76, a robust separatist movement, and a referendum on Quebec sovereignty in ‘80.

As an American teen living in Canada, I wonder what Kamala thought of it all.

thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/que…

55 Days. Speaking of neighbors on the Arctic Ocean—a look at Russia, and the state of our nations’ relationship.

Joe & Kamala are committed to promoting valuable reform in Russia, improving diplomatic relations, and proactively countering the Kremlin’s transgressions.

Background: Post-Soviet Russia saw progress towards a modern republic, yet under Putin’s reign, we see an old foe reappearing.

From rife corruption to human rights abuse and international meddling—Russia is a problematic global actor and, one could say, the Cold War lives on.

Since 2000, Vladimir Putin has led Russia towards its old status as foil to NATO/US interests, all the while consolidating his power over a nation in need of reform.

Earlier this year, @VOANews touched on the corruption that plagues Russia’s development:
voanews.com/europe/new-rep…

In a notable 2012 debate moment, @MittRomney called Russia our #1 geopolitical foe. Received with laughs and scrutiny then, Moscow has spent the time since proving Mitt right:
–2014: Invades Ukraine, annexes Crimea
–2015: Syrian War intervention
–2016: US Election fiddling

At home, Russia continues on a authoritarian track that habitually violates human rights.

@hrw reports on the deterioration in 2019; a litany including: excessive force, censorship, torture, and targeting of religion, media, activists, and LGBTQ+.

hrw.org/world-report/2…

In 2016, the Kremlin led an effort to influence the US presidential election. The final bipartisan Senate report on interference, released last month, confirmed the damning findings of Robert Mueller’s investigation and more.

npr.org/2020/08/18/903…

American intelligence officials have also confirmed there is a continued effort by Moscow to interfere in the 2020 election and help the President’s re-election.

Different from a quieter approach by China, Russia’s preference in 2020 couldn’t be clearer.

nytimes.com/2020/08/07/us/…

In Joe, we have someone all too familiar with East European affairs and a leader who will hold Russia accountable for respecting the sovereignty of nations and its own people.

For tangible policy Joe will undertake in regards to Russia:
–Support growth/funding of NATO
–Expand global security infrastructure
–Continue sanctions on criminal Russian actors
–Address Russian-offered bounties on US soldiers
–Prohibit Russia’s reentry into the G7

54 Days. As we memorialize September 11, 2001, a look at the tragedy’s lasting impact on our nation and the state of counterterrorism.

Joe & Kamala are prepared to make the difficult decisions in the fight against violent extremism threatening domestic and global order.

The world changed on 9/11. Nineteen men hijacked four planes killing 2,977 between NY-DC-PA. In the aftermath, the nation grieved, a promise to #NeverForget was cemented, and a far-reaching, decades-long effort to bring justice to the victims was ignited.

The US would undertake an unprecedented counterterrorism effort in the 2000s. The War on Terror put militants on notice where they live; the Patriot Act expanded surveillance and authority to broadly address terrorism.

The 2015 debate over renewal:
nytimes.com/2015/06/02/us/…

While US intervention has been highly scrutinized, fear of unchecked instability and violence makes withdrawing difficult.

As of 2019, the US is engaged in countering terrorism in 80 countries on 6 continents with no end in sight.

Threats of terrorism continue to increase globally. Technological advancement has eased online radicalization, including homegrown extremists, of any ideology.

Knowing terror groups thrive on instability makes supporting effective reform globally essential.

As President, Joe will:
–Target militants in foreign countries, while avoiding extensive military entanglements
–Ensure remnants of al-Qaeda and Daesh cannot reconstitute
–Abide by surveillance standards
–Hold global actors accountable for supporting militant groups

Joe has the experience and knowledge to address the evolving threats extremism presents.

With Kamala, the two also have intense empathy for all Americans, see the gravity of the challenges we face, yet always looks ahead with optimism.

53 Days. As we close out this solemn day, I’ll let Joe and Kamala’s own words do the talking:

https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1304473044916875264

Kamala, importantly adding:

https://twitter.com/kamalaharris/status/1304534939346575360

Joe and Kamala paused campaign ads as has been asked of every major candidate since the @911day campaign moratorium was established in 2004.

Instead, the two focused on reflection:

Their opponent is the first to break this meaningful custom—running thousands of ads, and posting 33-odd tweets, some propagating misinformation about the Russia probe, virus progress, and mail-in voting; also attacking: Democrats, blue states, the media, and protestors.

52 Days. A look at the US territory of Puerto Rico: the challenges facing the island, our nuanced relationship, and the question over statehood.

Joe & Kamala are committed to respecting and empowering the people of PR.

Today, Puerto Rico reels from a string of crises: the Great Recession (2006), a debt crisis (mid-2010s), hurricanes Irma & Maria (2017), earthquakes and Covid-19 (2020). Add corruption, dying safety nets, and economic hardship—it’s tough not to be concerned for the people of PR.

Rewind: In 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the US via the Spanish-American War. Granted citizenship in 1917, it would take nearly 5 decades before PR was authorized to form a constitution. A debate over legal status has ensued ever since.

api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/p…

Through plebiscites (referendums) the Puerto Rican people typically receive three options: 1) statehood, 2) independence, or 3) remaining a commonwealth.

The question has dominated the island’s political parties, and the handful of non-binding plebiscites have changed little.

While a similar plebiscite will be on the ballot this November 2020, @NydiaVelazquez and @AOC offer an alternative that would empower PR in determining its political status:

nbcnews.com/think/amp/ncna…

In December 2019, Joe wrote a searing op-ed for the @orlandosentinel about the current WH’s attitude and leadership, or lack thereof, in regards to Puerto Rico.

Joe is forthright—we owe PR a lot more respect:
orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-…

In Joe & Kamala, Puerto Rico will have federal leadership that won’t take their massive contributions to this county for granted. As Americans, they deserve better.

https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1302763609194467328

Lagniappe: want to learn more about the history of US territories? I recommend “How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States” by Daniel Immerwahr.

An eye-opening look at American colonialism, and why some territories became states over others.