Portland, amid concerns of another violent escalation in the federal crackdown there. The Washington Post is saying it has reviewed an internal memo that shows the Trump Administration decided last week to send at least 100 additional federal agents to portland. Senior officials also telling the post that the administration is considering a plan to send an additional 50 i. C. E. Agents to the city as well. The federal presence has only intensified the anger among protesters in portland, sparking brutal clashes. Portlands mayor is calling for a Department Meeting with the department of Homeland Security to discuss a ceasefire. The president tweeted about it yesterday including threats of prison time for what he called anarchists and age taters. People particular with the discussions telling the post federal officials have discussed developing a stronger fence around the courthouse that would be more resistant to nightly efforts to dismantle it and secure an area where protesters could n
Meanwhile, nbc news has obtained an internal u. S. Postal Service Document which reveals plans to remove 671 high volume Mail Processing machines from postal facilities across the country. The agency told nbc news in a statement that these are simply part of normal business adjustments. Of course this is all happening amid escalating fears that the president and the postmaster general, louis dejoy, a trump donor and political ally, are political sizing the agency to help trump win the election or at a minimum, to sow doubt about the results if he loses. President trump has acknowledged he is blocking funding to the post office in an attempt to halt mailin voting. He does not pretend its something else. Two sources confirmed to nbc news that dejoy met with the president in the Oval Office Last week which means President Trump misled reporters two days ago when he claimed he hadnt spoken to dejoy. How often do president s and postmaster generals have oneonones in the oval office in previ
It is about surprise, surprise, mr. Postmaster general, the coronavirus, covid19, which has a big impact on the election and on the health of the american people. Also today, democrats and republicans were digging into position as the debate is under way. This is a fivealarm fire on democracy. Post office tells us they have 15 billion on hand and access to 10 billion credit. We dont need to be spending this money right now. It is a silly bill. The actions by the postmaster general in recent weeks is a sabotage campaign aimed at manipulating mail service, whatever the intent, it is hurting every day americans. We have a team of reporters across this nation. Following this story and others concerning the 2020 election. Lets go to nbc Leanne Caldwell joining us from capitol hill. Nancy pelosi taking about 20 or 30 minutes in that conference. The house is going to vote later on this issue that has become extremely political as the president continues to undermine mailin voting and the Post
Michigan attorney general about that massive settlement for victims of the flint water crisis. Ill ask her who will be getting the bulk of the money. Thats coming up. First, lets go to capitol hill where a house vote is nearing over a bill that would provide 25 billion in funding to the Postal Service and ensure that the postmaster general doesnt implement any changes to the post office until after the end of the year. Nbcs Leanne Caldwell is following it on capitol hill and joins me now. Whats latest on the deliberations . Reporter well, 73 days before an election, this issue has become deeply partisan and deeply political. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier today that all this talk by the president about mailin ballot, mailin voting, and the Postal Service is an attempt to suppress the vote. And this vote thats going to happen later today is expected to happen mostly along party lines. White house chief of staff is on capitol hill today, and he spoke with reporters just moments
Back here on taxpayer dollars for an unnecessarily political vote. In the face of extraordinary public pressure and action, the postmaster general promised to halt further changes until election day. Vi to tell you, i wouldnt trust this administration to tell me the correct time. We dont need to be spending the money right now. It is a silly bill. My message is simple, protect the Postal Service and our republic. There you have it. We have a team of reporters across the nation following this story. First to nbcs Leanne Caldwell joining us from capitol hill. Get us up to speed on what has been happening so far today. As you noted in your opening, this has become most republicans are saying where democrats will go is unnecessary and the democrats Conspiracy Theory is what they are now saying. Democrats are saying this is only necessary because of the president s attacks. Not only on the Postal Service but on mailin voting. Here is what massachusetts democratic governor said today. Did an