Aug 18, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Biden team launches fundraiser series, starting with Tom Hanks

Joe Biden giving remarks in Delaware. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Joe Biden and Tom Hanks held a virtual fundraiser together on Tuesday — collecting  $750,000 in 24 hours, per the campaign — that marks the first of a three-part fundraising series they're calling "Grassroots Fest."

Why it matters: The Biden campaign continues to rake in cash, even before debating President Trump in September. 

  • And Biden is drawing even more eyes to his virtual events, as the campaign said that 10,000 people watched the event with Hanks.

Last week, the campaign raised $26 million in the first 24 hours after it announced Sen. Kamala Harris as Biden's running mate.

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Rebecca Falconer
Sep 17, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Biden on presidential mask mandate: "Our legal team thinks I can do that"

Biden waves as he leaves a hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told reporters in Delaware Wednesday he believes he would have the legal authority as president to issue a nationwide mandate to wear face masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus if needed.

Details: "Our legal team thinks I can do that, based upon the degree to which there's a crisis in those states, and how bad things are for the country," Biden said.

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Jacob Knutson, Rashaan Ayesh
Updated Sep 17, 2020 - Politics & Policy

The top Republicans who aren't voting for Trump in 2020

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Vice President Pence's former lead staffer on the White House coronavirus task force announced that she plans to vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 election, while accusing President Trump of costing lives with his pandemic response.

Why it matters: Olivia Troye, who described herself as a life-long Republican, joins other prominent Republicans who have publicly said they will either not vote for Trump's re-election this November or will back Biden.

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Jacob Knutson
Sep 16, 2020 - Politics & Policy

National Postal Mail Handlers Union endorses Biden

A postal worker waving in Los Angeles in August. Photo: Kyle Grillot/AFP via Getty Images

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union endorsed Joe Biden on Wednesday, issuing a statement that noted the former vice president "has a history of supporting the United States Postal Service and postal workers."

Why it matters: NPMHU president Paul Hogrogian encouraged the union's roughly 45,000 members to back Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, warning that postal workers have faced "direct threats on their livelihood" from the Trump administration.

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