The DC: Biden formally introduces his VP, Kamala Harris, and... 💸 Should education funds follow a student to their family's choice of school?

Welcome to Thursday, August 13th, sodas and pops...

Biden-Harris made their first joint appearance as running mates.

Joe Biden introduced Kamala Harris as his running mate in Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday, and the duo hammered President Donald Trump on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground," Harris said of Trump.

"This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn't up for the job. Our country ends in tatters and so does our reputation around the world."

Harris is the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to join a major political party's ticket. Biden said that with Harris on the (D) ticket.

"Little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today, just maybe they're seeing themselves for the first time in a new way."

After Harris was chosen, Trump described her four times as “nasty” or “nastier,” one of his favorite terms for female opponents.

“I think she’s going to be a big failure, and I think I look forward to the debate between her and Mike Pence because I think he’ll do even better against her than he did against Senator Kaine, which was a total wipeout,” Trump said during Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing.

How do you feel about Biden choosing Kamala Harris as his running mate?

Insulting to men?

Hours before Biden made his announcement, Trump said that his rival, in pledging to pick a woman as his vice president, had "roped himself...into a certain group of people" and "some people would say that men are insulted by that."

Biden had announced in May that he would select a woman as his running mate.

"I would be inclined to go a different route than what he's done," Trump said in an interview with Fox Sports personality and OutKick founder Clay Travis. "First of all he roped himself into a certain group of people." 

"Some people would say that men are insulted by that, and some people would say it’s fine. I don’t know.”

Are you insulted by Biden choosing a woman VP?

On the Radar

'Phase 4' Coronavirus Relief Bill Status

On Wednesday evening, negotiators issued dueling, finger-pointing statements as the partisan stalemate continues...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) issued a statement which read, in part:

“An overture was made by Secretary Mnuchin to meet and he made clear that his televised comments from earlier today still stand: the White House is not budging from their position concerning the size and scope of a legislative package. Democrats have compromised. Repeatedly, we have made clear to the Administration that we are willing to come down $1 trillion if they will come up $1 trillion. However, it is clear that the Administration still does not grasp the magnitude of the problems that American families are facing..."

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin issued a rebuttal statement which read, in part:

“Earlier today, Speaker Pelosi and I spoke by phone. Her statement is not an accurate reflection of our conversation. She made clear that she was unwilling to meet to continue negotiations unless we agree in advance to support her proposal, costing at least $2 trillion. The Administration is willing to move forward with legislation that allows for substantial funds for schools, child care, food, vaccines, hospitals, PPP for small businesses, rental assistance, broadband, airports, state and local government assistance, and liability protection for universities, schools, and businesses..."

Do you want Congress to reach a compromise on a new coronavirus relief bill?

For a politics-free guide to how to protect you and your loved ones from corona, click on over to our Coronavirus Info Center.

Under the Radar

Federal Education Funds and School of Choice

President Trump held an event focused on getting children safely back to school during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the White House with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday, and called for federal education funds to follow the student to the school of the family’s choice:

“If schools do not reopen, the funding should go to parents to send their child to the public, private, charter, religious or home school of their choice, the key word being choice. If the school is closed, the money should follow the student so the parents and families are in control of their own decisions. So, we would like the money to go to the parents of the student. This way they can make the decision that's best for them."

Trump’s comments come amid an ongoing standoff between Democrats and Republicans over coronavirus relief, with education funding among the issues where the two parties are deeply divided, and the nationwide process of deciding how or whether to have in person learning for K-12 schools or higher education.

The White House and congressional Republicans are calling for $105 billion in relief funding for schools while Democrats’ bill that passed the House had $90 billion in funding.

The proposal that the money follow the student is likely to encounter opposition from Democrats, as school choice is a divisive issue within the party with Democrats increasingly opposing such policies to show their support for public sector teachers unions and traditional public schools.

Should federal education funds follow a student to the school of their family's choice?

Also Worth a Click

• Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S. — The Latest Numbers of Cases & Deaths

And, in the End…

It's International Left-Handers Day.

Do you know which U.S. presidents were southpaws?

And so, if you are also celebrating National Prosecco Day, toast with your left,

—Josh Herman

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