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Whistleblower Raises Alarming Possibility About Mail Ballots
An unnamed federal official warned that the Postal Service’s moves to comply with a Trump executive order could “derail” the midterms.
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
Before he was the top U_S_ Postal Service official, David Steiner criticized Donald Trump's leadership style after seeing him on "The Apprentice."
WA sues Trump administration again over mail ballot restrictions
Trump wants the federal government maintain a national list of eligible voters and would tell the Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on that list.
Community and stamps: Tillinghast Postal and Business Center finds its niche
LA CONNER — In a large yellow farmhouse close to the center of La Conner, a colorful postal and business shop bedecked with flags is finding its niche by building
Supreme Court says Trump cannot enforce new mail-in ballot regulation
The decision means a Postal Service measure that could lead to ballots not being sent to voters won’t be in effect for this November’s midterm elections.
Judge allows Trump’s mail-in ballots plan to proceed, at least for now
With litigation moving quickly, a Postal Service regulation implementing Trump’s proposal could still be blocked.
Rep. Neguse’s Boulder office one of multiple politicians targeted with suspicious mailing
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are looking into the mailings, some of which included an unidentified powdery white substance.
Judge again halts USPS mail ballot plan
A federal judge again Friday blocked the U.S. Postal Service from enacting President Trump's sweeping new mail ballot rules for the November election.
Low and slow meets forever: US postage stamps honor lowrider car culture
NEW MEXICO Stamps honor lowrider culture ALBUQUERQUE — From Mexican American and Chicano barrios in the American Southwest to the halls of the Smithsonian on the National Mall and even the streets of Japan, lowrider culture has become part of mainstream car culture around the globe. The U.S. Postal Service is joining the club with […]
Wisconsin Senator demands investigation into Postal Service
Sen. Tammy Baldwin said hundreds of votes were not counted in the state’s April election because ballots were delivered after the deadline.
Island business owners 'forced to plan around' unreliable postal service
Islanders face high postal costs and inconsistent services, according to the watchdog Consumer Scotland.
Trump administration urges Supreme Court to allow mail-in voting order
Trump's March executive order directed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on a government-created list of eligible voters
Supreme Court clears the way for Trump mail voting order ahead of midterms
The U.S. Postal Service laid out how it would implement the order last week, but time is running short to impose major changes with some states beginning to send mail ballots to voters in just a few weeks.
Trump admin renews Supreme Court ask to let mail ballot rule to take effect ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday again asked the Supreme Court to allow the US Postal Service plan for mail ballots to take effect immediately.
Amazon reaches U.S. Postal Service deal for 1 billion packages
Amazon has reached a new agreement with the U.S. Postal Service, providing a lifeline to the beleaguered government agency.
How big is the US Postal Service? Among the largest in business or government
The U.S. Postal Service is one of America's largest employers and retail networks. Here's how its workforce, revenue, and reach compare with major companies.
Democratic governors press US Postal Service to drop plan tied to Trump's election order
A group of Democratic governors is asking the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw its proposed rule to comply with an executive order that seeks to create a federal list of eligible voters, including those eligible to receive a ballot by mail
2028 Dem hopeful slaps Trump admin with lawsuit over mail-in-voting after major SCOTUS victory
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joins 23 states suing USPS over Trump-backed mail-ballot rule, arguing Congress—not the president or Postal Service—sets federal election rules.
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
Long before he was the top official at the U.S. Postal Service, David Steiner was a corporate executive surfing mid-oughts television when he came across Donald Trump on “The Apprentice.” “If that is...
Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration Plan to Screen Mail-In Ballots
The Trump administration had asked the justices to allow a new Postal Service plan to screen ballots just weeks before the midterm elections.
USPS to suspend payments to employee pension plan to free up cash
The US Postal Service said Thursday it would temporarily suspend payments to an employee pension plan to free up cash amid a financial crisis.
Trump Has Quietly Sought Control Over Postal Service to Transform U.S. Elections
That effort got new attention on Monday, when the Supreme Court allowed preparations for mail voting curbs to proceed. The justices said it is not a final determination on the order’s legality.
‘Business as usual,’ for now: NC plans to send mail-in ballots next week following new court ruling
North Carolina was among the states suing to stop the U.S. Postal Service from being allowed to decide who should be allowed to receive or turn in mail-in ballots. The ongoing case has raised questions about whether the state would be able to send out mail-in ballots by Sept. 4.
Vulnerable GOP senator breaks with Trump on 2 key issues as Vance makes stop without her
Susan Collins skips JD Vance's Maine visit while opposing Trump's 50% tariffs on Canada and new postal service rules restricting mail-in voting.
'Here & Now' Highlights: Andrew Mercil, Josh Kaul, Eric Toney
The Trump administration is pushing to alter how the U.S. Postal Service handles absentee ballots, and Dunn County Clerk Andrew Mercil describes what is already happening at the local level. ...
Judge pauses USPS plan to restrict mail voting
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the US Postal Service from carrying out its plan that could limit mail voting.
Trump administration urges Supreme Court to allow mail-in voting order
Trump's March executive order directed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on a government-created list of eligible voters
NJ readying ballots amid questions about Caldwell, vote-by-mail
As Trump postal changes head to the nation's highest court, officials stick to deadline to send first batches for midterms
Local Business Owners Start New Chapter with Opening of New PostalAnnex Location in Concord, California
Annex Brands, Inc., one of the leading franchisors in the packing, shipping and office services industries, is excited to announce the opening of its newest PostalAnnex location in Concord, CA to new owners, Rebeccah and Konstantin Rybalsky. This new PostalAnnex is set to offer a wide range of essential shipping and office services to the local community, making it easier to provide more service to more people in more places.
Democratic states urge Supreme Court to block Trump's new limits on mail ballots
President Trump's executive order required the U.S. Postal Service to use state-by-state lists of eligible voters who may send a ballot by mail.
Judge bars Trump administration from implementing order to limit mail voting
The president sought to create a federal voter list and involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting
Scottish Parliament election 2026: Parties campaign ahead of postal vote application deadline
Politicians are campaigning for votes across the country ahead of the election on 7 May.
Federal judge blocks Postal Service from carrying out Trump mail-in ballot order
A federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Donald Trump's executive order on mail-in ballots nationwide, citing a 2020 agreement.
Rand Paul questions USPS business model as postmaster general seeks reform
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is questioning the United States Postal Office’s (USPS) business model following the appearance of the agency’s postmaster general before lawmakers.
U.S. Postal Service says it’s business as usual for the 2026 election. Here’s what you need to know
Voters are advised to mail their ballots BEFORE Election Day, and AT LEAST ONE WEEK before they must be received by their election office.
Opinion | The U.S. Postal Service Is a Failed Business
It raises prices while increasing expenses and reducing the quality of its services.
WA GOP leader says he has box of ballots found next to Renton dumpster
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are investigating the ballots, which came to light on social media.
Democratic states sue U.S. Postal Service over new mail ballot rule
It's the second lawsuit a coalition of Democratic states have filed against the Trump administration over proposed changes to voting by mail
Postal Service chief confirms Trump mail-in ballot security work stopped
The chief of the U.S. Postal Service confirmed the agency has stopped its work on implementing a computer system that would have verified mail-in ballots for the midterm elections under an executive order from President Donald Trump. In a Thursday interview with the Associated Press, Postmaster General David Steiner said “we’re not doing anything” because […]
Postal Service plans may keep voters from getting ballots, whistleblower says
An anonymous federal official warns that a rushed USPS portal tied to Trump’s mail-voting order could reject large batches of ballots before the midterms.
‘Real mummy’s curse’: health warning over growing trade in mummified human remains
Academic paper says often illicit trade exposes enthusiasts – and postal workers handling items – to serious risks
Postal Service union launches ad campaign promoting mail voting as Trump seeks to limit it
The 30-second message features a variety of voters, among them a busy farmer and a flight attendant, explaining why they cast their ballots by mail.
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
Long before he was the top official at the U.S. Postal Service, David Steiner was a corporate executive surfing mid-oughts television when he came across Donald Trump on “The Apprentice.” “If that is...
Trump’s mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he’s ‘not political’
David Steiner once criticized Donald Trump’s leadership style after seeing him on “The Apprentice.” Nearly two decades later, he finds himself navigating Trump’s influence on the Postal Service.
USPS delays causing problems for small business in Wisconsin
A business owner in Oak Creek says delays at the United States Postal Service (USPS) are creating problems with her customers.
Judge bars Trump administration from implementing order to limit mail voting
The president sought to create a federal voter list and involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting
USPS whistleblower warns new ballot system could fail
The whistleblower says the Postal Service built the system in weeks, far short of the time needed for a project of this complexity.
Holding the Veterans Affairs Secretary Accountable for the Severely Damaged Veterans’ Health Care System | American Postal Workers Union
In February 2025, representatives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began working with the newly appointed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to identify alleged wasteful contracts and improve VA operations. DOGE cancelled hundreds of VA contracts and carried out thousands of staffing reductions, including the dismissal of probationary employees, under […]
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
President Trump's effort to use the Postal Service as a tool to reshape American elections is testing whether U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner will follow a similar path.
Why the controversy with mail-in ballots?
Most Coloradans enjoy the right to vote “by mail” at election time. Most Americans favor this process. But U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to federalize (nationalize) this practice and shift the supervision of voting from county clerks to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service. He issued an executive order to […]
Whistleblower says USPS system Trump ordered for mail ballots is flawed and untested
An executive order from Trump, which is stymied in the courts, required the Postal Service to rapidly build a complex system to vet mail ballots.
Whistleblower warns Postal Service's new mail ballot system has "potentially catastrophic problems"
Voting rights groups sue over USPS mail-in ballot rule
In just a matter of months before midterms and weeks before mail-in ballots are set to go out, a new federal rule is allowing the United States Postal Service to intercept and reject some mail-in ballots.
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long before he was the top official at the U.S. Postal Service, David Steiner was a corporate executive surfing mid-oughts television when he came across Donald Trump on “The Apprentice.”
Questions for Mike and Phil
If you’re a fan of the old Seinfeld TV show, you might remember the fat postman, Newman, being asked why postal workers “go postal”? “Because the mail never stops. It just keeps coming and coming and coming! There’s never a let up! It’s relentless! Every day it piles up more and more and more! You […]
Postal Service to implement first-ever fuel surcharge amid mounting fuel costs, financial challenges
USPS is reportedly planning its first-ever 8% fuel surcharge on packages starting in April as the agency faces a cash crisis and mounting financial losses.
Roundup: Amazon / Wholesale prices / Foreign threat response
Cutting USPS use: Amazon plans to slash its use of the U.S. Postal Service by at least two-thirds as its delivery contract expires, potentially stripping billions in revenue from the agency. The shift follows a new bidding process for last-mile delivery and could leave USPS with excess capacity, forcing cost cuts as it searches for […]
Postal Service, Under Pressure, Now Faces Trump’s Mail Ballot Order
President Trump’s executive order, which has been challenged as unconstitutional, would limit the Postal Service to sending only the ballots of voters deemed eligible.
Judge again bars Trump administration from implementing order that sought to limit mail voting
A federal judge has agreed to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to have the U.S. Postal Service play a central role in deciding who can receive a mail ballot
Mail-in voters weigh flying to vote in person and other backup plans amid uncertainty
Voters and election officials are navigating uncertainty about mail-in voting for the midterms as the legal fight drags on over the U.S. Postal Service plan for President Trump's bid for restrictions.
Postal Service Internal Watchdog Opens Inquiry After Whistle-Blower’s Complaint
The Trump administration’s effort to screen mail-in ballots for the midterms is facing numerous challenges.
If Not AOC, Then Who?
What do we do if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez decides not to run for president in 2028? It makes sense that many leftists are currently focused on calling on her to take the plunge. But the absence of a Plan B, or even much discussion about one, is worrisome. The US Left can’t afford to sit out the 2028 Democratic primary. Doing so in 2024 was a disaster: our abstention self-marginalized anti-billionaire politics from the national conversation and thereby gave space for Harris to pivot to the “center” (i.e. the policy preferences of corporate donors, establishment hacks, and AIPAC). Abstaining again in 2028 would be especially counterproductive since democratic socialists now have so much wind in our sails after our big electoral wins in NYC and across the country. It’s time to deepen our momentum, organization, and profile — not to retreat to the margins during America’s single most important political battle. Even more urgently, keeping Trump’s heir out of the White House may depend on whether leftists and the party’s unprecedentedly disenchanted base can force the Democrats in 2028 to take meaningful steps towards a very angry electorate and away from the corporate-consultant blob that has helped get us into this mess. If AOC (or Abdul El-Sayed) decides to run, we should enthusiastically go all in — DSA, fighting unions, progressive organizations, anybody who wants to see a better country and world. But, as far as I can tell from the outside, there’s a real chance that she doesn’t run. And we can’t just wait and see where she lands before discussing alternatives, since AOC’s decision might not come for quite a while, giving us little time to scramble at the last minute for an alternative. So we should start working now on getting a Plan B into motion, and recruiting a good candidate for the role. Here’s one idea. A Worker Candidate — Healthcare Not Warfare 2028 Run a union worker Leftists don’t need to always run experienced, well-known socialist politicians for high-profile contests. Lula, the current president of Brazil, began his political career as a metalworker militant who ran for governor of São Paulo in 1982. Especially in an era of institutional distrust, it’s possible to lean hard into making a virtue out of a working-class comrade’s distance from traditional politics. Experience abroad shows this clearly. Rachel Kéké — an immigrant hotel housekeeper — ran as the candidate of the leftist La France Insoumise for the National Assembly in 2022, defeating a former minister in the Macron government. The Belgian Workers’ Party in 2024 won its first Flemish seat in the European Parliament by running Rudi Kennes, a three-decade veteran of the Opel Antwerp auto factory. And the South Korean left in 2024 elected auto factory militant Yoon Jong-oh to the National Assembly. If a tiny French Trotskyist organization could make such a big splash in 2002 and 2007 by running a well-spoken postal worker cadre for office — the LCR’s Olivier Besancenot received about 1.5 million first-round votes — it’s not far-fetched to expect that a much larger organization like DSA, together with a broader coalition of the willing, could run this playbook to much greater effect. This is especially the case now that almost everything DSA does immediately becomes a national news story. We don’t need someone famous. We just need a charismatic, well-vetted comrade who works in a relatable working-class occupation — e.g. a nurse, or a worker in auto or construction, or at Amazon. Ideally, they have a compelling personal story or have been part of a significant strike or organizing campaign, but even those criteria don’t necessarily have to be deal-breakers. The main lesson of the Graham Platner fiasco isn’t that we should never run outsiders for office (the momentum he generated proves the exact opposite), but that they need proper vetting and roots in democratic membership organizations like DSA or a union. In any case, there are plenty of ways to signal working-class authenticity without resorting to Platner’s or Fetterman’s performative macho white dude affect. Better to have someone of any gender or race who is actually working class, with firm socialist politics, who can speak from experience about the day-to-day realities of trying to make it in America. There are surely at least a dozen such worker leaders in our movement nationwide; we just need to sit down and convince one that their personal sacrifice for the greater good (i.e. running for president) will be worth it. If we don’t have a frontrunner with a clear path to victory like AOC (or El-Sayed, were he to win Michigan), it’s better to embrace someone whose decision to run in itself tells an important story about US politics: workers have been iced out of our political system and are now fighting hard to break back in. The novelty factor, in itself, would generate press. And it would help democratic socialists signal to the American public that our movement’s defining characteristic is that we represent workers vs. bosses, not that we’re “the furthest left” force in American politics — a framework that suggests we’re extremists and that helps our opponents isolate us from non-college-educated voters by highlighting extremely minoritarian (and misguided) stances included in DSA’s platform like prison abolition. We don’t get many opportunities to speak to tens of millions of Americans; we need to use these opportunities to broaden our appeal beyond those already in our orbit. Run to polarize the 2028 primary and general election around “Medicare for All” and “End All Aid to Israel” Why should democratic socialists use our scarce time and volunteer energy to run in a race we’re unlikely to win? Running in the 2028 primary will not only recruit us scores of members (imagine having a DSA member intervening in eleven nationally televised primary debates!), but — more importantly — it has the potential to be a decisive leap forward towards an America that finally starts meeting the needs of working people instead of HMO and AIPAC billionaire donors. Polarizing litmus tests are good, actually — as long as they’re fought for around popular demands in a thoughtful and strategic way. Democratic socialists have an opportunity and responsibility to make the 2028 primary about two of the most widely and deeply felt issues of our moment: domestically, America’s unaffordable, family-breaking private healthcare system; internationally, America’s bankrolling of the genocidal Israeli government. A candidacy relentlessly demanding Medicare for All and No Aid to Israel would pose a sharp question to the American public, the Democratic Party, and other 2028 contenders: Why can’t working-class Americans afford their healthcare bills at the same time that our government is spending at least $3.8 billion yearly to fund an Israeli regime eager to keep dragging us and the world into more forever wars? Our candidate can agitate around a clear message: I’m running to give voice to all those working-class Americans who are struggling to get by. No matter what state you live in, who you voted for in 2024, or your background, it’s just plain common sense that we should make healthcare more affordable instead of spending billions to enable the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity. Every American who agrees with me when I say ‘Medicare for All — Not a Dime for Israel’ should make their voice heard through our campaign. Racking up a high number of votes for this agenda is a crucial way to show the Democratic Party and the country as a whole that we can’t keep supporting a life-destroying status quo in our healthcare system and in the Middle East. If we want to defeat Trump’s handpicked crony this coming November, we need to speak to ordinary people’s frustrations with the status quo — we can’t keep running the same tired establishment playbook and expecting a different result. For those highly engaged voters (or skeptical media pundits) who raise concerns about wasting votes, the candidate can take the time to explain why this isn’t the case: It's true I'm a long shot. But Zohran showed anything can happen — and voting for me is a pragmatic decision, not a wasted vote. In a heavily divided primary with a large number of candidates and a very discredited establishment, my campaign and the democratic socialist movement I’m part of are positioned to be the balance of power if we can get a large enough number of voters to loudly demand Healthcare Not Warfare. Since there’s a high chance no candidate will get to 50% in the 2028 primaries, the Democrats could very well be heading towards a brokered convention, where a disciplined, principled current committed to breaking from corporate donors can play an outsized role in making sure whoever ends up with the nomination raises the banner of single-payer healthcare and cutting aid to Israel. How exactly could running this sort of primary campaign be translated into actual leverage? The candidate replies: I’m aiming to win the nomination, but if I don’t achieve that goal, my delegates and I will pledge our support in the primary only for a candidate who agrees in the general election to call for ending US aid to Israel and establishing Medicare for All at home. These are both winning planks for November against the Republicans, and the only reason I can see that other candidates haven’t yet raised these is that they’re still more scared of the donor class than they are of the people. That needs to change. If Democratic leaders want young people, workers, and those sick of the status quo to show up in big numbers this November, they need to meet us halfway. In this way, whether or not we win the nomination, democratic socialists could still play a decisive role in 2028. The approach outlined here is similar to what radical left parties periodically do in parliamentary democracies like Denmark or Sweden when they find themselves as a junior partner electorally: they dictate to center-left allies what their terms would be for enabling, from the outside, the formation of a new government. Running a Healthcare Not Warfare candidate will make it significantly more likely that the 2028 Democratic candidate stands with ordinary people instead of donors on these two pivotal planks — a shift that will, in turn, make it easier to achieve the existentially important task of defeating MAGA’s heir in November. Look at how much popular traction the Uncommitted movement got with a similar strategy in 2024 with so little on-the-ground organization — surely we can go much further with a working-class candidate, a much bigger DSA, and a Democratic Party base that has turned against Israel, billionaires, and the hacks in the party who prop them up. Objections and Responses There are quite a few objections to this proposal, many of which are very reasonable. Let me briefly address each here. Socialists shouldn’t waste their scarce time and resources on a candidate unlikely to win. This is a good rule in general, but there are important exceptions, and presidential elections are the main one. There’s no other political contest that gets anything like this level of attention and engagement in the US, so if you want to be a serious force in nationwide politics, you basically can’t afford not to have a candidate. Far from being an overall drain on our resources, running a dynamic 2028 campaign would likely result in a major net increase in members and capacity. In that spirit, the very pragmatic Milwaukee sewer socialists — who mostly ran to win at home in Wisconsin — supported Eugene Debs’s propagandistic presidential campaigns, which they correctly saw as a crucial means of recruiting to the Socialist Party. And now that the (post-1972) Democratic Party gives more weight to voters than party operatives in determining its presidential nomination, it’s become feasible to run as a socialist in primaries without risking a split in the vote against the Republicans in November. We should just support Ro Khanna, who also supports M4A and ending aid to Israel. I like Ro Khanna and would enthusiastically vote and canvass for him for president were he to get the nomination. But there’s a real chance that Khanna’s bid for office doesn’t catch on; he lacks the grassroots organizational apparatus of DSA, and, because he’s not really of the Left or labor (despite his current very good positions), he’s unlikely to generate the type of buy-in and enthusiasm that a DSA candidate would. Moreover, Khanna would be running as an individual, not as someone emerging from and building an organized movement — his campaign would not likely focus on building sustained power from below, nor would it likely polarize the 2028 primary around M4A and Israel aid. Also, and not inconsequentially, the poor electoral results for Tom Steyer and Saikat Chakrabarti this spring suggest that there’s perhaps not much of a popular appetite in the Democrats’ base to support multi-millionaire class traitors. Much better, then, to run a democratic socialist worker. If by Super Tuesday it’s clear that our campaign has captured the main left lane in the primary, Khanna should drop out and endorse us; conversely, if he’s managed to capture this lane, DSA could at that point transform its Healthcare Not Warfare campaign into an independent campaign to elect Ro Khanna focused on winning (and holding him accountable to) those two critical planks. An openness to consolidating an anti-corporate candidate by Super Tuesday is a necessary component of the strategy I’m proposing, because otherwise we risk splitting the primary votes (per DNC rules, you need at least 15% to get any delegates to convention). We should convince Shawn Fain or Sara Nelson to run for president instead. I agree it’d be great if either ran for president, but my impression is that there’s basically no chance that will happen in 2028, because both are firmly focused on their union leadership duties (and, in the case of Fain, beating back a federal witch-hunt). This plan could have DSA end up endorsing a non-socialist, non-DSAer for president. That’s against our principles. It’s a myth, and bad politics, that socialists can’t ever support candidates who aren’t members of their organization and/or who don’t call themselves socialists. Bernie, after all, was not a DSAer. And socialists abroad regularly make tactical decisions about if and when supporting a non-socialist candidate makes sense from the standpoint of promoting working-class interests, defending democracy, and building a socialist current in the process. If your “principles” prevent you and DSA from helping achieve the momentous stride forward of having a Democratic candidate in 2028 run on Medicare for All and ending aid to Israel, those “principles” are not very good. In fact, they actively undermine the causes they’re aiming to support. We shouldn’t confuse principles (working-class independence) with tactics (the best way to advance this in a given context). In my recent article in Catalyst on Milwaukee sewer socialism (I’ve uploaded the full text here), I have a section showing how similarly rigid rules about endorsements had to be eventually discarded in the old Socialist Party nationwide after WWI because they tended to lead socialists towards a sectarian abstention from broader anti-corporate electoral insurgencies beyond their party’s control. For what it’s worth, Lenin’s current under Tsarism frequently backed bourgeois candidates in the second round of elections and Lenin himself advocated that British Communists support Labour Party candidates; for his part, Kautsky in 1912 defended the German Social Democracy’s electoral pact with the Progressives in the runoffs. If our predecessors could be that tactically flexible in an era before the limits of their underlying strategic assumptions about intransigent class politics in capitalist democracies were made clear, then there’s no need to insist on being more tactically rigid today, after a century’s worth of accumulated experience. As long as you maintain your own political profile and organization while engaging in broader coalitional efforts, there’s zero inherent contradiction with the principle of political independence. More specifically: DSA and allied organizations should enthusiastically back Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed if AOC declines to run and he throws his hat in the presidential ring. (I have no idea whether he’s even considering this path, but there’ll surely be chatter about it if he wins his Senate race this November.) Though he doesn’t call himself a socialist, El-Sayed is a principled Berniecrat, a consistent fighter for Palestine, and would have a clear path to victory. Using the “s” word is far less important than whether a campaign fights for the interests of working people at home and abroad — and whether actively participating in it can grow the organized working class and the Left. And the same holds true if a less anti-corporate candidate were, under pressure, to adopt our two Healthcare Not Warfare planks. Why focus only on M4A and ending US aid to Israel? There are so many other important issues to fight for! Obviously there are many pivotal issues beyond healthcare and Israel, and our candidate — and especially our organizations involved in the campaign — should be prepared to speak on all of these. But one of the crucial lessons of the Zohran campaign is that you have to relentlessly stay on message if you want to cut through the noise. CNN and Fox News will want to talk about DSA’s views on Venezuela and abolishing the police; we need to polarize the debate on the widely and deeply felt issues that are most favorable for growing the Left, isolating our opponents, and winning urgently needed changes. One recent poll found 63% of Americans support M4A, even after respondents were told it would raise taxes and eliminate most private insurance. Another found that 74% of Democrats opposed “providing additional economic and military support to Israel.” And focusing on two demands sets the campaign up to be able to leverage its mandate to make clear demands upon other candidates (which we can’t do if we run with a laundry list of demands). Talking about a Plan B is a distraction from the more urgent work of building a groundswell of calls on AOC to run. It’s good for DSAers, fightback unionists, and progressive organizations to try to convince AOC to run. This proposal is meant as an addendum to pushes to get AOC to run and to line DSA up for that eventuality, not as a substitute for those efforts. But I’m worried that, like in 2024, we might eventually find ourselves with no time to find a viable alternative unless we start now. DSA, with its abundant deliberative processes, moves slowly. The approach you’re suggesting seems risky. If a DSA candidate runs but doesn’t receive a lot of votes, it’ll undercut our current national momentum. This is a reasonable worry. All big initiatives always carry risks, and the path I’m advocating is certainly not free of these. That said, if a Healthcare Not Warfare campaign doesn’t catch on like we envisioned, it’s a pretty simple pivot in March 2028 to explain that in the future we really need our standard-bearers like AOC, or our growing bench of national electeds, to step up in presidential primaries. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the risk of my Plan B proposal is on the whole significantly less than the risk entailed by an AOC run. We should all back her if she runs, since she’d fire up the base, provide huge openings for organizing, have a real shot at defeating a Republican (especially given MAGA’s unpopularity), be a great standard-bearer for our issues, particularly M4A and ending aid to Israel, and be less willing than mainstream candidates to capitulate to any anti-democratic machinations from Trump and co. But it’s also true that AOC could lose, which would be a devastating setback to the country and the Left. Or she could win and find herself unable to pass much, if any, of her (and our) program, a demoralizing prospect. So if we’re willing to take these risks with AOC (and we should), it follows that we should be able to take lower-level risks if she doesn’t throw her hat in the ring. What’s Your Plan B? The US Left is facing its biggest opening for growth and influence since the 1930s. Initiatives that would have been impossible a few months ago are now potentially feasible. A President AOC is now easier to imagine, but if she ultimately assesses that the risks aren’t worth the potential reward in 2028, we can’t be left flat-footed. So even if you’re not convinced by the specifics of my Plan B, I hope you can at least agree that it’d be a disaster for us not to have one — and not to start getting a Plan B into motion. Hopefully other organizers and political currents will put forward their responses and alternative ideas ASAP. The stakes are too high to just wait and see. More As always, please share this article widely. This newsletter depends on all you lovely people to get the word out. Thank you! I uploaded the full text of my Catalyst article on Milwaukee sewer socialism here (it’s updated and 3x as long as the version published earlier on this substack). If you haven’t yet, please make sure to subscribe to Catalyst here; I read every issue front to back, highly recommend. 🌹🎵 Ivan Lins (arranged by Arthur Verocai) — “General da Banda” 🌹🎵
Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes
The number of ballots rejected for late postmarks has soared in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon, according to newly released data highlighting concerns about recent changes in U.S. Postal Service operations ahead of this fall's pivotal midterm election.
Postal Service Issues Proposal to Block Mail Ballots in States That Don’t Turn Over Data
Democrats and voting-rights groups have challenged the proposed rule as a harmful federal intrusion that could affect millions of voters who cast their ballots by mail.
Local Business Owners Start New Chapter with Opening of New PostalAnnex Location in Bastrop, Texas
Annex Brands, Inc., one of the leading franchisors in the packing, shipping and office services industries, is excited to announce the opening of its newest PostalAnnex location in Bastrop, Texas to new owners Chetan Modi and Karan Desai. This new PostalAnnex is set to offer a wide range of essential shipping and office services to the local community, making it easier to provide more service to more people in more places.
Judge blocks Trump’s Postal Service regulation on mail-in ballots
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the Postal Service from inserting itself into the election process while litigation continues.
Local Business Owner Starts New Chapter with Opening of New Postal Connections Location in Hillsboro, Oregon
Annex Brands, Inc., one of the leading franchisors in the packing, shipping and office services industries, is excited to announce the opening of its newest Postal Connections location in Hillsboro, Oregon to new owner Jason Rautenkranz. This new Postal Connections is set to offer a wide range of essential shipping and office services to the local community, making it easier to provide more service to more people in more places.
Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'
Before he was the top U_S_ Postal Service official, David Steiner criticized Donald Trump's leadership style after seeing him on "The Apprentice."
Trump administration makes another appeal to Supreme Court to allow mail ballot restrictions
The filing came after U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended an order against the Postal Service enforcing President Donald Trump’s executive order for the November elections.
California, other states sue again to block new U.S. Postal Service rules for mail ballots
California and a coalition of other Democratic-led states sued again to block the U.S. Postal Service from implementing new nationwide rules for mail ballots.
Milford Haven postal worker jailed for illegal streaming business
Michael Barrow ran a sophisticated piracy business targeting Sky, BT and TNT sports content.
Trump thrusts the Postal Service back into his election fraud crusade
President Donald Trump is dragging the Postal Service deeper into his war on mail-in voting.
Voting rights groups sue over USPS mail-in ballot rule
In just a matter of months before midterms and weeks before mail-in ballots are set to go out, a new federal rule is allowing the United States Postal Service to intercept and reject some mail-in ballots.
Supreme Court's lifts a cloud over midterms by letting mail ballots flow as normal to voters
Thousands of election offices around the country can send out mail ballots as they had intended without worrying about complying with new Postal Service rules imposed at the 11th hour.
Trump’s mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he’s ‘not political’
During a lengthy interview, David Steiner seemed surprised at points by his reception in Washington. He insisted he wasn’t a “political person” and said he had no intention of stepping down despite the criticism. He dismissed heated congr…
What's going on with the mail? Delays still common after audit, residents say
A year after an audit at Louisville's postal facilities began, residents and business owners say they've seen no improvements.
Work has stopped on system that was key to Trump effort to limit mail voting, USPS chief says
The top official at the U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that the agency has stopped work on developing a controversial computer system that was central to President Donald Trump’s effort to limit mail voting after the Supreme Court rejected his executive order this week.
Federal judge extends block on Trump order seeking to limit mail voting in the midterms
A federal judge on Friday extended her prohibition against the U.S. Postal Service implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to limit mail voting during the midterms, putting another major obstacle in the way of the administration as the first states begin sending out mail ballots.
Democratic states sue U.S. Postal Service over new mail ballot rule
It's the second lawsuit a coalition of Democratic states have filed against the Trump administration over proposed changes to voting by mail
Proposed USPS rule could restrict vote by mail
Nearly 30% of all votes cast in the 2024 presidential election were by mail. But voting by mail could be severely restricted if a new rule proposed by the U.S. Postal Service is adopted
Postal Service issues new mail-in ballot rule
The U.S. Postal Service said the new rule won't take effect unless the injunctions in various lawsuits are resolved
Whistle-Blower Says Trump Officials Are Defying Court Orders on Voting by Mail
A report detailed “grave concerns” that a new system being rushed into use by the U.S. Postal Service could imperil millions of mail ballots ahead of the midterm elections.
Postal Service union launches ad campaign promoting mail voting
The 30-second union ad features voters explaining why they vote by mail and will start airing in Ohio this week
Trump's attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service
Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.
Blanco business owner frustrated with post office closure; ‘Postal service really dropped the ball’
For Jim Bundick, who owns the local hardware store Outlaw Lumber & Hardware, the change affects his business operations.
Democratic states sue U.S. Postal Service over new mail ballot rule
It's the second lawsuit a coalition of Democratic states have filed against the Trump administration over proposed changes to voting by mail
New Jersey AI Pioneer Honored at Liberty Science Center’s 2026 Genius Gala
Rumson resident Yann LeCun's work in the 1980s at the former AT&T Bell Labs facility helped revolutionize U.S. Postal Service mail-sorting systems.
The Supreme Court rejects Trump's mail voting restrictions for this year's midterms
The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's request to allow mail-in voting restrictions under a U.S. Postal Service plan for the midterm general election.
Let the Postal Service Operate Like a Business
The U.S. Postal Service’s financial woes are largely caused by government interference.
D.C. to BC: The Politics of Voting From Your Dorm
While the 2026 midterms will not see Trump’s proposed changes, the problem for college students goes well beyond the role that the Postal Service ought to play in elections. Navigating voting from college is an arduous task. Out-of-state students face three deceptively simple questions: Where do I live? Where should I vote? How do I vote?
Atlanta Braves Star Ozzie Albies Makes Heartfelt Post After Cardinals Series
On Sunday, the Atlanta Braves played the final game of their series with the St. Louis Cardinals in Missouri.The Braves won by a score of 4-3.Ozzie Albies finished with one hit and one walk.Atlanta Braves Star Ozzie Albies Makes Heartfelt PostAlbies is now headed to the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.He made a heartfelt post to […] The post Atlanta Braves Star Ozzie Albies Makes Heartfelt Post After Cardinals Series appeared first on HEAVY.
Powder mailed to Arizona officials reflects surge in political threats
Suspicious letters containing white powder have targeted Arizona lawmakers and the state’s elections chief, as experts warn that threats and intimidation against public officials are rising.
Blanco business owner frustrated with post office closure; ‘Postal service really dropped the ball’
Federal judge considers whether to extend ban against U.S. Postal Service mail voting changes
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani is deciding whether to extend her prohibition on the proposed regulation of mail ballots, an effort undertaken as part of an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Lincoln police arrest USPS employee over missing sports card package
A U.S. Postal Service employee was arrested after a package with contents valued at nearly $46,000, including six high-value sports cards, was reportedly stolen from a Lincoln post office on Saturday.
More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Year, and They’re Getting Tossed
State officials say they worry about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver votes this fall. They are urging voters to mail their ballots early or use drop boxes so their votes count.
Daily news: The latest No Kings rallies in Utah focused on early voting
In other news, a northern Utah bird refuge overhauled its water infrastructure. And, Utah's postal inspector intercepted a suspicious envelope meant for Lt. Gov. Henderson's office.
WATCH: Under proposed rule, USPS won't deliver mail ballots to states that don't provide voter rolls, postmaster general says
Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee Wednesday that, if a proposed rule is adopted, the U.S. Postal Service would withhold mail ballots from states that do not hand over to the federal government lists of people who have requested absentee or mail ballots.
Trump asks Supreme Court to OK sweeping changes for mail ballots
President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to give the US Postal Service sweeping power to withhold delivery of mail ballots, setting up an extraordinary showdown over voting at the high court less than two months before the November midterm election.