Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Monday, August 17, 2020

Below are some of the top political news stories of the day:

Live coverage: First night of virtual DNC kicks off with videos, Eva Longoria hosting

Watch live: Democratic National Convention

Trump: 'The only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged'

AP survey: States uncommitted to Trump’s unemployment boost
Former DHS official blasts Trump, endorses Biden

Pelosi: Republicans' 'purpose is to frighten people from voting'

Duo who waved guns at protesters will be at RNC

Sanders to rail against ‘authoritarianism,’ as Michelle Obama calls Biden ‘decent man’ in DNC opening night

The Empty Threats Behind Trump’s Mail-In Voting Mischief

DNC chairman calls for end to presidential caucuses
Trump retweets Russian propaganda about Biden that US intel agencies say is intended to influence 2020 election
Trump says he will pardon a 'very important' person on Tuesday

Trump bashes 'major loser' Kasich ahead of DNC speech
Federal judge blocks Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era transgender health care protections

Mike Bloomberg pledges $60M to help House Democrats win in November
Democrats claim ‘big tent’ for first convention in pandemic

GOP Ohio attorney general calls on Trump to postpone Postal Service changes

Palin calls out GOP politicians speaking at DNC in support of 'most radically liberal ticket' in US history

Trump kicks off effort to counter-message Democratic convention
First night of Democratic National Convention gets underway in a night highlighted by Michelle Obama
Canadian finance minister resigns amid contracting scandal

Ex-commerce secretary says Dem convention will show 'what a Joe Biden presidency will be like'

Lawsuit against Trump, postal chief seeks proper funding

House Democrats push Saturday vote on $25B in Postal Service aid

Former Trump administration DHS chief of staff calls his presidency "terrifying"
Trump denies delaying mail, Postal Service head slated to testify before Congress

Sanders-AOC alliance puts stamp on Democratic convention, platform

Amid outcry, postmaster general to testify before House
Live Blog/ Democratic National Convention kicks off
McConnell says he doesn't share Trump's 'concern' about Postal Service

Watch live: President Trump speaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin

'Anonymous' Trump official calls for voting him out of office

Trump to call Biden ‘most dangerous’ candidate in a lifetime, ‘Trojan horse for socialism’
Former CIA officer charged with spying for China
Crowd protests outside US Postmaster's NC home

DHS rejects government watchdog finding that top officials were improperly appointed
CNN Poll of Polls: Biden holds a nine-point lead over Trump ahead of the party conventions

McCarthy says Dems pushing Postal Service 'conspiracy theories' as Pelosi calls members back to town

House Republicans allege Democrats are fabricating USPS crisis
Former senior Trump administration official endorses Joe Biden
A state-by-state guide to voting by mail and early in-person voting

As USPS Pressure Grows, Postmaster General To Appear For House Hearing Next Week

Cardi B demands justice for Black people in interview with Joe Biden

Biden 'has an obligation to stand before the American people and answer the tough questions': Capri Cafaro

US approves oil, gas leasing plan for Alaska Wildlife refuge

Trump eyes White House funeral service for brother

First in expected flood of lawsuits against USPS, Trump filed in NY federal court
Latinos downgrade Trump on coronavirus, kick up Biden support, poll shows
Booker sees racism behind Trump's attacks on himself and Harris

Democrats set for unconventional political showpiece (Video)

DHS fires back at ‘baffling’ GAO claim that Wolf was appointed invalidly

Two men indicted in 2002 murder of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay

Belarus protests: 'There's no way back. The people will not forgive this'
As Democrats prepare to nominate Joe Biden, widespread fears about unfair election

Democratic National Convention kicks off with Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders
US intelligence indicates Iran paid bounties to Taliban for targeting American troops in Afghanistan

President of Young Democrats of Maryland found dead
Trump offers counter-programming to Democrats with rallies in four states

Conservative talk radio personalities join forces in voter recruitment push

Biden rides high, but faces angst-filled party

Democrats unveil wide-ranging speaker schedule for Democratic National Convention

Democrats fight back in US Postal Service showdown with Trump

Dueling polls split on size of Biden’s lead ahead of Dem convention

Election advantage stays with Biden; enthusiasm deficit eases, but remains: POLL

Newsweek smears Kamala Harris (Video)
Trump to campaign in battleground states as Democrats embrace Joe Biden, Kamala Harris at DNC

States huddling on Postal Service lawsuit

Wall Street's Big Money Is Betting On Biden And Democrats In 2020

Gingrich: Kamala Harris will be worst vice presidential nominee since Tom Eagleton

Biden up by 12 points among registered voters nationally: poll

Edward Snowden raked in over $1.2 million in speaking fees, agent says

Dems plunge into virtual convention for Biden

Cheney calls pardoning Snowden 'unconscionable' after Trump says he's considering it

John Oliver Exposes Trump’s Kamala Harris Birtherism and the Absurdity of QAnon -DB

Trump motivates Democrats to rally behind Biden, Harris
'It's not a good picture': The DNC and RNC may further complicate coronavirus stimulus talks
Trump's presidential approval rating stays steady: NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls

Trump narrows gap with Biden, new poll shows

State of the presidential race: A deep dive on the polls

Reporter's blunt question to Trump receives polarizing response (video)

Protester's arrest leads to crowd forming at Pittsburgh mayor's home

WHAT TO WATCH: Democrats open a new kind of convention

Democrats to structure 1st night of the DNC around trio of crises gripping nation

Puerto Rico’s governor loses primary in chaotic election

Schumer: McConnell must bring Senate back early if House passes Postal Service bill

Several states considering legal action against Trump administration over USPS and mail-in voting

Biden ally Clyburn brings civil rights legacy to DNC

Trump sends warning to NYC’s de Blasio after another bloody weekend

The pandemic hasn’t ended the campus culture wars
Monday at the DNC: Sanders, Kasich to speak as Democrats look to unite both sides of the aisle

AP FACT CHECK: Trump muddies facts on mail ballots, Harris

Coronavirus sidelines lobbyists at the influence industry's Super Bowl

Biden faces hurdles in bid to mend ties with US allies

Internal USPS documents raise questions about effectiveness of sorting machines removal order

Pelosi calls members back to Capitol Hill to consider USPS legislation, calls post office 'Election Central' amid coronavirus

Browns owners say they stand by Baker Mayfield's decision to kneel
Trump elevates Scott Atlas, a doctor with a rosier coronavirus outlook

Historic moments and big surprises from past political conventions

'We're Desperate': Transit Cuts Felt Deepest in Low-Income Areas - NY Times

Death Valley reaches 130 degrees, hottest temperature in U.S. in at least 107 years

Biden-Harris ticket aims to spark enthusiasm at Democratic convention after low-key campaign

Japan’s economy shrinks at record rate, slammed by pandemic

One Week After Election, Belarus Sees Giant Protests Against 'Europe's Last Dictator'

Sunday shows - Mail-in voting controversy dominates

Jake Tapper: Greene's videos indicate detachment from truth and decency

Mercedes Schlapp: We can't go down this very dangerous socialist path of Biden and Harris (Video)
Election Confessions: Tell us how you really feel about the 2020 candidates
Belarusian opposition politician Tsikhanouskaya says she is ready to lead nation

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the House back into session early to block USPS organizational changes that could threaten mail-in voting - BI

Stacey Abrams, Conor Lamb among 17 'rising stars' to speak in DNC keynote address

Belarus protests: Strikes expected as Lukashenko remains defiant

Sarah Sanders: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be puppets of the far left (Video)

House Oversight Committee calls for 'urgent' hearing with postmaster general

Summers calls Trump 'worst of America's 45 presidents,' says stocks 'do better' during Democratic administrations
Asia shares push ahead as China markets jump

Coronavirus News and Updates:

Report: Nursing home cases up nearly 80% in COVID-19 rebound
U.S. COVID-19 deaths rise; cases drop for fourth week in a row
COVID-19 forces some U.S. schools to close, as new cases remain high in most states
'Horrifying' data glitch skews key Iowa coronavirus metrics

The home front: Virus stalks nurses after they leave work
Pandemic Electric Bills Are Searing Hot, As Families Stay Home

Coronavirus Update (Live): 21,816,571 Cases and 772,708 deaths Worldwide ...

U.S. CDC reports 5,340,232 coronavirus cases

U.S. coronavirus death toll hits 170,000 ahead of fall flu season

Quarantine requirements may delay return to in-person school

The latest on the coronavirus pandemic - Live Updates

Coronavirus updates: Two top CDC officials step down; Birx urges Americans to wear masks indoors and outdoors

6 public-health experts offer a coronavirus agenda for Biden and Harris' first day in office, should they win

Face masks, smaller classes and distanced desks: Europe’s back-to-school plan

South Korea battles worst virus outbreak in months

Federal virus money slow to trickle to local public health

Coronavirus updates: Two top CDC officials step down; Birx urges Americans to wear masks indoors and outdoors

'We're Clearly Not Doing Enough': Drop in Testing Hampers Coronavirus Response - NY Times

Lebanon needs two-week lockdown after 'shocking' COVID-19 rise, minister says

Less Than A Week After Starting Classes, UNC-Chapel Hill Reports 4 COVID-19 Clusters

Lasting immunity seen after mild COVID-19 infection: report

Firm Running Coronavirus Database Refuses to Answer Senators' Questions

India's coronavirus death toll surpasses 50,000
South Korea tackles new outbreak linked to church

How the coronavirus could change college sports forever