USPS funding: Donald Trump pushes conspiracies as House rebukes his handling of

Though the legislation is not likely to get anywhere in the Republican-held Senate under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s iron hand, the debacle involving one of America’s most beloved institutions has shown the limits of Trump’s strategy three months before voters decide whether to reelect him.

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, when many in the GOP would like to see the President stick to the script and broaden his appeal to middle-of-the-road voters, Trump appears far from the reset he’ll need this week.

Just as the President wants to go on the offensive, he’s been dealing with a series of new unwelcome controversies, from the arrest of his former strategist Steve Bannon to revelations late Saturday about unflattering comments his sister made about him to his niece, Mary Trump. Maryanne Trump Barry bitterly criticized her brother, President Donald Trump, saying, “Donald’s out for Donald,” and appeared to confirm her niece Mary Trump’s previous allegations that he had a friend take his SATs to get into college, according to audio excerpts obtained by CNN. The Washington Post first obtained the previously unreleased transcripts and audio from Mary Trump, author of a recent bombshell book about the President and one of his most outspoken critics.

The President’s unwavering campaign to erode public confidence in long-trusted institutions knows no end. But his assault on mail-in voting in the midst of a pandemic has dragged on for months, and there are clear signs that some GOP lawmakers are losing their patience with his tactics.

And although the vote on additional funding in the Democrat-controlled House Saturday evening was largely along party lines, the more than two dozen Republicans who joined the Democrats included vulnerable members trying to shore up their support before they face voters this fall, moderates, and even members from deep-red districts who are clearly feeling the heat from their constituents on the Postal Service slowdowns.

The bipartisan Board of Governors that oversees the post office proposed the $25 billion figure saying the money is needed for the post office to continue normal operations and maintain normal delivery speeds. Still, Trump inaccurately tweeted on Saturday evening that representatives of the post office “have repeatedly stated that they DO NOT NEED MONEY and will not make changes.”

“This is all another HOAX by the Democrats to give $25 billion unneeded dollars for political purposes without talking about the Universal Mail-in Ballot scam…. that they are trying to pull off in violation of everything that our Country stands for,” Trump said.

In a floor speech Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi argued that the Trump administration’s operational changes to the Postal Service “degrade service, delay the mail and threaten to disenfranchise voters, particularly in communities of color.”

She told the story of a veteran with epilepsy in her district who told her the prescriptions sent by the VA through the mail are now taking twice as long to arrive.

“This is immediate in their lives. We are their Representatives,” the California Democrat said, arguing for the passage of the legislation in spite of the President’s veto…