US executive branch text over image of White HouseThis report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

1:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT receives his intelligence briefing | Oval Office

Looking Ahead:  On Thursday, August 20, the President will host Iraq’s Prime Minister at the White House.  He will also visit Mariotti Building Products in Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

10:10 a.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT departs Washington, D.C., en route Janesville, WI, on Air Force Two

11:05 a.m. CDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT arrives in Janesville, WI, on Air Force Two | Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport

12:00 p.m. CDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on Joe Biden’s Failure to Put American Workers First | Darien, WI

2:20 p.m. CDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT departs Janesville, WI, en route Washington, D.C., on Air Force Two

5:05 p.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT arrives in Washington, D.C., on Air Force Two

Looking Ahead:  On Friday, August 21, Vice President Pence will travel to Miami, Florida, to deliver remarks on Venezuela and Cuba.  He will return to Washington, D.C., later that day.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

1:00 p.m. EDT – The Press Secretary will hold a briefing

Recap of Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Note: All bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 and reopening developments.

The White House

  • Remarks by President Trump During Iowa Disaster Recovery Briefing
  • Remarks by President Trump in a Signing of a Proclamation on the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment
  • Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the Pardon of Susan B. Anthony
  • Proclamation on 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment
  • Remarks by President Trump During Border Wall Construction and Operational Update | Yuma, AZ
  • Readout from the Vice President’s Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Best Practices

Department of Defense (DOD)

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Wednesday, August 19
  • August 18:  Statement | Special Tribunal for Lebanon Verdict
  • August 18:  Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Phone Call with Mauritanian President Ghazouani
  • August 18:  Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Call with German Foreign Minister Maas
  • August 18:  Statement | Second Review of the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy
  • August 18:  Statement | Afghanistan’s Independence Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Statement by USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa on the Second Review of the Implementation of the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release:  SEC Names Diana Stoltzfus as Deputy Chief Accountant

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Press Release:  Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Tampa, Florida, Towing Company for Unlawfully Selling Car Belonging to Deployed Servicemember
  • Press Release:  Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Father & Son Moving & Storage in Billerica, Massachusetts, for Unlawfully Auctioning Off Belongings of Deployed Servicemember
  • Press Release:  United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Drug Maker Teva Pharmaceuticals Alleging Illegal Kickbacks

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • Press Release:  Acting Secretary Chad Wolf Announces New Homeland Security Advisory Council Members
  • Press Release:  Weekly Update | DHS Response to COVID-19
  • Press Release:  ICYMI | ICE Lodges Detainers For MS-13 Members, Associates Arrested By FBI For Sex Trafficking A Minor
  • Press Release:  CISA Releases Updated Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers
  • Press Release:  CBP Issues Detention Order on Seafood Harvested with Forced Labor (Washington, D.C.)
  • Press Release: San Ysidro CBP Officers Apprehend Men Wanted for Attempted Homicide and Another for Sex Offense in One Day (California)
  • Press Release:  Border Patrol Agents Seize 22 Pounds of Methamphetamine Discovered in Vehicle’s Spare Tire (California)
  • Press Release:  Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $2M in Hard Narcotics (Arizona)
  • Press Release:  CBP Agriculture Specialists, Officers Intercept Prohibited Agriculture Items at Eagle Pass Port of Entry (Texas)
  • Press Release:  CBP Field Operations at Hidalgo Port of Entry Seizes $7.7 Million Worth of Methamphetamine (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Border Patrol Agents Rescue Individual in Distress (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Rio Grande Valley Agents Intercept More Than $700K Worth of Drugs (Texas)
  • Press Release:  CBP Officers in El Paso Stop Teen Pedestrian With Methamphetamine Load (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Rio Grande Valley Agents Arrest Gang Member (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Louisville CBP Discovers Meth Concealed Inside a Spool (Kentucky)
  • Press Release:  Over Half Ton of Marijuana Manifested as Office Furniture Seized at Blue Water Bridge (Michigan)
  • Press Release:  Philadelphia, Pittsburgh CBP Officers Seize Nearly Half-Million Dollars in Unapproved e-Cigarette Products (Pennsylvania)
  • Press Release:  CBP and Interagency Partners Intercept Outbound Aircraft Loaded with Weapons and Cash (Florida)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release:  FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the LNU Lightning Complex

US International Trade Commission (USITC)

  • Press Release:  USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Height-Adjustable Desk Platforms and Components Thereof

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

  • Press Release:  U.S. Government Announces Bilateral Initiative to Advance Rural Development in Colombia

Department of Energy

  • Press Release:  Department of Energy Announces the First Five Consortium
  • Press Release:  Department of Energy Awards $13.5 Million for Direct Air Capture Research

Department of Interior

  • Press Release:  Interior and Norway Strengthen Offshore Energy and Mineral Resource Knowledge and Experience
  • Press Release:  Secretary Bernhardt Announces Historic Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on Public Lands

Department of Transportation

  • Press Release:  U.S Department of Transportation modifies Order Regarding Chinese Carriers

Department of Labor

  • Statement by Secretary Scalia on the Lost Wages Assistance Program
  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor Issues Additional Guidance for States on Lost Wages Assistance Program
  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor Receives Top Marks in Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard
  • Press Release:  Missouri Federal Contractor Agrees to Pay $379,089 to Resolve Wage Discrimination found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation
  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor Rule Will Improve Workers’ Ability to Measure Lifetime Benefits Payments to Determine Readiness to Retire

Department of Education

  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Education Launches Space Mission Challenge for High School Students

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Press Release:  HHS Secretary Azar Statement on Review of Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy
  • Press Release:  Celebrating 30 Years of the Ryan White CARE Act
  • Press Release:  HHS Releases Healthy People 2030 with National Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Objectives for the Next Decade

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release:  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update | Daily Roundup August 18, 2020

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine

Synopsis of President Trump’s Tweets

  • August 19:  “‘Senate Intelligence Panel found absolutely no evidence of collusion. There was no evidence that the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government to influence 2016, affirming the findings of other investigations.’ Daily Caller”
  • August 19:  “Big win Matt!”  Retweet:  Matt Gaetz @mattgaetz · 19h · Vote Laura Loomer for Congress today!
  • August 19:  “She was a terrible A.G. Was she the leaker?”  Retweet:  Raheem Kassam @RaheemKassam · 10h · Deep stater Sally Yates is speaking at the DNC, being billed as “someone willing to speak out”.  She was fired by Trump for trying to stop official government policy, which had just been voted on by the American public.  Sally Yates was fired for being an enemy of the people.
  • August 19:  “Great going Laura. You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!”  Retweet:  Raheem Kassam @RaheemKassam · 11h · Laura Loomer Delivers Stunning Primary Victory in Trump’s Voting District https://thenationalpulse.com/news/laura-loomer-delivers-stunning-primary-victory-in-trumps-voting-district/
  • August 19:  “Kimberly will work with the Trump Administration and we will bring Baltimore back, and fast. Don’t blow it Baltimore, the Democrats have destroyed your city!”  Retweet:  Kimberly Klacik @kimKBaltimore US House candidate, MD-7 · Aug 17 · Democrats don’t want you to see this.  They’re scared that I’m exposing what life is like in Democrat run cities.  That’s why I’m running for Congress.  Because All Black Lives Matter.  Baltimore Matters.  And black people don’t have to vote Democrat.  Help us win https://rb.gy/rlhzde
  • August 18:  “Great WIN Anna! Watched your race from beginning, very impressed. Your next opponent, Charlie Crist, is a Pelosi puppet who is bad on Crime, our Military, Vets, & 2nd Amendment. You have my Complete & Total Endorsement!”  Retweet:  Anna Paulina Luna @realannapaulina · 11h · My name is Anna Paulina Luna.  I just won my election in FL-13 by a wide margin.  They said I didn’t have a chance because I lacked ‘experience’.  But the people were with me all the way.  This November I will defeat @CharlieCrist & then I’ll help @realDonaldTrump DRAIN THE SWAMP
  • August 18:  “Tell the Dems that we have more Cases because we do FAR more Testing than any other Country!”
  • August 18:  “@Amazon, and others in that business, should be charged (by the U.S. Postal System) much more per package, and the Post Office would be immediately brought back to “good health”, now vibrant, with ALL jobs saved. No pass on to customers. Get it done!”
  • August 18:  “In California, Democrats have intentionally implemented rolling blackouts — forcing Americans in the dark. Democrats are unable to keep up with energy demand…”
  • August 18:  “…Meanwhile, I gave America energy independence in fact, so much energy we could never use it all. The Bernie/Biden/AOC Green New Deal plan would take California’s failed policies to every American!”
  • August 18:  “The Democrats have to start enforcing Law and Order in their cities and states. New York City, Chicago and Portland are a total DISASTER!”
  • August 18:  “People forget how divided our Country was under ObamaBiden. The anger and hatred were unbelievable. They shouldn’t be lecturing to us. I’m here, as your President, because of them!”
  • August 18:  “A horrible Governor. Crime is taking over NYC & State, everyone is leaving. He is after the NRA – They should move to Texas or elsewhere, and must get tough. Cuomo killed 11,000 people in nursing homes alone. Crooked & Incompetent!”  Retweet:  Jim Hoft @gatewaypundit · 13h · On Same Day as DNC Speech AP Reports Cuomo Killed 11,000 New Yorkers in Nursing Homes, Not 6,000 …And It’s Likely Much Higher https://thegatewaypundit.com/2020/08/day-dnc-speech-ap-reports-cuomo-killed-11000-new-yorkers-nursing-homes-not-6000-likely-much-higher/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=websitesharingbuttons via @gatewaypundit
  • August 18:  “John Kasich did a bad job in Ohio, ran for President and was easy to beat, and now went to the other side desperate for relevance. Good Job by Chris C in exposing yet another loser!”  Retweet:  TheBlaze @theblaze · 21h · “He’s a backstabber, and he’s an untruthful guy” https://bit.ly/34btNia