WASHINGTON The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trumps campaign say they have now hired 1,500 field staffers, aiming to convert their financial advantage over Democrats into votes in November. Trump Victory, the joint field effort of the two organizations, announced Monday the hiring of an additional 300 staffers set to hit 20 target states by Wednesday in the largest field operation over mounted by a Republican. Republicans are quick to note that their staffer count in the field is more than double that of Biden, whose goal was 600 field staffers by the end of June. Both the Trump and Biden field operations went virtual largely overnight in mid-March as the coronavirus pandemic hit. We have the biggest and best ground game operation ever seen, said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh.

The Trump administration, which withdrew from the accord in 2018, faces stiff opposition to extending the embargo from its fellow Security Council members. The administration has threatened to invoke the snapback of all U.N. sanctions on Iran that were eased under nuclear deal unless the embargo is prolonged. The department said in a statement that Pompeo and Lavrov also discussed Afghanistan, following reports that U.S. intelligence suspects Russia may be paying bounties to the Taliban to kill American and allied troops. Critics have accused the administration of ignoring the potential threat and demanded action. The two men also discussed election security amid concerns Russia may try to meddle in the 2020 U.S. presidential vote, the statement said, adding that Pompeo had raised the matter.

President Donald Trump listens as Robert Unanue, of Goya Foods, speaks during a roundtable meeting with Hispanic leaders in the Cabinet Room, Thursday, July 9, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)NEW YORK Goya Foods is facing a swift backlash after its CEO praised President Donald Trump at White House event. Robert Unanue, a grandson and now Goya CEO, spoke at a Rose Garden event announcing a Hispanic Prosperity Initiative on Thursday. We all truly blessed, at the same time, to have have a leader like President Trump who is a builder, Unanue said standing at a podium beside Trump. On Wednesday, he welcomed President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador to the White House with lofty language, calling Mexico a cherished partner.

His comments are an apparent descendant, a half-century later, of Richard Nixons coded outreach to white voters known as the Southern Strategy. However, according to current and former Trump campaign officials, his overarching strategy is an appeal to white voters some of them racist and some who fear being left behind by a government seemingly consumed with helping others. The belief is that his appeals will generate enthusiasm among the same disaffected white voters who made up the presidents base of supporters four years ago. The issues that involve race now are completely different, said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign adviser. In other parts of the country, less so.The Trump campaign dismisses accusations of racism.

Former Democratic presidential primary candidate Pete Buttigieg endorses Democratic presidential primary candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden during an event at the Chicken Scratch restaurant the night before Super Tuesday primary voting, on Monday night March 2, 2020 in Dallas. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via AP)NEW YORK Pete Buttigieg's next book has a unifying message. Liveright Publishing announced Wednesday that the former Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana, mayor had written Trust: Americas Best Chance, scheduled for release Oct. 6. In order for our country to move forward in the years ahead, it will be more important than ever to build trust trust in our institutions and leaders, trust in each other, and trust around the world in America itself," Buttigieg said in a statement. His new work arrives a month after the release of I Have Something to Tell You, a memoir by his husband, Chasten Buttigieg.

His comments are an apparent descendant, a half-century later, of Richard Nixons coded outreach to white voters known as the Southern Strategy. However, according to current and former Trump campaign officials, his overarching strategy is an appeal to white voters some of them racist and some who fear being left behind by a government seemingly consumed with helping others. The belief is that his appeals will generate enthusiasm among the same disaffected white voters who made up the presidents base of supporters four years ago. The issues that involve race now are completely different, said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign adviser. In other parts of the country, less so.The Trump campaign dismisses accusations of racism.

Shortly after fireworks above Mount Rushmore disappeared into the night sky on Friday, South Dakota Gov. Noem had tested negative for COVID-19 shortly before welcoming Trump to South Dakota on Friday. But that runs counter to guidance from public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that advises people to wear masks when interacting with people outside their household. As the number of people hospitalized from COVID-19 in South Dakota has decreased in recent weeks to just 59 people statewide, Noem has doubled down on her relaxed approach to the pandemic. Seidel said the governor worries about other effects of the virus, such as unemployment and domestic violence.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, S.D. This movement is openly attacking the legacies of every person on Mount Rushmore," Trump said. It will not happen.The speech and fireworks at Mount Rushmore came against the backdrop of a pandemic that has killed over 125,000 Americans. Some Native American groups used Trump's visit to protest the Mount Rushmore memorial itself, pointing out that the Black Hills were taken from the Lakota people. Trump and Melania Trump plan to host events from the White House South Lawn and from the Ellipse.

Trump took to Twitter late Tuesday to threaten a veto of a $741 billion annual Pentagon authorization bill because it would require a host of military bases named after Confederate figures to be renamed within. I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren (of all people!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!" I dare President Trump to veto the bill over Confederate base naming. Instead of mandating the renaming of military bases, including Fort Bragg, we need a thoughtful and constructive process that includes the input of our military communities, said Tillis.

U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath speaks to people during a visit to Thankful Hearts Food Pantry in Pikeville, Ky., Monday, June 22, 2020. The lead in the Democratic primary has flipped back and forth between Booker and McGrath as results of individual counties' absentee tally trickle in. But the Democratic contest in this GOP-dominated state turned volatile when Booker, a Black state lawmaker, seized momentum in the final weeks. We are thrilled with the absentee results so far," said McGraths campaign manager, Mark Nickolas. The state turned to widespread mail-in absentee voting because of the coronavirus pandemic, while still allowing in-person voting as well.

North Korea declared the dialogue a failure in a statement written before talks even began, administration officials say. Im wondering if hes trying to go for the last possible minute deal with President Trump, she said. After the first summit, in Singapore in 2018, Trump tweeted, There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. After three made-for-TV summits, we still dont have a single concrete commitment from North Korea. Trump has said that the lack of war with North Korea is essentially a win for the United States.

The New York Times reported Friday that American intelligence officials concluded months ago that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The White House said neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on such intelligence. Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told the Times the Kremlin had not been made aware of the accusations. The newspaper, citing unnamed officials familiar with the intelligence, said the findings were presented to Trump and discussed by his National Security Council in late March. Biden slammed Trump over his reported failure to act.

WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris of California says that Democrats need to listen to young voters seeking change and that she won't be played" by Republicans when it comes to police reform legislation. Harris spoke Tuesday with The Associated Press about her efforts and the Democratic Party's relationship with Black voters. The two lead senators on the Justice in Policing Act, Sen. Cory Booker from New Jersey and myself, both serve on the Judiciary Committee. AP: Vice President Biden has overwhelming support among older Black voters, but hes struggled to gain more widespread support from young Black and Latino progressive voters. What do Democrats need to do to get those voters energized and come out in November?

WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris of California says that Democrats need to listen to young voters seeking change and that she won't be played" by Republicans when it comes to police reform legislation. Harris spoke Tuesday with The Associated Press about her efforts and the Democratic Party's relationship with Black voters. The two lead senators on the Justice in Policing Act, Sen. Cory Booker from New Jersey and myself, both serve on the Judiciary Committee. AP: Vice President Biden has overwhelming support among older Black voters, but hes struggled to gain more widespread support from young Black and Latino progressive voters. What do Democrats need to do to get those voters energized and come out in November?

Pompeo who earlier this week met with a senior Chinese official in Hawaii where he held closed-door talks as relations between the two nations have plummeted over numerous disputes, said Europe faces a China challenge as does the rest of the world. Washington and Beijing are at odds over trade, Chinas handling of the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, the status of Hong Kong and increasing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. Donald Trump is right to raise that issue (with Beijing). And he said if you buy more goods that is the end of the trade issue. No, it is not the end of the trade issue.

And now Lafayette Square. Trump had briefly been forced to take shelter in the emergency White House bunker and flames had risen from St. Johns Church across from the executive mansion. Lafayette Square was ordered to be cleared. The White House quickly produced a slick ad celebrating the triumph. Some observers believe Trump may be able to cast aside Lafayette Square too.

But some black leaders say Warren's progressive politics, economic populism and specific policy proposals addressing everything from maternal mortality to the coronavirus could put her in a strong position. But some black leaders say Warren's progressive politics, economic populism and specific policy proposals addressing everything from maternal mortality to the coronavirus could put her in a strong position. She gave a memorable speech in Atlanta in November on empowering black women and combating institutional racism that some African American leaders laud as prescient. I think that she could be an interesting and compelling pick for Vice President Biden in regards to reaching out to African American voters, Garvin said. Some 61% of African American voters supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast surveys in 17 states that voted between Feb. 3 and March 17.

What were watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign:Days to next set of primaries (New York and Kentucky): 8Days to general election: 141___THE NARRATIVEPresident Donald Trump makes his official return to the campaign trail this week. At the same time, health experts worry that Trump's rally could help intensify a second wave of coronavirus infections. ___THE BIG QUESTIONSWill Trump's return to the campaign trail backfire? ___2020 Watch runs every Monday and provides a look at the week ahead in the 2020 election. ___Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.

Tulsans marked the 99th anniversary of what was one of modern America's bloodiest rampages targeting black communities a week ago. To choose the date, to come to Tulsa, is totally disrespectful and a slap in the face to even happen, Gamble Smith said. Long dismissed by generations of white Tulsans as a race riot," the May 31-June 1 events were marked this year by community memorials. Some black Tulsans said they planned to turn out for public protests of Trump on that day. There's definitely going to be demonstrating, Gamble Smith said.

Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., smiles during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 9, 2020, to examine COVID-19 fraud, focusing on law enforcement's response to those exploiting the pandemic. Graham, 64, bested fellow Republicans Duke Buckner, Michael Lapierre and Joe Reynolds in Tuesdays primary election. The 44-year-old Harrison, an associate chairman with the Democratic National Committee and former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has from the start aimed to draw national attention. State Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick said GOP stalwarts were ready and eager to work to defeat Harrison. He is a powerful voice in the U.S. Senate for the right to life for the unborn and older citizens.___Associated Press writer Michelle Liu in Lexington, South Carolina, contributed.

People wait in line to vote in the Georgia's primary election at Park Tavern on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Atlanta. Ossoff was far ahead of two other candidates in his bid to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue in November. In Georgia, candidates must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Perdue, a close Trump ally seeking a second term in November as Republicans look to hold the White House and Senate majority, drew no GOP primary opposition. Ossoffs campaign manager, Ellen Foster, blasted Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for the long lines and confusion at numerous polling sites Tuesday.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened social media companies with new regulation or even shuttering after Twitter moved a day earlier to add fact checks to two of his tweets. The president cant unilaterally regulate or close the companies, which would require action by Congress or the Federal Communications Commission. Trump did not explain his threat Wednesday, and the call to expand regulation appeared to fly in the face of long-held conservative principles on deregulation. The protections have been credited with allowing the unfettered growth of the internet for more than two decades, but now some Trump allies are advocating that social media companies face more scrutiny. Why are they getting subsidized by federal taxpayers to censor conservatives, to censor people critical of China.

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an event on protecting seniors with diabetes in the Rose Garden White House, Tuesday, May 26, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON President Donald Trump threatened social media companies with new regulation or even shuttering on Wednesday after Twitter added fact checks to two of his tweets. Trump, the historically prolific tweeter of political barbs and blasts, claimed on Twitter early Wednesday that tech giants silence conservative voices." Trump and his campaign had lashed out Tuesday after Twitter added a warning phrase to two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots fraudulent and predicted that mail boxes will be robbed, among other things. The protections have been credited with allowing the unfettered growth of the internet for more than two decades, but now some Trump allies are advocating that social media companies face more scrutiny.

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2019, file photo former Georgia House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams, speaks at the National Press Club in Washington. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has already narrowed the field by saying he will pick a woman. Gretchen Whitmer, other names that have been part of the speculation are Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Abrams. On Thursday, Abrams announced that she was backing Democratic candidates in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. For Arizona, Abrams said former astronaut Mark Kelly has a proven record of service to our country. John Hickenlooper, the former Colorado governor and 2020 presidential candidate, is the one to help us cross the finish line for a Democratic Senate majority, Abrams said.

A man wearing a face mask walks past statues of bulls in Beijing, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Asian stock markets fell further Friday on spreading virus fears, deepening an global rout after Wall Street endured its biggest one-day drop in nine years. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. GLOBAL STOCKS TUMBLE ON VIRUS FEARS Outbreaks in Italy, South Korea and Iran fuel fears the coronavirus is turning into a worldwide threat that might derail trade and industry. HOW AFGHANS SEE PEACE DEAL The war-torn nation views the expected signing of a U.S.-Taliban accord with a heavy dose of well-earned skepticism.

What to watch as presidential impeachment arguments get underway in the Senate for only the third time in American history. That maroons 100 chatty senators — including four Democrats in the heat of a nomination fight — for the serious constitutional business of the impeachment trial, for hours at a time. Senate rules say the trial must proceed six days a week — all but Sunday — until it is resolved. ___THE PROSECUTORSThey could be heard practicing speeches in the shuttered Senate chamber late into Monday night. 51: The number of senators who must agree on almost anything to make it happen during an impeachment trial.