Thank you to Democracy Defender-supporter Melissa for the question that produced this week’s Q&A Bonus show! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to submit your questions, get all shows ad free, and hear the full bonus episode!

Why is DeJoy still in charge? Well, it all comes down to numbers—specifically, the ones the Democrats don’t have yet. The USPS Board of Governors is still short of the votes needed to remove Louis DeJoy. There’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon with Biden's nominations of former Florida Rep. Val Demings and former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, but they need to get through Senate confirmation first. Even if that happens, the entire Democratic bloc on the board has to agree to boot DeJoy. And here’s the kicker: they’ll also need an Independent to back them.

Now, about that Independent, Amber McReynolds: she was appointed by Biden. But, plot twist—this Biden appointee has gone on record saying the USPS is doing just fine. So yeah, not exactly a slam dunk for Team “Fire DeJoy.”

This is how corruption is allowed to fester—DeJoy stays, he enriches his family through shady deals, and the USPS, along with its overworked staff, remains on the chopping block. It’s the Reaganomics playbook: shrink government services, weaken unions, and let privatization sweep in to pick at the bones. All while the people who depend on these services are left with empty mailboxes and a dysfunctional system. Welcome to DeJoy's America!

This week’s bonus show includes a fiery continuation of Gaslit Nation's interview with Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent for The Nation and author of the bestselling book Allow Me to Retort A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. We discuss one of the most dangerous men in America: Merrick Garland. To listen to the full episode, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level or higher, and to submit a question for our next Q&A bonus show, subscribe at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level or higher. Discounted annual memberships available. Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism, especially during these tough times. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

• Look out for our special workshop How to Make a Podcast publishing October 24th for our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, unless you grabbed the early bird special in September and signed up at the Truth-teller level and higher! 

• Join our live-taping about the psychology of Trump and his MAGA cult with Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, October 29 at 12pm ET! 

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Discounted annual memberships available! 

 

Show Notes:

 

To Restore Abortion Rights, Democrats Must Win the Senate. If Democrats manage to win the White House but lose the Senate, then people in GOP-controlled states will continue to be forced to bring pregnancies to term against their will.

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/to-restore-abortion-rights-democrats-must-win-the-senate/

 

DeJoy maintains financial ties to former company as USPS awards it new $120 million contract. XPO Logistics pays DeJoy and family businesses at least $2.1 million annually to lease four office buildings in North Carolina https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/06/usps-dejoy-xpo-logistics/

 

Joe Biden Passes 'Essential Stop' in Bid to Save Mail-in Ballots - Attorney https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-joe-biden-mail-ballots-2024-election-postal-service-1932369

 

Senators call on postal board to abandon DeJoy’s USPS reforms. The overhaul is harming the Postal Service, Democrats say, though postal leadership says it just needs more time. https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/04/senators-call-postal-board-abandon-dejoys-usps-reforms/396048/

 

Can Biden fire US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy? https://www.federaltimes.com/federal-oversight/2022/08/24/can-biden-fire-us-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy/

 

If You Can Keep It: Voting By Mail (1A) https://the1a.org/guests/amber-mcreynolds/

 

82 House Democrats Urge Biden to Name Postal Board Nominees to “Protect and Expand” a Public USPS on letter endorsed by 36 public-interest groups

https://takeonwallst.com/2024/02/82-democratic-members-of-congress-urge-biden-to-name-postal-board-nominees-to-protect-and-expand-a-public-usps-endorsed-by-36-public-interest-groups/

 

Watch Live: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy grilled at Senate hearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba0pak1UOCo

 

Musk buying votes in swing states https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna176075

 

See you this Wednesday for our phone bank party with Sister District at 6pm ET – we’re calling into must-win Arizona! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/