Today Antoinette takes us on a deep-dive into the history of the USPS, a vital American institution in financial peril. She focuses on the wild 2006 law that, in addition to COVID-19, has been the reason for many of the post office's recent troubles.Before jumping back into USPS-land, Antoinette and Lucas first discuss the big Texas news of the week - Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing various businesses, including restaurants and malls, to open at 25% capacity on Friday - and ask of the governor the age-old question: #WhereAreTheTests? We'll discuss why Abbott made this move in our Thursday episode, but offer a little speculation in this one.Next, Antoinette takes listeners through a brief history of the United States Postal Service, an American institution in economic distress, and one that the Trump administration is refusing to help during this pandemic. This despite the fact that many of the post office's economic woes are due to a nonsensical 2006 law that requires it to "fully fund its' retirees' health benefits 75 years into the future."The good news? There are actions we can take today to save the post office: 1. HR 2382, the USPS Fairness Act, repeals the absurd pre-funding requirement and has already made it through the House. Unfortunately, it is now languishing in the Senate. Call both of your senators and ask them to take up this bill now. Let them know that the USPS is essential to our country and to our democracy.2. Call your Congressperson and tell them that you support coronavirus relief for the USPS. 3. If you have the means, keep buying those stamps. Together, let's save this (constitutionally-mandated!) American institution. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

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