For the Record: So many conspiracies

View this email in your browser Brought to you by USATODAY.com So, we were all excited to answer humanity's greatest election questions today, like where Bernie Sanders stands on Puerto Rico (put statehood to a vote, he says) or whether we think Ted Cruz really is the Zodiac Killer (no, but the conspiracy theory is interesting). But we decided to give it time to get more questions, because we know there is no way this election makes total sense to everyone. So, drop us a line with what you want to know. Seriously. THIS WON'T HELP THEIR CASE The Secret Service more or less said, "Um, no," to a shadowy petition with 45,000 signatures (and growing) that would allow firearms at the Republican National Convention - and that was before shots were fired near the Capitol . Now, we're pretty certain their response will be, "Oh hell no." Police said a Tennessee man appeared to raise his firearm Monday as he walked into the Capitol Visitors Center; he was quickly shot by law enforcement. A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE For anyone in a state that experienced mile-long lines and polling places without ballots, this is probably a "duh" result: A Gallup poll found that 30 percent of Republicans nationally think the election process is working as it should, down from 46 percent the month before. Democrats were slightly more confident (32 percent), a figure unchanged from February. So, exactly how angry are voters? A raucous crowd packed an Arizona Capitol hearing Monday after polling places in the Phoenix area were slashed to save money, creating five-hour waits for many voters. People mocked elections officials, alleged minority voter suppression and demanded an Election Day do-over. HOW TO FIGHT THE POWER? Would Bernie Sanders be more likely to win if he'd run as an independent? Ralph Nader - the Green Party candidate most credited (blamed?) with handing George W. Bush the 2000 election - describes the party shenanigans and media bias he faced, which made it all but impossible to mount a serious nationwide campaign. Nader writes in the Chicago Tribune that Sanders had to run as a Democrat in order to avoid becoming a "complete political masochist." Meanwhile, current Green Party candidate Jill Stein tells NBC News that third-party candidates can be even more viable this year, given the rise of Donald Trump. She shares most of Sanders' positions and thinks that if she was able to work with him, they'd easily defeat the Hillary menace. Sanders hasn't returned her call. MORE FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL • Can Donald Trump win in November? He's fighting against demographics - and it's really hard to change those (Real Clear Politics) • Guess he's not banking on a Scott Walker endorsement: John Kasich pulls some Wisconsin ads, saves cash for East Coast states (USA TODAY) • First Mitt Romney, now John Kerry says this year's election is "an embarrassment" for the U.S. globally (The Guardian) • How worried are business leaders about the election? Sort of, kind of, but not when it comes to staffing decisions (CFO.com) AND IN MORE CONSPIRACY NEWS The Interwebs are a strange place where people with way too much time share the most, um, interesting ideas. Consider the number of conspiracy theories out there on the 2016 election, and Ted Cruz being a serial killer isn't the weirdest of them. There are so many conspiracy theories that Ranker up- and down-voted the ones most likely to occur. At the top: Attack of the Syrian refugees. Invite others to enjoy For the Record newsletter. Thank you for subscribing to the For the Record. Got some feedback, a tip or just want to say hello? Email us at newsletters@e.usatoday.com. USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Unsubscribe from the For the Record Why did I get this? Update my subscription preferences USA TODAY 7950 Jones Branch Drive McLean, VA 22102

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