thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Tropical Storm Eta Floods Already Drenched Florida Cities

It was the 28th named storm in a busy hurricane season , and the first to make landfall in Florida .
This year tied the record with 2005 , when Hurricanes Katrina , Rita and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast .
But that was before Theta formed late Monday night over the northeast Atlantic , becoming the basin ’ s 29th named storm to eclipse the 2005 record .
After striking Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane and killing nearly 70 people from Mexico to Panama , Eta swept over South Florida , then moved Monday into the Gulf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea , with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph ( 85 kph ) .
“ It ’ s very bad .
In the last 20 years , I ’ ve never seen anything like that , ” said Tito Carvalho , who owns a car stereo business in Fort Lauderdale and estimated the water was 3 feet ( less than a meter ) deep in some places .
Some items in his business were damaged from the flooding , he added .
“ It was far worse than we could ’ ve ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Arbie Walker , a 27-year-old student whose Fort Lauderdale apartment was filled with 5 or 6 inches ( 13 to 15 centimeters ) of water .
As much as 16 inches ( 40.6 centimeters ) of rain damaged one of the state ’ s largest COVID-19 testing sites , at Miami-Dade County ’ s Hard Rock Stadium , officials said .
Throughout the pandemic , it has been one of the busiest places for people to get a coronavirus diagnosis .
The site was expected to be closed until Wednesday or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Miami-Dade , Broward and Palm Beach counties managed by the state government closed on Sunday and Monday due to the storm .
At least seven testing sites were to remain closed Tuesday .
Forecasters said Eta ’ s system is likely to weaken as it slowly moves up the southwest Gulf Coast , but some models show it strengthening into a larger storm .
It is just far enough offshore to maintain a bit of strength while dumping vast amounts of water across the lower third of the Florida peninsula .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but forecasts beyond 72 hours were unclear .
In Key Biscayne , an island off Miami , some streets were flooded and tree branches knocked down .
Rose Haney , 64 , had collected sandbags in preparation for Eta , but the waters only came up to her driveway and did not enter her home .
“ There are a lot of people with their doors open , getting furniture up to higher ground and trying to get water out of their homes , ” Barry said .
“ Everyone is helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once the ground becomes saturated , there ’ s really no place for the water to go , ” Trantalis said .
“ It ’ s not like a major hurricane .
It ’ s more of a rain event , and we ’ re just doing our best to ensure that the people in our community are being protected.
” Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said on Twitter that Floridians should monitor the storm over the coming days .
While this storm has moved offshore , it could still bring dangerous conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this week , ” he tweeted .
Nearly a week after Eta crashed ashore in Nicaragua , authorities from Panama to Guatemala have reported more than 100 dead and an even higher number of missing .
Extensive flooding and landslides have affected hundreds of thousands of people in countries already struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic .

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Cities in South Florida mopped up after Tropical Storm Eta flooded some urban areas with a deluge that swamped entire neighborhoods and filled some homes with rising water that did not drain for hours.
It was the 28th named storm in a busy hurricane season, and the first to make landfall in Florida. This year tied the record with 2005, when Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast. But that was before Theta formed late Monday night over the northeast Atlantic, becoming the basin’s 29th named storm to eclipse the 2005 record.
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A commuter drives in floodwaters caused by Tropical Storm Eta in Davie, Florida. Marco Bello / Reuters
After striking Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane and killing nearly 70 people from Mexico to Panama, Eta swept over South Florida, then moved Monday into the Gulf of Mexico near where the Everglades meet the sea, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).
Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, was among the harder hit areas.
“It’s very bad. In the last 20 years, I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Tito Carvalho, who owns a car stereo business in Fort Lauderdale and estimated the water was 3 feet (less than a meter) deep in some places. Some items in his business were damaged from the flooding, he added.
Firefighters pulled a person from a car that had driven into a canal Sunday night in Lauderhill, north of Miami. The patient was hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.
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“It was far worse than we could’ve ever imagined, and we were prepared,” said Arbie Walker, a 27-year-old student whose Fort Lauderdale apartment was filled with 5 or 6 inches (13 to 15 centimeters) of water.
“It took us 20 minutes to navigate out of our neighborhood due to the heavy flooding in our area,” Walker added. Floodwaters also submerged half of his sister’s car.
As much as 16 inches (40.6 centimeters) of rain damaged one of the state’s largest COVID-19 testing sites, at Miami-Dade County’s Hard Rock Stadium, officials said. Throughout the pandemic, it has been one of the busiest places for people to get a coronavirus diagnosis. The site was expected to be closed until Wednesday or Thursday.
All of the testing sites in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties managed by the state government closed on Sunday and Monday due to the storm. At least seven testing sites were to remain closed Tuesday.
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Eta hit land late Sunday as it blew over Lower Matecumbe, in the middle of the chain of small islands that form the Keys.
Forecasters said Eta’s system is likely to weaken as it slowly moves up the southwest Gulf Coast, but some models show it strengthening into a larger storm. It is just far enough offshore to maintain a bit of strength while dumping vast amounts of water across the lower third of the Florida peninsula. It did show signs of weakening Monday afternoon, but forecasts beyond 72 hours were unclear.
In Key Biscayne, an island off Miami, some streets were flooded and tree branches knocked down. Rose Haney, 64, had collected sandbags in preparation for Eta, but the waters only came up to her driveway and did not enter her home.
“There’s puddles everywhere,” Haney said. “You can’t really drive on every street here.”
A banyan tree fell on a house in Key Largo, causing minor injuries, said Fire Chief Don Bock. He said the storm knocked down a few other trees, and scattered power lines were down.
Lemay Acosta pulls his daughter Layla, 2, and dog Buster on a boat as they tour his flooded neighborhood in Plantation, Fla., on Monday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Randi Barry, 36, also woke up Monday to flooded streets outside her home in Fort Lauderdale, and joined her neighbors in helping people whose cars were stuck in high water.
“There are a lot of people with their doors open, getting furniture up to higher ground and trying to get water out of their homes,” Barry said. “Everyone is helping each other out a lot.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis called it a 100-year rain event.
“Once the ground becomes saturated, there’s really no place for the water to go,” Trantalis said. “It’s not like a major hurricane. It’s more of a rain event, and we’re just doing our best to ensure that the people in our community are being protected.”
A tractor-trailer was left dangling off the elevated Palmetto Expressway in Miami, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The driver lost control on the wet, slick road and suffered minor injuries, CBS 4 in Miami reported.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Twitter that Floridians should monitor the storm over the coming days. While this storm has moved offshore, it could still bring dangerous conditions to the Gulf Coast at the end of this week,” he tweeted.
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In Cuba, Eta continued to swell rivers and flood coastal zones. Some 25,000 people were evacuated with no reports of deaths, but rainfall continued, with total accumulations of up to 25 inches (63 centimeters) predicted.
Nearly a week after Eta crashed ashore in Nicaragua, authorities from Panama to Guatemala have reported more than 100 dead and an even higher number of missing. Extensive flooding and landslides have affected hundreds of thousands of people in countries already struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Thousands of miles (kilometers) away in the northeast Atlantic, Theta late Monday became the 29th named storm of the basin’s 2020 season. Forecasters said it had developed about 995 miles (1,600 kilometers) southwest of the Azores, packing top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph). That system was moving to the east at 15 mph (24 kph) and posed no immediate threat to land.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Stephen Colbert Reveals What He’s Most Looking Forward To When Trump Leaves Office

“ Late Show ” host Stephen Colbert said he was emotional when he learned on Saturday that President-elect Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump in last week ’ s election .
“ I sat down and just started crying with relief and Evie said , ‘ You never have to talk about him again , ’ ” Colbert said , referring to his wife , Evelyn McGee-Colbert .
“ And then I cried with joy.
” Colbert also said there were some things he was looking forward to once Trump finally leaves town .
“ For the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to shift our collective focus away from him and onto anything else , ” he said .
“ Maybe each other , wouldn ’ t that be nice ?
” Colbert said people might even be nicer again , including himself .
“ One of the things I ’ ve found about this job is that I tend to reflect back the national tone ― and that tone comes from the top , ” he said .
“ This is entirely my responsibility : I ’ ve done harsher jokes than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire life , ” Colbert added .
“ This is why they say don ’ t wrestle with a pig because you ’ ll both get filthy and the pig likes it .
”

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“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert said he was emotional when he learned on Saturday that President-elect Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump in last week’s election.
“I sat down and just started crying with relief and Evie said, ‘You never have to talk about him again,’” Colbert said, referring to his wife, Evelyn McGee-Colbert. “And then I cried with joy.”
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Colbert also said there were some things he was looking forward to once Trump finally leaves town.
“For the first time in four years, we’ll be able to shift our collective focus away from him and onto anything else,” he said. “Maybe each other, wouldn’t that be nice?”
Colbert said people might even be nicer again, including himself.
“One of the things I’ve found about this job is that I tend to reflect back the national tone ― and that tone comes from the top,” he said.
“This is entirely my responsibility: I’ve done harsher jokes than I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Colbert added. “This is why they say don’t wrestle with a pig because you’ll both get filthy and the pig likes it.”
See his full monologue below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--U.S. Reports 1 Million New Virus Cases In First 10 Days Of November Alone

NEW YORK ( AP ) — The U.S. has surpassed 1 million new confirmed coronavirus cases in just the first 10 days of November , with more than 100,000 infections each day becoming the norm in a surge that shows no signs of slowing .
The 1 million milestone came as governors across the nation are making increasingly desperate pleas with the public to take the fight against the virus more seriously .
The Wisconsin governor planned to take the unusual step of delivering a live address to the state Tuesday , urging unity and cooperation to fight COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. looks bigger and is more widespread than the surges that happened in the spring , mainly in the Northeast , and then in the summer , primarily in the Sun Belt .
But experts say there are also reasons to think the nation is better able to deal with the virus this time around .
While deaths are still well below the U.S. peak of about 2,200 per day back in April , some researchers estimate the nation ’ s overall toll will hit about 400,000 by Feb. 1 , up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how to treat severe cases , meaning higher percentages of the COVID-19 patients who go into intensive care units are coming out alive .
Patients have the benefit of new treatments , namely remdesivir , the steroid dexamethasone and an antibody drug that won emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday .
Also , testing is more widely available .
And there ’ s a change pending in the White House , with President-elect Joe Biden vowing to rely on a highly respected set of medical advisers and carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say includes the kind of measures that will be necessary to bring the surge under control .
“ I am relieved to see he ’ s already put some of the smartest scientific minds on his new coronavirus task force and that they are acting urgently to try and get the pandemic under control as quickly as possible.
” While the first surge in the Northeast caught many Americans unprepared and cut an especially deadly swath through nursing homes , the second crest along the nation ’ s Southern and Western rim was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among young adults over Memorial Day and July Fourth , and hot weather that sent people indoors , where the virus spreads more easily .
Other factors could contribute to the spread of the virus in the coming weeks : Last weekend saw big street celebrations and protests over the election .
On Saturday night , an upset victory by Notre Dame ’ s football team sent thousands of students swarming onto the field , many without masks .
Meanwhile , the next two months will see a lame-duck Congress and a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before to enact disease-control measures .
Those voted out of office or no longer worried about reelection for at least two more years , “ are not going to be motivated to do a fantastic job , ” Hanage said .

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NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. has surpassed 1 million new confirmed coronavirus cases in just the first 10 days of November, with more than 100,000 infections each day becoming the norm in a surge that shows no signs of slowing.
The 1 million milestone came as governors across the nation are making increasingly desperate pleas with the public to take the fight against the virus more seriously. The Wisconsin governor planned to take the unusual step of delivering a live address to the state Tuesday, urging unity and cooperation to fight COVID-19.
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Minnesota’s governor ordered bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m., and Iowa’s governor said she will require masks at indoor gatherings of 25 or more people, inching toward more stringent measures after months of holding out.
The alarming wave of cases across the U.S. looks bigger and is more widespread than the surges that happened in the spring, mainly in the Northeast, and then in the summer, primarily in the Sun Belt. But experts say there are also reasons to think the nation is better able to deal with the virus this time around.
“We’re definitely in a better place” when it comes to improved medical tools and knowledge, said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious-disease researcher.
Newly confirmed infections in the U.S. are running at all-time highs of well over 100,000 per day, pushing the running total to more than 10 million and eclipsing 1 million since Halloween.
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Several states posted records Tuesday, including more than 12,000 new cases in Illinois, 7,000 in Wisconsin and 6,500 in Ohio.
Deaths — a lagging indicator, since it takes time for people to get sick and die — are climbing again, reaching an average of more than 930 a day.
Hospitals are getting slammed. And unlike the earlier outbreaks, this one is not confined to a region or two. Cases are on the rise in 49 states.
“The virus is spreading in a largely uncontrolled fashion across the vast majority of the country,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-disease expert at Vanderbilt University.
While deaths are still well below the U.S. peak of about 2,200 per day back in April, some researchers estimate the nation’s overall toll will hit about 400,000 by Feb. 1, up from about 240,000 now.
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But there is also some good news.
Doctors now better know how to treat severe cases, meaning higher percentages of the COVID-19 patients who go into intensive care units are coming out alive. Patients have the benefit of new treatments, namely remdesivir, the steroid dexamethasone and an antibody drug that won emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. Also, testing is more widely available.
In addition, a vaccine appears to be on the horizon, perhaps around the end of the year, with Pfizer this week reporting early results showing that its experimental shots are a surprising 90% effective at preventing the disease.
And there’s a change pending in the White House, with President-elect Joe Biden vowing to rely on a highly respected set of medical advisers and carry out a detailed coronavirus plan that experts say includes the kind of measures that will be necessary to bring the surge under control.
Biden pledged during the campaign to be guided by science, make testing free and widely available, hire thousands of health workers to undertake contact-tracing, and instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide clear, expert advice.
“We are already seeing encouraging signs from President-elect Biden with regard to his handling of COVID-19,” said Dr. Kelly Henning, a veteran epidemiologist who heads the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ public health programs.
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“I am relieved to see he’s already put some of the smartest scientific minds on his new coronavirus task force and that they are acting urgently to try and get the pandemic under control as quickly as possible.”
While the first surge in the Northeast caught many Americans unprepared and cut an especially deadly swath through nursing homes, the second crest along the nation’s Southern and Western rim was attributed mostly to heedless behavior, particularly among young adults over Memorial Day and July Fourth, and hot weather that sent people indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.
The fall surge similarly has been blamed largely on cold weather driving people inside and disdain for masks and social distancing, stoked by President Donald Trump and other politicians.
Even in parts of the country that have been through coronavirus surges before, “you see people breaking out of it” and letting their guard down, Schaffner said.
“There really is COVID fatigue that is blending into COVID annoyance,” he said.
The short-term outlook is grim, with colder weather and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s ahead. Generations of family members gathering indoors for meals for extended periods “is not a recipe for anything good,” Hanage said.
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Other factors could contribute to the spread of the virus in the coming weeks: Last weekend saw big street celebrations and protests over the election. On Saturday night, an upset victory by Notre Dame’s football team sent thousands of students swarming onto the field, many without masks.
Meanwhile, the next two months will see a lame-duck Congress and a president who might be even less inclined than before to enact disease-control measures. Those voted out of office or no longer worried about reelection for at least two more years, “are not going to be motivated to do a fantastic job,” Hanage said.
Experts are increasingly alarmed about the virus’s resurgence in places like Massachusetts, which has seen a dramatic rise in cases since Labor Day, blamed largely on young people socializing.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker is warning that the health care system could become overwhelmed this winter, and he recently ordered restaurants to stop table service, required many businesses to close by 9:30 p.m., and instructed residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Brooke Nichols, a professor and infectious-disease mathematical modeler at Boston University School of Public Health, said the governor’s actions don’t go far enough.
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“Right now because of the exponential growth, throw the kitchen sink at this, and then you can do it for not as long,” Nichols said.
Meanwhile, political leaders in a number of newer coronavirus hot spots are doing less. In hard-hit South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem has made it clear she will not institute a mask requirement and has voiced doubt in health experts who say face coverings prevent infections from spreading.
Even higher case and death rates have been seen in North Dakota, where many people have refused to wear masks. Gov. Doug Burgum has pleaded with people to do so, and praised local towns and cities that have mandated masks. But he has avoided requiring masks himself.
Both Noem and Burgum are Republicans and have taken positions in line with those of the president.
“It would be simplistic to say it’s a Red-vs.-a-Blue experience, but it does kind of go along party lines of whether people took it seriously, tried to prevent it and took painful measures, versus those who said, ‘Let it rip,’” said Dr. Howard Markel, a public health historian at the University of Michigan.
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Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Douglas Emhoff, Kamala Harris' Husband, Leaves Job At Law Firm

Nov 10 ( Reuters ) - Douglas Emhoff , the husband of U.S. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris , will leave his job at one of the country ’ s largest law firms by January to focus on supporting the incoming Biden administration , a campaign representative said on Tuesday .
Emhoff took a leave of absence from the law firm , DLA Piper , in August , after now President-elect Joe Biden , a Democrat , named Harris as his running mate .
Biden , who faced off againstPresident Donald Trump , on Nov. 3 , captured the presidency on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday said Emhoff willsever all ties with DLA Piper by Inauguration Day , Jan. 20,2021 .
Emhoff joined DLA Piper from the law firm Venable LLP in 2017 .
His clients have included the makers of the movie “ American Made ” and National Football League wide receiver Willie Gault , as well as corporations Merck and Walmart , court records show .
Harris and Emhoff have been married since 2014 , when she was serving as California ’ s attorney general .
She became a U.S .
Senator for California in 2017 @

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Nov 10 (Reuters) - Douglas Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, will leave his job at one of the country’s largest law firms by January to focus on supporting the incoming Biden administration, a campaign representative said on Tuesday.
Emhoff took a leave of absence from the law firm, DLA Piper, in August, after now President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat, named Harris as his running mate. Biden, who faced off againstPresident Donald Trump, on Nov. 3, captured the presidency on Saturday.
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A Biden campaign representative on Tuesday said Emhoff willsever all ties with DLA Piper by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20,2021.
Emhoff joined DLA Piper from the law firm Venable LLP in 2017.
His clients have included the makers of the movie “American Made” and National Football League wide receiver Willie Gault, as well as corporations Merck and Walmart, court records show.
Harris and Emhoff have been married since 2014, when she was serving as California’s attorney general. She became a U.S. Senator for California in 2017.
(Reporting by Caroline Spiezio, Editing by David Bario, Noeleen Walder)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--New Study Shows COVID-19 May Also Lead To Mental Health Disorders

COVID-19 already has been linked to an assortment of alarming long-term physical health effects , and now a new study illuminates what the virus can also do to a person ’ s brain .
A report in the medical journal The Lancet found that those diagnosed with COVID-19 are at a greater risk for developing mental health disorders .
The data suggests that 1 in 5 patients who survived the illness will receive a mental health diagnosis within roughly three months of getting the infection .
Researchers from Oxford University in the U.K. examined the health records for 69 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than 62,000 had contracted the coronavirus .
The scientists discovered that an estimated 20 % of those with COVID-19 were also diagnosed with a psychiatric illness for the first time ― all within 90 days of getting sick .
This was double the likelihood of patients in other groups who were not diagnosed with the coronavirus .
The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental health condition were 65 % more likely to have COVID-19 .
The research had some limitations .
The health records examined did not include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors .
Given how much of a role demographics play in mental health outcomes , that could affect the results of the study , according to the researchers .
It ’ s also unknown who made the mental health diagnoses .
Doctors or mental health care providers may be more attuned to patients with COVID-19 compared with other illnesses right now , which may have led to a quicker and more accurate mental health assessment .
( It ’ s notoriously difficult to get an accurate mental health diagnosis normally ; the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases . )
That said , the researchers stressed that the results highlight the need to investigate how COVID-19 affects a person ’ s mind .
Data collected so far clearly indicates a mind-body connection when it comes to COVID-19 .
“ We need to understand how integral mental health is to the conversation of COVID , COVID recovery and COVID management , ” said Jessica Gold , an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St Louis who was not affiliated with the study .
“ Mental health experts need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward , ” Gold said .
“ We also need to realize and acknowledge that mental illness is real , valid and as worthy of talking about as physical illness .
In fact , as this study suggests , it is both caused by physical illness and a risk factor for it.
” Therapists have also expressed concerns over the pandemic ’ s toll on people ’ s mental health .
Post-traumatic stress syndrome , loneliness , situational depression and anxiety caused by uncertainty are all increasing , and experts expect to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people this winter .
“ We are already living in a time when our mental health is particularly strained .
We are seeing high rates of mental illness across the board ― in multiple populations ― and this only adds another hit , another risk , another compounder to the mix for an already vulnerable population , ” Gold said .
“ We need to take this data seriously because we do not and have never had enough resources to manage this much mental health need , ” she continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this study suggests the need for mental health care will only continue to climb as well.
” Experts are still learning about COVID-19 .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication , but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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COVID-19 already has been linked to an assortment of alarming long-term physical health effects, and now a new study illuminates what the virus can also do to a person’s brain.
A report in the medical journal The Lancet found that those diagnosed with COVID-19 are at a greater risk for developing mental health disorders. The data suggests that 1 in 5 patients who survived the illness will receive a mental health diagnosis within roughly three months of getting the infection.
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The most common conditions experts have seen include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, insomnia and dementia.
Researchers from Oxford University in the U.K. examined the health records for 69 million people in the U.S. Of that group, more than 62,000 had contracted the coronavirus.
The scientists discovered that an estimated 20% of those with COVID-19 were also diagnosed with a psychiatric illness for the first time ― all within 90 days of getting sick. This was double the likelihood of patients in other groups who were not diagnosed with the coronavirus. The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental health condition were 65% more likely to have COVID-19.
The research had some limitations. The health records examined did not include identifying information, including social and economic factors. Given how much of a role demographics play in mental health outcomes, that could affect the results of the study, according to the researchers.
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It’s also unknown who made the mental health diagnoses. Doctors or mental health care providers may be more attuned to patients with COVID-19 compared with other illnesses right now, which may have led to a quicker and more accurate mental health assessment. (It’s notoriously difficult to get an accurate mental health diagnosis normally; the process can take up to 10 years in some cases.)
Jolygon via Getty Images Researchers say more work needs to be done to understand all the ways COVID-19 can affect a person's mental health.
That said, the researchers stressed that the results highlight the need to investigate how COVID-19 affects a person’s mind. Data collected so far clearly indicates a mind-body connection when it comes to COVID-19.
Other research has found that COVID-19 could age the brain and lead to other cognitive issues; patients have also anecdotally reported experiencing mental health side effects like hallucinations.
This information doesn’t come as a shock to psychiatrists, who deeply understand the ways mental and physical health can be so interconnected.
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“We need to understand how integral mental health is to the conversation of COVID, COVID recovery and COVID management,” said Jessica Gold, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St Louis who was not affiliated with the study.
“Mental health experts need to be advising on COVID plans moving forward,” Gold said. “We also need to realize and acknowledge that mental illness is real, valid and as worthy of talking about as physical illness. In fact, as this study suggests, it is both caused by physical illness and a risk factor for it.”
Therapists have also expressed concerns over the pandemic’s toll on people’s mental health. Post-traumatic stress syndrome, loneliness, situational depression and anxiety caused by uncertainty are all increasing, and experts expect to see these issues develop more in a larger number of people this winter.
“We are already living in a time when our mental health is particularly strained. We are seeing high rates of mental illness across the board ― in multiple populations ― and this only adds another hit, another risk, another compounder to the mix for an already vulnerable population,” Gold said.
“We need to take this data seriously because we do not and have never had enough resources to manage this much mental health need,” she continued. “And with climbing COVID rates, this study suggests the need for mental health care will only continue to climb as well.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Fauci: High-Priority Coronavirus Vaccine Doses May Be Available By December

Dr. Anthony Fauci said he expects that doses of Pfizer ’ s coronavirus vaccine will be available for high-priority recipients as early as December after tests showed “ impressive ” results this week .
In an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday , the nation ’ s top infectious diseases expert said he expects that the U.S. pharmaceutical company will request and secure an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration within the next week and a half .
The authorization will allow for the distribution of the vaccine in the United States during the public health crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of the data , that that should go through smoothly that by the time we get into December , we will be able to have doses available for people who are judged to be at the highest priority to get it first , ” he said .
NEW : Dr. Fauci says `` impressive nature of the data '' shows the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine emergency use authorization `` should go through smoothly '' , adds `` by the time we get into December , we 'll be able to have doses available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the highest priority . ''
pic.twitter.com/H0fUU7YfD9 — MSNBC ( @ MSNBC ) November 10 , 2020 His optimistic timeline follows Pfizer releasing early test results on Monday that showed its vaccine may be 90 % effective at preventing COVID-19 .
Though high-priority doses may become available this year , public health officials do not expect that a vaccine will be widely available in the United States until 2021 .
In a press briefing last month , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he expects that by early April , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans who would want to take a vaccine.
” At least 10 other potential vaccine candidates are in late-stage clinical trials around the world .
Moderna Inc. , a U.S. company , has said that it also hopes to file an emergency use authorization application with the FDA later this month .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci said he expects that doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine will be available for high-priority recipients as early as December after tests showed “impressive” results this week.
In an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said he expects that the U.S. pharmaceutical company will request and secure an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration within the next week and a half. The authorization will allow for the distribution of the vaccine in the United States during the public health crisis.
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“I believe, with the impressive nature of the data, that that should go through smoothly that by the time we get into December, we will be able to have doses available for people who are judged to be at the highest priority to get it first,” he said.
NEW: Dr. Fauci says "impressive nature of the data" shows the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine emergency use authorization "should go through smoothly", adds "by the time we get into December, we'll be able to have doses available for people who are judged to be at the highest priority." pic.twitter.com/H0fUU7YfD9 — MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 10, 2020
His optimistic timeline follows Pfizer releasing early test results on Monday that showed its vaccine may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19.
Though high-priority doses may become available this year, public health officials do not expect that a vaccine will be widely available in the United States until 2021.
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In a press briefing last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he expects that by early April, there will be “enough vaccine for all Americans who would want to take a vaccine.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Obamacare Lawsuit Gets Skeptical Reception At The Supreme Court

It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the act in place .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh during oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act But legal analysts from across the political spectrum thought the statements were hints at how Roberts and Kavanaugh would likely vote .
And that could save the remainder of the Affordable Care Act , given that the three Democratic appointees on the bench are also expected to vote to uphold the rest of the law , even if the mandate itself comes off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t clear where they stand on the constitutionality of the mandate , based on their questions today ― which of course can not predict anything with certainty ― it seems likely they would vote to uphold the rest of the ACA even if the mandate is struck down , ” Abbe Gluck , a Yale University law professor , told HuffPost .
“ The consequences of the Trump administration ’ s argument are not academic or an abstraction , ” Biden added .
“ For many Americans , they ’ re a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a literal sense .
This argument will determine whether health care coverage of more than 20 million Americans who acquired it under the Affordable Care Act will be ripped away in the middle of the nation ’ s worst pandemic in a century.
” That was the end of that particular issue until 2017 , when Trump and the Republican Congress reduced the penalty to zero as part of a tax bill .
The new lawsuit contends that the 2017 change means the mandate , whose language remains part of the statute , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , as a result , both it and the rest of the law are unconstitutional .
Congress left the rest of the law intact .
... That seems to be compelling evidence on the question .
Chief Justice John Roberts , pointing to the 2017 law that ended the individual mandate 's penalty The Republicans challenging the Affordable Care Act say the entire law is now invalid because its component parts are so interconnected ― and because that is what Congress would have wanted .
They base this argument , in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress issued a finding that the mandate was essential for some other parts of the law to work .
But in 2017 , Congress understood that the rest of the law would remain in place when it zeroed out the mandate ’ s penalty and did so anyway .
Democrats have said that ’ s the most relevant indicator of congressional intent , as Donald Verrilli , the former U.S. solicitor general now representing the U.S. House , argued during his portion of oral argument on Tuesday .
Kavanaugh , for his part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principle that courts should start with a presumption of severability ― i.e.
, that the rest of a law can survive when one part is found to be unconstitutional .
He raised it three separate times , the last in a question to acting U.S .
Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall , who was arguing on behalf of the Trump administration .
Other Issues Came Up Too It wasn ’ t clear whether other justices were inclined to agree .
But practically speaking , it won ’ t matter as long as there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law regardless of the mandate ’ s constitutionality .
The Affordable Care Act will then keep functioning like it does today .

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A challenge to the Affordable Care Act got a relatively hostile reaction at a virtual Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, offering hope for the millions of people who depend upon the law for their health care.
In oral arguments, both Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed skepticism about a key argument in the lawsuit ― specifically, that if one part of the Obamacare law is unconstitutional, then the entire law has to come off the books.
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In this case, according to the plaintiffs, the fatal constitutional flaw is the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate,” which in the original statute imposed a financial penalty on people who don’t get health insurance. A 2017 tax law passed by a GOP-controlled Congress reduced the penalty to zero.
The plaintiffs, who are Republican attorneys general representing 18 states, say that eliminating the fine turned the mandate into a coercive command ― and that, as a result, all of Obamacare has to go. The Trump administration is backing their lawsuit.
Democratic officials representing 20 states and the District of Columbia, along with the U.S. House, are defending the law. They dispute the idea that the mandate is now a coercive, unconstitutional command.
But even if the mandate is now unconstitutional, they say, the rest of the Affordable Care Act can stand. And during oral arguments on Tuesday, both Roberts and Kavanaugh made statements suggesting they agree.
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“It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the act in place,” Kavanaugh said to Kyle Hawkins, the Texas solicitor general arguing to strike the law down.
Questions from the justices don’t always indicate how they will later vote, in part because justices sometimes change their minds.
“It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the act in place.” - Justice Brett Kavanaugh during oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act
But legal analysts from across the political spectrum thought the statements were hints at how Roberts and Kavanaugh would likely vote. And that could save the remainder of the Affordable Care Act, given that the three Democratic appointees on the bench are also expected to vote to uphold the rest of the law, even if the mandate itself comes off the books.
“While it isn’t clear where they stand on the constitutionality of the mandate, based on their questions today ― which of course cannot predict anything with certainty ― it seems likely they would vote to uphold the rest of the ACA even if the mandate is struck down,” Abbe Gluck, a Yale University law professor, told HuffPost.
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“The argument made clear the plaintiffs’ attempt to upend the ACA will fail,” said Jonathan Adler, a Case Western University law professor who supported previous challenges to the Affordable Care Act. “The only question is ‘how.’ There seemed to be five solid votes for severability of the mandate as both the Chief Justice and Justice Kavanaugh expressed profound skepticism of plaintiffs’ claims here.”
“The Chief and Justice Kavanaugh are both expressing strong skepticism of the red states’ position on severability,” Joseph Palmore, a former assistant to the U.S. solicitor general who is now co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Supreme Court practice group, wrote on Twitter. “If they stick with that position, the #ACA will survive.”
Big Stakes And Hostile Questions
The stakes of the lawsuit, now called California v. Texas, are enormous.
If it prevails, roughly 21 million people could lose insurance because funding for expanded Medicaid and private insurance subsidies would vanish. Protections for people with preexisting conditions would also go away, while the entire health care system would be plunged into chaos because the law has such broad sweep.
Although President Donald Trump has said he hopes the challenge to the Affordable Care Act succeeds, Republicans have mostly distanced themselves from it. Democrats, for their part, have been highly critical of the case. That includes President-elect Joe Biden, who on Tuesday called the GOP-led lawsuit “cruel and needlessly divisive,” particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“This case represents the latest attempt by the far-right ideologues to do what they repeatedly failed to do for a long time in the courts, the Congress, the court of public opinion for the last decade: to eliminate the entirety of the Affordable Care Act,” Biden said during a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware.
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“The consequences of the Trump administration’s argument are not academic or an abstraction,” Biden added. “For many Americans, they’re a matter of life and death, in a literal sense. This argument will determine whether health care coverage of more than 20 million Americans who acquired it under the Affordable Care Act will be ripped away in the middle of the nation’s worst pandemic in a century.”
The health care law has already survived two Supreme Court challenges. The first one, from 2012, focused on the same underlying issue in Tuesday’s case: the individual mandate. Writing for a 5-4 majority, Roberts upheld the mandate on the grounds that it was a constitutionally permissible use of the federal government’s power to levy taxes.
That was the end of that particular issue until 2017, when Trump and the Republican Congress reduced the penalty to zero as part of a tax bill. The new lawsuit contends that the 2017 change means the mandate, whose language remains part of the statute, is no longer a tax ― and that, as a result, both it and the rest of the law are unconstitutional.
A large, ideologically broad chorus of legal experts have said the latest case lacks merit. And the aspect of the lawsuit that has drawn the most criticism is the same one that attracted so much scrutiny on Tuesday: the issue of severability.
“Congress left the rest of the law intact. ... That seems to be compelling evidence on the question.” - Chief Justice John Roberts, pointing to the 2017 law that ended the individual mandate's penalty
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The Republicans challenging the Affordable Care Act say the entire law is now invalid because its component parts are so interconnected ― and because that is what Congress would have wanted. They base this argument, in part, on the fact that in 2010 Congress issued a finding that the mandate was essential for some other parts of the law to work.
But in 2017, Congress understood that the rest of the law would remain in place when it zeroed out the mandate’s penalty and did so anyway. Democrats have said that’s the most relevant indicator of congressional intent, as Donald Verrilli, the former U.S. solicitor general now representing the U.S. House, argued during his portion of oral argument on Tuesday.
Verrilli pointed out that by 2017, Congress could see that the Affordable Care Act’s new insurance markets would work even without a penalty in place. “Congress is allowed to learn from empirical experience in the world and adjust its policy choices,” Verrilli said.
A few minutes later, in a question to Hawkins, the chief justice signaled that he agreed.
“I think it’s hard for you to argue that Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate were struck down,” Roberts said. “Congress left the rest of the law intact. ... That seems to be compelling evidence on the question.”
Kavanaugh, for his part, kept coming back to the broader principle that courts should start with a presumption of severability ― i.e., that the rest of a law can survive when one part is found to be unconstitutional. He raised it three separate times, the last in a question to acting U.S. Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, who was arguing on behalf of the Trump administration.
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“We have a strong background presumption of severability, which reflects a long-standing understanding of how Congress works and our respect for Congress’ legislative role,” Kavanaugh said.
Other Issues Came Up Too
When questioning the Affordable Care Act’s defenders, the justices spent the bulk of their time on the matter of whether the plaintiffs ― the Republican states ― have “standing” to sue. There was also discussion of the merits of the argument on the mandate ― that is, whether it’s an unconstitutional command now that the penalty is zero.
Justice Elena Kagan, one of the three more liberal members of the high court, said it was hard to see how removing a penalty could make the mandate more onerous than it was in 2012 when the court last upheld it.
“If you make a law less coercive, how does it become more of a command?” she said.
It wasn’t clear whether other justices were inclined to agree. But practically speaking, it won’t matter as long as there are at least five votes to uphold the law regardless of the mandate’s constitutionality. The Affordable Care Act will then keep functioning like it does today.
Jeffrey Young contributed reporting to this article.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--What Medical Experts Think About Pfizer's New COVID-19 Vaccine

Health experts agree these preliminary results are promising and exciting , but we still don ’ t have the full picture .
We need much more data to understand which participants got sick and how severe their illness was .
Researchers will also need to track the study participants in the months ahead to determine how the vaccine holds up over time .
The vaccine could be more effective than experts imagined .
We don ’ t know how long the shot will last .
Mutations don ’ t seem to be a threat ( yet ) .
The side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine will be limited .
We know the initial supply of a COVID-19 vaccine is going to be limited .
There won ’ t be enough doses to go around , especially because the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses .
“ They only have like 50 million doses available , for this year anyway … which basically means they can only vaccinate 20 to 25 million people in the States , ” Fagbuyi said .
Pfizer hopes to have over a billion doses available sometime next year .
In a population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are going to have to wait to get vaccinated .
“ It ’ ll probably be a good 12 months more or so before we can say that the general public is going to be able to relatively easily come across one of the [ vaccines ] , ” Heinz said .
It needs to be stored at frigid temperatures .
We still need more data on the vaccine , like how it affects the severity of COVID-19 and how it impacts different populations .
It ’ s also not clear what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trials .
According to Pfizer , 30 % of U.S. participants were from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds , but health experts would like to see specifically how well the vaccine worked in different types of people .
Keep in mind , too , that the vaccine has not yet been tested on pregnant women or children either .
Experts are still learning about COVID-19 .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication , but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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Pfizer and partner BioNTech announced Monday that their coronavirus vaccine, a two-dose shot designed with a never-before-approved vaccine technology, is 90% effective.
The news pleasantly surprised the medical community, as many doctors were expecting the first-generation vaccines to only work in 50% to 60% of people.
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Health experts agree these preliminary results are promising and exciting, but we still don’t have the full picture. We need much more data to understand which participants got sick and how severe their illness was. Researchers will also need to track the study participants in the months ahead to determine how the vaccine holds up over time.
“It is a win for science, but the battle is not over,” Daniel Fagbuyi, an emergency physician who served as a biodefense expert in the Obama administration, told HuffPost.
Here’s what experts think about the vaccine and the takeaways they want you to know.
The vaccine could be more effective than experts imagined.
According to the Pfizer team, those who got the vaccine were 90% less likely to contract the infection. This is much higher than what infectious disease experts predicted.
“These are very promising results, they’re greater than expectations — we thought this was likely to be around 50% to 60% efficacious in preventing infection, so everybody is surprised that these results are so good,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security and an infectious disease expert.
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This level of efficacy is in line with our best childhood vaccinations, like the measles and chicken pox vaccine. “That’s a big thing, that’s a big deal,” Fagbuyi said.
We’re using a brand-new vaccine technology.
The Pfizer vaccine was designed with a brand-new type of vaccine technology that uses messenger RNA (mRNA), which essentially teaches the body how to recognize and attack the coronavirus.
According to Adalja, we’ve never had a mRNA vaccine approved for any other condition, so this is a big first for the country.
Though the short-term safety data on this mRNA vaccine is robust and reassuring, researchers will need to continue following the study participants to see if anyone experiences adverse effects six months or a year after being vaccinated.
“This is great,” said Matthew Heinz, a hospitalist in Tucson, Arizona, who helped coordinate the country’s Ebola response under the Obama administration. “But we may not know what questions to even ask, just because this [technology] is very new.”
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“These are very promising results, they’re greater than expectations.” - Dr. Amesh Adalja, Johns Hopkins University
We don’t know how long the shot will last.
A huge unknown is how long the protection conferred from the vaccine will last.
“I think it’ll take some time to know whether or not we need boosters a year later, two years later — I think it’s too early to say,” Adalja said.
Heinz said people typically don’t have a particularly long-lasting immune response against most coronaviruses that cause the common cold, and it’s unclear how long people’s immune response to COVID-19 will last.
And, though some vaccines provide lifelong protection, the immunity conferred from others ― like the Bordetella pertussis vaccine ― wane as we age.
“There are just some [vaccines] that work just fine and then kind of stop working as well, through no action of ours,” Heinz said.
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Mutations don’t seem to be a threat (yet).
While influenza strains mish and mash frequently, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is relatively stable. Yes, the coronavirus has mutated, but not in a major way.
“I do think the mutations that exist right now with this virus wouldn’t pose a problem for this vaccine, but it’ll be important to track,” Adalja said.
Experts agree that we’ll have to keep an eye on how the coronavirus mutates over time. If it doesn’t shift much, the vaccine could last a long time, but if it mutates dramatically there’s a chance Pfizer’s vaccine could become less effective, Heinz said.
The side effects are minor so far.
The most common side effects reported in the vaccine trial were aches and fevers, which Heinz said is on par with other safe vaccines routinely administered.
The influenza vaccine, for example, is known to give some people low-grade fevers, body aches or swelling where they were injected. The same goes with shots for hepatitis, polio and measles.
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“A lot of vaccines can do that, frankly. If that’s the extent of it, that’s great,” Heinz said. These minor reactions happen ― you just don’t want to see any serious adverse effects.
“It’ll probably be a good 12 months more or so before we can say that the general public is going to be able to relatively easily come across one of the [vaccines].” - Dr. Matthew Heinz
Supplies of the vaccine will be limited. We know the initial supply of a COVID-19 vaccine is going to be limited. There won’t be enough doses to go around, especially because the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses. “They only have like 50 million doses available, for this year anyway … which basically means they can only vaccinate 20 to 25 million people in the States,” Fagbuyi said. Pfizer hopes to have over a billion doses available sometime next year. In a population of approximately 330 million people, most Americans are going to have to wait to get vaccinated. “It’ll probably be a good 12 months more or so before we can say that the general public is going to be able to relatively easily come across one of the [vaccines],” Heinz said. It needs to be stored at frigid temperatures.
Experts also underscored one major logistical challenge: The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at very cold temperatures (we’re talking negative 94 degrees Fahrenheit).
Pfizer previously announced it plans on packing and shipping the vaccines in cases filled with dry ice. Whoever will be administering the vaccine — likely retail pharmacies or hospitals — will need to figure out where and how they’re going to properly store the vaccines.
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Most facilities don’t have these tools on hand, so will need to either purchase a lot of dry ice (of which there could be shortages) or invest in on-site cooling units.
“The logistical nightmare is still there. It’s a long haul, it’s still a marathon,” Fagbuyi said.
“Does this vaccine protect against severe disease? That’s the million-dollar question.” - Dr. Daniel Fagbuyi
We still need more data on the vaccine, like how it affects the severity of COVID-19 and how it impacts different populations.
Even through these preliminary results are promising, researchers are still waiting on a ton of data. Remember, the trials are not yet over and scientists have yet to see how the vaccine holds up in the months and years ahead.
Fagbuyi is most interested in learning about the people involved in the clinical trials who contracted the infection. Because a significant portion of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic, it’s crucial to ensure the vaccine not only prevents infection but also reduces the severity of the illness and complications in at-risk people who do get sick.
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“Does this vaccine protect against severe disease? That’s the million-dollar question,” Fagbuyi said.
It’s also not clear what the demographic breakdown is with Pfizer’s trials. According to Pfizer, 30% of U.S. participants were from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, but health experts would like to see specifically how well the vaccine worked in different types of people. Keep in mind, too, that the vaccine has not yet been tested on pregnant women or children either.
The clinical trials must reflect the diversity of the population. If they don’t, some of the findings may not be generalizable. You need young people, older adults, men, women and people of all races.
“It’s important to have as much information as possible. You really want to get a representative population,” Heinz said.
Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Pompeo Says There Will Be Smooth Transition To 'Second Trump Administration'

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared to completely dismiss the results of the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday , saying “ There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.
” Pompeo ’ s comment came in response to a reporter asking if the State Department is prepared to engage with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team and if not engaging in that process promptly could pose a threat to national security .
The secretary of state initially smirked while answering and kept the rest of his remarks vague .
“ The world is watching what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re going to count all the votes .
When the process is complete , there will be electors selected .
There ’ s a process .
The Constitution lays it out pretty clearly .
The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is functional today , successful today and successful the way the president who ’ s in office on January 20 , a minute after noon , will also be successful.
” Pompeo ’ s rhetoric about counting every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have denied the election ’ s outcome , including President Donald Trump himself .
Though there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud affecting the results , the president and many of his supporters have continued to claim he only lost because of a ploy by the Democrats to steal the election .
Trump ’ s team has filed several lawsuits in key swing states to challenge the results that have had little success .
Among the most high-profile Republicans refusing to acknowledge Biden ’ s victory is Senate Majority Leader Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday that Trump is “ 100 % within his rights ” to look into allegations of “ irregularities , ” pursue legal battles and request recounts .
“ No states have yet certified their election results , ” McConnell said .
“ I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states.
” Trump appointee Emily Murphy , the administrator of the General Services Administration , is also blocking the transition of power from starting by refusing to issue Biden ’ s team the necessary documents , sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times on Monday .

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared to completely dismiss the results of the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, saying “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
.@SecPompeo: "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration."
Full video here: https://t.co/6Rou91HQxv pic.twitter.com/MU9Gp2QWnq — CSPAN (@cspan) November 10, 2020
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Pompeo’s comment came in response to a reporter asking if the State Department is prepared to engage with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team and if not engaging in that process promptly could pose a threat to national security.
The secretary of state initially smirked while answering and kept the rest of his remarks vague.
“The world is watching what’s taking place,” he said. “We’re going to count all the votes. When the process is complete, there will be electors selected. There’s a process. The Constitution lays it out pretty clearly. The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is functional today, successful today and successful the way the president who’s in office on January 20, a minute after noon, will also be successful.”
Pompeo’s rhetoric about counting every legal vote is in line with those who have denied the election’s outcome, including President Donald Trump himself. Though there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud affecting the results, the president and many of his supporters have continued to claim he only lost because of a ploy by the Democrats to steal the election. Trump’s team has filed several lawsuits in key swing states to challenge the results that have had little success.
Among the most high-profile Republicans refusing to acknowledge Biden’s victory is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The senator said Monday that Trump is “100% within his rights” to look into allegations of “irregularities,” pursue legal battles and request recounts.
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“No states have yet certified their election results,” McConnell said. “I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Pentagon's Top Policy Official Resigns Day After Defense Secretary Fired

In his letter , a copy of which was obtained by Politico , Anderson wrote , “ Now , as ever , our long-term success depends on adhering to the U.S. Constitution all public servants swear to support and defend.
” Anderson was sworn in as the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy in August 2018 , but has been serving as the acting undersecretary since June .
The White House was expected to ask Anderson to resign this week , Politico reported .
Anderson has reportedly clashed with the White House on personnel decisions .
He pushed back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Department , including a former State Department official with a history of making anti-Muslim and racist comments .
Esper was one of several officials expected to be ousted after the election .
He defied Trump several times since assuming the top role at the Pentagon in June 2019 , drawing the ire of the president .
In June of this year , Esper accompanied the president for an infamous walk to a church near the White House to take photos amid anti-racism protests .
After the photos were taken , Esper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president was going to the church and that he tries to stay out of “ situations that may appear political.
” He also defied Trump ’ s threat to use active-duty troops to quell the nationwide protests and effectively barred Confederate flags on military bases against the president ’ s wishes .
Two other Defense Department officials ― Jen Stewart , who was chief of staff to Esper and continues in that role with new acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller , and Joseph Kernan , undersecretary of defense for intelligence ― are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico .

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The Pentagon’s top policy official resigned Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump announced Defense Secretary Mark Esper had been fired.
James Anderson, acting undersecretary of defense for policy, submitted his letter of resignation to Trump on Tuesday, effective immediately.
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In his letter, a copy of which was obtained by Politico, Anderson wrote, “Now, as ever, our long-term success depends on adhering to the U.S. Constitution all public servants swear to support and defend.”
Anderson was sworn in as the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy in August 2018, but has been serving as the acting undersecretary since June. The White House was expected to ask Anderson to resign this week, Politico reported.
Anderson has reportedly clashed with the White House on personnel decisions. He pushed back on efforts to install several Trump loyalists at the Defense Department, including a former State Department official with a history of making anti-Muslim and racist comments.
Retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata has reportedly been tapped to replace Anderson. Tata has drawn scrutiny for past comments, including calling former President Barack Obama a “terrorist leader.”
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The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
James Anderson served as acting undersecretary of defense for policy since June. POOL/Reuters
Anderson’s departure comes on the heels of Esper’s termination.
Esper was one of several officials expected to be ousted after the election. He defied Trump several times since assuming the top role at the Pentagon in June 2019, drawing the ire of the president.
In June of this year, Esper accompanied the president for an infamous walk to a church near the White House to take photos amid anti-racism protests. After the photos were taken, Esper said he didn’t realize why the president was going to the church and that he tries to stay out of “situations that may appear political.”
He also defied Trump’s threat to use active-duty troops to quell the nationwide protests and effectively barred Confederate flags on military bases against the president’s wishes.
Two other Defense Department officials ― Jen Stewart, who was chief of staff to Esper and continues in that role with new acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, and Joseph Kernan, undersecretary of defense for intelligence ― are also expected to depart, according to Politico.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Reporter Tweets Perfect Burn After Pompeo’s ‘Second Trump Administration’ Claim

We ’ d imagine NPR ’ s Mary Louise Kelly was cackling with delight as she typed out her exceptional 77-word retort to Secretary of State ’ s Mike Pompeo ’ s dismissive remark about the results of the U.S. presidential election .
On Tuesday , a reporter asked America ’ s top diplomat if the State Department is prepared to engage with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team , and if not , could that pose a threat to national security .
In response to the question , Pompeo smirked and said : Back in January ― or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ― NPR reported that Pompeo subjected Kelly to a profanity-laden rant after he abruptly ended an interview with the “ All Things Considered ” co-host because she pressed him to answer a question about Ukraine and former U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
During their intense and private conversation , Kelly said that at one point , Pompeo asked her to find Ukraine on a map , which she did .
So , when Pompeo ’ s remarks about President Donald Trump staying in office ― despite the clear election results ― made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter to deliver one hell of a burn .
“ Might Pompeo point us to a state on the map where there ’ s evidence of widespread voter fraud ?
” Many Twitter users loved Kelly ’ s scorching hot slam , and some offered jokes of their own .
Kelly ’ s snarky callback references the baseless belief that the presidential election was rigged ― an idea that Trump has pushed and many of his supporters have embraced .
— This apparently includes Pompeo , unless his remark was a lame attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread voter fraud has emerged , the president and his ilk are on a mission to prove that Democrats somehow stole the election .
The Trump team has filed several lawsuits in key swing states to challenge the results , with little success .

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We’d imagine NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly was cackling with delight as she typed out her exceptional 17-word retort to Secretary of State’s Mike Pompeo’s dismissive remark about the results of the U.S. presidential election.
On Tuesday, a reporter asked America’s top diplomat if the State Department is prepared to engage with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team, and if not, could that pose a threat to national security.
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In response to the question, Pompeo smirked and said:
“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
.@SecPompeo: "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration."
Full video here: https://t.co/6Rou91HQxv pic.twitter.com/MU9Gp2QWnq — CSPAN (@cspan) November 10, 2020
Back in January ― or about a thousand years ago in quarantine time ― NPR reported that Pompeo subjected Kelly to a profanity-laden rant after he abruptly ended an interview with the “All Things Considered” co-host because she pressed him to answer a question about Ukraine and former U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
During their intense and private conversation, Kelly said that at one point, Pompeo asked her to find Ukraine on a map, which she did.
So, when Pompeo’s remarks about President Donald Trump staying in office ― despite the clear election results ― made headlines on Tuesday, Kelly took to Twitter to deliver one hell of a burn.
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“Might Pompeo point us to a state on the map where there’s evidence of widespread voter fraud?”
Might Pompeo point us to a state on the map where there's evidence of widespread voter fraud? https://t.co/Hg6hcO8wGO — Mary Louise Kelly (@NPRKelly) November 10, 2020
Many Twitter users loved Kelly’s scorching hot slam, and some offered jokes of their own.
This is a thrilling deep cut. — Andrew Fleischman (@ASFleischman) November 10, 2020
Oh snap — Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) November 10, 2020
911. I'd like to report a murder. — Paul 👻 (@pablo_honey1) November 10, 2020
You’re assuming Pompeo knows where any state is. — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 10, 2020
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Kelly’s snarky callback references the baseless belief that the presidential election was rigged ― an idea that Trump has pushed and many of his supporters have embraced. — This apparently includes Pompeo, unless his remark was a lame attempt at humor.
Though no evidence of widespread voter fraud has emerged, the president and his ilk are on a mission to prove that Democrats somehow stole the election. The Trump team has filed several lawsuits in key swing states to challenge the results, with little success.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Kelly wrote a 77-word response to Pompeo, mistaking a character count for a word count.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Eric Trump Becomes Twitter Laughingstock After Urging People To Vote... 1 Week Late

Eric Trump found himself the butt of countless jokes on Twitter on Tuesday morning after he issued a rallying cry for people in Minnesota to vote , one week after the 2020 election .
“ Minnesota get out and vote !
!
!
” tweeted President Donald Trump ’ s second-eldest son : On Election Day itself , Eric Trump had posted a slew of similar calls : Pennsylvania please get out and VOTE !
!
We must save America from the radical left !
— Eric Trump ( @ EricTrump ) November 3 , 2020 Nevada - we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ASAP !
Let ’ s # KeepAmericaGreat — Eric Trump ( @ EricTrump ) November 3 , 2020 That prompted speculation on social media that Tuesday ’ s tweet was down to a scheduling error .
Eric Trump deleted the post within minutes of it going live .
But it still went viral via screenshots .
President-elect Joe Biden is projected to take all 10 Electoral College votes in Minnesota , having secured more than 1.7 million votes to Trump ’ s 1.4 million .
Is it is just me ... or is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
?
!
https : //t.co/hj2eP142en — Nick Zerwas ( @ NickZerwas ) November 10 , 2020 For those wondering , I ’ ve concocted an elaborate scheme where I ’ ve placed Eric Trump into a “ Truman Show ” -like environment , yet he lives Election Day 2020 over and over like “ Groundhog Day ” .
pic.twitter.com/0xsgEPcCxs — Santa Claus , CEO ( @ SantaInc ) November 10 , 2020 This should have gone out last week at this time .
Eric Trump can ’ t schedule tweets .
Part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yoda ) November 10 , 2020 Please tell me you ’ re talking about American Idol .
— Jenny Johnson ( @ JennyJohnsonHi5 ) November 10 , 2020 Good morning to all , especially Eric Trump ’ s most Eric Trump tweet pic.twitter.com/rDKuHprWo7 — trevor shelley de brauw ( @ trevordebrauw ) November 10 , 2020 oops you scheduled this tweet for the wrong tuesday hon — Robbie Couch ( @ robbie_couch ) November 10 , 2020 Did Minnesota land in the stop the count , or count the vote category ?
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , 2020 When you schedule the tweet but it 's already after dad lost the election .
😂 — Josh Jordan ( @ NumbersMuncher ) November 10 , 2020

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Eric Trump found himself the butt of countless jokes on Twitter on Tuesday morning after he issued a rallying cry for people in Minnesota to vote, one week after the 2020 election.
“Minnesota get out and vote!!!” tweeted President Donald Trump’s second-eldest son:
Twitter screenshot
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On Election Day itself, Eric Trump had posted a slew of similar calls:
Pennsylvania please get out and VOTE!! We must save America from the radical left! — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 3, 2020
Turn Nevada Red!!! — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 3, 2020
Nevada - we are so close! Get out and vote ASAP! Let’s #KeepAmericaGreat — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 3, 2020
That prompted speculation on social media that Tuesday’s tweet was down to a scheduling error. Eric Trump deleted the post within minutes of it going live. But it still went viral via screenshots.
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President-elect Joe Biden is projected to take all 10 Electoral College votes in Minnesota, having secured more than 1.7 million votes to Trump’s 1.4 million.
Is it is just me... or is this the longest Election Day EVER???! https://t.co/hj2eP142en — Nick Zerwas (@NickZerwas) November 10, 2020
Scheduled post. Someone picked the wrong Tuesday. — Meg Maker (@megmaker) November 10, 2020
eric trump has come unstuck in time — Emanuel 3080berg (@emanuelmaiberg) November 10, 2020
For those wondering, I’ve concocted an elaborate scheme where I’ve placed Eric Trump into a “Truman Show”-like environment, yet he lives Election Day 2020 over and over like “Groundhog Day”. pic.twitter.com/0xsgEPcCxs — Santa Claus, CEO (@SantaInc) November 10, 2020
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This should have gone out last week at this time. Eric Trump can’t schedule tweets. Part 2. pic.twitter.com/8RqquGhWnx — drew olanoff (@yoda) November 10, 2020
Please tell me you’re talking about American Idol. — Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) November 10, 2020
Good morning to all, especially Eric Trump’s most Eric Trump tweet pic.twitter.com/rDKuHprWo7 — trevor shelley de brauw (@trevordebrauw) November 10, 2020
oops you scheduled this tweet for the wrong tuesday hon — Robbie Couch (@robbie_couch) November 10, 2020
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Did Minnesota land in the stop the count, or count the vote category? — Matthew Smith (@MattSmithKIRO7) November 10, 2020
Eric Trump deleted this tweet, but screenshots are forever pic.twitter.com/sCggLE08II — Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) November 10, 2020
When you schedule the tweet but it's already after dad lost the election. 😂 — Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) November 10, 2020
It appears Eric Trump scheduled an Election Day tweet for the wrong week. pic.twitter.com/BliI5XxflN — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) November 10, 2020
Wrong week dude — Ian Livingston (@islivingston) November 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Deb Haaland: 'Of Course' I'd Be Interested In Being Biden's Interior Secretary

Rep. Deb Haaland ( D-N.M. ) made history in 2018 as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress , along with Rep. Sharice Davids ( D-Kansas ) .
Now , dozens of tribal leaders are urging President-elect Joe Biden to make history again by picking Haaland to be his secretary of the interior .
More than 120 elected tribal leaders and intertribal organization officials plan to send a letter to Biden this week saying it is long past time for an Indigenous person to serve in a Cabinet position ― particularly at the Interior Department , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and environmental issues .
“ We ’ ve never had a Native American serve in any Cabinet position , ” Bryan Newland , tribal chairman of the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan and a lead organizer on the letter , said Tuesday .
“ Rep .
Haaland is more than qualified and capable of serving as secretary of interior and would be a great choice.
” Last month two other tribal leaders published a commentary describing the “ glass ceiling in our Federal government ” when it comes to Native Americans getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haaland as an ideal choice to oversee the Interior Department .
“ Rep .
Haaland is the type of candidate who would have a deep understanding of all of the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior from day one , ” wrote Shannon Holsey , president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe , and Leonard Forsman , chairman of the Suquamish Tribe .
They noted she is a citizen of the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and chairs a House Natural Resources subcommittee with oversight authority for the Interior Department .
Haaland ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a possible pick for the position .
New Mexico ’ s two Democratic senators , Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich , have also been circulating the idea .
Asked if she is interested in the position , Haaland told HuffPost on Sunday that she is “ honored and privileged ” to represent her district in Congress .
After it was pointed out that is precisely what politicians say when they ’ re interested in a promotion but want to seem humble , she conceded that she would enthusiastically take the Interior Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Interior Department is responsible for managing the country ’ s natural resources and honoring the federal government ’ s commitments to Native American tribes , which it has failed to do time and time again .
It also oversees the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Indian Affairs , the latter of which manages over 55 million acres of land held in trust for Native Americans by the government .
Both agencies are notoriously underfunded and have failed to adequately serve Indigenous communities .
The seismic shift of putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department with oversight of public lands ― from which Indigenous people were forcibly removed by the U.S. government ― is not lost on Haaland .
Haaland emphasized that while people are advocating for her to get the post , she has not been contacted directly by Biden ’ s team about it .
Cameron French , a spokesman for Biden ’ s transition team , declined to say whether she was being considered for the Cabinet position .
“ The Biden-Harris transition team has not made any personnel decisions at this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the fact that people are even lobbying on her behalf is a sign of progress in a country where many Native Americans weren ’ t allowed to vote until 1948 .
“ I tell people I ’ m a 35th-generation New Mexican because I am .
The Pueblo people migrated to the Rio Grande Valley in the late 1200s , 35 generations ago , ” she said .
“ I think it ’ s a time in our world ― not just in our country , but our entire world ― to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climate change , when it comes to our environment.
” Regardless of whom Biden picks for the job , Haaland said he gets credit for starting off with the most progressive climate and environmental plan of any president .
“ Whoever becomes secretary has an opportunity to combat climate change , to take this 25 % carbon that our public lands are emitting right now and eliminate that , ” the congresswoman said .
“ I think that what is required is somebody who cares about our public lands .
”

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Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) made history in 2018 as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, along with Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas). Now, dozens of tribal leaders are urging President-elect Joe Biden to make history again by picking Haaland to be his secretary of the interior.
More than 120 elected tribal leaders and intertribal organization officials plan to send a letter to Biden this week saying it is long past time for an Indigenous person to serve in a Cabinet position ― particularly at the Interior Department, which has a unique impact on Indigenous and environmental issues.
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“We’ve never had a Native American serve in any Cabinet position,” Bryan Newland, tribal chairman of the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan and a lead organizer on the letter, said Tuesday. “Rep. Haaland is more than qualified and capable of serving as secretary of interior and would be a great choice.”
Last month two other tribal leaders published a commentary describing the “glass ceiling in our Federal government” when it comes to Native Americans getting picked for Cabinet positions. They named Haaland as an ideal choice to oversee the Interior Department.
“Rep. Haaland is the type of candidate who would have a deep understanding of all of the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior from day one,” wrote Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe, and Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe. They noted she is a citizen of the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and chairs a House Natural Resources subcommittee with oversight authority for the Interior Department.
Haaland’s name has been floating around for weeks as a possible pick for the position. New Mexico’s two Democratic senators, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, have also been circulating the idea.
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Asked if she is interested in the position, Haaland told HuffPost on Sunday that she is “honored and privileged” to represent her district in Congress. After it was pointed out that is precisely what politicians say when they’re interested in a promotion but want to seem humble, she conceded that she would enthusiastically take the Interior Department job if it were offered to her.
“Oh yes, of course,” said Haaland. “Of course.”
Rep. Deb Haaland attends a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on July 28, 2020. Bill Clark/Pool via REUTERS
The Interior Department is responsible for managing the country’s natural resources and honoring the federal government’s commitments to Native American tribes, which it has failed to do time and time again. It also oversees the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the latter of which manages over 55 million acres of land held in trust for Native Americans by the government. Both agencies are notoriously underfunded and have failed to adequately serve Indigenous communities.
The seismic shift of putting a Native American woman in charge of the department with oversight of public lands ― from which Indigenous people were forcibly removed by the U.S. government ― is not lost on Haaland.
“The symbolism alone, yes, it’s profound,” she said.
Haaland emphasized that while people are advocating for her to get the post, she has not been contacted directly by Biden’s team about it.
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Cameron French, a spokesman for Biden’s transition team, declined to say whether she was being considered for the Cabinet position. “The Biden-Harris transition team has not made any personnel decisions at this time,” said French.
But Haaland said the fact that people are even lobbying on her behalf is a sign of progress in a country where many Native Americans weren’t allowed to vote until 1948.
“I tell people I’m a 35th-generation New Mexican because I am. The Pueblo people migrated to the Rio Grande Valley in the late 1200s, 35 generations ago,” she said. “I think it’s a time in our world ― not just in our country, but our entire world ― to listen to Indigenous people when it comes to climate change, when it comes to our environment.”
“The symbolism alone, yes, it’s profound.” - Rep. Deb Haaland on the idea of a Native American like herself running the Interior Department
Regardless of whom Biden picks for the job, Haaland said he gets credit for starting off with the most progressive climate and environmental plan of any president.
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“Whoever becomes secretary has an opportunity to combat climate change, to take this 25% carbon that our public lands are emitting right now and eliminate that,” the congresswoman said. “I think that what is required is somebody who cares about our public lands.”
Biden also has pledged to work closely with Indigenous tribes when it comes to preserving natural resources, which is a far cry from President Donald Trump’s record.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-10--Republicans Continue To Deny Election Result, Reality

Their refusal to break with Trump in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary prompted condemnations from critics , who accused them of undermining the very bedrock of democracy by giving credence to baseless claims of election fraud .
“ There is an epidemic of delusion that is spreading out from the White House and infecting the entire Republican Party , ” Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) said Tuesday .
“ President Trump didn ’ t win the election .
Every single one of my colleagues knows this.
” While there are millions of votes yet to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris are on track to begin their administration next year with the largest number of votes ever received by a presidential ticket in history .
The Democratic ticket is also likely to receive a larger share of the popular vote than any challenger since Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 .
Trump is losing to Biden in several key battleground state by large margins ― in some states by an even larger margin than he defeated Hillary Clinton by in the 2016 presidential election .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wisconsin , 47,000 votes in Pennsylvania , 12,000 votes in Georgia , 14,000 votes in Arizona , and 36,000 votes in Nevada .
Those margins will likely grow with the counting of additional mail-in ballots .
The vast majority of Republicans , however , say it ’ s premature to acknowledge Biden as the winner of the election , maintaining that Trump has a right to contest the results in court before proceeding with the official transition process to a new president .
Their unwillingness to cut him loose apparently stems from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , where Democrats performed well enough to force two runoff elections that could decide which party controls the Senate next year .
Although the results of the election won ’ t be finalized until January , when members of the Electoral College cast their votes for president on behalf of their states , elections are regularly called before that process takes place .
In 2016 , for example , Republicans congratulated Trump on winning the presidential election based on media projections before the results were formally certified .
The comment , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to a reporter asking if not engaging in the transition process promptly could pose a threat to national security .
The General Services Administration , headed by Trump appointee Emily Murphy , has resisted signing the paperwork that would give Biden access to millions of dollars in funds to run his transition team , as well as classified briefings the president receives on a daily basis .
Democrats and even some Republicans have called on the federal agency to sign off on Biden ’ s win in order to allow him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern for continuity of government and national security .
“ Given how close the election is they should be prepared for every contingency .
...
I don ’ t believe allowing Joe Biden to transition in any way prejudices the president ’ s claims , ” Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-Fla. ) , a Trump ally and acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , said Tuesday .
Although his campaign and allies on Capitol Hill called on the GSA to relent , Biden himself downplayed the standoff with the federal agency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult time working with Republican officials who refused to acknowledge him as president .
“ It would be nice to have it ; it ’ s not critical , ” Biden said of the federal funding frozen by the GSA .
“ I don ’ t see a need for legal action , quite frankly.
” “ The whole GOP has been put in a position , with a few notable exceptions , of being mildly intimidated by the sitting president , ” he added , expressing confidence they would work with his @ @ @ @

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Republicans continued to deny reality on Tuesday, insisting the 2020 presidential election isn’t over yet despite former Vice President Joe Biden’s clear and historic win over President Donald Trump last week.
Their refusal to break with Trump in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary prompted condemnations from critics, who accused them of undermining the very bedrock of democracy by giving credence to baseless claims of election fraud.
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“There is an epidemic of delusion that is spreading out from the White House and infecting the entire Republican Party,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Tuesday. “President Trump didn’t win the election. Every single one of my colleagues knows this.”
While there are millions of votes yet to be counted, particularly in California and New York, Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris are on track to begin their administration next year with the largest number of votes ever received by a presidential ticket in history. The Democratic ticket is also likely to receive a larger share of the popular vote than any challenger since Franklin Roosevelt in 1932.
Trump is losing to Biden in several key battleground state by large margins ― in some states by an even larger margin than he defeated Hillary Clinton by in the 2016 presidential election. Biden currently leads Trump by approximately 20,000 votes in Wisconsin, 47,000 votes in Pennsylvania, 12,000 votes in Georgia, 14,000 votes in Arizona, and 36,000 votes in Nevada. Those margins will likely grow with the counting of additional mail-in ballots.
The vast majority of Republicans, however, say it’s premature to acknowledge Biden as the winner of the election, maintaining that Trump has a right to contest the results in court before proceeding with the official transition process to a new president. Their unwillingness to cut him loose apparently stems from the fear of angering his supporters in Georgia, where Democrats performed well enough to force two runoff elections that could decide which party controls the Senate next year.
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“There’s nothing to congratulate him about,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told reporters on Tuesday when asked if he congratulated the president-elect.
“The president wasn’t defeated by huge numbers ― in fact, he may not have been defeated at all,” added Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) during a press conference on Tuesday.
“The whole GOP has been put in a position, with a few notable exceptions, of being mildly intimidated by the sitting president.” - Joe Biden
Trump was, in fact, defeated by large margins last week.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), meanwhile, said the winner remained unknown because the election “hasn’t been certified.”
Although the results of the election won’t be finalized until January, when members of the Electoral College cast their votes for president on behalf of their states, elections are regularly called before that process takes place. In 2016, for example, Republicans congratulated Trump on winning the presidential election based on media projections before the results were formally certified.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made perhaps the most disturbing remark on the subject when he told reporters at a press conference Tuesday, “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
The comment, which was delivered with a smirk, came in response to a reporter asking if not engaging in the transition process promptly could pose a threat to national security.
The General Services Administration, headed by Trump appointee Emily Murphy, has resisted signing the paperwork that would give Biden access to millions of dollars in funds to run his transition team, as well as classified briefings the president receives on a daily basis. Democrats and even some Republicans have called on the federal agency to sign off on Biden’s win in order to allow him to begin the transition process out of concern for continuity of government and national security.
“Given how close the election is they should be prepared for every contingency. ... I don’t believe allowing Joe Biden to transition in any way prejudices the president’s claims,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a Trump ally and acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday.
Although his campaign and allies on Capitol Hill called on the GSA to relent, Biden himself downplayed the standoff with the federal agency and dismissed the notion he would have a difficult time working with Republican officials who refused to acknowledge him as president.
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“It would be nice to have it; it’s not critical,” Biden said of the federal funding frozen by the GSA. “I don’t see a need for legal action, quite frankly.”
“The whole GOP has been put in a position, with a few notable exceptions, of being mildly intimidated by the sitting president,” he added, expressing confidence they would work with his administration next year.
Many of the Trump campaign’s lawsuits alleging voter fraud in several states have already been dismissed, including most recently in Michigan.
On a call with reporters Tuesday, Biden campaign senior adviser Bob Bauer called Trump’s litigation “noise” and “theatrics” and dismissed the impact of any potential recounts.