thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--People Are Loving This Classically British 91-Year-Old Who Got COVID-19 Vaccine

A charming interview with Martin Kenyon , one of the first people in the world to get the COVID-19 vaccine , has gone viral thanks to the 91-year-old gentleman ’ s dry wit .
Speaking with CNN reporter Cyril Vanier on Tuesday — a day dubbed “ V-Day ” by the British press as health authorities in the United Kingdom began distributing the first doses of Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine — Kenyon explained that he ’ d received his vaccination at Guy ’ s Hospital in central London .
“ They said , ‘ Well , come at half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Of course , I couldn ’ t damn well find anywhere to park my car , so I was late.
” Kenyon went on to explain the ins and outs of his day , including the “ rather nasty lunch ” he ’ d had while waiting at the hospital , and exclaimed that the vaccination process was quick and didn ’ t hurt in the slightest .
“ I hope I ’ m not going to have the bloody bug now , ” Kenyon said .
“ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got granddaughters , and I want to live a long time to enjoy their lives.
” “ Well , there ’ s no point in dying now when I ’ ve lived this long , is there ?
” Kenyon said .
“ I don ’ t plan to , anyway.
” The video of Kenyon quickly went viral across social media , with Twitter users applauding his frankness and even going so far as to call him “ the most British man on the planet.
” Others praised the effectiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service , which had enabled Kenyon to get his vaccine the same day he called about it .
Watching # martinkenyon on @ CNN is the best thing I ’ ve seen in forever .
“ I could n't find anywhere to park my damn car so I was late ! ''
`` There 's no point in dying now that I have lived this long ! ''
I love feisty 91 year olds .
— Karen 🌊 ( @ HomeschoolGrls ) December 8 , 2020 The best thing about this @ CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans will see how absolutely wonderful our “ socialised medicine ” is .
He called the hospital in the morning , popped in at lunch and got his free vaccination .
Our NHS is amazing .
— Heather Reilly-Edwards 🌹 ( @ LeftieLawyer ) December 9 , 2020 Kenyon , who grew up during World War II and was an activist in the anti-apartheid movement , said in a follow-up interview with The Guardian that he was baffled by his sudden celebrity .
He called the CNN footage “ deeply uninteresting.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects a day after his vaccination — aside from the fact that at his age , “ all sorts of things ache.
” “ I am looking forward to hugging my grandchildren , ” Kenyon told the outlet .
“ They are the ones who were most likely to give [ coronavirus ] to me … and they like hugging me .
This period has been a challenge , but we must make sure that life goes on .
We all want to get back to normal and I am sure that will @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A charming interview with Martin Kenyon, one of the first people in the world to get the COVID-19 vaccine, has gone viral thanks to the 91-year-old gentleman’s dry wit.
Speaking with CNN reporter Cyril Vanier on Tuesday — a day dubbed “V-Day” by the British press as health authorities in the United Kingdom began distributing the first doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine — Kenyon explained that he’d received his vaccination at Guy’s Hospital in central London.
Advertisement
“They said, ‘Well, come at half past 12,’” Kenyon said. “Of course, I couldn’t damn well find anywhere to park my car, so I was late.”
Kenyon went on to explain the ins and outs of his day, including the “rather nasty lunch” he’d had while waiting at the hospital, and exclaimed that the vaccination process was quick and didn’t hurt in the slightest.
“I hope I’m not going to have the bloody bug now,” Kenyon said. “I don’t intend to have it because I’ve got granddaughters, and I want to live a long time to enjoy their lives.”
The nonagenarian added that he hadn’t told his family about the “very unexciting” process yet.
“Well, there’s no point in dying now when I’ve lived this long, is there?” Kenyon said. “I don’t plan to, anyway.”
Advertisement
The video of Kenyon quickly went viral across social media, with Twitter users applauding his frankness and even going so far as to call him “the most British man on the planet.” Others praised the effectiveness of the U.K.’s National Health Service, which had enabled Kenyon to get his vaccine the same day he called about it.
Thanks 2020, for also introducing us to 91 year-old Kenyon Martin. 🙂 Put a smile on a lot of faces today. #everyonesgrandad @cnnphotog @DuarteMendonca #COVID19Vaccine pic.twitter.com/tXLrs9tGHY — Cyril Vanier (@CyrilCNN) December 8, 2020
CNN seem to have found the most British man on the planet 😂
“There no point dying now”💉 https://t.co/4G1NdPGvok — Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 8, 2020
Advertisement
This CNN interview with a man who phoned up his hospital today for a covid vaccine and GOT IT TODAY is in equal parts brilliant, hilarious, and thoroughly lovely. https://t.co/ZWec9rZ06G — David Cochrane (@davidcochrane) December 8, 2020
Things making me proud of the UK appearing on US news:
1- “Well there’s no point dying now when I’ve lived this long is there?”
2- BLOKE LUGGING DOOR AROUND LONDON WITH HAND IN HIS POCKET pic.twitter.com/s3jKefJb6L — James Davies (@jamesorharry) December 8, 2020
Watching #martinkenyon on @CNN is the best thing I’ve seen in forever.
“I couldn't find anywhere to park my damn car so I was late!"
"There's no point in dying now that I have lived this long!"
I love feisty 91 year olds. — Karen 🌊 (@HomeschoolGrls) December 8, 2020
The best thing about this @CNN #MartinKenyon interview, is that the Americans will see how absolutely wonderful our “socialised medicine” is. He called the hospital in the morning, popped in at lunch and got his free vaccination. Our NHS is amazing. — Heather Reilly-Edwards 🌹 (@LeftieLawyer) December 9, 2020
Kenyon, who grew up during World War II and was an activist in the anti-apartheid movement, said in a follow-up interview with The Guardian that he was baffled by his sudden celebrity. He called the CNN footage “deeply uninteresting.”
Advertisement
He also said he was feeling no adverse effects a day after his vaccination — aside from the fact that at his age, “all sorts of things ache.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--U.S. Government, States Bring Antitrust Action Against Facebook

The landmark antitrust lawsuits , announced by the Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James , mark the second major government offensive this year against seemingly untouchable tech behemoths .
The Justice Department sued Google in October for abusing its dominance in online search and advertising — the government ’ s most significant attempt to buttress competition since its historic case against Microsoft two decades ago .
Amazon and Apple also have been under investigation in Congress and by federal authorities for alleged anticompetitive conduct .
In the current case , the FTC specifically asked a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services .
James echoed that idea in more general terms , noting at a press conference that “ it ’ s really critically important that we block this predatory acquisition of companies and that we restore confidence to the market.
” The FTC said Facebook has engaged in a “ a systematic strategy ” to eliminate its competition , including by purchasing smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 .
James echoed that in her press conference , saying Facebook “ used its monopoly power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition , all at the expense of everyday users.
” The FTC fined Facebook $ 5 billion in 2019 for privacy violations and instituted new oversight and restrictions on its business .
The fine was the largest the agency has ever levied on a tech company , although it had no visible impact on Facebook ’ s business .
Facebook called the government actions “ revisionist history ” that punishes successful businesses and noted that the FTC cleared the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions years ago .
“ The government now wants a do-over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business that no sale is ever final , ” Facebook general counsel Jennifer Newstead said in a statement that echoed the company ’ s response to a recent congressional antitrust probe .
Facebook is the world ’ s biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a company with a market value of nearly $ 800 billion whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the world ’ s fifth-richest individual and the most public face of Big Tech swagger .
James alleged Facebook had a practice of opening its site to third-party app developers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw as a threat .
The lawsuit — which includes 46 states , Guam and the District of Columbia — accuses Facebook of anti-competitive conduct and using its market dominance to harvest consumer data and reap a fortune in advertising revenues .
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein , who was on the executive committee of attorneys general conducting the investigation , said the litigation has the potential to alter the communications landscape the way the breakup of AT & T ’ s local phone service monopoly in the early 1980s did .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ social networking marketplace in the United States , and right now there ’ s one player , ” Stein said in a news release .
James said the coalition worked collaboratively with the FTC but noted the attorneys general conducted their investigation separately .
Antitrust expert Rebecca Allensworth , a law professor at Vanderbilt University , said it is “ hard to win any antitrust lawsuit and this one is not any different.
” But as far as antitrust cases go , she added , the government has a strong one .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced just two weeks before Election Day , brought accusations of political motivation from some quarters .
It was filed by a cabinet agency headed by an attorney general seen as a close ally of President Donald Trump , who has often publicly criticized Google .
Instagram and WhatsApp are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years .
But they are the ones most frequently held up by Facebook critics as properties that should be split off .
Facebook paid $ 1 billion for Instagram , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month before its stock went public .
At the time , the photo-sharing app had about 30 million users and wasn ’ t producing any revenue .
A few years later , Facebook acquired WhatsApp , an encrypted messaging service , for $ 19 billion .
Zuckerberg vowed both companies would be run independently , but over the years the services have become increasingly integrated .
Users are now able to link accounts and share content across the platforms .
Instagram now has more than 1 billion users worldwide .
Such integration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the companies .
NetChoice , a Washington trade association that includes Facebook as a member , quickly panned the lawsuits .
The case for antitrust enforcement against Facebook “ has never been weaker , ” NetChoice vice president Carl Szabo said in a statement , pointing to newer social services such as TikTok and Snapchat as rivals that could “ overtake ” older platforms .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators on Wednesday sued to force a breakup of Facebook as 48 states and districts accused the company in a separate lawsuit of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors.
The landmark antitrust lawsuits, announced by the Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James, mark the second major government offensive this year against seemingly untouchable tech behemoths. The Justice Department sued Google in October for abusing its dominance in online search and advertising — the government’s most significant attempt to buttress competition since its historic case against Microsoft two decades ago. Amazon and Apple also have been under investigation in Congress and by federal authorities for alleged anticompetitive conduct.
Advertisement
In the current case, the FTC specifically asked a court to force Facebook to sell off its Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services. James echoed that idea in more general terms, noting at a press conference that “it’s really critically important that we block this predatory acquisition of companies and that we restore confidence to the market.”
The FTC said Facebook has engaged in a “a systematic strategy” to eliminate its competition, including by purchasing smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. James echoed that in her press conference, saying Facebook “used its monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users.”
The FTC fined Facebook $5 billion in 2019 for privacy violations and instituted new oversight and restrictions on its business. The fine was the largest the agency has ever levied on a tech company, although it had no visible impact on Facebook’s business.
Facebook called the government actions “revisionist history” that punishes successful businesses and noted that the FTC cleared the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions years ago. “The government now wants a do-over, sending a chilling warning to American business that no sale is ever final,” Facebook general counsel Jennifer Newstead said in a statement that echoed the company’s response to a recent congressional antitrust probe.
Advertisement
Facebook is the world’s biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a company with a market value of nearly $800 billion whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the world’s fifth-richest individual and the most public face of Big Tech swagger.
The landmark antitrust lawsuits, announced by the Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James, above, mark the second major government offensive this year against seemingly untouchable tech behemoths. ASSOCIATED PRESS
James alleged Facebook had a practice of opening its site to third-party app developers, then abruptly cutting off developers that it saw as a threat. The lawsuit — which includes 46 states, Guam and the District of Columbia — accuses Facebook of anti-competitive conduct and using its market dominance to harvest consumer data and reap a fortune in advertising revenues.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who was on the executive committee of attorneys general conducting the investigation, said the litigation has the potential to alter the communications landscape the way the breakup of AT&T’s local phone service monopoly in the early 1980s did.
“Our hope is to restructure the social networking marketplace in the United States, and right now there’s one player,” Stein said in a news release. James said the coalition worked collaboratively with the FTC but noted the attorneys general conducted their investigation separately.
Advertisement
Antitrust expert Rebecca Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, said it is “hard to win any antitrust lawsuit and this one is not any different.” But as far as antitrust cases go, she added, the government has a strong one.
The Justice Department’s suit against Google, announced just two weeks before Election Day, brought accusations of political motivation from some quarters. It was filed by a cabinet agency headed by an attorney general seen as a close ally of President Donald Trump, who has often publicly criticized Google.
The FTC, by contrast, is an independent regulatory agency whose five commissioners currently include three Republicans and two Democrats.
President-elect Joe Biden has said the breakup of Big Tech giants should be seriously considered. He has singled out Facebook’s Zuckerberg for scorn, calling him “a real problem.”
Instagram and WhatsApp are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years. But they are the ones most frequently held up by Facebook critics as properties that should be split off.
Advertisement
Facebook paid $1 billion for Instagram, bolstering the social network’s business a month before its stock went public. At the time, the photo-sharing app had about 30 million users and wasn’t producing any revenue. A few years later, Facebook acquired WhatsApp, an encrypted messaging service, for $19 billion.
Zuckerberg vowed both companies would be run independently, but over the years the services have become increasingly integrated. Users are now able to link accounts and share content across the platforms. Instagram now has more than 1 billion users worldwide. Such integration could make it more difficult to break off the companies.
NetChoice, a Washington trade association that includes Facebook as a member, quickly panned the lawsuits. The case for antitrust enforcement against Facebook “has never been weaker,” NetChoice vice president Carl Szabo said in a statement, pointing to newer social services such as TikTok and Snapchat as rivals that could “overtake” older platforms.
“These lawsuits mark an important turning point in the battle to rein in Big Tech monopolies and to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement,” said Alex Harman, competition policy advocate for Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.
___
Sisak reported from New York. AP journalists Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, California, and Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Lindsey Graham Says Stacey Abrams Tricked Republicans Into Helping Biden Win

GOP leaders in the state must now change their laws to “ stop Stacey Abrams from stealing the Senate race , ” he continued , referring to the two Georgia Senate runoff elections in January , which will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate .
Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are both running to hold on to their seats .
Graham doubtless knows what he ’ s saying is nonsense .
He knows it ’ s fueling distrust in democracy .
He ’ s knows Georgia officials are not going to change state laws in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won Georgia because he got more votes .
He knows that state officials counted and certified all of the legally cast votes ― three times , in fact .
He knows there is no evidence of widespread fraud in any state in the presidential election .
But the South Carolina senator almost certainly wants to stay in the good graces of President Donald Trump , who continues to lie about fraud being the reason he lost the election , and Trump ’ s loyal base of supporters who believe him .
So it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance on the show , which the host was airing from Georgia this week , the senator offered a convoluted explanation for how Abrams , a popular Black Democrat who runs a national voting rights organization based in Georgia , fooled GOP officials : Stacey Abrams conned the Republican leadership in Georgia into a consent decree that basically adulterated the signature verification system , so that you ’ re comparing the ballot signatures to the application signature .
They ’ re the same person who did the fraud .
You should be comparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ballot , to a signature that existed before the application was made .
She changed that .
Graham appears to be referring to Georgia state officials , who are Republicans , agreeing to a legal settlement in March that addressed a lack of statewide standards for matching signatures on absentee ballot envelopes .
The state ’ s Democratic Party led the lawsuit , arguing that signature mismatches disproportionately affected minorities in Georgia .
The settlement laid out steps for local election officials to notify voters ― by phone , mail or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a problem with a signature .
Abrams , who helped register a lot of voters in this election and helped them navigate barriers that had been erected to keep Georgians of color from voting , backed the lawsuit and has talked about why changes were necessary .
“ The issue was they threw out your ballot if there was a signature mismatch , which was twice as likely if you were Black or Latino , five times as likely if you ’ re young , ” Abrams told The Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high percentage of immigrants had their ballots thrown out .
We were able to get a consent decree earlier this year where you ’ d get to fix your ballot if they think there ’ s a problem.
” Graham ’ s distortion of the situation is not surprising , said Abrams spokesman Seth Bringman , given that he ’ s the same out-of-state senator who personally pressured Georgia officials to throw out legally cast votes .
“ While he focuses on lies and misinformation , we will focus on encouraging Georgians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting next week for the Jan. 5 Senate runoff so that the likes of Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell no longer control the U.S. Senate , ” Bringman said .
It was clear from Graham ’ s interview what his actual goal was in going after Abrams : driving up his own fundraising ― “ We need you to help Loeffler and Perdue .
Go to my website , ” he told listeners ― and trying to fire up Trump supporters to show up in January for Georgia ’ s runoff elections so @ @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that President-elect Joe Biden won the state of Georgia because, somehow, Democrat Stacey Abrams tricked Republicans into abetting voter fraud by helping more people legally vote.
Abrams “conned the Republican leadership in Georgia” into it, Graham said Wednesday on the conservative radio show “The Mike Gallagher Show.”
Advertisement
GOP leaders in the state must now change their laws to “stop Stacey Abrams from stealing the Senate race,” he continued, referring to the two Georgia Senate runoff elections in January, which will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate. Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are both running to hold on to their seats.
Graham doubtless knows what he’s saying is nonsense. He knows it’s fueling distrust in democracy. He’s knows Georgia officials are not going to change state laws in the coming days. He knows that Biden won Georgia because he got more votes. He knows that state officials counted and certified all of the legally cast votes ― three times, in fact. He knows there is no evidence of widespread fraud in any state in the presidential election.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has decided it is a better idea to fuel lies about President Donald Trump losing reelection due to fraud instead of supporting democratic institutions like free and fair elections. Susan Walsh - Pool/Getty Images
But the South Carolina senator almost certainly wants to stay in the good graces of President Donald Trump, who continues to lie about fraud being the reason he lost the election, and Trump’s loyal base of supporters who believe him. So it’s worth it.
Advertisement
During his appearance on the show, which the host was airing from Georgia this week, the senator offered a convoluted explanation for how Abrams, a popular Black Democrat who runs a national voting rights organization based in Georgia, fooled GOP officials:
Stacey Abrams conned the Republican leadership in Georgia into a consent decree that basically adulterated the signature verification system, so that you’re comparing the ballot signatures to the application signature. They’re the same person who did the fraud. You should be comparing the ballot signature, the envelope signature on the ballot, to a signature that existed before the application was made. She changed that.
Graham appears to be referring to Georgia state officials, who are Republicans, agreeing to a legal settlement in March that addressed a lack of statewide standards for matching signatures on absentee ballot envelopes. The state’s Democratic Party led the lawsuit, arguing that signature mismatches disproportionately affected minorities in Georgia. The settlement laid out steps for local election officials to notify voters ― by phone, mail or email ― in a timely fashion if there was a problem with a signature.
Abrams, who helped register a lot of voters in this election and helped them navigate barriers that had been erected to keep Georgians of color from voting, backed the lawsuit and has talked about why changes were necessary.
“The issue was they threw out your ballot if there was a signature mismatch, which was twice as likely if you were Black or Latino, five times as likely if you’re young,” Abrams told The Los Angeles Times in September. “A fairly high percentage of immigrants had their ballots thrown out. We were able to get a consent decree earlier this year where you’d get to fix your ballot if they think there’s a problem.”
Advertisement
Graham’s distortion of the situation is not surprising, said Abrams spokesman Seth Bringman, given that he’s the same out-of-state senator who personally pressured Georgia officials to throw out legally cast votes.
“While he focuses on lies and misinformation, we will focus on encouraging Georgians to request their mail ballots and vote early starting next week for the Jan. 5 Senate runoff so that the likes of Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell no longer control the U.S. Senate,” Bringman said.
It was clear from Graham’s interview what his actual goal was in going after Abrams: driving up his own fundraising ― “We need you to help Loeffler and Perdue. Go to my website,” he told listeners ― and trying to fire up Trump supporters to show up in January for Georgia’s runoff elections so his party keeps the Senate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--DOJ Is Investigating Hunter Biden Over Taxes, Biden Transition Announces

News of the investigation comes just as Joe Biden is set to announce his nominee for attorney general of the United States .
Hunter Biden had been a constant target for President Donald Trump during the 2020 campaign .
Hunter Biden said in a statement that the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Delaware informed his legal counsel about the investigation on Tuesday .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office declined to comment , citing Justice Department policy .
“ I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and appropriately , including with the benefit of professional tax advisors , ” Hunter Biden said .
Joe Biden is “ deeply proud ” of his son , who has “ fought through difficult challenges , including the vicious personal attacks of recent months , only to emerge stronger , ” a statement from the transition team said .
A CNN reporter was working on a story about the investigation and had been in contact with Hunter Biden ’ s legal counsel when the transition team for Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reporter , senior justice correspondent Evan Perez , reported that the investigation began in 2018 , but was put on hold ahead of the 2020 election under DOJ policy .
Hunter Biden , seen here with his father President-elect Joe Biden , is under investigation by the Justice Department , the transition team announced Wednesday .
Investigators in the probe have been looking at whether Hunter Biden and his associates violated tax and money laundering laws in business dealings in foreign countries ― specifically China , as first reported by CNN and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those transactions reportedly involved people the FBI believe resulted in counterintelligence concerns , which CNN said is common when dealing with Chinese businesses .
Weeks before the election , Trump supporters used the existence of a laptop they said was tied to Hunter Biden — as well as the surfacing of someone who alleges he had business dealings with him — to question Joe Biden ’ s knowledge of his son ’ s activities in countries like Ukraine and China .
The president-elect maintains that he did not speak with Hunter Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied ever taking money from a foreign country .
The laptop became public in October when The New York Post reported on emails it alleged had come from Hunter Biden ’ s laptop , and that the publication said it received from Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
The tax probe on Hunter Biden has nothing to do with the laptop , according to the AP , who cited an anonymous source familiar with but not authorized to discuss the matter .
Joe Biden addressed his son ’ s business dealings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Jake Tapper , pledging to maintain an independent Justice Department free of any perceived conflicts of interest .
“ My son , my family will not be involved in any business , any enterprise that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict , where there ’ s appropriate distance from the presidency and government , ” the president-elect said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Federal prosecutors in Delaware are investigating President-elect Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden over tax issues, the transition team announced Wednesday.
News of the investigation comes just as Joe Biden is set to announce his nominee for attorney general of the United States. Hunter Biden had been a constant target for President Donald Trump during the 2020 campaign.
Advertisement
Hunter Biden said in a statement that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware informed his legal counsel about the investigation on Tuesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment, citing Justice Department policy.
“I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors,” Hunter Biden said.
Joe Biden is “deeply proud” of his son, who has “fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger,” a statement from the transition team said.
A CNN reporter was working on a story about the investigation and had been in contact with Hunter Biden’s legal counsel when the transition team for Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sent out its press release. The reporter, senior justice correspondent Evan Perez, reported that the investigation began in 2018, but was put on hold ahead of the 2020 election under DOJ policy.
Advertisement
Hunter Biden, seen here with his father President-elect Joe Biden, is under investigation by the Justice Department, the transition team announced Wednesday. ANDREW HARNIK via Getty Images
Investigators in the probe have been looking at whether Hunter Biden and his associates violated tax and money laundering laws in business dealings in foreign countries ― specifically China, as first reported by CNN and confirmed by The Associated Press. Some of those transactions reportedly involved people the FBI believe resulted in counterintelligence concerns, which CNN said is common when dealing with Chinese businesses.
Weeks before the election, Trump supporters used the existence of a laptop they said was tied to Hunter Biden — as well as the surfacing of someone who alleges he had business dealings with him — to question Joe Biden’s knowledge of his son’s activities in countries like Ukraine and China. The president-elect maintains that he did not speak with Hunter Biden about his business dealings, and has denied ever taking money from a foreign country.
The laptop became public in October when The New York Post reported on emails it alleged had come from Hunter Biden’s laptop, and that the publication said it received from Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
The tax probe on Hunter Biden has nothing to do with the laptop, according to the AP, who cited an anonymous source familiar with but not authorized to discuss the matter.
Advertisement
Joe Biden addressed his son’s business dealings in an interview last week with CNN’s Jake Tapper, pledging to maintain an independent Justice Department free of any perceived conflicts of interest.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Coronavirus Stimulus Negotiators Release Framework But Are Far From Deal

WASHINGTON ― The bipartisan group of senators negotiating a coronavirus stimulus deal finally released an updated framework of their proposal Wednesday , pushing ahead with their $ 900 billion plan even as leaders cast doubt on their compromise and are hawking proposals of their own .
The framework was extremely light on details and far from legislative text ― a sign of just how far lawmakers are from an actual deal ― but the summary included : Missing from the proposal was a plan for direct stimulus payments to households ; an extension of paid sick leave provisions ; or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shield to protect businesses and other organizations from coronavirus-related lawsuits .
A summary provided to HuffPost by a source involved in the negotiations only says “ agreement in principle as the basis for good faith negotiations ” under a section on the liability shield ― a likely shorthand noting that lawmakers still need to resolve that issue .
Both the liability shield and aid to state and local governments have been major roadblocks to a deal , as Republicans insist on protecting businesses from lawsuits related to bringing workers back and Democrats highlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , lawmakers from both sides have argued that stimulus checks also ought to be part of another relief bill .
The White House has also started pushing for stimulus checks , albeit at the expense of expanded unemployment benefits .
On Tuesday night , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin proposed a one-time $ 600 check for most Americans and dropped the extra $ 300 a week in unemployment benefits .
Democrats immediately rejected the idea as “ unacceptable.
” But it ’ s clear there is support for including direct stimulus checks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that issue .
Checks could be added in the final stages of negotiations ― or they may not , as lawmakers try to keep the price tag of a deal under $ 1 trillion .
Stimulus checks are immensely popular with voters and are a point of importance for many lawmakers who feel the stimulus needs to be larger to help the economy and struggling Americans .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) told HuffPost Tuesday night that her two priorities in a bill were stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deal that she could accept some form of a temporary liability shield .
Republicans are far from agreement on a temporary liability shield that Democrats might accept .
GOP negotiators have continued advocating for four years of liability protection , which seems like a non-starter for Democrats and which Ocasio-Cortez explicitly said was unacceptable .
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s proposal earlier this week to leave out the liability shield in exchange for leaving out state and local funding indicated that Republicans have some willingness to meet Democrats halfway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local aid may actually be the biggest roadblock to a deal at this point .
House Democrats have passed two bills with funding for state and local governments ― one in May with $ 1 trillion in funding , and one in October with over $ 400 billion .
But Republicans are generally resistant to bailing out states .
Even the ones who see some need for aid don ’ t see as much need as Democrats .
And the provisions for state and local aid are far from decided , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid would be divvied up .
If Republicans insist on a formula that stresses each state getting a roughly equal portion of the money , rather than money being divided by population , that would mean that states like California will be grossly underfunded .
That could be a redline for Democrats , particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who hails from California .
The summary says the proposal would reauthorize federal unemployment programs for 16 weeks , meaning they will simply continue to exist .
But three sources with knowledge of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that someone who had already received the maximum number of weeks provided by those programs could get another 16 weeks of benefits — with an extra $ 300 a week on top .
With the current federal unemployment programs in place , layoff victims in most states can receive up to 39 weeks of benefits , which is roughly nine months .
Millions of people got laid off from their jobs in March , can ’ t return to work because of the virus , and are reaching the end of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months of compensation .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― The bipartisan group of senators negotiating a coronavirus stimulus deal finally released an updated framework of their proposal Wednesday, pushing ahead with their $900 billion plan even as leaders cast doubt on their compromise and are hawking proposals of their own.
The framework was extremely light on details and far from legislative text ― a sign of just how far lawmakers are from an actual deal ― but the summary included:
Advertisement
$300 billion for the GOP-favored Paycheck Protection Program (which goes toward helping businesses)
$160 billion for state and local aid “as the basis for good faith negotiations.”
an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits for 16 weeks
a 15 percent increase in food assistance benefits for 16 weeks
an extension of the current student loan freeze
$82 billion for schools
$35 billion to support health care workers
$25 billion for rental assistance
$13 billion for farmers
$10 billion for the Postal Service
$7 billion for coronavirus vaccine deployment
$7 billion for greater contact tracing and testing
a bailout for the airline and busing industries
Missing from the proposal was a plan for direct stimulus payments to households; an extension of paid sick leave provisions; or any details on the hotly contested liability shield to protect businesses and other organizations from coronavirus-related lawsuits. A summary provided to HuffPost by a source involved in the negotiations only says “agreement in principle as the basis for good faith negotiations” under a section on the liability shield ― a likely shorthand noting that lawmakers still need to resolve that issue.
Both the liability shield and aid to state and local governments have been major roadblocks to a deal, as Republicans insist on protecting businesses from lawsuits related to bringing workers back and Democrats highlight the threat to public sector employees. Meanwhile, lawmakers from both sides have argued that stimulus checks also ought to be part of another relief bill.
The White House has also started pushing for stimulus checks, albeit at the expense of expanded unemployment benefits. On Tuesday night, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin proposed a one-time $600 check for most Americans and dropped the extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits. Democrats immediately rejected the idea as “unacceptable.”
Advertisement
But it’s clear there is support for including direct stimulus checks, even though the bipartisan framework has avoided that issue. Checks could be added in the final stages of negotiations ― or they may not, as lawmakers try to keep the price tag of a deal under $1 trillion.
Stimulus checks are immensely popular with voters and are a point of importance for many lawmakers who feel the stimulus needs to be larger to help the economy and struggling Americans.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost Tuesday night that her two priorities in a bill were stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits, noting that she was so eager to get a deal that she could accept some form of a temporary liability shield.
“It’s a bitter pill,” she said. “I think it’s one that we could swallow if it’s really limited in scope.”
Republicans are far from agreement on a temporary liability shield that Democrats might accept. GOP negotiators have continued advocating for four years of liability protection, which seems like a non-starter for Democrats and which Ocasio-Cortez explicitly said was unacceptable. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposal earlier this week to leave out the liability shield in exchange for leaving out state and local funding indicated that Republicans have some willingness to meet Democrats halfway on the employer protections.
Advertisement
Democrats, for the record, immediately resisted the idea of leaving out state and local aid.
The state and local aid may actually be the biggest roadblock to a deal at this point. House Democrats have passed two bills with funding for state and local governments ― one in May with $1 trillion in funding, and one in October with over $400 billion.
States are facing major budget shortfalls this year. And in a number of state constitutions, their government can’t run a deficit, meaning state lawmakers and governors would have to drastically cut programs.
But Republicans are generally resistant to bailing out states. Even the ones who see some need for aid don’t see as much need as Democrats. And the provisions for state and local aid are far from decided, as well as the formula for deciding how aid would be divvied up.
If Republicans insist on a formula that stresses each state getting a roughly equal portion of the money, rather than money being divided by population, that would mean that states like California will be grossly underfunded. That could be a redline for Democrats, particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hails from California.
One item that will attract Democrats is the expanded unemployment benefits.
The summary says the proposal would reauthorize federal unemployment programs for 16 weeks, meaning they will simply continue to exist. But three sources with knowledge of the framework said it would also make it so that someone who had already received the maximum number of weeks provided by those programs could get another 16 weeks of benefits — with an extra $300 a week on top.
Advertisement
With the current federal unemployment programs in place, layoff victims in most states can receive up to 39 weeks of benefits, which is roughly nine months. Millions of people got laid off from their jobs in March, can’t return to work because of the virus, and are reaching the end of their benefits window. States typically provide just six months of compensation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--GOP Senators And Democratic Defectors Save Donald Trump's Biggest Arms Deal

A slim bipartisan majority of senators endorsed the Trump administration ’ s plan to sell $ 13 billion in sophisticated weaponry to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday , defying concerns about the UAE ’ s role in civil wars and likely war crimes and President Donald Trump ’ s rushed process of pushing through the arms deal .
The result is a big loss for lawmakers and activists who want a less hawkish U.S. foreign policy — and a signal that they have a lot of work to do under President-elect Joe Biden .
Two influential Democrats , Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , were crucial to the deal ’ s survival .
Both voted in favor of one part of it , armed drones for the UAE , and Sinema also approved the second aspect , selling a batch of F-35 fighter jets to the country .
Congress ’ upper chamber was voting on two separate motions that would have stopped Trump from giving the belligerent UAE two arms systems it does not currently possess .
The F-35 proposal failed 49-47 ; the bill on the drones failed 50-46 .
Trump had said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressives and human rights groups are hopeful that the issue will be revisited soon after he leaves office .
The incoming Biden administration can halt the transfer of the two systems , as well as a separate $ 10 billion shipment of bombs and missiles for the UAE which senators targeted in different legislation that did not come up for a vote Wednesday .
The president-elect and his team have repeatedly promised to rein in excesses by U.S. partners in the region .
Critics of the UAE sale had said it could spur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worsen the UAE ’ s brutal interventions in the civil wars in Yemen and Libya and give Russia and China , UAE partners but U.S. adversaries , access to sensitive technology .
Scott Paul of Oxfam America cited Biden ’ s commitment to “ significantly alter ” U.S. policy in Yemen , where Washington has since 2015 helped the UAE and its ally Saudi Arabia wage a military campaign that ’ s produced the world ’ s worst humanitarian crisis .
“ The humanitarian situation in Yemen is predicted to deteriorate even further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rise .
Congress and the Biden administration should do all they can to halt these arms sales and be a force for peace to save lives in Yemen , ” Paul wrote in an email to HuffPost .
Clues that the Senate would permit the sale started to emerge earlier on Wednesday .
One key sign was the news ― first reported by HuffPost ― that Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) would back the package .
Lee often works with Sen. Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) , one of the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-war campaigners .
“ One is seldom disappointed by expecting Mike Lee to let you down when it really matters , ” Miles of Win Without War tweeted in response .
“ A true shame to see him and others greenlight such an atrocious arms sale.
” Activists working on similar national security issues in the future are likely to see this as an important reminder for their work : Don ’ t count your chickens before they ’ re hatched .
In conversations with HuffPost over a month , multiple advocates mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats , as hard to win over and possibly casting deciding votes against the sale , but Sinema and Kelly never came up .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A slim bipartisan majority of senators endorsed the Trump administration’s plan to sell $13 billion in sophisticated weaponry to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, defying concerns about the UAE’s role in civil wars and likely war crimes and President Donald Trump’s rushed process of pushing through the arms deal.
The result is a big loss for lawmakers and activists who want a less hawkish U.S. foreign policy — and a signal that they have a lot of work to do under President-elect Joe Biden.
Advertisement
Two influential Democrats, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona, were crucial to the deal’s survival. Both voted in favor of one part of it, armed drones for the UAE, and Sinema also approved the second aspect, selling a batch of F-35 fighter jets to the country.
“Really mindboggling votes,” Stephen Miles of the progressive group Win Without War tweeted of Sinema and Kelly after the vote. Arizona Daily Star columnist Tim Steller termed the senators’ move “disgusting.”
The defense unit of military contractor Raytheon — which is crucial to the drones being considered — is based in Arizona.
Congress’ upper chamber was voting on two separate motions that would have stopped Trump from giving the belligerent UAE two arms systems it does not currently possess. The F-35 proposal failed 49-47; the bill on the drones failed 50-46.
Advertisement
Trump had said he would veto the bills. Still, progressives and human rights groups are hopeful that the issue will be revisited soon after he leaves office. The incoming Biden administration can halt the transfer of the two systems, as well as a separate $10 billion shipment of bombs and missiles for the UAE which senators targeted in different legislation that did not come up for a vote Wednesday.
The president-elect and his team have repeatedly promised to rein in excesses by U.S. partners in the region. Critics of the UAE sale had said it could spur a new Middle East arms race, worsen the UAE’s brutal interventions in the civil wars in Yemen and Libya and give Russia and China, UAE partners but U.S. adversaries, access to sensitive technology.
“Rushing through massive sales of Reaper drones and our most advanced fighter jets to the Middle East just makes defense companies richer and international security poorer,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a leader in the effort against the sale, said after the vote. “While I am disappointed the Republican-controlled Senate failed to block these sales, I am eager to work with the incoming administration to take a closer look at each of these sales before any transfers are completed.”
Scott Paul of Oxfam America cited Biden’s commitment to “significantly alter” U.S. policy in Yemen, where Washington has since 2015 helped the UAE and its ally Saudi Arabia wage a military campaign that’s produced the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. “The humanitarian situation in Yemen is predicted to deteriorate even further in the coming months with hunger on the rise. Congress and the Biden administration should do all they can to halt these arms sales and be a force for peace to save lives in Yemen,” Paul wrote in an email to HuffPost.
Clues that the Senate would permit the sale started to emerge earlier on Wednesday. One key sign was the news ― first reported by HuffPost ― that Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) would back the package. Lee often works with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the chief critics of the package, and with anti-war campaigners.
Advertisement
“One is seldom disappointed by expecting Mike Lee to let you down when it really matters,” Miles of Win Without War tweeted in response. “A true shame to see him and others greenlight such an atrocious arms sale.”
Activists working on similar national security issues in the future are likely to see this as an important reminder for their work: Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. In conversations with HuffPost over a month, multiple advocates mentioned Lee, as well as other Republicans and Democrats, as hard to win over and possibly casting deciding votes against the sale, but Sinema and Kelly never came up.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--No Paid Leave In Latest Relief Bill Fails Women, Public Health And Common Sense

The $ 900 billion relief proposal unveiled Wednesday morning by a bipartisan group of senators includes a long list of items that are absolutely necessary for fighting the pandemic through the coming gruesome winter .
There ’ s more unemployment relief , money for vaccine distribution , and funds to help feed an increasing number of hungry Americans .
Public health and women ’ s advocates are angry and baffled by the omission .
“ It ’ s an affront to all reason , ” said Vicki Shabo , a senior fellow at New America who specializes in paid family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incomprehensible , short-sighted and ridiculous given the public health benefits that are proven and the growing number of parents home with kids.
” The sick leave provides workers with up to two weeks paid time off if they contract COVID-19 or believe they ’ ve been exposed to it .
The family leave policy provides up to 12 weeks off ― 10 of which are partially paid ― for parents who need to be home with children attending virtual school or whose day care or school is closed .
The leave policies support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , there are the health benefits .
A recent study found that the emergency paid sick leave helped reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
Second , there ’ s the small business piece : Many business owners say the leave has helped them through the crisis , enabling them to hang on to workers through the ups and downs of exposures and quarantines .
( The policy exempts companies with more than 500 employees . )
Finally , the emergency paid family leave has helped many parents ― particularly working mothers — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s proving close to impossible .
Already , roughly 2.2 million women have been forced out of work entirely because of this pandemic , a development that economists believe will set back a generation of workers .
“ If they let one of our most cost-effective and impactful tools to fight COVID expire as the pandemic is peaking , they ’ re ignoring the needs of their voters , small businesses and working families everywhere , ” said Dawn Huckelbridge , director of Paid Leave for All .
She pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates it would cost $ 1.8 billion to extend the policy for three months , according to a report in Politico ’ s Morning Shift newsletter .
That ’ s about one-tenth of the Congressional Budget Office ’ s original projection , and far cheaper than unemployment benefits .
To be clear , a policy like paid leave keeps workers from becoming unemployed .
One ice cream shop owner in Seattle told HuffPost this week that three working mothers at her company are using the family leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their jobs at the scoop shop .
House Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , small business groups , public health professionals , and parents organizations are all still fighting to get the paid leave provision back into any kind of relief package Congress passes in this session , advocates said .
Some are hopeful that the final version of the package will include an extension ; lawmakers are still far from a deal .
“ This is an emergency package , ” said Sen. Joe Manchin ( D-W.Va. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working out all the language for the bill itself .
You ’ re seeing the summary of the section by section.
” But paid leave advocates said Senate Republicans — particularly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — have been a major roadblock .
Instead of extending benefits , McConnell wants to create a provision that will shield businesses from being sued by their employees over coronavirus-related claims .
“ Pelosi and others are fighting for it , ” said Ellen Bravo , a strategic advisor for Family Values @ Work , a network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a Senate majority leader who ’ s trying to bully his way on protecting corporations while ignoring workers.
” To let companies get away with not providing sick leave and at the same time exempt them from liability for lawsuits is unconscionable , advocates said .
“ The idea that you would remove the incentive they would have to provide a safe workspace , ” said Shabo , “ is , again , mind-boggling.
” “ Senate Republicans have resisted meaningful policy change for two key issues — paid leave and child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their families and overall economic growth , ” said Shilpa Phadke , vice president of the women ’ s initiative at the Center for American Progress .
“ This is just another example of how Senate Republicans continue to dismiss and ignore what women and families need .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The $900 billion relief proposal unveiled Wednesday morning by a bipartisan group of senators includes a long list of items that are absolutely necessary for fighting the pandemic through the coming gruesome winter. There’s more unemployment relief, money for vaccine distribution, and funds to help feed an increasing number of hungry Americans.
One crucial policy is missing: an extension of the paid family and sick leave benefits passed by Congress in March.
Advertisement
Public health and women’s advocates are angry and baffled by the omission. “It’s an affront to all reason,” said Vicki Shabo, a senior fellow at New America who specializes in paid family leave. “It’s beyond incomprehensible, short-sighted and ridiculous given the public health benefits that are proven and the growing number of parents home with kids.”
The current paid sick and family leave provisions expire at the end of December.
The sick leave provides workers with up to two weeks paid time off if they contract COVID-19 or believe they’ve been exposed to it. The family leave policy provides up to 12 weeks off ― 10 of which are partially paid ― for parents who need to be home with children attending virtual school or whose day care or school is closed.
The leave policies support Americans in at least three ways. First, there are the health benefits. A recent study found that the emergency paid sick leave helped reduce the spread of COVID-19. Second, there’s the small business piece: Many business owners say the leave has helped them through the crisis, enabling them to hang on to workers through the ups and downs of exposures and quarantines. (The policy exempts companies with more than 500 employees.)
Finally, the emergency paid family leave has helped many parents ― particularly working mothers — keep their jobs at a time when that’s proving close to impossible. Already, roughly 2.2 million women have been forced out of work entirely because of this pandemic, a development that economists believe will set back a generation of workers.
Advertisement
““The idea that you would remove the incentive they would have to provide a safe workspace is, again, mind-boggling.”” - Vicki Shabo, senior fellow at New America
“If they let one of our most cost-effective and impactful tools to fight COVID expire as the pandemic is peaking, they’re ignoring the needs of their voters, small businesses and working families everywhere,” said Dawn Huckelbridge, director of Paid Leave for All.
She pointed out that paid leave is also cost effective. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates it would cost $1.8 billion to extend the policy for three months, according to a report in Politico’s Morning Shift newsletter. That’s about one-tenth of the Congressional Budget Office’s original projection, and far cheaper than unemployment benefits.
To be clear, a policy like paid leave keeps workers from becoming unemployed. One ice cream shop owner in Seattle told HuffPost this week that three working mothers at her company are using the family leave policy in order to juggle virtual schooling with their jobs at the scoop shop.
House Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), small business groups, public health professionals, and parents organizations are all still fighting to get the paid leave provision back into any kind of relief package Congress passes in this session, advocates said. Some are hopeful that the final version of the package will include an extension; lawmakers are still far from a deal.
Advertisement
“This is an emergency package,” said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). “They’re still working out all the language for the bill itself. You’re seeing the summary of the section by section.”
But paid leave advocates said Senate Republicans — particularly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — have been a major roadblock. Instead of extending benefits, McConnell wants to create a provision that will shield businesses from being sued by their employees over coronavirus-related claims.
“Pelosi and others are fighting for it,” said Ellen Bravo, a strategic advisor for Family Values @ Work, a network of advocacy groups. “We unfortunately have a Senate majority leader who’s trying to bully his way on protecting corporations while ignoring workers.”
To let companies get away with not providing sick leave and at the same time exempt them from liability for lawsuits is unconscionable, advocates said. “The idea that you would remove the incentive they would have to provide a safe workspace,” said Shabo, “is, again, mind-boggling.”
Others took issue with how women in particular would be affected.
“Senate Republicans have resisted meaningful policy change for two key issues — paid leave and child care — that are critical for women, their families and overall economic growth,” said Shilpa Phadke, vice president of the women’s initiative at the Center for American Progress. “This is just another example of how Senate Republicans continue to dismiss and ignore what women and families need.”
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Trump Mocked For Odd Claim That 'Bookies' Favored Him On Election Eve

On Monday , the Pittsburgh Steelers were up 14-3 over The Washington Football Team until about halfway through the third @ @ @ @ @ happened was the Steelers lost because the other team ended up scoring more points when @ @ @ @ @ https : //t.co/K4I62AD341

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers were up 14-3 over The Washington Football Team until about halfway through the third quarter. And then what happened was the Steelers lost because the other team ended up scoring more points when the game was over. https://t.co/K4I62AD341


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner Buy $30 Million Property On Trump-Loving Miami Island

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may have hinted at their living plans after Donald Trump ’ s election defeat , forking over big bucks for undeveloped property on Indian Creek Island in Miami ’ s Biscayne Bay , according to reports .
The couple , both advisers to the outgoing president , are also seeking to add new bedrooms , a bathroom and a mudroom to their “ Kushner cottage ” at the president ’ s golf club in Bedminster , New Jersey , People reported .
The plans are awaiting approval .
The New York Post , which had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tag at $ 30 million-plus .
The property , which was listed by Julio Iglesias , reportedly covers 1.84 acres , including 200 feet of private waterfront on Biscayne Bay .
The island is often called the “ Billionaire Bunker.
” The White House advisers should fit right into their potential new neighborhood .
Residents of the island cast 53 votes for president in the election and 79 % of them went to Donald Trump , the Miami Herald reported .
Trump and Kushner live in Washington , D.C. , with their three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and the real estate agent on the Florida deal declined comment to People , which also confirmed the purchase .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may have hinted at their living plans after Donald Trump’s election defeat, forking over big bucks for undeveloped property on Indian Creek Island in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, according to reports.
The couple, both advisers to the outgoing president, are also seeking to add new bedrooms, a bathroom and a mudroom to their “Kushner cottage” at the president’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, People reported. The plans are awaiting approval.
Advertisement
The New York Post, which had the scoop, put the Florida price tag at $30 million-plus.
The property, which was listed by Julio Iglesias, reportedly covers 1.84 acres, including 200 feet of private waterfront on Biscayne Bay. The island is often called the “Billionaire Bunker.”
The White House advisers should fit right into their potential new neighborhood. Residents of the island cast 53 votes for president in the election and 79% of them went to Donald Trump, the Miami Herald reported.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Lou Dobbs Blasts Supreme Court After It Rejects Pennsylvania Election Case

A deflated Lou Dobbs on Tuesday called the Supreme Court ’ s rejection of a GOP bid to overturn Pennsylvania ’ s election results “ cowardly.
” The high court , which includes three justices appointed by President Donald Trump , declined to question the certification of President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory over Trump .
Republicans had claimed the state ’ s expanded mail-in ballot system was unconstitutional in a long-shot bid to support Trump ’ s baseless whining that the election was rigged .
“ Well , the Supreme Court demurred : courage lacking , and the will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very much in question , ” Dobbs , a Trump acolyte , said on his Fox Business show .
( You can watch video of his reaction below . )
Dobbs was especially irked that the justices made the decision without commenting on the matter .
“ I mean , it really looks awful for them not to have said anything , to have not been enlightening in any way , ” he griped to Greg Teufel , an attorney representing the GOP in the case .
“ It ’ s downright frustrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cowardly on the part , it seems to me , of the court.
” Dobbs ’ reaction to the news was far more subdued than his viral Monday rant directed at White House adviser Stephen Miller and other “ gutless ” Republicans , as Dobbs put it , for bungling their attempts to make Trump ’ s efforts to delegitimize the election succeed .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The high court, which includes three justices appointed by President Donald Trump, declined to question the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Republicans had claimed the state’s expanded mail-in ballot system was unconstitutional in a long-shot bid to support Trump’s baseless whining that the election was rigged.
Advertisement
“Well, the Supreme Court demurred: courage lacking, and the will to stand up for the Constitution now very much in question,” Dobbs, a Trump acolyte, said on his Fox Business show. (You can watch video of his reaction below.)
Dobbs was especially irked that the justices made the decision without commenting on the matter.
“I mean, it really looks awful for them not to have said anything, to have not been enlightening in any way,” he griped to Greg Teufel, an attorney representing the GOP in the case. “It’s downright frustrating, but it’s also very cowardly on the part, it seems to me, of the court.”
Dobbs’ reaction to the news was far more subdued than his viral Monday rant directed at White House adviser Stephen Miller and other “gutless” Republicans, as Dobbs put it, for bungling their attempts to make Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the election succeed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Terry McAuliffe Jumps Into Virginia Governor's Race

AP Photo/Steve Helber , File Former Virginia Gov .
Terry McAuliffe addressing a joint session of the state 's legislature in Richmond in 2018 .
He announced Wednesday that he 's running for governor of the state once again .
McAuliffe was governor from 2014 to 2018 , and Virginia bars governors from serving consecutive terms .
He is known for his fundraising abilities , was chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005 and has a long and deep relationship with the Clintons .
But McAuliffe has already faced some backlash for jumping into the race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman to become governor .
All three of the other Democratic candidates are Black .
State Del .
Jennifer Carroll Foy and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan are both running in the Democratic primary and would make history as the state ’ s first female governor and the country ’ s first Black female governor .
Lt. Gov .
Justin Fairfax is also in the race .
Once considered a front-runner for a potential gubernatorial bid , he has since dealt with the fallout from sexual assault allegations .
Virginia has seen a remarkable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former seat of the Confederacy turning bluer and more diverse since McAuliffe ’ s time in office .
Last year , Democrats won control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time in more than two decades .
On Wednesday , McAuliffe held his launch event outside an elementary school named after Richmond ’ s first Black school board chair .
He was joined by his campaign co-chairs , who are all prominent Black leaders in Virginia : Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney , state House Majority Leader Charniele L. Herring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Black woman to serve as president pro tempore of the state Senate .
Lucas , who has been a steadfast McAuliffe backer , expressed frustration with people who criticized him for standing in the way of potentially electing the nation ’ s first Black female governor .
“ At the appropriate time , I would say either one of them might have an opportunity , ” she said of McClellan and Carroll Foy in an interview with Politico .
“ But for right now what we need is Terry McAuliffe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black community .
He always asks what the Black community ’ s needs are .
We ’ ve got somebody who we know can deliver.
” In an email to supporters Wednesday , Carroll Foy ― who resigned from the state House to focus on her gubernatorial run ― said McAuliffe was “ emblematic of the status quo that has simply left too many people behind.
” McClellan was less blunt in her criticism of McAuliffe in a statement to reporters , but said Virginia requires “ a new approach and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits all Virginians while addressing healthcare , education , climate and inequity crises.
” McAuliffe focused on his remarks Wednesday on the coronavirus pandemic , vowing to help address education disparities and trying to pitch himself as someone not of the past .
“ The old Richmond approach just doesn ’ t work anymore , ” he said .
“ Folks , it is time for a new Virginia way .
I know that old way of thinking because I fought against it constantly as governor , time and time again.
” On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chase ― who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump ― recently announced she would run as an independent rather than seek the GOP nomination at a state convention .
Former state House Speaker Kirk Cox is also in the race .

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe addressing a joint session of the state's legislature in Richmond in 2018. He announced Wednesday that he's running for governor of the state once again. AP Photo/Steve Helber, File
Democrat Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday that he is officially jumping into the 2021 Virginia governor’s race, making a bid for his old job.
McAuliffe was governor from 2014 to 2018, and Virginia bars governors from serving consecutive terms. He is known for his fundraising abilities, was chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005 and has a long and deep relationship with the Clintons.
Advertisement
McAuliffe’s entrance into the race has long been anticipated, and his name recognition and popular tenure make him the clear front-runner.
But McAuliffe has already faced some backlash for jumping into the race, potentially blocking the path for a Black woman to become governor. All three of the other Democratic candidates are Black.
State Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan are both running in the Democratic primary and would make history as the state’s first female governor and the country’s first Black female governor.
Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is also in the race. Once considered a front-runner for a potential gubernatorial bid, he has since dealt with the fallout from sexual assault allegations.
Advertisement
Virginia has seen a remarkable shift in recent years, with the former seat of the Confederacy turning bluer and more diverse since McAuliffe’s time in office. Last year, Democrats won control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time in more than two decades.
On Wednesday, McAuliffe held his launch event outside an elementary school named after Richmond’s first Black school board chair. He was joined by his campaign co-chairs, who are all prominent Black leaders in Virginia: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, state House Majority Leader Charniele L. Herring (D) and Louise Lucas, the first Black woman to serve as president pro tempore of the state Senate.
Lucas, who has been a steadfast McAuliffe backer, expressed frustration with people who criticized him for standing in the way of potentially electing the nation’s first Black female governor.
“At the appropriate time, I would say either one of them might have an opportunity,” she said of McClellan and Carroll Foy in an interview with Politico. “But for right now what we need is Terry McAuliffe, somebody who we know has history with the Black community. He always asks what the Black community’s needs are. We’ve got somebody who we know can deliver.”
In an email to supporters Wednesday, Carroll Foy ― who resigned from the state House to focus on her gubernatorial run ― said McAuliffe was “emblematic of the status quo that has simply left too many people behind.”
Advertisement
McClellan was less blunt in her criticism of McAuliffe in a statement to reporters, but said Virginia requires “a new approach and a fresh vision to rebuild an economy that benefits all Virginians while addressing healthcare, education, climate and inequity crises.”
McAuliffe focused on his remarks Wednesday on the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to help address education disparities and trying to pitch himself as someone not of the past.
“The old Richmond approach just doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “Folks, it is time for a new Virginia way. I know that old way of thinking because I fought against it constantly as governor, time and time again.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Bipartisan COVID-19 Proposal Extends Benefits For Long-Term Jobless By 16 Weeks

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are negotiating a COVID-19 relief package that would preserve federal unemployment programs and provide additional weeks of benefits for people who have been unemployed for more than nine months .
That means the federal unemployment programs Congress created in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act , which are slated to expire at the end of December , would remain in place through the winter and into the spring ― helping millions of workers through the worst wave of coronavirus cases yet .
But extending those programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most states , the combination of federal and state benefits provides at least 39 weeks of compensation .
The new proposal goes further .
According to sources with knowledge of the bipartisan framework , lawmakers have agreed to add 16 more weeks of benefits to what those programs provide , meaning the total duration of state-federal unemployment compensation would stretch to 55 weeks .
Workers who lost their jobs in March or April , in other words , would have another 16 weeks of benefits instead of running out in December or January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broader COVID-19 relief package that includes aid to states , businesses and various other provisions to mitigate the economic fallout from a pandemic that is many times worse than it was when Congress passed the CARES Act .
But it ’ s anyone ’ s guess whether the bipartisan negotiation , which Sens .
Joe Manchin ( D-W.Va. ) and Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) are leading , will result in an actual law .
Democratic leaders have embraced the compromise framework , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer their own proposals that include provisions Democrats hate , such as McConnell ’ s four-year clampdown on coronavirus lawsuits .
In their counteroffers , McConnell and the Trump administration have also abandoned the extra weekly benefits they previously supported , though the benefits haven ’ t been one of the most contentious issues .
Democrats have pushed for the extra weeks and sought to bring back a $ 600 CARES Act supplement that expired in July .
If Congress doesn ’ t act , nearly 12 million people receiving unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them later this month .
Also expiring : a moratorium on evictions , a paid leave program and student loan forbearance provided under the CARES Act .
Housing debt among unemployed renters has spiked in recent months , and millions more could face eviction .
Continued payments would be crucial to people who got laid off in March and still can ’ t work , either because their job can ’ t exist with a contagious disease spreading wildly or because they themselves are at higher risk of severe illness .
Maria G. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a corporate travel agent who got laid off in March .
Corporate travel has not returned to its pre-pandemic levels , and likely won ’ t until the there is a widely distributed vaccine .
North Carolina is one of a handful of states that offers much less than the standard six months of unemployment compensation available elsewhere .
Gonzalez , 67 , said she ran out of jobless pay early in November and has since suffered from constant stress about her finances .
Gonzalez is one of more than 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra benefits provided by the CARES Act , according to a recent analysis of claims data from The Century Foundation .
“ It ’ s not fun .
You ’ re kind of worried about what ’ s coming around the corner all the time , ” Gonzalez said .
“ You ’ re not sure who you can turn to for assistance and it ’ s tough.
” She would likely be able to resume her unemployment claim if Congress passed a bill with the bipartisan framework on unemployment , plus get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said she doesn ’ t think it ’ s fair that she should have to reinvent herself and find a new job after a 30-year career , especially not when vaccines are around the corner and Congress has already shown how easily it can provide economic security when it feels like it .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are negotiating a COVID-19 relief package that would preserve federal unemployment programs and provide additional weeks of benefits for people who have been unemployed for more than nine months.
A summary of the latest negotiating framework HuffPost obtained includes an extra $300 per week, plus an extension “of all pandemic unemployment insurance programs by 16 weeks.”
Advertisement
That means the federal unemployment programs Congress created in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which are slated to expire at the end of December, would remain in place through the winter and into the spring ― helping millions of workers through the worst wave of coronavirus cases yet.
But extending those programs just preserves the status quo: In most states, the combination of federal and state benefits provides at least 39 weeks of compensation. The new proposal goes further. According to sources with knowledge of the bipartisan framework, lawmakers have agreed to add 16 more weeks of benefits to what those programs provide, meaning the total duration of state-federal unemployment compensation would stretch to 55 weeks.
Workers who lost their jobs in March or April, in other words, would have another 16 weeks of benefits instead of running out in December or January.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiling a COVID-19 emergency relief framework last week. Caroline Brehman via Getty Images
Advertisement
The unemployment proposal is part of a broader COVID-19 relief package that includes aid to states, businesses and various other provisions to mitigate the economic fallout from a pandemic that is many times worse than it was when Congress passed the CARES Act.
But it’s anyone’s guess whether the bipartisan negotiation, which Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) are leading, will result in an actual law. Democratic leaders have embraced the compromise framework, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the Trump administration have instead continued to offer their own proposals that include provisions Democrats hate, such as McConnell’s four-year clampdown on coronavirus lawsuits.
In their counteroffers, McConnell and the Trump administration have also abandoned the extra weekly benefits they previously supported, though the benefits haven’t been one of the most contentious issues. Democrats have pushed for the extra weeks and sought to bring back a $600 CARES Act supplement that expired in July.
If Congress doesn’t act, nearly 12 million people receiving unemployment benefits from federal programs will abruptly stop receiving them later this month. Also expiring: a moratorium on evictions, a paid leave program and student loan forbearance provided under the CARES Act. Housing debt among unemployed renters has spiked in recent months, and millions more could face eviction.
Extra weeks of benefits are a standard part of the federal government’s response to every recession. In 2010, Congress pushed the total duration of state and federal benefits to 99 weeks.
Advertisement
Continued payments would be crucial to people who got laid off in March and still can’t work, either because their job can’t exist with a contagious disease spreading wildly or because they themselves are at higher risk of severe illness.
Maria G. Gonzalez of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, is a corporate travel agent who got laid off in March. Corporate travel has not returned to its pre-pandemic levels, and likely won’t until the there is a widely distributed vaccine.
North Carolina is one of a handful of states that offers much less than the standard six months of unemployment compensation available elsewhere. Gonzalez, 67, said she ran out of jobless pay early in November and has since suffered from constant stress about her finances.
Gonzalez is one of more than 4 million people who have already exhausted the extra benefits provided by the CARES Act, according to a recent analysis of claims data from The Century Foundation.
“It’s not fun. You’re kind of worried about what’s coming around the corner all the time,” Gonzalez said. “You’re not sure who you can turn to for assistance and it’s tough.”
Advertisement
She would likely be able to resume her unemployment claim if Congress passed a bill with the bipartisan framework on unemployment, plus get an extra $300 per week.
She said she doesn’t think it’s fair that she should have to reinvent herself and find a new job after a 30-year career, especially not when vaccines are around the corner and Congress has already shown how easily it can provide economic security when it feels like it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Biden's Win Is Sealed No Matter What Trump Camp Claims

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — There ’ s plenty of noise but no cause for confusion as President Donald Trump vents about how the election turned out and vows to subvert it even still .
This truth is self-evident : Joe Biden is on track to become president Jan. 20 .
The machinery of government and democracy is moving inexorably toward that end despite Trump ’ s attempts to undermine the voters ’ will .
Trump on Wednesday demanded an “ OVERTURN ’ of the outcome in a collection of tweets arguing he could only have lost the election if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support his case by saying odds-makers on election night heavily favored his reelection , “ the so-called ‘ bookies , ’ ” as if a gambler ’ s bet mattered .
It doesn ’ t .
Americans who don ’ t wish to get caught up in the nitty gritty of Trump ’ s attempts to undermine the election can take their cue from one of the many judges who have dismissed the complaints of his team or his allies that the voting or counting was corrupt .
Not only has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harbor and dropped anchor .
Biden ’ s victory was essentially locked in Tuesday by the so-called safe harbor deadline set by federal law for states to finish their certifications and resolve legal disputes .
It ’ s an insurance policy to guard against Congress trying to manipulate the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6 .
These steps — the deadline , the convening of the Electoral College in state capitals , Congress ’ count in early January — are rituals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at large .
They became less ignorable when Trump began exploring any and all avenues to stay in power .
But the election is over and has been for weeks .
Here ’ s why : —The Democrat is set to finish with even more electoral votes , 306 , a total Trump called a landslide when he won the same in 2016 .
—No systemic fraud or even consequential error has been established in an election that state monitors and courts have repeatedly found was run fairly .
More than that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given that it was held in the middle of a deadly pandemic .
—Trump ’ s attempts to browbeat Republican officials in Georgia and Michigan into upending Biden ’ s victory in those states came to nothing .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s plenty of noise but no cause for confusion as President Donald Trump vents about how the election turned out and vows to subvert it even still.
This truth is self-evident: Joe Biden is on track to become president Jan. 20. The machinery of government and democracy is moving inexorably toward that end despite Trump’s attempts to undermine the voters’ will.
Advertisement
Trump on Wednesday demanded an “OVERTURN’ of the outcome in a collection of tweets arguing he could only have lost the election if it were ”FIXED.” He attempted to support his case by saying odds-makers on election night heavily favored his reelection, “the so-called ‘bookies,’” as if a gambler’s bet mattered. It doesn’t.
Americans who don’t wish to get caught up in the nitty gritty of Trump’s attempts to undermine the election can take their cue from one of the many judges who have dismissed the complaints of his team or his allies that the voting or counting was corrupt.
“This ship has sailed,” said U.S. District Judge Linda Parker in throwing out a lawsuit challenging Biden’s win in Michigan this week.
Not only has the ship sailed but it has reached safe harbor and dropped anchor.
Biden’s victory was essentially locked in Tuesday by the so-called safe harbor deadline set by federal law for states to finish their certifications and resolve legal disputes. It’s an insurance policy to guard against Congress trying to manipulate the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6.
Advertisement
These steps — the deadline, the convening of the Electoral College in state capitals, Congress’ count in early January — are rituals that are routinely ignored by the public at large. They became less ignorable when Trump began exploring any and all avenues to stay in power.
But the election is over and has been for weeks. Here’s why:
—Biden won a decisive majority of electoral votes in states that certified their results.
—The Democrat is set to finish with even more electoral votes, 306, a total Trump called a landslide when he won the same in 2016.
—No systemic fraud or even consequential error has been established in an election that state monitors and courts have repeatedly found was run fairly. More than that, the election played out with striking efficiency given that it was held in the middle of a deadly pandemic.
—Trump’s attempts to browbeat Republican officials in Georgia and Michigan into upending Biden’s victory in those states came to nothing.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Cori Bush: 'The Sky Is Not Even My Limit' After Being Elected To Congress

At the end of a year defined by political divisions and a pandemic , Democratic Rep.-elect Cori Bush has countless reasons to feel optimistic .
Appearing on “ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee ” Wednesday , Bush ― who became the first Black woman elected to represent Missouri in Congress last month ― explained how she expects her activist background to influence her first months in office .
“ I know what it ’ s like to be hungry and not know where my next meal is coming from , know what it ’ s like to be low-wage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to take that knowledge and use that to inform policy ...
I ’ m at the point where , like , the sky is not even my limit.
” “ I ’ m a Black Lives Matter activist and somebody who ’ s been evicted and I am in Congress , ” she continued .
“ I have to be optimistic ― look what just happened !
” A single mother , ordained minister and former nurse , Bush has been outspoken about the challenges of being a Black woman on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of her Republican colleagues mistakenly called her “ Breonna ” after she wore a face mask with Breonna Taylor ’ s name printed on it to honor the Black woman killed by police in Louisville , Kentucky .
In her chat with Bee , Bush said she plans to measure her success “ in knowing that I was able to help a family to not only eat for today , but eat for tomorrow , ” and went on to offer some suggestions on how progressives and establishment Democrats can work together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s kind of like when you argue with your family , ” she said .
“ You still get together for dinner .
There may be some infighting , but we ’ re still able to work together , and then the big things , we can work on that after we make sure that people eat and have the COVID testing they need and get some stimulus money in the door .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
At the end of a year defined by political divisions and a pandemic, Democratic Rep.-elect Cori Bush has countless reasons to feel optimistic.
Appearing on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” Wednesday, Bush ― who became the first Black woman elected to represent Missouri in Congress last month ― explained how she expects her activist background to influence her first months in office.
Advertisement
“I know what it’s like to be hungry and not know where my next meal is coming from, know what it’s like to be low-wage,” she said. “So being able to take that knowledge and use that to inform policy ... I’m at the point where, like, the sky is not even my limit.”
“I’m a Black Lives Matter activist and somebody who’s been evicted and I am in Congress,” she continued. “I have to be optimistic ― look what just happened!”
A single mother, ordained minister and former nurse, Bush has been outspoken about the challenges of being a Black woman on the job. Last month, she said many of her Republican colleagues mistakenly called her “Breonna” after she wore a face mask with Breonna Taylor’s name printed on it to honor the Black woman killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky.
In her chat with Bee, Bush said she plans to measure her success “in knowing that I was able to help a family to not only eat for today, but eat for tomorrow,” and went on to offer some suggestions on how progressives and establishment Democrats can work together to achieve common goals.
Advertisement
“It’s kind of like when you argue with your family,” she said. “You still get together for dinner. There may be some infighting, but we’re still able to work together, and then the big things, we can work on that after we make sure that people eat and have the COVID testing they need and get some stimulus money in the door.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-09--Humpback Whale Spotted Surfacing In ... New York Harbor?

There haven ’ t been many tourists in New York City this year , but this week , locals spotted one really big one .
A humpback whale was caught on camera frolicking in the Hudson River near iconic New York City landmarks .
Photojournalist Bjoern Kils was one of the onlookers lucky enough to see the gentle giant in action .
He told Reuters he spotted the whale , which was roughly 40 feet long , at around 10 a.m. near Ellis Island on Tuesday .
The Coast Guard confirmed the sighting , Reuters reported .
It said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became endangered in any way .
Kils , who runs local boat company New York Media Boats , told the BBC that he regularly sees other marine life , such as seals , in the harbor , but rarely sees whales .
He hasn ’ t seen another one since 2016 .
“ It ’ s a bit of a silver lining with COVID that there ’ s not much boat traffic out here , and the whale has a very good chance of getting out into the ocean , ” Kils told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Statue of Liberty , it flung its tail out of the water — twice !
” he added .
Singer-songwriter Andres Javier also caught sight of the whale .
He shared images from Pier 84 in Hudson River Park on Monday evening .
Gotham Whale , a nonprofit that ’ s been collecting data on Atlantic whales since 2011 , said the whale was most likely visiting the city ’ s harbor for food .
The whale is most likely visiting due to the plentiful food available right now , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t the first time we ’ ve seen a # HumpbackWhale in the # HudsonRiver .
In 2016 , we had one stay for a week !
” In 2016 , a # HumpbackWhale made headlines when it took up residence in the Hudson River for a week .
We ’ ve heard reports of sightings from yesterday ’ s whale already this morning .
It seems humpback whales may enjoy taking in the sights of the city !
pic.twitter.com/PoQ13NEqcH — Gotham Whale ( @ gothamwhale ) December 8 , 2020 Thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Harbor has improved dramatically in recent years , prompting a boom in marine life .
National Geographic reported last year that whale sightings in the area had soared from just five in 2011 to 272 in 2018 .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
There haven’t been many tourists in New York City this year, but this week, locals spotted one really big one.
A humpback whale was caught on camera frolicking in the Hudson River near iconic New York City landmarks. Photojournalist Bjoern Kils was one of the onlookers lucky enough to see the gentle giant in action.
Advertisement
He told Reuters he spotted the whale, which was roughly 40 feet long, at around 10 a.m. near Ellis Island on Tuesday.
A humpback whale surfaces near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. More photos of the day: https://t.co/kD4vvTZZd6 📷 Bjoern Kils/New York Media Boat pic.twitter.com/L1cvnaaC1y — Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) December 9, 2020
Humpback whale in New York Harbor ready for closeup at Statue of Liberty https://t.co/DJ7mCnGVgs pic.twitter.com/wbPPJAMtTd — Reuters (@Reuters) December 9, 2020
The Coast Guard confirmed the sighting, Reuters reported. It said it would only get involved if the whale became endangered in any way.
Advertisement
Kils, who runs local boat company New York Media Boats, told the BBC that he regularly sees other marine life, such as seals, in the harbor, but rarely sees whales. He hasn’t seen another one since 2016.
“It’s a bit of a silver lining with COVID that there’s not much boat traffic out here, and the whale has a very good chance of getting out into the ocean,” Kils told Reuters.
“As we were passing the Statue of Liberty, it flung its tail out of the water — twice!” he added.
Singer-songwriter Andres Javier also caught sight of the whale. He shared images from Pier 84 in Hudson River Park on Monday evening.
Advertisement
Gotham Whale, a nonprofit that’s been collecting data on Atlantic whales since 2011, said the whale was most likely visiting the city’s harbor for food.
The whale is most likely visiting due to the plentiful food available right now,” the group tweeted. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a #HumpbackWhale in the #HudsonRiver. In 2016, we had one stay for a week!”
In 2016, a #HumpbackWhale made headlines when it took up residence in the Hudson River for a week. We’ve heard reports of sightings from yesterday’s whale already this morning. It seems humpback whales may enjoy taking in the sights of the city! pic.twitter.com/PoQ13NEqcH — Gotham Whale (@gothamwhale) December 8, 2020