thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--COVID-19 Isn't Just A Trump Failure. It's a Right-Wing Failure Too.

Meanwhile , as of Sunday , reported cases were up 43 % from two weeks ago and deaths were up 15 % , as part of a third coronavirus surge that public health experts long predicted .
Trump ’ s rallies , which pack thousands onto buses and into airplane hangars with sometimes poor ventilation , are likely playing some small part in this .
As many as 30,000 cases and 700 deaths trace back to his rallies , according to one modeling exercise from some Stanford University economists .
And when a politician literally brags that he could shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without losing the support of his base , it is to be expected that he might be the type to hold big political gatherings smack in the middle of COVID-19 hot spots , creating what looks like a rolling series of superspreader events ― in order to rally his supporters or , maybe , just to bask in the adulation .
If Mitt Romney , who is famously data-driven and known for his managerial skills , were president , the federal response to COVID-19 would almost surely be a lot more aggressive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes for Republican governors like Charlie Baker of Massachusetts , Mike DeWine of Ohio and Larry Hogan of Maryland , all of whom have followed the advice of public health experts and acted aggressively to assist both providers and citizens in need ― frequently , because the federal government was not .
The party ’ s rhetoric has shifted a bit lately , now focusing more on the idea that climate change may be real but is unrelated to human activity ― a position that scientists almost universally reject but which is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their voters .
Just 35 % of Republican voters believe climate change is a man-made phenomenon , according to Gallup , and just 18 % think it will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes .
The Right ’ s Crusade Against The Public Sector A big motive behind the right-wing attacks on independent expertise was a desire to weaken the case for regulation and taxes ― which , for conservative financiers like the Kochs , was very much an act of self-interest , since they perceived both regulation and taxes as direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motive explains their efforts to undermine the public sector more generally , by taking away the funds it needs to operate effectively .
One example of this is the systematic , long-term neglect of public health agencies .
Spending on state public health departments has fallen by 16 % since 2010 , while spending on local health departments has fallen by 18 % in that time , according to an analysis by The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News .
That decrease is especially remarkable given that it took place against the backdrop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebola , that prompted widespread alarm about America ’ s lack of pandemic preparedness .
This is the argument that conservatives have been making for decades and that the Republican Party , which not that long ago had a more nuanced view of government , now embraces as its central dogma .
And underlying that skepticism about government is a broader belief about the role of misfortune in life and what , if anything , society should do about it .
Nobody but the government has the resources to pay for and distribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the ability to coordinate testing on a mass scale .
Nobody but the government has the personnel to train and give hazard pay to front-line caregivers .
Nobody but the government has the money to prop up the economy until the virus recedes enough to allow something resembling normal activity .

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Voters are getting exactly the picture they should on the eve of Election Day: President Donald Trump in denial of an ongoing pandemic and actively participating in its spread.
At rallies over the weekend, Trump repeated what has become his new favorite line: that the U.S. is “rounding the corner” on the coronavirus outbreak. He attacked doctors, allegedly for inflating COVID-19 numbers in order to make money, and Democratic governors, for supposedly overreacting to the threat.
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He even hinted he might fire Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who since the start of the pandemic has arguably been the most consistent, reliable voice of reason at the national level.
Meanwhile, as of Sunday, reported cases were up 43% from two weeks ago and deaths were up 15%, as part of a third coronavirus surge that public health experts long predicted. Trump’s rallies, which pack thousands onto buses and into airplane hangars with sometimes poor ventilation, are likely playing some small part in this. As many as 30,000 cases and 700 deaths trace back to his rallies, according to one modeling exercise from some Stanford University economists.
The surge is hitting hardest in the upper Great Plains and Midwest, including the Dakotas and Iowa, where three very Trumpy Republican governors have been refusing to mandate mask-wearing and, in the case of South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem, bragging about it.
The U.S. is not alone in struggling with a new surge: France, Italy and even Germany are facing big increases. But the U.S. is the only one of those countries with a leader pretending things are getting better.
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More than 230,000 Americans have already died from COVID-19, a number Trump himself once suggested would be a worst-case scenario. At this rate, nobody would be surprised if the number hits 300,000 or even 400,000 before the pandemic is over.
Trump’s determination to deny this reality, rather than react to it, has a lot to do with his personal traits ― his habit of surrounding himself with charlatans, his refusal to study problems in detail, and his apparent inability to summon the basic level of empathy we associate with most members of the human species.
But Trump’s behavior alone doesn’t explain why the U.S. pandemic response looks like it does. Right-wing thought and its grip on the Republican Party have also played a role ― by denigrating experts, undermining the public sector and preaching a libertarian ethos that says we can’t or shouldn’t bother responding collectively to big problems.
A Trumpy Approach To The Virus
It is not surprising that a president who seeks economic advice from Lawrence Kudlow, whose record includes predicting Bill Clinton’s tax hikes would kill the 1990s economy and that the 2007 housing bubble was a mirage, is taking cues on the pandemic from Scott Atlas, a politically conservative radiologist without special expertise in public health or epidemiology.
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President Donald Trump had plenty of help from his party and ideological allies in botching the United States' coronavirus response. Pool via Getty Images
And when a politician literally brags that he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue without losing the support of his base, it is to be expected that he might be the type to hold big political gatherings smack in the middle of COVID-19 hot spots, creating what looks like a rolling series of superspreader events ― in order to rally his supporters or, maybe, just to bask in the adulation.
If Mitt Romney, who is famously data-driven and known for his managerial skills, were president, the federal response to COVID-19 would almost surely be a lot more aggressive and more faithful to science. The same goes for Republican governors like Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Larry Hogan of Maryland, all of whom have followed the advice of public health experts and acted aggressively to assist both providers and citizens in need ― frequently, because the federal government was not.
The Right’s Crusade Against Expertise
But the failures of the Trump pandemic response also have deep roots in the way mainstream Republican thinking has evolved over the past few decades. And that evolution has not taken by accident, as writers like investigative journalist Jane Mayer and political scientists Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein have chronicled over the years.
Conservatives have repeatedly questioned the authority of experts, especially scientific experts, because of an alleged liberal bias. And since the 1970s, they have invested heavily in the creation of an alternative reality with alternative facts, which are then spread by an alternative conservative media that now has a hold on anywhere from one-third to two-fifths of the population.
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The most obvious (and, in the long term, possibly most dangerous) version of this is climate denialism, which has its roots in the funding of anti-regulatory think tanks during the 1970s and 1980s but really took off in the late 2000s, when newly elected President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies tried to pass a “cap-and-trade” scheme of tradable emissions permits to reduce carbon output.
Conservative groups, many of them funded by the Koch Brothers, declared all-out war and soon Republican leaders were denying that climate change was even a problem ― even though their 2008 presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, had proposed such a scheme.
The party’s rhetoric has shifted a bit lately, now focusing more on the idea that climate change may be real but is unrelated to human activity ― a position that scientists almost universally reject but which is the predominant view among both GOP leaders and their voters. Just 35% of Republican voters believe climate change is a man-made phenomenon, according to Gallup, and just 18% think it will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes.
It’s a straight line from that kind of thinking to Trump’s attacks on Fauci and, more broadly, his defiance of public health authorities who warned against preemptive loosening of COVID-19 restrictions in the spring and called repeatedly for mask mandates.
And in this era of extreme polarization, when so many voters take their cues from their leaders, Trump can count on backing from the majority of Republican voters ― who, in poll after poll, have said the coronavirus threat is exaggerated and signaled strong approval of Trump’s response.
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The Right’s Crusade Against The Public Sector
A big motive behind the right-wing attacks on independent expertise was a desire to weaken the case for regulation and taxes ― which, for conservative financiers like the Kochs, was very much an act of self-interest, since they perceived both regulation and taxes as direct threats to their income. The same motive explains their efforts to undermine the public sector more generally, by taking away the funds it needs to operate effectively.
One example of this is the systematic, long-term neglect of public health agencies. Spending on state public health departments has fallen by 16% since 2010, while spending on local health departments has fallen by 18% in that time, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News. That decrease is especially remarkable given that it took place against the backdrop of two major outbreaks, H1N1 and Ebola, that prompted widespread alarm about America’s lack of pandemic preparedness.
“A ‘herd immunity’ strategy really means more mass death ― which, alas, seems to be where we are headed.”
The result of that underfunding has been a severe strain on local agencies that, today, are responsible for key elements of the COVID-19 response, including the contact tracing necessary to quickly contain outbreaks when they happen. An inability to conduct sufficient contact tracing has hindered public health efforts in the case of several notorious superspreader events, including the Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle festival in August.
No single policy decision led to this neglect of public health funding. It’s the cumulative result of years and years of tight budgets, at both the federal and state levels ― which, in turn, reflect a broader mentality that government spending is always too high and that government programs are always wasteful.
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This is the argument that conservatives have been making for decades and that the Republican Party, which not that long ago had a more nuanced view of government, now embraces as its central dogma. And underlying that skepticism about government is a broader belief about the role of misfortune in life and what, if anything, society should do about it.
The Right’s Crusade Against Solidarity
The core of modern conservative thinking ― the idea that unites its aversion to taxes, regulations and government ― is that societies are fundamentally helpless to address certain problems. Fighting poverty is futile. Slowing climate change is pointless. Making sure every kid has a good public school is impossible. The best hope is to let individuals, businesses and small communities act on their own.
Reasonable people can (and do) have good-faith arguments about what governments can and can’t accomplish. But some problems are simply too big and complex for anybody but governments to address. They are collective action problems, in others words. The pandemic is a perfect example of that.
Nobody but the government has the resources to pay for and distribute protective gear. Nobody but the government has the ability to coordinate testing on a mass scale. Nobody but the government has the personnel to train and give hazard pay to front-line caregivers. Nobody but the government has the money to prop up the economy until the virus recedes enough to allow something resembling normal activity.
The Trump administration has mostly failed on these accounts. (Vaccine development is the one exception; it invested massively in that, in ways that are likely to pay off shortly.) But the Republican Party has failed too ― most conspicuously, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his allies rejected hazard pay and extended economic relief, even as they found time to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
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The ultimate expression of this attitude is what’s come to be known as the “herd immunity” strategy, which is the idea that the best response to the pandemic is to let the virus run rampant through the population while, in theory, protecting the most vulnerable.
Among its chief promoters these days is reportedly Atlas, who from the look of things has replaced Fauci as the scientist with the most influence on Trump.
Most public health experts reject this strategy, in part because segregating the sick is difficult. Community spread inevitably takes the virus into nursing homes and other long-term care facilities through workers, and there are many others with underlying medical conditions that leave them at high risk.
A “herd immunity” strategy really means more mass death ― which, alas, seems to be where we are headed. One in five Americans already has a close family member or friend who died from COVID-19, according to a September poll.
That number is going to keep going up, and the only question is how high. The answer may depend on what happens Tuesday ― and whether not just the president, but also his party, still have control over the nation’s pandemic response come January.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Trump Suggests He Will Fire Anthony Fauci ‘A Little Bit After’ Election

President Donald Trump suggested Sunday he would fire Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert and a touchstone of scientific wisdom during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , shortly after the election .
Trump made the comments to a crowd of supporters in Florida late Sunday , the latest campaign stop in his frantic final push before Election Day .
As Trump spoke about the coronavirus and derided his political rival , former Vice President Joe Biden , the crowd began chanting “ Fire Fauci !
” , a notion the president seemed to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire Fauci '' at Trump 's rally in Miami , he suggests , probably in jest , that he may after the election .
`` Do n't tell anybody , but let me wait till a little after the election .
I appreciate the advice , '' he says before complimenting Fauci before knocking him again pic.twitter.com/xmKmhmqOQw — Daniel Chaitin ( @ danielchaitin7 ) November 2 , 2020 Despite Trump ’ s ongoing insistence that America is ready to return to normal , Fauci has long warned that the country is headed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , Fauci painted a grim picture for the nation after more than 99,000 Americans tested positive for the virus in a 24-hour period .
“ We ’ re in for a whole lot of hurt .
It ’ s not a good situation , ” Fauci told The Washington Post .
“ All the stars are aligned in the wrong place as you go into the fall and winter season , with people congregating at home indoors .
You could not possibly be positioned more poorly.
” The remarks prompted anger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House spokesman Judd Deere told The New York Times that Fauci ’ s comments were “ unacceptable ” and broke “ all norms.
” “ [ Fauci made ] his political leanings known by praising the president ’ s opponent , exactly what the American people have come to expect from the Swamp , ” Deere said .
On Sunday , Trump also suggested that states that have begun to reinstate lockdown measures amid a surging wave of infections would simply end those safety measures the day after the election .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
I left two of ‘ em , and they ’ re not happy right now , ” Trump said .
“ You know what ’ s going to happen to them , on Nov. 4 , the day after , they ’ re gon na say ‘ alright , we ’ re going to open up.
’ ” As of Sunday night , more than 9.2 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 230,000 have died from the virus .

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President Donald Trump suggested Sunday he would fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a touchstone of scientific wisdom during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, shortly after the election.
Trump made the comments to a crowd of supporters in Florida late Sunday, the latest campaign stop in his frantic final push before Election Day. As Trump spoke about the coronavirus and derided his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, the crowd began chanting “Fire Fauci!”, a notion the president seemed to be on board with:
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Following chants of "Fire Fauci" at Trump's rally in Miami, he suggests, probably in jest, that he may after the election. "Don't tell anybody, but let me wait till a little after the election. I appreciate the advice," he says before complimenting Fauci before knocking him again pic.twitter.com/xmKmhmqOQw — Daniel Chaitin (@danielchaitin7) November 2, 2020
Despite Trump’s ongoing insistence that America is ready to return to normal, Fauci has long warned that the country is headed in the wrong direction. In an interview last week, Fauci painted a grim picture for the nation after more than 99,000 Americans tested positive for the virus in a 24-hour period.
“We’re in for a whole lot of hurt. It’s not a good situation,” Fauci told The Washington Post. “All the stars are aligned in the wrong place as you go into the fall and winter season, with people congregating at home indoors. You could not possibly be positioned more poorly.”
Fauci also praised Biden for taking the pandemic “seriously from a public health perspective.”
The remarks prompted anger and frustration from the Trump administration. White House spokesman Judd Deere told The New York Times that Fauci’s comments were “unacceptable” and broke “all norms.”
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“[Fauci made] his political leanings known by praising the president’s opponent, exactly what the American people have come to expect from the Swamp,” Deere said.
On Sunday, Trump also suggested that states that have begun to reinstate lockdown measures amid a surging wave of infections would simply end those safety measures the day after the election.
“I just left a state that locked down. I left two of ‘em, and they’re not happy right now,” Trump said. “You know what’s going to happen to them, on Nov. 4, the day after, they’re gonna say ‘alright, we’re going to open up.’”
As of Sunday night, more than 9.2 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 230,000 have died from the virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Trump Rally Flag Lift Collapses During His Speech In North Carolina

President Donald Trump ’ s rally on Sunday in Hickory , North Carolina was marred by winds that knocked over a scissor lift holding one of the ubiquitous giant flags that mark the events .
The giant flag was supported by two of the lifts .
When one of the lifts fell , it crashed against the wall of the building just behind it and the flag ripped loose .
Journalists on the scene captured the aftermath : At the president ’ s windy rally in North Carolina , one of two scissor lifts holding an American flag tipped over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put caution tape around it , removed the second and lowered a third that ’ s holding lights , though it ’ s still a little shaky .
pic.twitter.com/gWsn6tEWgI — Kaitlan Collins ( @ kaitlancollins ) November 2 , 2020 Workers rushed to lower the remaining lift and rescue the flag , which was whipped about by the winds .
Commentators couldn ’ t help but wonder if the collapsing lift was a metaphor in the final days of the 2020 presidential campaign : A giant metaphor for a collapsing democracy .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structure holding up the American flag collapsed behind the crowd and the press area .
https : //t.co/k6Fg6hCPIy — Nita Cosby ( @ 5_2blue ) November 2 , 2020 And the winner of Best Trump Rally Analogy goes to ... .. https : //t.co/bMSEDnXYlm — Hal Sparks ( @ HalSparks ) November 2 , 2020 Y ’ all if this ain ’ t a metaphor for the US right now ... ... .😹🤦🏽♀ Donald Trump speaks in Hickory , North Carolina the structure holding up the American flag collapsed behind the crowd and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 🍁 Spooky Spice 🍁 ( @ FeministHellcat ) November 1 , 2020 Attaching a giant piece of fabric to a scissor lift on a windy day is one of the most ridiculously stupid things imaginable .
These people are so stupid they have regressed to a time before sailing ships .
https : //t.co/jG3jOKkile — Jonathan Goodwin ( @ TheDaredevil ) November 2 , 2020

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President Donald Trump’s rally on Sunday in Hickory, North Carolina was marred by winds that knocked over a scissor lift holding one of the ubiquitous giant flags that mark the events.
The giant flag was supported by two of the lifts. When one of the lifts fell, it crashed against the wall of the building just behind it and the flag ripped loose.
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Journalists on the scene captured the aftermath:
Video from right after the scaffolding fell over. pic.twitter.com/6AynAqMVti — Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) November 1, 2020
At the president’s windy rally in North Carolina, one of two scissor lifts holding an American flag tipped over and hit the airport building. Officials put caution tape around it, removed the second and lowered a third that’s holding lights, though it’s still a little shaky. pic.twitter.com/gWsn6tEWgI — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 2, 2020
No one was injured.
Workers rushed to lower the remaining lift and rescue the flag, which was whipped about by the winds.
Commentators couldn’t help but wonder if the collapsing lift was a metaphor in the final days of the 2020 presidential campaign:
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A giant metaphor for a collapsing democracy. As Trump speaks in Hickory, NC the structure holding up the American flag collapsed behind the crowd and the press area. https://t.co/k6Fg6hCPIy — Nita Cosby (@5_2blue) November 2, 2020
Get this:
Bald eagles circled overhead at Joe Biden's rally.
Scaffolding lift holding an American flag at trump's rally collapsed.
Choose wisely!. — Covie (@roper_93) November 2, 2020
And the winner of Best Trump Rally Analogy goes to..... https://t.co/bMSEDnXYlm — Hal Sparks (@HalSparks) November 2, 2020
Y’all if this ain’t a metaphor for the US right now.......😹🤦🏽♀
Donald Trump speaks in Hickory, North Carolina the structure holding up the American flag collapsed behind the crowd and the press area. #VOTE pic.twitter.com/vYlQw985Tl — 🍁 Spooky Spice 🍁 (@FeministHellcat) November 1, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--GOP Election Attorney Rips Trump's Attack On Voting: 'As Un-American As It Gets'

A longtime Republican attorney who worked for multiple presidential campaigns is calling out both President Donald Trump and members of his own party for their attacks on the election process and ballot counting .
“ This is as un-American as it gets , ” Benjamin L. Ginsberg , who worked for former President George W. Bush during the 2000 Florida recount and again in 2004 , wrote in the Washington Post .
Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed of a “ rigged ” election , attacked voting by mail , and on Sunday said he ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the polls close Tuesday to stop the counting .
But Ginsberg said past Republican claims of voter fraud have turned up only isolated cases .
“ Proof of systematic fraud has become the Loch Ness Monster of the Republican Party , ” he wrote .
“ People have spent a lot of time looking for it , but it doesn ’ t exist.
” Ginsberg , who was a co-chair of the bipartisan 2013 Presidential Commission on Election Administration , warned his party ’ s voter suppression efforts will turn it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of changing demographics .
“ These are painful words for me to write , ” he said .
“ My party is destroying itself on the Altar of Trump , ” he wrote .
“ Republican elected officials , party leaders and voters must recognize how harmful this is to the party ’ s long-term prospects.
” He concluded with a call for members of his party to reject Trump on Tuesday : “ My fellow Republicans , look what we ’ ve become .
It is we who must fix this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vote , but not for him .
”

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A longtime Republican attorney who worked for multiple presidential campaigns is calling out both President Donald Trump and members of his own party for their attacks on the election process and ballot counting.
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Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed of a “rigged” election, attacked voting by mail, and on Sunday said he’s going to sic his attorneys on the various states after the polls close Tuesday to stop the counting.
But Ginsberg said past Republican claims of voter fraud have turned up only isolated cases.
“Proof of systematic fraud has become the Loch Ness Monster of the Republican Party,” he wrote. “People have spent a lot of time looking for it, but it doesn’t exist.”
Ginsberg, who was a co-chair of the bipartisan 2013 Presidential Commission on Election Administration, warned his party’s voter suppression efforts will turn it into a “permanent minority” in the face of changing demographics.
“These are painful words for me to write,” he said.
“My party is destroying itself on the Altar of Trump,” he wrote. “Republican elected officials, party leaders and voters must recognize how harmful this is to the party’s long-term prospects.”
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He concluded with a call for members of his party to reject Trump on Tuesday:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Democratic, Republican Legal Armies Ready If Cloudy Election Outcome Heads To Court

Democratic and Republican lawyers already have gone to court over these issues in the run-up to Tuesday ’ s election .
But the legal fights could take on new urgency , not to mention added vitriol , if a narrow margin in a battleground state is the difference between another four years for President Donald Trump or a Joe Biden administration .
Since the 2000 presidential election , which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court , both parties have enlisted legal teams to prepare for the unlikely event that voting wouldn ’ t settle the contest .
But this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that legal fights will ensue and that only a definitive outcome is likely to forestall them .
It ’ s impossible to know where , or even if , a problem affecting the ultimate result will arise .
But existing lawsuits in Pennsylvania , North Carolina , Minnesota and Nevada offer some hint of the states most likely to be ground zero in a post-election battle and the kinds of issues that could tie the outcome in knots .
Roughly 300 lawsuits already have been filed over the election in dozens of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to normal procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed more than 230,000 people in the U.S. and sickened more than 9 million .
Most of the potential legal challenges are likely to stem from the huge increase in absentee balloting brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
In Pennsylvania , elections officials won ’ t start processing those ballots until Election Day , and some counties have said they won ’ t begin counting those votes until the following day .
Mailed ballots that don ’ t come inside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a state Supreme Court ruling .
The deadline for receiving and counting absentee ballots is Friday , an extension ordered by the Pennsylvania ’ s top court .
The Supreme Court left that order in place in response to a Republican effort to block it .
But several conservative justices indicated they ’ d be open to taking the issue up after the election , especially if those late-arriving ballots could mean the difference in the state .
Like Pennsylvania , North Carolina also has seen a court fight between Democrats who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Republicans who oppose it .
The issue is a six-day extension approved by a state court — beyond the three extra days after Election Day that the Republican-controlled legislature agreed to in response to the pandemic .
In Nevada , Trump ’ s campaign and state Republicans went to court to try to stop the counting of Las Vegas-area mail-in ballots .
Republicans say observers aren ’ t allowed close enough to workers and machines at the busy vote-counting center in suburban Las Vegas to challenge signatures in the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas , Republicans are asking state and federal courts to order election officials in the Houston area not to count ballots dropped off at drive-in locations .
The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday denied the GOP ’ s plea .
A federal judge is holding a hearing on Monday .
The scale and scope of legal action related to the presidential election has never been seen before .
Trump has suggested the outcome could well be decided in court .
The closer the contest , the more likely his prediction proves true .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Signature matches. Late-arriving absentee votes. Drop boxes. Secrecy envelopes.
Democratic and Republican lawyers already have gone to court over these issues in the run-up to Tuesday’s election. But the legal fights could take on new urgency, not to mention added vitriol, if a narrow margin in a battleground state is the difference between another four years for President Donald Trump or a Joe Biden administration.
Both sides say they’re ready, with thousands of lawyers on standby to march into court to make sure ballots get counted, or excluded.
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Since the 2000 presidential election, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, both parties have enlisted legal teams to prepare for the unlikely event that voting wouldn’t settle the contest. But this year, there is a near presumption that legal fights will ensue and that only a definitive outcome is likely to forestall them.
The candidates and parties have enlisted prominent lawyers with ties to Democratic and Republican administrations. A Pennsylvania case at the Supreme Court pits Donald Verrilli, who was President Barack Obama’s top Supreme Court lawyer, against John Gore, a onetime high-ranking Trump Justice Department official.
It’s impossible to know where, or even if, a problem affecting the ultimate result will arise. But existing lawsuits in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota and Nevada offer some hint of the states most likely to be ground zero in a post-election battle and the kinds of issues that could tie the outcome in knots.
Roughly 300 lawsuits already have been filed over the election in dozens of states across the country, many involving changes to normal procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 230,000 people in the U.S. and sickened more than 9 million.
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Workers are shown during a media tour highlighting the preparations for the sorting and counting of mail-in ballots at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for Election Day in Philadelphia, on Oct. 26, 2020. Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Most of the potential legal challenges are likely to stem from the huge increase in absentee balloting brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. In Pennsylvania, elections officials won’t start processing those ballots until Election Day, and some counties have said they won’t begin counting those votes until the following day. Mailed ballots that don’t come inside a secrecy envelope have to be discarded, under a state Supreme Court ruling.
“I still can’t figure how counting and verifying absentee ballots is going to go in some of the battleground states like Pennsylvania,” said Ohio State University law professor Edward Foley, an election law expert.
The deadline for receiving and counting absentee ballots is Friday, an extension ordered by the Pennsylvania’s top court. The Supreme Court left that order in place in response to a Republican effort to block it. But several conservative justices indicated they’d be open to taking the issue up after the election, especially if those late-arriving ballots could mean the difference in the state.
Trump, though, was not happy the extension was left in place, even though Pennsylvania will keep those ballots separate from the rest in case of renewed court interest.
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“This is a horrible thing that the United States Supreme Court has done to our country,” Trump said in Pennsylvania Saturday.
On Sunday, he said that as soon as the polls close, “We’re going in with our lawyers.”
Like Pennsylvania, North Carolina also has seen a court fight between Democrats who support extending the deadline for absentee ballots and Republicans who oppose it. The issue is a six-day extension approved by a state court — beyond the three extra days after Election Day that the Republican-controlled legislature agreed to in response to the pandemic.
The justices last week allowed the extra days to remain in effect, over a dissent by three conservatives on the court.
In Minnesota, late-arriving ballots also will be segregated from the rest of the vote because of ongoing legal proceedings, under a federal appeals court order.
Republican lawsuits have challenged local decisions that could take on national significance in a close election.
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A voter drops off a ballot on Oct. 28, 2020, in Seattle. Washington state is one of five states, along with Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, and Utah, that conduct elections entirely by mail-in voting. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
In Nevada, Trump’s campaign and state Republicans went to court to try to stop the counting of Las Vegas-area mail-in ballots. Republicans say observers aren’t allowed close enough to workers and machines at the busy vote-counting center in suburban Las Vegas to challenge signatures in the state’s biggest and most Democratic-leaning county.
Jesse Binnall, an attorney for the Republican Party and Trump campaign, told a judge last week that the counting process observed in Las Vegas prevents what he called a “meaningful opportunity” to challenge the validity of mailed ballots.
In Texas, Republicans are asking state and federal courts to order election officials in the Houston area not to count ballots dropped off at drive-in locations. The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday denied the GOP’s plea. A federal judge is holding a hearing on Monday.
The scale and scope of legal action related to the presidential election has never been seen before. Trump has suggested the outcome could well be decided in court. The closer the contest, the more likely his prediction proves true.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-01--Lindsey Graham Says U.S. Has A 'Place' For Women Who 'Follow Traditional Family Structure'

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) assured “ young women ” on Sunday that there ’ s a “ place ” for them in America if they “ follow traditional family structure , ” embrace religion and oppose abortion .
Graham laid down his rules for women while praising new right-wing Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett , who would never have attained her position by adhering to a traditional family structure that would typically include a stay-at-home mom .
Graham did not issue any comparable guidelines for men .
Graham has no wife or children , which seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structure ” he mentioned .
Presumably , Graham ’ s requirements would eliminate places in America for members of the LGBTQ community .
A person close to the senator told The New York Times Sunday that Graham was suggesting that a woman who held Barrett ’ s conservative views could succeed , and he wasn ’ t setting preconditions for all women .
Graham last month said something similar about African Americans .
He deemed they could “ go anywhere ” in his state — provided they ’ re “ conservative , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state for Jaime Harrison , Graham ’ s Black Democratic rival for his Senate seat .
“ I care about everybody , ” Graham claimed in remarks that were part of a televised interview of both candidates .
“ If you are a young African American , an immigrant , you can go anywhere in this state .
You just need to be conservative , not liberal , ” he pointed out .
Harrison was one of the first to snap back .
He reviewed Graham ’ s dictates concerning Blacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any other requirements we should know about , Lindsey ?
” First @ LindseyGrahamSC said that Black folks can do anything in SC ... as long as they 're conservative .
Now he says young women can have a place in America if they 're pro-life and come from `` traditional families . ''
Any other requirements we should know about , Lindsey ?
pic.twitter.com/mYnluXCONd — Jaime Harrison ( @ harrisonjaime ) November 1 , 2020 As long as you 're just like us , you 'll be fine ... .geez , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does it ?
JFC — Tina Morphis # KHive # Humanist # ForthePeople ( @ TinaMorphis ) November 1 , 2020 Anyone tell him that their idea of traditional family structure includes women not working or getting higher ed ?
it was still being embraced in the church I attended in high school - girls go to college to get their mrs. or to find a pastoral student to marry .
— Colleen Nikstenas ( @ coniks2 ) November 1 , 2020 Senator Graham really said this .
With people watching .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they ’ re straight , religious ( probably Christian only , ) married , have kids , and oppose women ’ s control over their own bodies , they can “ go anywhere , young lady.
” — Otter Skeleton , M.D .
( @ wooddogs3 ) November 1 , 2020 Republican values would not allow her on the the Supreme Court .
She 'd be in the home .
🙄 — Venting ( @ krisbm2 ) November 1 , 2020 As well as single parent families , non white families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1950s Old white man , women are not going to get back in the kitchen & obey a man or take beatings for disobedience .
RETIRE LINDSEY .
pic.twitter.com/JlISTNYEeO — Cake is a Lie ( @ pigpen7877 ) November 1 , 2020 He ’ s toast .
This is 2020 , we don ’ t need some old white guy to tell us how to live .
— Elizabeth Rydan ( @ elizabeth_rydan ) November 1 , 2020 Traditional family structure does n't just degrade LGBTQ , it also degrades people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marry .
We tend focus on our careers , many of us serving the public in some form .
At one point in time , I would have been called a spinster school marm .
— Janine Kube ( @ KubeJ9 ) November 1 , 2020 If that ’ s the case Lindsey Graham ’ s “ traditional family ” should be joining him on the campaign trail ... Oh that ’ s right he doesn ’ t have one does he ?
?
— Bewitching Tales 🐝 ( @ BewitchingTales ) November @ @ @

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) assured “young women” on Sunday that there’s a “place” for them in America if they “follow traditional family structure,” embrace religion and oppose abortion.
Graham laid down his rules for women while praising new right-wing Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who would never have attained her position by adhering to a traditional family structure that would typically include a stay-at-home mom.
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Graham did not issue any comparable guidelines for men. Graham has no wife or children, which seems to exclude him from the “traditional family structure” he mentioned. Presumably, Graham’s requirements would eliminate places in America for members of the LGBTQ community.
A person close to the senator told The New York Times Sunday that Graham was suggesting that a woman who held Barrett’s conservative views could succeed, and he wasn’t setting preconditions for all women.
Graham last month said something similar about African Americans. He deemed they could “go anywhere” in his state — provided they’re “conservative, not liberal.” That would eliminate a place in the state for Jaime Harrison, Graham’s Black Democratic rival for his Senate seat.
“I care about everybody,” Graham claimed in remarks that were part of a televised interview of both candidates. “If you are a young African American, an immigrant, you can go anywhere in this state. You just need to be conservative, not liberal,” he pointed out.
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Graham’s latest jaw-dropping statement on women triggered a wall of shocked criticism.
Harrison was one of the first to snap back. He reviewed Graham’s dictates concerning Blacks and women, and asked: “Any other requirements we should know about, Lindsey?”
First @LindseyGrahamSC said that Black folks can do anything in SC... as long as they're conservative.
Now he says young women can have a place in America if they're pro-life and come from "traditional families."
Any other requirements we should know about, Lindsey? pic.twitter.com/mYnluXCONd — Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) November 1, 2020
As long as you're just like us, you'll be fine....geez, this doesn't have a historical reference anywhere does it? JFC — Tina Morphis #KHive #Humanist #ForthePeople (@TinaMorphis) November 1, 2020
Anyone tell him that their idea of traditional family structure includes women not working or getting higher ed? it was still being embraced in the church I attended in high school - girls go to college to get their mrs. or to find a pastoral student to marry. — Colleen Nikstenas (@coniks2) November 1, 2020
Thanks, Lindsey. You misogynistic fvck. pic.twitter.com/utvvgKr2n7 — Yellowdog for Biden (@TNYellowDog) November 1, 2020
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Senator Graham really said this. With people watching.
He told voters’ daughters that as long as they’re straight, religious (probably Christian only,) married, have kids, and oppose women’s control over their own bodies, they can “go anywhere, young lady.” — Otter Skeleton, M.D. (@wooddogs3) November 1, 2020
Republican values would not allow her on the the Supreme Court. She'd be in the home. 🙄 — Venting (@krisbm2) November 1, 2020
I wish amy coney barrett was a stay at home mom. — 👻 M🎃RGAN 👻 (@howlowilltheygo) November 1, 2020
As well as single parent families, non white families, non christian families...This is not the 1950s Old white man, women are not going to get back in the kitchen & obey a man or take beatings for disobedience. RETIRE LINDSEY. pic.twitter.com/JlISTNYEeO — Cake is a Lie (@pigpen7877) November 1, 2020
He’s toast. This is 2020, we don’t need some old white guy to tell us how to live. — Elizabeth Rydan (@elizabeth_rydan) November 1, 2020
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Traditional family structure doesn't just degrade LGBTQ, it also degrades people who just choose to remain single and not marry.
We tend focus on our careers, many of us serving the public in some form.
At one point in time, I would have been called a spinster school marm. — Janine Kube (@KubeJ9) November 1, 2020
So freedom means we should all be the same? Interesting. — Jamie Gregory 📚🖋📒 (@gregorjm) November 1, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Trump Promotes Political Violence In Defense Of Supporters Who Swarmed Biden Bus

President Donald Trump openly promoted people carrying out political violence on his behalf Sunday ― two days before the election ― in comments defending his supporters in Texas who dangerously swarmed a campaign bus for Democratic opponent Joe Biden .
The president tweeted Sunday evening in response to reports that the FBI has launched an investigation into an incident Friday where a caravan of Trump supporters surrounded a Biden campaign bus in Texas , nearly driving it off the stretch of highway between Austin and San Antonio .
“ In my opinion , these patriots did nothing wrong , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI & Justice [ Department ] should be investigating the terrorists , anarchists , and agitators of ANTIFA , who run around burning down our Democrat run cities and hurting our people !
” Trump ’ s Justice Department has brought hundreds of cases against defendants in civil unrest cases nationwide since May , when the number of anti-racism protests skyrocketed .
The Associated Press reviewed thousands of pages of court files and found that very few of those charged in the cases appear to be related to radical organizations , as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment on Trump ’ s tweet .
The former vice president addressed the bus incident earlier on Sunday , as well as other incidents of Trump caravans intimidating neighborhoods and blocking highways .
“ We ’ ve never had anything like this ― at least we ’ ve never had a president who thinks it ’ s a good thing , ” Biden told reporters in Philadelphia .
“ Folks , that ’ s not who we are .
We are so much better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN that the Trump supporters cut off the bus and forced it to reduce its speed to 25 mph , and campaign staffers on the bus allegedly called 911 in response to the situation .
Biden ’ s campaign and state Democrats canceled multiple Texas events following the swarm .
When asked about the video on Sunday , Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said that Trump would not endorse “ hurting other people.
” But just one day earlier , the president tweeted a video of the incident with the caption : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also glorified the swarming at a rally in Pennsylvania .
At a rally in Michigan earlier on Sunday , Trump mockingly claimed that those supporters were “ protecting ” the campaign bus “ because they ’ re nice.
” The remarks led to cheers , laughter and applause from attendees .
Since Trump ’ s tweet on Sunday defending his supporters , the Texas Department of Public Safety opened its own investigation into the bus incident , according to the Austin American-Statesman .
The announcement came after at least one state representative called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not isolated , it is significant that the president ― who brags about being the “ law and order ” candidate ― is encouraging his supporters to endanger the lives of his political opponents two days before Americans finish casting their ballots .
“ Unfortunately , he has considerable power at his disposal to … create the kind of chaos to potentially put our elections in disarray , ” Mary Trump , the president ’ s niece , told MSBNC on Sunday .
“ Please understand that he will allow violence to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take this election because he knows he can ’ t win it legitimately .
”

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President Donald Trump openly promoted people carrying out political violence on his behalf Sunday ― two days before the election ― in comments defending his supporters in Texas who dangerously swarmed a campaign bus for Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
The president tweeted Sunday evening in response to reports that the FBI has launched an investigation into an incident Friday where a caravan of Trump supporters surrounded a Biden campaign bus in Texas, nearly driving it off the stretch of highway between Austin and San Antonio.
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Trump’s Justice Department has brought hundreds of cases against defendants in civil unrest cases nationwide since May, when the number of anti-racism protests skyrocketed. The Associated Press reviewed thousands of pages of court files and found that very few of those charged in the cases appear to be related to radical organizations, as Trump alleges.
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on Trump’s tweet. The former vice president addressed the bus incident earlier on Sunday, as well as other incidents of Trump caravans intimidating neighborhoods and blocking highways.
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“We’ve never had anything like this ― at least we’ve never had a president who thinks it’s a good thing,” Biden told reporters in Philadelphia. “Folks, that’s not who we are. We are so much better than this.”
This is a traffic violation and attempted homicide. Why hasn’t anyone been arrested? pic.twitter.com/QnfF4vXMQn — melissa “cancel student debt” byrne (@mcbyrne) October 31, 2020
A Biden campaign official told CNN that the Trump supporters cut off the bus and forced it to reduce its speed to 25 mph, and campaign staffers on the bus allegedly called 911 in response to the situation. Biden’s campaign and state Democrats canceled multiple Texas events following the swarm.
When asked about the video on Sunday, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said that Trump would not endorse “hurting other people.” But just one day earlier, the president tweeted a video of the incident with the caption: “I LOVE TEXAS!” He also glorified the swarming at a rally in Pennsylvania.
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At a rally in Michigan earlier on Sunday, Trump mockingly claimed that those supporters were “protecting” the campaign bus “because they’re nice.” The remarks led to cheers, laughter and applause from attendees.
Since Trump’s tweet on Sunday defending his supporters, the Texas Department of Public Safety opened its own investigation into the bus incident, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The announcement came after at least one state representative called on the agency to investigate.
BREAKING: The Texas Department of Public Safety has now opened an investigation into the incident involving the Biden bus caravan. No other information is available, officials said. — Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) November 2, 2020
While not isolated, it is significant that the president ― who brags about being the “law and order” candidate ― is encouraging his supporters to endanger the lives of his political opponents two days before Americans finish casting their ballots.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-01--Biden Responds To Reports Trump Will Declare Early Victory: ‘Not Going To Steal This’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared Sunday that President Donald Trump will not “ steal ” the election amid reports he planned to declare a premature victory on election night if early counts show him ahead , despite a mountain of mail-in votes that may take days or weeks to count .
Biden ’ s comments came amid the White House ’ s ongoing efforts to undermine an unprecedented level of mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Polls have shown the president lagging behind Biden for months , and both Trump and top Republicans have spent the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while sowing discord about what they claim is widespread electoral fraud .
( Such claims are false , and there is no evidence to back them up . )
On Sunday , Axios reported Trump had told those close to him he plans to declare victory on Tuesday night if the results show he ’ s “ ahead.
” That plan , the outlet ’ s Jonathan Swan said , would go forward even if millions of ballots have yet to be counted .
“ My response is the president is not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters , per The Hill .
“ I think it ’ s a terrible thing when ballots can be collected after an election .
I think it ’ s a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time after the election is over , ” Trump said .
“ I think it ’ s terrible that we can ’ t know the results of an election the night of the election.
” He continued : “ We ’ re going to go in the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s over , we ’ re going in with our lawyers.
” With less than two days before Election Day , both Trump and Biden have been lobbing political grenades at a frenetic pace .
At least 93 million people have already voted in the 2020 election , according to the U.S .
Elections Project .
Laws vary by state as to when election officials can begin counting the mountain of early votes .
Some states , including notable swing states like Pennsylvania , have already said they won ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election .
“ Nearly 2.4 million Pennsylvanians have already cast their ballot by mail , ” Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar told NBC ’ s Chuck Todd on Sunday .
“ This is going to be 10 times as many as the last time we had a presidential election in Pennsylvania .
So , yes , it will take longer .
But having said that , I want to be clear that elections have never been called election night .
”

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared Sunday that President Donald Trump will not “steal” the election amid reports he planned to declare a premature victory on election night if early counts show him ahead, despite a mountain of mail-in votes that may take days or weeks to count.
Biden’s comments came amid the White House’s ongoing efforts to undermine an unprecedented level of mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Polls have shown the president lagging behind Biden for months, and both Trump and top Republicans have spent the same time filing lawsuits to invalidate many ballots while sowing discord about what they claim is widespread electoral fraud. (Such claims are false, and there is no evidence to back them up.)
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On Sunday, Axios reported Trump had told those close to him he plans to declare victory on Tuesday night if the results show he’s “ahead.” That plan, the outlet’s Jonathan Swan said, would go forward even if millions of ballots have yet to be counted.
Biden said that wouldn’t happen, when asked about the reports on Sunday.
“My response is the president is not going to steal this election,” Biden told reporters, per The Hill.
The president denied that he planned to declare an early victory.
“I think it’s a terrible thing when ballots can be collected after an election. I think it’s a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time after the election is over,” Trump said. “I think it’s terrible that we can’t know the results of an election the night of the election.”
He continued: “We’re going to go in the night of, as soon as that election’s over, we’re going in with our lawyers.”
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With less than two days before Election Day, both Trump and Biden have been lobbing political grenades at a frenetic pace.
At least 93 million people have already voted in the 2020 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project. Laws vary by state as to when election officials can begin counting the mountain of early votes. Some states, including notable swing states like Pennsylvania, have already said they won’t have full results until “days” after the election.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Michigan Jewish Cemetery Vandalized With MAGA Messages Ahead Of Trump Rally

A Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids , Michigan , was found vandalized with messages supporting President Donald Trump on Monday , just hours ahead of his planned rally there and one day before the election .
The Anti-Defamation League ’ s Michigan branch tweeted photos of desecrated gravestones at the 100-year-old cemetery .
According to Grand Rapids police , six headstones were tagged in red paint with the messages “ TRUMP ” and “ MAGA ” ― the latter an abbreviation for Trump ’ s 2016 “ Make America Great Again ” campaign slogan .
The cemetery belongs to Congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative Judaism .
Police told HuffPost that the vandalism was discovered Monday morning , though it ’ s not clear when it actually occurred .
There is currently no suspect information , according to police .
ADL Michigan said the organization is “ appalled ” by the vandalism and is in communication with the Jewish community and law enforcement to investigate it .
Rabbi David Krishef said it was too soon to call the incident an act of anti-Semitism , according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency .
“ It ’ s Halloween weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything specifically anti-Semitic , ” Krishef told JTA .
“ Whoever did this may or may not have known that this was a Jewish cemetery.
” The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus was alerted of the vandalism early Monday morning by a caucus member who discovered it , founder and chair Noah Arbit told HuffPost .
Arbit said that the desecration of Jewish gravestones “ is evocative of the febrile political atmosphere our country finds itself in right now.
” “ Make no mistake , this heinous act was committed on the eve of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message to the president ’ s opponents , and particularly , Jewish voters .
But it has failed , ” the caucus said in a statement .
“ Grand Rapids ’ Jewish community will not be cowed by this vile attack on Ahavas Israel , ” it continued .
“ Instead , Jews in Grand Rapids , the State of Michigan , and across the country will head to the polls tomorrow to vote against this president and the hatred , violence and antisemitism he so callously incites.
” Rep. Justin Amash , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress , tweeted in support of the city ’ s Jewish community following reports of the incident .
“ We stand united with our Jewish friends and neighbors against this disgusting act of vandalism , desecration , and hate toward our fellow human beings , ” Amash tweeted .
“ Anti-Semitism must find no home in our community.
” Whitmer has directly blamed Trump for the rise in extremism , saying that she and the president ’ s other political opponents receive threats every time he attacks them .
Trump has repeated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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A Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was found vandalized with messages supporting President Donald Trump on Monday, just hours ahead of his planned rally there and one day before the election.
The Anti-Defamation League’s Michigan branch tweeted photos of desecrated gravestones at the 100-year-old cemetery. According to Grand Rapids police, six headstones were tagged in red paint with the messages “TRUMP” and “MAGA” ― the latter an abbreviation for Trump’s 2016 “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.
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The cemetery belongs to Congregation Ahavas Israel, a synagogue that practices Conservative Judaism. The photos obtained by ADL Michigan were taken by the congregation’s cemetery chairperson, Ed Miller, who gave permission to use them.
Police told HuffPost that the vandalism was discovered Monday morning, though it’s not clear when it actually occurred. There is currently no suspect information, according to police.
We are appalled by the reported desecration of gravestones at the Ahavas Israel Cemetery in Grand Rapids, MI. We are in close touch with the Jewish community and Law Enforcement to investigate this vandalism. pic.twitter.com/mVeGrlsWxE — ADL Michigan (@ADLMichigan) November 2, 2020
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
ADL Michigan said the organization was “appalled” by the vandalism and that it was in communication with the Jewish community and law enforcement to investigate it. The group’s regional director, Carolyn Normandin, cautioned that it is too early to call the incident an act of anti-Semitism. She noted that information such as a suspect’s social media footprint could change that.
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“The bar for a hate crime is very high,” Normandin said. However, she called the vandalism “a violent, disgusting act” and a crime “in a Jewish cemetery.”
Temple Emanuel, Grand Rapids’ Reform synagogue, was vandalized with neo-Nazi posters about a year ago.
The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus was alerted of the vandalism early Monday morning by a caucus member who discovered it, founder and chair Noah Arbit told HuffPost. Arbit said that the desecration of Jewish gravestones “is evocative of the febrile political atmosphere our country finds itself in right now.”
“Make no mistake, this heinous act was committed on the eve of the 2020 election to send an intimidating message to the president’s opponents, and particularly, Jewish voters. But it has failed,” the caucus said in a statement.
“Grand Rapids’ Jewish community will not be cowed by this vile attack on Ahavas Israel,” it continued. “Instead, Jews in Grand Rapids, the State of Michigan, and across the country will head to the polls tomorrow to vote against this president and the hatred, violence and antisemitism he so callously incites.”
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The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus is appalled by the pro-Trump desecration of Ahavas Israel cemetery in Grand Rapids, on the day Donald Trump is slated to close his 2020 campaign with a rally in the city. pic.twitter.com/clkSrIlB0k — Michigan Jewish Democrats (@MIJewishDems) November 2, 2020
Rep. Justin Amash, the Republican-turned-Libertarian who represents Grand Rapids in Congress, tweeted in support of the city’s Jewish community following reports of the incident.
“We stand united with our Jewish friends and neighbors against this disgusting act of vandalism, desecration, and hate toward our fellow human beings,” Amash tweeted. “Anti-Semitism must find no home in our community.”
Whitmer has directly blamed Trump for the rise in extremism, saying that she and the president’s other political opponents receive threats every time he attacks them. Trump has repeated his attacks against Whitmer regardless.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Mark Hamill, Lincoln Project Join Forces To Battle Trump's War On Absentee Votes

“ Star Wars ” star Mark Hamill joined forces with anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project for a new ad that targets President Donald Trump for attempting to restrict the counting of absentee ballots .
The spot , posted the day before Election Day , features a narration from Hamill that educates viewers about the history of absentee voting in the United States .
Hamill , a vocal Trump critic , says absentee voting started during the Civil War and that Union soldiers used the process to cast their votes .
“ Now , more than 150 years later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hamill says in the ad .
“ If [ Trump ] gets his way , many who cast absentee ballots will not have their vote counted , ” he continues .
“ This will deny thousands of troops serving overseas of their most sacred right , stripping the men and women in our military the very freedoms they ’ ve served and sacrificed to defend.
” In a monthslong effort to cast doubt on election results , Trump has aggressively — and without evidence — attacked the integrity of mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after election night is a legitimate process , but doing so is expected to favor Democrats .
An unprecedented number of ballots have been cast by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic , but Trump has insisted that any ballots received after Election Day should not be counted — even if they are postmarked by Nov. 3 .
He has repeatedly said a winner should be declared on election night , although many states won ’ t be done counting mailed ballots by Tuesday night .
The president told reporters on Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow ballots in Pennsylvania to be counted up to three days after the election was “ terrible.
” “ There is absolutely no reason for the Trump campaign to sow doubt and confusion over the process except to discourage people from voting and votes from being counted , ” Reed Galen , co-founder of The Lincoln Project , said in a news release .
“ He ’ s doing this because the only way he can win is by cheating .
We won ’ t allow it .
”

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“Star Wars” star Mark Hamill joined forces with anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project for a new ad that targets President Donald Trump for attempting to restrict the counting of absentee ballots.
The spot, posted the day before Election Day, features a narration from Hamill that educates viewers about the history of absentee voting in the United States. Hamill, a vocal Trump critic, says absentee voting started during the Civil War and that Union soldiers used the process to cast their votes.
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“Now, more than 150 years later, tyranny is looking for a new foothold,” Hamill says in the ad.
“If [Trump] gets his way, many who cast absentee ballots will not have their vote counted,” he continues. “This will deny thousands of troops serving overseas of their most sacred right, stripping the men and women in our military the very freedoms they’ve served and sacrificed to defend.”
In a monthslong effort to cast doubt on election results, Trump has aggressively — and without evidence — attacked the integrity of mail-in ballots and absentee voting. Counting mailed ballots after election night is a legitimate process, but doing so is expected to favor Democrats.
An unprecedented number of ballots have been cast by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Trump has insisted that any ballots received after Election Day should not be counted — even if they are postmarked by Nov. 3. He has repeatedly said a winner should be declared on election night, although many states won’t be done counting mailed ballots by Tuesday night.
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The president told reporters on Sunday that a recent Supreme Court decision that will allow ballots in Pennsylvania to be counted up to three days after the election was “terrible.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Kyle Rittenhouse Bail Set At $2 Million Over Deadly Kenosha Shooting

Huber ’ s son hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard before Rittenhouse shot him , but was he only trying to stop Rittenhouse , the father said .
“ Self-defense , that ’ s impossible , ” he said , growing more agitated as he spoke .
“ He had already killed a guy and tried to run .
My son was a hero .
He tried to stop him .
He was a hero .
Anyone who says otherwise is dead wrong , including the president .
How dare he.
” President Donald Trump has said Rittenhouse ’ s actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters might have killed him .
Richards tried to object to Huber ’ s remarks , but Keating cut him off .
Keating set bail at $ 2 million , saying Rittenhouse has no ties to Kenosha , he fled the state after the shootings and he faces life in prison if convicted .
He ordered Rittenhouse not to have any contact with the victims ’ families or to possess any weapons if he ’ s released .
Rittenhouse attended the hearing via a video feed from jail and was wearing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumpsuit .
He spoke only to say that he understood the conditions of his release .
The shootings happened two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back , paralyzing him from the waist down .
Video of the shooting sparked several nights of protests in Kenosha , a city of about 100,000 on the Wisconsin-Illinois border .

Huber’s son hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard before Rittenhouse shot him, but was he only trying to stop Rittenhouse, the father said.
“Self-defense, that’s impossible,” he said, growing more agitated as he spoke. “He had already killed a guy and tried to run. My son was a hero. He tried to stop him. He was a hero. Anyone who says otherwise is dead wrong, including the president. How dare he.”
President Donald Trump has said Rittenhouse’s actions might have been warranted, suggesting that the protesters might have killed him.
Richards tried to object to Huber’s remarks, but Keating cut him off.
Grosskreutz’s attorney, Kimberley Motley, asked for $4 million bail, calling Rittenhouse’s behavior “inexcusable.”
Keating set bail at $2 million, saying Rittenhouse has no ties to Kenosha, he fled the state after the shootings and he faces life in prison if convicted. He ordered Rittenhouse not to have any contact with the victims’ families or to possess any weapons if he’s released.
Rittenhouse attended the hearing via a video feed from jail and was wearing an orange mask and a dark blue jail jumpsuit. He spoke only to say that he understood the conditions of his release.
The shootings happened two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. Video of the shooting sparked several nights of protests in Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 on the Wisconsin-Illinois border.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Vatican Claims Pope's Civil Union Comments Were Taken Out Of Context

In it , the Vatican confirmed that Francis was referring to his position in 2010 when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires and strongly opposed moves to allow same-sex marriage .
Instead , he favored extending legal protections to gay couples under what is understood in Argentina as a civil union law .
While Francis was known to have taken that position privately , he had never articulated his support while as pope .
As a result , the comments made headlines , primarily because the Vatican ’ s doctrine office in 2003 issued a document prohibiting such endorsement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ predecessor as pope , says the church ’ s support for gay people “ can not lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions.
” The recent uproar gained even more attention because it turned out director Evgeny Afineevsky misled journalists by claiming Francis had made the comments to him in a new interview .
A week before the premiere , when he was asked about the civil union comments , Afineevsky told The Associated Press that he had two on-camera interviews with the pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premiere , he claimed that the civil union footage came from an interview with the pope with a translator present .
It turned out , Francis ’ comments were apparently taken from a May 2019 interview with Mexican broadcaster Televisa that were never broadcast .
The Vatican hasn ’ t confirmed or denied reports by sources in Mexico that the Vatican cut the quote from the footage it provided to Televisa after the interview , which was filmed with Vatican cameras .
The guidance issued by the secretariat of state doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or that it came from the Televisa interview .
It says only that it was from a 2019 interview and that the comments used in the documentary spliced together parts of two different responses in a way that removed crucial context .
“ More than a year ago , during an interview , Pope Francis answered two different questions at two different times that , in the aforementioned documentary , were edited and published as a single answer without proper contextualization , which has led to confusion , ” said the guidance posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question , given that the Catholic Church teaches that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect but that homosexual acts are “ intrinsically disordered.
” The church also holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman , and as a result , gay marriage is unacceptable .
In the end , Rubera recounts how Francis urged him to approach his parish transparently and bring the children up in the faith , which he did .
After the anecdote ends , the film cuts to Francis ’ comments from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the right to be in a family .
They are children of God , ” Francis said .
“ You can ’ t kick someone out of a family , nor make their life miserable for this .
What we have to have is a civil union law ; that way they are legally covered.
” Francis ’ comments about gays having the right to be in a family referred to parents with gay children , and the need for them to not kick their children out or discriminate against them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not endorsing the right of gay couples to adopt children , even though the placement of the quote right after Rubera told his story made it seem that Francis was .
The Televisa footage is available online , and includes an awkward cut right after Francis spoke about the “ incongruity ” of homosexual marriage .
Presumably , that is where he segued into his position as archbishop in favoring extending legal protections to gay couples .
The Vatican guidance insists that Francis wasn ’ t contradicting church doctrine .
But it doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extending Argentine legal protections to gay couples in 2010 could be squared with the 2003 document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , which says “ the principles of respect and non-discrimination can not be invoked to support legal recognition of homosexual unions .
”

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ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis’ comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context in a documentary that spliced together parts of an old interview, but still confirmed Francis’ belief that gay couples should enjoy legal protections.
The Vatican secretariat of state issued guidance to ambassadors to explain the uproar that Francis’ comments created following the Oct. 21 premiere of the film “Francesco,” at the Rome Film Festival. The Vatican nuncio to Mexico, Archbishop Franco Coppola, posted the unsigned guidance on his Facebook page Sunday.
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In it, the Vatican confirmed that Francis was referring to his position in 2010 when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires and strongly opposed moves to allow same-sex marriage. Instead, he favored extending legal protections to gay couples under what is understood in Argentina as a civil union law.
While Francis was known to have taken that position privately, he had never articulated his support while as pope. As a result, the comments made headlines, primarily because the Vatican’s doctrine office in 2003 issued a document prohibiting such endorsement. The document, signed by Francis’ predecessor as pope, says the church’s support for gay people “cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions.”
The recent uproar gained even more attention because it turned out director Evgeny Afineevsky misled journalists by claiming Francis had made the comments to him in a new interview. A week before the premiere, when he was asked about the civil union comments, Afineevsky told The Associated Press that he had two on-camera interviews with the pope. In comments to journalists after the premiere, he claimed that the civil union footage came from an interview with the pope with a translator present.
It turned out, Francis’ comments were apparently taken from a May 2019 interview with Mexican broadcaster Televisa that were never broadcast. The Vatican hasn’t confirmed or denied reports by sources in Mexico that the Vatican cut the quote from the footage it provided to Televisa after the interview, which was filmed with Vatican cameras.
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Afineevsky apparently was given access to the original, uncut footage in the Vatican archives.
Pope Francis delivers the Angelus noon prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The guidance issued by the secretariat of state doesn’t address the issue of the cut quote or that it came from the Televisa interview. It says only that it was from a 2019 interview and that the comments used in the documentary spliced together parts of two different responses in a way that removed crucial context.
“More than a year ago, during an interview, Pope Francis answered two different questions at two different times that, in the aforementioned documentary, were edited and published as a single answer without proper contextualization, which has led to confusion,” said the guidance posted by Coppola.
In the film, Afineevsky recounts the story of Andrea Rubera, a married gay Catholic who wrote Francis asking for his advice about bringing into the church his three young children with his husband.
It was an anguished question, given that the Catholic Church teaches that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect but that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” The church also holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman, and as a result, gay marriage is unacceptable.
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In the end, Rubera recounts how Francis urged him to approach his parish transparently and bring the children up in the faith, which he did. After the anecdote ends, the film cuts to Francis’ comments from the Televisa interview.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said. “You can’t kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”
Francis’ comments about gays having the right to be in a family referred to parents with gay children, and the need for them to not kick their children out or discriminate against them, the Vatican guidance said.
Francis was not endorsing the right of gay couples to adopt children, even though the placement of the quote right after Rubera told his story made it seem that Francis was.
The pope’s comments about gay civil unions came from a different part of the Televisa interview and included several caveats that were not included in the film.
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In the Televisa interview, Francis made clear he was explaining his position about the unique case in Buenos Aires 10 years ago, as opposed to Rubera’s situation or gay marriage as a whole.
In the Televisa interview, Francis also insisted that he always maintained Catholic doctrine and said there was an “incongruity” for the Catholic Church as far as “homosexual marriage” is concerned.
The documentary eliminated that context.
Director Evgeny Afineevsky is awarded the Kineo Movie for Humanity award at the Vatican, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, for the movie "Francesco." (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Televisa footage is available online, and includes an awkward cut right after Francis spoke about the “incongruity” of homosexual marriage. Presumably, that is where he segued into his position as archbishop in favoring extending legal protections to gay couples.
Neither the Vatican nor Afineevsky have responded to repeated questions about the cut quote or its origin.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Questions About 2020 Voting Issues? Ask Our HuffPost Politics Editors

During this historic election , we know our readers will have a lot to say .
And we want to hear it !
We ’ re launching three forums this week focusing on hot election topics .
Our hope is that this will result in robust conversation that you can weigh in on the most important election issues of the day — and hear from journalists covering these issues as well .
We ’ ll focus our moderators here to ensure the conversation remains civil and fact-checked , and we ’ ll highlight the best comments in our roundups .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whether it ’ s registration problems or voting machine malfunctions , HuffPost politics reporter Paul Blumenthal will try to get to all your questions on Election Day on Tuesday at noon ET .
Leave your questions in the comments .
This is how you can get to the comments .
To get to the comments , click on the gray quote bubble in the sharing icons either to the left of an article ’ s headline ( on desktop ) , at the top of the article ( on mobile web browser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of the app screen .
You can find more information about comments on our FAQ page .
Regardless of who you are , where you live or what you believe , HuffPost has always been a place for you to express your thoughts and opinions and participate in discussions about the most pivotal stories of our time .
Please join us !
Check back frequently to weigh in and hear what other HuffPost readers think about what ’ s going on .

In a recent poll, one of HuffPost members’ top-requested features was a roundup of reader comments. HuffPost Illustration
During this historic election, we know our readers will have a lot to say. And we want to hear it!
We’re launching three forums this week focusing on hot election topics. Our hope is that this will result in robust conversation that you can weigh in on the most important election issues of the day — and hear from journalists covering these issues as well. We’ll focus our moderators here to ensure the conversation remains civil and fact-checked, and we’ll highlight the best comments in our roundups.
This is the forum for voting issues. Whether it’s registration problems or voting machine malfunctions, HuffPost politics reporter Paul Blumenthal will try to get to all your questions on Election Day on Tuesday at noon ET. Leave your questions in the comments.
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This is how you can get to the comments. HuffPost
To get to the comments, click on the gray quote bubble in the sharing icons either to the left of an article’s headline (on desktop), at the top of the article (on mobile web browser) or in the tab at the bottom of the app screen. You can find more information about comments on our FAQ page.
Regardless of who you are, where you live or what you believe, HuffPost has always been a place for you to express your thoughts and opinions and participate in discussions about the most pivotal stories of our time.
Please join us! Check back frequently to weigh in and hear what other HuffPost readers think about what’s going on.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--John Oliver Delivers Damning Indictment Of Trump Just Hours Before Election

John Oliver can ’ t believe there are still voters willing to give President Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic despite the United States having the most cases and most deaths .
With less than 36 hours to go before the start of the election , the “ Last Week Tonight ” host delivered a 21-minute indictment of many of the ways the Trump administration has failed the nation throughout the crisis .
He also highlighted one moment that revealed Trump ’ s “ borderline sociopathic ” inability to show any degree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As first responders gathered in the Oval Office , Ernest Grant ― president of the American Nurses Association ― told Trump about the post-traumatic stress those working on the frontlines of the pandemic were experiencing .
Trump barely listened , then started passing out commemorative pens to everyone in the room .
“ I know after four years it is hard for anything Trump does to shock you anymore but it is worth making sure that that still does , ” Oliver said .
“ ...
He wasn ’ t even listening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his turn to speak so he could do his pen thing.
” “ Is there anything more grim than that ?
I mean I guess you could ’ ve not offered them pens .
But would that have been worse ?
Better ?
It ’ s honestly difficult to say .
It ’ s even more difficult to write a joke of.
” Then Oliver offered a message for those who think Trump ’ s been a boon for entertainers such as himself .
″ ‘ Oh , Trump must be great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ Yeah , not really .
This has been a fucking nightmare !
”

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John Oliver can’t believe there are still voters willing to give President Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic despite the United States having the most cases and most deaths.
With less than 36 hours to go before the start of the election, the “Last Week Tonight” host delivered a 21-minute indictment of many of the ways the Trump administration has failed the nation throughout the crisis. He also highlighted one moment that revealed Trump’s “borderline sociopathic” inability to show any degree of empathy for victims and survivors.
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As first responders gathered in the Oval Office, Ernest Grant ― president of the American Nurses Association ― told Trump about the post-traumatic stress those working on the frontlines of the pandemic were experiencing. Trump barely listened, then started passing out commemorative pens to everyone in the room.
“I know after four years it is hard for anything Trump does to shock you anymore but it is worth making sure that that still does,” Oliver said. “...He wasn’t even listening. He was just sitting there, waiting for his turn to speak so he could do his pen thing.”
Oliver added:
“Is there anything more grim than that? I mean I guess you could’ve not offered them pens. But would that have been worse? Better? It’s honestly difficult to say. It’s even more difficult to write a joke of.”
Then Oliver offered a message for those who think Trump’s been a boon for entertainers such as himself.
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″‘Oh, Trump must be great for you comedians, right?’” he said. “Yeah, not really. This has been a fucking nightmare!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-02--Chrissy Teigen Reveals Tattoo Honoring Her Son Jack After Pregnancy Loss

“ We never decide on our babies ’ names until the last possible moment after they ’ re born , @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
But we , for some reason , had started to call this little @ @ @ @ @ , ” Teigen wrote at the time .
“ So he will always be Jack @ @ @ @ @ so hard to be a part of our little family , and he will be @ @ @ @

“We never decide on our babies’ names until the last possible moment after they’re born, just before we leave the hospital. But we, for some reason, had started to call this little guy in my belly Jack,” Teigen wrote at the time. “So he will always be Jack to us. Jack worked so hard to be a part of our little family, and he will be, forever.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-03--The First Election Day Results Are Already In, Thanks To A Quirky Old Law

Two small rural communities in New Hampshire cast their ballots just after midnight on Tuesday ― and , thanks to a quirk in state election law , they ’ ve also tallied the vote and released the results .
The first ballot was cast by lifelong Republican Les Otten , who voted for Biden and explained his decision in a video : Biden ’ s sweep was the first in 60 years , since Richard Nixon won all nine votes cast over eventual winner John F. Kennedy in 1960 .
In 2016 , Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won four votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libertarian Gary Johnson and a write-in vote for Mitt Romney .
The small community of Millsfield finished its vote shortly after Dixville Notch , with Trump having better luck : He beat Biden 16-5 .
Trump also received 16 votes there in 2016 , versus 5 for Clinton .
A third community , Hart ’ s Location , also typically holds a midnight vote but canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Mark Dindorf , chairman of the Hart ’ s Location Board of Selectmen , told WMUR it was for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters as well as poll workers .
They will cast their ballots from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead .
Biden is expected to easily win New Hampshire , with FiveThirtyEight ’ s polling average giving him an 11.1-percentage-point lead over Trump in the Granite State .
New Hampshire law allows for communities with fewer than 100 people to open their polls at midnight and close when everyone has cast a ballot .
In the past , they were the self-described “ first in the nation ” voters , a designation that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early voting .
This year , for example , about 100 million others have already cast ballots around the nation .

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Two small rural communities in New Hampshire cast their ballots just after midnight on Tuesday ― and, thanks to a quirk in state election law, they’ve also tallied the vote and released the results.
All five voters in Dixville Notch chose Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden over President Donald Trump.
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The first ballot was cast by lifelong Republican Les Otten, who voted for Biden and explained his decision in a video:
Biden’s sweep was the first in 60 years, since Richard Nixon won all nine votes cast over eventual winner John F. Kennedy in 1960.
In 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won four votes versus two for Trump, one for Libertarian Gary Johnson and a write-in vote for Mitt Romney.
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The small community of Millsfield finished its vote shortly after Dixville Notch, with Trump having better luck: He beat Biden 16-5. Trump also received 16 votes there in 2016, versus 5 for Clinton.
A third community, Hart’s Location, also typically holds a midnight vote but canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mark Dindorf, chairman of the Hart’s Location Board of Selectmen, told WMUR it was for the health and safety of the 48 voters as well as poll workers.
“It’s a hard thing to let go of,” he lamented.
They will cast their ballots from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead.
Biden is expected to easily win New Hampshire, with FiveThirtyEight’s polling average giving him an 11.1-percentage-point lead over Trump in the Granite State.
New Hampshire law allows for communities with fewer than 100 people to open their polls at midnight and close when everyone has cast a ballot.
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In the past, they were the self-described “first in the nation” voters, a designation that’s been antiquated by the rise of early voting.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-03--Pete Buttigieg Schools Fox News Viewers In Testy Interview On Trump's Economy

The former Democratic presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend , Indiana , spoke to Fox News host Martha MacCallum following an appearance from Tim Murtaugh , communications director for the Trump reelection campaign , who defended his boss ’ s economic record .
“ I guess he thinks we ’ re all stupid , ” said Buttigieg , who has become a regular fixture on the network as a surrogate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s campaign .
“ If he ’ s trying to use the 2020 economy as an example of an economic triumph , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet than the rest of us , ” Buttigieg said .
“ The only reason those numbers are what they are is because it ’ s a partial comeback from the bloodbath that was the second quarter .
We are still down , as I think anybody knows.
” MacCallum argued that the economy would take time to rebound after the nation was brought to a standstill earlier this year by coronavirus-related business closures .
“ Some would say that it ’ s come back two-thirds from how far it was down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a strong number , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not back where it was , but we understand the world we live in , too.
” “ Good , you understand that there ’ s an economic disaster touched off by the mismanagement of the pandemic , ” Buttigieg interrupted .
But MacCallum argued that “ anybody who was president ” would have had to go through an economic dive and come back out of it .
“ Well , except in other countries it didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
” Buttigieg said .
“ Well , we have the most diverse country in the entire world .
We have a set of complex problems with our population .
It ’ s a completely different environment , ” MacCallum shot back .
“ So we should settle for less ?
So we should settle for worse numbers ?
” Buttigieg replied .
“ Absolutely not , ” MacCallum said .
“ All I ’ m saying is there ’ s only one way to know how they would ’ ve handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have two presidents at once.
” MacCallum then referred to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ’ s endorsement of Trump , which touted the strength of the economy under his leadership .
“ Do yourself a favor , if you ’ re sitting at home , ” Buttigieg replied .
“ Google ‘ stock market Obama versus Trump , ’ ” he said .
“ Click on the first two or three articles , look at the charts , and you ’ ll see that [ growth ] was slower under Trump.
” Nice try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who tries to sneak through a chart labeled `` after election '' like we 'll forget the president takes office on Inauguration Day , not Election Day .
https : //t.co/wztvpf8zCX — Pete Buttigieg ( @ PeteButtigieg ) November 3 , 2020

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Pete Buttigieg delivered what’s becoming a signature Fox News fact-check about Donald Trump in a tense interview about the economy under the president’s leadership.
The former Democratic presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, spoke to Fox News host Martha MacCallum following an appearance from Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump reelection campaign, who defended his boss’s economic record.
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“I guess he thinks we’re all stupid,” said Buttigieg, who has become a regular fixture on the network as a surrogate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign.
“If he’s trying to use the 2020 economy as an example of an economic triumph, he’s living on a different planet than the rest of us,” Buttigieg said. “The only reason those numbers are what they are is because it’s a partial comeback from the bloodbath that was the second quarter. We are still down, as I think anybody knows.”
MacCallum argued that the economy would take time to rebound after the nation was brought to a standstill earlier this year by coronavirus-related business closures.
All you have to do is google the numbers on the Obama-Biden economy versus the Trump economy. The Trump economic disaster is a matter of simple fact. pic.twitter.com/txlcHzkJVy — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 3, 2020
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“Some would say that it’s come back two-thirds from how far it was down. By any estimation from what happened, that’s a strong number,” she said. “It’s not back where it was, but we understand the world we live in, too.”
“Good, you understand that there’s an economic disaster touched off by the mismanagement of the pandemic,” Buttigieg interrupted.
But MacCallum argued that “anybody who was president” would have had to go through an economic dive and come back out of it.
“Well, except in other countries it didn’t happen quite like that, did it?” Buttigieg said.
“Well, we have the most diverse country in the entire world. We have a set of complex problems with our population. It’s a completely different environment,” MacCallum shot back.
“So we should settle for less? So we should settle for worse numbers?” Buttigieg replied.
“Absolutely not,” MacCallum said. “All I’m saying is there’s only one way to know how they would’ve handled it, and we don’t have two presidents at once.”
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MacCallum then referred to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s endorsement of Trump, which touted the strength of the economy under his leadership.
“Do yourself a favor, if you’re sitting at home,” Buttigieg replied. “Google ‘stock market Obama versus Trump,’” he said. “Click on the first two or three articles, look at the charts, and you’ll see that [growth] was slower under Trump.”
He emphasized his point again on Twitter following his appearance.
Nice try, but I truly feel sorry for someone who tries to sneak through a chart labeled "after election" like we'll forget the president takes office on Inauguration Day, not Election Day. https://t.co/wztvpf8zCX — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 3, 2020
Here's a good side by side that compares the actual presidencies. https://t.co/cPQPI7XtgK — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 3, 2020