theguardian--2020-11-18--The madness of King Trump, America's sulky George III sequel | Ian Martin

“ He went mad and lost America ” .
A conventional summary of King George III , the tragic figure who took on the colonies , sending in his troops to “ dominate ” the streets and crush resistance .
Alas , the war of independence didn ’ t end well , for George anyway .
Defeated , bipolar , suffering frequent manic episodes , he retreated to Windsor Castle having nevertheless amassed an impressive library and a reputation for cultured intelligence .
A couple of centuries and 45 presidents later , Old King Trump sits barricaded in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puckered into that trademark rosebud of petulance .
Barking at underlings .
Pretending HE won because a lot of Democrat votes were from dead people and very illegal .
His sulky-toddler folded arms , like that time he refused to say a single kind word when fellow Republican and war hero John McCain died .
There ’ s something almost majestic about Trump ’ s utter contempt for the office of president .
Karl Marx – apparently the evil genius behind peaceful protest and Medicare – said that historical entities appear twice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farce ” .
That feels about right .
King Trump is George ’ s sequel , the comedy version , his self-parody marching preposterously across Twitter like the mayor of Munchkinland .
Maybe when he finally accepts defeat he ’ ll retreat to Mar-a-Lago .
OK , there ’ s no legacy library , but he has amassed an impressive $ 1bn in debts .
Maybe Trump won ’ t be remembered for his cultured intelligence , but he can memorise “ person , woman , man , camera , TV ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 40 % of that list was , so who ’ s the dumbass ?
There is a diagonal career move open to Donald , though – the King ’ s Gambit .
How much would the angry , jilted , merch-hungry Magaverse love the narrative of Trump the King in Exile ?
King Donald , cruelly usurped by the dark forces of Antifa .
Twenty bucks says Trump ’ s had himself measured for a suit of ultra-lightweight armour .
Maybe he ’ s already clanking wheezily around the East Wing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practicing sword-lifting .
Who knows ?
Come January this QAnon lionheart could pledge to return to Washington in glory to claim once again his jewelled baseball-cap , to wreak his vengeance .
Aye , they ’ ll mutter , King Trump will be back to slay the Satanist pedophiles and liberate those poor children – disclaimer , not including the 545 separated from their parents by Ice .
And there has always been something monarchical about the Trump dynasty , hasn ’ t there ?
Something quite British royal family with veneers about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sexual cavalcade of hush-money freelancers because that ’ s just the way things have always been done in medieval Europe .
The dutiful daughter , special adviser on the economic empowerment of women , one in particular , and her husband the Duke of Nottingham .
The two princes , their consciences left blank for sponsorship opportunities .
I wonder what George III – a patron of the arts – would make of Trump , who hasn ’ t read more than a cereal box in his entire life .
Weirdly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George would certainly understand the aesthetic of Trump Tower , with its garish abundance of gold .
One of George ’ s first acts as king was to commission the spectacularly hideous gold state coach , a horse-drawn carriage still in use today .
Trump can ’ t have seen it , or he ’ d have surely ordered a golf cart facsimile by now .
There are interesting parallels too between the fully-deranged George and the stable genius Donald .
George would babble incoherently , his “ incessant loquacity ” continuing far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less sense , until he foamed at the mouth .
George also “ wantonly chased ladies around the court ” , presumably confiding his pick-up technique thus : “ I do not e ’ en tarry .
For mark , when thou art of noble birth , they allow it .
One may do anything , seize them by ye Cheshire Catte , anything … ” Trump declaring himself King of America – hell , King of the World why not we ’ re spitballing here – would merely be an intriguing second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved season one .
It started strongly , with a just-believable cast .
Escalated nicely too , with the money and the violence , the armed convoys of vigilantes and the ululating Christian demon-slayers .
It even had Rudy Giuliani going fully “ network ” .
But yeah , elbow-bump to your functioning democracy , which has duly delivered the USA ’ s latest very-old-guy president .
Mad King Trump may not have conceded , but he seems to have lost all interest in anything presidential .
He ’ s vaguely wondering if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but mostly raging at the phantoms who “ stole ” his realm in a rigged election .
William Thackeray wrote of George III : “ All history presents no sadder figure than that of the old man , blind and deprived of reason , wandering through the rooms of his palace , addressing imaginary parliaments , reviewing fancied troops , holding ghostly courts … ” I wonder what the voices in Trump ’ s head are advising now ?
Retreat to civilian life again , with its legal perils and authorized memoirs ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ king determined to leave as much wreckage and misery in opposition as he did in power ?
I don ’ t want to be that pessimist but you know .
He only lost half of America , didn ’ t he ?
Ian Martin is a comedy writer .
His credits include Veep , The Death of Stalin , Avenue 5 , The Thick of it and more

“He went mad and lost America”. A conventional summary of King George III, the tragic figure who took on the colonies, sending in his troops to “dominate” the streets and crush resistance. Alas, the war of independence didn’t end well, for George anyway. Defeated, bipolar, suffering frequent manic episodes, he retreated to Windsor Castle having nevertheless amassed an impressive library and a reputation for cultured intelligence.
A couple of centuries and 45 presidents later, Old King Trump sits barricaded in the White House doing nothing much. His face puckered into that trademark rosebud of petulance. Barking at underlings. Pretending HE won because a lot of Democrat votes were from dead people and very illegal. His sulky-toddler folded arms, like that time he refused to say a single kind word when fellow Republican and war hero John McCain died. There’s something almost majestic about Trump’s utter contempt for the office of president.
Karl Marx – apparently the evil genius behind peaceful protest and Medicare – said that historical entities appear twice, “first as tragedy, then as farce”. That feels about right.
‘King George III would certainly understand the aesthetic of Trump Tower, with its garish abundance of gold.’ Photograph: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017/Royal Collection/PA
King Trump is George’s sequel, the comedy version, his self-parody marching preposterously across Twitter like the mayor of Munchkinland. Maybe when he finally accepts defeat he’ll retreat to Mar-a-Lago. OK, there’s no legacy library, but he has amassed an impressive $1bn in debts. Maybe Trump won’t be remembered for his cultured intelligence, but he can memorise “person, woman, man, camera, TV”. George wouldn’t even have understood what 40% of that list was, so who’s the dumbass?
There is a diagonal career move open to Donald, though – the King’s Gambit. How much would the angry, jilted, merch-hungry Magaverse love the narrative of Trump the King in Exile? King Donald, cruelly usurped by the dark forces of Antifa.
Twenty bucks says Trump’s had himself measured for a suit of ultra-lightweight armour. Maybe he’s already clanking wheezily around the East Wing, admiring himself in the cheval mirrors and practicing sword-lifting. Who knows? Come January this QAnon lionheart could pledge to return to Washington in glory to claim once again his jewelled baseball-cap, to wreak his vengeance. Aye, they’ll mutter, King Trump will be back to slay the Satanist pedophiles and liberate those poor children – disclaimer, not including the 545 separated from their parents by Ice.
There’s something almost majestic about Trump’s utter contempt for the office of president
And there has always been something monarchical about the Trump dynasty, hasn’t there? Something quite British royal family with veneers about them. The stoical wife, accommodating a sexual cavalcade of hush-money freelancers because that’s just the way things have always been done in medieval Europe. The dutiful daughter, special adviser on the economic empowerment of women, one in particular, and her husband the Duke of Nottingham. The two princes, their consciences left blank for sponsorship opportunities.
I wonder what George III – a patron of the arts – would make of Trump, who hasn’t read more than a cereal box in his entire life. Weirdly, maybe they’d get along. George would certainly understand the aesthetic of Trump Tower, with its garish abundance of gold. One of George’s first acts as king was to commission the spectacularly hideous gold state coach, a horse-drawn carriage still in use today. Trump can’t have seen it, or he’d have surely ordered a golf cart facsimile by now.
There are interesting parallels too between the fully-deranged George and the stable genius Donald. George would babble incoherently, his “incessant loquacity” continuing far into the night, making less and less sense, until he foamed at the mouth. George also “wantonly chased ladies around the court”, presumably confiding his pick-up technique thus: “I do not e’en tarry. For mark, when thou art of noble birth, they allow it. One may do anything, seize them by ye Cheshire Catte, anything …”
The Queen at St Paul’s cathedral after arriving in the golden coach, first seen in public in 1762, when King George III travelled to the state opening of parliament. Photograph: Stephen Hird/REUTERS
Trump declaring himself King of America – hell, King of the World why not we’re spitballing here – would merely be an intriguing second season of election 2020. We all loved season one. It started strongly, with a just-believable cast. Escalated nicely too, with the money and the violence, the armed convoys of vigilantes and the ululating Christian demon-slayers. It even had Rudy Giuliani going fully “network”. But yeah, elbow-bump to your functioning democracy, which has duly delivered the USA’s latest very-old-guy president.
Mad King Trump may not have conceded, but he seems to have lost all interest in anything presidential. He’s vaguely wondering if it’s worth bombing Iran, but mostly raging at the phantoms who “stole” his realm in a rigged election. William Thackeray wrote of George III: “All history presents no sadder figure than that of the old man, blind and deprived of reason, wandering through the rooms of his palace, addressing imaginary parliaments, reviewing fancied troops, holding ghostly courts …”
I wonder what the voices in Trump’s head are advising now? Retreat to civilian life again, with its legal perils and authorized memoirs? Or fight on as a heavily-photoshopped rebel king determined to leave as much wreckage and misery in opposition as he did in power?
I don’t want to be that pessimist but you know. He only lost half of America, didn’t he?
Ian Martin is a comedy writer. His credits include Veep, The Death of Stalin, Avenue 5, The Thick of it and more


theguardian--2020-11-19--How will Joe Biden reset US relations with the world? - podcast

When Donald Trump took office four years ago it was with the mantra ‘ America first ’ .
International agreements @ @ @ @ @ US withdrew from commitments like the Paris climate agreement and cut its funding for the @ @ @ @ @ in Europe were scorned in favour of creating new relationships with ‘ strongmen ’ leaders @ @ @ @ @ Kim Jong-un .
Now , as Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House he @ @ @ @ @ relations and rejoin global institutions .
But as the Guardian ’ s diplomatic editor , @ @ @ @ @ Asthana , the next four years will not be simply spent turning the clock back @ @ @ @ @ Biden will forge his own foreign policy based on promoting democracy and standing up to @ @ @ @ @ a change in tone that will have ramifications too in Britain , where a Brexit @ @ @ @ @ from the EU ( now without the prospect of a Trump-blessed US trade deal ) @ @ @ @ @ .

Presented by Anushka Asthana with Patrick Wintour; produced by Hannah Moore and Nicholas Cox; executive producers Phil Maynard and Nicole Jackson

When Donald Trump took office four years ago it was with the mantra ‘America first’. International agreements were torn up, the US withdrew from commitments like the Paris climate agreement and cut its funding for the World Health Organization. Allies in Europe were scorned in favour of creating new relationships with ‘strongmen’ leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.
Now, as Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House he is promising to repair damaged relations and rejoin global institutions. But as the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, tells Anushka Asthana, the next four years will not be simply spent turning the clock back on global affairs: instead Biden will forge his own foreign policy based on promoting democracy and standing up to authoritarianism. It’s a change in tone that will have ramifications too in Britain, where a Brexit deal and an orderly exit from the EU (now without the prospect of a Trump-blessed US trade deal) is becoming ever more important.


theguardian--2020-11-19--More than 250,000 Americans have died from coronavirus as US cases soar - as it happened

More than 900 employees at Mayo Clinic , a top research hospital that is based in Rochester , Minnesota , have contracted Covid-19 in the last two weeks .
At a press briefing on Tuesday , Dr Amy Williams , dean of clinical practice at the hospital , said that the vast majority of staff who were infected – 93 % – were not infected at work , according to the St Paul Pioneer Press .
Most of those who were infected at work contracted the virus while eating without a mask during their breaks , Williams said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus over the last two weeks make up over a third of all employees who were infected since the start of the pandemic .
The hospital is experiencing a shortage of 1,000 employees at its headquarters in Rochester , according to the Pioneer Press .
“ It shows you how easy it is to get Covid-19 in the midwest , ” Williams said during a press call .
“ Our staff are being infected mostly due to community spread , and this impacts our ability to care for patients.
” The hospital did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died from the virus .
Lost on the Frontline , a joint effort by the Guardian and Kaiser Health News , is investigating the deaths of 1,396 healthcare workers who appear to have died of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic .
Covid-19 cases have been rising across the country as the dreaded winter surge in cases has arrived .
Yesterday , 161,000 new cases in the US were reported , and 76,830 people were reported to be currently hospitalized with the virus across the country .
Minnesota has seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few weeks .
The seven-day moving average for new cases in the state was 7,402 on Tuesday , the highest it has been in the state , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The governor is anticipated to enact new restrictions on social gatherings and businesses such as bars and restaurants amid the influx .

Maanvi Singh (now), Joan E Greve and Martin Belam (earlier)

19 Nov 2020 01.11 GMT Summary From me and Joan E Greve: The US coronavirus death toll surpassed 250,000. That’s a higher death toll than any other country in the world.
That’s a higher death toll than any other country in the world. New York will close all public schools starting tomorrow, as the city experiences a rise in new cases of coronavirus. New York’s seven-day average positivity rate has hit 3%, requiring schools to cancel in-person instruction, per state guidelines.
as the city experiences a rise in new cases of coronavirus. New York’s seven-day average positivity rate has hit 3%, requiring schools to cancel in-person instruction, per state guidelines. More states, including Kentucky and Minnesota, announced new restrictions on gatherings. Kentucky’s governor Andy Beshear said at a news conference today that “when fighting Covid-19, action is unpopular, but inaction is deadly”.
Kentucky’s governor Andy Beshear said at a news conference today that “when fighting Covid-19, action is unpopular, but inaction is deadly”. Joe Biden held a virtual meeting with frontline health care workers, pledging to pursue a robust response to the coronavirus pandemic after he is inaugurated in January.
pledging to pursue a robust response to the coronavirus pandemic after he is inaugurated in January. Pfizer said a late-stage vaccine trial showed its coronavirus vaccine is actually 95% effective, after previously saying it was more than 90% effective. The company expects to apply for emergency authorization in the US within days.
after previously saying it was more than 90% effective. The company expects to apply for emergency authorization in the US within days. Donald Trump’s campaign said it would request recounts of two Wisconsin counties. The Trump campaign has already wired $3m to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and called for recounts in the Democratic-leaning Milwaukee and Dane counties. Biden currently leads in Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes, so a partial recount is unlikely to reverse his victory there.
The Trump campaign has already wired $3m to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and called for recounts in the Democratic-leaning Milwaukee and Dane counties. Biden currently leads in Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes, so a partial recount is unlikely to reverse his victory there. House Democrats re-elected Nancy Pelosi as their nominee for speaker. In her acceptance speech, Pelosi said the next Congress should focus on “justice”. “It has to be about justice in our economy. It has to be about justice in our justice system, passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” Pelosi said. US passes 250,000 deaths from coronavirus Read more
Updated at 01.30 GMT
19 Nov 2020 00.39 GMT Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has also announced new restrictions. The state will prohibit in-person gatherings with members of different households starting Friday. Bars and restaurants will be take-out only. Schools, however, will remain operational – with a combination of in-person and virtual instruction. I’m announcing new steps to combat the spread of COVID-19 where it’s spreading most in our communities. Tune in live at 6. The announcement will also be broadcast live in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali through @TPTNOW, @3hmoobtv, and Somali TV Minnesota.https://t.co/3mhdgZsgQe — Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) November 18, 2020
Updated at 00.41 GMT
19 Nov 2020 00.27 GMT More states and cities are announcing coronavirus restrictions as the number of cases build. Kentucky’s governor Andy Beshear said at a news conference today that “when fighting Covid-19, action is unpopular, but inaction is deadly”. The economy “remains open” he said, but announced new guidelines restricting the size of private gatherings to 8 people from no more than two households, shutting down in-person schooling and restricting indoor dining. This is not, and will not be, a shutdown. Our economy is open. But today we are announcing significant, but surgical and targeted steps designed to slow the spread of the virus and protect our people. https://t.co/WKgIXkLSfB pic.twitter.com/ADzRxbxGxv — Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) November 18, 2020
Updated at 00.41 GMT
19 Nov 2020 00.01 GMT Georgia recount expected to affirm Biden victoory As Georgia wraps up its hand recount of 5m ballots, Joe Biden has maintained his lead. Donald Trump gained a bit more than 1,300 votes, shaving Biden’s lead down a little bit. But Biden still appears to have just under 13,000 more votes than Trump. On CNN, secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said the votes that Trump gained in the recount can mostly be attributed to clerical errors. He reaffirmed: “we have not seen any widespread fraud”. The state is expected to release the complete results of its audit tomorrow.
Updated at 00.26 GMT
18 Nov 2020 23.30 GMT More than 900 employees at Mayo Clinic, a top research hospital that is based in Rochester, Minnesota, have contracted Covid-19 in the last two weeks.
Lauren Aratani reports: At a press briefing on Tuesday, Dr Amy Williams, dean of clinical practice at the hospital, said that the vast majority of staff who were infected – 93% – were not infected at work, according to the St Paul Pioneer Press. Most of those who were infected at work contracted the virus while eating without a mask during their breaks, Williams said. The hundreds of employees who have contracted the virus over the last two weeks make up over a third of all employees who were infected since the start of the pandemic. The hospital is experiencing a shortage of 1,000 employees at its headquarters in Rochester, according to the Pioneer Press. “It shows you how easy it is to get Covid-19 in the midwest,” Williams said during a press call. “Our staff are being infected mostly due to community spread, and this impacts our ability to care for patients.” The hospital did not say whether any of those infected had died from the virus. Lost on the Frontline, a joint effort by the Guardian and Kaiser Health News, is investigating the deaths of 1,396 healthcare workers who appear to have died of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Covid-19 cases have been rising across the country as the dreaded winter surge in cases has arrived. Yesterday, 161,000 new cases in the US were reported, and 76,830 people were reported to be currently hospitalized with the virus across the country. Minnesota has seen a particularly alarming spike in cases over the last few weeks. The seven-day moving average for new cases in the state was 7,402 on Tuesday, the highest it has been in the state, according to Johns Hopkins University. The governor is anticipated to enact new restrictions on social gatherings and businesses such as bars and restaurants amid the influx. Mayo Clinic: 900 employees at top US hospital catch Covid-19 in two weeks Read more
18 Nov 2020 23.04 GMT California’s governor Gavin Newsom, who came under fire for attending a fancy dinner with lobbyists at the French Laundry in Napa, was joined by officials from the California Medical Association, Politico reports: CEO Dustin Corcoran and top CMA lobbyist Janus Norman both joined the dinner at the French Laundry, an elite Napa fine dining restaurant, to celebrate the 50th birthday of lobbyist and longtime Newsom adviser Jason Kinney, a representative of the powerful interest group confirmed Wednesday morning. Both Norman and Corcoran are friends of Kinney, as is Newsom, who referred this week to his 20-year friendship with Kinney. In a photo obtained by Fox LA, Norman is clearly visible seated to Newsom’s left. Newsom had said it was a “mistake” to attend the 6 November dinner, held on the restaurant’s patio. Indoor and outdoor dining was allowed in Napa at the time, but even if the upscale gathering wasn’t against the rules, it struck many as out of touch as the governor and other officials ask Californians to cancel Thanksgiving plans and coronavirus cases surge.
Updated at 23.07 GMT
18 Nov 2020 22.51 GMT US coronavirus death toll surpasses 250,000 According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US coronavirus death toll is now at 250,029, representing a higher death toll than any other country in the world.
The death toll has quickly accelerated in recent days amid a national surge in new cases. The figures from Johns Hopkins indicate 1,707 Americans died of the virus yesterday alone. A number of states have introduced stricter guidelines in recent weeks to try to mitigate the spread of the virus. New York mayor Bill de Blasio has announced public schools will be closed starting tomorrow because the city’s seven-day average positivity rate has reached 3%.
Updated at 23.03 GMT
18 Nov 2020 22.35 GMT Walmart, McDonald’s and Uber are among the companies that have the most employees on food stamps and Medicaid, according to a report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO looked into the matter at the behest of Bernie Sanders. “These giant corporations pay starvation wages – wages so low their workers have to rely on Medicaid and food stamps,” Sanders said, pointing to several fast food and other companies whose workers have to rely on benefits because they do not make enough money to survive. The Washington Post has published a detailed report of the findings here. These giant corporations pay starvation wages—wages so low their workers have to rely on Medicaid and food stamps to survive:
Walmart
McDonald’s
Dollar Tree
Uber
Burger King
FedEx
Wendy's
This is what a rigged economy is about. We need a $15 living wage and Medicare for All. https://t.co/GFzfK9ERae — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 18, 2020 Sanders and his supporters are vying for him to become labor secretary in the upcoming Biden administration. Sanders has long been advocating for a federal $15 minimum wage.
Updated at 22.40 GMT
18 Nov 2020 22.17 GMT Welfare checks and hotspots: how a school district is fighting to keep kids in class amid Covid Abené Clayton reports from Richmond, California: When the West Contra Costa unified school district (WCCUSD) first shut down in-class instruction in early-March, 750 of their students never picked up their school-issued laptops or signed into their online classes, according to Marin Trujillo, WCCUSD’s community engagement coordinator. The sudden drop-off prompted a fact-finding mission to understand why students had disappeared. “We organized semi-welfare checks where we had to go one family at a time,” Trujillo said. “We saw how economic anxiety can get in families’ way, some had trouble connecting to the internet. The need was very great.” District staff and officials said they have connected with most of these “missing” youth over the summer. But now, more than halfway through the first semester, teachers say last year’s troubling pattern of chronic absenteeism is repeating itself. The reasons students miss school regularly vary, but state data shows that students living in poverty and dealing with homelessness are most likely to be absent. Even before the coronavirus, absenteeism numbers in Contra Costa schools were high – a 2016 grand jury report found that the county’s public schools ranked 46th out of 58 California counties for having the worst levels of truancy. Latino, Black, disabled and homeless students represent the lion’s share of truant students, according to the most recent state data. The pandemic added new factors driving absenteeism, including practical problems such as spotty internet access and out of date immunization records. This semester, administrators are starting from square one and can’t locate an estimated 2,000 students, according to county board of education trustee Fatima Alleyne. Welfare checks and hotspots: how a school district is fighting to keep kids in class amid Covid Read more
Updated at 22.21 GMT
18 Nov 2020 22.00 GMT Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: New York will close all public schools starting tomorrow, as the city experiences a rise in new cases of coronavirus. New York’s seven-day average positivity rate has hit 3%, requiring schools to cancel in-person instruction, per state guidelines.
as the city experiences a rise in new cases of coronavirus. New York’s seven-day average positivity rate has hit 3%, requiring schools to cancel in-person instruction, per state guidelines. Joe Biden held a virtual meeting with frontline health care workers, pledging to pursue a robust response to the coronavirus pandemic after he is inaugurated in January. The meeting comes as the US coronavirus death toll approaches 250,000.
pledging to pursue a robust response to the coronavirus pandemic after he is inaugurated in January. The meeting comes as the US coronavirus death toll approaches 250,000. Pfizer said a late-stage vaccine trial showed its coronavirus vaccine is actually 95% effective, after previously saying it was more than 90% effective. The company expects to apply for emergency authorization in the US within days.
after previously saying it was more than 90% effective. The company expects to apply for emergency authorization in the US within days. Donald Trump’s campaign said it would request recounts of two Wisconsin counties. The Trump campaign has already wired $3m to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and called for recounts in the Democratic-leaning Milwaukee and Dane counties. Biden currently leads in Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes, so a partial recount is unlikely to reverse his victory there.
The Trump campaign has already wired $3m to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and called for recounts in the Democratic-leaning Milwaukee and Dane counties. Biden currently leads in Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes, so a partial recount is unlikely to reverse his victory there. House Democrats re-elected Nancy Pelosi as their nominee for speaker. In her acceptance speech, Pelosi said the next Congress should focus on “justice”. “It has to be about justice in our economy. It has to be about justice in our justice system, passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” Pelosi said. Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 22.09 GMT
18 Nov 2020 21.44 GMT Joe Biden called Nancy Pelosi today to congratulate her on being re-elected as House Democrats’ nominee for speaker, the president-elect’s team said in a statement. The Biden transition team said, “President-elect Biden called Speaker Pelosi to congratulate her on her election as Democratic nominee for Speaker of the House and express that he looks forward to working with her and Democratic leadership in the House on a shared agenda to get Covid-19 under control and build our economy back better.” Pelosi accepted her caucus’ nomination earlier today and said she looked forward to collaborating with Biden once he was inaugurated, emphasizing the need to pass another coronavirus relief package.
Updated at 22.09 GMT
18 Nov 2020 21.30 GMT Senator Chuck Grassley said he remains “symptom free,” a day after announcing that he tested positive for coronavirus. I remain symptom free & in isolation. I continue to feel good Thx for all the messages of encouragement & prayers — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 18, 2020 The Iowa Republican said in a tweet, “I remain symptom free & in isolation. I continue to feel good Thx for all the messages of encouragement & prayers.” The 87-year-old missed his first Senate vote in 27 years yesterday, after learning he had been exposed to someone who later tested positive for coronavirus. Grassley announced his own positive test result hours later. Speaking on the Senate floor today, majority leader Mitch McConnell said, “Certainly if any member of this body has the good health and stamina to kick the virus to the curb, it’s Senator Grassley. So we’ll look forward to seeing him soon.”


theguardian--2020-11-19--Obama’s A Promised Land on track to become best selling presidential memoir

Barack Obama ’ s new book A Promised Land has sold nearly 890,000 copies in the US and Canada in its first 24 hours , putting it on track to become the best selling presidential memoir in modern history .
The first-day sales , which set a record for Penguin Random House , includes pre-orders , e-books and audio .
“ We are thrilled with the first day sales , ” said David Drake , publisher of the Penguin Random House imprint Crown .
“ They reflect the widespread excitement that readers have for President Obama ’ s highly anticipated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book by a former White House resident to come close to that sales figure was Michelle Obama ’ s own memoir Becoming , which sold 725,000 copies in North America its first day and has topped 10m worldwide since its release in 2018 .
As of midday Wednesday , A Promised Land was No 1 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com .
James Daunt , CEO of Barnes & Noble , said that the superstore chain easily sold more than 50,000 copies its first day and hoped to reach half a million within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton ’ s My Life sold about 400,000 copies in North America its first day and George W Bush ’ s Decision Points approximately 220,000 , with sales for each memoir currently between 3.5m and 4m copies .
The fastest selling book in memory remains JK Rowling ’ s seventh and final Harry Potter novel , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , which came out in 2007 and sold more than 8m copies within 24 hours .
Obama ’ s 768-page memoir was released just two weeks after election day and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former president ’ s time in the White House , key moments in his presidency – such as the fight over the Affordable Care Act and the killing of Osama bin Laden – and his reflections on the rise of Trump .
“ To read Barack Obama ’ s autobiography in the last , snarling days of Donald Trump is to stare into an abyss between two opposite ends of humanity , and wonder once again at how the same country came to choose two such disparate men , ” wrote the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent review .
Obama himself acknowledges that he didn ’ t intend for the book , the first of two planned volumes , to arrive so close to a presidential election or to take nearly four years after he left the White House .
In the introduction , dated August 2020 , Obama writes that “ the book kept growing in length and scope ” as he found more words were needed .
He was also working under conditions he “ didn ’ t fully anticipate ” , from the pandemic to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ most troubling of all ” , how the country ’ s “ democracy seems to be teetering on the brink of crisis ” .
Obama has already written two acclaimed , million-selling works , Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope .

Barack Obama’s new book A Promised Land has sold nearly 890,000 copies in the US and Canada in its first 24 hours, putting it on track to become the bestselling presidential memoir in modern history.
The first-day sales, which set a record for Penguin Random House, includes pre-orders, e-books and audio.
“We are thrilled with the first day sales,” said David Drake, publisher of the Penguin Random House imprint Crown. “They reflect the widespread excitement that readers have for President Obama’s highly anticipated and extraordinarily written book.”
The only book by a former White House resident to come close to that sales figure was Michelle Obama’s own memoir Becoming, which sold 725,000 copies in North America its first day and has topped 10m worldwide since its release in 2018.
As of midday Wednesday, A Promised Land was No 1 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. James Daunt, the chief executive of Barnes & Noble, said that the superstore chain easily sold more than 50,000 copies its first day and hoped to reach half a million within 10 days.
By comparison, Bill Clinton’s My Life sold about 400,000 copies in North America its first day and George W Bush’s Decision Points approximately 220,000, with sales for each memoir currently between 3.5m and 4m copies. The fastest selling book in memory remains JK Rowling’s seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which came out in 2007 and sold more than 8m copies within 24 hours.
Obama’s 768-page memoir was released just two weeks after election day and has already made headlines for its account of the former president’s time in the White House, key moments in his presidency – such as the fight over the Affordable Care Act and the killing of Osama bin Laden – and his reflections on the rise of Trump.
“To read Barack Obama’s autobiography in the last, snarling days of Donald Trump is to stare into an abyss between two opposite ends of humanity, and wonder once again at how the same country came to choose two such disparate men,” wrote the Guardian’s Julian Borger in his recent review.
Obama himself acknowledges that he didn’t intend for the book, the first of two planned volumes, to arrive so close to a presidential election or to take nearly four years after he left the White House.
In the introduction, dated August 2020, Obama writes that “the book kept growing in length and scope” as he found more words were needed. He was also working under conditions he “didn’t fully anticipate”, from the pandemic to the Black Lives Matters protests, to, “most troubling of all”, how the country’s “democracy seems to be teetering on the brink of crisis”.
Obama has already written two acclaimed, million-selling works, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope.


theguardian--2020-11-18--Italy registers 753 Covid-related deaths; Pfizer vaccine '95% efficacy' – as it happened

The US has seen more than 250,000 deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic as a new swathe of data was @ @ @ @ @ country over the grim landmark on Wednesday .
Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University showed @ @ @ @ @ killed by Covid-19 is now 250,029 .
The news comes amid record infections across the @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly failing to get a grip on the Covid-19 crisis .
Most recently Trump has @ @ @ @ @ the presidential election to Joe Biden who this week said “ more people may die @ @ @ @ @ hamper his transition .

Nadeem Badshah (now); Aamna Mohdin, Alexandra Topping, Martin Farrer and Ben Doherty (earlier)

18 Nov 2020 23.06 GMT The US has seen more than 250,000 deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic as a new swathe of data was released that pushed the stricken country over the grim landmark on Wednesday. Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University showed that the number of people killed by Covid-19 is now 250,029. The news comes amid record infections across the US with the Trump administration repeatedly failing to get a grip on the Covid-19 crisis. Most recently Trump has refused to concede he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden who this week said “more people may die” if he continues to hamper his transition. US passes 250,000 deaths from coronavirus Read more
18 Nov 2020 22.51 GMT A grim dispatch by Associated Press from a hospital in Tennessee where staff are struggling to cope: Overwhelmed hospitals are converting chapels, cafeterias, waiting rooms, hallways, even a parking garage into patient treatment areas. Staff members are desperately calling around to other medical centers in search of open beds. Fatigue and frustration are setting in among front-line workers. Conditions inside the nation’s hospitals are deteriorating by the day as the coronavirus rages across the U.S. at an unrelenting pace and the death toll closes in on a quarter-million. “We are depressed, disheartened and tired to the bone,” said Alison Johnson, director of critical care at Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, adding that she drives to and from work some days in tears. The number of people in the hospital with Covid-19 in the U.S. has doubled in the past month and set new records every day this week. As of Tuesday, nearly 77,000 were hospitalized with the virus.
Updated at 23.30 GMT
18 Nov 2020 22.07 GMT Uruguay is starting to see a worrying rise in cases, sparking concern among government officials that the country could reverse course after a long period of containing the pandemic. The South American nation has confirmed just 4,208 positive cases and 68 deaths since the pandemic began, with voluntary quarantines, widespread tracing programs and random testing helping keep infection rates far lower than its South American neighbors. However, cases have jumped in the last month, crossing 100 daily cases for the first time. Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou has now opted for a government campaign to promote “responsible freedom,” with officials targeting young people ahead of the tourist season, calling on them to limit social gatherings and not share drinks. “The health authorities make a special request to the population to reduce the circles of social contact and meeting times, the permanent use of face masks, physical distancing, ventilation and hygiene,” Uruguay’s national emergency system said. Officials in the capital, Montevideo, where there are currently 449 active cases, are considering suspending celebrations for carnival, the country’s major festival set to begin in January. Health Ministry officials have asked laboratories to increase their analysis capacity for coronavirus testing, potentially doubling the current rate of about 4,000 test per day if cases continue to rise.
18 Nov 2020 21.55 GMT People arrive in their vehicles for a distribution of frozen turkeys and food boxes ahead of Thanksgiving to families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, California. The annual Operation Gobble Gobble event is organized by Supervisor Hilda Solis and 43 nonprofit organisations. Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images
18 Nov 2020 21.34 GMT Brazil records further 756 deaths Brazil recorded 34,091 further confirmed cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 756 deaths, the country’s health ministry said. Brazil has registered more than 5.9 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 167,455, according to ministry data.
18 Nov 2020 21.25 GMT Canada is in talks with other governments about a plan to donate coronavirus vaccine shots to lower-income countries, sources told Reuters. Canada has made deals to buy more doses per capita than any other nation, according to researchers at the Duke Global Health Innovation Center in North Carolina. It is among a handful of wealthy nations that reserved billions of doses between them before late-stage trial data came in, ensuring they would get access even if only one or two vaccines worked. Canada could donate extra doses through the World Health Organization-backed COVAX facility, which would distribute them among recipient countries, said a Canadian government source. Separately, a COVAX source confirmed discussions were going on between Canada and other governments and organizations involved with COVAX, a facility created to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Sources declined to be identified as the discussions are confidential. Asked about the issue in a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday, Deputy Procurement Minister Bill Matthews said Canada “would have options” if all seven suppliers had their vaccines approved but that it was “too early” for a plan.
18 Nov 2020 21.01 GMT A summary of today's developments France has reported 28,383 new confirmed coronavirus cases, compared to 45,522 on Tuesday. The country has also reported a further 425 deaths compared to 428 yesterday.
has reported 28,383 new confirmed coronavirus cases, compared to 45,522 on Tuesday. The country has also reported a further 425 deaths compared to 428 yesterday. US coronavirus death toll nears 250,000. According to Johns Hopkins University, 248,707 Americans have now died of the virus, and the country is expected to soon surpass more than 250,000 deaths. President-elect Joe Biden will virtually speak with frontline health care workers today, as the US coronavirus death toll continues to climb.
coronavirus death toll nears 250,000. According to Johns Hopkins University, 248,707 Americans have now died of the virus, and the country is expected to soon surpass more than 250,000 deaths. President-elect Joe Biden will virtually speak with frontline health care workers today, as the US coronavirus death toll continues to climb. Italy registers 753 deaths and 34,282 new infections. The critical threshold of Covid patients taking up 30% of intensive care has been exceeded in 17 Italian regions, according to figures on Wednesday. The central region of Abruzzo is the latest to be upgraded to a red zone as the situation deteriorates there, while doctors in the southern region of Puglia have asked for the region to also be upgraded. While Italy has almost doubled the availability of intensive care beds to 9,931 and increased the number of ventilators, just 625 more anaesthetists and resuscitators have been hired since the beginning of the pandemic.
registers 753 deaths and 34,282 new infections. The critical threshold of Covid patients taking up 30% of intensive care has been exceeded in 17 Italian regions, according to figures on Wednesday. The central region of Abruzzo is the latest to be upgraded to a red zone as the situation deteriorates there, while doctors in the southern region of Puglia have asked for the region to also be upgraded. While Italy has almost doubled the availability of intensive care beds to 9,931 and increased the number of ventilators, just 625 more anaesthetists and resuscitators have been hired since the beginning of the pandemic. Scottish police submit assessment on Margaret Ferrier MP. Scottish police have handed the results of an initial investigation to prosecutors into whether MP Margaret Ferrier broke the law when she took a train from London to Glasgow after testing positive.
police submit assessment on Margaret Ferrier MP. Scottish police have handed the results of an initial investigation to prosecutors into whether MP Margaret Ferrier broke the law when she took a train from London to Glasgow after testing positive. Switzerland : intensive care beds at full capacity. In a press statement on Tuesday, the Swiss Society for Intensive Medicine said all of the 876 certified ICU beds in Switzerland were occupied, advising vulnerable people to write down in a will whether they would like to receive life support in the event of a severe illness.
: intensive care beds at full capacity. In a press statement on Tuesday, the Swiss Society for Intensive Medicine said all of the 876 certified ICU beds in Switzerland were occupied, advising vulnerable people to write down in a will whether they would like to receive life support in the event of a severe illness. Pfizer vaccine reports 95% efficacy. Pfizer had reported that its coronavirus vaccine has an efficacy of 95% effective and that it has passed its safety checks, according to further data from the firm.
18 Nov 2020 20.36 GMT Air France-KLM is among the airlines gearing up for the challenge of transporting millions of doses of temperature-sensitive Covid-19 vaccines in the midst of a travel slump. Breakthrough vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna have yet to win final approval, but the drugmakers, their logistics and cargo providers are not waiting for a green light to activate freight plans. “It’s going to be a major logistics challenge,” said Air France cargo chief Christophe Boucher, citing the “massive” volume of vaccines to be distributed globally.
“Another difficulty is the temperature control,” Boucher said in an interview at ParisCharles de Gaulle airport - where cargo specialists were preparing to load consignments of super-cooled rabies vaccines bound for Brazil. The Covid-19 airlift is being planned amid a partial shutdown of global air travel. Airlines have warned that travel curbs could hamper the effort, since around 45% of global cargo typically travels in passenger plane holds. Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc said it had offered to provide Brazil with millions of doses of the vaccine in the first half of 2021, amid evidence the coronavirus is spreading more rapidly in South America’s largest country.
18 Nov 2020 20.24 GMT A Kuwaiti health worker conducts PCR test at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing centre near Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait City. Kuwait has carried out over one million COVID-19 tests since the start of the pandemic. Photograph: Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images
18 Nov 2020 20.13 GMT The WHO’s emergencies director has warned that vaccines would not arrive in time to defeat the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pfizer said a completed study of its experimental vaccine showed it was 95 per cent effective, while fellow US firm Moderna said this week that its own candidate was 94.5 percent effective. Russia claims its candidate is more than 90 percent effective. The WHO’s Michael Ryan said vaccines should not be seen as a “unicorn” magic solution - and countries battling a resurgence of the virus would once again have to “climb this mountain” without them. “I think it’s at least four to six months before we have significant levels of vaccination going on anywhere,” he said. 00:51 Covid vaccines should not be seen as 'unicorn' solution, says WHO chief – video Despite recent promising announcements from final-phase candidate vaccine trials, “We’re not there with vaccines yet,” said Ryan. “Many countries are going through this wave, and they’re going to go through this wave, and continue through this wave, without vaccines. “We need to understand and internalise that, and realise: we have got to climb this mountain this time, without vaccines.” The vaccines from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc could be ready for US authorisation and distribution within weeks, setting the stage for inoculation to begin as soon as this year, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “We now have two safe and highly effective vaccines that could be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and ready to distribute within weeks,” Azar said.
Updated at 21.26 GMT


theguardian--2020-11-18--US passes 250,000 deaths from coronavirus

The United States has seen more than 250,000 deaths due to Covid-19 as a new swath of data was released that pushed the stricken country over the grim landmark on Wednesday .
Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University showed that the number of people killed by the virus is now 250,180 .
The news comes amid record infections across the US , with the Trump administration repeatedly failing to get a grip on the Covid-19 crisis .
Most recently Trump has refused to concede he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden who this week said “ more people may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his transition .
More than 11 million Americans have been infected during the pandemic , by far the largest total in the world ; the US also has the highest death toll , and is among the worst-hit of developed nations in terms of its death rate .
For the past two weeks more than 100,000 people have been infected every day as the country has seen huge rises in positive cases in almost every state , but especially in the midwest and Great Plains states .
Earlier on Wednesday , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken around the US , officials announced that public schools in New York City will close again , on Thursday , after the city reached a 3 % Covid test positivity rate .
Case rates are surging in states and cities around the country .
In California this week , the governor announced he was pulling the “ emergency brake ” on reopening , while Los Angeles is bracing for a mandatory curfew .
Hopes of relief on the horizon have grown after the makers of two leading vaccine candidates announced their drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But these vaccines are months away and will face complex logistical challenges .
Experts are sounding warnings the country could face a difficult winter if safety measures are not widely adopted .
Michael Osterholm , an adviser to President-elect Joe Biden , told NBC recently : “ We are in a very dangerous period – the most dangerous public health period since 1918.
” Critics say the Trump administration has all but surrendered to the pandemic especially now that he is a lame duck president with little political motivation to take tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus taskforce meeting in “ at least five months ” , the public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci said last weekend .
Fauci recommends “ uniform wearing of masks ” to help curb the US outbreak , he told CNN on Tuesday .
On Monday Fauci told NBC ’ s Today that “ by the end of December there will be doses of vaccine available for individuals in the high-risk category ” from both Moderna and Pfizer .
He added : “ The fact that help is on the way should spur us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the public health measures , to be able to use the combination of a vaccine and public health measures to turn this thing around .
We can do it.
” Trump has declined to enforce mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing , and said his administration will not implement any further lockdowns .
He has also refused to participate in the transition process , meaning information on Covid-19 is not being shared with Biden , who has appointed his own pandemic advisory group .
The president remained silent on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push baseless claims of election fraud on Twitter .
On Wednesday , a White House taskforce report warned of “ aggressive , unrelenting , broad community spread across the country , without evidence of improvement but , rather , further deterioration ” .
The report , which was leaked widely to the media , added : “ Current mitigation efforts are inadequate and must be increased.
” Across the US , there is a patchwork response by local state governments .
Some states are implementing tighter controls , such as California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare systems are under serious strain .
Oregon and New Mexico have implemented new social restrictions , while North Dakota has introduced a mask mandate .
From Monday , the Navajo Nation will enter a three-week stay-at-home advisory period .
However , other hard-hit states , such as South Dakota , have taken little action to combat the new surge of the virus even as it stretches their hospital network to the limits .
Kentucky , meanwhile , announced new restrictions on gatherings on Wednesday .
Speaking at a news conference the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when fighting Covid-19 , action is unpopular , but inaction is deadly ” .

The United States has seen more than 250,000 deaths due to Covid-19 as a new swath of data was released that pushed the stricken country over the grim landmark on Wednesday.
Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University showed that the number of people killed by the virus is now 250,180.
The news comes amid record infections across the US, with the Trump administration repeatedly failing to get a grip on the Covid-19 crisis. Most recently Trump has refused to concede he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden who this week said “more people may die” if he continues to hamper his transition.
More than 11 million Americans have been infected during the pandemic, by far the largest total in the world; the US also has the highest death toll, and is among the worst-hit of developed nations in terms of its death rate.
For the past two weeks more than 100,000 people have been infected every day as the country has seen huge rises in positive cases in almost every state, but especially in the midwest and Great Plains states.
Earlier on Wednesday, in a sign of the increasing lockdown steps being taken around the US, officials announced that public schools in New York City will close again, on Thursday, after the city reached a 3% Covid test positivity rate.
Case rates are surging in states and cities around the country. In California this week, the governor announced he was pulling the “emergency brake” on reopening, while Los Angeles is bracing for a mandatory curfew.
Hopes of relief on the horizon have grown after the makers of two leading vaccine candidates announced their drugs are far more effective than initially predicted. But these vaccines are months away and will face complex logistical challenges.
Experts are sounding warnings the country could face a difficult winter if safety measures are not widely adopted.
Michael Osterholm, an adviser to President-elect Joe Biden, told NBC recently: “We are in a very dangerous period – the most dangerous public health period since 1918.”
Critics say the Trump administration has all but surrendered to the pandemic especially now that he is a lame duck president with little political motivation to take tough measures. Trump has not attended a coronavirus taskforce meeting in “at least five months”, the public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci said last weekend.
Fauci recommends “uniform wearing of masks” to help curb the US outbreak, he told CNN on Tuesday.
Hospital workers wave as first responders pass by in a caravan of sirens and lights in Valhalla, New York. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
On Monday Fauci told NBC’s Today that “by the end of December there will be doses of vaccine available for individuals in the high-risk category” from both Moderna and Pfizer.
He added: “The fact that help is on the way should spur us even more to double down on some of the public health measures, to be able to use the combination of a vaccine and public health measures to turn this thing around. We can do it.”
Trump has declined to enforce mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing, and said his administration will not implement any further lockdowns. He has also refused to participate in the transition process, meaning information on Covid-19 is not being shared with Biden, who has appointed his own pandemic advisory group.
The president remained silent on the milestone, instead spending the evening continuing to push baseless claims of election fraud on Twitter.
On Wednesday, a White House taskforce report warned of “aggressive, unrelenting, broad community spread across the country, without evidence of improvement but, rather, further deterioration”.
The report, which was leaked widely to the media, added: “Current mitigation efforts are inadequate and must be increased.”
Across the US, there is a patchwork response by local state governments. Some states are implementing tighter controls, such as California, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland, where healthcare systems are under serious strain. Oregon and New Mexico have implemented new social restrictions, while North Dakota has introduced a mask mandate. From Monday, the Navajo Nation will enter a three-week stay-at-home advisory period.
However, other hard-hit states, such as South Dakota, have taken little action to combat the new surge of the virus even as it stretches their hospital network to the limits.
Kentucky, meanwhile, announced new restrictions on gatherings on Wednesday. Speaking at a news conference the governor, Andy Beshear, said that “when fighting Covid-19, action is unpopular, but inaction is deadly”.


theguardian--2020-11-18--'Pathetic' Trump denounced over Krebs firing as campaign presses for recounts

Donald Trump was condemned by opponents on Wednesday for firing the senior official who disputed his baseless claims of election fraud , as the president pressed on with his increasingly desperate battle to overturn Joe Biden ’ s victory .
The president ’ s election campaign team continued to press for recounts and investigations in battleground states where Biden has already been declared the winner , including a new request in Wisconsin for a partial recount .
And there was uproar over his decision late on Tuesday , announced by tweet , to fire a federal official in charge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread voter fraud .
The firing of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( Cisa ) director , Christopher Krebs , was “ pathetic and predictable from a president who views truth as his enemy ” , senior House Democrat Adam Schiff said .
Officials have declared 3 November ’ s contest between Trump and Biden the most secure US election ever .
On Tuesday , the Pennsylvania supreme court dealt a blow to Trump ’ s efforts in a state Biden won by nearly 73,000 votes , saying officials did not improperly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting of mail-in ballots , as the president has claimed .
In another lawsuit , led in federal court in the state by the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani , who has not argued a case in federal court since the early 1990s when he was a prosecutor , the campaign accused Democrats of a nationwide conspiracy to steal the election .
No such evidence has emerged in the two weeks since the polls closed .
Lawyers for the Democratic Pennsylvania secretary of state , the city of Philadelphia and several counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacked any constitutional basis or were rendered irrelevant by the state supreme court decision .
They asked US district judge Matthew Brann to throw out the case , calling the allegations “ at best , garden-variety irregularities ” that would not warrant invalidating Pennsylvania results .
The next day , the Trump campaign requested a partial recount in Wisconsin , which Biden won by around 20,000 votes , while in Georgia , which the Democrat won by around 15,000 , a hand recount continued towards a midnight deadline .
CNN , for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia .
Neither state was thought likely to flip – and even if they did , their 26 electoral votes combined would not be enough to keep Trump in the White House , requiring a further reverse in Pennsylvania , a big prize with 20 votes , and equally unlikely to be achieved .
Biden won the electoral college by 306-232 , the same margin by which Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , a victory he insisted on calling a landslide .
Candidates require 270 electoral college votes to win .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By continuing to refuse to concede , Trump is holding up transition processes including funding for Biden to build his administration , even as the US flounders amid a coronavirus surge .
In a statement announcing the request for recounts in Wisconsin , Trump campaign counsel Jim Troupis said : “ The people of Wisconsin deserve to know whether their election processes worked in a legal and transparent way .
Regrettably , the integrity of the election results can not be trusted without a recount in these two counties and uniform enforcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections commission confirmed it had received $ 3m from the Trump campaign for the partial recount .
A full recount would reportedly have cost nearly $ 8m .
Trump continues to seek donations for recount efforts , though it has been widely reported that much such money is being used to pay off campaign debt and to stoke a political action committee formed to tighten Trump ’ s grip on the Republican party after he is obliged to leave the White House in January .
Trump ’ s claims of widespread election fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties and mainstream observers , as all moves to stall Biden ’ s march to victory have failed .
In Michigan , Republican officials backed down amid cries of outrageous racism after threatening to block certification of results in Wayne county , the large , majority African American county that incorporates Detroit .
Trump praised their blocking attempt on Twitter .
After an election race is called for a projected winner in a state , such as by the Associated Press , results still have to be officially certified by state officials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the non-partisan Cook Political Report , said : “ It ’ s time to start calling baseless conspiracies what they are : libellous attacks on the 500,000-plus heroic poll workers and election administrators in every corner of the US who pulled off a successful election amid record-shattering turnout and a global pandemic.
” Reverberations also continued from the president ’ s decision to fire Krebs , one of his own federal appointees .
In a statement last week , Cisa , Krebs ’ s agency , said : “ The 3 November election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised.
” In his tweet firing Krebs , Trump claimed the statement was “ highly inaccurate ” .
Schiff , the Democratic House intelligence committee chair , called the firing “ pathetic and predictable from a president who views truth as his enemy ” .
Angus King , an independent Maine senator , said : “ By firing [ Krebs ] for doing his job , President Trump is harming all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve .
We did it right .
Defend Today , Secure Tomorrow .
# Protect2020 ”

Maanvi Singh   in Oakland, Sam Levine and Martin Pengelly in New York and Joan E Greve in Washington

Donald Trump was condemned by opponents on Wednesday for firing the senior official who disputed his baseless claims of election fraud, as the president pressed on with his increasingly desperate battle to overturn Joe Biden’s victory.
The president’s election campaign team continued to press for recounts and investigations in battleground states where Biden has already been declared the winner, including a new request in Wisconsin for a partial recount.
And there was uproar over his decision late on Tuesday, announced by tweet, to fire a federal official in charge of election security who dismissed his claims of widespread voter fraud.
The firing of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) director, Christopher Krebs, was “pathetic and predictable from a president who views truth as his enemy”, senior House Democrat Adam Schiff said.
Officials have declared 3 November’s contest between Trump and Biden the most secure US election ever.
On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania supreme court dealt a blow to Trump’s efforts in a state Biden won by nearly 73,000 votes, saying officials did not improperly block the Trump campaign from observing the counting of mail-in ballots, as the president has claimed.
In another lawsuit, led in federal court in the state by the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has not argued a case in federal court since the early 1990s when he was a prosecutor, the campaign accused Democrats of a nationwide conspiracy to steal the election. No such evidence has emerged in the two weeks since the polls closed.
Lawyers for the Democratic Pennsylvania secretary of state, the city of Philadelphia and several counties said the Trump campaign’s arguments lacked any constitutional basis or were rendered irrelevant by the state supreme court decision.
They asked US district judge Matthew Brann to throw out the case, calling the allegations “at best, garden-variety irregularities” that would not warrant invalidating Pennsylvania results.
The next day, the Trump campaign requested a partial recount in Wisconsin, which Biden won by around 20,000 votes, while in Georgia, which the Democrat won by around 15,000, a hand recount continued towards a midnight deadline.
CNN, for one, has declared Biden the winner in Georgia.
Neither state was thought likely to flip – and even if they did, their 26 electoral votes combined would not be enough to keep Trump in the White House, requiring a further reverse in Pennsylvania, a big prize with 20 votes, and equally unlikely to be achieved.
Biden won the electoral college by 306-232, the same margin by which Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016, a victory he insisted on calling a landslide. Candidates require 270 electoral college votes to win. Trump is also fighting on in Nevada.
By continuing to refuse to concede, Trump is holding up transition processes including funding for Biden to build his administration, even as the US flounders amid a coronavirus surge.
In a statement announcing the request for recounts in Wisconsin, Trump campaign counsel Jim Troupis said: “The people of Wisconsin deserve to know whether their election processes worked in a legal and transparent way. Regrettably, the integrity of the election results cannot be trusted without a recount in these two counties and uniform enforcement of Wisconsin absentee ballot requirements.”
The Wisconsin elections commission confirmed it had received $3m from the Trump campaign for the partial recount.
A full recount would reportedly have cost nearly $8m. Trump continues to seek donations for recount efforts, though it has been widely reported that much such money is being used to pay off campaign debt and to stoke a political action committee formed to tighten Trump’s grip on the Republican party after he is obliged to leave the White House in January.
Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud have been rubbished by officials from both parties and mainstream observers, as all moves to stall Biden’s march to victory have failed.
In Michigan, Republican officials backed down amid cries of outrageous racism after threatening to block certification of results in Wayne county, the large, majority African American county that incorporates Detroit. Trump praised their blocking attempt on Twitter.
After an election race is called for a projected winner in a state, such as by the Associated Press, results still have to be officially certified by state officials.
Biden won Michigan by around 346,000 votes.
05:51 Can Joe Biden and Kamala Harris unite America after Trump? – video explainer
Dave Wasserman, US House editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report, said: “It’s time to start calling baseless conspiracies what they are: libellous attacks on the 500,000-plus heroic poll workers and election administrators in every corner of the US who pulled off a successful election amid record-shattering turnout and a global pandemic.”
Reverberations also continued from the president’s decision to fire Krebs, one of his own federal appointees.
In a statement last week, Cisa, Krebs’s agency, said: “The 3 November election was the most secure in American history. There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
In his tweet firing Krebs, Trump claimed the statement was “highly inaccurate”.
Schiff, the Democratic House intelligence committee chair, called the firing “pathetic and predictable from a president who views truth as his enemy”.
Angus King, an independent Maine senator, said: “By firing [Krebs] for doing his job, President Trump is harming all Americans.”
Krebs said: “Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow. #Protect2020”


theguardian--2020-11-18--'Dr B': the low-profile college educator set to break barriers as first lady

Jill Biden has gone to great lengths to keep her status as a political spouse under the radar from her students , to whom she is known simply as “ Dr B ” .
During her eight years in the Obama administration as second lady ( she preferred the title “ captain of the vice squad ” ) , Dr Biden continued to teach English composition at Northern Virginia Community College ( Nova ) .
She even requested that the Secret Service agents who accompanied her to work come in disguise as students .
And when the 69-year-old becomes next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the first to continue her professional career while in the role .
But this time , when she returns to her day job in January , she may struggle to keep a low profile .
Karolina Straznikiewicz , a 27-year-old student , was taught by Biden before she went on leave at the beginning of the year to join her husband , President-elect Joe Biden , on the campaign trail .
Straznikiewicz spent her first lesson trying to work out why her teacher seemed so familiar .
“ My brain was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible that a second lady of the United States would teach in a community college around here … I am pretty sure that a lot of the students in the classroom had no idea who she was until the end of the semester.
” By now , though , Straznikiewicz thinks Dr B ’ s cover must be blown .
This year , Biden has darted across the country on the campaign trail as a valuable and energetic advocate for her husband , giving television interviews and speaking at drive-in rallies .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer – delivered from an empty classroom at Brandywine high school in their home town of Wilmington , Delaware – she talked about the anxiety and heartbreak of the pandemic .
But she also conveyed a compelling sense of fun .
During the convention , her granddaughters Natalie and Naomi described her as “ not your average grandmother ” and a “ prankster ” , recalling how she woke them up at 5am on Christmas Eve to go to a spinning class at SoulCycle and had picked up dead snakes while jogging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Unfortunately , she ’ s going to have everyone know who she is because there ’ s no way they can miss it , ” Straznikiewicz said .
She noted Biden was a “ tough grader ” – a sentiment echoed in reviews on the Rate My Professors website .
But that made getting her first A from her even more memorable .
“ She gave me my paper back and she said ‘ it was excellent , as always ’ .
That has always just stuck with me and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” She never mentioned her husband , but one morning , Straznikiewicz remembers Biden telling them about a dramatic interaction with a bat that got into their house .
“ It was so normal and so everyday stuff … She was just our regular professor.
” They studied Trevor Noah ’ s memoir Born a Crime , had conversations about race and current affairs and were asked to write about their own beliefs and experiences .
Biden ’ s sister-in-law , Valerie Biden Owens , gave a talk for students on female confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a community college professor become first lady .
“ I think she ’ s really going to stand up for us.
” Jennifer Lawless , a politics professor at University of Virginia , said Biden would “ knock down a glass ceiling ” for first ladies and , along with Kamala Harris ’ s husband , Doug Emhoff , who is leaving his job to become the first “ second gentleman ” , represents an evolution of US politics .
“ This is the first time that we ’ re seeing somebody say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous life is important too and I ’ m not going to define myself entirely based on my husband ’ s job ’ , ” she said .
The incoming first lady , who has been teaching for 36 years and has four degrees , moved to Nova from Delaware Technical Community College in 2009 after Barack Obama won the presidential election with her husband as his running mate .
“ Everyone assumed I ’ d stop teaching and become a full-time second lady , ” wrote Biden in her book Where The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did I want to keep teaching , I was being recruited by the dean at Nova.
” She went against the advice of senior advisers to do so because she “ just wanted to do the thing I love best ” .
She said she “ relished the tension ” between the worlds of politics and education .
Dr Jimmie McClellan , the dean of liberal arts at Nova and Biden ’ s supervisor , said : “ We don ’ t treat her differently than anyone else .
She ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a cubicle like the rest of us … when she ’ s there we don ’ t really talk about what her husband ’ s life is like , we talk about education and teaching and our students.
” When she was second lady , he remembers her leaving with a stack of papers to go to a state dinner and returning with all of them graded the following morning .
McClellan said she was amazed by the stories of her students , many of whom are immigrants and refugees , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bathroom mirror at the vice-presidential residence so that her husband “ would be aware of what students go through ” .
She also started a women ’ s mentoring programme .
As well as her career , which she has said has “ sustained my passions and independence for more than 30 years ” , family is central to what drives Biden .
The oldest of five sisters , she was born in Hammonton , New Jersey , where her father ’ s name is on a second world war monument , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At 18 , when she started at the University of Delaware , she has said she “ suddenly saw the cracks in our society up close ” .
She also got married to her first husband , a relationship that ended in divorce five years later .
In 1975 , she went on her first date with the president-elect – then a senator , who had lost his wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972 – after being set up by his brother Frank , who she knew from university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his “ strait-laced ” suit and loafers , but they ended up going out three nights in a row .
After five proposals , they got married in 1977 and Biden became a stepmother to his two young sons , Beau and Hunter .
Four years later she gave birth to a daughter , Ashley .
As an introvert , she has said she was “ never a natural as a political spouse ” but found her public voice speaking out on issues such as the military – especially after Beau joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She has said her husband “ tends to pull me out of my shell , and I help keep him grounded ” .
In 2003 , she memorably wrote “ no ” on her stomach while wearing a bikini when party advisers tried to persuade her husband to run for president .
In the White House , her shared interest in the military with the former first lady Michelle Obama led to the creation of the Joining Forces initiative , which Biden has said she will relaunch as first lady .
Obama has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime ” and “ one of the most grounded people you ’ ll ever meet ” .
She also noted Biden ’ s enthusiasm for practical jokes , which once led her to hide in the overhead locker of Air Force Two .
When Beau was diagnosed with brain cancer , the Obamas were the only people the Bidens told .
His death in 2015 left her “ broken ” , Biden said recently .
Jeremy Bernard , the White House social secretary and special assistant to the president for four and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said between the two couples there “ was always a very warm and genuine fondness for each other ” .
He said Biden was welcoming from day one of him starting the job , and recalls spotting her the night before shopping in Whole Foods .
When he mentioned it the following day he said she invited him to join her and her team for hot yoga .
Whenever she walked into a room she would acknowledge everyone there , a quality which he said is “ very rare , not just in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said she had a close relationship with her staff , who were part of her social life , and would write handwritten thank you notes after state and holiday dinners .
Biden ’ s spokesman , Michael LaRosa , said she was currently spending time with her children and six grandchildren in Wilmington and was “ focused on building her team and developing her priorities focused on education , military families and veterans and cancer.
” Over the summer she was certified to teach virtually .
In his victory speech , President-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is a great day for you all .
You ’ re going to have one of your own in the White House.
” Katherine Jellison , a history professor at Ohio University , agrees .
“ To have the first lady as a cheerleader for American education , and in particular American public education , that will be a great thing for the education profession .
”

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Jill Biden has gone to great lengths to keep her status as a political spouse under the radar from her students, to whom she is known simply as “Dr B”.
During her eight years in the Obama administration as second lady (she preferred the title “captain of the vice squad”), Dr Biden continued to teach English composition at Northern Virginia Community College (Nova). She even requested that the Secret Service agents who accompanied her to work come in disguise as students.
And when the 69-year-old becomes next first lady of the US, she will be the first to continue her professional career while in the role. But this time, when she returns to her day job in January, she may struggle to keep a low profile.
Karolina Straznikiewicz, a 27-year-old student, was taught by Biden before she went on leave at the beginning of the year to join her husband, President-elect Joe Biden, on the campaign trail. Straznikiewicz spent her first lesson trying to work out why her teacher seemed so familiar.
“My brain was telling me that it’s so impossible that a second lady of the United States would teach in a community college around here … I am pretty sure that a lot of the students in the classroom had no idea who she was until the end of the semester.”
Joe and Jill Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on 7 November 2020. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AFP/Getty Images
By now, though, Straznikiewicz thinks Dr B’s cover must be blown. This year, Biden has darted across the country on the campaign trail as a valuable and energetic advocate for her husband, giving television interviews and speaking at drive-in rallies.
In an emotive and well-received Democratic convention speech this summer – delivered from an empty classroom at Brandywine high school in their home town of Wilmington, Delaware – she talked about the anxiety and heartbreak of the pandemic.
But she also conveyed a compelling sense of fun. During the convention, her granddaughters Natalie and Naomi described her as “not your average grandmother” and a “prankster”, recalling how she woke them up at 5am on Christmas Eve to go to a spinning class at SoulCycle and had picked up dead snakes while jogging to play practical jokes on family members.
“Unfortunately, she’s going to have everyone know who she is because there’s no way they can miss it,” Straznikiewicz said. She noted Biden was a “tough grader” – a sentiment echoed in reviews on the Rate My Professors website. But that made getting her first A from her even more memorable.
“She gave me my paper back and she said ‘it was excellent, as always’. That has always just stuck with me and it totally flipped my thinking about my education.”
She never mentioned her husband, but one morning, Straznikiewicz remembers Biden telling them about a dramatic interaction with a bat that got into their house. “It was so normal and so everyday stuff … She was just our regular professor.”
They studied Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime, had conversations about race and current affairs and were asked to write about their own beliefs and experiences. Biden’s sister-in-law, Valerie Biden Owens, gave a talk for students on female confidence.
Straznikiewicz is looking forward to seeing a community college professor become first lady. “I think she’s really going to stand up for us.”
Jennifer Lawless, a politics professor at University of Virginia, said Biden would “knock down a glass ceiling” for first ladies and, along with Kamala Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, who is leaving his job to become the first “second gentleman”, represents an evolution of US politics.
“This is the first time that we’re seeing somebody say, ‘You know what? My previous life is important too and I’m not going to define myself entirely based on my husband’s job’,” she said.
Joe Biden walks with his wife, Jill, after announcing his candidacy for president 9 June 1987 in Wilmington, Delaware. Photograph: George Widman/AP
The incoming first lady, who has been teaching for 36 years and has four degrees, moved to Nova from Delaware Technical Community College in 2009 after Barack Obama won the presidential election with her husband as his running mate.
“Everyone assumed I’d stop teaching and become a full-time second lady,” wrote Biden in her book Where The Light Enters. “But not only did I want to keep teaching, I was being recruited by the dean at Nova.”
She went against the advice of senior advisers to do so because she “just wanted to do the thing I love best”. She said she “relished the tension” between the worlds of politics and education.
Dr Jimmie McClellan, the dean of liberal arts at Nova and Biden’s supervisor, said: “We don’t treat her differently than anyone else. She’s a member of the faculty, and she has a cubicle like the rest of us … when she’s there we don’t really talk about what her husband’s life is like, we talk about education and teaching and our students.”
When she was second lady, he remembers her leaving with a stack of papers to go to a state dinner and returning with all of them graded the following morning.
McClellan said she was amazed by the stories of her students, many of whom are immigrants and refugees, and that she would leave post-it notes on the bathroom mirror at the vice-presidential residence so that her husband “would be aware of what students go through”. She also started a women’s mentoring programme.
This is the first time that we’re seeing somebody say … I’m not going to define myself entirely based on my husband’s job Jennifer Lawless
As well as her career, which she has said has “sustained my passions and independence for more than 30 years”, family is central to what drives Biden.
The oldest of five sisters, she was born in Hammonton, New Jersey, where her father’s name is on a second world war monument, and grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs.
At 18, when she started at the University of Delaware, she has said she “suddenly saw the cracks in our society up close”. She also got married to her first husband, a relationship that ended in divorce five years later.
In 1975, she went on her first date with the president-elect – then a senator, who had lost his wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972 – after being set up by his brother Frank, who she knew from university.
She wasn’t initially impressed by his “strait-laced” suit and loafers, but they ended up going out three nights in a row.
After five proposals, they got married in 1977 and Biden became a stepmother to his two young sons, Beau and Hunter. Four years later she gave birth to a daughter, Ashley.
As an introvert, she has said she was “never a natural as a political spouse” but found her public voice speaking out on issues such as the military – especially after Beau joined the national guard – and cancer.
She has said her husband “tends to pull me out of my shell, and I help keep him grounded”. In 2003, she memorably wrote “no” on her stomach while wearing a bikini when party advisers tried to persuade her husband to run for president.
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and Joe Biden at an election night party at Grant Park in Chicago on 4 November 2008. Photograph: Morry Gash/AP
In the White House, her shared interest in the military with the former first lady Michelle Obama led to the creation of the Joining Forces initiative, which Biden has said she will relaunch as first lady.
Obama has described Biden as her “partner in crime” and “one of the most grounded people you’ll ever meet”. She also noted Biden’s enthusiasm for practical jokes, which once led her to hide in the overhead locker of Air Force Two.
When Beau was diagnosed with brain cancer, the Obamas were the only people the Bidens told. His death in 2015 left her “broken”, Biden said recently.
Jeremy Bernard, the White House social secretary and special assistant to the president for four and a half years under the Obama administration, said between the two couples there “was always a very warm and genuine fondness for each other”.
He said Biden was welcoming from day one of him starting the job, and recalls spotting her the night before shopping in Whole Foods. When he mentioned it the following day he said she invited him to join her and her team for hot yoga.
Whenever she walked into a room she would acknowledge everyone there, a quality which he said is “very rare, not just in politics, but in general”.
He said she had a close relationship with her staff, who were part of her social life, and would write handwritten thank you notes after state and holiday dinners.
Biden’s spokesman, Michael LaRosa, said she was currently spending time with her children and six grandchildren in Wilmington and was “focused on building her team and developing her priorities focused on education, military families and veterans and cancer.” Over the summer she was certified to teach virtually.
In his victory speech, President-elect Biden said: “For American educators, this is a great day for you all. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House.”
Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University, agrees. “To have the first lady as a cheerleader for American education, and in particular American public education, that will be a great thing for the education profession.”


theguardian--2020-11-19--Trump rails against election defeat as US Covid deaths top 250,000 – live

Donald Trump has cast himself as an isolationist president focused on Americans .
However , in one major foreign policy issue , Israel and Palestine , the US leader has possibly made more of an impact than any of his predecessors .
What has he done ?
The list is long but has generally focused on making concessions to Israel ’ s ultranationalist government , weakening the Palestinians , and pressuring Arab states to end regional isolation of Israel .
Early in his term , Trump recognised Israel ’ s claim to the divided city of Jerusalem and moved the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side in one of the most contentious issues in the Middle East .
In January , Washington went even further by releasing a “ vision for peace ” that afforded Israel ’ s government the majority of its territorial demands by recognising vast swathes of the Palestinian territories as part of Israel .
Trump has also recognised Israel ’ s claim to the Golan Heights – an area Israeli forces captured from Syria and that the country still claims sovereignty over .
Yes , in some respects they are .
Regardless , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they have broken a decades-long US foreign policy status quo .
Israel has been emboldened in its efforts to entrench the occupation .
Meanwhile , few Palestinians believe Joe Biden , who is close to the Israel lobby , will prioritise rolling back these measures if he considers it at all .
Why has Trump taken such an interest in the issue ?
The president ’ s own views on the Middle East have often been opaque .
Apart from his anti-Muslim rhetoric , Trump has displayed a fairly light grasp on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been the people around him who appear to have driven the vision .
Jason Greenblatt , a former Trump Organization real estate lawyer with almost no prior experience of foreign relations , was picked to be Washington ’ s special envoy for Middle East peace .
Greenblatt , who has now left and works for an Israeli investment company , has said settlements are not an “ obstacle for peace ” .
Trump ’ s ambassador to Israel , David Friedman , another former Trump Organization lawyer , has been even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has strong personal ties to the movement .
Trump ’ s son-in-law , Jared Kushner , who has spoken with disdain about Palestinians , has equally been a key figure .
Read more of Oliver Holmes ’ report from Jerusalem : Will Trump ’ s major foreign policy legacy be Israel and Palestine ?

Joan E Greve (now) and Martin Belam (earlier)

20 Nov 2020 01.31 GMT Summary Here’s a recap, from me and Joan E Greve: Georgia has completed its hand recount and found that Joe Biden remains the winner. “The results of the Risk Limiting Audit of Georgia’s presidential contest, which upheld and reaffirmed the original outcome produced by the machine tally of votes cast,” the secretary of state’s office said in a statement. Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by about .2 percentage points in the state.
“The results of the Risk Limiting Audit of Georgia’s presidential contest, which upheld and reaffirmed the original outcome produced by the machine tally of votes cast,” the secretary of state’s office said in a statement. Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by about .2 percentage points in the state. Dr Anthony Fauci spoke at the coronavirus task force press briefing, marking his first appearance at the White House podium in months, Fauci celebrated the development of coronavirus vaccine candidates but urged Americans to remain vigilant about respecting public health guidelines. “If you’re fighting a battle and the cavalry is on the way, you don’t stop shooting,” the infectious disease expert said.
marking his first appearance at the White House podium in months, Fauci celebrated the development of coronavirus vaccine candidates but urged Americans to remain vigilant about respecting public health guidelines. “If you’re fighting a battle and the cavalry is on the way, you don’t stop shooting,” the infectious disease expert said. Joe Biden offered his condolences to the loved ones of the 250,000 Americans who have now died of coronavirus. Speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, the president-elect warned, “The country is still in crisis. And there’s a dark winter still ahead.”
Speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, the president-elect warned, “The country is still in crisis. And there’s a dark winter still ahead.” The Trump campaign continued to push false claims of voter fraud, as states move toward certifying their election results. When reporters pressed the Trump campaign for evidence to substantiate their allegations during a press conference today, the president’s lawyers lashed out against the journalists, accusing them of “making light” of their false claims.
as states move toward certifying their election results. When reporters pressed the Trump campaign for evidence to substantiate their allegations during a press conference today, the president’s lawyers lashed out against the journalists, accusing them of “making light” of their false claims. Another 742,000 Americans filed claims for new unemployment benefits last week, marking a slight increase from a week earlier. The news comes a month before 12 million Americans are expected to lose their unemployment benefits unless Congress can pass another coronavirus relief bill.
marking a slight increase from a week earlier. The news comes a month before 12 million Americans are expected to lose their unemployment benefits unless Congress can pass another coronavirus relief bill. A Republican canvasser in Wayne county confirmed that Donald Trump called her on Tuesday night, after she and a colleague briefly tried to block the county from certifying its election results. Trump has also reportedly invited Michigan state legislators to the White House, as the president and his allies attempt to overturn the election results in the state. Biden nears record 80m votes as Trump persists in trying to overturn result Read more
20 Nov 2020 00.38 GMT “The results of the Risk Limiting Audit of Georgia’s presidential contest, which upheld and reaffirmed the original outcome produced by the machine tally of votes cast,” the secretary of state’s office said in a statement. “Due to the tight margin of the race and the principles of risk-limiting audits, this audit was a full manual tally of all votes cast. The audit confirmed that the original machine count accurately portrayed the winner of the election.” “Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results,” said Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state. “This is a credit to the hard work of our county and local elections officials who moved quickly to undertake and complete such a momentous task in a short period of time.”
20 Nov 2020 00.31 GMT A top elections official in Georgia affirmed that the hand tally of the presidential race in Georgia is complete, the AP has reported. Biden remains in the lead. Gabriel Sterling released the information to The Associated Press on Thursday. The hand recount of nearly 5 million votes stemmed from an audit required by a new state law and wasn’t in response to any suspected problems with the state’s results or an official recount request. The state has until Friday to certify the results that have been certified and submitted by the counties. Once the results are certified, the losing
19 Nov 2020 23.50 GMT Georgia is on track to certify on Friday that Joe Biden won the state. The state’s hand recount is wrapping up. The secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, told WSB-TV Atlanta that “there’s no doubt” the recount will affirm Biden’s victory. “The audit has aligned very close to what we had in election night reporting,” Raffensperger told the news channel. “It’s so close, it’s not a thimble full of difference.”
The recount resulted in officials in four counties discovering a total of about 5,800 votes. Trump has inched about 1,400 votes closer to Biden as a result but remains the loser. Raffensperger has said that the discount was due to human error, and there was no evidence of rigging or widespread fraud.
Updated at 00.34 GMT