theguardian--2020-12-06--Just the Job: Bill Murray biblical reading seeks to bridge US partisan divide

Against the backdrop of a pandemic and an acrimonious election , a group of acclaimed actors were on Sunday set to stage an online reading of an appropriate religious text : the Book of Job .
Groundhog Day star Bill Murray was cast as Job , the righteous man tested by the loss of his health , home and children .
Staged on Zoom , the reading was aimed at Knox county , a Republican-leaning area of Ohio , and designed to spark conversation across spiritual and political divides .
The structure of a reading followed by dialogue is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose artistic director , Bryan Doerries , went to Kenyon College in Knox county .
Theater of War held its first Job reading in Joplin , Missouri , a year after a tornado killed more than 160 there in 2011 .
The company has performed more than 1,700 readings worldwide , harnessing Greek drama and other resonant texts .
By using Job ’ s story “ as a vocabulary for a conversation , the hope is that we can actually engender connection , healing , ” Doerries said .
“ People can hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they don ’ t agree with them.
” The cast headlined by Murray featured other noted actors including Frankie Faison and David Strathairn .
But Matthew Starr , mayor of the Knox county town of Mount Vernon , was cast as Job ’ s accuser .
The Republican , a supporter of Donald Trump , said he hoped the event could lead to less shouting and more listening .
“ God does not say that bad things aren ’ t going to happen but he does tell us , when they do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starr said .
“ That ’ s the hope for me , is that we get a chance to lean into our faith , we get a chance to lean into our neighbors , we get a chance to lean into each other , our family , a little bit more.
” Knox county , a community of about 62,000 , lies about an hour east of the Ohio state capital , Columbus .
Most in the county work blue-collar manufacturing jobs .
The county is 97 % white and voted for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception is Kenyon College , a small liberal arts school outside Mount Vernon .
Voters there and in the village of Gambier voted eight to one for Joe Biden .
Marc Bragin , Jewish chaplain at Kenyon , said he hoped the reading would help people look beyond their differences .
Pastor LJ Harry said he did not believe Knox county is as divided as other places in the US .
The police chaplain and pastor at the Apostolic Church of Christ in Mount Vernon said most in the area were united in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement .
Harry said the biggest point of contention was over mask-wearing , with many resisting Republican governor Mike DeWine ’ s statewide mandate .
He also likened Knox county ’ s need for healing to that of a patient who has left intensive care but remains in a step-down unit .
Harry said the message he hoped people took from the Job reading was that “ God has this in control , even though it feels like it ’ s out of control ” .
In the biblical tale , God uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truths about suffering .
The story ends with the restoration of what was taken , and more .
“ Our hope is not that there ’ s going to be a group hug at the end of the thing , ” Doerries said , “ or that we ’ re going to resolve all our political differences , but that we can remind people of our basic humanity : what it requires to live up to basic values such as treating our neighbor as ourselves .
”

Against the backdrop of a pandemic and an acrimonious election, a group of acclaimed actors were on Sunday set to stage an online reading of an appropriate religious text: the Book of Job.
Groundhog Day star Bill Murray was cast as Job, the righteous man tested by the loss of his health, home and children.
Staged on Zoom, the reading was aimed at Knox county, a Republican-leaning area of Ohio, and designed to spark conversation across spiritual and political divides. The structure of a reading followed by dialogue is a fixture of Theater of War Productions, whose artistic director, Bryan Doerries, went to Kenyon College in Knox county.
Theater of War held its first Job reading in Joplin, Missouri, a year after a tornado killed more than 160 there in 2011. The company has performed more than 1,700 readings worldwide, harnessing Greek drama and other resonant texts.
By using Job’s story “as a vocabulary for a conversation, the hope is that we can actually engender connection, healing,” Doerries said. “People can hear each other’s truths even if they don’t agree with them.”
The cast headlined by Murray featured other noted actors including Frankie Faison and David Strathairn. But Matthew Starr, mayor of the Knox county town of Mount Vernon, was cast as Job’s accuser. The Republican, a supporter of Donald Trump, said he hoped the event could lead to less shouting and more listening.
“God does not say that bad things aren’t going to happen but he does tell us, when they do, we’re not alone,” Starr said. “That’s the hope for me, is that we get a chance to lean into our faith, we get a chance to lean into our neighbors, we get a chance to lean into each other, our family, a little bit more.”
Knox county, a community of about 62,000, lies about an hour east of the Ohio state capital, Columbus. Most in the county work blue-collar manufacturing jobs. The county is 97% white and voted for Trump by nearly three to one. An exception is Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school outside Mount Vernon. Voters there and in the village of Gambier voted eight to one for Joe Biden.
Marc Bragin, Jewish chaplain at Kenyon, said he hoped the reading would help people look beyond their differences. Pastor LJ Harry said he did not believe Knox county is as divided as other places in the US. The police chaplain and pastor at the Apostolic Church of Christ in Mount Vernon said most in the area were united in their support for Trump and for law enforcement.
Harry said the biggest point of contention was over mask-wearing, with many resisting Republican governor Mike DeWine’s statewide mandate. He also likened Knox county’s need for healing to that of a patient who has left intensive care but remains in a step-down unit.
Harry said the message he hoped people took from the Job reading was that “God has this in control, even though it feels like it’s out of control”.
In the biblical tale, God uses Job’s losses to share broader truths about suffering. The story ends with the restoration of what was taken, and more.
“Our hope is not that there’s going to be a group hug at the end of the thing,” Doerries said, “or that we’re going to resolve all our political differences, but that we can remind people of our basic humanity: what it requires to live up to basic values such as treating our neighbor as ourselves.”


theguardian--2020-12-06--Trump press secretary appears to acknowledge Biden election victory

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared on Sunday to admit Donald Trump lost the presidential election , a concession the president refuses to make .
In an interview on Fox News , McEnany discussed runoff elections in Georgia in January which will decide control of the Senate .
“ If we lose these two Senate seats , ” she said , “ guess who ’ s casting the deciding vote in this country for our government ?
It will be Kamala Harris.
” Trump refuses to concede defeat by Joe Biden , despite losing the electoral college 306-232 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 7m .
He is not alone : only 27 of 249 Republicans in Congress have acknowledged Biden ’ s victory , according to the Washington Post .
But the Democrat will be inaugurated in Washington on 20 January and Harris , a senator from California , will become vice-president .
Trump has filed lawsuits seeking to overturn results in a number of states , the vast majority of which he has lost .
In Georgia , the president continues to demand that Governor Brian Kemp call a special session of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory .
Kemp and Republican officials including secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan have refused to do so .
On Fox News , McEnany discussed Trump campaign lawsuits in a number of states , including Georgia .
But she focused on the Senate runoffs in the southern state .
If Democrats defeat sitting Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on 5 January , the Senate will be split 50-50 .
A casting vote from Vice-President Harris will therefore give Democrats a tenuous hold on the chamber to add to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
“ What is paramount is Georgia , ” McEnany said .
“ Right here , right now , making sure that we hold this branch of government .
”

The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, appeared on Sunday to admit Donald Trump lost the presidential election, a concession the president refuses to make.
In an interview on Fox News, McEnany discussed runoff elections in Georgia in January which will decide control of the Senate.
“If we lose these two Senate seats,” she said, “guess who’s casting the deciding vote in this country for our government? It will be Kamala Harris.”
Trump refuses to concede defeat by Joe Biden, despite losing the electoral college 306-232 and trailing in the popular vote by more than 7m.
He is not alone: only 27 of 249 Republicans in Congress have acknowledged Biden’s victory, according to the Washington Post.
But the Democrat will be inaugurated in Washington on 20 January and Harris, a senator from California, will become vice-president.
Trump has filed lawsuits seeking to overturn results in a number of states, the vast majority of which he has lost.
In Georgia, the president continues to demand that Governor Brian Kemp call a special session of the state legislature, to overturn Biden’s victory.
Kemp and Republican officials including the secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, and lieutenant governor, Geoff Duncan, have refused to do so.
On Fox News, McEnany discussed Trump campaign lawsuits in a number of states, including Georgia. But she focused on the Senate runoffs in the southern state.
If Democrats defeat sitting Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on 5 January, the Senate will be split 50-50. A casting vote from Vice-President Harris would therefore give Democrats a tenuous hold on the chamber to add to control of the House of Representatives and the White House.
“What is paramount is Georgia,” McEnany said. “Right here, right now, making sure that we hold this branch of government.”


theguardian--2020-12-06--US health secretary insists Trump has detailed vaccine rollout plan

US health secretary Alex Azar has insisted the Trump administration does have a plan to distribute coronavirus vaccines , after President-elect Joe Biden said he had not seen a detailed blueprint .
Azar and other officials were pressed on the Covid-19 response as the US experiences its worst outbreak since the spring while preparing to distribute a vaccine .
There were 2,254 new Covid deaths in the US on Saturday , according to Johns Hopkins University , making the full death toll 280,979 from nearly 14.6m cases .
For the first time since the early days of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed 2,000 .
Healthcare systems are under increasing strain .
From Sunday night , large parts of the most populous state , California , will enter a lockdown that will last past Christmas .
On Thursday , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) will consider whether to to provide emergency use authorization for a vaccine developed by Pfizer .
If it does , the first round is expected to be distributed in the following 24 hours .
In the first phase of distribution , vaccines will be allocated to 21 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of long-term care facilities , following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) last week .
Health officials estimate 40 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will be distributed by the end of December .
On Friday , Biden said his team had been in touch with the Trump administration about the vaccine rollout .
“ There is no detailed plan , that we ’ ve seen anyway , as to how you get the vaccine out of a container , into an injection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Biden said .
Azar said the distribution plan was being run by the military and private sector and would use retail pharmacies , public health departments and community health centers .
Dr Moncef Slaoui , chief scientific officer of the administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program , told CBS ’ s Face the Nation he would meet Biden this week .
“ We really look forward to it , because actually things have been really very appropriately planned , ” Slaoui said , adding that “ confusion ” may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan relies on state health agencies .
“ I think the plans are there , and I feel confident that once we will explain it , everything in detail , I hope the new transition team will understand , ” he said .
Asked if Trump ’ s skepticism about masks and repeated downplaying of the pandemic had exacerbated its effects , Azar said the spike in cases was about behavior .
“ We need people to renew their commitment , ” he said .
On ABC ’ s This Week , Azar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after the president held a rally on Saturday night in Georgia where people mostly did not wear them .
Host George Stephanopoulos also asked about the White House planning large holiday parties with up to 900 guests .
“ Our advice remains the same in any context , which is wash your hands , watch your distance , wear face coverings when you can ’ t watch your distance and be careful of those indoor settings , ” Azar said .
On NBC ’ s Meet the Press , another member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Birx , was questioned about the contradictions between Trump ’ s actions and comments and public health guidance .
“ I hear community members parroting back those situations , parroting back that masks don ’ t work , parroting back that we should work towards herd immunity , parroting back that gatherings don ’ t result in super-spreading events , ” Birx said .
“ And I think our job is to constantly say those are myths.
” Asked about the holiday parties , Birx underlined that being indoors without a mask presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You can not gather without masks in any indoor or close outdoor situation , ” she said .
Birx warned that Americans must follow Covid-19 guidelines to prevent hospital overcrowding and to limit the spread of the virus , even with a vaccine on the way .
“ The vaccine is critical , but it ’ s not going to save us from this current surge , ” Birx said .
“ Only we can save us from this current surge.
” Slaoui said the most susceptible populations should see the effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But on a population basis , for our lives to start getting back to normal , we ’ re talking about April or May , ” he told CBS .
In an interview with CNN ’ s State of the Union , Slaoui endorsed Biden ’ s plan to require Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days after he is inaugurated on 20 January .
“ I think it ’ s a good idea – it ’ s never too late , ” Slaoui said .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @

US health secretary Alex Azar has insisted the Trump administration does have a plan to distribute coronavirus vaccines, after President-elect Joe Biden said he had not seen a detailed blueprint.
“With all respect, that’s just nonsense,” Azar told Fox News Sunday.
Azar and other officials were pressed on the Covid-19 response as the US experiences its worst outbreak since the spring while preparing to distribute a vaccine.
There were 2,254 new Covid deaths in the US on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University, making the full death toll 280,979 from nearly 14.6m cases. For the first time since the early days of the pandemic, the seven-day rolling average of deaths has passed 2,000.
Healthcare systems are under increasing strain. From Sunday night, large parts of the most populous state, California, will enter a lockdown that will last past Christmas.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will consider whether to to provide emergency use authorization for a vaccine developed by Pfizer. If it does, the first round is expected to be distributed in the following 24 hours.
In the first phase of distribution, vaccines will be allocated to 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents and staff of long-term care facilities, following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week. Health officials estimate 40 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will be distributed by the end of December.
On Friday, Biden said his team had been in touch with the Trump administration about the vaccine rollout.
“There is no detailed plan, that we’ve seen anyway, as to how you get the vaccine out of a container, into an injection syringe, into somebody’s arm,” Biden said.
Azar said the distribution plan was being run by the military and private sector and would use retail pharmacies, public health departments and community health centers.
Dr Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific officer of the administration’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, told CBS’s Face the Nation he would meet Biden this week.
“We really look forward to it, because actually things have been really very appropriately planned,” Slaoui said, adding that “confusion” may have arisen because the government’s plan relies on state health agencies.
“I think the plans are there, and I feel confident that once we will explain it, everything in detail, I hope the new transition team will understand,” he said.
Asked if Trump’s skepticism about masks and repeated downplaying of the pandemic had exacerbated its effects, Azar said the spike in cases was about behavior.
“We need people to renew their commitment,” he said.
On ABC’s This Week, Azar insisted the Trump administration supports masks – even after the president held a rally on Saturday night in Georgia where people mostly did not wear them. Host George Stephanopoulos also asked about the White House planning large holiday parties with up to 900 guests.
“Our advice remains the same in any context, which is wash your hands, watch your distance, wear face coverings when you can’t watch your distance and be careful of those indoor settings,” Azar said.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, another member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, Deborah Birx, was questioned about the contradictions between Trump’s actions and comments and public health guidance.
“I hear community members parroting back those situations, parroting back that masks don’t work, parroting back that we should work towards herd immunity, parroting back that gatherings don’t result in super-spreading events,” Birx said. “And I think our job is to constantly say those are myths.”
Asked about the holiday parties, Birx underlined that being indoors without a mask presents an opportunity to spread the virus.
“You cannot gather without masks in any indoor or close outdoor situation,” she said.
Birx warned that Americans must follow Covid-19 guidelines to prevent hospital overcrowding and to limit the spread of the virus, even with a vaccine on the way.
“The vaccine is critical, but it’s not going to save us from this current surge,” Birx said. “Only we can save us from this current surge.”
Slaoui said the most susceptible populations should see the effect of the vaccine in January or February. “But on a population basis, for our lives to start getting back to normal, we’re talking about April or May,” he told CBS.
In an interview with CNN’s State of the Union, Slaoui endorsed Biden’s plan to require Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days after he is inaugurated on 20 January.
“I think it’s a good idea – it’s never too late,” Slaoui said. “This pandemic is ravaging the country.”


theguardian--2020-12-06--Trump's attacks on election integrity 'disgust me', says senior Georgia Republican

Donald Trump ’ s attacks on Republican officials in Georgia and insistence his defeat by Joe Biden must be overturned are disgusting , the Republican lieutenant governor of the southern state said on Sunday .
“ It ’ s not American , ” Geoff Duncan told CNN ’ s State of the Union .
“ It ’ s not what democracy is all about .
But it ’ s reality right now.
” The president staged a rally in Valdosta , Georgia on Saturday night .
He began his speech , which lasted more than 90 minutes , by falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact he lost by around 12,000 votes in a result certified by Republican secretary of state Brad Raffensperger more than two weeks ago .
“ They cheated and they rigged our presidential election , but we will still win it , ” Trump falsely insisted .
“ And they ’ re going to try and rig this [ Senate ] election too.
” Two Georgia Republicans face 5 January runoffs which will decide control of the Senate .
On Sunday evening , Kelly Loeffler will debate Rev Raphael Warnock , her Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by both Republicans during the Covid-19 pandemic , David Perdue has declined to debate his challenger , Jon Ossoff .
In Valdosta , the president invited Perdue and Loeffler on to the stage .
Neither reiterated his baseless claims about election fraud , Perdue coming closest by saying : “ We ’ re going to fight and win those seats and make sure you get a fair and square deal in Georgia.
” As Perdue spoke , the crowd chanted : “ Fight for Trump !
” Some suggest Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican turnout .
“ I think the rally last night was kind of a two-part message , ” Duncan told CNN .
“ The first part was very encouraging to listen to the president champion the conservative strategies of Senators Loeffler and Perdue , and the importance of them being re-elected .
“ The second message was concerning to me .
I worry that … fanning the flames around misinformation puts us in a negative position with regards to the 5 January runoff .
The mountains of misinformation are not helping the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” CNN ’ s Jake Tapper asked Duncan : “ At a certain point , does this disgust you ?
” In Valdosta , Trump read from a prepared list of nonsensical evidence he said highlighted his victory .
This included arguing that by winning Ohio and Florida he had in fact won the entire election , and also that winning an uncontested Republican primary was proof he beat Biden in November .
Trump lost the electoral college 306-232 and trails in the popular vote by more than 7m .
His campaign has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The majority have been rejected or dropped .
The campaign filed a new lawsuit in Georgia on Friday .
Trump vented fury at Republican governor Brian Kemp , a one-time ally who he called from the White House on Saturday to demand the Georgia result be overturned .
“ Your governor could stop it very easily if he knew what the hell he was doing , ” Trump told supporters , adding : “ For whatever reason your secretary of state and your governor are afraid of Stacey Abrams.
” Abrams , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for governor in 2018 , helped drive turnout and secure the state for Biden , the first Democrat to win it since 1992 .
On Sunday , Duncan was asked if Kemp would do as Trump asks , and call a special session of the state general assembly to appoint its own electors for Trump , a demand one critic called “ shockingly undemocratic ” .
“ I absolutely believe that to be the case that the governor is not going to call us into a special session , ” Duncan said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling said of Trump ’ s attacks on Kemp , Raffensperger and other Republicans : “ Someone ’ s gon na get hurt , someone ’ s gon na get shot .
Someone ’ s gon na get killed .
And it ’ s not right .
It has all gone too far.
” Duncan said “ we ’ ve all all of us … got increased security around us and our families [ but ] we ’ re going to continue to do our jobs .
Governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three voted and campaigned for the president , but unfortunately he didn ’ t win the state of Georgia.
” Duncan sidestepped a question about the wisdom of holding a rally where many attendees did not wear masks , as coronavirus cases surge .
But he did call Biden ’ s request that Americans to wear masks for 100 days “ absolutely a great step in the right direction ” .
On Saturday , the Washington Post found only 27 of 249 congressional Republicans were willing to acknowledge Biden ’ s victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 January Joe Biden ’ s going to be sworn in as the 46th president and the constitution is still in place , ” Duncan said .
“ This is still America … as the lieutenant governor and as a Georgian I ’ m proud that we ’ re able to look up after three recounts and be able to see that this election was fair.
” Raffensperger told ABC ’ s This Week : “ We don ’ t see anything that would overturn the will of the people here in Georgia.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ true ” , he added , that Trump had lost .
“ I wish he would have won .
I ’ m a conservative Republican and I ’ m disappointed but those are the results.
” In Valdosta , Trump did seem at points to recognise the end is near .
With reference to policy on Iran and China , he described “ what we would have done in the next four years ” .
He also said that if he thought he had lost the election , he would be “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d go to Florida , ” he said .
“ I ’ d take it easy .
”

Oliver Laughland in Valdosta, Georgia and Martin Pengelly in New York

Donald Trump’s attacks on Republican officials in Georgia and insistence his defeat by Joe Biden must be overturned are disgusting, the Republican lieutenant governor of the southern state said on Sunday.
“It’s not American,” Geoff Duncan told CNN’s State of the Union. “It’s not what democracy is all about. But it’s reality right now.”
The president staged a rally in Valdosta, Georgia, on Saturday night. He began his speech, which lasted more than 90 minutes, by falsely claiming he won the state, which in fact he lost by around 12,000 votes in a result certified by the Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, more than two weeks ago.
“They cheated and they rigged our presidential election, but we will still win it,” Trump falsely insisted. “And they’re going to try and rig this [Senate] election too.”
Two Georgia Republicans face 5 January runoffs which will decide control of the Senate. On Sunday evening, Kelly Loeffler will debate the Rev Raphael Warnock, her Democratic challenger. Amid controversy over stock trades made by both Republicans during the Covid-19 pandemic, David Perdue has declined to debate his challenger, Jon Ossoff.
In Valdosta, the president invited Perdue and Loeffler on to the stage. Neither reiterated his baseless claims about election fraud, Perdue coming closest by saying: “We’re going to fight and win those seats and make sure you get a fair and square deal in Georgia.”
As Perdue spoke, the crowd chanted: “Fight for Trump!”
Some suggest Trump’s assault on the presidential election could depress Republican turnout.
“I think the rally last night was kind of a two-part message,” Duncan told CNN. “The first part was very encouraging to listen to the president champion the conservative strategies of Senators Loeffler and Perdue, and the importance of them being re-elected.
“The second message was concerning to me. I worry that … fanning the flames around misinformation puts us in a negative position with regards to the 5 January runoff. The mountains of misinformation are not helping the process. They’re only hurting it.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Duncan: “At a certain point, does this disgust you?”
“Oh, absolutely it disgusts me,” Duncan said.
In Valdosta, Trump read from a prepared list of nonsensical evidence he said highlighted his victory. This included arguing that by winning Ohio and Florida he had in fact won the entire election, and also that winning an uncontested Republican primary was proof he beat Biden in November.
Trump lost the electoral college 306-232 and trails in the popular vote by more than 7m. His campaign has launched legal challenges in various states. The majority have been rejected or dropped. The campaign filed a new lawsuit in Georgia on Friday.
Trump vented fury at the Republican governor, Brian Kemp, a one-time ally who he called from the White House on Saturday to demand the Georgia result be overturned.
“Your governor could stop it very easily if he knew what the hell he was doing,” Trump told supporters, adding: “For whatever reason your secretary of state and your governor are afraid of Stacey Abrams.”
Abrams, a staunch voting rights advocate who Kemp beat for governor in 2018, helped drive turnout and secure the state for Biden, the first Democrat to win it since 1992.
On Sunday, Duncan was asked if Kemp would do as Trump asks, and call a special session of the state general assembly to appoint its own electors for Trump, a demand one critic called “shockingly undemocratic”.
“I absolutely believe that to be the case that the governor is not going to call us into a special session,” Duncan said.
In an angry intervention earlier this week, the Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling said of Trump’s attacks on Kemp, Raffensperger and other Republicans: “Someone’s gonna get hurt, someone’s gonna get shot. Someone’s gonna get killed. And it’s not right. It has all gone too far.”
Duncan said “we’ve all all of us … got increased security around us and our families [but] we’re going to continue to do our jobs. Governor Kemp, Brad Raffensperger and myself, all three voted and campaigned for the president, but unfortunately he didn’t win the state of Georgia.”
Duncan sidestepped a question about the wisdom of holding a rally where many attendees did not wear masks, as coronavirus cases surge. But he did call Biden’s request that Americans to wear masks for 100 days “absolutely a great step in the right direction”.
On Saturday, the Washington Post found only 27 of 249 congressional Republicans were willing to acknowledge Biden’s victory. Duncan did so.
“On 20 January Joe Biden’s going to be sworn in as the 46th president and the constitution is still in place,” Duncan said. “This is still America … as the lieutenant governor and as a Georgian I’m proud that we’re able to look up after three recounts and be able to see that this election was fair.”
Raffensperger told ABC’s This Week: “We don’t see anything that would overturn the will of the people here in Georgia.”
It was “sad, but true”, he added, that Trump had lost.
“I wish he would have won. I’m a conservative Republican and I’m disappointed but those are the results.”
In Valdosta, Trump did seem at points to recognise the end is near. With reference to policy on Iran and China, he described “what we would have done in the next four years”. He also said that if he thought he had lost the election, he would be “a very gracious loser”.
“I’d go to Florida,” he said. “I’d take it easy.”


theguardian--2020-12-07--Biden picks Becerra as health secretary as Covid numbers send California into lockdown – live

Kira Lerner and Indrani Basu write for us today on how amid the pandemic , US poll workers risked their health to handle the election : On 5 November , two days after election day , an employee in the Onondaga county , New York , Board of Elections office went home early .
She felt exhausted , according to election commissioner Dustin Czarny , and assumed the long shifts were to blame .
A week later she was hospitalized , tested for Covid-19 , and learned she had contracted the virus .
By then , unbeknownst to the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office where staff was working long shifts to count absentee ballots before New York ’ s certification deadline .
Roughly 200 employees and volunteers who counted absentee ballots were sent home on 13 November and instructed to get tested .
In total , 12 employees tested positive .
“ We had almost everybody in the office last week before Friday the 13th , ” Czarny said .
“ Of course this all happened on Friday the 13th.
” Czarny and the other commissioner closed the office and stopped vote counting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss the 28 November certification deadline .
Czarny said the crisis is exactly what he ’ d hoped to avoid as they administered an election in the middle of a pandemic .
“ This is what we were fearing and it happened , ” he said .
For local election officials , the 2020 election was guaranteed to be a struggle .
Record numbers of voters requested absentee ballots because of the Covid-19 pandemic , forcing election administrators to adapt to an unprecedented election .
Officials had to hire additional staff , find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and acquire protective equipment to ensure that their staff stayed healthy and safe .
Despite their best efforts to stop the virus ’ s spread , several dozen poll workers and election officials across the country have tested positive for Covid-19 , even as the link to election day in most cases is unclear .
According to a Votebeat analysis of local reports , there were Covid-19 cases among election workers in at least nine counties in five states before election day , and at least 24 counties in 14 states reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days and weeks after .
These cases represent only the ones that received media coverage and could be traced to an election operation .
The actual number of such cases is likely much higher , given the severity of the virus .
Read more of Kira Lerner and Indrani Basu ’ s report here : Amid the pandemic , US poll workers risked their health to handle the election

8 Dec 2020 00.52 GMT Summary From Joan E Greve and me: Georgia recertified Joe Biden’s victory in the state, after two separate recounts confirmed the Democrat’s win there. Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger , said this morning, “We have now counted legally-cast ballots three times, and the results remain unchanged.”
after two separate recounts confirmed the Democrat’s win there. Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, , said this morning, “We have now counted legally-cast ballots three times, and the results remain unchanged.” The US is nearing 15m cases of coronavirus, as infections surge across the country after the Thanksgiving holiday. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US has reported 14,933,847 cases of coronavirus since January.
as infections surge across the country after the Thanksgiving holiday. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US has reported 14,933,847 cases of coronavirus since January. Joe Biden’s team confirmed Xavier Becerra would be nominated to lead the department of health and human services. Former surgeon general Vivek Murthy will also be nominated to reprise his role under the Obama administration, and Dr Anthony Fauci will serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser, while staying on as the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Former surgeon general will also be nominated to reprise his role under the Obama administration, and Dr will serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser, while staying on as the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Biden is expected to choose Lloyd Austin, the former commander of US Central Command, to lead the Pentagon, Politico reports. Until recently, defense adviser Michèle Flournoy was widely expected to be the top candidate for the post. If confirmed to the position, Austin would be the first Black man to lead the Defense Department.
Until recently, defense adviser Michèle Flournoy was widely expected to be the top candidate for the post. If confirmed to the position, Austin would be the first Black man to lead the Defense Department. The House will vote on a one-week spending bill on Wednesday, majority leader Steny Hoyer confirmed. If the legislation passes, it will allow the federal government to avert a shutdown while giving lawmakers another week to reach an agreement on an omnibus spending bill. Congress will also have additional time to negotiate over another coronavirus relief bill.
majority leader confirmed. If the legislation passes, it will allow the federal government to avert a shutdown while giving lawmakers another week to reach an agreement on an omnibus spending bill. Congress will also have additional time to negotiate over another coronavirus relief bill. Trump said Rudy Giuliani is “doing very well” after being hospitalized with coronavirus. “Rudy’s doing well. I just spoke to him,” Trump said of his personal attorney this afternoon. “He’s doing very well. No temperature. He actually called me early this morning. He was the first call I got, and he’s doing very well.”
Updated at 02.09 GMT
8 Dec 2020 00.48 GMT Kenya Evelyn Melania Trump drew backlash on Monday after announcing that a new tennis pavilion is set to be unveiled on the south grounds of the White House, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge across the country. “It is my hope that this private space will function as both a place of leisure and gathering for future first families,” the first lady said in a written statement on Monday, which came just weeks before the Trump family turns the White House over to his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, who handily won the 2020 presidential election. The first lady went on to thank the “talented craftsmen” who worked on the project and the “generous supporters of the White House”. “282,345,” David Corn, Mother Jones’ DC bureau chief, noted in a terse response, in reference to the number of people who have died in the US due to coronavirus. Molly Jong-Fast, editor-at-large for the Daily Beast, echoed the sarcastic analysis of others who joked that the first lady had “her finger on the pulse of America”. She tweeted: “Oh good, those people in their ICU beds will feel so much better knowing that [Trump] has finished her tennis pavilion.” A photo of the newly unveiled structure included the colonnade, parapet wall and fanlight windows meant to tie the new building to the look and feel of the White House. In a release, Melania Trump’s office revealed it had been inspired by the architecture of its east and west wings. Former president Barack Obama had previously turned the tennis court into one suitable for basketball.
8 Dec 2020 00.20 GMT Report: Biden has chosen retired general Lloyd Austin for defense secretary Joe Biden is expected to choose Lloyd Austin, the former commander of US Central Command, to lead the Pentagon, Politico reports. Politico reports: The decision comes two weeks after Biden announced the other senior members of his national security team. Although Michèle Flournoy, who was widely seen as Hillary Clinton’s choice to be defense secretary had she won the election in 2016, was initially viewed as the frontrunner for the job, Biden has been under growing pressure to nominate a Black person to be his defense secretary. In recent days, Austin, the former commander of US Central Command, had emerged as a top-tier candidate, although Biden also considered former Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson for the job, several people familiar with the discussions said.
Updated at 00.37 GMT
7 Dec 2020 23.56 GMT Millions of Californians put under strict Covid lockdown From Vivian Ho in San Francisco, Martin Pengelly in New York and agencies: More than three-quarters of California’s population are now living under the harshest lockdowns in the US, as Covid-19 cases hit record levels in the country’s most populous state. Regional stay-at-home restrictions went into effect for nearly 23 million residents in southern California and 4.4 million residents in a large swath of the Central Valley on Sunday night, as ordered by the state governor, Gavin Newsom. The orders take effect on a region-by-region basis when hospital intensive care unit beds in the region dropped to below 15%. The southern California region and the San Joaquin Valley region joined five counties in the Bay Area region whose local leaders pre-emptively ordered its 6 million residents to enter lockdown starting at 10pm on Sunday. “We cannot wait until after we have driven off the cliff to pull the emergency brake,” said the Santa Clara county health officer, Dr Sara Cody.
The restrictions, which require people to stay home and minimize contact with other households, will remain in place for at least three weeks, covering the Christmas holiday. All retail stores can stay open, although at 20% capacity, along with outside spaces such as parks and beaches, but restaurants, bars, hair and nail salons and tattoo shops are required to close. California reported 24,735 positive cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the average to 21,924 cases a day. The state had a 10.5% seven-day positivity rate, meaning that in the past week, one in 10 Californians tested for coronavirus came back with positive results. Newsom noted that the rate of growth on the state’s positivity rate was “very, very acute” – just 30 days ago, the state’s positivity rate was at 3.4%. Health officials believe the numbers will only get worse before they get better.
“We know that those cases that potentially occurred around people’s dinner tables, activities, plans, travel through Thanksgiving are going to show up right about now. We’re going to be seeing that for many days to come,” said Dr Mark Ghaly, California’s secretary of health and human services. “We believe that the levels of transmission that we’ve been reporting so far will likely continue to go up some because of those activities.” Read more: Millions of Californians put under strict Covid lockdown Read more
7 Dec 2020 23.20 GMT Florida scientist publishing coronavirus data says police seized her computer at gunpoint Rebekah Jones, the former chief data scientist at Florida’s health department who said she was fired for refusing to manipulate Covid-19 data, said the police seized a computer she was using to publish a coronavirus data dashboard of her own. “At 8:30 am this morning, state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech,” she said on Twitter. “They were serving a warrant on my computer after [the health department] filed a complaint. They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids.” Jones began been publishing state coronavirus data updates on her own website after she was fired in May for refusing to “manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen”. Florida’s official site undercounts the infection total and overcounts the number of people who are tested, to minimize the severity of the pandemic in the state, she has said. 1/
There will be no update today.
At 8:30 am this morning, state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech.
They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint.
They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids.. pic.twitter.com/DE2QfOmtPU — Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) December 7, 2020 “They took my phone and the computer I use every day to post the case numbers in Florida, and school cases for the entire country. They took evidence of corruption at the state level,” she said, adding that the state’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis “sent the gestapo”. Read more about Jones: Florida scientist says she was fired for refusing to change Covid-19 data 'to support reopen plan' Read more
Updated at 23.26 GMT
7 Dec 2020 22.56 GMT Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s leading Democrat, has criticized his Republican colleagues’ decision to invite an anti-vaxxer doctor to testify on Tuesday. “While President-elect Biden is nominating experienced, committed public servants to lead the next administration’s healthcare policy, the Republican majority is inviting prominent anti-vaxxers to Senate committee hearings,” Schumer said. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson's decision to invite Dr. Jane Orient, who is critical of vaccine mandates, to testify Tuesday on COVID-19 treatments and urges him to revoke the invitation. https://t.co/sHLQRWU5h8 pic.twitter.com/vRY7nJeyA0 — Emmanuel Touhey (@Irishmanindc) December 7, 2020
Updated at 23.24 GMT
7 Dec 2020 22.32 GMT Report: Trump administration declined Pfizer offer for more vaccine doses Administration officials turned down an offer from Pfizer this summer to secure additional doses of its vaccine, the New York Times has reported. The Times reports: Trump administration officials passed when Pfizer offered in late summer to sell the U.S. government additional doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, according to people familiar with the matter. Now Pfizer may not be able provide more of its vaccine to the United States until next June because of its commitments to other countries, they said. The US is expected to authorize the two-dose treatment from Pfizer and BioNTech this week and has bought up enough of the vaccine for 50m Americans. Meanwhile the European Union has secured 200m doses and Britan plans to begin vaccinations on Tuesday using the Pfizer treatment.
Donald Trump today signed an executive order designed to prioritize that vaccines get to “American citizens before sending it to other nations” but it’s unclear that the order would have any practical effect. Read more from the Times here.
Updated at 23.18 GMT
7 Dec 2020 21.48 GMT Anti-vaccine doctor to testify at Senate committee hearing on Covid mandates Kenya Evelyn The doctor heading a controversial physician’s advocacy group opposing government involvement in medicine has been announced as a leading witness at a US Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee hearing on Tuesday. Jane Orient has rejected any “anti-vaxxer” label but her criticism of coronavirus vaccines has drawn scathing rebukes from some senior politicians infuriated by her invitation to testify to Congress. “At such a crucial time, giving a platform to conspiracy theorists to spread myths and falsehoods about Covid vaccines is downright dangerous and one of the last things Senate Republicans should be doing right now,” the Senate minority leader and New York Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said in a statement released on Sunday.
Critics have cited Orient’s promotion of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment as well as her organization’s view that federal vaccine mandates are a violation of human rights. Beating the anti-vaxxers: how star power can help squash vaccine mythsRead more In a statement provided to the Senate last year, Orient called vaccine mandates “a serious intrusion into individual liberty, autonomy and parental decisions”. “The regulation of medical practice is a state function, not a federal one,” she wrote. “Governmental pre-emption of patients’ or parents’ decisions about accepting drugs or other medical interventions is a serious intrusion into individual liberty, autonomy, and parental decisions about child-rearing.” Orient is one of four medical professionals set to testify in the hearing in which federal health officials will weigh vaccine mandates and other initiatives to combat a worsening coronavirus pandemic that, so far, has killed more than 282,000 Americans. Read more: Anti-vaccine doctor to testify at Senate committee hearing on Covid mandates Read more
7 Dec 2020 21.35 GMT Joe Biden suggested he’d name his pick for defense secretary and attorney general this week, speaking with reporters as he left a venue after meeting with healthcare advisers. Leaving the theater, Biden suggested he would have an announcement about Defense Secretary on Friday pic.twitter.com/mMeZPNERQE — Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) December 7, 2020
Updated at 21.46 GMT
7 Dec 2020 21.30 GMT Today so far That’s it from me for now. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Georgia recertified Joe Biden’s victory in the state, after two separate recounts confirmed the Democrat’s win there. Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger , said this morning, “We have now counted legally-cast ballots three times, and the results remain unchanged.”
after two separate recounts confirmed the Democrat’s win there. Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, , said this morning, “We have now counted legally-cast ballots three times, and the results remain unchanged.” The US is nearing 15m cases of coronavirus, as infections surge across the country after the Thanksgiving holiday. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US has reported 14,883,966 cases of coronavirus since January.
as infections surge across the country after the Thanksgiving holiday. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US has reported 14,883,966 cases of coronavirus since January. Joe Biden’s team confirmed Xavier Becerra would be nominated to lead the department of health and human services. Former surgeon general Vivek Murthy will also be nominated to reprise his role under the Obama administration, and Dr Anthony Fauci will serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser, while staying on as the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Former surgeon general will also be nominated to reprise his role under the Obama administration, and Dr will serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser, while staying on as the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The House will vote on a one-week spending bill on Wednesday, majority leader Steny Hoyer confirmed. If the legislation passes, it will allow the federal government to avert a shutdown while giving lawmakers another week to reach an agreement on an omnibus spending bill. Congress will also have additional time to negotiate over another coronavirus relief bill.
majority leader confirmed. If the legislation passes, it will allow the federal government to avert a shutdown while giving lawmakers another week to reach an agreement on an omnibus spending bill. Congress will also have additional time to negotiate over another coronavirus relief bill. Trump said Rudy Giuliani is “doing very well” after being hospitalized with coronavirus. “Rudy’s doing well. I just spoke to him,” Trump said of his personal attorney this afternoon. “He’s doing very well. No temperature. He actually called me early this morning. He was the first call I got, and he’s doing very well.” Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 21.32 GMT
7 Dec 2020 21.13 GMT The CEOs of two drug companies producing coronavirus vaccines have reportedly both rejected invitations to appear at a White House “Vaccine Summit” tomorrow. Stat reports: The Trump administration has openly feuded with Pfizer in recent weeks over its involvement in Operation Warp Speed and the timing of a data release showing its vaccine to be highly effective, but had nonetheless invited CEO Albert Bourla to appear on a panel about the vaccine development process. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel was also invited, but neither he nor another company executive will attend. The vaccine manufacturers’ absences will be conspicuous at a ‘Vaccine Summit,’ an event that drug industry figures and one Trump administration official largely viewed as a public relations stunt when STAT first reported the event last week. Donald Trump called FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn to the White House last week to explain why his agency was not moving faster to approve the vaccine, according to reports.
7 Dec 2020 20.51 GMT US nears 15m cases of coronavirus The number of coronavirus cases in the US is approaching 15 million, as infections surge across the nation. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US has confirmed 14,883,966 cases of coronavirus since January. The US death toll also continues to climb, with 283,211 Americans now having died of coronavirus. The country confirmed 175,663 cases yesterday, according to JHU, so the case total will likely surpass 15m by tomorrow.
Updated at 21.03 GMT


theguardian--2020-12-07--US election results 2020: Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump to win presidency

Americans are also electing members to the two chambers of Congress , the main law-making body of the US .
@ @ @ @ @ and the House of Representatives .
Without support in the Senate and the House , @ @ @ @ @ enact key policies is severely limited .

Niko Kommenda, Antonio Voce, Frank Hulley-Jones, Anna Leach and Seán Clarke

Americans are also electing members to the two chambers of Congress, the main law-making body of the US. Those chambers are the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Without support in the Senate and the House, the president's ability to enact key policies is severely limited.


theguardian--2020-12-07--'Right now, I'm in panic mode': US freelancers plead with Congress to pass Covid relief

Suzy Young , an artist in Winterport , Maine , cheered when Congress enacted an innovative program that provided unemployment benefits to artists , freelancers and the self-employed after Covid-19 hit the US .
But like many others , Young – whose art sales have plunged in recent months – is angry that this pandemic aid program is due to expire the day after Christmas .
Young was already upset that the most generous part of the program – $ 600 a week in supplemental jobless benefits – expired in July , but now she fears she will lose all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her $ 1,800 rent , she is fighting her landlord ’ s effort to evict her and her disabled husband on 1 January .
“ Congress needs to do something , or a lot of people are going to face homelessness , ” said Young , 58 .
A fiber artist who weaves works out of wool , Young saw her income disappear when the farmers market where she sold her work was closed due to the lockdown .
“ That killed my business , ” she said .
She was getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplement , but once that disappeared , her unemployment benefits fell to $ 172 a week .
A study by the Century Foundation estimates that 7.3 million freelancers , artists , self-employed and others will lose their weekly benefits if the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program ( known as PUA ) expires , as scheduled , after Christmas .
That program is unusual because jobless benefits traditionally go only to laid-off workers who are considered employees – and not to freelancers or the self-employed .
A second program – Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ending special federal benefits for 4.6 million laid-off workers who were considered employees .
“ A lot of these people [ freelancers and the self-employed ] were out of work , and not eligible for regular unemployment benefits , ” said Andrew Stettner , a senior fellow at the Century Foundation .
“ This program has been really successful .
These people really need this bridge until the economy gets back to a better place.
” After the $ 600 benefit supplement expired in July , freelancers and the self-employed continued receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide for them has been just $ 207 a week , although it ’ s two or three times that in some states .
Last Tuesday , a bipartisan group of nine senators proposed a $ 908bn stimulus and relief package that included a $ 300 weekly jobless supplement , half the former $ 600 .
The senators said their plan “ would increase unemployment benefits to help families make ends meet ” .
That same day , five Democratic senators , including minority leader Chuck Schumer , proposed a relief plan that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits as well as extend normal jobless benefits by 26 weeks .
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell threw cold water on the bipartisan plan , saying : “ We just don ’ t have time to waste time.
” Rafael Espinal , president of the 500,000-member Freelancers Union , said the senators ’ $ 300-a-week proposal was inadequate .
“ Considering the cost of living in cities , $ 300 isn ’ t going to allow people to pay their rent or meet other demands.
” Grant McDonald , a New York-based video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has had little work since March and worries about PUA expiring .
“ It ’ s pretty drastic sitting here , waiting for my savings to run out , ” he said .
McDonald fears he will soon fall behind on his rent ; he may then move in with his father .
“ I have worked very hard to build a career in this city , ” McDonald said , worried that leaving New York will set back his career .
McDonald and Stephanie Freed , who lights fashion shows and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group that has lobbied dozens of senators and representatives to extend pandemic assistance and restore the $ 600 supplement .
Many Republicans oppose the $ 600 level , saying it costs too much and discourages people from seeking work .
But ExtendPUA argues that it ’ s not wise to press people to look for work when the pandemic is raging or when skilled people with long careers , on Broadway , for instance , have little idea when they ’ ll return to regular work .
“ Any economist will say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give up their work and not be able to get back to what they ’ ve given up , ” Stettner said .
“ We can see that the vaccine will make everything better , and if we can just extend these benefits a little longer , it will make a big difference for a lot of people .
If you lose your car or get evicted , those are not easy things to recover from.
” Steve Gregg stopped working as an Uber driver in San Francisco after Covid-19 hit – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg said the $ 600 supplement , on top of his $ 450 in regular weekly jobless benefits , “ saved me , I would have lost my home.
” But with the $ 600 expired , Gregg , divorced and paying child support , has moved into a single room in Modesto he shares with a cousin .
“ If they want us not to be homeless , they better pass something , ” Gregg said .
“ I have no flexibility .
I ’ ve cut back on many things.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice and should do TV voiceovers , but he doesn ’ t have the several hundred dollars to go to a studio to prepare a proper sample recording .
Shan Grimm , a guitarist for jazz and R & B bands in New Orleans , fears she and her daughter will be evicted once the moratorium on evictions ends .
She receives $ 247 a week in jobless benefits , but her rent is $ 850 a month , her car insurance $ 193 and her phone $ 60 .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m going to do , where I ’ m going to go , ” said Grimm , who also worked as a bartender .
“ Even $ 300 a week would make a big difference .
Right now , I ’ m in panic mode .
I have $ 107 in my bank account .
I ’ ve been eating once a day.
” “ We are the people and Congress needs to hear us , ” Grimm added .
“ We need to help people out here from starving .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re in the worst place .
”

Suzy Young, an artist in Winterport, Maine, cheered when Congress enacted an innovative program that provided unemployment benefits to artists, freelancers and the self-employed after Covid-19 hit the US. But like many others, Young – whose art sales have plunged in recent months – is angry that this pandemic aid program is due to expire the day after Christmas.
Young was already upset that the most generous part of the program – $600 a week in supplemental jobless benefits – expired in July, but now she fears she will lose all her jobless benefits. Four months behind on her $1,800 rent, she is fighting her landlord’s effort to evict her and her disabled husband on 1 January.
“Congress needs to do something, or a lot of people are going to face homelessness,” said Young, 58. A fiber artist who weaves works out of wool, Young saw her income disappear when the farmers market where she sold her work was closed due to the lockdown. “That killed my business,” she said. She was getting by while receiving the $600 weekly supplement, but once that disappeared, her unemployment benefits fell to $172 a week.
A study by the Century Foundation estimates that 7.3 million freelancers, artists, self-employed and others will lose their weekly benefits if the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (known as PUA) expires, as scheduled, after Christmas. That program is unusual because jobless benefits traditionally go only to laid-off workers who are considered employees – and not to freelancers or the self-employed. A second program – Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation – is also scheduled to expire 26 December, ending special federal benefits for 4.6 million laid-off workers who were considered employees.
“A lot of these people [freelancers and the self-employed] were out of work, and not eligible for regular unemployment benefits,” said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “This program has been really successful. These people really need this bridge until the economy gets back to a better place.” After the $600 benefit supplement expired in July, freelancers and the self-employed continued receiving regular unemployment benefits, but the average nationwide for them has been just $207 a week, although it’s two or three times that in some states.
Last Tuesday, a bipartisan group of nine senators proposed a $908bn stimulus and relief package that included a $300 weekly jobless supplement, half the former $600. The senators said their plan “would increase unemployment benefits to help families make ends meet”. That same day, five Democratic senators, including the minority leader, Chuck Schumer, proposed a relief plan that would restore the $600 boost in benefits as well as extend normal jobless benefits by 26 weeks. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, threw cold water on the bipartisan plan, saying: “We just don’t have time to waste time.”
Rafael Espinal, president of the 500,000-member Freelancers Union, said the senators’ $300-a-week proposal was inadequate. “Considering the cost of living in cities, $300 isn’t going to allow people to pay their rent or meet other demands.”
Grant McDonald, a New York-based video director who films concerts and special events, has had little work since March and worries about PUA expiring. “It’s pretty drastic sitting here, waiting for my savings to run out,” he said. McDonald fears he will soon fall behind on his rent; he may then move in with his father.
“I have worked very hard to build a career in this city,” McDonald said, worried that leaving New York will set back his career.
McDonald and Stephanie Freed, who lights fashion shows and other special events, founded ExtendPUA, a group that has lobbied dozens of senators and representatives to extend pandemic assistance and restore the $600 supplement. Many Republicans oppose the $600 level, saying it costs too much and discourages people from seeking work.
We need to help people out here from starving. We need Congress to hear us, we’re in the worst place Shan Grimm
But ExtendPUA argues that it’s not wise to press people to look for work when the pandemic is raging or when skilled people with long careers, on Broadway, for instance, have little idea when they’ll return to regular work.
“Any economist will say you don’t want skilled people to give up their work and not be able to get back to what they’ve given up,” Stettner said. “We can see that the vaccine will make everything better, and if we can just extend these benefits a little longer, it will make a big difference for a lot of people. If you lose your car or get evicted, those are not easy things to recover from.”
Steve Gregg stopped working as an Uber driver in San Francisco after Covid-19 hit – he has diabetes and lung problems. Greg said the $600 supplement, on top of his $450 in regular weekly jobless benefits, “saved me, I would have lost my home”. But with the $600 expired, Gregg, divorced and paying child support, has moved into a single room in Modesto he shares with a cousin. “If they want us not to be homeless, they better pass something,” Gregg said. “I have no flexibility. I’ve cut back on many things.”
Friends tell Gregg he has an extraordinary voice and should do TV voiceovers, but he doesn’t have the several hundred dollars to go to a studio to prepare a proper sample recording.
Shan Grimm, a guitarist for jazz and R&B bands in New Orleans, fears she and her daughter will be evicted once the moratorium on evictions ends. She receives $247 a week in jobless benefits, but her rent is $850 a month, her car insurance $193 and her phone $60. “I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do, where I’m going to go,” said Grimm, who also worked as a bartender. “Even $300 a week would make a big difference. Right now, I’m in panic mode. I have $107 in my bank account. I’ve been eating once a day.”
“We are the people and Congress needs to hear us,” Grimm added. “We need to help people out here from starving. We need Congress to hear us, we’re in the worst place.”


theguardian--2020-12-07--Biden mulls options in case Republicans try to block cabinet picks

Joe Biden has had a fairly smooth cabinet appointment process so far , but there are rumblings that it could get choppier , and speculation that the Democratic president-elect may take a leaf out of the Donald Trump playbook to try to get the team he wants .
Publicly , Democrats are hopeful that the confirmation processes for all of Biden ’ s cabinet nominees will go smoothly .
But looming over the Biden team ’ s planning is the possibility that Republicans in the Senate decide to stonewall a nominee , blocking confirmation of anyone Biden puts forward .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on who wins two Senate runoff races in Georgia .
If Democrats win , they wrest control of the vital upper chamber away from Republicans .
But if Republicans triumph , it raises the prospect they can stonewall any Biden nominee for a specific cabinet position .
In that scenario , one option for Democrats would be to follow Donald Trump ’ s example and controversially install cabinet officials under the “ acting ” moniker , where they are not confirmed but serve in that role regardless .
In the later period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of appointing acting heads to federal agencies , thereby circumventing the usual confirmation process , even with Republicans controlling the Senate .
“ Frankly , it ’ s not an unhelpful precedent , ” a Senate Democratic aide said of the idea of Biden appointing acting cabinet secretaries in the face of a Republican blockade .
If Democrats control the Senate , the Senate majority will almost certainly move in lockstep to confirm Biden ’ s nominees as a demonstration of the incoming president ’ s promise to “ lower the temperature ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber , gumming up confirmations is a tempting way to generate leverage with a new president who has promised to work with the opposing party .
It ’ s unclear which of Biden ’ s nominees Republicans will find most objectionable .
So far , the most opposition Republicans have sounded on any of Biden ’ s nominees has been over Neera Tanden , the president of the progressive Center for American Progress .
Biden nominated Tanden to run the Office of Management and Budget .
Drew Brandewie , the communications director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the highest-ranking Republicans in the Senate , tweeted that Tanden has “ zero chance ” of getting confirmed .
The Ohio senator Rob Portman , a former OMB director , told reporters he supported a hearing for Tanden but that she is “ problematic as a nominee , and I would hope the Biden administration would reconsider nominating her.
” If Republicans retain control of the Senate , Portman will chair one of the committees that handles Tanden ’ s nomination .
Republicans are expected to aggressively fight at least a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just Tanden .
Conservatives have already started to signal a critical interest in the dealings of the consulting firm the secretary of state nominee Tony Blinken helped co-found , WestExec Advisers .
Biden transition team officials , congressional Democrats , and veterans of the process are hesitant to think about a worst-case scenario like a Senate blockade over multiple nominees .
The Biden transition team has set a goal of meeting with every member of Congress , according to a Biden transition official .
The team is also in the process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the official said , a sign that the incoming administration still hopes it can engineer some bipartisan support .
“ Over the course of just the last eight days , President-elect Biden has put forward a group of experienced and committed nominees who will rebuild our relationships in the world and build back our economy , ” the Biden transition team spokesman , Sean Savett , said in a statement .
He added : “ The process of engaging with Democratic and Republican members and offices is already well under way and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ahead .
While we fully expected disagreement with some members of the Senate , we have no doubt that the American people fully expect the consideration and confirmation of qualified nominees.
” Phil Schiliro , the former White House director for legislative affairs during the Obama administration , said he expected the confirmation period for Biden ’ s nominees to be similar to past ones .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ ll be aberrational , ” Schiliro said .
“ In part because we ’ ve just had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly , and I think there are Republican senators who have had a real problem with that whether they can articulate it or not is one thing .
But there ’ s been a real norm where there comes to confirmations for the cabinet that ’ d be done expeditiously and professionally and I would expect that ’ s going to happen again.
” The Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , the highest-ranking Republican official in the chamber , for example , broke longtime precedent on supreme court nominees when he refrained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pick of Merrick Garland .
More recently , he went back on his own logic for refraining from holding hearings on Garland when Republicans quickly moved Amy Coney Barrett through the Senate ’ s hearings .
In other words , there ’ s precedent for McConnell and the current crop of Republican leadership to buck longstanding Senate traditions .
It ’ s also normal for a few cabinet nominees to not make it through the confirmation process .
Schiliro noted though that Biden has a “ history of good relationships with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed a lot .
There ’ s still a fair amount of members he has good relations with and there ’ s goodwill and trust .
”

Joe Biden has had a fairly smooth cabinet appointment process so far, but there are rumblings that it could get choppier, and speculation that the Democratic president-elect may take a leaf out of the Donald Trump playbook to try to get the team he wants.
Publicly, Democrats are hopeful that the confirmation processes for all of Biden’s cabinet nominees will go smoothly. But looming over the Biden team’s planning is the possibility that Republicans in the Senate decide to stonewall a nominee, blocking confirmation of anyone Biden puts forward.
Their ability to do that will rest on who wins two Senate runoff races in Georgia. If Democrats win, they wrest control of the vital upper chamber away from Republicans. But if Republicans triumph, it raises the prospect they can stonewall any Biden nominee for a specific cabinet position.
In that scenario, one option for Democrats would be to follow Donald Trump’s example and controversially install cabinet officials under the “acting” moniker, where they are not confirmed but serve in that role regardless.
In the later period of his administration, Trump made a habit of appointing acting heads to federal agencies, thereby circumventing the usual confirmation process, even with Republicans controlling the Senate.
“Frankly, it’s not an unhelpful precedent,” a Senate Democratic aide said of the idea of Biden appointing acting cabinet secretaries in the face of a Republican blockade.
If Democrats control the Senate, the Senate majority will almost certainly move in lockstep to confirm Biden’s nominees as a demonstration of the incoming president’s promise to “lower the temperature” of American politics. If Republicans control the chamber, gumming up confirmations is a tempting way to generate leverage with a new president who has promised to work with the opposing party.
It’s unclear which of Biden’s nominees Republicans will find most objectionable.
So far, the most opposition Republicans have sounded on any of Biden’s nominees has been over Neera Tanden, the president of the progressive Center for American Progress. Biden nominated Tanden to run the Office of Management and Budget. Drew Brandewie, the communications director for the Texas senator John Cornyn, one of the highest-ranking Republicans in the Senate, tweeted that Tanden has “zero chance” of getting confirmed.
Neera Tanden, who has an endless stream of disparaging comments about the Republican Senators’ whose votes she’ll need, stands zero chance of being confirmed. https://t.co/f6Ewi6OMQR — Drew Brandewie (@DBrandewie) November 30, 2020
The Ohio senator Rob Portman, a former OMB director, told reporters he supported a hearing for Tanden but that she is “problematic as a nominee, and I would hope the Biden administration would reconsider nominating her.”
If Republicans retain control of the Senate, Portman will chair one of the committees that handles Tanden’s nomination.
Republicans are expected to aggressively fight at least a few of Biden’s nominees, not just Tanden. Conservatives have already started to signal a critical interest in the dealings of the consulting firm the secretary of state nominee Tony Blinken helped co-found, WestExec Advisers.
Biden transition team officials, congressional Democrats, and veterans of the process are hesitant to think about a worst-case scenario like a Senate blockade over multiple nominees. The Biden transition team has set a goal of meeting with every member of Congress, according to a Biden transition official. The team is also in the process of setting up meetings between nominees and senators, the official said, a sign that the incoming administration still hopes it can engineer some bipartisan support.
“Over the course of just the last eight days, President-elect Biden has put forward a group of experienced and committed nominees who will rebuild our relationships in the world and build back our economy,” the Biden transition team spokesman, Sean Savett, said in a statement.
He added: “The process of engaging with Democratic and Republican members and offices is already well under way and it will only pick up in the weeks ahead. While we fully expected disagreement with some members of the Senate, we have no doubt that the American people fully expect the consideration and confirmation of qualified nominees.”
Phil Schiliro, the former White House director for legislative affairs during the Obama administration, said he expected the confirmation period for Biden’s nominees to be similar to past ones.
“I don’t think it’ll be aberrational,” Schiliro said. “In part because we’ve just had an aberrational presidency where norms have been broken repeatedly, and I think there are Republican senators who have had a real problem with that whether they can articulate it or not is one thing. But there’s been a real norm where there comes to confirmations for the cabinet that’d be done expeditiously and professionally and I would expect that’s going to happen again.”
The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, the highest-ranking Republican official in the chamber, for example, broke longtime precedent on supreme court nominees when he refrained from allowing a hearing on Barack Obama’s pick of Merrick Garland. More recently, he went back on his own logic for refraining from holding hearings on Garland when Republicans quickly moved Amy Coney Barrett through the Senate’s hearings.
In other words, there’s precedent for McConnell and the current crop of Republican leadership to buck longstanding Senate traditions. It’s also normal for a few cabinet nominees to not make it through the confirmation process.
Schiliro noted though that Biden has a “history of good relationships with the Senate even though the Senate has changed a lot. There’s still a fair amount of members he has good relations with and there’s goodwill and trust.”


theguardian--2020-12-07--Georgia runoff debate: senator Kelly Loeffler refuses multiple times to accept Biden victory

Donald Trump ’ s baseless claims of election fraud dominated a tense debate in Georgia ahead of a crucial Senate runoff election as Republican senator Kelly Loeffler refused three times to acknowledge the result of the November ballot , which Trump lost by a convincing electoral college margin and by more than 7m votes .
The future of the US senate hangs on the outcome of the 5 January election in Georgia with the two seats at stake determining whether Republicans or Democrats will hold an effective majority in the upper chamber .
The result will play a major role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to legislate and govern during his tenure as the next president of the United States .
Loeffler faces Democrat Raphael Warnock in the first race , while incumbent Republican David Perdue faces Democrat Jon Ossoff in the second .
On Sunday Ossoff debated alone next to an empty podium as Perdue declined to partake in the televised debate amid allegations of corruption tied to his stock market trading during the pandemic .
Ossoff argued that Perdue avoided the debate in Atlanta as he did not want to “ incriminate himself ” over his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investments in companies set to benefit from the pandemic .
“ It shows an astonishing arrogance and sense of entitlement for Georgia ’ s senior US senator to believe he shouldn ’ t have to debate at a moment like this in our history , ” Ossoff said .
Both Perdue and Loeffler appeared at a rally held by Donald Trump on Saturday night in south Georgia , ostensibly staged for the president to show his support for both senate candidates , but which saw the outgoing president make repeated baseless claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials who certified a victory for Biden in Georgia .
Although Loeffler and Perdue have not articulated the same baseless conspiracy theories as Trump , like the majority of their Republican colleagues they have not recognized Biden as the president-elect .
On Sunday , Loeffler was asked on numerous occasions whether she believed Trump ’ s fictitious claims of election fraud and declined to answer directly each time .
She argued that Trump , who has so far lost all meaningful decisions in his numerous legal attempts to subvert the results through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every legal recourse ” in the election .
Trump lost the state of Georgia , a long time Republican stronghold , by over 12,000 votes in a result that was certified by the Republican secretary of state over two weeks ago .
Loeffler attempted to pivot away from the issue by arguing that Trump had also encouraged his supporters on Saturday to vote for her in January .
“ The president was also clear that Georgians need to come out and vote for David Perdue and myself because of what ’ s at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans candidates face a rhetorical tightrope .
On the one hand they are refusing to acknowledge that Biden has won , but on other framing the Georgia Senate race as crucial to prevent Democratic control of government , itself a tacit acknowledgement that Trump has lost the White House .
Warnock , pastor of the historic Ebenezer baptist church in Atlanta , criticised Loeffler for her position , and used one of his own questions in the debate to ask : “ Yes or no , Senator Loeffler : did Donald Trump lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dodged the answer again .
Loeffler , who is a multi-millionaire , also faces allegations of shady stock market trading tied to the pandemic , hit back by branding Warnock , a centrist Democrat , as a “ radical liberal ” and at one point asked the pastor to renounce Marxism in public .
Warnock did not engage , and concluded the debate by stating : “ It ’ s dark right now .
But morning is on the way .
It ’ s our job , Georgia to put our shoes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaged in the politics of division .
They have no vision and so they engage in division.
” Early voting in the Georgia runoff begins on 14 December with polls indicating an extremely tight election in both races .

Oliver Laughland in Warner Robins, Georgia

Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud dominated a tense debate in Georgia ahead of a crucial Senate runoff election as Republican senator Kelly Loeffler refused three times to acknowledge the result of the November ballot, which Trump lost by a convincing electoral college margin and by more than 7m votes.
The future of the US senate hangs on the outcome of the 5 January election in Georgia with the two seats at stake determining whether Republicans or Democrats will hold an effective majority in the upper chamber. The result will play a major role in president-elect Joe Biden’s ability to legislate and govern during his tenure as the next president of the United States.
Loeffler faces Democrat Raphael Warnock in the first race, while incumbent Republican David Perdue faces Democrat Jon Ossoff in the second.
On Sunday Ossoff debated alone next to an empty podium as Perdue declined to partake in the televised debate amid allegations of corruption tied to his stock market trading during the pandemic.
01:54 'A coward': Jon Ossoff addresses empty podium as Senator David Perdue skips Georgia debate – video
Ossoff argued that Perdue avoided the debate in Atlanta as he did not want to “incriminate himself” over his financial dealings, which include suspiciously timed investments in companies set to benefit from the pandemic.
“It shows an astonishing arrogance and sense of entitlement for Georgia’s senior US senator to believe he shouldn’t have to debate at a moment like this in our history,” Ossoff said.
Both Perdue and Loeffler appeared at a rally held by Donald Trump on Saturday night in south Georgia, ostensibly staged for the president to show his support for both senate candidates, but which saw the outgoing president make repeated baseless claims of election fraud and criticism of Republican state officials who certified a victory for Biden in Georgia.
Although Loeffler and Perdue have not articulated the same baseless conspiracy theories as Trump, like the majority of their Republican colleagues they have not recognized Biden as the president-elect.
On Sunday, Loeffler was asked on numerous occasions whether she believed Trump’s fictitious claims of election fraud and declined to answer directly each time.
She argued that Trump, who has so far lost all meaningful decisions in his numerous legal attempts to subvert the results through the courts, had “every right to every legal recourse” in the election.
Trump lost the state of Georgia, a long time Republican stronghold, by over 12,000 votes in a result that was certified by the Republican secretary of state over two weeks ago.
Loeffler attempted to pivot away from the issue by arguing that Trump had also encouraged his supporters on Saturday to vote for her in January.
“The president was also clear that Georgians need to come out and vote for David Perdue and myself because of what’s at stake,” she said.
Both Republicans candidates face a rhetorical tightrope. On the one hand they are refusing to acknowledge that Biden has won, but on other framing the Georgia Senate race as crucial to prevent Democratic control of government, itself a tacit acknowledgement that Trump has lost the White House.
Warnock, pastor of the historic Ebenezer baptist church in Atlanta, criticised Loeffler for her position, and used one of his own questions in the debate to ask: “Yes or no, Senator Loeffler: did Donald Trump lose the presidential election?”
The senator dodged the answer again.
Loeffler, who is a multi-millionaire, also faces allegations of shady stock market trading tied to the pandemic, hit back by branding Warnock, a centrist Democrat, as a “radical liberal” and at one point asked the pastor to renounce Marxism in public.
Warnock did not engage, and concluded the debate by stating: “It’s dark right now. But morning is on the way. It’s our job, Georgia to put our shoes on and get ready because there are those engaged in the politics of division. They have no vision and so they engage in division.”
Early voting in the Georgia runoff begins on 14 December with polls indicating an extremely tight election in both races.


theguardian--2020-12-07--Joe Biden’s drive for diversity in top political jobs is only an illusion of change | Nesrine Malik

Joe Biden , you may have heard , is hiring a lot of women .
During his campaign , he promised to appoint the most diverse cabinet in American history .
So far , he has hired an all-female communications team and lined up several other women for senior jobs , some of which have never been filled by a woman before .
As with the selection of his vice-president , Kamala Harris , the reception has been rapturous .
What better way to fumigate Trumpism than by filling the executive with qualified women in senior positions ?
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says NBC .
An article in the Washington Post lists four reasons why Biden ’ s cabinet should be 50 % women : he owes it to them ; it looks bad when other countries such as Finland and South Africa have got there first ; qualified women are easy to find ; and finally , it ’ s just about damn time .
Behind the scenes , there is pressure on Biden to make good on racial diversity and appoint more people of colour in general .
Some Democratic members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Latinos to be appointed to senior cabinet positions .
Asian American and Pacific Islander lawmakers have written that it will be “ deeply disappointing if several AAPIs are not nominated ” .
Like victors dividing the spoils of war , a diverse array of Americans is scrambling to stake a claim in the new administration .
This could be the start of something positive .
But it could equally be a dead end .
Diversity has two paths .
The first is one important means with which to address the structural inequalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first place .
The second is an end in itself .
In a sort of identity relay race , women and people of colour are handed the baton , carry on running , and serve to bless and reinforce the racial and economic status quo .
Increasingly , liberals are opting for the latter : a commitment to diversity that promises cosmetic changes without deeper transformation .
This is part of an attitude that has already hurt the Democratic party severely among Asian Americans and Latinos – groups that have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken for granted .
According to Harris , Biden ’ s words to her were a clincher when considering the job .
“ When Joe asked me to be his running mate , he told me about his commitment to making sure we selected a cabinet that looks like America – that reflects the very best of our nation .
That is what we have done.
” Biden ’ s diverse picks , the “ very best of the nation ” , are not representatives of the people who put them into office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are ambassadors with no brief other than to stand as proof of meritocracy – if you work hard and are “ the very best ” , you too can get a great gig .
Diversity in government isn ’ t about solidarity , it ’ s used as proof of the soundness of the system : the elevation of women in particular as “ girl boss feminists ” who will not be interrupted , the reduction of the deeply serious business of government to inspiration politics .
It ’ s irritating and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t be dismissed .
There is real value in inspiration politics .
To be able to see people who look like you in exclusive places is undoubtedly important .
It unlocks confidence and ambition .
And there is political capital in caring about the brand of the party and its reputation as inclusive .
But when it all stops there what we end up with is a counterfeit form of liberation politics that achieves little beyond letting parties ( and businesses ) get away with a smattering of new faces .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philadelphia Inquirer , Solomon Jones emphasises that after a disappointing eight years of Barack Obama , the black community needs to see more than just symbolic appointments .
“ We ’ ve seen this movie before , ” writes Jones .
“ I am a registered Democrat , but I am also an avowed realist .
Putting Black and brown faces up front while repeatedly uttering the phrase ‘ racial justice ’ does not stop discrimination in lending , employment , education , criminal justice , or any of the myriad systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When people are hired to make a government “ look ” a certain way , by governing parties with conservative politics , it ’ s usually a way of making change so everything stays the same – or gets worse .
Little demonstrates that more than the “ most diverse parliament in history ” that came to Westminster in 2019 .
The election of a number of female and black and minority ethnic MPs to the Conservative party , and their rise in the ranks of the cabinet , has produced a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on policies such as the hostile environment , and where senior BAME ministers have been recruited to the task of denying structural racism .
The clue to the lack of potential in Biden ’ s diversity drive is in the fact that these appointments so far have been received with relief as a return to business as usual .
Brendan Buck , an ex-adviser to the former Republican House speaker , Paul Ryan , tweeted : “ These Biden nominations and appointments are so delightfully boring.
” Analysts at Politico wrote that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characterised by their belief in a “ linear , plodding , purposeful and standard policy process ” .
We can not forget that it was under the “ standard ” and comparatively “ boring ” Obama administration that the Black Lives Matter movement started .
Diversity in this form is a phantom lever , a device that is unconnected to any mechanisms of power but gives the illusion of change .
In the euphoria of Donald Trump ’ s defeat among liberals , I noted on social media an impatience with those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Some people are never happy , ” the celebrants complained .
If our expectations have been so severely lowered that we are to be grateful for the mere presence of visual diversity in regimes that have failed us for so long , then there is indeed very little to celebrate .

Joe Biden, you may have heard, is hiring a lot of women. During his campaign, he promised to appoint the most diverse cabinet in American history. So far, he has hired an all-female communications team and lined up several other women for senior jobs, some of which have never been filled by a woman before. As with the selection of his vice-president, Kamala Harris, the reception has been rapturous. What better way to fumigate Trumpism than by filling the executive with qualified women in senior positions? “There goes the old boys’ club,” says NBC. An article in the Washington Post lists four reasons why Biden’s cabinet should be 50% women: he owes it to them; it looks bad when other countries such as Finland and South Africa have got there first; qualified women are easy to find; and finally, it’s just about damn time.
Behind the scenes, there is pressure on Biden to make good on racial diversity and appoint more people of colour in general. Some Democratic members of Congress have called for at least five more Latinos to be appointed to senior cabinet positions. Asian American and Pacific Islander lawmakers have written that it will be “deeply disappointing if several AAPIs are not nominated”. Like victors dividing the spoils of war, a diverse array of Americans is scrambling to stake a claim in the new administration.
This could be the start of something positive. But it could equally be a dead end. Diversity has two paths. The first is one important means with which to address the structural inequalities that produce the marginalisation of those groups in the first place. The second is an end in itself. In a sort of identity relay race, women and people of colour are handed the baton, carry on running, and serve to bless and reinforce the racial and economic status quo.
Increasingly, liberals are opting for the latter: a commitment to diversity that promises cosmetic changes without deeper transformation. This is part of an attitude that has already hurt the Democratic party severely among Asian Americans and Latinos – groups that have, electorally, been treated as monoliths and taken for granted.
According to Harris, Biden’s words to her were a clincher when considering the job. “When Joe asked me to be his running mate, he told me about his commitment to making sure we selected a cabinet that looks like America – that reflects the very best of our nation. That is what we have done.”
Biden’s diverse picks, the “very best of the nation”, are not representatives of the people who put them into office as much as they are figureheads. They are ambassadors with no brief other than to stand as proof of meritocracy – if you work hard and are “the very best”, you too can get a great gig. Diversity in government isn’t about solidarity, it’s used as proof of the soundness of the system: the elevation of women in particular as “girl boss feminists” who will not be interrupted, the reduction of the deeply serious business of government to inspiration politics.
It’s irritating and it’s infantilising, but it can’t be dismissed. There is real value in inspiration politics. To be able to see people who look like you in exclusive places is undoubtedly important. It unlocks confidence and ambition. And there is political capital in caring about the brand of the party and its reputation as inclusive. But when it all stops there what we end up with is a counterfeit form of liberation politics that achieves little beyond letting parties (and businesses) get away with a smattering of new faces.
In a clear-eyed piece on Harris in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Solomon Jones emphasises that after a disappointing eight years of Barack Obama, the black community needs to see more than just symbolic appointments. “We’ve seen this movie before,” writes Jones. “I am a registered Democrat, but I am also an avowed realist. Putting Black and brown faces up front while repeatedly uttering the phrase ‘racial justice’ does not stop discrimination in lending, employment, education, criminal justice, or any of the myriad systems that treat people of colour unfairly.”
When people are hired to make a government “look” a certain way, by governing parties with conservative politics, it’s usually a way of making change so everything stays the same – or gets worse. Little demonstrates that more than the “most diverse parliament in history” that came to Westminster in 2019. The election of a number of female and black and minority ethnic MPs to the Conservative party, and their rise in the ranks of the cabinet, has produced a government that feels more comfortable in doubling down on policies such as the hostile environment, and where senior BAME ministers have been recruited to the task of denying structural racism.
The clue to the lack of potential in Biden’s diversity drive is in the fact that these appointments so far have been received with relief as a return to business as usual. Brendan Buck, an ex-adviser to the former Republican House speaker, Paul Ryan, tweeted: “These Biden nominations and appointments are so delightfully boring.” Analysts at Politico wrote that Biden’s team picks so far are characterised by their belief in a “linear, plodding, purposeful and standard policy process”. We cannot forget that it was under the “standard” and comparatively “boring” Obama administration that the Black Lives Matter movement started. Diversity in this form is a phantom lever, a device that is unconnected to any mechanisms of power but gives the illusion of change.
In the euphoria of Donald Trump’s defeat among liberals, I noted on social media an impatience with those who didn’t join in the festivities. “Some people are never happy,” the celebrants complained. If our expectations have been so severely lowered that we are to be grateful for the mere presence of visual diversity in regimes that have failed us for so long, then there is indeed very little to celebrate.


theguardian--2020-12-07--'A coward': Jon Ossoff addresses empty podium as Senator David Perdue skips Georgia debate – video

The Democratic challenger for a US Senate seat in Georgia debated against an empty lectern as Senator David Perdue , @ @ @ @ @ to participate in the debate against Democrat Jon Ossoff ahead of the runoff election .
@ @ @ @ @ answer questions and debate his opponent because he believes he should n't have to , @ @ @ @ @ debate stage , standing beside Perdue 's empty lectern .
'He believes the senate seat @ @ @ @ @ senate seat belongs to the people' • Trump 's attacks on election integrity 'disgust me @ @ @ @ @ Republican

The Democratic challenger for a US Senate seat in Georgia debated against an empty lectern as Senator David Perdue, the Republican incumbent, declined to participate in the debate against Democrat Jon Ossoff ahead of the runoff election. 'Your senator is refusing to answer questions and debate his opponent because he believes he shouldn't have to,' Ossoff said on the debate stage, standing beside Perdue's empty lectern. 'He believes the senate seat belongs to him. The senate seat belongs to the people'