theguardian--2020-11-14--Trump supporters gather in Washington as president refuses to concede – as it happened

Activists in Washington on Saturday to protest Trump ’ s attacks on the election and refusal to concede defeat by Joe Biden say supporters of the president attacked them .
Sunsara Taylor , a spokeswoman and co-founder of RefuseFascism.org , told the Guardian her group was part of a nationwide protest to “ stand on the victory of his electoral defeat … to expose , oppose Trump ’ s attempt to overturn this election.
” After RefuseFacism.org announced their protest , Taylor said , word of Saturday ’ s pro-Trump Million MAGA March emerged .
“ We thought it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to dominate the public square and the public discourse , ” she said .
Around 11.15am this morning , Taylor said , around 15 to 20 activists convened at the west end of Freedom Plaza , near the White House , and started setting up signs .
Because there were a lot of Trump supporters around it was “ elbow-to-elbow ” crowded , she said , so the activists decided to move into the street .
“ His mob of supporters descended on us as soon as we set off , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us .
They grabbed .
They shoved .
Every single person had hands put on them by multiple MAGA meatheads , but we held it together .
We marched together .
We chanted : ‘ Trump pack your shit !
’ ” “ It was like a pack of piranhas who circled , ” Taylor said , adding that Trump supporters voiced anti-gay , racist and misogynistic insults .
“ It ’ s really in keeping with Trump , who celebrated white supremacy and sexual assault .
“ We raised our banners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chanted and when it became clear that they were so physical , we moved together … and moved further down the street.
” Over the course of several blocks , she said , about 100 Trump supporters swarmed the anti-fascist protesters .
“ At times , there ’ d be five guys grabbing one woman , ” Taylor said .
No one was seriously injured .
Taylor ’ s group then regathered , she said , in Black Lives Matter Plaza , the stretch of 16 Street NW near the White House which @ @ @ @ @

Martin Pengelly in New York (now) and Bryan Armen Graham (earlier)

14 Nov 2020 22.33 GMT David Smith Our Washington bureau chief had a ride in the presidential motorcade today, as White House pool reporter. Here’s another taste of his sketch, now launched… The motorcade did a lap of Freedom Plaza, where people had climbed walls and other structures for a better view, and turned at the Ronald Reagan Building. Trump’s own hotel was not far away. There were chants of “USA! USA!”, “We want Trump! We want Trump!” and, somewhat optimistically, “Four more years! Four more years!” It was reminiscent of Trump’s strange pre-election drive-by of supporters outside Walter Reed military hospital, when he was under treatment for Covid-19. A few enthusiasts chased the motorcade, perhaps hoping for a last glimpse of Maga magic before the lights go out. The view from the motorcade was a reminder that, having spent four years surrounded by sycophantic cabinet members, soaking up the adulation of crowds at endless rallies and consuming constant praise from conservative media, Trump may have thought he was truly loved by the vast majority of Americans. The election result would have come as a very rude awakening. No wonder he still can’t quite believe it. Driving Mr Donald – White House excursion reveals a presidency pushing up daisies Read more
14 Nov 2020 21.51 GMT Agence France Presse has an interesting report about Christopher Miller, Donald Trump’s new acting defense secretary, indicating that he could accelerate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the Middle East.
All wars must end,” Miller said in his first message to the US armed services. He said the US is committed to defeating al-Qaida, 19 years after the 9/11 attacks, and is “on the verge” of doing so. “Many are weary of war – I’m one of them,” Miller wrote in the message, dated Friday but posted early Saturday on the defense department website. “But this is the critical phase in which we transition our efforts from a leadership to supporting role. Ending wars requires compromise and partnership. We met the challenge; we gave it our all. Now, it’s time to come home.” Miller did not mention specific troop deployments but appeared to single out Afghanistan and Iraq, where US troops were deployed after 9/11. A former US special forces officer and counterterrorism expert, Miller was named to lead the Department of Defense after Trump fired Mark Esper. Trump has been pressing to pull forces out of both countries since he came into office four years ago. Any such action would have to come in the 67 days before Biden takes office on 20 January. Trump has tweeted that he wants the troops “home by Christmas”. National security adviser Robert O’Brien has said the goal is to cut to 2,500 in Afghanistan by February.
Critics say this removes any leverage on the Taliban insurgents to halt attacks that continue amid scant progress in peace talks with the Afghan government.
14 Nov 2020 21.31 GMT From the Trump motorcade… David Smith Our Washington bureau chief has been traveling with Donald Trump today, as White House pool reporter. Here’s a taste of David’s sketch, coming soon in full… It was a jarring few minutes of seeing the world through Donald Trump’s eyes and indulging his fantasies. As the White House pool reporter, taking a turn to shadow the US president for print media outlets, the Guardian found itself at the back of Trump’s motorcade rolling out of the executive mansion grounds on to Pennsylvania Avenue. At 10am the dozen black shiny vehicles with flashing blue and red lights were greeted by a sight seldom seen in Washington, usually a Democratic bastion: hundreds of Trump supporters, cheering and clapping, whistling and whooping, punching the air and hailing their idol as if he had in fact won a glorious victory over Joe Biden. What a difference from the previous Saturday when Trump returned from a round of golf to be jeered and booed by denizens of the capital who had just learned that he had been fired by the electorate. Some foreign observers compared the scene to Paris after the liberation or a Middle East autocracy that had overthrown its dictator. But a week later, with Trump adding election defeat to the coronavirus disaster and climate crisis as truths that must be denied, supporters – and far-right groups including the extremist Proud Boys – poured into town to endorse his baseless claims that the election was stolen from him… More to come from David. In the meantime, here’s our current lead report, including some of David’s work for the pool… Trump supporters gather in Washington as president refuses to concede to Biden Read more
14 Nov 2020 20.37 GMT Anti-Trump protester describes scuffle with supporters of president Victoria Bekiempis Activists in Washington on Saturday to protest Trump’s attacks on the election and refusal to concede defeat by Joe Biden say supporters of the president attacked them. Sunsara Taylor, a spokeswoman and co-founder of RefuseFascism.org, told the Guardian her group was part of a nationwide protest to “stand on the victory of his electoral defeat … to expose, oppose Trump’s attempt to overturn this election.” After RefuseFacism.org announced their protest, Taylor said, word of Saturday’s pro-Trump Million MAGA March emerged. “We thought it was even more important that they not be allowed to dominate the public square and the public discourse,” she said. Around 11.15am this morning, Taylor said, around 15 to 20 activists convened at the west end of Freedom Plaza, near the White House, and started setting up signs. Because there were a lot of Trump supporters around it was “elbow-to-elbow” crowded, she said, so the activists decided to move into the street. “His mob of supporters descended on us as soon as we set off,” Taylor said. “They assaulted some of us. They grabbed. They shoved. Every single person had hands put on them by multiple MAGA meatheads, but we held it together. We marched together. We chanted: ‘Trump pack your shit!’” The #MillionMAGAMarch is officially starting in about half an hour, but violence has already broken out.
I’ll have a complete recording up later, but @RefuseFascism came to protest and was physically pushed out by Trump supporters. Some fighting ensued. pic.twitter.com/DdKgb49gLS — Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) November 14, 2020 “It was like a pack of piranhas who circled,” Taylor said, adding that Trump supporters voiced anti-gay, racist and misogynistic insults. “It’s really in keeping with Trump, who celebrated white supremacy and sexual assault. “We raised our banners. We raised our signs. We chanted and when it became clear that they were so physical, we moved together … and moved further down the street.” Over the course of several blocks, she said, about 100 Trump supporters swarmed the anti-fascist protesters. “At times, there’d be five guys grabbing one woman,” Taylor said. No one was seriously injured. Taylor’s group then regathered, she said, in Black Lives Matter Plaza, the stretch of 16 Street NW near the White House which was renamed this summer.


theguardian--2020-11-14--Trump supporters gather in Washington as president refuses to concede to Biden

Donald Trump continued to rage against the dying light of his US presidency on Saturday , falsely claiming to be the victim of mass voter fraud and praising rightwingers and conspiracy theorists who gathered in Washington to echo his fabrication .
Trump emerged from the White House to applause , cheers , waving and whistles from hundreds of supporters lining both sides of the street .
They punched the air , took pictures with phones and held signs that included “ Best prez ever ” and “ Stop the steal ” .
The crowd also waved flags including “ Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Trump 2020 : No more bullshit ” , “ All aboard the Trump train !
” and “ Trump 2020 : Pro life , pro God , pro gun ” .
A stand had been set up to sell merchandise , as if at a Trump rally .
Some ran excitedly after the motorcade .
There were chants of “ USA !
USA !
” , “ We want Trump !
We want Trump !
” and “ Four more years !
Four more years !
” Trump has still not conceded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Joe Biden , despite a protracted count showing the Democrat has comfortably secured the electoral college votes needed for victory , seizing formerly safe Republican states in Arizona and possibly Georgia , where a hand recount is under way .
Across the US , Biden has more than 5m more votes .
The president has refused to cooperate with a transition of power to Biden , who will enter the White House on 20 January , or even provide his successor with national security briefings .
Trump continued on Saturday to claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ rigged ” and that he is the rightful winner .
On Friday , federal and state officials said the election was the “ most secure in American history ” , with no evidence votes were compromised or altered .
Plenty of Trump supporters accept the president ’ s assertions , however , with several hundred rallying in Washington in demonstrations organised under titles including “ Million MAGA March ” and “ Stop the Steal ” .
Fringe extremist figures such as Infowars founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones , Enrique Tarrio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group and Jack Posobiec , who promoted the infamous “ Pizzagate ” conspiracy that led to a 2016 shooting at a Washington restaurant , spearheaded rallies that Trump called “ heartwarming ” .
One attendee , Mike Sembert , from Fort Meyers in Florida , told the Guardian he had traveled to the rally because “ we need our president back and we need four more years ” .
He said the election was fraudulent and votes were cast by “ illegals and dead people ” .
Anti-Trump protesters have also continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Biden ’ s win was confirmed a week ago .
Signs , some reading “ Loser ” and “ Failure ” , have plastered a non-scalable fence erected around the entire White House perimeter .
There has been an “ outrageous and illegitimate attempt to overturn the election which must be stopped in its tracks by people in the streets making clear : the election is over , ” said Sunsara Taylor , a counter-protester .
“ Biden won .
Trump lost.
” The courts , as well as the major news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear in no mood to indulge Trump .
The president ’ s campaign has suffered a slew of legal losses in Michigan , Arizona and Pennsylvania after arguing that ballots were illegally counted .
“ The Trump campaign keeps hoping it will find a judge that treats lawsuits like tweets , ” Justin Levitt , a Loyola Law School professor and elections law expert , told CNN .
“ Repeatedly , every person with a robe they ’ ve encountered has said , ‘ I ’ m sorry , we do law here.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have either sided with Trump or refused to condemn his refusal to acknowledge his loss , a stance that will lead America down a “ dangerous path ” , former president Barack Obama has warned .
There are some notable Republican exceptions .
George W Bush , another former president , has congratulated Biden on his win .
The tumultuous transition comes as the US is ravaged by a surge in coronavirus cases .
On Friday , a new daily record of 184,514 infections was recorded by Johns Hopkins University , with Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 a day .
Nearly 250,000 people in the US have died due to the pandemic , by far the worst death toll in the world .
Biden has urged people to take basic precautions , such as wearing masks , while attacking the “ woefully lacking ” Trump administration response to the crisis .
“ I will not be president until next year , ” the president-elect said .
“ This crisis does not respect dates on the calendar , it is accelerating right now .
Urgent action is needed today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting with an acknowledgement of how serious the current situation is.
” At the march , counter-protesters in Washington said supporters of the president attacked them .
Sunsara Taylor , a spokeswoman and co-founder of RefuseFascism.org , told the Guardian her group was part of a nationwide protest to “ stand on the victory of his electoral defeat … to expose , oppose Trump ’ s attempt to overturn this election ” .
Around 11.15am , Taylor said , about 15 to 20 activists convened at the west end of Freedom Plaza , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up signs .
Because there were a lot of Trump supporters around it was “ elbow-to-elbow ” crowded , she said , so the activists decided to move into the street .
“ His mob of supporters descended on us as soon as we set off , ” Taylor said .
“ They assaulted some of us .
They grabbed .
They shoved .
Every single person had hands put on them by multiple MAGA meatheads , but we held it together .
We marched together.
” No one was seriously injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , in Black Lives Matter Plaza , the stretch of 16 Street NW near the White House which was renamed this summer .

Oliver Milman in New York, David Smith and Samira Sadeque in Washington

Donald Trump continued to rage against the dying light of his US presidency on Saturday, falsely claiming to be the victim of mass voter fraud and praising rightwingers and conspiracy theorists who gathered in Washington to echo his fabrication.
Trump emerged from the White House to applause, cheers, waving and whistles from hundreds of supporters lining both sides of the street. They punched the air, took pictures with phones and held signs that included “Best prez ever” and “Stop the steal”.
The crowd also waved flags including “Trump 2020: Keep America great”, “Trump 2020: No more bullshit”, “All aboard the Trump train!” and “Trump 2020: Pro life, pro God, pro gun”. A stand had been set up to sell merchandise, as if at a Trump rally. Some ran excitedly after the motorcade. There were chants of “USA! USA!”, “We want Trump! We want Trump!” and “Four more years! Four more years!”
Fringe extremist figures such as Infowars founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Enrique Tarrio, chairman of the far-right Proud Boys group and Jack Posobiec, who promoted the infamous “Pizzagate” conspiracy that led to a 2016 shooting at a Washington restaurant, spearheaded rallies that Trump called “heartwarming”.
Hours later, after night fell in the nation’s capital, demonstrators favoring Trump clashed in the streets with counter-protesters, with videos posted on social media showing fistfights, projectiles and clubs. Police arrested at least 20 people on a variety of charges, including assault and weapons possession, officials said. One stabbing was reported, two police officers were injured and several firearms were also recovered by police.
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Trump has still not conceded that he lost the 3 November election to Joe Biden, despite a protracted count showing the Democrat has comfortably secured the electoral college votes needed for victory, seizing formerly safe Republican states in Arizona and possibly Georgia, where a hand recount is under way.
Across the US, Biden has more than 5m more votes.
The president has refused to cooperate with a transition of power to Biden, who will enter the White House on 20 January, or even provide his successor with national security briefings. Trump continued on Saturday to claim, without evidence, that the election was “rigged” and that he is the rightful winner.
On Friday, federal and state officials said the election was the “most secure in American history”, with no evidence votes were compromised or altered.
Plenty of Trump supporters accept the president’s assertions, however, with thousands rallying in Washington in demonstrations organised under titles including “Million MAGA March” and “Stop the Steal”.
One attendee of the peaceful daytime rally, Mike Sembert, from Fort Meyers in Florida, told the Guardian he had come because “we need our president back and we need four more years”. He said the election was fraudulent and votes were cast by “illegals and dead people”.
Anti-Trump protesters have also continued to congregate in Washington since street celebrations erupted when Biden’s win was confirmed a week ago. Signs, some reading “Loser” and “Failure”, have plastered a non-scalable fence erected around the entire White House perimeter.
There had been an “outrageous and illegitimate attempt to overturn the election which must be stopped in its tracks by people in the streets making clear: the election is over”, said Sunsara Taylor, a counter-protester. “Biden won. Trump lost.”
The courts, as well as the major news organisations that typically project election winners, appear in no mood to indulge Trump. The president’s campaign has suffered a slew of legal losses in Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania after arguing that ballots were illegally counted.
“The Trump campaign keeps hoping it will find a judge that treats lawsuits like tweets,” Justin Levitt, a Loyola Law School professor and elections law expert, told CNN. “Repeatedly, every person with a robe they’ve encountered has said, ‘I’m sorry, we do law here.’”
00:46 Donald Trump comes close to admitting defeat but stops short – video
The bulk of senior Republicans have either sided with Trump or refused to condemn his refusal to acknowledge his loss, a stance that will lead America down a “dangerous path”, former president Barack Obama has warned. There are some notable Republican exceptions. George W Bush, another former president, has congratulated Biden on his win.
The tumultuous transition comes as the US is ravaged by a surge in coronavirus cases. On Friday, a new daily record of 184,514 infections was recorded by Johns Hopkins University, with Americans now dying at a rate of around 1,000 a day. Nearly 250,000 people in the US have died due to the pandemic, by far the worst death toll in the world.
Biden has urged people to take basic precautions, such as wearing masks, while attacking the “woefully lacking” Trump administration response to the crisis.
“I will not be president until next year,” the president-elect said. “This crisis does not respect dates on the calendar, it is accelerating right now. Urgent action is needed today, now, by the current administration – starting with an acknowledgment of how serious the current situation is.”
At the march, counter-protesters in Washington said supporters of the president attacked them.
Sunsara Taylor, a spokeswoman and co-founder of RefuseFascism.org, told the Guardian her group was part of a nationwide protest to “stand on the victory of his electoral defeat … to expose, oppose Trump’s attempt to overturn this election”.
Around 11.15am, Taylor said, about 15 to 20 activists convened at the west end of Freedom Plaza, near the White House, and started setting up signs. Because there were a lot of Trump supporters around it was “elbow-to-elbow” crowded, she said, so the activists decided to move into the street.
“His mob of supporters descended on us as soon as we set off,” Taylor said. “They assaulted some of us. They grabbed. They shoved. Every single person had hands put on them by multiple Maga meatheads, but we held it together. We marched together.”
No one was seriously injured. Taylor’s group then regathered, she said, in Black Lives Matter Plaza, the stretch of 16 Street NW near the White House which was renamed this summer.
After dark, there were multiple confrontations as small groups of Trump supporters attempted to enter the area around the plaza.
In a pattern that kept repeating itself, Trump supporters who approached the area were harassed, doused with water and saw their Maga hats and pro-Trump flags snatched and burned, amid cheers. As night fell, multiple police lines kept the two sides apart.


theguardian--2020-11-14--'Can we have America back?' Fox News video echoes Trump election claims

Fox News has come in for criticism over a promotional video in which opinion hosts echo Donald Trump ’ s baseless claims about the presidential election , which he lost to Joe Biden but which he refuses to concede .
“ Oh my god , ” Andrew Laurence of Media Matters for America , a liberal media watchdog , wrote on Twitter .
“ Fox is running a promo of their ‘ opinion ’ hosts casting doubt on the election results and I guess trying to keep their rabid viewers sated.
” Oliver Darcy , a media reporter for CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rupert Murdoch-owned channel “ really have no shame ” .
In the short video , an announcer introduces a montage of “ the voices America trusts ” .
Laura Ingraham is shown first , saying : “ These legal efforts are critical.
” That is a reference to cases Trump has mounted in key battleground states , alleging without evidence that voter fraud and ballot irregularities occurred , and seeking to overturn results via recounts .
Such quixotic efforts have met with little success and experts say they are almost guaranteed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the popular vote , Trump lost the electoral college to Biden by 306-232 , the score by which he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 in what he claimed was a landslide .
On the Fox News video , Tucker Carlson appears next , saying : “ There are apparent irregularities.
” “ The media mob , and the Democrats , they lie , ” says Sean Hannity .
“ Speaking up for you , and the issues that matter most to the people , ” says the announcer .
“ They thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the case , ” says Steve Doocy of Fox & Friends , a morning show favoured by Trump .
In fact Doocy ’ s comment points to an electoral truth : that Trump attracted the most votes of any sitting president , staving off an expected landslide defeat , and that Republicans made gains at state level and in the US House and look set to retain control of the Senate .
“ You ’ re gon na see something even bigger than Trump in 2022 and 2024 , ” says Greg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election years .
“ The truth does need to come out , ” says Ingraham .
“ Can we speak freely , again , can we have America back ?
” asks Carlson .
“ Fox News , ” the announcer says .
“ America is watching.
” Trump has attacked Fox News since the election , in which it was quick to call Arizona , a key state , for Biden , then joined other media organisations in calling the whole race for the Democrat last Saturday .
“ Fox News daytime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted on Thursday .
“ Weekend daytime even WORSE .
Very sad to watch this happen , but they forgot what made them successful , what got them there .
They forgot the Golden Goose .
The biggest difference between the 2016 Election , and 2020 , was Fox News !
” Darcy , of CNN , wrote that the Fox News video “ appears to be part of a bid to hold on to its bleeding audience – an audience that refuses to believe reality , in large part because Fox has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Fox News has countered that its ratings remain strong , saying in a recent release it “ finished the month of October as the most-watched cable network in both total day and primetime total viewers … notching 52 months in a row in the top spot ” .
According to Media Matters , Trump ’ s conspiracy theories have crossed into Fox News ’ “ straight ” news operation .
In the four days after the result was called , the watchdog said , Fox News “ cast doubt on or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 255 times .
A review by Media Matters found 111 such claims on Fox ’ s ‘ straight news ’ shows and 144 claims on the network ’ s opinion shows ” .
“ Where are the adults at Fox ?
” Darcy asked .
“ Why aren ’ t they getting their talent under control ?
Well , this ad makes it clear : The executives approve their talent behaving the way they have .
In fact , they ’ re so proud of the undemocratic commentary , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad .
They really have no shame.
” Fox News did not offer comment on its promotional video .

Fox News has come in for criticism over a promotional video in which opinion hosts echo Donald Trump’s baseless claims about the presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden but which he refuses to concede.
“Oh my god,” Andrew Laurence of Media Matters for America, a liberal media watchdog, wrote on Twitter. “Fox is running a promo of their ‘opinion’ hosts casting doubt on the election results and I guess trying to keep their rabid viewers sated.”
Oliver Darcy, a media reporter for CNN, said the video showed executives at the Rupert Murdoch-owned channel “really have no shame”.
In the short video, an announcer introduces a montage of “the voices America trusts”. Laura Ingraham is shown first, saying: “These legal efforts are critical.”
That is a reference to cases Trump has mounted in key battleground states, alleging without evidence that voter fraud and ballot irregularities occurred, and seeking to overturn results via recounts.
03:51 One week on: how Trump handled losing the US election – video report
Such quixotic efforts have met with little success and experts say they are almost guaranteed to fail. More than 5m votes down in the popular vote, Trump lost the electoral college to Biden by 306-232, the score by which he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 in what he claimed was a landslide.
On the Fox News video, Tucker Carlson appears next, saying: “There are apparent irregularities.”
“The media mob, and the Democrats, they lie,” says Sean Hannity.
“Speaking up for you, and the issues that matter most to the people,” says the announcer.
“They thought there would be a blue wave, not the case,” says Steve Doocy of Fox & Friends, a morning show favoured by Trump. In fact Doocy’s comment points to an electoral truth: that Trump attracted the most votes of any sitting president, staving off an expected landslide defeat, and that Republicans made gains at state level and in the US House and look set to retain control of the Senate.
“You’re gonna see something even bigger than Trump in 2022 and 2024,” says Greg Gutfeld, referring to the next two election years.
“The truth does need to come out,” says Ingraham.
“Can we speak freely, again, can we have America back?” asks Carlson.
“We the people deserve better,” says Hannity.
“Fox News,” the announcer says. “America is watching.”
Trump has attacked Fox News since the election, in which it was quick to call Arizona, a key state, for Biden, then joined other media organisations in calling the whole race for the Democrat last Saturday.
“Fox News daytime ratings have completely collapsed,” Trump tweeted on Thursday. “Weekend daytime even WORSE. Very sad to watch this happen, but they forgot what made them successful, what got them there. They forgot the Golden Goose. The biggest difference between the 2016 Election, and 2020, was Fox News!”
Darcy, of CNN, wrote that the Fox News video “appears to be part of a bid to hold on to its bleeding audience – an audience that refuses to believe reality, in large part because Fox has primed millions to distrust credible news sources”.
Fox News has countered that its ratings remain strong, saying in a recent release it “finished the month of October as the most-watched cable network in both total day and primetime total viewers … notching 52 months in a row in the top spot”.
According to Media Matters, Trump’s conspiracy theories have crossed into Fox News’ “straight” news operation.
In the four days after the result was called, the watchdog said, Fox News “cast doubt on or pushed conspiracy theories about the election results at least 255 times. A review by Media Matters found 111 such claims on Fox’s ‘straight news’ shows and 144 claims on the network’s opinion shows”.
“Where are the adults at Fox?” Darcy asked. “Why aren’t they getting their talent under control? Well, this ad makes it clear: The executives approve their talent behaving the way they have. In fact, they’re so proud of the undemocratic commentary, they’re happy to showcase it in an ad. They really have no shame.”
Fox News did not offer comment on its promotional video.


theguardian--2020-11-14--Driving Mr Donald – White House excursion reveals a presidency pushing up daisies

It was a jarring few minutes of seeing the world through Donald Trump ’ s eyes and indulging his fantasies .
As the White House pool reporter on Saturday , taking a turn to shadow the US president for print media outlets , the Guardian found itself at the back of Trump ’ s motorcade , rolling out of the executive mansion grounds and on to Pennsylvania Avenue .
At 10am the dozen black shiny vehicles with flashing blue and red lights were greeted by a sight seldom seen in Washington , a Democratic bastion : hundreds of Trump supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whooping , punching the air and hailing their idol as if he had in fact won a glorious victory over Joe Biden .
What a difference from the previous Saturday when Trump returned from a round of golf to be jeered and booed by denizens of the capital who had just learned that he had been fired by the electorate .
Some foreign observers compared that scene to Paris after the liberation or a Middle East autocracy that had overthrown its dictator .
But a week later , with Trump adding election defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as truths that must be denied , supporters – among them far-right groups including the extremist Proud Boys – poured into town to endorse his baseless claims that the election was stolen from him .
Attendees at the “ Million Maga March ” , a number as inflated as Trump ’ s estimation of his inauguration crowd , swarmed the motorcade as it made its stately progress down Pennsylvania Avenue , which in its time has witnessed inaugural parades and funeral marches , suffragists and the Ku Klux Klan .
Some punched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many sported clothes patterned in red , white and blue , like the stars and stripes .
Outside the Willard Hotel , a man proudly wore a t-shirt that declared “ I ’ m deplorable ” – a reference to Hillary Clinton ’ s disparaging remark about Trump supporters that he and they never let go .
Biden ’ s glancing reference to “ chumps ” never stuck in the same way .
Among the signs being waved were “ Best prez ever ” and “ Stop the steal ” .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Keep America great ” ; “ Trump 2020 : No more bullshit ” ; “ All aboard the Trump train !
” ; “ Women for Trump ” ; and “ Trump 2020 : Pro-life , Pro-God , Pro-gun ” .
The motorcade did a lap of Freedom Plaza , where people had climbed walls and other structures for a better view , and turned at the Ronald Reagan Building .
Trump ’ s own hotel was not far away .
There were chants of “ USA !
USA !
” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump !
” and , somewhat optimistically , “ Four more years !
Four more years !
” It was reminiscent of Trump ’ s strange pre-election drive-by of supporters outside Walter Reed military hospital , when he was under treatment for Covid-19 .
A few enthusiasts chased the motorcade , perhaps hoping for a last glimpse of Maga magic before the lights go out .
The view from the motorcade was a reminder that , having spent four years surrounded by sycophantic cabinet members , soaking up the adulation of crowds at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative media , Trump may have thought he was truly loved by the vast majority of Americans .
The election result would have come as a very rude awakening .
No wonder he still can ’ t quite believe it .
Finally the presidential limousine swept on and arrived at Trump ’ s golf club in Sterling , Virginia , where both supporters and protesters were assembled .
Among the latter , one held a sign .

It was a jarring few minutes of seeing the world through Donald Trump’s eyes and indulging his fantasies.
As the White House pool reporter on Saturday, taking a turn to shadow the US president for print media outlets, the Guardian found itself at the back of Trump’s motorcade, rolling out of the executive mansion grounds and on to Pennsylvania Avenue.
At 10am the dozen black shiny vehicles with flashing blue and red lights were greeted by a sight seldom seen in Washington, a Democratic bastion: hundreds of Trump supporters, cheering and clapping, whistling and whooping, punching the air and hailing their idol as if he had in fact won a glorious victory over Joe Biden.
What a difference from the previous Saturday when Trump returned from a round of golf to be jeered and booed by denizens of the capital who had just learned that he had been fired by the electorate. Some foreign observers compared that scene to Paris after the liberation or a Middle East autocracy that had overthrown its dictator.
But a week later, with Trump adding election defeat to the coronavirus disaster and climate crisis as truths that must be denied, supporters – among them far-right groups including the extremist Proud Boys – poured into town to endorse his baseless claims that the election was stolen from him.
Attendees at the “Million Maga March”, a number as inflated as Trump’s estimation of his inauguration crowd, swarmed the motorcade as it made its stately progress down Pennsylvania Avenue, which in its time has witnessed inaugural parades and funeral marches, suffragists and the Ku Klux Klan.
Some punched the air; others took pictures with phones. Many sported clothes patterned in red, white and blue, like the Stars and Stripes. Outside the Willard Hotel, a man proudly wore a T-shirt that declared “I’m deplorable” – a reference to Hillary Clinton’s disparaging remark about Trump supporters that he and they never let go. Biden’s glancing reference to “chumps” never stuck in the same way.
Among the signs being waved were “Best prez ever” and “Stop the steal”. Among the numerous flags were “Trump 2020: Keep America great”; “Trump 2020: No more bullshit”; “All aboard the Trump train!”; “Women for Trump”; and “Trump 2020: Pro-life, Pro-God, Pro-gun”.
Supporters of President Trump wave as his motorcade drives by. Photograph: Julio Cortez/AP
The motorcade did a lap of Freedom Plaza, where people had climbed walls and other structures for a better view, and turned at the Ronald Reagan Building. Trump’s own hotel was not far away. There were chants of “USA! USA!”, “We want Trump! We want Trump!” and, somewhat optimistically, “Four more years! Four more years!”
It was reminiscent of Trump’s strange pre-election drive-by of supporters outside Walter Reed military hospital, when he was under treatment for Covid-19. A few enthusiasts chased the motorcade, perhaps hoping for a last glimpse of Maga magic before the lights go out.
The view from the motorcade was a reminder that, having spent four years surrounded by sycophantic cabinet members, soaking up the adulation of crowds at endless rallies and consuming constant praise from conservative media, Trump may have thought he was truly loved by the vast majority of Americans.
The election result would have come as a very rude awakening. No wonder he still can’t quite believe it.
Finally the presidential limousine swept on and arrived at Trump’s golf club in Sterling, Virginia, where both supporters and protesters were assembled. Among the latter, one held a sign.
“We voted,” it said. “You’re fired.”


theguardian--2020-11-14--‘They know their vote matters’: the Georgia Senate runoffs battle is already on

Donald Trump may have forced a recount of the votes in Georgia that helped end his presidency , but the activists who organised the surge in turnout that helped defeat him have already turned their attention to two elections that will decide who controls the US Senate and the course of Joe Biden ’ s presidency .
Tens of millions of dollars are pouring in to the Georgia runoff races , which can be expected to draw Biden back to the campaign trail as voters have the opportunity to make history by defeating the state ’ s two Republican senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both houses of Congress .
Traditionally , turnout has been low for runoff elections and that has favoured Republicans .
But the presidential race in Georgia has already turned conventional political wisdom on its head .
A concerted get out the vote campaign over recent years , combined with a surge of political engagement by younger people over demands for racial justice , narrowly swung the state for Biden .
Cliff Albright , co-founder of Black Voters Matter in Atlanta , expects the Senate runoffs to also be close and the result to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s defeat in Georgia has shown Democratic voters the power of their ballot in what was once a Republican stronghold , and he will use that to keep them engaged with the Senate elections .
“ Black voters in particular really had an impact on this race .
There ’ s some black voters that may not have believed in their power to flip this state , but now they believe and so there ’ s even more voters that can motivated to come out .
Because now more than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that they ’ ve got power .
So there ’ s all that momentum , ” he said .
Democrats are mobilising support for two very different candidates .
The Rev Raphael Warnock is pastor of Atlanta ’ s renowned Ebenezer Baptist church where Martin Luther King preached in the 1960s .
If he wins , Warnock would be the first black US senator from Georgia .
“ I think Warnock ’ s going to drive the turnout , ” said Joshua Meddaugh , chair of the social sciences department at Clayton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in metro Atlanta .
“ He is a monster candidate .
He is incredibly well liked .
He is charming and well received and an easy person to get behind .
There are going to be some of those moderate Republicans , maybe some of those religious values Republicans , that he ’ ll be able to draw.
” On the other hand , Meddaugh expects Warnock ’ s opponent , the sitting Republican senator Kelly Loeffler , to struggle because of her loyalty to Trump and association with conspiracy theory groups such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s likely to be close .
Warnock came out on top last week with 33 % of the vote .
Loeffler took 26 % .
If the votes for rival Democrats and Republicans among the 18 other contenders on that ballot go to their respective parties in the runoff they each win about 49 % with the balance of Libertarian , Green and independent voters up in the air .
In the parallel race , Democrat Jon Ossoff came close to removing the incumbent Republican , David Perdue , who fell just short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ossoff took 48 % with the difference won by a Libertarian party candidate who now drops out of the race .
Ossoff lacks Warnock ’ s charisma but proved effective at rattling Perdue during a debate before the first election over his refusal to take coronavirus seriously and because he is under federal investigation for insider trading .
Perdue refused to attend a second debate .
Activists who spent months and years getting out the vote in Georgia credit Stacey Abrams , the former candidate who many in the state believe was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor two years ago by Republican voter suppression , with mobilising a cadre of voters that paid off for Biden including in middle-class suburbs and among young people .
Helen Butler , leader of the Georgia Coalition for the People ’ s Agenda , said a surge in younger voters was significant in deciding the presidential election in Georgia .
“ We targeted young people , 18 to 35 , to make sure they turned out and by all of the information we have thus far , it shows that their demographics turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Butler attributed the increased turnout in part to the surge in Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis in May .
“ For the young people , it was a driving factor because they now understand that if you ’ re going to have great policing policy , if you ’ re going to have the right people employed , that those positions are elected .
Your judges , your district attorneys , your sheriffs , and your mayors who appoint the police chiefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand their situations will assist in making the change that they want to do , ” she said .
Albright said his organisation will focus on specific policies , not the broad issue of giving Biden a Democratic-run Senate .
“ It can ’ t just be about we want to control the Senate .
Somebody who ’ s not engaged is going to ask why they should care about that .
We have got to say we ’ ve got to control the Senate because healthcare is on the line , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line , because racial justice and whether or not police officers and district attorneys are able to continue to get qualified immunity when they kill black folks , that ’ s on the line , ” he said .
Butler gave the example of the supreme court hearing that could see the end Obamacare and rob low-income families of affordable health coverage .
“ That will definitely be on people ’ s mind .
If the court should overturn the Affordable Care Act , better known as Obamacare , a lot of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose protection for pre-existing conditions and young folks won ’ t be able to stay on their parent ’ s insurance plans until 26 , ” she said .
Becky Butler , who leads Necessary Trouble , a name that plays on the late Georgia congressman John Lewis ’ s mantra to cause “ good trouble ” , said a large increase in absentee balloting played an important part in swinging Georgia against Trump and that she will focus on encouraging those who voted before to immediately register to vote by mail again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties that are rich in Democrats that are deeply , deeply blue .
And we do our best to make sure that those frequent voters are hit , and also that we try even harder to engage the infrequent voters , which is what Stacey Abrams taught us , ” she said .
Meddaugh said that runoff races usually favour Republicans but this could be different .
“ You ’ re going to hear a lot of energy and positivity coming from the left and that we have a chance here to flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates .
What that does usually when there ’ s one side that ’ s so energised , it actually de-energises the other side .
Maybe some Trump supporters were pretty bummed that they didn ’ t win so they ’ re not going to come out again .
That ’ s pretty common , ” he said .
For all that , Albright worries that Republicans still have one advantage through their control of Georgia statewide offices : the ability to suppress voter turnout and effectively rig the election .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lookout for voter suppression now that the Republicans have seen what our power looks likes , ” he said .
“ My suspicion is that we ’ re going to see an increase so we are going to be vigilant about that over the next over the next couple of months .
”

Donald Trump may have forced a recount of the votes in Georgia that helped end his presidency, but the activists who organised the surge in turnout that helped defeat him have already turned their attention to two elections that will decide who controls the US Senate and the course of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Tens of millions of dollars are pouring in to the Georgia runoff races, which can be expected to draw Biden back to the campaign trail as voters have the opportunity to make history by defeating the state’s two Republican senators to give the new president control of both houses of Congress.
Traditionally, turnout has been low for runoff elections and that has favoured Republicans. But the presidential race in Georgia has already turned conventional political wisdom on its head. A concerted get out the vote campaign over recent years, combined with a surge of political engagement by younger people over demands for racial justice, narrowly swung the state for Biden.
A bar on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta promotes Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev Raphael Warnock, with a portrait of Stacey Abrams painted across the corner. Photograph: Melissa Golden/The Guardian
Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter in Atlanta, expects the Senate runoffs to also be close and the result to hang on turnout. He said that Trump’s defeat in Georgia has shown Democratic voters the power of their ballot in what was once a Republican stronghold, and he will use that to keep them engaged with the Senate elections.
“Black voters in particular really had an impact on this race. There’s some black voters that may not have believed in their power to flip this state, but now they believe and so there’s even more voters that can motivated to come out. Because now more than ever, they know that their vote matters, that they’ve got power. So there’s all that momentum,” he said.
Black voters in particular really had an impact on this race Cliff Albright
Democrats are mobilising support for two very different candidates. The Rev Raphael Warnock is pastor of Atlanta’s renowned Ebenezer Baptist church where Martin Luther King preached in the 1960s. If he wins, Warnock would be the first black US senator from Georgia.
“I think Warnock’s going to drive the turnout,” said Joshua Meddaugh, chair of the social sciences department at Clayton State University, a mostly black college in metro Atlanta. “He is a monster candidate. He is incredibly well liked. He is charming and well received and an easy person to get behind. There are going to be some of those moderate Republicans, maybe some of those religious values Republicans, that he’ll be able to draw.”
On the other hand, Meddaugh expects Warnock’s opponent, the sitting Republican senator Kelly Loeffler, to struggle because of her loyalty to Trump and association with conspiracy theory groups such as QAnon.
Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev Raphael Warnock wave to supporters during a drive-in campaign event in Columbus on 29 October. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Still, it’s likely to be close. Warnock came out on top last week with 33% of the vote. Loeffler took 26%. If the votes for rival Democrats and Republicans among the 18 other contenders on that ballot go to their respective parties in the runoff they each win about 49% with the balance of Libertarian, Green and independent voters up in the air.
In the parallel race, Democrat Jon Ossoff came close to removing the incumbent Republican, David Perdue, who fell just short of an outright win with 49.7%. Ossoff took 48% with the difference won by a Libertarian party candidate who now drops out of the race.
Ossoff lacks Warnock’s charisma but proved effective at rattling Perdue during a debate before the first election over his refusal to take coronavirus seriously and because he is under federal investigation for insider trading. Perdue refused to attend a second debate.
Activists who spent months and years getting out the vote in Georgia credit Stacey Abrams, the former candidate who many in the state believe was robbed of victory in the election for governor two years ago by Republican voter suppression, with mobilising a cadre of voters that paid off for Biden including in middle-class suburbs and among young people.
Helen Butler, leader of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, said a surge in younger voters was significant in deciding the presidential election in Georgia.
“We targeted young people, 18 to 35, to make sure they turned out and by all of the information we have thus far, it shows that their demographics turned in record numbers,” she said.
Atlanta went solidly blue in the 2020 general election, managing to flip some historically red metro area counties. Photograph: Melissa Golden/The Guardian
Butler attributed the increased turnout in part to the surge in Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis in May.
“For the young people, it was a driving factor because they now understand that if you’re going to have great policing policy, if you’re going to have the right people employed, that those positions are elected. Your judges, your district attorneys, your sheriffs, and your mayors who appoint the police chiefs. They understand that getting people who understand their situations will assist in making the change that they want to do,” she said.
Albright said his organisation will focus on specific policies, not the broad issue of giving Biden a Democratic-run Senate.
“It can’t just be about we want to control the Senate. Somebody who’s not engaged is going to ask why they should care about that. We have got to say we’ve got to control the Senate because healthcare is on the line, because the Voting Rights Act is on the line, because racial justice and whether or not police officers and district attorneys are able to continue to get qualified immunity when they kill black folks, that’s on the line,” he said.
Atlanta bar 97 Estoria displays its support for Black Lives Matter. Photograph: Melissa Golden/The Guardian
Butler gave the example of the supreme court hearing that could see the end Obamacare and rob low-income families of affordable health coverage. “That will definitely be on people’s mind. If the court should overturn the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, a lot of people will lose coverage. They’ll lose protection for pre-existing conditions and young folks won’t be able to stay on their parent’s insurance plans until 26,” she said.
Becky Butler, who leads Necessary Trouble, a name that plays on the late Georgia congressman John Lewis’s mantra to cause “good trouble”, said a large increase in absentee balloting played an important part in swinging Georgia against Trump and that she will focus on encouraging those who voted before to immediately register to vote by mail again.
“We go for especially those counties that are rich in Democrats that are deeply, deeply blue. And we do our best to make sure that those frequent voters are hit, and also that we try even harder to engage the infrequent voters, which is what Stacey Abrams taught us,” she said.
Becky Butler, who leads the women’s activist group Necessary Trouble, in Decatur. Photograph: Melissa Golden/The Guardian
Meddaugh said that runoff races usually favour Republicans but this could be different. “You’re going to hear a lot of energy and positivity coming from the left and that we have a chance here to flip the Senate and we have two strong candidates. What that does usually when there’s one side that’s so energised, it actually de-energises the other side. Maybe some Trump supporters were pretty bummed that they didn’t win so they’re not going to come out again. That’s pretty common,” he said.
For all that, Albright worries that Republicans still have one advantage through their control of Georgia statewide offices: the ability to suppress voter turnout and effectively rig the election.
“We need to be very much on the lookout for voter suppression now that the Republicans have seen what our power looks likes,” he said. “My suspicion is that we’re going to see an increase so we are going to be vigilant about that over the next over the next couple of months.”


theguardian--2020-11-15--Trump tweets that Biden 'won' – but repeats baseless vote fraud claim

But it was not the formal concession of the US presidential election which Trump has refused to give , despite every major media organisation calling the race for Biden with an electoral college result of 306-232 – coincidentally the same margin by which Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , a result he insisted was a landslide .
Clinton beat Trump by nearly 3m in the popular vote .
Biden is more than 5m up .
“ He won because the election was rigged , ” Trump wrote , nonetheless , before recycling a melange of the baseless claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which his lawyers are attempting to prove in court in battleground states – with little to no chance of success , according to most election observers .
According to practice , Twitter tagged the Trump tweet with a message : “ This claim about election fraud is disputed.
” The presidential result in Georgia is subject to a recount – which Trump on Sunday called a “ scam ” – but it is not expected to slip from Biden ’ s column and the Democrat will be inaugurated as the 46th president on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusal to concede is affecting Biden ’ s preparations , with transition funds unreleased and national security briefings not given .
From Wilmington , Delaware , the president-elect continues to consider cabinet appointments and legislative priorities and to issue appeals to the country to take seriously the spiralling coronavirus pandemic .
On Saturday , as Trump supporters gathered in Washington to back the president and reject Biden , Trump went to his golf club in Sterling , Virginia .
On Sunday , he had no public events on his schedule .
From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tweets .
According to NBC News , an anonymous White House official said the tweet about how Biden won “ may very well ” represent the start of some sort of Trump concession .

Sign up for the Guardian’s First Thing newsletter
On Sunday morning, Donald Trump tweeted about Joe Biden.
“He won,” he wrote.
But it was not the formal concession of the US presidential election which Trump has refused to give, despite every major media organisation calling the race for Biden with an electoral college result of 306-232 – coincidentally the same margin by which Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016, a result he insisted was a landslide.
Clinton beat Trump by nearly 3m in the popular vote. Biden is more than 5m up.
“He won because the election was rigged,” Trump wrote, before recycling a melange of the baseless claims of voter fraud he continues to push and which his lawyers are attempting to prove in court in battleground states – with little to no chance of success, according to most observers.
According to practice, Twitter tagged the Trump tweet with a message: “This claim about election fraud is disputed.”
According to NBC News, an anonymous White House official said the tweet about how Biden won “may very well” represent the start of some sort of Trump concession.
One Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, followed suit, telling NBC’s Meet the Press: “It was good actually to see President Trump tweet out that ‘he won’. I think that’s a start of an acknowledgment.”
But the president disagreed, tweeting: “He only won in the eyes of the FAKE NEWS MEDIA. I concede NOTHING! We have a long way to go. This was a RIGGED ELECTION!”
03:51 One week on: how Trump handled losing the US election – video report
Mainstream experts and analysts agree it was not. The presidential result in Georgia is subject to a recount – which Trump on Sunday called a “scam” – but it is not expected to slip from Biden’s column and the Democrat will be inaugurated as the 46th president on 20 January.
On Sunday Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, said Trump’s tweets had no bearing on the actuality of the election.
“Donald Trump’s Twitter feed doesn’t make Joe Biden president or not president,” Klain told NBC’s Meet the Press. “The American people did that.”
From Wilmington, Delaware, the president-elect continues to consider cabinet appointments and legislative priorities and to issue appeals to the country to take seriously the spiralling coronavirus pandemic.
But Trump’s refusal to concede is affecting Biden’s preparations, with transition funds unreleased and national security briefings not given.
Klain said the federal government needed to sign off on transition efforts this week, so briefings can begin, and so Biden can begin to address the Covid-19 crisis.
Hutchinson agreed, telling NBC: “It is very important that Joe Biden have access to the intelligence briefings to make sure that he is prepared.
“During times of transition our enemies have an opportunity to take advantage of us, and we want to make sure that there is a smooth transition, particularly when it comes to the vaccine distribution [so that] everybody understands what we’re doing there and what the plan is for the future.”
But Hutchinson also pointed to a problem for Republican elected officials, which is that Trump retains the support of most Republican voters – many of whom believe his claims about the election.
“Clearly, President Trump will have a voice for a long time in the party,” Hutchinson said. “Anybody that can generate those kinds of crowds … will have an influence for some time to come.”
On Saturday, Trump supporters gathered in Washington to back the president and reject Biden. Trump waved to the crowd from his motorcade, as it drove to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia.
On Sunday, the president had no public events on his schedule. From the White House, he issued volley after volley of tweets. Then he drove back to his golf course.


theguardian--2020-11-15--Trump says Biden 'won' but repeats baseless claims of election fraud – live coverage

Barack Obama ’ s interview with CBS Sunday Morning will be broadcast today , before his interview with CBS 60 Minutes follows this evening .
The 44th president has a book out , you see , and we ’ ve seen it .
Reports here , and here .
The CBS interviews have been extensively trailed , of course .
Here ’ s some of what Obama told Gayle King for Sunday Morning , about Donald Trump ’ s claim that the election he lost convincingly to Joe Biden was rigged against him : “ [ Republicans ] obviously didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on because they didn ’ t say anything about it for the first two days [ after election day , as the count went on ] .
“ But there ’ s damage to this because what happens is that the peaceful transfer of power , the notion that any of us who attain an elected office , whether it ’ s dogcatcher or president , are servants of the people .
It ’ s a temporary job.
” [ Presidents are ] not above the rules .
We ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the essence of our democracy.
” “ When Donald Trump won , I stayed up until 2.30 in the morning and I then called Donald Trump to congratulate him .
His margin of victory over Hillary Clinton wasn ’ t greater than Joe Biden ’ s margin over him .
“ But if you are listening to some of the talk radio that Trump voters are listening to , if you ’ re watching Fox News , if you ’ re getting these tweets , those allegations are presented as facts .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there who think , ‘ Oh yeah , there must be cheating because the president said so .
’ ”

Tom Lutz in New York (now) and Martin Pengelly (earlier)

15 Nov 2020 22.01 GMT Axios is reporting that Donald Trump will enact a series of hardline policies during his final 10 weeks to cement his legacy on China, citing senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the plans. Trump officials plan to sanction or restrict trade with more Chinese companies, government entities and officials for alleged complicity in human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, or threatening U.S. national security. The administration also will crack down on China for its labor practices beyond Xinjiang forced labor camps.
But don’t expect big new moves on Taiwan or more closures of Chinese consulates in the U.S., officials say. Said national security council spokesperson John Ullyot to Axios: “Unless Beijing reverses course and becomes a responsible player on the global stage, future US presidents will find it politically suicidal to reverse President Trump’s historic actions.” A front page of a Chinese newspaper shows a photo of US president Donald Trump. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/EPA
15 Nov 2020 21.23 GMT Washington state introduces strict new anti-Covid measures Victoria Bekiempis Washington state governor Jay Inslee has ordered sweeping restrictions and shutdowns starting at 11.59pm on Monday, in an attempt to curb Covid-19. Restaurants and bars were ordered to shut down indoor service and keep outdoor service to groups of five or less. Gyms, movie theaters, museums and bowling alleys were also ordered to close by that deadline, according to the Seattle Times. Indoor gatherings involving people from multiple households are barred, unless those present have quarantined for two weeks beforehand. Alternatively, participants can quarantine for one week and test negative for coronavirus within two days of the get-together. Inslee’s mandates will be enacted for a minimum of four weeks. “Today, Sunday 15 November 2020, is the most dangerous public health day in the last 100 years of our state’s history,” Inslee said. “A pandemic is raging in our state. Left unchecked, it will assuredly result in grossly overburdened hospitals and morgues; and keep people from obtaining routine but necessary medical treatment for non-Covid conditions.”
15 Nov 2020 20.58 GMT Trump allies eye Newsmax as Fox News competitor – report Victoria Bekiempis Amid persistent talk of Donald Trump moving into the conservative media sphere once he moves out of the White House, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that allies of the president have discussed buying Newsmax and thereby creating a competitor to Fox News. Trump has refused to concede defeat in the presidential election, though all major media organizations including Fox News have called the race for Joe Biden. Citing “people familiar with the matter”, the Journal, which like Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch, said Hicks Equity Partners, a private finance concern with links to a co-chair of the Republican National Committee, had discussed buying Newsmax as “part of a larger effort that could also include a streaming-video service”. Hicks, the Journal reported, has been interested in creating a competitor to Fox News for about two years. Fox News, which has long had the highest cable news ratings, has largely supported Trump since he entered the Republican presidential primary in summer 2015. The network’s opinion hosts continue to treat Trump more charitably than its news anchors and their counterparts at other organizations but the relationship has soured nonetheless. The Journal report landed as Trump continued attacks on Fox News which began on election day, when the network was the first news organization to call Arizona, a key state, for Biden. Fox News later joined other networks in calling the whole contest for the Democratic nominee. The Trump campaign and supporters of the president reportedly flooded the network with calls, seeking a reversal. Protesters outside one ballot counting center in Phoenix, Arizona shouted: “Fox News sucks!” Newsmax hosts have propped up Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that the election was rigged, the Journal said – an effort which has coincided with an improvement in the network’s ratings. Nielsen data cited by the Journal said Newsmax average prime-time viewership surged 156% to 223,000 in election week, helping it pass a million viewers between 7pm and 8pm – approximately 50%’s of Fox News’ audience in the same slot. The Trump campaign, the White House and Fox News did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Guardian. Nor did a press representative for Hicks, or Newsmax. Newsmax chief executive Chris Ruddy, a friend of Trump, played down the Journal report, telling the paper: “Newsmax never had any deal with the Hicks group, and if it’s true they were using our name for the purposes of capital fundraising, that is wholly inappropriate.” 'Can we have America back?' Fox News video echoes Trump election claims Read more
15 Nov 2020 20.36 GMT North Dakota has become the 35th US state to require face coverings be worn in public, as governors across the country grapple with a surge in coronavirus infections that threatens to swamp their healthcare systems. North Dakota joined 38 other states this month in reporting record daily jumps in new cases, 17 others with record deaths and 25 others with a record number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, according to a Reuters tally. Registered nurse Dana Simmers’ glasses fog up as she dons a 3M N95 protective mask before beginning her shift at a drive-thru testing site inside the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters
15 Nov 2020 20.09 GMT Lauren Gambino Joe Biden’s first hours as president-elect were met with spontaneous dance parties, champagne showers and car parades that wound through several blocks. But amid the “Biden-Harris” placards and T-shirts dotting a diverse crowd gathered in front of the White House last week, there was a creeping sense that the source of their shared jubilation had less to do with the dragon-slayer than the dragon slayed …
Democrats divided: Biden's election win brings end to party's uneasy truce Read more
Updated at 20.10 GMT
15 Nov 2020 19.45 GMT The Great Counterpuncher has responded to John Bolton’s appearance on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos today, calling his former national security adviser “one of the dumbest people in government” and “a real dope”. Bolton, who has become a fierce critic of the president since departing from his post in September 2019, urged GOP leaders to acknowledge and explain the presidential election result to their supporters rather than continuing to appease the president as he promotes baseless claims of voter fraud. “I think it’s very important for leaders in the Republican party to explain to our voters, who are not as stupid as the Democrats think, that, in fact, Trump has lost the election and that his claims of election fraud are baseless,” Bolton said on Sunday morning. “The fact is that we’ve seen litigation in all the key battleground states, and it has failed consistently. Right now the Trump campaign is doing the legal equivalent of pinching pennies.” After playing golf at his private club in northern Virginia, Trump appeared to respond to Bolton’s remarks with a spicy tweet. “John Bolton was one of the dumbest people in government that I’ve had the “pleasure” to work with,” Trump wrote. “A sullen, dull and quiet guy, he added nothing to National Security except, “Gee, let’s go to war.” Also, illegally released much Classified Information. A real dope!” John Bolton was one of the dumbest people in government that I’ve had the “pleasure” to work with. A sullen, dull and quiet guy, he added nothing to National Security except, “Gee, let’s go to war.” Also, illegally released much Classified Information. A real dope! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2020 Supporters gather outside Trump National golf club on Sunday afternoon in Sterling, Virginia. Photograph: Oliver Contreras/EPA
Updated at 19.49 GMT
15 Nov 2020 19.18 GMT New York schools stay open Victoria Bekiempis Many New York City parents breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday, as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that public schools would remain open next week, as Covid-19 testing rates remain below the threshold for closures. Increasing positivity rates in New York City and state have prompted rollbacks of reopening initiatives, spurring De Blasio to warn on Friday that schools could close again. De Blasio said classrooms would close if the seven-day test positivity rate exceeded 3%. According to De Blasio, that rate was 2.57% on Saturday. “Thankfully, schools will remain open on Monday, but we have to keep fighting back with everything we’ve got,” De Blasio said. Today’s indicators are similar to yesterday:
• 117 patients admitted to the hospital
• 937 new cases
• The test positivity 7-day average is 2.57%
Thankfully, schools will remain open on Monday, but we have to keep fighting back with everything we’ve got. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 15, 2020 The New York City public school system has 1.1 million students. Under Covid-19, about 300,000 pupils are doing some in-classroom instruction, according to the New York Times. Most parents have chosen to have their children learn remotely but some 25% participate in a hybrid structure of in-person and distance coursework. The newspaper also noted that the schools-wide infection rate is 0.17% Public health experts have told the Guardian that while increases in Covid-19 positivity rates are cause for concern, acting quickly – such as by recent rollbacks of business reopenings – should prevent any new wave of cases. Experts say the disease is considered under control so long as testing percentages stay below 5%.
Updated at 19.49 GMT
15 Nov 2020 18.11 GMT Ossoff and Warnock: Georgia victories are in sight Victoria Bekiempis In separate interviews on Sunday, the two Democratic candidates for US Senate in Georgia said their runoff elections in January would be decisive for America’s future. If Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock beat their Republican incumbent opponents, Democrats will regain control of the Senate, Kamala Harris serving as a tie-breaking vice-president in a chamber split 50-50. Though precarious, that would give Joe Biden greater hope of implementing his legislative agenda. Georgia went to Biden in the presidential election, a recount unlikely to change the result. Crediting former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ organizing efforts for shifting Georgia’s vote – no Democratic presidential candidate had won the state since 1996 – Ossoff told ABC: “What we’re feeling for the first time in four years is hope. “With Trump departing, we have the opportunity to define the next chapter in American history, to lead out of this crisis. But only by winning these Senate seats.” Speaking to Warnock, CNN host Jake Tapper pointed out that Republicans have tried to link him to Democrats in Washington, to cast him as a dangerous radical. “Listen,” Warnock said. “This is a Georgia race. And I’m Georgia. I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, my church is in Atlanta. I’m pastor of the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr. “I grew up in public housing, one of 12 children in my family. I’m number 11. And the first graduate of a four-year college in my family. I know personally the importance of good federal policy, combined with personal responsibility, work, grit and determination. That’s the reason I’m able to run for the United States Senate. I am an iteration of the American dream.” Further reading: ‘They know their vote matters’: the Georgia Senate runoffs battle is already on Read more
Updated at 19.47 GMT
15 Nov 2020 17.49 GMT Klain: Biden advisers to meet Pfizer and other vaccine producers Ed Pilkington Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, whose approach to coronavirus carries weight given his successful marshaling of the federal response as “Ebola tsar” in 2014, told NBC’s Meet the Press earlier the block on communications between the Trump and White House and the president-elect was especially damaging around preparations for a vaccine. Hopes soared this week when Pfizer/BioNTech announced its candidate was 90% effective in protecting people from the infection. The White House has said some 20m doses of the vaccine could be ready for distribution to vulnerable populations such as older people in nursing homes by the end of December. Biden’s transition team will meet Pfizer and other producers this week, Klain said. But he added: “The bigger issue is the mechanism of manufacture and distribution – getting this vaccine out. Vaccines don’t save lives, vaccinations save lives – it’s a giant logistical problem. “Trump’s Twitter feed doesn’t make Joe Biden president or not president, the American people did that. What we want to see is the GSA issue that ascertainment so we can meet vaccine officials.”
15 Nov 2020 17.15 GMT Andrew Cuomo is planning to sue the Trump administration over the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine, alleging that the president’s plan discriminates against Black and minority communities. Cuomo says the federal plan is too reliant on healthcare providers that some Black and brown people do not have easy access to. “If the Trump administration does not change this plan and does not provide an equitable vaccine process, we will enforce our legal rights,” Cuomo said on Sunday. “We will bring legal action to protect New Yorkers.” Andrew Cuomo made his remarks at the Riverside Church in Manhattan on Sunday. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Black and Latino people have experienced much higher death rates that white people from Covid-19. “Those are ugly facts,” Cuomo said. “We must have the courage to face it and admit it.” He added that he wanted to see the vaccine available in places such as churches and community centres. “Any plan that intentionally burdens communities of colour to hinder access to the vaccine deprives those communities of equal protection under the law,” said Cuomo. “We need to make special efforts for the vaccine to reach the underserved Black, brown and poor communities. The private market alone will not do it.”
Updated at 19.46 GMT
15 Nov 2020 16.57 GMT While a great deal of attention is on the presidential election, the power of balance in the Senate is being decided in Georgia, which will hold two runoff elections in the coming weeks. It would be a huge boost for the Democrats if their two candidates can unseat the incumbent Republicans, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Jon Ossoff is running against Perdue and on Sunday morning he made an appearance on ABC’s This Week. Perdue received 90,000 more votes that Ossoff in the initial election, even though Joe Biden won Georgia (as no candidate got more than 50% of the vote, the Senate race will go to a run-off). Ossoff is asked whether Perdue’s success gives him concern. “It doesn’t worry me at all. First of all, we are currently organizing and running the largest voter registration and turnout effort in American history,” he said. “For example, there are 23,000 young people here in Georgia who will be become eligible to vote just between the November election and this January 4th runoff. “And a decade of organizing, much of this work led by Stacey Abrams … has put the wind here in our sails here in Georgia. What we’re feeling for the first time in four years is hope.” Read more on Georgia and the Senate race here: ‘They know their vote matters’: the Georgia Senate runoffs battle is already on Read more
Updated at 19.45 GMT
15 Nov 2020 16.42 GMT Victoria Bekiempis Donald Trump’s refusal to participate in Joe Biden’s transition doesn’t just pose military national security risks – it hampers the nation’s Covid-19 response, Dr Atul Gawande, a member of the Biden Covid-19 advisory board, told ABC’s This Week. Across the Sunday talkshows, top public health experts said a smooth transition would be better for the fight against the coronavirus, which continues to spread unchecked in many US states. “It is in the nation’s interest that the transition team get the threat assessments … understand the vaccine distribution plans, need to know where the stockpiles are, what the status is of masks and gloves,” Gawande said. “There’s a lot of information that needs to be transmitted. It can’t wait until the last minute.” On CNN’s State of the Union, Dr Anthony Fauci was asked how problematic the lack of communication could be. “I’ve been through multiple transitions,” he said, “now having served six presidents for 36 years, and it’s very clear that the transition process that we go through, that period measured in several weeks to months, is really important in a smooth handing over of the information. “It’s almost like passing a baton in a race, you don’t want to stop and then give it to somebody, you want to just essentially keep going, and that’s what transition is so, it certainly would make things [go] more smoothly if we could do that.” Gawande said the Biden transition team does not support a new nationwide lockdown. “We believe there simply isn’t a scenario because we can get this under control,” the doctor and New Yorker staff writer said, explaining that targeted measures on a “more localized basis” were “quite effective”.
Updated at 19.44 GMT


theguardian--2020-11-15--US records 166,000 new Covid cases as Trump supporters crowd Washington

The US recorded 166,555 new coronavirus cases on Saturday , down on more than 184,000 on Friday but still its second-highest daily total and a 12th day in a row of more than 100,000 .
One expert said the approach of the crowded and travel-heavy holiday season left him “ terrified ” .
According to Johns Hopkins University , the overall US caseload is now nearly 10.9m .
More than 245,000 people have died .
On Saturday , 1,266 died .
Hospitalisations are rising .
In Washington DC on Saturday , thousands attended the “ Million Maga March ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lost the presidential election to Joe Biden but has refused to concede .
At campaign and White House events , Trump has refused to implement mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing .
The president – who has heralded news of an imminent Pfizer vaccine – members of his family , top aides and senior Republicans have all tested positive .
On Saturday , local media reported that around the White House , where Trump waved to crowds of supporters from his presidential motorcade , “ it seemed a majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks ” .
Washington DC has a mask mandate , which states in part : “ Persons leaving their residences shall wear a mask when they are likely to come into contact with another person , such as being within 6ft of another person for more than a fleeting time.
” Trump has said his administration will not implement any further social lockdowns .
Biden , who has appointed his own Covid-19 advisory group , has made similar indications but supports a national mask mandate .
Across the country , particularly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls .
On Saturday , California , Minnesota and Maryland were among states reporting rapidly rising case numbers , as healthcare systems began to show the strain .
Oregon and New Mexico have implemented new social restrictions , while North Dakota has introduced a mask mandate and Arkansas has established a new Covid taskforce .
From Monday , the Navajo Nation will enter a three-week stay-at-home advisory period .
Predictive models suggest another 100,000 could die by January .
Experts have warned the final death toll could be around 400,000 .
On Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine at George Washington University Hospital , said he was “ terrified ” about the imminent holiday season .
“ We ’ re going to see an unprecedented surge of cases following Thanksgiving this year , and if people don ’ t learn from Thanksgiving , we ’ re going to see it after Christmas as well , ” Phillips told CNN .
In New York , where cases are rising if not to levels seen elsewhere , Mayor Bill de Blasio has advised against travel for Thanksgiving , when Americans traditionally go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also warned that schools may close again on Monday .
On Saturday the New Jersey governor , Phil Murphy , called case numbers there “ alarming and concerning , to say the least ” .
In Washington , leaders of the Trump taskforce promised swift distribution of the Pfizer vaccine to the vulnerable and frontline health workers , once it obtains emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration , expected by the end of November .
From Wilmington , Delaware , where he continues transition efforts impeded by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has appealed to Americans to observe mitigation measures .
In a report published on Saturday , Dr Michael Osterholm , an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota and a member of Biden ’ s advisory board , told the Guardian : “ It ’ s important to understand virtually the entire US is becoming a hotspot , which means nothing really is a hotspot any more – everything is .
“ Failure is not an option here .
We have to do whatever we can to reduce the impact of the virus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doctor and public health professor at George Washington , former Baltimore health commissioner and now a CNN analyst , who is not on Biden ’ s advisory board , said the president-elect ’ s “ single biggest challenge is going to be re-establishing trust .
“ We won ’ t be able to stop the surges and infections if half of the country does not follow his guidance .
”

The US recorded 166,555 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, down from more than 184,000 on Friday but still its second-highest daily total and a 12th day in a row above 100,000.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the overall US caseload is now nearly 10.9m and more than 245,000 have died. On Saturday, 1,266 people died. Hospitalisations are rising.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, said it was “possible” the country would see 200,000 deaths in the next four months, which would put the toll of the pandemic above 400,000 in slightly more than a year.
In Washington DC on Saturday, thousands attended the “Million Maga March”, a gathering of supporters of Donald Trump, who lost the presidential election to Joe Biden but has refused to concede. The president has heralded news of an imminent Pfizer vaccine but he and members of his family, top aides and senior Republicans have all tested positive for Covid-19.
At campaign and White House events, Trump has refused to enforce mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing. On Saturday, local media reported that around the White House, where Trump waved to supporters from his motorcade, “it seemed a majority of the protesters gathered were not wearing masks”. Washington DC has a mask mandate.
A pandemic is raging. Left unchecked, it will assuredly result in grossly overburdened hospitals and morgues Jay Inslee
Trump has said his administration will not implement any further social lockdowns. He has also refused to participate in the Biden transition, meaning information on Covid-19 is not being shared with the president-elect. Biden, who has appointed his own Covid-19 advisory group, supports a national mask mandate.
Across the country, particularly in the hard-hit midwest, states are implementing tighter controls. On Saturday, California, Minnesota and Maryland were among states reporting rapidly rising case numbers and healthcare systems under serious strain. Oregon and New Mexico implemented new social restrictions, while North Dakota introduced a mask mandate and Arkansas established a Covid taskforce. From Monday, the Navajo Nation will enter a three-week stay-at-home advisory period.
In Washington state, Governor Jay Inslee ordered sweeping restrictions and shutdowns starting at 11.59pm on Monday. Restaurants and bars were ordered to stop indoor service and keep outdoor service to groups of five or less. Gyms, movie theaters, museums and bowling alleys were ordered closed, the Seattle Times reported.
Indoor gatherings involving multiple households are barred, unless those present have quarantined for two weeks. Alternatively, participants can quarantine for one week and test negative within two days of the get-together. Inslee’s mandates will be enacted for a minimum of four weeks.
“Today, Sunday 15 November 2020, is the most dangerous public health day in the last 100 years of our state’s history,” Inslee said. “A pandemic is raging. Left unchecked, it will assuredly result in grossly overburdened hospitals and morgues and keep people from obtaining routine but necessary medical treatment for non-Covid conditions.”
On CNN’s State of the Union, Fauci was asked what the Trump administration should do other than advising the wearing of masks, hand-washing and social distancing.
“Well, what we’ve got to do is make what you just said uniform, not spotty,” he said. “Everybody’s got to do it. There’s no excuse not to do that right now, because we know that can turn things around. I mean, that’s the tool we have. We have good news with regard to the vaccines, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Help is coming.
“It’s going to be a gradual accrual of more normality as the weeks and the months go by, as we get well into 2021,” he added.
Asked about his recent statement that a national lockdown is not necessary, he said: “We’re not going to get a national lockdown. I think that’s very clear, but I think what we’re going to start seeing in the local levels, be they governors or mayors or people at the local level … very surgical type of restrictions, which are the functional equivalent of a local lockdown.
“We’re not going to have a national lockdown. But if things really get bad and you put your foot on the pedal and yet still you have the surge, you may need to take the extra step that you’re talking about.”
Asked about Trump’s refusal to participate in the transition, Fauci said it was “almost like passing a baton in a race, you don’t want to stop and then give it to somebody, you want to just essentially keep going and that’s what transition is … Of course it would be better if we could start working with them.”
Leaders of the Trump taskforce have promised swift distribution of the Pfizer vaccine to the vulnerable and frontline health workers, once emergency use authorisation is obtained from the US Food and Drug Administration, expected by the end of November.
But Trump’s resistance to cooperation is not limited to Biden. On Friday, he said the federal government would not deliver the vaccine to New York, because its governor, Andrew Cuomo, “doesn’t trust where the vaccine is coming from”.
Trump and Cuomo have fought repeatedly. Cuomo has said federal distribution plans rely too heavily on hospitals, clinics and drug stores, a problem for communities which do not have easy access to the healthcare system. On Sunday, he said he would sue if the administration made it difficult for minorities to get vaccinations.
“If the Trump administration does not change this plan and does not provide an equitable vaccine process, we will enforce our legal rights,” Cuomo was reported as saying. “We will bring legal action to protect New Yorkers.”
From Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine told CNN coronavirus “fatigue” was a serious problem. Speaking to CNN on Saturday, Dr James Phillips, chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University Hospital, said he was “terrified” about the imminent holiday season.
“We’re going to see an unprecedented surge of cases following Thanksgiving this year, and if people don’t learn from Thanksgiving, we’re going to see it after Christmas as well,” Phillips said.