theguardian--2020-12-15--Biden campaigns for Georgia Senate Democrats following electoral college victory

Joe Biden was in Georgia on Tuesday campaigning for the Democrats in crucial Senate runoff elections , a day after addressing the American public for the first time as its official president-elect .
In Washington , Mitch McConnell finally acknowledged Biden ’ s victory over Donald Trump , who continues to make baseless claims of electoral fraud and refuse to concede .
“ Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden , ” the Republican majority leader said on the Senate floor , adding in reference to the California senator Kamala Harris : “ All Americans can take pride that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the very first time.
” The White House , however , still refused to recognise Trump ’ s defeat .
Asked about McConnell ’ s concession , which came after electoral college proceedings on Monday , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany replied : “ The president is still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election .
Yesterday ’ s vote was one step in the constitutional process.
” McEnany said she did not have a reaction to McConnell ’ s decision to congratulate Biden .
She said : “ The president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would refer you to the campaign for further.
” Asked by the Guardian if Trump intended to run for election again in 2024 , the press secretary merely noted that legal action continued .
She denied that such efforts were damaging US democracy , insisting without evidence that the Russia investigation into Trump caused greater harm .
Now the electoral college has voted , Trump ’ s hopes of overturning the result , vanishingly faint anyway after more than 50 defeats in the courts , are extinguished .
Biden will be inaugurated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Democrat to win Georgia since 1992 , Biden appeared in Atlanta for a drive-in rally in support of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , who face Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in 5 January contests that will decide control of the Senate and with it the legislative power of Biden ’ s administration .
“ It ’ s starting to feel like I won Georgia three times , ” Biden said , referring to the multiple recounts that affirmed his victory after the Trump campaign challenged the results .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullied ” or “ silenced ” .
The Atlanta trip was Biden ’ s first on the campaign trail since the election on 3 November .
The drive-in rally , meant to boost Democrat turnout in multi-million-dollar contests in which early voting has begun , featured both Senate candidates , as well as the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Atlanta ’ s mayor , Keisha Lance Bottoms .
Biden said : “ Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are running to represent Georgia .
Georgia !
They ’ ll actually fight for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you.
” Before Biden ’ s appearance , it emerged he had tapped Pete Buttigieg , his rival for the 2020 Democratic nomination , to lead the department of transportation , the Guardian confirmed .
The news was first reported by Reuters .
No Biden transition official or Buttigieg representative has publicly confirmed the report .
On Monday night , Biden addressed the nation in a primetime speech to mark the electoral college verdict , almost six weeks after election day .
Speaking from Wilmington , Delaware , Biden declared that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the will of the people prevailed .
Our democracy – pushed , tested , threatened – proved to be resilient , true and strong.
” The man who will become the 46th president said it was “ time to turn the page ” on an election which he proclaimed “ one of the most amazing demonstrations of civic duty we ’ ve ever seen in our country ” .
The final electoral college result of 306 to 232 was , he noted , the same as when Trump beat Hillary Clinton in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden said , “ President Trump called the electoral college tally a landslide.
” In a 13-minute speech interrupted several times by coughing and throat clearing , Biden attacked both Trump ’ s attempts to overturn the result in the form of multiple recounts and legal challenges and “ unconscionable ” threats and abuse to which election workers and officials were subjected .
“ They were heard by more than 80 judges across the country , ” he said .
“ And in every case , no cause or evidence was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results.
” Citing a Texas lawsuit rejected by the US supreme court , he said : “ It ’ s a position so extreme , we ’ ve never seen it before .
A position that refused to respect the will of the people , refused to respect the rule of law , and refused to honour our constitution.
” But Biden also sought to bring together a bitterly divided nation , saying it was “ time to turn the page , as we ’ ve done throughout our history – to unite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign of even uniting his party .
On Tuesday he retweeted a message from a conservative lawyer which said the governor and secretary of Georgia should be sent to jail .
The post included a doctored image of Brian Kemp and Brad Raffensperger wearing masks featuring the Chinese flag .
The officials resisted verbal attacks from Trump , who demanded they reject the result of their state ’ s election even though multiple recounts affirmed Biden ’ s victory .
Biden also addressed the US death toll in the coronavirus pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes out to each of you in this dark winter of the pandemic , ” he said , “ about to spend the holidays and the new year with a black hole in your hearts ” .
Referencing St Francis , he tried to end with a message of hope : “ For where there is discord , union ; where there is doubt , faith ; where there is darkness , light .
This is who we are as a nation .
This is the America we love .
And that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” On Tuesday , McConnell offered a faint echo of that appeal : “ Our nation needs us to add another bipartisan chapter to this record of achievement.
” The Senate majority leader appeared to be hinting at the need for a deal on coronavirus relief that has eluded Capitol Hill for months .
McConnell and other top congressional leaders – including House speaker Nancy Pelosi , the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy – met multiple times on Tuesday in an effort to end a months-long standoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding bill in time to avert a government shutdown at the weekend , although it remained unclear if a deal would be reached .
“ Now we are continuing to work .
I think there is progress , ” McCarthy said as he left the earlier gathering late Tuesday afternoon .
Biden told reporters he had spoken to McConnell , a notoriously ruthless partisan operator .
“ While we disagree on a lot of things , there are things we can work together on , ” Biden said .
“ We agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later.
” Elsewhere , Dr Anthony Fauci , America ’ s top infectious disease expert , said Biden and Harris should be vaccinated “ as soon as we possibly can ” .
“ For security reasons , I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can , ” Fauci told ABC .
“ You want him fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January .
”

Miranda Bryant in New York, Lauren Gambino and David Smith in Washington

Joe Biden was in Georgia on Tuesday campaigning for the Democrats in crucial Senate runoff elections, a day after addressing the American public for the first time as its official president-elect.
In Washington, Mitch McConnell finally acknowledged Biden’s victory over Donald Trump, who continues to make baseless claims of electoral fraud and refuse to concede.
“Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” the Republican majority leader said on the Senate floor, adding in reference to the California senator Kamala Harris: “All Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very first time.”
The White House, however, still refused to recognise Trump’s defeat. Asked about McConnell’s concession, which came after electoral college proceedings on Monday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany replied: “The president is still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election. Yesterday’s vote was one step in the constitutional process.”
McEnany said she did not have a reaction to McConnell’s decision to congratulate Biden. She said: “The president, again, is pursuing ongoing litigation. I would refer you to the campaign for further.”
Asked by the Guardian if Trump intended to run for election again in 2024, the press secretary merely noted that legal action continued. She denied that such efforts were damaging US democracy, insisting without evidence that the Russia investigation into Trump caused greater harm.
Now the electoral college has voted, Trump’s hopes of overturning the result, vanishingly faint anyway after more than 50 defeats in the courts, are extinguished. Biden will be inaugurated in Washington on 20 January.
The first Democrat to win Georgia since 1992, Biden appeared in Atlanta for a drive-in rally in support of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who face Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in 5 January contests that will decide control of the Senate and with it the legislative power of Biden’s administration.
“It’s starting to feel like I won Georgia three times,” Biden said, referring to the multiple recounts that affirmed his victory after the Trump campaign challenged the results. Biden said Georgians had refused to be “bullied” or “silenced”.
The Atlanta trip was Biden’s first on the campaign trail since the election on 3 November. The drive-in rally, meant to boost Democrat turnout in multi-million-dollar contests in which early voting has begun, featured both Senate candidates, as well as the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Atlanta’s mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Biden said: “Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are running to represent Georgia. Georgia! They’ll actually fight for you, represent you, stand up for you.”
Before Biden’s appearance, it emerged he had tapped Pete Buttigieg, his rival for the 2020 Democratic nomination, to lead the department of transportation, the Guardian confirmed.
The news was first reported by Reuters. No Biden transition official or Buttigieg representative has publicly confirmed the report.
Electoral college
On Monday night, Biden addressed the nation in a primetime speech to mark the electoral college verdict, almost six weeks after election day. Speaking from Wilmington, Delaware, Biden declared that “the rule of law, our constitution and the will of the people prevailed. Our democracy – pushed, tested, threatened – proved to be resilient, true and strong.”
The man who will become the 46th president said it was “time to turn the page” on an election which he proclaimed “one of the most amazing demonstrations of civic duty we’ve ever seen in our country”. The final electoral college result of 306 to 232 was, he noted, the same as when Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“At that time,” Biden said, “President Trump called the electoral college tally a landslide.”
In a 13-minute speech interrupted several times by coughing and throat clearing, Biden attacked both Trump’s attempts to overturn the result in the form of multiple recounts and legal challenges and “unconscionable” threats and abuse to which election workers and officials were subjected.
“They were heard by more than 80 judges across the country,” he said. “And in every case, no cause or evidence was found to reverse or question or dispute the results.”
Citing a Texas lawsuit rejected by the US supreme court, he said: “It’s a position so extreme, we’ve never seen it before. A position that refused to respect the will of the people, refused to respect the rule of law, and refused to honour our constitution.”
But Biden also sought to bring together a bitterly divided nation, saying it was “time to turn the page, as we’ve done throughout our history – to unite, to heal.”
Trump shows little sign of even uniting his party. On Tuesday he retweeted a message from a conservative lawyer which said the governor and secretary of Georgia should be sent to jail.
The post included a doctored image of Brian Kemp and Brad Raffensperger wearing masks featuring the Chinese flag. The officials resisted verbal attacks from Trump, who demanded they reject the result of their state’s election even though multiple recounts affirmed Biden’s victory.
Biden also addressed the US death toll in the coronavirus pandemic, which has passed 300,000.
“My heart goes out to each of you in this dark winter of the pandemic,” he said, “about to spend the holidays and the new year with a black hole in your hearts”. Referencing St Francis, he tried to end with a message of hope: “For where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is darkness, light. This is who we are as a nation. This is the America we love. And that is the America we are going to be.”
On Tuesday, McConnell offered a faint echo of that appeal: “Our nation needs us to add another bipartisan chapter to this record of achievement.” The Senate majority leader appeared to be hinting at the need for a deal on coronavirus relief that has eluded Capitol Hill for months.
McConnell and other top congressional leaders – including House speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy – met multiple times on Tuesday in an effort to end a months-long standoff over coronavirus relief and and finalize a funding bill in time to avert a government shutdown at the weekend, although it remained unclear if a deal would be reached.
“Now we are continuing to work. I think there is progress,” McCarthy said as he left the earlier gathering late Tuesday afternoon.
Biden told reporters he had spoken to McConnell, a notoriously ruthless partisan operator. “While we disagree on a lot of things, there are things we can work together on,” Biden said. “We agreed to get together sooner [rather] than later.”
Elsewhere, Dr Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert, said Biden and Harris should be vaccinated “as soon as we possibly can”.
“For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can,” Fauci told ABC. “You want him fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January.”


theguardian--2020-12-15--Florida Grim Reaper lawyer sues 'mini-Trump' governor over Covid response

“ This is not about me , ” the Grim Reaper said on Tuesday , about his decision to take Florida governor and “ mini-Trump ” Ron DeSantis to court over the state ’ s coronavirus response .
“ It ’ s about citizens having the right to challenge government when they ’ re not doing the right thing.
” The Reaper – actually attorney Daniel Uhlfelder , who sprung to fame earlier this year as he stalked Florida beaches in hood-and-scythe costume , warning locals about the dangers of Covid-19 – was speaking to the Washington Post .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response to Uhlfelder ’ s attempt to force him to close beaches and issue stay-at-home orders .
In short , as an aide wrote in an appeals court filing on Friday , DeSantis says Uhfelder is responsible for an “ abuse of the justice system ” that has “ diverted time and energy from the demands of pandemic response ” .
Uhlfelder told the Guardian earlier this year he “ couldn ’ t sleep at night [ if I just did nothing ] ” .
Speaking to the Post , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from [ DeSantis ’ s ] job is laughable , considering he hasn ’ t done his job.
” Amid controversy , DeSantis has resisted imposing new lockdown orders , mask mandates or other restrictive public health measures .
According to Johns Hopkins University , Florida has recorded nearly 1.2m cases of Covid-19 , behind only California and Texas , and 20,271 deaths .
Attorneys for DeSantis also called Uhlfelder ’ s actions “ empty political posturing ” that “ warrants repercussions ” .
Uhlfelder , who has sought to raise funds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post the Republican governor was trying to quash opposition via the courts .
He also noted that Florida police last week raided the home of Rebekah Jones , a former state health department data scientist .
Jones emerged as a leading critic of DeSantis , alleging manipulation of data and telling the Guardian in August : “ They ’ re not listening to the scientists.
” Uhlfelder noted that a judge in his case had said it was “ a matter of importance ” , and added : “ When you have immense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , it shouldn ’ t be used to try to silence or punish your rivals .
”

“This is not about me,” the Grim Reaper said on Tuesday, about his decision to take Florida governor and “mini-Trump” Ron DeSantis to court over the state’s coronavirus response. “It’s about citizens having the right to challenge government when they’re not doing the right thing.”
The Reaper – actually attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, who sprung to fame earlier this year as he stalked Florida beaches in a hood-and-scythe costume, warning locals about the dangers of Covid-19 – was speaking to the Washington Post.
The Post was reporting the Florida governor’s response to Uhlfelder’s attempt to force him to close beaches and issue stay-at-home orders.
In short, as an aide wrote in an appeals court filing on Friday, DeSantis says Uhfelder is responsible for an “abuse of the justice system” that has “diverted time and energy from the demands of pandemic response”.
Uhlfelder told the Guardian earlier this year he “couldn’t sleep at night [if I just did nothing]”.
Speaking to the Post, he said: “To say that I distracted from [DeSantis’s] job is laughable, considering he hasn’t done his job.”
Amid controversy, DeSantis has resisted imposing new lockdown orders, mask mandates or other restrictive public health measures. According to Johns Hopkins University, Florida has recorded nearly 1.2m cases of Covid-19, behind only California and Texas, and 20,271 deaths.
Attorneys for DeSantis also called Uhlfelder’s actions “empty political posturing” that “warrants repercussions”.
Uhlfelder, who has sought to raise funds for Democratic candidates for office, told the Post the Republican governor was trying to quash opposition via the courts. He also noted that Florida police last week raided the home of Rebekah Jones, a former state health department data scientist.
Jones emerged as a leading critic of DeSantis, alleging manipulation of data and telling the Guardian in August: “They’re not listening to the scientists.”
Uhlfelder noted that a judge in his case had said it was “a matter of importance”, and added: “When you have immense power as the governor of the third-largest state, it shouldn’t be used to try to silence or punish your rivals.”


theguardian--2020-12-15--Fauci says Biden should get vaccine as FDA gives Moderna the green light

President-elect Joe Biden should be vaccinated against the coronavirus as soon as possible for “ security reasons ” , top US public health expert Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday , as a second vaccine candidate , made by Moderna , received an encouraging assessment ahead of likely approval by the Food and Drug Administration .
A Pfizer-made Covid-19 vaccine is starting to be administered to high-priority populations across the US – as the virus continues to surge across the country .
Monday saw 193,454 new cases and 1,311 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The seven-day moving average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 209,000 , or more than one a minute .
The US death toll has passed 300,000 and the number of Americans hospitalized continues to climb , reaching a record 110,549 , according to the Covid Tracking Project .
On Monday night , Ron Klain , Biden ’ s chief of staff , told MSNBC : “ We ’ re still in the middle of what will be a very , very , very dark winter .
There are probably tens of thousands of deaths left before the end of the year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the massive vaccination campaign has provided a glimmer of hope .
The first doses from Pfizer and BioNTech were administered to high-priority populations on Monday .
At a press briefing , health secretary Alex Azar said 636 vaccination sites would receive doses by Wednesday , with another 581 following by the end of the week .
The first rollout of the Pfizer vaccine will see a total of 2.9m vaccinations , Azar said .
The first to receive shots were mostly high-priority healthcare workers .
Sandra Lindsay , a nurse at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , was publicly given the first shot .
“ I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history , ” Lindsay told reporters .
On Tuesday , New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said the first vaccinations in his state had been “ administered to our heroic frontline healthcare workers ” .
“ This is a day we ’ ve been waiting nearly a year for , ” Murphy said .
“ It was a thrill to witness these first vaccinations.
” FDA approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the week .
The company released data on Tuesday and will meet with the FDA on Thursday , where a committee of medical and scientific advisers will decide final approval for emergency use .
Azar said 6m doses would be shipped on approval .
On Tuesday , the FDA said the Moderna vaccine was effective without any specific safety issues in adults over the age of 18 .
The company ’ s earlier assessment said its vaccine had an efficacy rate of 94.1 % in a trial of 30,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fever , headache and fatigue , were unpleasant but not dangerous , the agency found .
The Moderna vaccine is easier to handle than the Pfizer vaccine , which requires extremely cold storage .
The federal government hopes to see 20 million people immunized with a first dose – both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two – by the end of December , and an additional 30 million by the end of January .
Azar said the general population could expect to have a vaccine available by the end of June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two more vaccines , one developed by Johnson & Johnson and one by AstraZeneca , that are still in the late-stage clinical trials .
Polls show more Americans willing to get the vaccine , though skepticism remains .
A poll from ABC News and Ipsos found that more than 80 % said they would get the vaccine , while a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found 71 % said they would “ definitely or probably ” have a shot .
Politicians and public health leaders have said they will be inoculated in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden among them .
“ We want him fully protected as he enters the presidency in January , ” Fauci told ABC on Tuesday .
He also said Mike Pence should be vaccinated , adding that Donald Trump should be protected by antibodies remaining from his bout with the virus in October .
As most Americans must wait at least a few more months for a vaccine , public officials and health experts have pleaded with the public to continue wearing masks and social-distancing , especially in the holiday season .
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to hold a series of large-scale holiday parties at which such precautions are not fully observed .
On Tuesday morning the president ’ s daughter and senior adviser , Ivanka Trump , publicly questioned public lockdown orders .

President-elect Joe Biden should be vaccinated against the coronavirus as soon as possible for “security reasons”, top US public health expert Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday, as a second vaccine candidate, made by Moderna, received an encouraging assessment ahead of likely approval by the Food and Drug Administration.
A Pfizer-made Covid-19 vaccine is starting to be administered to high-priority populations across the US – as the virus continues to surge across the country.
Monday saw 193,454 new cases and 1,311 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The seven-day moving average for daily new cases stood at more than 209,000, or more than one a minute.
The US death toll has passed 300,000 and the number of Americans hospitalized continues to climb, reaching a record 110,549, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
On Monday night, Ron Klain, Biden’s chief of staff, told MSNBC: “We’re still in the middle of what will be a very, very, very dark winter. There are probably tens of thousands of deaths left before the end of the year and more deaths after that.”
But the start of the massive vaccination campaign has provided a glimmer of hope. The first doses from Pfizer and BioNTech were administered to high-priority populations on Monday.
At a press briefing, health secretary Alex Azar said 636 vaccination sites would receive doses by Wednesday, with another 581 following by the end of the week. The first rollout of the Pfizer vaccine will see a total of 2.9m vaccinations, Azar said.
The first to receive shots were mostly high-priority healthcare workers. Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, was publicly given the first shot.
“I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history,” Lindsay told reporters.
On Tuesday, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said the first vaccinations in his state had been “administered to our heroic frontline healthcare workers”.
“This is a day we’ve been waiting nearly a year for,” Murphy said. “It was a thrill to witness these first vaccinations.”
FDA approval for the Moderna vaccine is likely by the end of the week. The company released data on Tuesday and will meet with the FDA on Thursday, where a committee of medical and scientific advisers will decide final approval for emergency use. Azar said 6m doses would be shipped on approval.
On Tuesday, the FDA said the Moderna vaccine was effective without any specific safety issues in adults over the age of 18. The company’s earlier assessment said its vaccine had an efficacy rate of 94.1% in a trial of 30,000 people. Side effects, which can include fever, headache and fatigue, were unpleasant but not dangerous, the agency found. The Moderna vaccine is easier to handle than the Pfizer vaccine, which requires extremely cold storage.
The federal government hopes to see 20 million people immunized with a first dose – both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two – by the end of December, and an additional 30 million by the end of January. Azar said the general population could expect to have a vaccine available by the end of June, though that timeline rests on the approval of two more vaccines, one developed by Johnson & Johnson and one by AstraZeneca, that are still in the late-stage clinical trials.
Polls show more Americans willing to get the vaccine, though skepticism remains. A poll from ABC News and Ipsos found that more than 80% said they would get the vaccine, while a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found 71% said they would “definitely or probably” have a shot.
Politicians and public health leaders have said they will be inoculated in public to increase trust in the vaccine – Biden among them.
“We want him fully protected as he enters the presidency in January,” Fauci told ABC on Tuesday. He also said Mike Pence should be vaccinated, adding that Donald Trump should be protected by antibodies remaining from his bout with the virus in October.
As most Americans must wait at least a few more months for a vaccine, public officials and health experts have pleaded with the public to continue wearing masks and social-distancing, especially in the holiday season.
The Trump administration continues to attract criticism for its decision to hold a series of large-scale holiday parties at which such precautions are not fully observed. On Tuesday morning the president’s daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, publicly questioned public lockdown orders.


theguardian--2020-12-15--The Guardian view on US democracy: safe – for now | Editorial

That the worst did not happen is a cause for relief – but not too much of it .
The electoral college officially approved Joe Biden ’ s victory on Monday .
On the same day , the attorney general , William Barr , resigned , having earned Donald Trump ’ s wrath by denying that there had been widespread fraud .
Hours later , Mitch McConnell , the senate majority leader , finally recognised Joe Biden as president-elect .
Days earlier , the supreme court unanimously rejected a preposterous lawsuit aiming to invalidate results in swing states .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim victory not only for himself but for the American polity .
He presented an institution strong enough to resist an unprecedented assault : “ The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago .
And we now know that nothing , not even a pandemic or an abuse of power , can extinguish that flame.
” It is true that the worst nightmares of Mr Trump ’ s opponents failed to materialise .
As the country passed the grim milestone of 300,000 dead in the Covid-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensured that the elections could go ahead , and who came out to vote , ensuring record turnout and handing him a clear victory : almost 7 million ahead of his rival in the popular vote , with 306 electoral college votes .
But to others , the flame of American democracy looks more like a candle in the wind than an unquenchable beacon .
It is no surprise that Mr Trump continues to tweet lies , unable to accept defeat .
The real danger , as ever , comes from those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not only the most scrutinised election in history , but arguably the cleanest and most secure .
Yet Republicans simply dismissed the results .
Seventeen attorneys general and 126 members of Congress signed on to the preposterous lawsuit filed by the Texan attorney general , asking the supreme court to overturn results in four swing states .
Some may hope to keep supporters fired up for future elections ; others may simply fear that angry Trumpian retaliation for a disobliging comment will torpedo their electoral prospects .
Either way , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost of their country ’ s .
The decision to deny the undeniable sets a dangerous precedent .
The next Trump might well be smarter and more sophisticated ; Republicans who have played along with this crude effort to hang on to power might go further .
And the widespread acquiescence in Mr Trump ’ s fantasy has encouraged his voters to believe the lies , deepening the country ’ s divisions .
There is still a risk of violence before Mr Biden enters the White House by the thugs Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if stoking of fears of electoral fraud backfires by deterring Republicans from turning out in the crucial Georgia senate runoffs , which could yet hand Democrats control of the upper chamber .
The reaction to Mr Trump ’ s defeat demonstrates that , without it , Mr Biden ’ s desire to heal divisions and pursue bipartisanship is unlikely to bear much fruit .
But even a dreamed-of victory in Georgia would be scant consolation for the erosion of standards .
Before the election , a project tracking the health of democracy worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a point that more often than not leads to full-blown autocracy – drawing parallels with Turkey and Hungary .
The refusal to acknowledge what has happened since 3 November for what it is – an attempted coup – has deepened the damage .
It is not time to breathe easy , but to begin the hard work of addressing this .

That the worst did not happen is a cause for relief – but not too much of it. The electoral college officially approved Joe Biden’s victory on Monday. On the same day, the attorney general, William Barr, resigned, having earned Donald Trump’s wrath by denying that there had been widespread fraud. Hours later, Mitch McConnell, the senate majority leader, finally recognised Joe Biden as president-elect. Days earlier, the supreme court unanimously rejected a preposterous lawsuit aiming to invalidate results in swing states.
These, together, allowed Mr Biden to claim victory not only for himself but for the American polity. He presented an institution strong enough to resist an unprecedented assault: “The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we now know that nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power, can extinguish that flame.”
It is true that the worst nightmares of Mr Trump’s opponents failed to materialise. As the country passed the grim milestone of 300,000 dead in the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Biden paid tribute to those who ensured that the elections could go ahead, and who came out to vote, ensuring record turnout and handing him a clear victory: almost 7 million ahead of his rival in the popular vote, with 306 electoral college votes.
But to others, the flame of American democracy looks more like a candle in the wind than an unquenchable beacon. It is no surprise that Mr Trump continues to tweet lies, unable to accept defeat. The real danger, as ever, comes from those who have ranged themselves with him. This was not only the most scrutinised election in history, but arguably the cleanest and most secure. Yet Republicans simply dismissed the results. Seventeen attorneys general and 126 members of Congress signed on to the preposterous lawsuit filed by the Texan attorney general, asking the supreme court to overturn results in four swing states. Some may hope to keep supporters fired up for future elections; others may simply fear that angry Trumpian retaliation for a disobliging comment will torpedo their electoral prospects. Either way, they have looked to their own political futures at the cost of their country’s.
The decision to deny the undeniable sets a dangerous precedent. The next Trump might well be smarter and more sophisticated; Republicans who have played along with this crude effort to hang on to power might go further. And the widespread acquiescence in Mr Trump’s fantasy has encouraged his voters to believe the lies, deepening the country’s divisions. There is still a risk of violence before Mr Biden enters the White House by the thugs Mr Trump has emboldened.
It would be ironic if stoking of fears of electoral fraud backfires by deterring Republicans from turning out in the crucial Georgia senate runoffs, which could yet hand Democrats control of the upper chamber. The reaction to Mr Trump’s defeat demonstrates that, without it, Mr Biden’s desire to heal divisions and pursue bipartisanship is unlikely to bear much fruit.
But even a dreamed-of victory in Georgia would be scant consolation for the erosion of standards. Before the election, a project tracking the health of democracy worldwide concluded that America’s had eroded to a point that more often than not leads to full-blown autocracy – drawing parallels with Turkey and Hungary. The refusal to acknowledge what has happened since 3 November for what it is – an attempted coup – has deepened the damage. It is not time to breathe easy, but to begin the hard work of addressing this.


theguardian--2020-12-16--'Truth and healing’: Jamaal Bowman's prescription to overcome vaccine skepticism in Black America

An emerging leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic party has argued that politicians must act as role models as part of a concerted effort to combat skepticism of the Covid-19 vaccine , particularly among some Black Americans .
Congressman-elect Jamaal Bowman , the progressive New York Democrat who defeated longtime incumbent congressman and outgoing House foreign affairs committee chairman Eliot Engel , voiced his concerns in a short but expansive interview with the Guardian .
Those concerns coincide with reports of suspicion in the Black community over taking coronavirus vaccines when available .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real , and it communicates the lack of trust that African Americans feel towards American institutions over all , ” Bowman said .
On Friday , the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) gave emergency approval for a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to be rolled out across the country .
The first Covid-19 vaccinations were administered to American health workers this week .
The first person to receive the shot outside clinical trials was intensive care nurse Sandra Lindsay , a black woman who said she hoped she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , who are skeptical in general about taking vaccines ” .
Since his surprise victory over Engel in the primary for New York ’ s 16th congressional district , Bowman has emerged as a politically ideological colleague of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other young progressive members of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives .
“ There ’ s no trust because there hasn ’ t been the truth , the reconciliation , the healing that needs to take place to deal with our history and legacy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Bowman said of vaccine hesitancy in the Black community .
“ If we went through a process of truth , healing and restitution we ’ d begin to bridge the gap between the harms that happened in our communities and that continue to happen and the trust that is needed .
So no , it ’ s very real.
” Asked if there was some kind of surrogate who could maybe alleviate that skepticism – Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris perhaps or former president Barack Obama – Bowman said “ all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not just Kamala Harris , it ’ s Jamaal Bowman , it ’ s [ congresswoman ] Ayanna Pressley , it ’ s [ congresswoman-elect ] Cori Bush , it ’ s president-elect Joe Biden , ” Bowman said .
“ It ’ s all of the above .
But again we have to understand that this lack of trust is generationally embedded because Black people continue to get the short end of the stick when it comes to being uninsured and underinsured.
” The heightened expression of concern by Bowman underscores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in distributing a vaccine and vanquishing the virus , as other countries have already done or are in the process of .
Bowman , for much of his time as a congressman-elect , has been talking about his plans for tackling inequality and systemic racism in the country .
He is a supporter of the “ defund the police ” movement , and has openly called out former president Barack Obama on his analysis of the electoral liabilities of supporting the proposals .
Advocates for the “ defund the police ” movement have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious reallocation of money and resources to police forces .
But conservative critics have used the proposals ’ name to mislead voters to think advocates literally want to take all funding away from police forces , which has led some moderate Democrats to distance themselves from the slogan .
Obama , in an interview with Snapchat ’ s Peter Hamby , said : “ If you believe , as I do , that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it ’ s not biased and treats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use a snappy slogan like ‘ Defund The Police , ’ but , you know , you lost a big audience the minute you say it , which makes it a lot less likely that you ’ re actually going to get the changes you want done.
” Similarly , earlier this month in a meeting with civil rights leaders , echoed Obama ’ s criticizing , blaming the Defund the Police slogan for Democratic down ballot losses .
In a rare move for a soon-to-be congressman of the same party as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraising email saying he was “ disappointed ” in the 44th president ’ s comments .
“ The problem isn ’ t America ’ s discomfort with snappy slogans .
The real problem is America ’ s comfort with Black death , ” Bowman wrote in the fundraising email .
Similarly , he said that even referring to it as something other than “ Defund the Police ” is wrongheaded .
“ Well that ’ s the problem right ?
We are always acquiescing to the center , to right , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how we should say it .
My problem is white comfort with Black death , ” Bowman said .
“ I am personally tired of white comfort with black death .
So when I hear president-elect Biden say that , when I hear [ congressman ] Connor Lamb say that I don ’ t – even former president Obama – I don ’ t hear the real conversation around why the hell doesn ’ t America feel uncomfortable with Black death.
” Bowman has been more active in shaping his place on Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressmen-elect .
Bowman ’ s district leans so heavily Democratic that whoever wins the primary is the all but certain favorite to win the general election .
After he won the primary Bowman endorsed and sent out fundraising emails for like-minded candidates around the country .
Bowman has already been thinking about where he would like to have a legislative impact .
He ’ s hoping to get a spot on the House education and labor committee and a spot on the House committee on transportation and infrastructure .
He has aligned himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an addition to the set of young firebrand progressive lawmakers nicknamed “ The Squad ” .
Ocasio-Cortez , the most famous member of the Squad , recently said she didn ’ t see an overarching vision in the series of cabinet appointments Biden has made so far .
Bowman concurred .
“ Well I think president-elect Biden ’ s goal is diversity and I see some racial diversity .
I see some gender diversity .
I see some ideological diversity and I think president-elect Biden will lead to the best answers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowman said , going on to directly address Ocasio-Cortez ’ s remarks .
“ I don ’ t fully disagree with that .
”

An emerging leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic party has argued that politicians must act as role models as part of a concerted effort to combat skepticism of the Covid-19 vaccine, particularly among some Black Americans.
Congressman-elect Jamaal Bowman, the progressive New York Democrat who defeated longtime incumbent congressman and outgoing House foreign affairs committee chairman Eliot Engel, voiced his concerns in a short but expansive interview with the Guardian. Those concerns coincide with reports of suspicion in the Black community over taking coronavirus vaccines when available.
“It’s a major concern, it’s very real, and it communicates the lack of trust that African Americans feel towards American institutions over all,” Bowman said.
On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency approval for a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to be rolled out across the country. The first Covid-19 vaccinations were administered to American health workers this week. The first person to receive the shot outside clinical trials was intensive care nurse Sandra Lindsay, a black woman who said she hoped she would help “inspire people who look like me, who are skeptical in general about taking vaccines”.
Since his surprise victory over Engel in the primary for New York’s 16th congressional district, Bowman has emerged as a politically ideological colleague of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other young progressive members of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives.
There hasn’t been the truth, the reconciliation, the healing that needs to take place to deal with our history and legacy of racism Jamaal Bowman
“There’s no trust because there hasn’t been the truth, the reconciliation, the healing that needs to take place to deal with our history and legacy of racism and how it continues to persist,” Bowman said of vaccine hesitancy in the Black community. “If we went through a process of truth, healing and restitution we’d begin to bridge the gap between the harms that happened in our communities and that continue to happen and the trust that is needed. So no, it’s very real.”
Asked if there was some kind of surrogate who could maybe alleviate that skepticism – Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris perhaps or former president Barack Obama – Bowman said “all of the above”.
“Well it’s not just Kamala Harris, it’s Jamaal Bowman, it’s [congresswoman] Ayanna Pressley, it’s [congresswoman-elect] Cori Bush, it’s president-elect Joe Biden,” Bowman said. “It’s all of the above. But again we have to understand that this lack of trust is generationally embedded because Black people continue to get the short end of the stick when it comes to being uninsured and underinsured.”
The heightened expression of concern by Bowman underscores the difficulty various US political leaders see in distributing a vaccine and vanquishing the virus, as other countries have already done or are in the process of.
Bowman, for much of his time as a congressman-elect, has been talking about his plans for tackling inequality and systemic racism in the country. He is a supporter of the “defund the police” movement, and has openly called out former president Barack Obama on his analysis of the electoral liabilities of supporting the proposals.
Jamaal Bowman campaigns for Congress in Mt Vernon, New York, on 23 June 2020. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Advocates for the “defund the police” movement have argued broadly that there needs to be a serious reallocation of money and resources to police forces. But conservative critics have used the proposals’ name to mislead voters to think advocates literally want to take all funding away from police forces, which has led some moderate Democrats to distance themselves from the slogan.
Obama, in an interview with Snapchat’s Peter Hamby, said: “If you believe, as I do, that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it’s not biased and treats everybody fairly, I guess you can use a snappy slogan like ‘Defund The Police,’ but, you know, you lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you’re actually going to get the changes you want done.”
Similarly, earlier this month in a meeting with civil rights leaders, echoed Obama’s criticizing, blaming the Defund the Police slogan for Democratic down ballot losses.
In a rare move for a soon-to-be congressman of the same party as the popular Obama, Bowman sent out a fundraising email saying he was “disappointed” in the 44th president’s comments.
“The problem isn’t America’s discomfort with snappy slogans. The real problem is America’s comfort with Black death,” Bowman wrote in the fundraising email. Similarly, he said that even referring to it as something other than “Defund the Police” is wrongheaded.
I don’t hear the real conversation around why the hell doesn’t America feel uncomfortable with Black death Bowman
“Well that’s the problem right? We are always acquiescing to the center, to right, and to Republicans on what we should say and how we should say it. My problem is white comfort with Black death,” Bowman said. “I am personally tired of white comfort with black death. So when I hear president-elect Biden say that, when I hear [congressman] Connor Lamb say that I don’t – even former president Obama – I don’t hear the real conversation around why the hell doesn’t America feel uncomfortable with Black death.”
Bowman has been more active in shaping his place on Capitol Hill than most Democratic congressional nominees or congressmen-elect. Bowman’s district leans so heavily Democratic that whoever wins the primary is the all but certain favorite to win the general election. After he won the primary Bowman endorsed and sent out fundraising emails for like-minded candidates around the country.
Bowman has already been thinking about where he would like to have a legislative impact. He’s hoping to get a spot on the House education and labor committee and a spot on the House committee on transportation and infrastructure. He has aligned himself with Ocasio-Cortez and is likely to be an addition to the set of young firebrand progressive lawmakers nicknamed “The Squad”.
Ocasio-Cortez, the most famous member of the Squad, recently said she didn’t see an overarching vision in the series of cabinet appointments Biden has made so far. Bowman concurred.
“Well I think president-elect Biden’s goal is diversity and I see some racial diversity. I see some gender diversity. I see some ideological diversity and I think president-elect Biden will lead to the best answers and the best solutions for our country,” Bowman said, going on to directly address Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks. “I don’t fully disagree with that.”


theguardian--2020-12-16--Trump administration has executed more Americans than all states combined, report finds

Donald Trump has added a morbid new distinction to his presidency – for the first time in US history , the federal government has in one year executed more American civilians than all the states combined .
In the course of 2020 , in an unprecedented glut of judicial killing , the Trump administration rushed to put 10 prisoners to death .
The execution spree ran roughshod over historical norms and stood entirely contrary to the decline in the practice of the death penalty that has been the trend in the US for several years .
The outlier nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood is set out in the year-end report of the Death Penalty Information Center ( DPIC ) .
In recent years , the annual review has highlighted the steady withering away of executions , all of which were carried out by individual states .
That pattern continued at state level in 2020 , heightened by the coronavirus pandemic which suppressed an already low number of scheduled executions .
Only five states – Alabama , Georgia , Missouri , Tennessee and Texas – carried out judicial killings .
And only Texas performed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executions by the states since 1983 .
States carried out seven executions to the federal government ’ s 10 .
Despite the rash of federal killings , that still amounted to the fewest executions in the US since 1991 .
Against that downward path , the actions of the Trump administration stand out as a grotesque aberration .
“ The administration ’ s policies were not just out of step with the historical practices of previous presidents , they were also completely out of step with today ’ s state practices , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lead author of its year-end report .
Part of the story was Trump ’ s willful refusal to take the coronavirus seriously .
Unlike death penalty states , the federal government insisted on proceeding with executions .
As a result , there was an eruption of Covid-19 cases at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute , Indiana which the DPIC report notes infected at least nine members of execution teams .
But the overwhelming story of the federal executions in 2020 was the disdain shown by the Trump administration towards established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death penalty to the limits of decency even by standards set by those who support the practice .
Since Trump lost the election on 3 November , the federal government has put to death three prisoners : Orlando Hall , Brandon Bernard and Alfred Bourgeois .
The last time a lame-duck president presided over an execution was in 1889 , when the Grover Cleveland administration killed a Choctaw Indian named Richard Smith .
All three Trump lame-duck executions involved black men .
As the DPIC review points out , racial disparities remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead , as they have for decades , with almost half of those executed being people of color .
The review exposes other systemic problems in the Trump administration ’ s choice of prisoners to kill .
Lezmond Hill , executed in August , was the only Native American prisoner on federal death row .
His execution ignored tribal sovereignty over the case and the objections of the Navajo Nation which is opposed to the death penalty .
The subjects of the federal rush to the death chamber included two prisoners whose offenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christopher Vialva was 19 and Bernard 18 : they were the first teenage offenders sent to their deaths by the US government in almost 70 years .
The sharp contrast between the Trump administration ’ s aggressive stance and the dramatic reduction in executions at state level is underlined by the annual review of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty ( TCADP ) , also released on Wednesday .
Texas , traditionally the death penalty capital of America , carried out three executions this year , down from nine in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
Billy Joe Wardlow was 18 in 1993 when he committed robbery and murder .
“ The fact that state legislators , juvenile justice advocates , neuroscience experts and two jurors from Wardlow ’ s trial had called for a reprieve based on what we know now about adolescent brain development make the circumstances of his arbitrary execution even more appalling , ” said Kristin Houlé Cuellar , TCADP executive director .
There was some good news .
In March , Colorado became the 22nd state to abolish the death penalty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 10 years .
Joe Biden , the president-elect , has vowed to eliminate the death penalty .
But until he enters the White House on 20 January Trump remains in charge .
Three more federal inmates are set to die – including the only woman on federal death row – before he is done .

Donald Trump has added a morbid new distinction to his presidency – for the first time in US history, the federal government has in one year executed more American civilians than all the states combined.
In the course of 2020, in an unprecedented glut of judicial killing, the Trump administration rushed to put 10 prisoners to death. The execution spree ran roughshod over historical norms and stood entirely contrary to the decline in the practice of the death penalty that has been the trend in the US for several years.
The outlier nature of the Trump administration’s thirst for blood is set out in the year-end report of the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC). In recent years, the annual review has highlighted the steady withering away of executions, all of which were carried out by individual states.
That pattern continued at state level in 2020, heightened by the coronavirus pandemic which suppressed an already low number of scheduled executions. Only five states – Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas – carried out judicial killings. And only Texas performed more than one, producing the lowest number of executions by the states since 1983.
States carried out seven executions to the federal government’s 10. Despite the rash of federal killings, that still amounted to the fewest executions in the US since 1991.
Against that downward path, the actions of the Trump administration stand out as a grotesque aberration.
“The administration’s policies were not just out of step with the historical practices of previous presidents, they were also completely out of step with today’s state practices,” said Robert Dunham, DPIC executive director and lead author of its year-end report.
Part of the story was Trump’s willful refusal to take the coronavirus seriously. Unlike death penalty states, the federal government insisted on proceeding with executions. As a result, there was an eruption of Covid-19 cases at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana which the DPIC report notes infected at least nine members of execution teams.
But the overwhelming story of the federal executions in 2020 was the disdain shown by the Trump administration towards established norms, and its determination to push the death penalty to the limits of decency even by standards set by those who support the practice.
Since Trump lost the election on 3 November, the federal government has put to death three prisoners: Orlando Hall, Brandon Bernard and Alfred Bourgeois. The last time a lame-duck president presided over an execution was in 1889, when the Grover Cleveland administration killed a Native American of the Choctaw Nation named Richard Smith.
All three Trump lame-duck executions involved black men. As the DPIC review points out, racial disparities remain prominent in the roll call of the dead, as they have for decades, with almost half of those executed being people of color.
The review exposes other systemic problems in the Trump administration’s choice of prisoners to kill. Lezmond Mitchell, executed in August, was the only Native American prisoner on federal death row. His execution ignored tribal sovereignty over the case and the objections of the Navajo Nation which is opposed to the death penalty.
The subjects of the federal rush to the death chamber included two prisoners whose offenses were committed when they were teenagers. Christopher Vialva was 19 and Bernard 18: they were the first teenage offenders sent to their deaths by the US government in almost 70 years.
The sharp contrast between the Trump administration’s aggressive stance and the dramatic reduction in executions at state level is underlined by the annual review of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP), also released on Wednesday.
Texas, traditionally the death penalty capital of America, carried out three executions this year, down from nine in 2019. The most recent was on 8 July. Billy Joe Wardlow was 18 in 1993 when he committed robbery and murder.
“The fact that state legislators, juvenile justice advocates, neuroscience experts and two jurors from Wardlow’s trial had called for a reprieve based on what we know now about adolescent brain development make the circumstances of his arbitrary execution even more appalling,” said Kristin Houlé Cuellar, TCADP executive director.
There was some good news. In March, Colorado became the 22nd state to abolish the death penalty. Louisiana and Utah have not executed anybody in 10 years.
Joe Biden, the president-elect, has vowed to eliminate the death penalty. But until he enters the White House on 20 January Trump remains in charge. Three more federal inmates are set to die – including the only woman on federal death row – before he is done.


theguardian--2020-12-16--Trump will soon leave. But his Republican enablers haven't learned their lesson | David Litt

Joe Biden has won so much that he is , apparently , tired of winning .
That was the crux of his speech Monday night , after the electoral college vote that made official ( or rather , yet again made official ) his victory over Donald Trump .
After a blizzard of false claims of fraud and frivolous lawsuits , the race is over .
The attempt to overturn the people ’ s will failed .
In particular , the president-elect singled out courageous election officials – both Democrats and Republicans – who refused to be cowed by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We owe these public servants a debt of gratitude , ” he said , “ and our democracy survived because of them.
” He didn ’ t name names , but one can reasonably assume he was talking about conservatives such as Georgia ’ s secretary of state , Brad Raffensperger , who publicly debunked pro-Trump conspiracy theories , or its voting system implementation manager , Gabriel Sterling , who warned that the president ’ s actions were stoking violence and has been since barraged with death threats .
As a rhetorical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise the courage of Republicans who stood up to Trump ’ s attempt to overturn the election .
He was also right to declare victory for democracy .
It ’ s his job to put the country ’ s best foot forward .
But when it comes to the republic ’ s longer-term survival , the outcome remains far from certain .
Because even the Republican officials who most bravely and patriotically stood up to Trump still don ’ t get it .
The greatest threat to the American experiment isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door .
It ’ s the political party he continues to both lead and personify .
The problem begins with the Republican establishment ’ s relationship to reality itself .
Since at least the 1980s , mainstream conservatives have embraced theories that are not well-supported by evidence .
( It ’ s hard to make a compelling argument , for example , that tax cuts for the rich pay for themselves . )
But in recent years , as Republicans went from being the party of Reagan to the party of Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from spinning facts to rejecting them entirely .
Today , to be an aspiring Republican politician in good standing , one must espouse a set of core beliefs that are either entirely baseless or provably untrue : the climate crisis isn ’ t real ; gun safety laws don ’ t reduce gun violence ; masks don ’ t reduce the spread of Covid-19 .
To many observers , embracing a conspiracy theory about corrupted voting machines or late-night “ ballot dumps ” would represent a break with reality .
But for much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not a problem .
They broke with reality long ago .
The Republican establishment is also increasingly willing to disenfranchise eligible voters if it helps them win .
Between 2008 and 2016 , America lost 10 % of its polling places , with cuts falling hardest on minority communities .
Ever-broader voter purges have kicked millions of eligible , registered voters off red-state voting rolls .
In Florida , the Republican state legislature rammed through a new law designed to disenfranchise former felons from voting – despite a 2018 ballot measure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restore ex-felons ’ rights .
These examples barely scrape the surface of the war on voting that Republican politicians , not just Trump , have waged in recent years .
The president ’ s wild attempt to steal an election is a first in American history .
But it didn ’ t come from nowhere .
Trump simply absorbed his party establishment ’ s prevailing view – that it is acceptable to win elections through whatever means possible , including by throwing out large numbers of votes on technicalities , hoping conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stoking fears about nonexistent fraud – and took that approach to its logical conclusion .
Perhaps that ’ s why so many Republican elected officials endorsed Trump ’ s baseless attacks on our democratic process well before the first 2020 ballot was cast .
Explicit calls to replace democracy with a different form of government remain relatively rare .
But the idea that power should be clung to using any means possible – and that the guardrails of our republic should be ignored or dismantled – is entirely within the Republican mainstream .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate refused to call witnesses during Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
The status quo – a Republican party that attacks democracy without rejecting it entirely – can not hold .
Over the long term , we ’ ll either have two parties that believe in the consent of the governed , or we ’ ll have a new and more autocratic form of government .
We can ’ t have both .
Yet many of the laudably brave Republicans who stood up to Trump don ’ t yet recognize that he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Raffensperger says he supports Georgia ’ s Republican senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the state ’ s 5 January runoff , even though both of them called for him to be fired for defending the election results .
Gabriel Sterling , the Georgia official who warned election misinformation could lead to violence , agrees .
“ Senator Perdue and Senator Loeffler , I feel bad for them , ” he said .
“ I have one of their signs in my yard.
” It ’ s commendable that a handful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and met the low bar he presented .
But it ’ s not enough .
Those who have admirably protected the American experiment from Trump must help America save it from the McConnell-era Republican party .
That doesn ’ t mean Republicans need to change their minds about taxes , regulations , guns , or a host of other a host of other issues that divide the parties .
But they do have to agree that democracy is the best way to settle our disagreements – and that those who don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our votes , no matter how much we may support their other positions .
Some politicians , such as the retiring congressman Paul Mitchell , have recognized that this is a time for choosing , and publicly left the Republican party over its assault on our nation ’ s most fundamental ideals .
But too many genuinely patriotic Americans believe that they can have it both ways .
They still view a politician ’ s support for authoritarianism as a mere character trait , rather than as the dealbreaker it must be for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous post-campaign campaign , Trump frequently used a two-part phrase to signal what he thought the country most needed .
“ WISDOM & COURAGE , ” he declared , via tweet .
Ironically , he was right .
American democracy only made it through this tumultuous year thanks to profiles in courage .
But over the haul , courage won ’ t be enough .
We ’ ll need more profiles in wisdom , too .
• None David Litt is a former Obama speechwriter and the author of Thanks , Obama and @ @ @ @ @ @

Joe Biden has won so much that he is, apparently, tired of winning.
That was the crux of his speech Monday night, after the electoral college vote that made official (or rather, yet again made official) his victory over Donald Trump. After a blizzard of false claims of fraud and frivolous lawsuits, the race is over. The attempt to overturn the people’s will failed.
In particular, the president-elect singled out courageous election officials – both Democrats and Republicans – who refused to be cowed by Trump’s attacks on the election. “We owe these public servants a debt of gratitude,” he said, “and our democracy survived because of them.” He didn’t name names, but one can reasonably assume he was talking about conservatives such as Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, who publicly debunked pro-Trump conspiracy theories, or its voting system implementation manager, Gabriel Sterling, who warned that the president’s actions were stoking violence and has been since barraged with death threats.
As a rhetorical matter, the president-elect was right to praise the courage of Republicans who stood up to Trump’s attempt to overturn the election. He was also right to declare victory for democracy. It’s his job to put the country’s best foot forward.
But when it comes to the republic’s longer-term survival, the outcome remains far from certain. Because even the Republican officials who most bravely and patriotically stood up to Trump still don’t get it. The greatest threat to the American experiment isn’t the would-be autocrat on his way out the door. It’s the political party he continues to both lead and personify.
Supporters of Donald Trump stand along Pennsylvania Avenue during a rally at Freedom Plaza, in Washington Photograph: Luis M Alvarez/AP
The problem begins with the Republican establishment’s relationship to reality itself. Since at least the 1980s, mainstream conservatives have embraced theories that are not well-supported by evidence. (It’s hard to make a compelling argument, for example, that tax cuts for the rich pay for themselves.) But in recent years, as Republicans went from being the party of Reagan to the party of Mitch McConnell, the Republican party has gone from spinning facts to rejecting them entirely.
Today, to be an aspiring Republican politician in good standing, one must espouse a set of core beliefs that are either entirely baseless or provably untrue: the climate crisis isn’t real; gun safety laws don’t reduce gun violence; masks don’t reduce the spread of Covid-19. To many observers, embracing a conspiracy theory about corrupted voting machines or late-night “ballot dumps” would represent a break with reality. But for much of the Republican elite, that’s not a problem. They broke with reality long ago.
The Republican establishment is also increasingly willing to disenfranchise eligible voters if it helps them win. Between 2008 and 2016, America lost 10% of its polling places, with cuts falling hardest on minority communities. Ever-broader voter purges have kicked millions of eligible, registered voters off red-state voting rolls. In Florida, the Republican state legislature rammed through a new law designed to disenfranchise former felons from voting – despite a 2018 ballot measure in which an overwhelming majority of Floridians voted to restore ex-felons’ rights.
These examples barely scrape the surface of the war on voting that Republican politicians, not just Trump, have waged in recent years. The president’s wild attempt to steal an election is a first in American history. But it didn’t come from nowhere. Trump simply absorbed his party establishment’s prevailing view – that it is acceptable to win elections through whatever means possible, including by throwing out large numbers of votes on technicalities, hoping conservative judges put ideology over country, or stoking fears about nonexistent fraud – and took that approach to its logical conclusion.
Perhaps that’s why so many Republican elected officials endorsed Trump’s baseless attacks on our democratic process well before the first 2020 ballot was cast. Explicit calls to replace democracy with a different form of government remain relatively rare. But the idea that power should be clung to using any means possible – and that the guardrails of our republic should be ignored or dismantled – is entirely within the Republican mainstream. That’s why Republicans in the Senate refused to call witnesses during Trump’s impeachment trial.
It’s commendable that a handful of Republicans stood up to a president and met the low bar he presented. But it’s not enough
The status quo – a Republican party that attacks democracy without rejecting it entirely – cannot hold. Over the long term, we’ll either have two parties that believe in the consent of the governed, or we’ll have a new and more autocratic form of government. We can’t have both. Yet many of the laudably brave Republicans who stood up to Trump don’t yet recognize that he is a symptom, not a cause. Brad Raffensperger says he supports Georgia’s Republican senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the state’s 5 January runoff, even though both of them called for him to be fired for defending the election results. Gabriel Sterling, the Georgia official who warned election misinformation could lead to violence, agrees. “Senator Perdue and Senator Loeffler, I feel bad for them,” he said. “I have one of their signs in my yard.”
It’s commendable that a handful of Republicans stood up to a president and met the low bar he presented. But it’s not enough. Those who have admirably protected the American experiment from Trump must help America save it from the McConnell-era Republican party. That doesn’t mean Republicans need to change their minds about taxes, regulations, guns, or a host of other a host of other issues that divide the parties. But they do have to agree that democracy is the best way to settle our disagreements – and that those who don’t believe in democracy doesn’t deserve our votes, no matter how much we may support their other positions.
Some politicians, such as the retiring congressman Paul Mitchell, have recognized that this is a time for choosing, and publicly left the Republican party over its assault on our nation’s most fundamental ideals. But too many genuinely patriotic Americans believe that they can have it both ways. They still view a politician’s support for authoritarianism as a mere character trait, rather than as the dealbreaker it must be for the country to survive.
During his dangerous post-campaign campaign, Trump frequently used a two-part phrase to signal what he thought the country most needed. “WISDOM & COURAGE,” he declared, via tweet. Ironically, he was right. American democracy only made it through this tumultuous year thanks to profiles in courage. But over the haul, courage won’t be enough. We’ll need more profiles in wisdom, too.


theguardian--2020-12-16--How many times has Trump lost the election ahahahaha | First Dog on the Moon

On some occasions he lost more thoroughly than others but we ’ re not picky - a loss is a @ @ @ @ @ all • Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published @ @ @ @ @ met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and @

On some occasions he lost more thoroughly than others but we’re not picky - a loss is a loss and we enjoyed them all
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theguardian--2020-12-17--Biden could get vaccine next week and Pence will have his on TV, reports say – as it happened

After hospitals and pharmacies noticed that some vials of the Pfizer vaccine contained extra doses , the FDA clarified that @ @ @ @ @ up the vials .
“ At this time , given the public health emergency , @ @ @ @ @ is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable ( the sixth , or possibly even @ @ @ @ @ vial , pending resolution of the issue , ” the agency said .
“ However @ @ @ @ @ preservative free , it is critical to note that any further remaining product that does @ @ @ @ @ should not be pooled from multiple vials to create one.
” This new guidance could @ @ @ @ @ , even as the government moves to try and obtain more of the vaccine – @ @ @ @ @ an earlier offer to buy up extra doses .

Maanvi Singh (now), Julia Carrie Wong and Lauren Aratani (earlier)

17 Dec 2020 01.00 GMT Summary Here’s a recap, from me and Julia Carrie Wong: Mike Pence will receive the vaccine on Friday, along with his wife. Their innoculations will be televised, per the White House.
Their innoculations will be televised, per the White House. Joe Biden will receive the vaccine as early as next week, per reports. The president-elect also plans to get his jab in public.
The president-elect also plans to get his jab in public. Congress is continuing to hash out a deal for the first coronavirus stimulus package since March . The package is expected to provide about $900bn in aid to Americans, nearly 8 million of whom have fallen into poverty since June.
. The package is expected to provide about $900bn in aid to Americans, nearly 8 million of whom have fallen into poverty since June. Joe Biden announced Pete Buttigieg as his nominee for transportation secretary. The former small-town mayor would be the first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet member in American history to be confirmed into post by the Senate, if he is confirmed.
The former small-town mayor would be the first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet member in American history to be confirmed into post by the Senate, if he is confirmed. Biden’s inauguration will be drastically different than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. The joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies said the audience would be limited to the size of a State of the Union address, which is usually attended by the 535 members of Congress, the nine supreme court justices, and some guests.
The joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies said the audience would be limited to the size of a State of the Union address, which is usually attended by the 535 members of Congress, the nine supreme court justices, and some guests. Outgoing secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.
after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. A top Trump appointee repeatedly urged top health officials to adopt a “herd immunity” approach to Covid-19 , saying of healthy young and middle-aged people: “We want them infected”.
, saying of healthy young and middle-aged people: “We want them infected”. Texas announced an antitrust lawsuit against Google for its “anti-competitive conduct, exclusionary practices and deceptive misrepresentation” around advertising.
around advertising. A major winter storm was heading for the east coast, potentially complicating efforts to deliver doses of the coronavirus vaccine around the country.
Updated at 08.04 GMT
17 Dec 2020 01.00 GMT After hospitals and pharmacies noticed that some vials of the Pfizer vaccine contained extra doses, the FDA clarified that it is acceptable to use up the vials. “At this time, given the public health emergency, FDA is advising that it is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable (the sixth, or possibly even a seventh) from each vial, pending resolution of the issue,” the agency said. “However, since the vials are preservative free, it is critical to note that any further remaining product that does not constitute a full dose should not be pooled from multiple vials to create one.” This new guidance could help stretch available vaccine doses, even as the government moves to try and obtain more of the vaccine – after the administration turned down an earlier offer to buy up extra doses. The FDA is aware that some vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech #COVID19 Vaccine have contained extra product after five doses are obtained. The agency is working with Pfizer to determine the best path forward, and will share additional updates as we have them. https://t.co/0jiiyEmug7 — U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 17, 2020
Updated at 01.01 GMT
17 Dec 2020 00.22 GMT Twitter said it will remove misinformation about coronavirus vaccinations from its platform. False claims that the virus is not real, misinformation about vaccine side effects and implications that the inoculation is designed to cause harm will be removed, the company said in a blog post. The authors of tweets containing vaccine misinformation will be required to delete the offending tweets before they can resume use of their accounts. “We are focused on mitigating misleading information that presents the biggest potential harm to people’s health and wellbeing,” the company said in a statement. Twitter has received criticism for allowing misinformation about coronavirus to spread. As my colleague Alex Hern reported in March: One tweet wrongly claimed that antibacterial hand sanitiser is useless against the virus, arguing that such products only work against bacteria. It racked up a quarter of a million likes and almost 100,000 retweets, suggesting a reach of millions of users, before it was deleted on Wednesday afternoon. In fact, any alcohol-based sanitiser, or simple soap, can help. The platform has also enabled a rapid spread in videos and images purporting to show the effects of the virus – such as collapsed victims or even violence from the authorities – in locked-down communities including Iran and Wuhan. Much is older imagery, repurposed and miscaptioned, according to the fact-checking service Snopes.
Updated at 00.44 GMT
16 Dec 2020 23.45 GMT Biden expected to get vaccine as soon as next week And Bloomberg’s Jennifer Epstein reports that Joe Biden is expected to receive the vaccine as early as next week. He’d also get the jab in public: President-elect Biden is expected to receive the covid vaccine as soon as next week, a transition official says. He’s said, as recently as earlier today, that he’ll do so in public. — Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) December 16, 2020 “I don’t want to get ahead of the line, but I want to make sure we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take,” Biden told reporters in Wilmington. “When I do it, I’ll do it publicly, so you can all witness my getting it done.”
Updated at 00.04 GMT
16 Dec 2020 23.14 GMT Mike Pence to get vaccine on TV – report Mike Pence is planning to receive a coronavirus vaccine, live on television this week, according to Jonathan Swan of Axios: Vice President Mike Pence plans to receive his coronavirus vaccine shot on camera Friday morning at the White House to build “vaccine confidence” among the American people, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the plans. Details are still being worked out, but Pence wants the TV networks to carry the moment live in the morning, the source said, to maximize the audience for the vaccination.
Updated at 00.03 GMT
16 Dec 2020 22.35 GMT Senators Tim Kaine, a Democrat of Virginia, and Lamar Alexander, a Republican of Tennessee, demonstrate that bipartisanship can be achieved … in the narrow matter of jamming out some Christmas tunes in the atrium of the Senate office building. Kaine is playing the harmonica, and Alexander is at the piano. For one night only, @timkaine + @SenAlexander, in the Hart atrium pic.twitter.com/5Ka94aO2N4 — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) December 16, 2020
Updated at 23.26 GMT
16 Dec 2020 22.27 GMT Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh – blogging from the west coast. I’ll be bringing you the latest political news for the next few hours. As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, overwhelming hospitals and prompting California to purchase 5,000 bodybags and dozens of refrigerator trucks in anticipation of a surge in Covid-19 deaths, the Trump administration has been focused on … rules regulating showerheads. The administration has finally relaxed regulations that restrict water flow from shower heads – achieving what has long been a policy goal for Donald Trump, who has complained that he prefers higher water flow to make his hair “perfect”. A federal law had mandated – since 1992 – that showerheads shouldn’t disperse more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The Obama administration added an update, stating that the rule applied to shower fixtures with multiple nozzles, as well. But no more. Now, each nozzle can emit up to 2.5 gallons per minute. The administration also declared that manufacturers don’t need not worry about limiting energy or water use when they build new washers and dryers.
Updated at 22.30 GMT
16 Dec 2020 22.02 GMT Today so far That’s all for me today. My colleague Maanvi Singh in Oakland will be keeping you updated for the rest of the day. Here’s a rundown of the day’s biggest stories so far: Congress is continuing to hash out a deal for the first coronavirus stimulus package since March . The package is expected to provide about $900bn in aid to Americans, nearly 8m of whom have fallen into poverty since June.
. The package is expected to provide about $900bn in aid to Americans, nearly 8m of whom have fallen into poverty since June. Joe Biden announced Pete Buttigieg as his nominee for transportation secretary. The former small-town mayor would be the first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet member in American history to be confirmed into post by the Senate, if he is confirmed.
The former small-town mayor would be the first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet member in American history to be confirmed into post by the Senate, if he is confirmed. Biden’s inauguration will be drastically different than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said the audience would be limited to the size of a State of the Union address, which is usually attended by the 535 members of Congress, the nine Supreme Court justices, and some guests.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said the audience would be limited to the size of a State of the Union address, which is usually attended by the 535 members of Congress, the nine Supreme Court justices, and some guests. Outgoing secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.
after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. A top Trump appointee repeatedly urged top health officials to adopt a “herd immunity” approach to Covid-19 , saying of healthy young and middle-aged people: “We want them infected”.
, saying of healthy young and middle-aged people: “We want them infected”. Texas announced an antitrust lawsuit against Google for its “anti-competitive conduct, exclusionary practices and deceptive misrepresentation” around advertising.
around advertising. A major winter storm was heading for the east coast, potentially complicating efforts to deliver doses of the coronavirus vaccine around the country.
Updated at 22.09 GMT
16 Dec 2020 21.37 GMT The availability of intensive care unit beds in the San Francisco Bay Area fell below 15% on Tuesday, the threshold that triggers a regional stay-at-home order. Much of the Bay Area had preemptively enacted the stay-at-home order earlier in the month, but three counties did not. They will now have to enact the stricter rules by midnight Thursday. At 12.9%, ICU bed availability in the Bay Area is still better than in southern California (0.5%), the San Joaquin valley (0%) and greater Sacramento (14.1%). The only region that will not be under stay-at-home orders as of Friday will be rural northern California, where just 1.7% of the state’s approximately 40 million people live, according to the state’s health department.
The remaining 39.4 million Californians are barred from holding private gatherings of any size and required to wear a mask. Almost all of California is also under a curfew requiring residents to stay home between 10pm and 5am.
Updated at 21.59 GMT


theguardian--2020-12-16--US Congress closes in on $900bn Covid aid bill as Friday deadline looms

US congressional negotiators on Wednesday were “ closing in on ” a $ 900bn Covid-19 aid bill that will include $ 600 to $ 700 stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits , as a Friday deadline loomed , lawmakers and aides said .
Top members of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Republican-controlled Senate sounded more positive than they have in months on a fresh response to a crisis that has killed more than 304,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work .
For months , Republicans have been gunning for a stimulus package with a much lower price tag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides seem to have found common ground on a $ 908bn relief package – over $ 1tn less than the first stimulus package .
Their aides were struggling on Wednesday to draft legislative language as rates of Covid-19 infections are soaring to new highs , even as the United States starts to vaccinate people .
The American economy is showing signs of weakening .
Negotiators were looking for a way to shift the approach to aiding hard-hit state and local governments , which has been a key Democratic priority but opposed by Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The measure , to be attached to a spending bill that must pass by Friday to avert a government shutdown , is not expected to include new protections for companies from lawsuits related to the pandemic , something high on the Republican agenda .
Senator Dick Durbin , the chamber ’ s No 2 Democrat , said the goal was to reach an agreement on Wednesday and have it ready for voting beginning on Thursday .
The Republican Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , said he felt optimistic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a targeted pandemic relief package , ” McConnell said in the Senate .
“ We need vaccine distribution money , we need to re-up the Paycheck Protection Program to save jobs , we need to continue to provide for laid-off Americans.
“ The Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) is the federal loan and grant aid program to small businesses suffering from the pandemic .
But the House Democratic leader , Steny Hoyer , said that if the Friday midnight deadline for approving the spending measure is not met , he could envision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four days ’ duration to keep government agencies open while negotiations continue .
Senator John Thune , the Senate ’ s No 2 Republican , said the proposed direct payments to individuals would be around $ 600 to $ 700 a person .
Mark Ritacco , director of governmental affairs for the National Association of Counties , said some steps Congress could take to help local authorities include providing a one-year extension of unused funds provided by the Cares Act , a Covid-19 relief bill enacted in March .
His organization also hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can receive aid to include smaller counties , especially as they must administer the new vaccines .
It suggested having the federal government replenish more local Covid-19 relief costs already partly reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( Fema ) , such as personal protective equipment for schools and other government buildings .
But some Republicans are wary that having Fema pay more is a roundabout way of providing more state and local government aid .
“ If it ’ s simply a way of disguising money for state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of opposition , ” Thune said .
The negotiations come at a key moment for a US economy clearly weakening after an initial rebound from recession triggered by the pandemic earlier this year .
Consumer spending , buoyed through the summer and early fall by more than $ 3tn in federal assistance , has hit a wall as new lockdowns limit business activity and keep people home .
Joe Biden said the stimulus package was encouraging but more aid would be needed .
“ It looks like they ’ re very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is going to be direct cash payments , but it ’ s a down payment – an important down payment – on what ’ s going to have to be done beginning at the end of January , into February , ” the president-elect told reporters .
Commerce department data showed retail sales fell unexpectedly sharply in November , with consumer outlays on goods and services showing softness across the board .
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday promised to keep funneling cash into financial markets further into the future to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for next year improved following initial rollout of a coronavirus vaccine .

US congressional negotiators tampered on Thursday morning the growing optimism that they are closing in on a $900bn Covid-19 aid bill, alluding to “a few final issues” that need to be addressed before an agreement is made.
The stimulus bill is tied to Congress’ annual budget for most government agencies, which needs to be passed by Friday to avert a government shutdown.
Speaking on the Senate floor, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said that it is “highly likely” negotiators will be working through the weekend to reach an agreement. He said it appears Congress will have to pass a stopgap bill, which will extend their funding deadline and prevent a shutdown.
“I hope we’ll extend it for a very, very short window of time,” he said, citing the urgency of a new stimulus package.
Earlier this week, leaders of both parties expressed optimism that negotiations were coming to an end. But on Thursday, both McConnell and the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, suggested that the two sides still have disagreements that need to be resolved before moving forward.
“Many, if not all, difficult topics are behind us, a few final issues must be hammered out,” Schumer said. “We’ve very close to an agreement, but the details really matter.”
For months, Republicans have been gunning for a stimulus package with a much lower price tag than Democrats want. The two sides seem to have found common ground on a $908bn relief package – over $1tn less than the first stimulus package.
The legislation is expected to include stimulus checks of about $600, extend unemployment benefits, help pay for vaccine distribution and assist struggling small businesses.
The measure is set to be attached to a $1.4tn spending bill that must pass by Friday to avert a government shutdown. Two contentious issues appear to have been left by the wayside – it is not expected to include a dedicated funding stream for state and local governments, which has long been a Democratic priority but opposed by Republicans, or new protections for companies from lawsuits related to the pandemic, something high on the Republican agenda.
Senator John Thune, the Senate’s No 2 Republican, said the proposed direct payments to individuals would be around $600 to $700 a person.
Mark Ritacco, director of governmental affairs for the National Association of Counties, said some steps Congress could take to help local authorities include providing a one-year extension of unused funds provided by the Cares Act, a Covid-19 relief bill enacted in March.
His organization also hopes Congress will expand the number of counties that can receive aid to include smaller counties, especially as they must administer the new vaccines. It suggested having the federal government replenish more local Covid-19 relief costs already partly reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), such as personal protective equipment for schools and other government buildings.
But some Republicans are wary that having Fema pay more is a roundabout way of providing more state and local government aid.
“If it’s simply a way of disguising money for state and local governments, we’ll have a lot of opposition,” Thune said.
The negotiations come at a key moment for a US economy clearly weakening after an initial rebound from recession triggered by the pandemic earlier this year. Consumer spending, buoyed through the summer and early fall by more than $3tn in federal assistance, has hit a wall as new lockdowns limit business activity and keep people home.
Another 885,000 Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, representing an increase of 23,000 from a week earlier. The number represents the highest weekly figure since September. Overall, more than 20.6 million Americans are now receiving unemployment benefits.
Economists say unemployment numbers are heading in an alarming direction as Americans prepare for the holidays amid more coronavirus-related layoffs.
A number of experts also said the data underscored the need for Congress to pass another coronavirus relief bill to aid Americans who are financially struggling.
Joe Biden said the stimulus package was encouraging but more aid would be needed.
“It looks like they’re very, very close, and it looks like there is going to be direct cash payments, but it’s a down payment – an important down payment – on what’s going to have to be done beginning at the end of January, into February,” the president-elect told reporters.
Commerce department data showed retail sales fell unexpectedly sharply in November, with consumer outlays on goods and services showing softness across the board.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday promised to keep funneling cash into financial markets further into the future to fight the recession, even as policymakers’ outlook for next year improved following initial rollout of a coronavirus vaccine.
Reuters contributed to this report.