theguardian--2020-11-24--Trump agrees to begin transition to Biden administration – live

Chris Krebs , the former head of the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , on Monday reminded Americans that there ’ s still no evidence of significant voter fraud in the 2020 election .
Trump fired Krebs last week by tweet after the director had pushed back on the president ’ s baseless claims of voter fraud .
Krebs ’ agency was responsible for coordinating federal , state and local efforts to defend electoral systems from foreign or domestic interference .
The agency had vouched for the reliability of the 2020 vote .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security of their vote , ” Krebs said on Monday .
“ The disinfo likely won ’ t stop .
Keep on the lookout and don ’ t fall for it , ” he added .
The transition starts now .
And as a reminder , still no evidence that election systems and votes were manipulated .
All Americans should have confidence in the security of their vote .
But the # disinfo likely won ’ t stop .
Keep on the lookout and don ’ t fall for it .
# WeArePerseus

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

24 Nov 2020 02.37 GMT Summary From me and Joan E Greve: The General Services Administration has allowed for the presidential transition to begin. After an initial delay, the agency’s head, Emily Murphy, has sent Joe Biden a letter recognizing him as the election winner - opening up access to funds, office space and classified briefings.
After an initial delay, the agency’s head, Emily Murphy, has sent Joe Biden a letter recognizing him as the election winner - opening up access to funds, office space and classified briefings. Donald Trump tweeted that he had directed Murphy to go ahead, in contradiction to her public statements that she had not consulted with the president. “In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same,” Trump said, though he has yet to formally concede.
“In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same,” Trump said, though he has yet to formally concede. Republican senators Lamar Alexander and Bill Cassidy acknowledged Biden as president-elect as Michigan certified election results and the GSA unblocked the transition. Still, many top Republicans have continued to side with Trump in refusing to concede.
Still, many top Republicans have continued to side with Trump in refusing to concede. Joe Biden announced several key appointments and nominations for his national security and foreign policy team. Former secretary of state John Kerry will serve as the president-elect’s special envoy to address climate change, and former deputy secretary of state Antony Blinken will be nominated to lead the state department.
Former secretary of state will serve as the president-elect’s special envoy to address climate change, and former deputy secretary of state will be nominated to lead the state department. Former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen will be nominated to lead the treasury department, according to multiple reports. If confirmed, Yellen would become the first woman in US history to serve as treasury secretary.
according to multiple reports. If confirmed, Yellen would become the first woman in US history to serve as treasury secretary. California senator Dianne Feinstein said she won’t seek to retain her position as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee . She faced backlash from progressives after she praised the Republican judiciary committee chair, Lindsey Graham, during the confirmation hearings for Trump’s supreme court pick Amy Coney Barrett – rather than resisting Republican efforts to ram through a conservative justice before the election. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has said he’s interested in the position.
. She faced backlash from progressives after she praised the Republican judiciary committee chair, during the confirmation hearings for Trump’s supreme court pick Amy Coney Barrett – rather than resisting Republican efforts to ram through a conservative justice before the election. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has said he’s interested in the position. The coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has an efficacy of up to 90%, according to results from the final trial. The news comes after Moderna and Pfizer both announced their vaccine candidates have an efficacy of 95%.
according to results from the final trial. The news comes after Moderna and Pfizer both announced their vaccine candidates have an efficacy of 95%. More Americans are hospitalized with coronavirus than ever before, as infections surge across the country. Public health experts are urging Americans not to travel for this week’s Thanksgiving holiday in order to limit the spread of coronavirus.
as infections surge across the country. Public health experts are urging Americans not to travel for this week’s Thanksgiving holiday in order to limit the spread of coronavirus. A growing chorus of Republican senators are calling on the Trump administration to begin the formal transition process, as states move toward certifying Biden’s victory. Rob Portman of Ohio and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia both said today that they have seen no evidence of widespread fraud that could alter Biden’s win.
Updated at 03.09 GMT
24 Nov 2020 01.57 GMT Chris Krebs, the former head of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, on Monday reminded Americans that there’s still no evidence of significant voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump fired Krebs last week by tweet after the director had pushed back on the president’s baseless claims of voter fraud. Krebs’ agency was responsible for coordinating federal, state and local efforts to defend electoral systems from foreign or domestic interference. The agency had vouched for the reliability of the 2020 vote. “All Americans should have confidence in the security of their vote,” Krebs said on Monday. “The disinfo likely won’t stop. Keep on the lookout and don’t fall for it,” he added. The transition starts now. And as a reminder, still no evidence that election systems and votes were manipulated. All Americans should have confidence in the security of their vote. But the #disinfo likely won’t stop. Keep on the lookout and don’t fall for it. #WeArePerseus — Chris Krebs (@C_C_Krebs) November 24, 2020
24 Nov 2020 01.30 GMT Prior to the GSA’s move today, the Biden-Harris team had been raising money to fund the transition process, absent access to government-allocated funds. In an email to supporters last week, they said: “We want to be clear: the Biden-Harris transition team will continue to steadily move forward. But, without ascertainment, we need to fund the transition ourselves, and that’s why we’re reaching out to you today.” With the GSA’s go-ahead, the team will now have access to funds to hire and pay staff as they prepare to take office.
24 Nov 2020 01.14 GMT Reuters’ Jeff Mason reports that Donald Trump’s blessing of the GSA’s decision to unblock the transition is as close as the president might get to a concession ... Two advisers to @realDonaldTrump told me his tweet about the @USGSA and giving a green light to a transition was not a concession to @JoeBiden. (But it’s as close as he’s come and may be as close as he gets to one.) — Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) November 24, 2020
Updated at 01.27 GMT
24 Nov 2020 00.45 GMT Dick Durbin, a senator of Illinois and the Democratic whip, said he’ll be seeking the top Democratic position on the Senate Judiciary Committee after California’s Dianne Feinstein said she would step back. “I intend to seek the top Democratic position on the Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress. I have served on the Committee for 22 years, and I am its most senior member who does not currently serve atop another Senate Committee,” he said. “We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and human rights.”
Updated at 01.27 GMT
24 Nov 2020 00.27 GMT Last week, as the Biden-Harris team attempted to begin the transition process despite the GSA holdup, they reached out to Trump administration officials who had recently left their posts, in an attempt to glean key information while being locked out of official briefings. A current administration official also told CNN last week that some officials within the government had informally reached out to Biden’s team. “Nothing that would get us in trouble,” the official told CNN. “Just an offer to be of help. They know what we mean, and what we can and can’t do or say.” Still, what Biden’s team members couldn’t get was any classified information. That’s something they’ll have access to now.
Updated at 00.32 GMT
24 Nov 2020 00.21 GMT The transition can officially begin – what does that mean? Now that the General Services Administration has allowed for the presidential transition to officially begin, Joe Biden and his team will finally be able to gain access to classified briefings, meet with government officials to coordinate a pandemic response and have access to office space, as well funds to pay the transition team. “Because of the lack of ascertainment by the GSA, my transition team hasn’t been able to get access to the information we need to be able to deal with everything from testing and guidance to the all-important issue of vaccine distribution and vaccination plan,” Biden said on Thursday. “We haven’t been able to get into Operation Warp Speed” – the Trump administration scheme for accelerating coronavirus treatment and vaccine development. Until now, the Biden team has also lacked cybersecurity support to shield email and other communication amid concerns that Russia, China, or other foreign adversaries could intercept classified information. With the GSA’s approval, Biden’s team can move over to government email, with help from the Department of Homeland Security to protect the privacy of incoming officials as they plan out, for example, national security strategies.
Updated at 00.31 GMT
24 Nov 2020 00.10 GMT With Donald Trump refusing to concede the elections, House Democrats had demanded last week that GSA administrator Emily Murphy provide a briefing to explain why she was delaying the transition process. In a letter sent on 19 November, Carolyn B Maloney and Nita M Lowey – both Democrats of New York – sent Murphy a letter asking her, as well as her deputy chief of staff and general counsel, to participate in a public hearing to explain themselves. “Your actions in blocking transition activities required under the law are having grave effects, including undermining the orderly transfer of power, impairing the incoming Administration’s ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, hampering its ability to address our nation’s dire economic crisis, and endangering our national security,” the congresswomen said. “We ask that you personally brief us and our Ranking Members by no later than November 23, 2020,” they wrote. This pressure likely played into Murphy’s decision to approve the transition process today.
Updated at 00.32 GMT
24 Nov 2020 00.01 GMT The Democratic representative who chairs the House oversight government operations subcommittee said “it should not have taken the ire of Congress and the American public” for the GSA’s Emily Murphy to greenlight the transition process. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, who leads the congressional committee with oversight of the GSA, added he was “greatly looking forward to officially transitioning to an administration that follows the law the first time, without massive public pressure”. It should not have taken the ire of Congress and the American public to convince Administrator Murphy to do the right thing. Her actions were dangerous and Congress must ensure it never happens again. — Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) November 23, 2020
Updated at 00.13 GMT
23 Nov 2020 23.41 GMT Now that the GSA has allowed a formal transition to begin, more Republicans are starting to acknowledge the reality that Joe Biden is president-elect. Here’s Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator of Louisiana: With Michigan’s certifying it’s results, Joe Biden has over 270 electoral college votes. President Trump’s legal team has not presented evidence of the massive fraud which would have had to be present to overturn the election. I voted for President Trump but Joe Biden won. (1/2) — U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) November 23, 2020
23 Nov 2020 23.37 GMT Yohannes Abraham, the Biden-Harris transition director, said Emily Murphy’s decision today “is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track”. “This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies. In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies,” Abraham said in a statement.
Updated at 23.42 GMT
23 Nov 2020 23.28 GMT Emily Murphy, a Trump appointee, drew criticism for initially refusing to sign a letter allowing Biden’s team access to government officials, as well as office space, equipment, and millions of dollars of funding. In her letter to Joe Biden today, she tried to defend her actions. “To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination [on whether to begin the transition],” she said. “Contrary to media reports and insinuations, my decision was not made out of fear or favoritism. Instead, I strongly believe that the statute requires that the GSA Administrator ascertain, not impose, the apparent president-elect.” She also said that she received “threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely. Even in the face of thousands of threats, I always remained committed to upholding the law.” Her point, however, was almost immediately contradicted by Donald Trump, who tweeted: “In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.” ...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020 Even as his campaign’s legal challenges fail to hold up, and Trump’s attempts to convince officials to block certification of election results falter, the president insisted, “Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good ... fight, and I believe we will prevail! “
Updated at 00.12 GMT


theguardian--2020-11-24--Dianne Feinstein to step down as top Democrat on Senate judiciary panel

The California senator Dianne Feinstein will not seek to retain her position as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee .
“ After serving as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years , I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress , ” Feinstein said in a statement on Monday .
“ California is a huge state confronting two existential threats – wildfire and drought – that are only getting worse with climate change .
In the next Congress , I plan to increase my attention on those two crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durbin , the senator of Illinois and the Democratic whip , said he would seek the job .
“ I intend to seek the top Democratic position on the Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress .
I have served on the Committee for 22 years , and I am its most senior member who does not currently serve atop another Senate Committee , ” he said .
“ We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has faced intensifying calls from progressives to retire from the judiciary committee following her handling of the supreme court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett .
Feinstein ended the contentious hearings with a full-body embrace of Lindsey Graham , the committee ’ s Republican chair , and praised the proceedings as “ one of the best set of hearings that I ’ ve participated in ” , despite many other Democrats lamenting the Republicans ’ approach to filling the seat of the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Brian Fallon , Demand Justice ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had “ undercut Democrats ’ position ” during the hearings .
Naral Pro-Choice America , a leading reproductive rights group , called Feinstein “ wildly out of step with the American people ” , saying the “ committee needs new leadership ” .
Feinstein also irked some of her fellow Democrats at Barrett ’ s first confirmation hearing , in 2017 for an appeals court , when she said that Barrett ’ s opposition to abortion must be rooted in her religion and questioned if it would influence her rulings on the bench @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within you ” .
Republicans seized on the phrase , saying it was offensive to Catholics .
The backlash helped Barrett rise in the ranks of supreme court hopefuls .
Feinstein has had a long career in politics .
She became mayor of San Francisco in 1978 , following the assassinations of the activist Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone .
She has served in the US Senate since 1992 , and played an important role in the investigations into CIA torture during the wars in the Middle East as the former chairwoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tough primary race in 2018 , when the California Democratic party voted to endorse her opponent .
Feinstein said she planned to continue to serve on the judiciary , appropriations and intelligence panels but would not seek the role of top Democrat on any of those committees .
In a statement , the Senate Democratic leader , Chuck Schumer , said he was “ grateful for Senator Feinstein ’ s leadership and contributions to our caucus and country ” in the judiciary post .

The California senator Dianne Feinstein will not seek to retain her position as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee.
“After serving as the lead Democrat on the judiciary committee for four years, I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress,” Feinstein said in a statement on Monday.
“California is a huge state confronting two existential threats – wildfire and drought – that are only getting worse with climate change. In the next Congress, I plan to increase my attention on those two crucial issues,” she added.
Dick Durbin, the senator of Illinois and the Democratic whip, said he would seek the job.
“I intend to seek the top Democratic position on the judiciary committee in the 117th Congress. I have served on the committee for 22 years, and I am its most senior member who does not currently serve atop another Senate committee,” he said. “We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and human rights.”
Feinstein, 87, has faced intensifying calls from progressives to retire from the judiciary committee following her handling of the supreme court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett.
Feinstein ended the contentious hearings with a full-body embrace of Lindsey Graham, the committee’s Republican chair, and praised the proceedings as “one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in”, despite many other Democrats lamenting the Republicans’ approach to filling the seat of the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Dianne Feinstein hugged Lindsey Graham at the October hearing. Feinstein praised the proceedings as ‘one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in’. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Brian Fallon, Demand Justice’s executive director, argued that Feinstein had “undercut Democrats’ position” during the hearings. Naral Pro-Choice America, a leading reproductive rights group, called Feinstein “wildly out of step with the American people”, saying the “committee needs new leadership”.
Feinstein also irked some of her fellow Democrats at Barrett’s first confirmation hearing, in 2017 for an appeals court, when she said that Barrett’s opposition to abortion must be rooted in her religion and questioned if it would influence her rulings on the bench, saying the “dogma lives loudly within you”.
Republicans seized on the phrase, saying it was offensive to Catholics. The backlash helped Barrett rise in the ranks of supreme court hopefuls.
01:56 'The dogma lives loudly in you': Democratic Dianne Feinstein tells Amy Coney Barrett – video
Feinstein has had a long career in politics. She became mayor of San Francisco in 1978, following the assassinations of the activist Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone. She has served in the US Senate since 1992, and played an important role in the investigations into CIA torture during the wars in the Middle East as the former chairwoman of the intelligence panel. She faced a tough primary race in 2018, when the California Democratic party voted to endorse her opponent.
Feinstein said she planned to continue to serve on the judiciary, appropriations and intelligence panels but would not seek the role of top Democrat on any of those committees.
In a statement, the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said he was “grateful for Senator Feinstein’s leadership and contributions to our caucus and country” in the judiciary post.
Vivian Ho contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-11-24--Trump agrees to begin transition as key agency calls Biden 'apparent' election winner

The General Services Administration has declared president-elect Joe Biden the “ apparent ” winner of the US election , clearing the way for the formal transition from Donald Trump ’ s administration to begin after weeks of delay .
The GSA said on Monday that it had determined that Biden was the winner of the 3 November race after weeks of Trump refusing to concede and violating the traditions of the transition of power at the White House .
Trump said on Twitter he had directed his team to cooperate on the transition , but vowed to continue fighting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of widespread voter fraud .
Emily Murphy , who heads the GSA , said she made the determination based on “ the law ” and “ facts.
” “ Please know that I came to my decision independently , based on the law and available facts .
I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any executive branch official including those who work at the White House or GSA with regard to the substance or timing of my decision , ” Murphy wrote in a letter to Biden .
Murphy had faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow the transition to begin , as Trump ’ s efforts to challenge the results in numerous battleground states failed .
A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday tossed a Trump campaign lawsuit that sought to prevent certification in that state .
And on Monday , Michigan certified Biden ’ s victory , despite an unprecedented push by the president last week to undermine that move to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne county , where Biden won by more than 330,000 votes .
GSA certification is a process that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or discussion shortly after the race is called by major news outlets .
Murphy ’ s refusal to declare Biden the winner weeks after the election prevented the transition team of Biden and Vice president-elect Kamala Harris from accessing federal funding and meeting with government officials to prepare for inauguration on 20 January .
The delay was particularly concerning given the urgent and unprecedented tasks facing the federal government amid a significantly worsening pandemic and economic crisis .
The US must also begin work to prepare a national rollout of Covid-19 vaccines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential national security implications of a delayed transition , which blocked Biden from accessing classified briefings .
After Murphy ’ s letter was made public , Trump tweeted , “ We will keep up the good fight and I believe we will prevail !
Nevertheless , in the best interest of our country , I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols , and have told my team to do the same.
” The Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would fight on .
Yohannes Abraham , executive director of the Biden transition , said in a statement Monday that the move by the GSA “ is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation , including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track ” .
He added : “ In the days ahead , transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response , have a full accounting of our national security interests , and gain complete understanding of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out government agencies.
” With GSA permitting the formal transition to start , more Republicans started to acknowledge the reality that Biden is president-elect .
“ President Trump ’ s legal team has not presented evidence of the massive fraud which would have had to be present to overturn the election , ” said Bill Cassidy , a Republican senator from Louisiana .
“ I voted for President Trump but Joe Biden won.
” A majority of GOP senators have refused to recognize Biden ’ s win , arguing that Trump should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite the lack of evidence of any widespread fraud that would change the outcome of the race .
Since the Associated Press and other news organizations across the country declared Biden the winner on 7 November , five days after polls closed , Trump and his allies have continued to spread misinformation and baseless conspiracy theories , seeking to undermine the legitimacy of mail-in voting and falsely asserting that the election was “ stolen ” .
Audits , recounts and the Trump campaign ’ s court cases , however , have resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , and in some cases , Biden ’ s lead has only increased .
Judges repeatedly thr ew out the Trump campaign team ’ s cases .
But the false accusations of fraud did lead some election officials to seek to delay certification of the vote .
The city commissioner ’ s office in Philadelphia , where counting took days , reported facing death threats , and Trump supporters have staged protests outside election offices across the US .
Murphy ’ s letter came on the same day that Biden announced his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president-elect said he would be nominating Tony Blinken as secretary of state , Jake Sullivan as national security adviser and John Kerry as “ climate tsar ” , suggesting a return to the priorities of the Obama era .
Biden also selected Alejandro Mayorkas for homeland security secretary .
If he is confirmed , he would be the first Latino and migrant to have the position .
He has further chosen Avril Haines to be the first female director of national intelligence and Janet Yellen to be the country ’ s first @ @ @ @

The General Services Administration has declared president-elect Joe Biden the apparent winner of the US election, clearing the way for the formal transition from Donald Trump’s administration to begin after weeks of delay.
The GSA said on Monday that it had determined that Biden was the winner of the 3 November race after weeks of Trump refusing to concede and violating the traditions of the transition of power at the White House.
Trump said on Twitter he had directed his team to cooperate on the transition, but vowed to continue fighting the election results, despite the lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud. Hours later, he said: “Will never concede to fake ballots & ‘Dominion’.”
Emily Murphy, who heads the GSA, said she made the determination based on “the law” and “facts.”
“Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any executive branch official including those who work at the White House or GSA with regard to the substance or timing of my decision,” Murphy wrote in a letter to Biden.
Murphy had faced growing pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to allow the transition to begin, as Trump’s efforts to challenge the results in numerous battleground states failed.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday tossed a Trump campaign lawsuit that sought to prevent certification in that state. And on Monday, Michigan certified Biden’s victory, despite an unprecedented push by the president last week to undermine that move to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne county, where Biden won by more than 330,000 votes.
GSA certification is a process that in typical election years occurs without fanfare or discussion shortly after the race is called by major news outlets.
Murphy’s refusal to declare Biden the winner weeks after the election prevented the transition team of Biden and Kamala Harris from accessing federal funding and meeting with government officials to prepare for inauguration on 20 January.
The delay was particularly concerning given the urgent and unprecedented tasks facing the federal government amid a significantly worsening pandemic and economic crisis. The US must also begin work to prepare a national rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. There were also major concerns about the potential national security implications of a delayed transition, which blocked Biden from accessing classified briefings.
After Murphy’s letter was made public, Trump tweeted, “We will keep up the good fight and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.”
The Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and insisted it would fight on.
Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden transition, said in a statement Monday that the move by the GSA “is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track”.
He added: “In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies.”
With GSA permitting the formal transition to start, more Republicans started to acknowledge the reality that Biden is president-elect.
“President Trump’s legal team has not presented evidence of the massive fraud which would have had to be present to overturn the election,” said Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana. “I voted for President Trump but Joe Biden won.”
A majority of GOP senators have refused to recognize Biden’s win, arguing that Trump should be allowed to pursue his cases in court, despite the lack of evidence of any widespread fraud that would change the outcome of the race. Since the Associated Press and other news organizations across the country declared Biden the winner on 7 November, five days after polls closed, Trump and his allies have continued to spread misinformation and baseless conspiracy theories, seeking to undermine the legitimacy of mail-in voting and falsely asserting that the election was “stolen”.
Audits, recounts and the Trump campaign’s court cases, however, have resulted in no meaningful changes to the election results, and in some cases, Biden’s lead has only increased. Judges repeatedly thr ew out the Trump campaign team’s cases.
But the false accusations of fraud did lead some election officials to seek to delay certification of the vote. The city commissioner’s office in Philadelphia, where counting took days, reported facing death threats, and Trump supporters have staged protests outside election offices across the US.
Murphy’s letter came on the same day that Biden announced his selection for several key cabinet roles. The president-elect said he would be nominating Tony Blinken as secretary of state, Jake Sullivan as national security adviser and John Kerry as “climate tsar”, suggesting a return to the priorities of the Obama era.
Biden also selected Alejandro Mayorkas for homeland security secretary. If he is confirmed, he would be the first Latino and migrant to have the position. He has further chosen Avril Haines to be the first female director of national intelligence and Janet Yellen to be the country’s first female treasury secretary.


theguardian--2020-11-23--Michigan certifies Biden's victory despite Trump's efforts to undermine it

Michigan election officials on Monday certified Joe Biden ’ s 154,000-vote victory in the state amid president Donald Trump ’ s brazen attempts to subvert the results of the election .
The board of state canvassers , which has two Republicans and two Democrats , confirmed the results on a 3-0 vote with one abstention .
Allies of Trump and the losing Republican Senate candidate John James had urged the panel to delay voting for two weeks to audit votes in heavily Democratic Wayne county , home to Detroit .
The move is another setback in Trump ’ s efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results of the 3 November election and comes even after he made direct overtures to Republican officials in the state by inviting them to the White House last week .
Under Michigan law , Biden claims all 16 electoral votes .
Biden won by 2.8 percentage points – a larger margin than in other states where Trump is contesting the results , including Georgia , Arizona , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
Some Trump allies had expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors in states that do not certify .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Michigan .
Trump ’ s efforts to stave off the inevitable – formal recognition of his defeat – faced increasingly stiff resistance from the courts and fellow Republicans with just three weeks to go until the electoral college meets to certify Biden ’ s victory .
Time and again , Trump ’ s challenges and baseless allegations of widespread conspiracy and fraud have been met with rejection as states move forward with confirming their results .
“ The board ’ s duty today is very clear , “ said Aaron Van Langevelde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a duty to certify this election based on these returns .
That is very clear .
We are limited to these returns .
I ’ m not going to argue that we ’ re not.
” Mary Ellen Gurewitz , an attorney for the state Democratic party , told the canvassers that attacks on the election results “ are part of a racist campaign , directed by soon-to-be-former president Trump , to disparage the cities in this country with large Black populations , including Detroit , Philadelphia and Milwaukee.
” Biden crushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wayne county , where two local Republican canvassers who certified the results unsuccessfully tried to reverse course last week after being called by Trump .

Michigan election officials on Monday certified Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory in the state amid president Donald Trump’s brazen attempts to subvert the results of the election.
The board of state canvassers, which has two Republicans and two Democrats, confirmed the results on a 3-0 vote with one abstention. Allies of Trump and the losing Republican Senate candidate John James had urged the panel to delay voting for two weeks to audit votes in heavily Democratic Wayne county, home to Detroit.
The move is another setback in Trump’s efforts to use unconventional means to undermine the results of the 3 November election and comes even after he made direct overtures to Republican officials in the state by inviting them to the White House last week.
Under Michigan law, Biden claims all 16 electoral votes. Biden won by 2.8 percentage points – a larger margin than in other states where Trump is contesting the results, including Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Some Trump allies had expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors in states that do not certify. That long-shot bid is no longer possible in Michigan.
Trump’s efforts to stave off the inevitable – formal recognition of his defeat – faced increasingly stiff resistance from the courts and fellow Republicans with just three weeks to go until the electoral college meets to certify Biden’s victory. Time and again, Trump’s challenges and baseless allegations of widespread conspiracy and fraud have been met with rejection as states move forward with confirming their results.
“The board’s duty today is very clear,“ said Aaron Van Langevelde, the Republican vice-chair. “We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns. That is very clear. We are limited to these returns. I’m not going to argue that we’re not.”
Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney for the state Democratic party, told the canvassers that attacks on the election results “are part of a racist campaign, directed by soon-to-be-former president Trump, to disparage the cities in this country with large Black populations, including Detroit, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.”
Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes in Wayne county, where two local Republican canvassers who certified the results unsuccessfully tried to reverse course last week after being called by Trump.


theguardian--2020-11-23--Joe Biden picks first women and first Latino for key cabinet roles

Joe Biden , the US president-elect , has shown his determination to speed past Donald Trump ’ s flailing attempts to block the transition by naming leaders of his foreign policy and national security team .
The president-elect put faith in experience on Monday by announcing he intends to nominate Tony Blinken for secretary of state , Jake Sullivan for national security adviser and John Kerry for “ climate tsar ” , each signalling a return to the multilateralism of the Obama era .
Biden also picked Alejandro Mayorkas , who , if confirmed , would become the first Latino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Avril Haines for director of national intelligence , who would be the first woman in that role ; and Linda Thomas-Greenfield for ambassador to the United Nations .
“ These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested as they are innovative and imaginative , ” Biden said .
“ Their accomplishments in diplomacy are unmatched , but they also reflect the idea that we can not meet the profound challenges of this new moment with old thinking and unchanged habits – or without diversity of background and perspective.
” Biden was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve – for the country ’ s first female treasury secretary .
The 74-year-old economist is expected to be named as Biden ’ s choice on Tuesday .
In making his choices Biden looked to send an unequivocal message to a global audience that election wrangling is over and he will take office on 20 January .
Trump has refused to concede defeat , spreading false claims of election fraud and suffering legal humiliations in what critics describe as a haplessly executed coup attempt .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to greater diversity and to choosing professionals from the foreign policy establishment in preference to business executives and politicians , a hallmark of the Trump administration .
Blinken was Biden ’ s national security adviser when Biden was vice-president , then deputy secretary of state for two years under Barack Obama .
Sullivan was an adviser to Hillary Clinton , took part in talks with Iran before the 2015 nuclear deal , and succeeded Blinken as Biden ’ s national security adviser .
Kerry , named special presidential envoy for climate , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was Obama ’ s second secretary of state and a key architect of the Paris climate accord , which the US quit under Trump .
He tweeted : “ America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is .
I ’ m proud to partner with the president-elect , our allies , and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the president ’ s climate envoy.
” Thomas-Greenfield comes from the diplomatic corps , her career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was assistant secretary of state for African affairs under Obama but the most senior Black US diplomat was fired by Trump .
Speaking at Washington Post event to promote his new memoir , Obama praised the choice of Blinken .
“ He ’ s outstanding – smart , gracious , a skilled diplomat , well regarded around the world and I know he ’ s going to do a great job , ” Obama said .
“ You ’ re seeing a team develop that I have great confidence in.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wrecking ball approach to foreign policy will take time to repair .
“ I think it ’ s going to be important to recognise that the confidence that our allies had , and the world had , in American leadership is not going to be restored overnight .
“ They are going to be greatly relieved and pleased to see people like Tony at various conferences around the world and returning to the traditional leadership role that the US has played .
But there is going to be a lingering sense that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the shenanigans that are going on right now around the election , that is making the world question how reliable and steady the US may be.
” Obama added : “ There ’ s been some damage done that is going to take some time to dig ourselves out of but there ’ s no doubt that Joe ’ s got the right people to do it and I ’ ve every confidence they ’ ll be able to do it .
It just might not happen instantaneously.
” After numerous defeats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition , denying Biden access to financial resources and classified briefings while pressuring Republican allies in battleground states to subvert the popular will .
A group of Republicans in Pennsylvania filed an emergency lawsuit seeking to block certification of results in the state , which Biden won by more than 80,000 votes .
Monday was the deadline for Pennsylvania counties to certify .
Michigan was expected to do the same .
The Trump legal effort is in disarray , bordering on farce .
Over the weekend the campaign disavowed lawyer Sidney Powell after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud , implicating Republicans , without providing evidence .
Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s lawyer , who spoke with Powell last week at a disastrous press conference , said in a statement : “ Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own .
She is not a member of the Trump legal team .
She is also not a lawyer for the president in his personal capacity.
” Earlier , Chris Christie , a Trump ally and former New Jersey governor , told ABC : “ Quite frankly , the conduct of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a national embarrassment.
” After a long silence , prominent Republicans are seeking to convince Trump it is time to accept the inevitable .
Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania , Susan Collins of Maine , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , Kevin Cramer of North Dakota , Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mitt Romney of Utah have said it is at least time to cooperate with a transition .
Larry Hogan , governor of Maryland and a longtime Trump critic , said : “ Now we are beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banana republic .
It ’ s time for them to stop the nonsense .
It just gets more bizarre every single day and , frankly , I ’ m embarrassed that more people in the party aren ’ t speaking up.
” In an open letter , more than 100 Republican national security experts pressured congressional Republicans to demand Trump concede and begin the transition .
“ President Trump ’ s refusal to permit the presidential transition poses significant risks to our national security , ” they said , “ at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and faces serious threats from global adversaries , terrorist groups , and other forces .
”

David Smith and Julian Borger in Washington

Joe Biden, the US president-elect, has shown his determination to speed past Donald Trump’s flailing attempts to block the transition by naming leaders of his foreign policy and national security team.
The president-elect put faith in experience on Monday by announcing he intends to nominate Tony Blinken for secretary of state, Jake Sullivan for national security adviser and John Kerry for “climate tsar”, each signalling a return to the multilateralism of the Obama era.
Biden also picked Alejandro Mayorkas, who, if confirmed, would become the first Latino and migrant to be homeland security secretary; Avril Haines for director of national intelligence, who would be the first woman in that role; and Linda Thomas-Greenfield for ambassador to the United Nations.
“These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested as they are innovative and imaginative,” Biden said. “Their accomplishments in diplomacy are unmatched, but they also reflect the idea that we cannot meet the profound challenges of this new moment with old thinking and unchanged habits – or without diversity of background and perspective.”
Biden was also set to pick Janet Yellen – the first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve – for the country’s first female treasury secretary. The 74-year-old economist is expected to be named as Biden’s choice on Tuesday.
In making his choices Biden looked to send an unequivocal message to a global audience that election wrangling is over and he will take office on 20 January. Trump has refused to concede defeat, spreading false claims of election fraud and suffering legal humiliations in what critics describe as a haplessly executed coup attempt.
The move also reflected Biden’s commitment to greater diversity and to choosing professionals from the foreign policy establishment in preference to business executives and politicians, a hallmark of the Trump administration.
Blinken was Biden’s national security adviser when Biden was vice-president, then deputy secretary of state for two years under Barack Obama. Sullivan was an adviser to Hillary Clinton, took part in talks with Iran before the 2015 nuclear deal, and succeeded Blinken as Biden’s national security adviser.
Kerry, named special presidential envoy for climate, is a former senator and Democratic presidential nominee who was Obama’s second secretary of state and a key architect of the Paris climate accord, which the US quit under Trump.
He tweeted: “America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is. I’m proud to partner with the president-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the president’s climate envoy.”
Thomas-Greenfield comes from the diplomatic corps, her career stretching back to the Reagan administration. She was assistant secretary of state for African affairs under Obama but the most senior Black US diplomat was fired by Trump.
Speaking at Washington Post event to promote his new memoir, Obama praised the choice of Blinken.
“He’s outstanding – smart, gracious, a skilled diplomat, well regarded around the world and I know he’s going to do a great job,” Obama said. “You’re seeing a team develop that I have great confidence in.”
But the former president acknowledged that Trump’s wrecking ball approach to foreign policy will take time to repair.
“I think it’s going to be important to recognise that the confidence that our allies had, and the world had, in American leadership is not going to be restored overnight.
“They are going to be greatly relieved and pleased to see people like Tony at various conferences around the world and returning to the traditional leadership role that the US has played. But there is going to be a lingering sense that America’s still divided, some of the shenanigans that are going on right now around the election, that is making the world question how reliable and steady the US may be.”
Melania Trump on Monday welcomes the delivery of the White House Christmas tree, an 18.5ft Fraser fir from Oregon. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Obama added: “There’s been some damage done that is going to take some time to dig ourselves out of but there’s no doubt that Joe’s got the right people to do it and I’ve every confidence they’ll be able to do it. It just might not happen instantaneously.”
After numerous defeats in court, Trump is stalling the transition, denying Biden access to financial resources and classified briefings while pressuring Republican allies in battleground states to subvert the popular will.
A group of Republicans in Pennsylvania filed an emergency lawsuit seeking to block certification of results in the state, which Biden won by more than 80,000 votes. Monday was the deadline for Pennsylvania counties to certify. Michigan was expected to do the same.
The Trump legal effort is in disarray, bordering on farce. Over the weekend the campaign disavowed lawyer Sidney Powell after she made unhinged accusations of widespread voter fraud, implicating Republicans, without providing evidence.
Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer, who spoke with Powell last week at a disastrous press conference, said in a statement: “Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own. She is not a member of the Trump legal team. She is also not a lawyer for the president in his personal capacity.”
Earlier, Chris Christie, a Trump ally and former New Jersey governor, told ABC: “Quite frankly, the conduct of the president’s legal team has been a national embarrassment.”
After a long silence, prominent Republicans are seeking to convince Trump it is time to accept the inevitable. Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mitt Romney of Utah have said it is at least time to cooperate with a transition.
Larry Hogan, governor of Maryland and a longtime Trump critic, said: “Now we are beginning to look like we’re a banana republic. It’s time for them to stop the nonsense. It just gets more bizarre every single day and, frankly, I’m embarrassed that more people in the party aren’t speaking up.”
In an open letter, more than 100 Republican national security experts pressured congressional Republicans to demand Trump concede and begin the transition.
“President Trump’s refusal to permit the presidential transition poses significant risks to our national security,” they said, “at a time when the US confronts a global pandemic and faces serious threats from global adversaries, terrorist groups, and other forces.”


theguardian--2020-11-23--Former Fed chair Janet Yellen set to become first female treasury secretary

Janet Yellen , the first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve , is set to achieve another first , becoming the country ’ s first female treasury secretary .
The 74-year-old economist is expected to be named as President-elect Joe Biden ’ s choice on Tuesday .
Yellen will take the job during one of the most trying economic times in modern history .
US unemployment hit a postwar record in April , in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic , and while the jobs situation has improved , the recovery has slowed in recent months as rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of work , and women and people of color have been hit disproportionately hard by the downturn .
Congress has struggled to reach agreement on a new round of economic spending , the US national debt is at record levels , and relations with the US ’ s major trading partners are frayed after the Trump administration ’ s trade wars .
Donald Trump declined to reappoint Yellen to the Fed chair after his election in 2016 , making her the first central bank chief not to serve two terms since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Yellen should be “ ashamed ” of her policy actions and accused her of keeping interest rates low in order to bolster President Barack Obama ’ s legacy .
Cautious and carefully spoken Yellen has made few comments about Trump although when asked last year if she thought Trump “ had a grasp ” of macroeconomic policy she said : “ No I do not.
” Yellen has recently advocated for more federal spending from Congress to tackle the economic devastation caused by the virus .
“ There is a huge amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs the spending , ” Yellen said in a September interview .
Yellen , professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley , a former assistant professor at Harvard and a lecturer at the London School of Economics , is an expert in labor markets who has highlighted the economic impact of uneven growth in the jobs market .
She is married to the Nobel-winning economist and frequent co-author George Akerlof .
Progressives had been hoping Senator Elizabeth Warren , a staunch critic of Wall Street , might get the job .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the balance , Yellen is a safer pick .
After the news broke Warren called Yellen “ an outstanding choice.
” Biden said last week that his Treasury nominee would be accepted by both the progressive and moderate wings of the Democrat party .
Yellen has also in the past attracted bipartisan support , receiving 11 Republican votes for her 2014 confirmation as Fed chair , including the backing of three sitting Republican senators .
She is also one of the best-connected economists in the world , leading the Fed from 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic policymaking .
If appointed , Yellen will not only be the first female Fed chair and treasury secretary , but the first person to have headed both organizations and the White House council of economic advisers .

Janet Yellen, the first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve, is set to achieve another first, becoming the country’s first female treasury secretary.
The 74-year-old economist is expected to be named as President-elect Joe Biden’s choice on Tuesday.
Yellen will take the job during one of the most trying economic times in modern history.
US unemployment hit a postwar record in April, in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and while the jobs situation has improved, the recovery has slowed in recent months as rates of infection have increased.
Millions remain out of work, and women and people of color have been hit disproportionately hard by the downturn.
Congress has struggled to reach agreement on a new round of economic spending, the US national debt is at record levels, and relations with the US’s major trading partners are frayed after the Trump administration’s trade wars.
Donald Trump declined to reappoint Yellen to the Fed chair after his election in 2016, making her the first central bank chief not to serve two terms since the Carter administration. During his campaign Trump said Yellen should be “ashamed” of her policy actions and accused her of keeping interest rates low in order to bolster President Barack Obama’s legacy.
Cautious and carefully spoken Yellen has made few comments about Trump although when asked last year if she thought Trump “had a grasp” of macroeconomic policy she said: “No I do not.”
Yellen has recently advocated for more federal spending from Congress to tackle the economic devastation caused by the virus.
“There is a huge amount of suffering out there. The economy needs the spending,” Yellen said in a September interview.
Yellen, professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, a former assistant professor at Harvard and a lecturer at the London School of Economics, is an expert in labor markets who has highlighted the economic impact of uneven growth in the jobs market.
She is married to the Nobel-winning economist and frequent co-author George Akerlof.
Progressives had been hoping Senator Elizabeth Warren, a staunch critic of Wall Street, might get the job. But with control of the Senate still in the balance, Yellen is a safer pick. After the news broke Warren called Yellen “an outstanding choice.”
Janet Yellen would be an outstanding choice for Treasury Secretary. She is smart, tough, and principled. As one of the most successful Fed Chairs ever, she has stood up to Wall Street banks, including holding Wells Fargo accountable for cheating working families. — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 23, 2020
Biden said last week that his Treasury nominee would be accepted by both the progressive and moderate wings of the Democrat party. Yellen has also in the past attracted bipartisan support, receiving 11 Republican votes for her 2014 confirmation as Fed chair, including the backing of three sitting Republican senators.
She is also one of the best-connected economists in the world, leading the Fed from 2014 to 2018 after a long career in economic policymaking.
If appointed, Yellen will not only be the first female Fed chair and treasury secretary, but the first person to have headed both organizations and the White House council of economic advisers.


theguardian--2020-11-23--Trump has tested the limits of the US constitution – but it's still holding | Simon Jenkins

Slowly , painfully , alarmingly , Donald Trump has been conceding the US presidency to Joe Biden .
Over the weekend his close friend Chris Christie called his delay “ a national embarrassment ” , joining judges , aides and other Republican politicians .
Meanwhile the world has erupted in a chorus of derision at the state of American democracy , polluted by corruption , fake news and money .
Countries whose leaders would not dream of risking an open election , let alone conceding one , mimic Moscow in ridiculing “ the obvious shortcomings in the American electoral system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail a clutch of Hong Kong democrats .
The reality is the opposite .
The late American historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr pointed out that the US constitution regularly takes its grand coalition of diverse peoples to the brink of disintegration , shows them disaster and pulls them back .
Trump in 2016 was a populist candidate who ran for election on a pseudo-revolutionary ticket against the Washington establishment .
Though he won fewer votes than his opponent , Hillary Clinton , an electoral college biased to protect the interests of small states against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In office he ran up huge debts , was a bully and a xenophobe , and relentlessly attacked all centres of establishment power .
The economy boomed .
American political participation soared .
At this month ’ s presidential election , turnout at 67 % was the highest for a century .
Biden ’ s popular lead over Trump was not so much bigger than Clinton ’ s in 2016 , and the college tilted his way rather than against .
But Trump ’ s popular vote actually rose and did so among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and female voters .
In effect , his “ outsiders ” stuck with him and told him to finish the job .
What helped to give Biden victory , according to exit polls , was increased support among white men .
Many of them were , in effect , saying that they had got the point of Trump and now wanted rid of him .
The fact remains that almost as large a group was warning that it felt ignored and alienated , and that no one should take democracy for granted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ once but twice .
And Trump may yet return .
Of all the great political unions that emerged from the age of empire , the US has proved the most robust ( with a hesitant nod towards India ) .
Such unions are seldom entirely stable .
Their survival requires constitutions able to accommodate disparate peoples , regions and interests – and do so at peace .
The US constitution , so baffling to outsiders , was designed in the 18th century to bind together a union rightly seen as vulnerable .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s dominant great power , recently delivering leaders as diverse as George W Bush , Barack Obama and Donald Trump .
It has survived them all .
Few would contend that Trump has been anything other than an aberration .
But if he was testing the US constitution to destruction , it passed the test .
Biden should now receive every support in restoring his country ’ s dignity and good faith .
Meanwhile other unions – not least that of the United Kingdom – should look to their own .
They all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lessons to learn .

Slowly, painfully, alarmingly, Donald Trump has been conceding the US presidency to Joe Biden. Over the weekend his close friend Chris Christie called his delay “a national embarrassment”, joining judges, aides and other Republican politicians. Meanwhile the world has erupted in a chorus of derision at the state of American democracy, polluted by corruption, fake news and money. Countries whose leaders would not dream of risking an open election, let alone conceding one, mimic Moscow in ridiculing “the obvious shortcomings in the American electoral system”. Beijing celebrates by preparing to jail a clutch of Hong Kong democrats.
The reality is the opposite. The late American historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr pointed out that the US constitution regularly takes its grand coalition of diverse peoples to the brink of disintegration, shows them disaster and pulls them back. Trump in 2016 was a populist candidate who ran for election on a pseudo-revolutionary ticket against the Washington establishment. Though he won fewer votes than his opponent, Hillary Clinton, an electoral college biased to protect the interests of small states against big ones gave him the presidency. In office he ran up huge debts, was a bully and a xenophobe, and relentlessly attacked all centres of establishment power. The economy boomed.
American political participation soared. At this month’s presidential election, turnout at 67% was the highest for a century. Biden’s popular lead over Trump was not so much bigger than Clinton’s in 2016, and the college tilted his way rather than against. But Trump’s popular vote actually rose and did so among surprising groups, including Hispanic, black and female voters. In effect, his “outsiders” stuck with him and told him to finish the job.
What helped to give Biden victory, according to exit polls, was increased support among white men. Many of them were, in effect, saying that they had got the point of Trump and now wanted rid of him. The fact remains that almost as large a group was warning that it felt ignored and alienated, and that no one should take democracy for granted. It has now flashed that warning not once but twice. And Trump may yet return.
Of all the great political unions that emerged from the age of empire, the US has proved the most robust (with a hesitant nod towards India). Such unions are seldom entirely stable. Their survival requires constitutions able to accommodate disparate peoples, regions and interests – and do so at peace. The US constitution, so baffling to outsiders, was designed in the 18th century to bind together a union rightly seen as vulnerable. Yet it built what became the world’s dominant great power, recently delivering leaders as diverse as George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. It has survived them all.
Few would contend that Trump has been anything other than an aberration. But if he was testing the US constitution to destruction, it passed the test. Biden should now receive every support in restoring his country’s dignity and good faith. Meanwhile other unions – not least that of the United Kingdom – should look to their own. They all have their Trumps in waiting. All have lessons to learn.


theguardian--2020-11-23--Fight for $15 minimum wage boosted in Florida but Biden faces tough task

It has been a long time coming but Hector Rivera is hopeful that one day soon he will be able to take a day off work .
The 61-year-old works as a janitor in Miami , Florida , making just over $ 9 an hour .
Because the pay is so low , Rivera works two janitorial jobs and scrambles to find gig jobs on the weekends in order to cover his rent and bills every month .
“ Trying to survive on this salary is extremely difficult because I ’ m constantly looking for more work , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the millions of Latino and Black Americans who are disproportionately represented in the low-wage sector .
On 3 November Rivera , and the millions of Americans fighting for a raise for low-wage workers , were given a boost when Florida passed a resolution to increase its minimum wage to $ 15 an hour .
Raising the minimum wage was a central plank of Joe Biden ’ s election campaign and Florida ’ s vote came even as the state voted for Donald Trump .
But while workers and activists are cheering the victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a raise in the minimum wage looks tough .
It ’ s been eight years since fast-food workers walked off their jobs in New York City and began calling for a $ 15 minimum wage .
In that time the Fight for $ 15 movement grew to be the largest protest movement for low-wage workers in US history and has won some important victories .
Florida is the first state in the south and the eighth state overall to adopt such a measure .
And some big corporations including Amazon , Target and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise , their minimum wages to $ 15 .
After Biden ’ s win , Senator Elizabeth Warren , a longtime supporter of the movement , urged the incoming Biden administration to use all the “ tools in their toolbox ” to push a raise through and Biden has promised to back unions who are also pushing hard for a statewide raise for low-wage workers .
Rivera was among the low-wage workers who got involved with a union organizing drive for change at his workplace with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment two , will gradually increase the state ’ s minimum wage to $ 15 an hour by 2026 from its current minimum wage set at $ 8.56 an hour .
“ With amendment two passing , I ’ ll be able to spend more time with my family , ” said Rivera , who recently spent 35 hours working straight without any sleep .
“ Hopefully now I ’ ll be able to take a day off , ” Rivera added .
“ The only way we can live a decent life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our wages because everything is expensive .
It ’ s impossible to save money without making more.
” A raise has broad support in the US , even in Republican states .
Over 60 % of Florida voters approved the measure .
In Louisiana , another Republican state where the minimum wage is just $ 7.25 an hour , a Louisiana State University poll 59 % of residents support raising it to $ 15 .
Nor is there much evidence that a raise would be bad for business .
A UC Berkeley report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas in the US can afford a $ 15 minimum wage , which would reduce poverty and have no adverse effects , such as job losses .
Most economic research on the subject has demonstrated little to no negative consequences to employment while providing positive gains for the low-wage workforce .
The last time Florida increased its state minimum wage in 2004 , unemployment dropped and 200,000 jobs were added the following year .
But many Republicans still oppose the rise and , without control of the Senate , Biden may struggle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum wage in 11 years .
In Florida the amendment was strongly opposed by Republicans , including Governor Ron DeSantis , who claimed raising the minimum wage would eliminate jobs and hurt businesses .
The Republican Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , blocked a raise in 2019 .
The Florida victory is a key win for low-wage workers and will be a particular benefit to women and people of color , who make up a large share of the low-wage workforce .
The rise is expected to increase wages for 2.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s workforce , according to a report by the Florida Policy Institute .
“ Women and minorities are disproportionately represented among those currently under $ 15 an hour so the passage of amendment two will help to decrease the gender and race wage gap , ” said Richie Floyd , an organizer in support of the amendment with Pinellas Democratic Socialists in Pinellas county , Florida .
“ We held car caravans , supported worker actions and sent 3.1m text messages to voters across the state .
We focused on making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew that they could vote to directly improve their material conditions.
” The victory is also a fillip for US unions , which have fought hard to make the minimum wage a national issue and recruit new members in the service sector .
Maria Elena Hernandez works as a janitor at Nova University in Plantation , Florida , and was only making minimum wage until her workplace organized a union and fought for wage increases .
Over the past several months Hernandez and other workers canvassed around south Florida in support of amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass amendment two because we know $ 8.56 an hour is not enough to survive , ” said Hernandez .
“ The only way we can achieve wage increases is by organizing ourselves , and it benefits everyone ; working people , local businesses and the economy.
” But change has been a long time coming and national victory – even after Biden ’ s win – is far from certain .
The federal minimum wage , currently set at $ 7.25 an hour , has not been raised since 2009 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal minimum wage was first enacted in 1938 .
Adjusted for inflation , the purchasing power of the current federal minimum wage is 31 % less than what was in 1968 , even though the productivity of the American worker has nearly doubled since then .
In the midst of a pandemic that has hit low-wage workers hardest , change could not be more needed , said Holly Sklar , chief executive officer of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage , which supported the Florida amendment .
“ Parts of the purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted in 1938 was to help us recover from the Great Depression , ” said Sklar .
“ From a business point of view , a shared economic recovery is important .
We believe you can not build a shared economic recovery on a minimum wage that ’ s too low to live on .
”

It has been a long time coming but Hector Rivera is hopeful that one day soon he will be able to take a day off work. The 61-year-old works as a janitor in Miami, Florida, making just over $9 an hour. Because the pay is so low, Rivera works two janitorial jobs and scrambles to find gig jobs on the weekends in order to cover his rent and bills every month.
“Trying to survive on this salary is extremely difficult because I’m constantly looking for more work,” said Rivera, a Dominican and one of the millions of Latino and Black Americans who are disproportionately represented in the low-wage sector.
On 3 November Rivera, and the millions of Americans fighting for a raise for low-wage workers, were given a boost when Florida passed a resolution to increase its minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Raising the minimum wage was a central plank of Joe Biden’s election campaign and Florida’s vote came even as the state voted for Donald Trump. But while workers and activists are cheering the victory, the road ahead for Biden and a raise in the minimum wage looks tough.
It’s been eight years since fast-food workers walked off their jobs in New York City and began calling for a $15 minimum wage. In that time the Fight for $15 movement grew to be the largest protest movement for low-wage workers in US history and has won some important victories.
Florida is the first state in the south and the eighth state overall to adopt such a measure. And some big corporations including Amazon, Target and Walt Disney have raised, or promised to raise, their minimum wages to $15.
After Biden’s win, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a longtime supporter of the movement, urged the incoming Biden administration to use all the “tools in their toolbox” to push a raise through and Biden has promised to back unions who are also pushing hard for a statewide raise for low-wage workers.
Rivera was among the low-wage workers who got involved with a union organizing drive for change at his workplace with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ. The Florida ballot, known as amendment two, will gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 from its current minimum wage set at $8.56 an hour.
“With amendment two passing, I’ll be able to spend more time with my family,” said Rivera, who recently spent 35 hours working straight without any sleep. “Hopefully now I’ll be able to take a day off,” Rivera added. “The only way we can live a decent life here in Miami is if they raise our wages because everything is expensive. It’s impossible to save money without making more.”
A raise has broad support in the US, even in Republican states. Over 60% of Florida voters approved the measure. In Louisiana, another Republican state where the minimum wage is just $7.25 an hour, a Louisiana State University poll 59% of residents support raising it to $15.
Nor is there much evidence that a raise would be bad for business. A UC Berkeley report published in July 2019 found even low-wage areas in the US can afford a $15 minimum wage, which would reduce poverty and have no adverse effects, such as job losses. Most economic research on the subject has demonstrated little to no negative consequences to employment while providing positive gains for the low-wage workforce. The last time Florida increased its state minimum wage in 2004, unemployment dropped and 200,000 jobs were added the following year.
A group of BLM demonstrators protest outside the Federal Reserve Bank in New York in favor of a $15 minimum wage in July. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
But many Republicans still oppose the rise and, without control of the Senate, Biden may struggle to pass the first increase in the federal minimum wage in 11 years. In Florida the amendment was strongly opposed by Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, who claimed raising the minimum wage would eliminate jobs and hurt businesses. The Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, blocked a raise in 2019.
The Florida victory is a key win for low-wage workers and will be a particular benefit to women and people of color, who make up a large share of the low-wage workforce. The rise is expected to increase wages for 2.5 million Florida residents, 26% of the state’s workforce, according to a report by the Florida Policy Institute.
“Women and minorities are disproportionately represented among those currently under $15 an hour so the passage of amendment two will help to decrease the gender and race wage gap,” said Richie Floyd, an organizer in support of the amendment with Pinellas Democratic Socialists in Pinellas county, Florida. “We held car caravans, supported worker actions and sent 3.1m text messages to voters across the state. We focused on making sure as many working-class people as possible knew that they could vote to directly improve their material conditions.”
The victory is also a fillip for US unions, which have fought hard to make the minimum wage a national issue and recruit new members in the service sector.
Maria Elena Hernandez works as a janitor at Nova University in Plantation, Florida, and was only making minimum wage until her workplace organized a union and fought for wage increases. Over the past several months Hernandez and other workers canvassed around south Florida in support of amendment two.
“I joined the struggle to pass amendment two because we know $8.56 an hour is not enough to survive,” said Hernandez. “The only way we can achieve wage increases is by organizing ourselves, and it benefits everyone; working people, local businesses and the economy.”
But change has been a long time coming and national victory – even after Biden’s win – is far from certain.
The federal minimum wage, currently set at $7.25 an hour, has not been raised since 2009, the longest it has remained unchanged since a federal minimum wage was first enacted in 1938. Adjusted for inflation, the purchasing power of the current federal minimum wage is 31% less than what was in 1968, even though the productivity of the American worker has nearly doubled since then.
In the midst of a pandemic that has hit low-wage workers hardest, change could not be more needed, said Holly Sklar, chief executive officer of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, which supported the Florida amendment.
“Parts of the purpose of minimum wage since it was first enacted in 1938 was to help us recover from the Great Depression,” said Sklar. “From a business point of view, a shared economic recovery is important. We believe you cannot build a shared economic recovery on a minimum wage that’s too low to live on.”


theguardian--2020-11-23--Obama addresses 'damage done' by Trump on foreign policy – video

Barack Obama said the Trump administration 's foreign relations had inflicted 'damage ' upon America , and that it would @ @ @ @ @ 's reputation to be restored .
Obama expressed confidence in a new Biden administration , @ @ @ @ @ happen immediately

Barack Obama said the Trump administration's foreign relations had inflicted 'damage' upon America, and that it would take time for the country's reputation to be restored. Obama expressed confidence in a new Biden administration, but cautioned change would not happen immediately


theguardian--2020-11-24--Trump will pardon turkey after agreeing to presidential transition

His attempt to reverse electoral defeat having proved a turkey , on Tuesday afternoon at the White House , Donald Trump will pardon one .
The president and first lady Melania Trump will pardon one of two birds , Corn or Cob , at the traditional ceremony .
It will be Trump ’ s first public appearance since the General Services Administration said on Monday it would finally release funding to Joe Biden ’ s transition team .
The Democrat , who beat Trump by 6m ballots and 306-232 in the electoral college , can now properly plan to assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition , Corn and Cob have been staying at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel .
Only one will appear at the White House , decided by an online poll .
On Monday , the world was quick to notice that at the turkey pardon in 2018 , Trump made remarks which now sound decidedly familiar .
“ This was a fair election , ” he said , shortly after seeing his Republican party lose the US House in midterm elections before and after which he made baseless claims about mass voter fraud .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded a recount , and we ’ re still fighting with Carrots.
” To laughter , Trump said : “ We ’ ve come to a conclusion .
Carrots , I ’ m sorry to tell you , the result did not change .
It ’ s too bad for Carrots.
” Trump has not come to his own conclusion about his defeat by Biden , refusing to concede and saying on Monday that though the GSA transition process would begin , “ we will keep up the good fight and I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost 35 of 36 election-related lawsuits .
But he still has 57 days left in office , in which he may choose to use his pardon powder for more controversial recipients than Corn or Cob .
Former campaign aides Paul Manafort , Michael Flynn and George Papadopolous are among those eagerly awaiting such news .
Under a tradition generally held to have begun in 1947 , the pardoned turkeys will be sent straight into retirement .
Recently , such birds have lived out their days at Gobbler ’ s Rest , an enclosure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Life Sciences , in Blacksburg .
Trump ’ s post-White House plans , including whether he will attend Biden ’ s inauguration , remain unclear .
On Monday , reports said US Secret Service agents were being asked if they wanted to transfer to Palm Beach , Florida .

His attempt to reverse electoral defeat having proved a turkey, on Tuesday afternoon at the White House, Donald Trump pardoned one.
According to tradition, two turkeys named Corn and Cob stayed at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel before the official ceremony. After an online poll, Corn was chosen to be pardoned.
Appearing with first lady Melania Trump, the president made brief remarks, thanking healthcare workers and researchers working for a Covid-19 vaccine and the US armed services, who he said put “America first”.
“Corn,” he said, raising a hand over the large white turkey, which had been placed on a table covered in flowers and pumpkins. “I hereby grant you a full pardon.”
The pardon and a short statement in the briefing room earlier constituted Trump’s first public remarks since the General Services Administration said on Monday it would finally release funding to Joe Biden’s transition team.
The Democrat, who beat Trump by 6m ballots and 306-232 in the electoral college, can now properly plan to assume office on 20 January. Shortly before Trump pardoned a turkey, Biden introduced his national security appointees.
FLASHBACK: In 2018, President Trump attacked Carrots the turkey for refusing to concede he had lost the vote on the White House turkey pardon contest.
"This was a fair election... unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount."
pic.twitter.com/MzcackiDwd — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) November 23, 2020
As the turkey pardon approached, the world was quick to notice that at the same event in 2018, Trump made remarks which now sounded decidedly familiar.
“This was a fair election,” he said then, shortly after seeing his Republican party lose the House in midterm elections before and after which he made baseless claims about voter fraud. “Unfortunately, Carrots [a turkey] refused to concede and demanded a recount, and we’re still fighting with Carrots.”
To laughter, Trump said: “We’ve come to a conclusion. Carrots, I’m sorry to tell you, the result did not change. It’s too bad for Carrots.”
Trump has not come to his own conclusion about his defeat by Biden, refusing to concede and tweeting that though the transition process would begin, “we will keep up the good fight and I believe we will prevail”.
He has lost 35 of 36 election-related lawsuits. But he still has 57 days left in office, in which he may choose to use his pardon powder for more controversial recipients than the White House turkeys. Former campaign aides Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos are among those eagerly awaiting such news.
Some have speculated that Trump might use the power of the presidency to pardon himself. On Tuesday, he did not answer a shouted question on the subject.
Under a tradition generally held to have begun in 1947, Corn and Cob were set to be sent into comfortable retirement. Recently, such birds have lived out their days at Gobbler’s Rest, an enclosure at the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in Blacksburg.
Trump’s post-White House plans, including whether he will attend Biden’s inauguration, remain unclear. On Monday, reports said US Secret Service agents were being asked if they wanted to transfer to Palm Beach, Florida.


theguardian--2020-11-24--Who are Joe Biden's top cabinet picks?

Who are Joe Biden's top cabinet picks?

Joe Biden ’ s choice for secretary of state marks a sharp break with the Trump administration .
The former deputy secretary of state is a committed internationalist , who spent some of his childhood in Paris and is fluent in French .
He views US engagement with the world , and particularly Europe , as vital .
He was a member of Bill Clinton ’ s White House staff in the 1990s and served under President Barack Obama .
In 2019 he expressed strong opinions about Brexit , saying : “ This is not just the dog that caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caught the car and the car goes into reverse and runs over the dog .
It ’ s a total mess.
” The 74-year-old economist was the first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve , and looks set to achieve another first : becoming the country ’ s first female treasury secretary .
Professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley , a former assistant professor at Harvard and a lecturer at the London School of Economics , Yellen is an expert in labour markets and has highlighted the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
Donald Trump declined to reappoint her after his election , making her the first central bank chief not to serve two terms since the Carter administration .
Described by the former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro as “ a historic and experienced choice to lead an agency in desperate need of reform ” , the Cuban-American lawyer served as the deputy secretary of homeland security for nearly three years under Obama .
Formerly Obama ’ s director of US citizenship and immigration services , if confirmed , the 61-year-old would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead the department .
Linda Thomas-Greenfield – US ambassador to the United Nations The Louisianian was formerly assistant secretary of state for African affairs under the Obama and Trump administrations .
She was also the US ambassador to Liberia under George W Bush and Obama .
Of her appointment , Thomas-Greenfield , 68 , has said : “ My mother taught me to lead with the power of kindness and compassion to make the world a better place .
I ’ ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career in foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the same as ambassador to the United Nations.
” Perhaps the best known face internationally , Kerry will take the lead on combating the climate crisis .
The 76-year-old lost the 2004 US election to George W Bush , before going on to become secretary of state from 2013-17 under Obama .
The New York-born lawyer was previously deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency , the first woman to hold that position .
She worked closely with Biden from 2007-08 in her role as deputy chief counsel for the Senate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first female deputy national security adviser and , if confirmed , will become the first woman to be the director of national intelligence .
Sullivan was the national security adviser to Biden when he was vice-president and served as deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state .
Since 2014 , Sullivan , 43 , has been teaching at Yale law school .

Antony Blinken – secretary of state
Antony Blinken. Photograph: JJ Guillen/EPA
Joe Biden’s choice for secretary of state marks a sharp break with the Trump administration. The former deputy secretary of state is a committed internationalist, who spent some of his childhood in Paris and is fluent in French. He views US engagement with the world, and particularly Europe, as vital. He was a member of Bill Clinton’s White House staff in the 1990s and served under President Barack Obama. In 2019 he expressed strong opinions about Brexit, saying: “This is not just the dog that caught the car, this is the dog that caught the car and the car goes into reverse and runs over the dog. It’s a total mess.”
Janet Yellen – treasury secretary
Janet Yellen. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
The 74-year-old economist was the first woman to chair the US Federal Reserve, and looks set to achieve another first: becoming the country’s first female treasury secretary. Professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, a former assistant professor at Harvard and a lecturer at the London School of Economics, Yellen is an expert in labour markets and has highlighted the economic impact of uneven growth in the jobs market. Donald Trump declined to reappoint her after his election, making her the first central bank chief not to serve two terms since the Carter administration.
Alejandro Mayorkas – secretary of homeland security
Alejandro Mayorkas. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters
Described by the former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro as “a historic and experienced choice to lead an agency in desperate need of reform”, the Cuban-American lawyer served as the deputy secretary of homeland security for nearly three years under Obama. Formerly Obama’s director of US citizenship and immigration services, if confirmed, the 61-year-old would be the first Latino and the first immigrant to lead the department.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield – US ambassador to the United Nations
Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Photograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPA
The Louisianian was formerly assistant secretary of state for African affairs under the Obama and Trump administrations. She was also the US ambassador to Liberia under George W Bush and Obama. Of her appointment, Thomas-Greenfield, 68, has said: “My mother taught me to lead with the power of kindness and compassion to make the world a better place. I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career in foreign service and, if confirmed, will do the same as ambassador to the United Nations.”
John Kerry – special presidential envoy for climate
John Kerry. Photograph: Adam Berry/Getty
Perhaps the best known face internationally, Kerry will take the lead on combating the climate crisis. The 76-year-old lost the 2004 US election to George W Bush, before going on to become secretary of state from 2013-17 under Obama.
Avril Haines – director of national intelligence
Avril Haines. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock
The New York-born lawyer was previously deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the first woman to hold that position. She worked closely with Biden from 2007-08 in her role as deputy chief counsel for the Senate Democrats. Haines, 51, was also the first female deputy national security adviser and, if confirmed, will become the first woman to be the director of national intelligence.
Jake Sullivan – national security adviser
Jake Sullivan. Photograph: Washington Post/Getty
Sullivan was the national security adviser to Biden when he was vice-president and served as deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state. Since 2014, Sullivan, 43, has been teaching at Yale law school.