shareblue--2020-11-30--White House Christmas display honors essential workers Trump abandoned

This year 's White House Christmas display features a touching nod to essential workers — one that sharply contrasts with Donald Trump 's repeated efforts to undermine their safety and security throughout the preceding year .
According to a Monday CNN report , Melania Trump 's holiday decorations showcase essential workers during the pandemic .
`` Highlights of this year 's display — coming during a global pandemic — include a tribute to essential workers in the Red Room , including a light-up ceramic post office , and a tree with ornaments celebrating frontline workers , including a trash truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nurse hat , '' reported the outlet .
The office of the first lady offered up glowing words in praise of essential workers to explain the purpose of the decor .
`` We salute America 's everyday heroes who serve as first responders and frontline workers , '' her office told CNN .
`` Handmade ornaments highlight the many professionals and volunteers who serve their communities with a spirit of generosity . ''
Despite the White House 's ornaments to honor essential workers , their treatment at the hands of the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has killed 267,000 Americans to date — has appalled many .
From the day he took office , Trump has treated the lives of essential workers as though they were expendable .
According to an NPR report , the Trump administration as early as 2017 halted any work on federal regulations that would have protected health care workers facing an airborne infectious disease pandemic .
`` If that rule had gone into effect , then every hospital , every nursing home would essentially have to have a plan where they made sure they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this sort of pandemic , '' David Michaels , who formerly helmed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , told the outlet .
NPR reported that there are still no federal regulations protecting health care workers in the event of an airborne pandemic .
In September , National Nurses United , one of the largest unions of nurses in the country , reported that more than 1,700 health care workers had died from COVID-19 .
Throughout the 2020 pandemic , Trump also repeatedly maligned scientists and flouted guidelines for pandemic safety .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers of hoarding ventilators .
In late October , he accused them of profiteering off of COVID-19 deaths , overdiagnosing the virus for financial gain .
When Trump contracted the virus himself and was hospitalized in early October at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , he thought nothing of endangering the lives of Secret Service agents by taking an unnecessary joyride through the streets of Washington D.C. to wave at his supporters .
The move was panned by Walter Reed attending physician Dr. James Phillips as `` political theater . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were exposed to the disease became infected with the virus during the White House outbreak .
They were under strict orders to keep their diagnoses to themselves .
Many of the White House residence team members are Black and Latinx , with a significant number over the age of 65 , all populations at a higher risk of experiencing illness with the virus .
Trump has endangered other essential workers in 2020 as well .
In the spring , the Trump administration declared farm workers , many of them undocumented , to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders — and then in November , moved to freeze the wages of any non-citizen farm worker until 2023 .
In August , Trump declared teachers to be `` essential workers '' in a bald effort to exert pressure on schools to reopen despite concerns about student and staff safety .
Meanwhile , Trump 's OSHA has been largely missing in action , failing to protect workers and citing only three businesses for pandemic-related safety violations — throughout the entire course of the pandemic .
And , in a move widely slammed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order in April ordering meatpacking plants to stay open despite employees being ravaged by COVID-19 .
At the time , he cited Tyson Foods specifically as one company his executive order was meant to protect from `` liability problems . ''
This decision to protect corporate interests directly paved the way for continued abuses of employees by companies like Tyson Foods , whose workers were endangered during the pandemic by negligent safety practices .
A recent lawsuit against the company alleges that in the aftermath of Trump 's executive order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how many employees would contract coronavirus .
And , despite the White House 's festive display of a tiny light-up post office , Trump has consistently vilified the post office throughout 2020 .
In a Sunday interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo , he continued his baseless and repeatedly debunked claims that the election was stolen from him through a massive scheme involving millions of mail-in ballots .
He specifically accused postal workers of being in on the plot .
`` There are many mailmen that are in big trouble for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said without evidence .
Trump 's treatment of essential workers during the pandemic was so widely criticized by labor unions that the Service Employees International Union even invested $ 150 million in defeating him in the election .
`` Our grief turned into righteous indignation about how our government and corporations were failing the vast majority of essential workers , '' the organization 's president , Mary Kay Henry , told BuzzFeed News .
`` There was this irony to the idea that these workers were being held up as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them don ’ t have the healthcare they need to look after themselves or paid two weeks of sick leave as a condition of work . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

This year’s White House Christmas display features a touching nod to essential workers — one that sharply contrasts with Donald Trump’s repeated efforts to undermine their safety and security throughout the preceding year.
According to a Monday CNN report, Melania Trump’s holiday decorations showcase essential workers during the pandemic.
“Highlights of this year’s display — coming during a global pandemic — include a tribute to essential workers in the Red Room, including a light-up ceramic post office, and a tree with ornaments celebrating frontline workers, including a trash truck, scientist, caregiver, lab coat and nurse hat,” reported the outlet.
The office of the first lady offered up glowing words in praise of essential workers to explain the purpose of the decor.
“We salute America’s everyday heroes who serve as first responders and frontline workers,” her office told CNN. “Handmade ornaments highlight the many professionals and volunteers who serve their communities with a spirit of generosity.”
Despite the White House’s ornaments to honor essential workers, their treatment at the hands of the White House occupant — during a pandemic that has killed 267,000 Americans to date — has appalled many.
From the day he took office, Trump has treated the lives of essential workers as though they were expendable.
According to an NPR report, the Trump administration as early as 2017 halted any work on federal regulations that would have protected health care workers facing an airborne infectious disease pandemic.
“If that rule had gone into effect, then every hospital, every nursing home would essentially have to have a plan where they made sure they had enough respirators and they were prepared for this sort of pandemic,” David Michaels, who formerly helmed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, told the outlet.
NPR reported that there are still no federal regulations protecting health care workers in the event of an airborne pandemic. In September, National Nurses United, one of the largest unions of nurses in the country, reported that more than 1,700 health care workers had died from COVID-19.
Throughout the 2020 pandemic, Trump also repeatedly maligned scientists and flouted guidelines for pandemic safety.
In March, he falsely accused health care workers of hoarding ventilators. In late October, he accused them of profiteering off of COVID-19 deaths, overdiagnosing the virus for financial gain.
When Trump contracted the virus himself and was hospitalized in early October at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he thought nothing of endangering the lives of Secret Service agents by taking an unnecessary joyride through the streets of Washington D.C. to wave at his supporters.
The move was panned by Walter Reed attending physician Dr. James Phillips as “political theater.”
And several White House housecleaning staff who were exposed to the disease became infected with the virus during the White House outbreak. They were under strict orders to keep their diagnoses to themselves.
Many of the White House residence team members are Black and Latinx, with a significant number over the age of 65, all populations at a higher risk of experiencing illness with the virus.
Trump has endangered other essential workers in 2020 as well.
In the spring, the Trump administration declared farm workers, many of them undocumented, to be “essential” and exempt from stay-at-home orders — and then in November, moved to freeze the wages of any non-citizen farm worker until 2023.
In August, Trump declared teachers to be “essential workers” in a bald effort to exert pressure on schools to reopen despite concerns about student and staff safety.
Meanwhile, Trump’s OSHA has been largely missing in action, failing to protect workers and citing only three businesses for pandemic-related safety violations — throughout the entire course of the pandemic.
And, in a move widely slammed by unions across the country, Trump signed an executive order in April ordering meatpacking plants to stay open despite employees being ravaged by COVID-19. At the time, he cited Tyson Foods specifically as one company his executive order was meant to protect from “liability problems.”
This decision to protect corporate interests directly paved the way for continued abuses of employees by companies like Tyson Foods, whose workers were endangered during the pandemic by negligent safety practices.
A recent lawsuit against the company alleges that in the aftermath of Trump’s executive order, management at one Iowa plant took bets on how many employees would contract coronavirus.
And, despite the White House’s festive display of a tiny light-up post office, Trump has consistently vilified the post office throughout 2020.
In a Sunday interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, he continued his baseless and repeatedly debunked claims that the election was stolen from him through a massive scheme involving millions of mail-in ballots. He specifically accused postal workers of being in on the plot.
“There are many mailmen that are in big trouble for selling ballots, getting rid of ballots,” he said without evidence.
Trump’s treatment of essential workers during the pandemic was so widely criticized by labor unions that the Service Employees International Union even invested $150 million in defeating him in the election.
“Our grief turned into righteous indignation about how our government and corporations were failing the vast majority of essential workers,” the organization’s president, Mary Kay Henry, told BuzzFeed News. “There was this irony to the idea that these workers were being held up as heroes and applauded every night and many of them don’t have the healthcare they need to look after themselves or paid two weeks of sick leave as a condition of work.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--Attack on TV star Laverne Cox shows 'it's not safe if you're a trans person'

Laverne Cox , the actress and advocate for LGBTQ rights , was targeted by a man who used anti-trans language as she was walking with a friend of hers in Los Angeles over the weekend .
Cox is one of the most well-known transgender celebrities in the country and was the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine .
But as Cox said in a video posted on Instagram shortly after the event took place , `` It 's not safe in the world .
...
It 's not safe if you 're a trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who you are .
You can be , like , Laverne Cox , whatever that means .
If you 're trans , you 're going to experience stuff like this . ''
Cox explained that she was walking with a male friend in Griffith Park when a man approached them aggressively , asked for the time , and then asked her friend , `` Guy or girl ? ''
The friend then told the stranger , `` Fuck off , '' and the man hit him , fleeing when Cox took out her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cox said she and her friend are safe .
The harassment and violence against Cox and her friend are a reminder that 2020 has seen the highest number of killings of transgender people in the United States since the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign began tracking them in 2013 .
HRC says that at least 39 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been violently killed this year .
Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women .
Last year , at least 25 transgender and gender nonconforming people were killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Black transgender woman , is one of the most recent victims .
She was killed in Richmond on Nov. 23 .
Her father said that her death has been `` tremendously heartbreaking '' and that the family is `` never going to stop looking '' for her assailant .
HRC 's report on anti-trans violence calls it an `` epidemic '' and urges political leaders to pass federal and state laws that prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination , improve data collection , decriminalize sex work , and introduce new police accountability measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stigma is one of many ways to prevent more violence against transgender people , including eliminating the `` hostile political climate '' that the Trump administration has fostered through numerous policy decisions and through the words of the people who represent it .
During the National Republican Convention in August , Cissie Graham Lynch , the daughter of Franklin Graham and granddaughter of Billy Graham , gave a speech that perpetuated harmful myths about transgender people .
Other political figures and candidates with records of making transphobic statements were also given speaking spots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , founder of the right-wing student group Turning Point USA , and Kimberly Klacik , a Republican who ran for Maryland 's 7th Congressional District and lost .
When transgender people are kept out of full participation in the health care system , social services , employment , and access to accurate identification documents , they 're also put at risk of violence , the report says .
The Trump administration has introduced rules that would deny transgender people equal access to health care and has encouraged discrimination against transgender students and transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to reverse Trump administration rules that are harmful to the LGBTQ community and prioritize the passage of the Equality Act , a bill prohibiting anti-LGBTQ discrimination , in his first 100 days in office .
During the last few weeks of his presidential campaign , Biden acknowledged recent killings of transgender people and said there should be `` zero discrimination '' against transgender people .
Biden told Philadelphia Gay News that he had plans to address this violence through the collection of better data on hate crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes legislation , and support for state and federal efforts that would make it easier for transgender people to get accurate government identification .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Laverne Cox, the actress and advocate for LGBTQ rights, was targeted by a man who used anti-trans language as she was walking with a friend of hers in Los Angeles over the weekend. Cox is one of the most well-known transgender celebrities in the country and was the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
But as Cox said in a video posted on Instagram shortly after the event took place, “It’s not safe in the world. … It’s not safe if you’re a trans person. … It doesn’t matter who you are. You can be, like, Laverne Cox, whatever that means. If you’re trans, you’re going to experience stuff like this.“
Cox explained that she was walking with a male friend in Griffith Park when a man approached them aggressively, asked for the time, and then asked her friend, “Guy or girl?” The friend then told the stranger, “Fuck off,” and the man hit him, fleeing when Cox took out her phone to call 911.
A shaken Cox said she and her friend are safe.
The harassment and violence against Cox and her friend are a reminder that 2020 has seen the highest number of killings of transgender people in the United States since the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign began tracking them in 2013. HRC says that at least 39 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been violently killed this year. Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women. Last year, at least 25 transgender and gender nonconforming people were killed in the United States.
Chae’Meshia Simms, a Black transgender woman, is one of the most recent victims. She was killed in Richmond on Nov. 23. Her father said that her death has been “tremendously heartbreaking” and that the family is “never going to stop looking” for her assailant.
HRC’s report on anti-trans violence calls it an “epidemic” and urges political leaders to pass federal and state laws that prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination, improve data collection, decriminalize sex work, and introduce new police accountability measures.
The report also notes that ending anti-trans stigma is one of many ways to prevent more violence against transgender people, including eliminating the “hostile political climate” that the Trump administration has fostered through numerous policy decisions and through the words of the people who represent it.
During the National Republican Convention in August, Cissie Graham Lynch, the daughter of Franklin Graham and granddaughter of Billy Graham, gave a speech that perpetuated harmful myths about transgender people. Other political figures and candidates with records of making transphobic statements were also given speaking spots at the convention, including Charlie Kirk, founder of the right-wing student group Turning Point USA, and Kimberly Klacik, a Republican who ran for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District and lost.
When transgender people are kept out of full participation in the health care system, social services, employment, and access to accurate identification documents, they’re also put at risk of violence, the report says. The Trump administration has introduced rules that would deny transgender people equal access to health care and has encouraged discrimination against transgender students and transgender homeless, among many other anti-LGBTQ actions.
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to reverse Trump administration rules that are harmful to the LGBTQ community and prioritize the passage of the Equality Act, a bill prohibiting anti-LGBTQ discrimination, in his first 100 days in office.
During the last few weeks of his presidential campaign, Biden acknowledged recent killings of transgender people and said there should be “zero discrimination” against transgender people. Biden told Philadelphia Gay News that he had plans to address this violence through the collection of better data on hate crimes, strengthening of enforcement of federal hate crimes legislation, and support for state and federal efforts that would make it easier for transgender people to get accurate government identification.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--Arizona certifies Biden as winner while Giuliani is there spewing lies about 'fraud'

Arizona on Monday certified former Vice President Joe Biden as the winner of the state 's 11 Electoral College votes , ignoring pleas from Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliana , who at the very moment the certification took place was telling lies about voter fraud and encouraging the state to not certify its results .
At the time Arizona certified its results — with Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey in attendance — Giuliani was testifying at a so-called `` hearing '' held by Arizona Republican state lawmakers , who gathered at a hotel in Phoenix to come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud lies .
Giuliani told the Republican-held Legislature to `` take over '' the election , alleging without any proof that `` a few hundred thousand '' of what he claimed were 5 million `` illegal aliens and immigrants '' voted in Arizona 's election .
Of course , Arizona has a total population of roughly 7.3 million people , according to the Census Bureau .
That means , according to Giuliani 's logic , nearly 70 % of the state 's residents are undocumented immigrants .
But there is no proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just Giuliani 's hunch .
`` There is no question any reasonable person ’ s mind that the vote totals contain large numbers of illegal votes from people who are not citizens of United States , '' Giuliani said at the hearing , according to RawStory .
`` And the officials certifying have made no effort to find out the truth , which , seems to me , gives the state legislature a perfect reason to take over the conduct of this election . ''
During the hearing , Giuliani called a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debriefed the son of a Cuban intelligence officer who had first-hand knowledge '' that long-dead Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez was involved in a conspiracy to rig voting machines in the 2020 election .
There is no evidence of this , and the conspiracy theory falls apart when you take even a surface-level look into the results of the election .
Most of all , Giuliani admitted he did n't actually have any evidence to back up any of his wild claims of fraud .
`` And you have situations of stuffing the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to quantify those but those are harder to quantify , '' Giuliani said at one point , making an extreme allegation that he said he had no facts to justify .
Arizona certifying its results as Giuliani spoke at the hearing is the latest failed effort by the Trump campaign to steal the election .
Trump has put pressure on Republicans in critical states like Arizona , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Georgia to overturn their results and make Trump the winner .
Yet the states have not followed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Wisconsin have certified their results .
And Wisconsin is set to certify its own results on Monday afternoon , after it held a recount that found Trump lost by more votes than previously thought .
Meanwhile , both state and federal judges are tossing out Trump lawsuits seeking to block vote certifications and throw out votes .
Many of the judges are even dressing down the Trump campaign 's legal team for providing no evidence of their claims .
With the vote certification , Biden became the first Democrat since 1996 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second time in more than a half-century that a Democrat won the state .
Arizona on Monday also certified Democratic Sen.-elect Mark Kelly 's defeat over appointed GOP Sen. Martha McSally .
McSally has now lost both of Arizona 's Senate seats — first losing the seat vacated by former Sen. Jeff Flake ( R-AZ ) in 2018 , and now this seat once held by the late-Sen. John McCain .
Kelly will be sworn into the Senate on Wednesday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Arizona on Monday certified former Vice President Joe Biden as the winner of the state’s 11 Electoral College votes, ignoring pleas from Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who at the very moment the certification took place was telling lies about voter fraud and encouraging the state to not certify its results.
At the time Arizona certified its results — with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in attendance — Giuliani was testifying at a so-called “hearing” held by Arizona Republican state lawmakers, who gathered at a hotel in Phoenix to come up with evidence to back up Trump’s voter fraud lies.
Giuliani told the Republican-held Legislature to “take over” the election, alleging without any proof that “a few hundred thousand” of what he claimed were 5 million “illegal aliens and immigrants” voted in Arizona’s election.
Of course, Arizona has a total population of roughly 7.3 million people, according to the Census Bureau. That means, according to Giuliani’s logic, nearly 70% of the state’s residents are undocumented immigrants. But there is no proof that any undocumented immigrants voted — it was just Giuliani’s hunch.
“There is no question any reasonable person’s mind that the vote totals contain large numbers of illegal votes from people who are not citizens of United States,” Giuliani said at the hearing, according to RawStory. “And the officials certifying have made no effort to find out the truth, which, seems to me, gives the state legislature a perfect reason to take over the conduct of this election.”
During the hearing, Giuliani called a witness who claimed to have “personally debriefed the son of a Cuban intelligence officer who had first-hand knowledge” that long-dead Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez was involved in a conspiracy to rig voting machines in the 2020 election. There is no evidence of this, and the conspiracy theory falls apart when you take even a surface-level look into the results of the election.
Most of all, Giuliani admitted he didn’t actually have any evidence to back up any of his wild claims of fraud.
“And you have situations of stuffing the ballot box, and we will we will try to quantify those but those are harder to quantify,” Giuliani said at one point, making an extreme allegation that he said he had no facts to justify.
Arizona certifying its results as Giuliani spoke at the hearing is the latest failed effort by the Trump campaign to steal the election.
Trump has put pressure on Republicans in critical states like Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia to overturn their results and make Trump the winner. Yet the states have not followed that command.
All of those states save for Wisconsin have certified their results. And Wisconsin is set to certify its own results on Monday afternoon, after it held a recount that found Trump lost by more votes than previously thought.
Meanwhile, both state and federal judges are tossing out Trump lawsuits seeking to block vote certifications and throw out votes. Many of the judges are even dressing down the Trump campaign’s legal team for providing no evidence of their claims.
With the vote certification, Biden became the first Democrat since 1996 to win Arizona. And it’s only the second time in more than a half-century that a Democrat won the state.
Arizona on Monday also certified Democratic Sen.-elect Mark Kelly’s defeat over appointed GOP Sen. Martha McSally. McSally has now lost both of Arizona’s Senate seats — first losing the seat vacated by former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) in 2018, and now this seat once held by the late-Sen. John McCain.
Kelly will be sworn into the Senate on Wednesday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--Europe Union excited to work with Biden after years of Trump's damage

Following a strained relationship with the United States under Donald Trump , the European Union is seeking to repair the damage under a Biden administration .
Twenty-seven ambassadors from the EU met on Monday to discuss ways to work with President-elect Joe Biden , Reuters reported , citing an internal document that said the new incoming administration gives the EU `` an opportunity for the EU to renew and reinvigorate its strategic partnership with the U.S. based on mutual interests . ''
An EU official noted to the wire service that the countries agreed on five key policy areas : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , world peace and security , and shared values with belief in multilateral rules .
Over the last four years , Trump 's `` America First '' agenda had wrecked relations with Europe , including with many of the United States ' closest allies .
Earlier this month , the United States prompted an international outcry when it formally withdrew from the Paris climate agreement — the agreement of nearly 200 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to fight climate change .
Michael Brune , Sierra Club 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , calling Trump `` the worst president in history for our climate and our clean air and water . ''
`` Long after Trump is out of office his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement will be seen as a historic error , '' Brune said .
Biden has said he will rejoin the Paris agreement and announced last week that former Secretary of State John Kerry , who worked on the agreement , will serve as on Biden 's National Security Council as the first special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the EU blasted Trump 's travel restrictions applied to the 26 Schengen-area European countries , which does not include the United Kingdom , which EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement was done `` unilaterally and without consultation . ''
They noted that the coronavirus pandemic `` is a global crisis , not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action . ''
Last October , Trump escalated the trade war against Europe when he imposed up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on European exports .
In a July 2018 interview with `` CBS Evening News , '' Trump called the EU a worse `` foe '' than China and Russia .
`` Well , I think we have a lot of foes , I think the European Union is a foe , '' he told CBS anchor Jeff Glor .
`` What they do to us in trade .
Now , you wouldn ’ t think of the European Union , but they ’ re a foe . ''
Glor noted that many `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list the EU as a foe before China and Russia , '' but Trump responded , `` EU is very difficult ... maybe the thing that is most difficult . ''
Trump 's decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 , violating the international agreement , also upset allies .
`` With friends like that , who needs enemies , '' Donald Tusk , president of the European Council , said in 2018 of Trump 's international decisions .
In another shocking move that would destabilize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 White House meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron offered France a better trade deal than the rest of the EU if the country leaves the union .
In April of this year , Trump halted funding of the World Health Organization , another move that upset America 's allies around the globe .
He baselessly accused the organization of `` severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus . ''
In fact , the organization had been warning of the seriousness of coronavirus pandemic for months , as Trump repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guterres criticized the move at the time .
`` Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse , not a time to cut the resources of the [ WHO ] , which is spearheading and coordinating the global body ’ s efforts , '' he said in a statement .
Biden has said he will rejoin the organization on his first day in office to `` restore our leadership on the world stage . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Following a strained relationship with the United States under Donald Trump, the European Union is seeking to repair the damage under a Biden administration.
Twenty-seven ambassadors from the EU met on Monday to discuss ways to work with President-elect Joe Biden, Reuters reported, citing an internal document that said the new incoming administration gives the EU “an opportunity for the EU to renew and reinvigorate its strategic partnership with the U.S. based on mutual interests.”
An EU official noted to the wire service that the countries agreed on five key policy areas: the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, climate change, world peace and security, and shared values with belief in multilateral rules.
Over the last four years, Trump’s “America First” agenda had wrecked relations with Europe, including with many of the United States’ closest allies.
Earlier this month, the United States prompted an international outcry when it formally withdrew from the Paris climate agreement — the agreement of nearly 200 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to fight climate change.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo submitted a formal withdrawal notice a year ago.
Michael Brune, Sierra Club’s executive director, slammed the move at the time, calling Trump “the worst president in history for our climate and our clean air and water.”
“Long after Trump is out of office his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement will be seen as a historic error,” Brune said.
Biden has said he will rejoin the Paris agreement and announced last week that former Secretary of State John Kerry, who worked on the agreement, will serve as on Biden’s National Security Council as the first special presidential envoy for climate.
In March, the EU blasted Trump’s travel restrictions applied to the 26 Schengen-area European countries, which does not include the United Kingdom, which EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement was done “unilaterally and without consultation.” They noted that the coronavirus pandemic “is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.”
Last October, Trump escalated the trade war against Europe when he imposed up to an annual $7.5 billion in tariffs on European exports.
In a July 2018 interview with “CBS Evening News,” Trump called the EU a worse “foe” than China and Russia.
“Well, I think we have a lot of foes, I think the European Union is a foe,” he told CBS anchor Jeff Glor. “What they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe.”
Glor noted that many “people might be surprised to hear you list the EU as a foe before China and Russia,” but Trump responded, “EU is very difficult … maybe the thing that is most difficult.”
Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, violating the international agreement, also upset allies.
“With friends like that, who needs enemies,” Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said in 2018 of Trump’s international decisions.
In another shocking move that would destabilize the EU, Trump in an April 2018 White House meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron offered France a better trade deal than the rest of the EU if the country leaves the union.
In April of this year, Trump halted funding of the World Health Organization, another move that upset America’s allies around the globe. He baselessly accused the organization of “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.” In fact, the organization had been warning of the seriousness of coronavirus pandemic for months, as Trump repeatedly downplayed it.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the move at the time.
“Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse, not a time to cut the resources of the [WHO], which is spearheading and coordinating the global body’s efforts,” he said in a statement.
Biden has said he will rejoin the organization on his first day in office to “restore our leadership on the world stage.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--GOP governor says McConnell will prevent Senate gridlock. Yes, that McConnell.

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , who has decried `` extremism '' and gridlock , wants Georgia voters to keep Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader .
Despite the Kentucky Republican 's long record of obstruction and partisanship , Hogan claimed keeping him in charge of the Senate would somehow lead to more `` moderation and compromise . ''
Hogan , who has branded himself as a different kind of Republican and refused to support Donald Trump , penned an opinion piece Monday in the Washington Examiner endorsing Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue ( R-GA ) in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the White House , Republicans added a governorship in Montana , far exceeded expectations in Senate races , gained seats in the House and in state legislatures .
The result was a mandate for moderation and compromise — not for more gridlock , extremism , and dysfunction , '' Hogan wrote .
`` For the sake of our nation , I urge Georgians to uphold America ’ s mandate for moderation and compromise by voting to keep David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the U.S .
Senate . ''
Hogan is correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very small and typically GOP-leaning state of Montana this year .
But Democrats also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and gained at least one seat in the Senate , pending the two Georgia races .
If Georgia voters elect Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the Senate , the party will net three seats and will narrowly control the Senate ( with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris able to break a 50-50 tie after she is sworn in January 20 ) .
Loeffler and Perdue have been among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration .
Loeffler is campaigning on her 100 % pro-Trump record , her inability to think of a single time she has disagreed with Trump , and her `` more conservative '' than Attila the Hun ideology .
Perdue voted with Trump about 95 % of the time .
He and Loeffler have joined together to back Trump 's debunked conspiracy claims about the 2020 election .
A Hogan spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
But Hogan 's claim that a GOP Senate would mean less `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not borne out by recent history and he knows it .
As the Senate 's minority leader for most of the Obama administration , McConnell perfected a strategy of filibustering nearly every nominee and bill , setting all-time records for obstruction .
As majority leader since 2015 , McConnell refused to consider Obama 's judicial nominees — even holding open a Supreme Court seat for a full year to let Trump fill it .
He singlehandedly blocked more than 400 pieces of House-passed legislation in the last two years , killing action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the minimum wage , health care access , equal pay , Dreamers , and the climate .
Also among the bills he obstructed was a $ 3 trillion pandemic relief bill that passed the House in May and never got a vote in the Senate .
McConnell decried its funding for struggling state and local governments as a `` blue state bailout '' and vowed to block it .
Hogan called McConnell 's attack `` complete nonsense '' in late April , saying he hoped to `` convince Sen. McConnell that maybe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankrupt . ''
But McConnell stood firm , preventing Maryland from getting any of the $ 9.5 billion the House was offering .
In September , Hogan also denounced McConnell 's scheme to ram through a Supreme Court appointment in the weeks before the election , saying this would be playing `` partisan games with the Supreme Court . ''
McConnell did so anyway , confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett without a single Democratic vote just days before Americans elected Biden .
McConnell is reportedly already plotting to block Biden 's Cabinet nominees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Senate .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has decried “extremism” and gridlock, wants Georgia voters to keep Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader. Despite the Kentucky Republican’s long record of obstruction and partisanship, Hogan claimed keeping him in charge of the Senate would somehow lead to more “moderation and compromise.”
Hogan, who has branded himself as a different kind of Republican and refused to support Donald Trump, penned an opinion piece Monday in the Washington Examiner endorsing Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue (R-GA) in their January runoffs.
“Although Joe Biden won the White House, Republicans added a governorship in Montana, far exceeded expectations in Senate races, gained seats in the House and in state legislatures. The result was a mandate for moderation and compromise — not for more gridlock, extremism, and dysfunction,” Hogan wrote. “For the sake of our nation, I urge Georgians to uphold America’s mandate for moderation and compromise by voting to keep David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the U.S. Senate.”
Hogan is correct that Republicans won a governorship in the very small and typically GOP-leaning state of Montana this year. But Democrats also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and gained at least one seat in the Senate, pending the two Georgia races.
If Georgia voters elect Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the Senate, the party will net three seats and will narrowly control the Senate (with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris able to break a 50-50 tie after she is sworn in January 20).
Loeffler and Perdue have been among the most partisan supporters of the lame-duck administration.
Loeffler is campaigning on her 100% pro-Trump record, her inability to think of a single time she has disagreed with Trump, and her “more conservative” than Attila the Hun ideology.
Perdue voted with Trump about 95% of the time. He and Loeffler have joined together to back Trump’s debunked conspiracy claims about the 2020 election.
A Hogan spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
But Hogan’s claim that a GOP Senate would mean less “gridlock, extremism, and dysfunction” is not borne out by recent history and he knows it.
As the Senate’s minority leader for most of the Obama administration, McConnell perfected a strategy of filibustering nearly every nominee and bill, setting all-time records for obstruction.
As majority leader since 2015, McConnell refused to consider Obama’s judicial nominees — even holding open a Supreme Court seat for a full year to let Trump fill it. He singlehandedly blocked more than 400 pieces of House-passed legislation in the last two years, killing action on voting rights, LGBTQ equality, the minimum wage, health care access, equal pay, Dreamers, and the climate.
Also among the bills he obstructed was a $3 trillion pandemic relief bill that passed the House in May and never got a vote in the Senate. McConnell decried its funding for struggling state and local governments as a “blue state bailout” and vowed to block it.
Hogan called McConnell’s attack “complete nonsense” in late April, saying he hoped to “convince Sen. McConnell that maybe he shouldn’t let all the states go bankrupt.” But McConnell stood firm, preventing Maryland from getting any of the $9.5 billion the House was offering.
In September, Hogan also denounced McConnell’s scheme to ram through a Supreme Court appointment in the weeks before the election, saying this would be playing “partisan games with the Supreme Court.” McConnell did so anyway, confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett without a single Democratic vote just days before Americans elected Biden.
McConnell is reportedly already plotting to block Biden’s Cabinet nominees if he controls a majority in the new Senate.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--Trump's approval ratings drop as he vows to keep fighting election results

Since President-elect Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election , Donald Trump has continued to fight the election 's results , even as his approval ratings among members of his own party have fallen by 6 full points .
The first Gallup survey taken after the election indicates that Trump 's overall rating among American adults has dropped from 45 % to 42 % , but his rating among Republicans , which sat at 95 % in late October , has dropped to 89 % in the wake of the election .
And , according to the poll , 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. '' prior to the election , but only 35 % said the same during the period of the survey , from Nov. 5 to 19 .
According to Gallup , every other loser of a presidential election since 2008 has enjoyed either a boost in popularity or ratings that remained largely the same .
John McCain 's popularity increased by 14 points after the 2008 election .
The report goes on to note that Mitt Romney 's popularity increased after the 2012 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less the same following her 2016 loss , making Trump 's ratings drop unparalleled in recent years .
According to a report published by Pew Research Center on Aug. 24 , by the end of the summer , about 40 % of Americans approved of the job Trump was doing in office .
`` Although Trump experienced a slight bump in approval ratings at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak – 45 % of the public in March and 44 % of the public in April said they approved of the way Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings have settled back to where they were before the pandemic hit the United States , '' the report noted .
This means Trump 's approval ratings have in general dipped lower than those of any modern president besides George H.W .
Bush in 1992 .
He is the first modern president never to surpass a 50 % approval rating at any point during his time in office .
By contrast , Gallup finds that Biden 's approval rating , which currently sits at 55 % , is the highest it 's ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the poll does not specify the reasons for Trump 's drop in popularity , a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the three days following the media 's call that Biden had won the election , indicates that nearly 8 in 10 Americans accept that he did win , despite Trump 's continuing claims to the contrary .
And even prominent Republicans such as former President George W. Bush have acknowledged Biden 's win , while others , such as Bush 's former White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove and Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been openly critical of Trump 's failure to concede .
Some 30 members of Trump 's own senior staff shared with the Washington Post directly that Trump 's behavior has become increasingly erratic in the aftermath of the election , with one comparing the White House occupant to `` Mad King George , muttering , ' I won .
I won .
I won . '
'' But Trump continues to claim without evidence that he won the election .
`` NO WAY WE LOST THIS ELECTION ! ''
Trump tweeted Sunday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning .
`` I 'm not fighting for me , '' Trump wrote .
`` I 'm fighting for the 74,000,000 million people ( not including the many Trump ballots that were 'tossed ' ) , a record for a sitting President , who voted for me ! ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Since President-elect Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election, Donald Trump has continued to fight the election’s results, even as his approval ratings among members of his own party have fallen by 6 full points.
The first Gallup survey taken after the election indicates that Trump’s overall rating among American adults has dropped from 45% to 42%, but his rating among Republicans, which sat at 95% in late October, has dropped to 89% in the wake of the election.
And, according to the poll, 60% of Republicans said they were “satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S.” prior to the election, but only 35% said the same during the period of the survey, from Nov. 5 to 19.
According to Gallup, every other loser of a presidential election since 2008 has enjoyed either a boost in popularity or ratings that remained largely the same. John McCain’s popularity increased by 14 points after the 2008 election.
The report goes on to note that Mitt Romney’s popularity increased after the 2012 election and Hillary Clinton’s remained more or less the same following her 2016 loss, making Trump’s ratings drop unparalleled in recent years.
According to a report published by Pew Research Center on Aug. 24, by the end of the summer, about 40% of Americans approved of the job Trump was doing in office.
“Although Trump experienced a slight bump in approval ratings at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak – 45% of the public in March and 44% of the public in April said they approved of the way Trump was handling his job – his approval ratings have settled back to where they were before the pandemic hit the United States,” the report noted.
This means Trump’s approval ratings have in general dipped lower than those of any modern president besides George H.W. Bush in 1992. He is the first modern president never to surpass a 50% approval rating at any point during his time in office.
By contrast, Gallup finds that Biden’s approval rating, which currently sits at 55%, is the highest it’s ever been since he announced his presidential bid.
While the poll does not specify the reasons for Trump’s drop in popularity, a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the three days following the media’s call that Biden had won the election, indicates that nearly 8 in 10 Americans accept that he did win, despite Trump’s continuing claims to the contrary.
And even prominent Republicans such as former President George W. Bush have acknowledged Biden’s win, while others, such as Bush’s former White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), have been openly critical of Trump’s failure to concede.
Some 30 members of Trump’s own senior staff shared with the Washington Post directly that Trump’s behavior has become increasingly erratic in the aftermath of the election, with one comparing the White House occupant to “Mad King George, muttering, ‘I won. I won. I won.'”
But Trump continues to claim without evidence that he won the election.
“NO WAY WE LOST THIS ELECTION!” Trump tweeted Sunday night.
He continued in the same vein Monday morning.
“I’m not fighting for me,” Trump wrote. “I’m fighting for the 74,000,000 million people (not including the many Trump ballots that were ‘tossed’), a record for a sitting President, who voted for me!”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-30--Senate returns to confirm more right-wing judges but ignores virus aid

The GOP-led Senate returned on Monday from the Thanksgiving holiday .
But rather than prioritize aid to help the millions of jobless Americans and the cities and states struggling from the economic downturn , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is instead lining up the confirmation of more right-wing judges .
On Monday , the Senate will resume consideration of Taylor B. McNeel to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi , according to the calendar of Senate floor proceedings .
McNeel is a member of the Federalist Society , a right-wing group of lawyers and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous members to serve on federal courts .
The Federalist Society also played a huge role in crafting Trump 's list of potential Supreme Court nominees in 2016 .
Earlier this month , Federalist Society member and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito gave a nakedly partisan speech at the group 's annual meeting in which he denigrated Democratic governors and even criticized marriage equality becoming the law of the land .
Ultimately , with just 15 working days left until the end of the year , coronavirus relief does not appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forced to prioritize a spending deal to avoid a government shutdown when funding runs out on Dec. 11 .
Congress is also focused on passing a defense spending bill that Trump is threatening to veto because it will force military bases with Confederate namesakes to be renamed .
The deal had already been made , but Trump 's veto threat puts its passage in doubt .
This all comes as cases of the coronavirus are surging and hospitals are once again filling up — with more cases expected thanks to Thanksgiving gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing as we go towards the end now , and getting into December , we 're seeing the surge with an inflection curve like this , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , the infectious disease expert , said Sunday on `` Meet the Press . ''
`` The concern we had , as we entered into the Thanksgiving holiday and as we 're now coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday , is that the travel and the people congregating at dinners ... that we might see a surge superimposed upon that surge that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that some key programs created in initial coronavirus bills are set to expire at the end of the year — including extending the amount of time people can receive unemployment benefits , as well as continuing to allow the self-employed , who normally are ineligible for Unemployment Insurance , to receive unemployment aid .
Those programs expire on Dec. 26 , and if they are not extended could lead to at least 12 million people losing benefits , according to the Washington Post .
The Democratic-led House has already passed multiple coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and create new rounds of direct payments to Americans .
Yet McConnell has repeatedly refused to take them up .
Instead , he 's prioritized confirming Trump appointed judges , including some deemed unqualified for their jobs .
`` 227 rightwing judges ; 0 new covid relief ; 0 new stimulus checks ; 0 new unemployment ; 273,126 dead Americans , '' Rep. Bill Pascrell ( D-NJ ) tweeted of McConnell 's priorities .
`` That ’ s one judge for every 1,203 dead Americans . ''
A bipartisan group of senators is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Trump — who sold his candidacy to Americans by touting his dealmaking experience — is nowhere to be found in the dealmaking process .
Rather than getting Congress together to broker a deal , Trump has instead been lying about his landslide loss to President-elect Joe Biden , as well as been golfing ( rather poorly , in fact ) on the taxpayer dime — something he promised he would never do before he took office .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The GOP-led Senate returned on Monday from the Thanksgiving holiday. But rather than prioritize aid to help the millions of jobless Americans and the cities and states struggling from the economic downturn, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is instead lining up the confirmation of more right-wing judges.
On Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of Taylor B. McNeel to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, according to the calendar of Senate floor proceedings.
McNeel is a member of the Federalist Society, a right-wing group of lawyers and legal minds from which Donald Trump has picked numerous members to serve on federal courts. The Federalist Society also played a huge role in crafting Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees in 2016.
Earlier this month, Federalist Society member and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito gave a nakedly partisan speech at the group’s annual meeting in which he denigrated Democratic governors and even criticized marriage equality becoming the law of the land.
Ultimately, with just 15 working days left until the end of the year, coronavirus relief does not appear to be on the table.
Congress will instead be forced to prioritize a spending deal to avoid a government shutdown when funding runs out on Dec. 11.
Congress is also focused on passing a defense spending bill that Trump is threatening to veto because it will force military bases with Confederate namesakes to be renamed. The deal had already been made, but Trump’s veto threat puts its passage in doubt.
This all comes as cases of the coronavirus are surging and hospitals are once again filling up — with more cases expected thanks to Thanksgiving gatherings.
“We’re going to be seeing as we go towards the end now, and getting into December, we’re seeing the surge with an inflection curve like this,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert, said Sunday on “Meet the Press.”
“The concern we had, as we entered into the Thanksgiving holiday and as we’re now coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday, is that the travel and the people congregating at dinners … that we might see a surge superimposed upon that surge that we’re already in.”
Even worse is that some key programs created in initial coronavirus bills are set to expire at the end of the year — including extending the amount of time people can receive unemployment benefits, as well as continuing to allow the self-employed, who normally are ineligible for Unemployment Insurance, to receive unemployment aid.
Those programs expire on Dec. 26, and if they are not extended could lead to at least 12 million people losing benefits, according to the Washington Post.
The Democratic-led House has already passed multiple coronavirus aid packages that would extend unemployment benefits and create new rounds of direct payments to Americans.
Yet McConnell has repeatedly refused to take them up. Instead, he’s prioritized confirming Trump appointed judges, including some deemed unqualified for their jobs.
“227 rightwing judges; 0 new covid relief; 0 new stimulus checks; 0 new unemployment; 273,126 dead Americans,” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) tweeted of McConnell’s priorities. “That’s one judge for every 1,203 dead Americans.”
A bipartisan group of senators is working to restart talks, Politico reported, but Trump — who sold his candidacy to Americans by touting his dealmaking experience — is nowhere to be found in the dealmaking process.
Rather than getting Congress together to broker a deal, Trump has instead been lying about his landslide loss to President-elect Joe Biden, as well as been golfing (rather poorly, in fact) on the taxpayer dime — something he promised he would never do before he took office.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-01--Cartoon: Tiny desk for Diaper Don

Cartoon: Tiny desk for Diaper Don

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-12-01--Officials slam Republican who threatened to vote illegally in Georgia

Georgia elections officials have said they are investigating a Florida attorney who said he was going to relocate to the Peach State to vote in the U.S. Senate runoff elections on Jan. 5 .
GOP incumbent Sen. David Perdue faces opponent Democrat Jon Ossoff in the runoff ; the other incumbent Georgia senator , Kelly Loeffler , is facing Democrat Raphael Warnock .
No candidate won a majority in either race on Election Day , and the runoffs are the focus of national attention as control of the Senate hangs on their results .
Bill Price , speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said : `` If we lose the Senate on Jan. 5 in Georgia , we will become Venezuela , '' Fox News reported .
According to WUSF Public Media , Price said : `` We have to win that election in Georgia .
And so I 'm moving to my brother 's house in Hiram , Georgia , and I 'm registering to vote.
” '' I 'm changing my voter registration right now , and I 'm inviting two million people to be my roommates if they want .
We 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table , '' Price said .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger 's office did not take Price 's announcement lightly .
Walter Jones , a spokesperson for the office , told Fox : `` Registering without the intention of permanent residency is a felony .
Only permanent residents are eligible to vote in Georgia .
Secretary Raffensperger has made it clear he has no tolerance for election wrongdoing and will investigate any credible evidence of it . ''
Republican Deidre Holden , chair of the Board of Elections in Paulding County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ register , said : `` An attorney should know better .
This is fraud , especially after his speech on Facebook . ''
Meanwhile , Debbie Wood , chair of the Bay County Republican Party , attended the meeting , WUSF reported , and said that Price `` misspoke '' about relocating temporarily to vote : `` We only do things that are within the legal guidelines , '' she said .
Raffensperger issued a warning last week to `` out-of-state partisans seeking to vote in the Jan. 5 runoff election for Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sole purpose of voting and leaving is illegal and is considered voter fraud .
... Let me be clear , those who come to Georgia with the intention of voter fraud will be prosecuted .
We thoroughly investigate every single allegation of voter fraud . ''
Raffensperger issued another statement warning groups against moving people to Georgia `` solely for the purpose of voting in the January Senate runoffs elections . ''
On Tuesday , Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling condemned lawmakers who had not said anything about calls for violence against people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During a press conference , Sterling said : `` It has all gone too far .
All of it .
...
It has to stop .
Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this language or these actions .
This is elections .
This is the backbone of democracy , and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this .
It 's too much . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

Georgia elections officials have said they are investigating a Florida attorney who said he was going to relocate to the Peach State to vote in the U.S. Senate runoff elections on Jan. 5.
GOP incumbent Sen. David Perdue faces opponent Democrat Jon Ossoff in the runoff; the other incumbent Georgia senator, Kelly Loeffler, is facing Democrat Raphael Warnock. No candidate won a majority in either race on Election Day, and the runoffs are the focus of national attention as control of the Senate hangs on their results.
Bill Price, speaking to the Bay County Republican Party on Nov. 7, said: “If we lose the Senate on Jan. 5 in Georgia, we will become Venezuela,” Fox News reported. According to WUSF Public Media, Price said: “We have to win that election in Georgia. And so I’m moving to my brother’s house in Hiram, Georgia, and I’m registering to vote.”
“I’m changing my voter registration right now, and I’m inviting two million people to be my roommates if they want. We’ll make room for you at the dinner table,” Price said.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office did not take Price’s announcement lightly. Walter Jones, a spokesperson for the office, told Fox: “Registering without the intention of permanent residency is a felony. Only permanent residents are eligible to vote in Georgia. Secretary Raffensperger has made it clear he has no tolerance for election wrongdoing and will investigate any credible evidence of it.”
Republican Deidre Holden, chair of the Board of Elections in Paulding County, Georgia, where Price claimed he would register, said: “An attorney should know better. This is fraud, especially after his speech on Facebook.”
Meanwhile, Debbie Wood, chair of the Bay County Republican Party, attended the meeting, WUSF reported, and said that Price “misspoke” about relocating temporarily to vote: “We only do things that are within the legal guidelines,” she said.
Raffensperger issued a warning last week to “out-of-state partisans seeking to vote in the Jan. 5 runoff election for Senate: Moving to the state with the sole purpose of voting and leaving is illegal and is considered voter fraud. … Let me be clear, those who come to Georgia with the intention of voter fraud will be prosecuted. We thoroughly investigate every single allegation of voter fraud.”
Raffensperger issued another statement warning groups against moving people to Georgia “solely for the purpose of voting in the January Senate runoffs elections.”
On Tuesday, Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling condemned lawmakers who had not said anything about calls for violence against people who resist attempts to interfere with elections. During a press conference, Sterling said: “It has all gone too far. All of it. … It has to stop. Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This is elections. This is the backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this. It’s too much.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-01--'This has to stop': Georgia election official begs Trump to condemn violent threats

On Tuesday , Gabriel Sterling , the implementation manager for Georgia 's voting system , angrily called on Donald Trump and other senior Republican leaders to condemn violent threats against election officials .
`` Someone 's going to get hurt , someone 's going to get shot , someone 's going to get killed .
And it 's not right .
It 's not right , '' Sterling said at an emotional press conference .
`` Death threats , physical threats , intimidation , it 's too much '' He noted that a tech working for Dominion Voting Systems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoted by Trump , `` has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason . ''
Stirling also noted that Tricia Raffensperger , wife of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , `` is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone . ''
`` Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this language or these actions , '' Stirling said .
Addressing Trump , Stirling said , `` Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell has indulged Trump 's false assertions that he won the election by declining to recognize Joe Biden as president-elect even though Biden clearly won the election .
Trump 's legal challenges attempting to overturn the election results have repeatedly lost in court and have been dismissed by federal judges , including judges Trump appointed .
Attorney General William Barr , one of Trump 's closest allies , admitted on Tuesday that the Department of Justice has not seen any evidence of widespread voter fraud despite Trump 's ongoing allegations and complaints .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too far .
All of it .
Joe DiGenova today asked for Chris Krebs , a patriot who ran CISA , to be shot .
A twentysomething tech , in Gwinnet County today , has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it .
It has to stop .
Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This has to stop .
We need you to step up , and if you 're going to take a position of leadership , show some .
My boss , Secretary Raffensperger , his address is out there .
They have people doing caravans in front of their house , they 've had people come on to their property .
Tricia , his wife of forty years , is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone .
It has to stop .
This is elections .
This is the backbone of democracy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a damn word are complicit in this .
It 's too much .
Yes , fight for every legal vote , go through your due process .
We encourage you , use your First Amendment , that 's fine .
Death threats , physical threats , intimidation , it 's too much .
It 's not right , they have lost the moral high ground to claim that it is .
I do n't have the best words to do this because I am angry .
The straw that broke the camel 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractor for a voting system company just trying to do his job , just there , in fact , I talked to Dominion today , they said he 's one of the better ones they 've got , his family 's getting harassed now , there 's a noose out there with his name on it , and it 's not right .
I 've got police protection outside my house , fine .
You know , I took a higher profile job , I get it .
Secretary ran for office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kid took a job , he just took a job and it 's just wrong .
I ca n't begin to explain the level of anger I have right now over this .
And every American , every Georgian , Republican and Democrat alike , should have that same level of anger .
Mr. President , it looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia , we 're investigating , there 's always a possibility , I get it , and you have the right to go through the courts , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do and you need to step up and say this , is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence .
Someone 's going to get hurt , someone 's going to get shot , someone 's going to get killed .
And it 's not right .
It 's not right .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Tuesday, Gabriel Sterling, the implementation manager for Georgia’s voting system, angrily called on Donald Trump and other senior Republican leaders to condemn violent threats against election officials.
“Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed. And it’s not right. It’s not right,” Sterling said at an emotional press conference. “Death threats, physical threats, intimidation, it’s too much”
He noted that a tech working for Dominion Voting Systems, the target of baseless election conspiracy theories promoted by Trump, “has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason.”
Stirling also noted that Tricia Raffensperger, wife of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, “is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone.”
“Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions,” Stirling said. Addressing Trump, Stirling said, “Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indulged Trump’s false assertions that he won the election by declining to recognize Joe Biden as president-elect even though Biden clearly won the election.
Trump’s legal challenges attempting to overturn the election results have repeatedly lost in court and have been dismissed by federal judges, including judges Trump appointed.
Attorney General William Barr, one of Trump’s closest allies, admitted on Tuesday that the Department of Justice has not seen any evidence of widespread voter fraud despite Trump’s ongoing allegations and complaints.
From a Dec. 1 press conference:
GABRIEL STERLING: It has all gone too far. All of it. Joe DiGenova today asked for Chris Krebs, a patriot who ran CISA, to be shot. A twentysomething tech, in Gwinnet County today, has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it. It has to stop. Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up, and if you’re going to take a position of leadership, show some. My boss, Secretary Raffensperger, his address is out there. They have people doing caravans in front of their house, they’ve had people come on to their property. Tricia, his wife of forty years, is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone. It has to stop. This is elections. This is the backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this. It’s too much. Yes, fight for every legal vote, go through your due process. We encourage you, use your First Amendment, that’s fine. Death threats, physical threats, intimidation, it’s too much. It’s not right, they have lost the moral high ground to claim that it is. I don’t have the best words to do this because I am angry. The straw that broke the camel’s back today is again, this twenty-year-old contractor for a voting system company just trying to do his job, just there, in fact, I talked to Dominion today, they said he’s one of the better ones they’ve got, his family’s getting harassed now, there’s a noose out there with his name on it, and it’s not right. I’ve got police protection outside my house, fine. You know, I took a higher profile job, I get it. Secretary ran for office, his wife knew that too, this kid took a job, he just took a job and it’s just wrong. I can’t begin to explain the level of anger I have right now over this. And every American, every Georgian, Republican and Democrat alike, should have that same level of anger. Mr. President, it looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia, we’re investigating, there’s always a possibility, I get it, and you have the right to go through the courts, what you don’t have the ability to do and you need to step up and say this, is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence. Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed. And it’s not right. It’s not right.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-01--Barr wants to make sure DOJ keeps investigating Democrats after he's gone

Attorney General William Barr has given extra protection to the prosecutor he appointed to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe , giving him the authority of a special counsel to complete the work without being easily fired .
Barr told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he had appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham as a special counsel in October under the same federal statute that governed special counsel Robert Mueller in the original Russia probe .
He said Durham 's investigation has been narrowing to focus more on the conduct of FBI agents who worked on the Russia investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal regulations , a special counsel can be fired only by the attorney general and for specific reasons such as misconduct , dereliction of duty , or conflict of interest .
An attorney general must document such reasons in writing .
The investigations grew out of allegations of cooperation between Donald Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign and Russians to help him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton .
`` I decided the best thing to do would be to appoint them under the same regulation that covered Bob Mueller , to provide Durham and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to complete their work regardless of the outcome of the election , '' Barr said Tuesday .
The current investigation , a criminal probe , had begun very broadly but has since `` narrowed considerably '' and now `` really is focused on the activities of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation within the FBI , '' Barr said .
He said he expects Durham would detail whether any additional prosecutions will be brought and make public a report of the investigation 's findings .
In an Oct. 19 order , obtained by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized `` to investigate whether any federal official , employee or any person or entity violated the law in connection with the intelligence , counter-intelligence or law enforcement activities '' directed at the 2016 presidential campaigns , anyone associated with the campaigns , or the Trump administration .
A senior Justice Department official told the AP that although the order details that it is `` including but not limited to Crossfire Hurricane and the investigation of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III , '' the Durham probe has not expanded .
The official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel who worked on the Russia investigation before the May 2017 appointment of Mueller , a critical area of scrutiny for both Durham and for the Justice Department inspector general , which identified a series of errors and omissions in surveillance applications targeting a former Trump campaign associate .
The focus on the FBI , rather than the CIA and the intelligence community , suggests that Durham may have moved past some of the more incendiary claims that Trump supporters had hoped would yield allegations of misconduct , or even crimes — namely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached their conclusion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election .

Attorney General William Barr has given extra protection to the prosecutor he appointed to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, giving him the authority of a special counsel to complete the work without being easily fired.
Barr told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he had appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham as a special counsel in October under the same federal statute that governed special counsel Robert Mueller in the original Russia probe. He said Durham’s investigation has been narrowing to focus more on the conduct of FBI agents who worked on the Russia investigation, known as Crossfire Hurricane.
Under federal regulations, a special counsel can be fired only by the attorney general and for specific reasons such as misconduct, dereliction of duty, or conflict of interest. An attorney general must document such reasons in writing.
The investigations grew out of allegations of cooperation between Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russians to help him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I decided the best thing to do would be to appoint them under the same regulation that covered Bob Mueller, to provide Durham and his team some assurance that they’d be able to complete their work regardless of the outcome of the election,” Barr said Tuesday.
Biden’s transition team didn’t immediately comment on the appointment.
The current investigation, a criminal probe, had begun very broadly but has since “narrowed considerably” and now “really is focused on the activities of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation within the FBI,” Barr said. He said he expects Durham would detail whether any additional prosecutions will be brought and make public a report of the investigation’s findings.
In an Oct. 19 order, obtained by the Associated Press, Barr says Durham is authorized “to investigate whether any federal official, employee or any person or entity violated the law in connection with the intelligence, counter-intelligence or law enforcement activities” directed at the 2016 presidential campaigns, anyone associated with the campaigns, or the Trump administration.
A senior Justice Department official told the AP that although the order details that it is “including but not limited to Crossfire Hurricane and the investigation of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III,” the Durham probe has not expanded. The official said that line specifically relates to FBI personnel who worked on the Russia investigation before the May 2017 appointment of Mueller, a critical area of scrutiny for both Durham and for the Justice Department inspector general, which identified a series of errors and omissions in surveillance applications targeting a former Trump campaign associate.
The focus on the FBI, rather than the CIA and the intelligence community, suggests that Durham may have moved past some of the more incendiary claims that Trump supporters had hoped would yield allegations of misconduct, or even crimes — namely, the question of how intelligence agencies reached their conclusion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election.


shareblue--2020-12-01--The Trumps can't get out of all their legal woes with pardons. Here's why.

Fox News host Sean Hannity , a major Donald Trump supporter and adviser of sorts , said Monday that Trump `` needs to pardon his whole family and himself '' before he leaves office — an admission that Trump faces legal peril when he again becomes a private citizen after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20 .
`` I assume that the power of the pardon is absolute and that he should be able to pardon anybody that he wants to , '' Hannity said on his radio program on Monday .
Of course , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pardon himself .
A Department of Justice memo from 1974 , just before Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace , stated : `` Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case , it would seem that the question should be answered in the negative . ''
However , even if he did attempt to pardon himself and his family , Trump faces investigations in state courts that he ca n't avoid with a pardon .
Only federal crimes can be pardoned by a president , not state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance are separately investigating Trump for tax fraud and other financial crimes .
Vance 's criminal investigation is looking into `` possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization , '' including tax fraud and bank fraud .
Vance is also investigating the hush money payments Trump made to porn actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 campaign .
James is conducting a civil investigation into the Trump Organization and whether it committed tax fraud by inflating its assets to get loans and other tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in those New York investigations , as she seems to have been paid consulting fees from the Trump Organization even though she was an employee , possibly so the company could receive tax breaks .
All of those investigations are taking place in state court and are thus ineligible for pardons .
Trump also ca n't pardon his way out of two defamation lawsuits from women — former `` Apprentice '' contestant Summer Zervos and journalist E. Jean Carroll — who accused Trump of sexual assault and rape , respectively .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Carroll lawsuit in an effort to get it dismissed .
However , a federal judge ruled that Trump can not use the Justice Department to defend him for behavior that was not part of his role as president .
With Trump 's days in office waning , he appears to be pardoning his friends and allies on the way out — even as he refuses to accept that he lost in a landslide to Biden .
Trump issued an extremely broad pardon for his first national security adviser , Michael Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the FBI about his communications with the Russian ambassador during the transition to the Trump administration .
The pardon prevents Flynn from being prosecuted for `` any possible future perjury or contempt charge in connection with General Flynn 's sworn statements and any other possible future charge that this Court or the court-appointed amicus has suggested might somehow keep this criminal case alive over the government 's objection , '' CNN reported .
Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani also appears to be asking for a preemptive pardon .
It 's unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal investigation for his lobbying work in Ukraine that helped lead to Trump 's impeachment .
Throughout his tenure , Trump 's pardons have often seemed political in nature , as they were given to friends and allies .
He 's pardoned people like Joe Arpaio , the racist former sheriff in Arizona who was convicted of criminal contempt of court , after he refused to stop racially profiling Latinos despite a court order .
Trump also granted clemency to longtime ally Roger Stone , commuting Stone 's 40-month prison sentence for seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tampering , and obstructing a House investigation into Trump 's alleged collusion with Russia in 2016 .
According to the Pew Research Center , Trump `` used his clemency power less often than any president in modern history , '' according to the Pew Research Center , which found Trump has granted the fewest pardons of any president going all the way back to William McKinley , whose term ended in 1091 .
Trump has only issued 28 pardons over the last four years , according to Pew .
The next fewest came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who only served one term and issued 74 pardons .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a major Donald Trump supporter and adviser of sorts, said Monday that Trump “needs to pardon his whole family and himself” before he leaves office — an admission that Trump faces legal peril when he again becomes a private citizen after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.
“I assume that the power of the pardon is absolute and that he should be able to pardon anybody that he wants to,” Hannity said on his radio program on Monday. Of course, it’s unlikely that Trump has the power to pardon himself. A Department of Justice memo from 1974, just before Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace, stated: “Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, it would seem that the question should be answered in the negative.”
However, even if he did attempt to pardon himself and his family, Trump faces investigations in state courts that he can’t avoid with a pardon. Only federal crimes can be pardoned by a president, not state crimes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance are separately investigating Trump for tax fraud and other financial crimes.
Vance’s criminal investigation is looking into “possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization,” including tax fraud and bank fraud. Vance is also investigating the hush money payments Trump made to porn actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 campaign.
James is conducting a civil investigation into the Trump Organization and whether it committed tax fraud by inflating its assets to get loans and other tax breaks.
Ivanka Trump is also caught up in those New York investigations, as she seems to have been paid consulting fees from the Trump Organization even though she was an employee, possibly so the company could receive tax breaks.
All of those investigations are taking place in state court and are thus ineligible for pardons.
Trump also can’t pardon his way out of two defamation lawsuits from women — former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos and journalist E. Jean Carroll — who accused Trump of sexual assault and rape, respectively.
Trump sought to have the Justice Department intervene in the Carroll lawsuit in an effort to get it dismissed. However, a federal judge ruled that Trump cannot use the Justice Department to defend him for behavior that was not part of his role as president.
With Trump’s days in office waning, he appears to be pardoning his friends and allies on the way out — even as he refuses to accept that he lost in a landslide to Biden.
Trump issued an extremely broad pardon for his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with the Russian ambassador during the transition to the Trump administration.
The pardon prevents Flynn from being prosecuted for “any possible future perjury or contempt charge in connection with General Flynn’s sworn statements and any other possible future charge that this Court or the court-appointed amicus has suggested might somehow keep this criminal case alive over the government’s objection,” CNN reported.
Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani also appears to be asking for a preemptive pardon. It’s unclear for what, but Rudy was under federal investigation for his lobbying work in Ukraine that helped lead to Trump’s impeachment.
Throughout his tenure, Trump’s pardons have often seemed political in nature, as they were given to friends and allies.
He’s pardoned people like Joe Arpaio, the racist former sheriff in Arizona who was convicted of criminal contempt of court, after he refused to stop racially profiling Latinos despite a court order.
Trump also granted clemency to longtime ally Roger Stone, commuting Stone’s 40-month prison sentence for seven counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing a House investigation into Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia in 2016.
According to the Pew Research Center, Trump “used his clemency power less often than any president in modern history,” according to the Pew Research Center, which found Trump has granted the fewest pardons of any president going all the way back to William McKinley, whose term ended in 1091.
Trump has only issued 28 pardons over the last four years, according to Pew. The next fewest came from former President George H.W. Bush, who only served one term and issued 74 pardons.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-01--Georgia Republican is 38th member of Congress to test positive for virus

Rep. Austin Scott ( R-GA ) has tested positive for the coronavirus , his chief of staff confirmed on Monday , becoming the latest of dozens of members of Congress who have contracted the virus .
Scott is the 19th Republican member of the House of Representatives to have tested positive .
The others are Rick Allen ( GA ) , Mike Kelly ( PA ) , Mario Diaz-Balart ( FL ) , Neal Dunn ( FL ) , Tom Rice ( SC ) , Morgan Griffith ( VA ) , Louie Gohmert ( TX ) , Rodney Davis ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Mike Bost ( IL ) , Bill Huizenga ( MI ) , Drew Ferguson ( GA ) , Tim Walberg ( MI ) , Don Young ( AK ) , Dan Newhouse ( WA ) , Doug Lamborn ( CO ) , Bryan Steil ( WI ) , and Jenniffer González-Colón ( PR ) .
All eight senators who were infected are in the GOP : Rand Paul ( KY ) , Bill Cassidy ( LA ) , Ron Johnson ( WI ) , Thom Tillis ( NC ) , Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( GA ) , Chuck Grassley ( IA ) , and Rick Scott ( FL ) .
Scott is the third representative from Georgia to test positive .
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp attended an indoor rally with Ferguson ahead of Election Day and was prompted to quarantine after Ferguson 's positive test , according to the Associated Press .
Meanwhile , only 10 Democratic representatives in the House have tested positive : Joe Cunningham ( SC ) , Ben McAdams ( UT ) , Nydia Velázquez ( NY ) , Raúl Grijalva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CT ) , Salud Carbajal ( CA ) , Cheri Bustos ( IL ) , Ed Perlmutter ( CO ) , Joe Courtney ( CT ) , and Susie Lee ( NV ) .
In total , there are now 38 members of Congress who have tested positive for the coronavirus .
As the number of virus cases surges across the country , with over 13.6 million infected and 268,000 dead in the United States alone at the time of publication , many Republican lawmakers are flouting safety guidelines , ignoring experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) wrote about feeling `` empowered '' during the Thanksgiving holiday .
`` This Thanksgiving week , whether you decided to ... .
stay home or visit family ; fly or drive ; social distance or hug your loved ones , You should feel empowered to do whatever is best for you and your loved ones , '' Biggs tweeted .
`` No member of the mainstream media or bureaucrat should ever take away your birthright of freedom .
Kudos to all of the Americans making these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stay well , and stay free , '' he wrote .
In a session of the Senate last month , Sen. Dan Sullivan ( R-AK ) lashed out when Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) asked him to wear a mask .
`` I do n't wear a mask when I 'm speaking , like most senators .
I do n't need your instructions , '' Sullivan said .
Then Republican Sen. Ted Cruz ( TX ) accused Brown of `` an ostentatious sign of fake virtue '' for wearing a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be following Donald Trump 's lead in downplaying the virus and ignoring public health advice .
After contracting the virus himself , Trump resumed in-person rallies and tweeted : `` Do n't be afraid of COVID .
Do n't let it dominate your life . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) has tested positive for the coronavirus, his chief of staff confirmed on Monday, becoming the latest of dozens of members of Congress who have contracted the virus.
Scott is the 19th Republican member of the House of Representatives to have tested positive. The others are Rick Allen (GA), Mike Kelly (PA), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), Neal Dunn (FL), Tom Rice (SC), Morgan Griffith (VA), Louie Gohmert (TX), Rodney Davis (IL), Dan Meuser (PA), Mike Bost (IL), Bill Huizenga (MI), Drew Ferguson (GA), Tim Walberg (MI), Don Young (AK), Dan Newhouse (WA), Doug Lamborn (CO), Bryan Steil (WI), and Jenniffer González-Colón (PR).
All eight senators who were infected are in the GOP: Rand Paul (KY), Bill Cassidy (LA), Ron Johnson (WI), Thom Tillis (NC), Mike Lee (UT), Kelly Loeffler (GA), Chuck Grassley (IA), and Rick Scott (FL).
Scott is the third representative from Georgia to test positive. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp attended an indoor rally with Ferguson ahead of Election Day and was prompted to quarantine after Ferguson’s positive test, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, only 10 Democratic representatives in the House have tested positive: Joe Cunningham (SC), Ben McAdams (UT), Nydia Velázquez (NY), Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Jahana Hayes (CT), Salud Carbajal (CA), Cheri Bustos (IL), Ed Perlmutter (CO), Joe Courtney (CT), and Susie Lee (NV).
In total, there are now 38 members of Congress who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
As the number of virus cases surges across the country, with over 13.6 million infected and 268,000 dead in the United States alone at the time of publication, many Republican lawmakers are flouting safety guidelines, ignoring experts, and encouraging holiday travel.
Last month, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote about feeling “empowered” during the Thanksgiving holiday.