shareblue--2020-12-09--17 Republican states demand Supreme Court throw out millions of votes

Republican attorneys general from 17 states Donald Trump won in the 2020 presidential election filed a brief with the Supreme Court on Wednesday backing up a lawsuit submitted the previous day by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to overturn Trump 's loss in four states .
In the amicus brief , a filing voicing support for a case , the 17 states said the Texas lawsuit raises `` raises constitutional questions of great public importance that warrant this Court ’ s review . ''
The suit filed by Paxton seeks to block certification of the election results in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All of them voted for President-elect Joe Biden .
Legal experts say the Texas lawsuit is all but certain to fail and the amicus brief from the 17 GOP-controlled states is unlikely to change that fact .
`` It 's not going to move the needle , '' said Steve Vladeck , a professor at the University of Texas School of Law .
But legal experts add that it sets a dangerous precedent for such high-ranking state officials to support an effort to overturn the results of a free and fair election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the opposing party won .
`` The lawsuit has no merit .
It will fail , '' Lisa Marshall Manheim , a professor at the University of Washington School of Law , wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Post .
`` The effort though represents a galling expansion of Texas officials ' disregard for voters and the electoral process . ''
Many of the states that signed on to the amicus brief do exactly what they say was illegal in the states Biden won .
`` A lot of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stones , '' Brad Heath , a crime and justice reporter at Reuters , tweeted .
`` It argues that allowing absentee ballots to arrive after Election Day undermines faith in democracy .
But Kansas and Mississippi , which both signed on , also count mail-in ballots that arrive late . ''
Trump lost the 2020 election by a margin he himself called a `` landslide '' back in 2016 , when he won the same number of Electoral College votes that Biden earned this time around .
Every state has certified its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn his loss have run out , with courts at all levels — including the Supreme Court — tossing out challenges from his campaign and its allies .
But Trump still has n't accepted his fate , and he spent Wednesday tweeting lies about the election as he continues his attempts to undermine confidence in the fundamental democratic principle of free and fair elections .
And now he 's receiving back-up in that effort from a large number of GOP-run states .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican attorneys general from 17 states Donald Trump won in the 2020 presidential election filed a brief with the Supreme Court on Wednesday backing up a lawsuit submitted the previous day by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to overturn Trump’s loss in four states.
In the amicus brief, a filing voicing support for a case, the 17 states said the Texas lawsuit raises “raises constitutional questions of great public importance that warrant this Court’s review.”
The suit filed by Paxton seeks to block certification of the election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin. All of them voted for President-elect Joe Biden.
Legal experts say the Texas lawsuit is all but certain to fail and the amicus brief from the 17 GOP-controlled states is unlikely to change that fact.
“It’s not going to move the needle,” said Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law.
But legal experts add that it sets a dangerous precedent for such high-ranking state officials to support an effort to overturn the results of a free and fair election in other states simply because the candidate of the opposing party won.
“The lawsuit has no merit. It will fail,” Lisa Marshall Manheim, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law, wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Post. “The effort though represents a galling expansion of Texas officials’ disregard for voters and the electoral process.”
Many of the states that signed on to the amicus brief do exactly what they say was illegal in the states Biden won.
“A lot of this brief is people in glass houses casting stones,” Brad Heath, a crime and justice reporter at Reuters, tweeted. “It argues that allowing absentee ballots to arrive after Election Day undermines faith in democracy. But Kansas and Mississippi, which both signed on, also count mail-in ballots that arrive late.”
Trump lost the 2020 election by a margin he himself called a “landslide” back in 2016, when he won the same number of Electoral College votes that Biden earned this time around.
Every state has certified its results, and Trump’s legal options to overturn his loss have run out, with courts at all levels — including the Supreme Court — tossing out challenges from his campaign and its allies.
But Trump still hasn’t accepted his fate, and he spent Wednesday tweeting lies about the election as he continues his attempts to undermine confidence in the fundamental democratic principle of free and fair elections.
And now he’s receiving back-up in that effort from a large number of GOP-run states.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--New director of US broadcasting abroad slammed as 'right-wing ideologue'

The appointment on Wednesday of a new director of Voice of America has raised new concerns about the direction of the government 's flagship international broadcaster as Donald Trump 's term winds down .
The announcement that Trump 's handpicked head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media has replaced the VOA chief with Robert Reilly , a conservative critic of its programming , has caused alarm among staffers and in Congress .
Although USAGM chief Michael Pack had the right to replace VOA 'S temporary leader with his own choice , agency personnel and congressional staffers said the timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden takes office , was suspicious .
They fear that Pack is trying to box Biden in by appointing loyalists he will have difficulty removing .
Biden and his team have pledged a full review of Pack 's actions and could replace him shortly after inauguration .
Democrats and some Republicans have accused Pack of trying to turn VOA and its sister networks into pro-Trump propaganda outlets , and he is under a court order not to terminate employees that he has suspended since taking over the operation in June .
Pack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former U.S. diplomat , to replace Elez Biberaj , a 40-year veteran of the service who had been serving as its acting director since the previous leadership resigned in protest when Pack took office .
Biberaj has not been fired and will return to his previous role as VOA 's director for Eurasia .
Reilly `` has dedicated his career to — and , indeed , succeeded in — promoting the national interest and advancing U.S. foreign policy , '' Pack said in a statement .
`` His respect for and profound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VOA combined with a clear understanding of the network 's charter will ensure that America 's exceptional experience is shared effectively with the world . ''
However , Reilly 's views on the nature of U.S. government-funded international broadcasting , as well as previous comments about the gay and lesbian community , have drawn criticism from public diplomacy experts .
In his writings , Reilly has suggested that VOA focus more on promoting U.S. policies and less on providing independent news to global audiences as required by the agency 's charter .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , not packing the leadership of U.S. broadcasting entities with right-wing ideologues and bigots , '' said Rep. Eliot Engel , the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee .
`` The idea that he 's been given the reins of an institution with the history and legacy of VOA is a disgrace and an embarrassment , '' said Engel , who lost his bid for reelection and will be leaving Congress in January .
`` VOA journalists should n't have to endure the reputational harm of having to work for someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step with American values . ''
Pack , a conservative filmmaker , Trump ally , and onetime associate of former Trump political adviser Steve Bannon , has made no secret of his intent to shake up the agency since he became CEO of USAGM after a long confirmation battle in the Senate that finally ended after Trump and his allies launched a series of attacks on VOA and demanded new leadership .
Pack has removed numerous senior officials from their posts , including a handful of senior executives , but was barred last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Last week , congressional aides expressed concerns that Pack was trying to terminate those officials in violation of the court order , although no action appears to have been taken .
USAGM declined to comment on those possible moves , which , according to staffers and congressional aides , have been discussed internally before new regulations limiting Pack 's powers as chief executive officer take effect with the expected passage of a defense spending bill that includes provisions related to VOA and its affiliates .
The court order stems from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the District of Columbia in October by five USAGM executives who had been fired or suspended .
They accused Pack and his senior advisers of violating the `` statutory firewall '' intended to protect the news organizations from political interference .
After the suit was filed , Pack announced that he had rescinded the `` firewall rule '' issued by USAGM 's predecessor , the Broadcasting Board of Governors .
VOA was founded during World War II , and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to international audiences @

The appointment on Wednesday of a new director of Voice of America has raised new concerns about the direction of the government’s flagship international broadcaster as Donald Trump’s term winds down.
The announcement that Trump’s handpicked head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media has replaced the VOA chief with Robert Reilly, a conservative critic of its programming, has caused alarm among staffers and in Congress.
Although USAGM chief Michael Pack had the right to replace VOA’S temporary leader with his own choice, agency personnel and congressional staffers said the timing, less than two months before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, was suspicious. They fear that Pack is trying to box Biden in by appointing loyalists he will have difficulty removing.
Biden and his team have pledged a full review of Pack’s actions and could replace him shortly after inauguration. Democrats and some Republicans have accused Pack of trying to turn VOA and its sister networks into pro-Trump propaganda outlets, and he is under a court order not to terminate employees that he has suspended since taking over the operation in June.
Pack announced Wednesday he had chosen Reilly, a former U.S. diplomat, to replace Elez Biberaj, a 40-year veteran of the service who had been serving as its acting director since the previous leadership resigned in protest when Pack took office. Biberaj has not been fired and will return to his previous role as VOA’s director for Eurasia.
Reilly “has dedicated his career to — and, indeed, succeeded in — promoting the national interest and advancing U.S. foreign policy,” Pack said in a statement. “His respect for and profound knowledge of the legacy and traditions of VOA combined with a clear understanding of the network’s charter will ensure that America’s exceptional experience is shared effectively with the world.”
However, Reilly’s views on the nature of U.S. government-funded international broadcasting, as well as previous comments about the gay and lesbian community, have drawn criticism from public diplomacy experts. In his writings, Reilly has suggested that VOA focus more on promoting U.S. policies and less on providing independent news to global audiences as required by the agency’s charter.
“Michael Pack should be packing up his office, not packing the leadership of U.S. broadcasting entities with right-wing ideologues and bigots,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“The idea that he’s been given the reins of an institution with the history and legacy of VOA is a disgrace and an embarrassment,” said Engel, who lost his bid for reelection and will be leaving Congress in January. “VOA journalists shouldn’t have to endure the reputational harm of having to work for someone with views so backward and out of step with American values.”
Pack, a conservative filmmaker, Trump ally, and onetime associate of former Trump political adviser Steve Bannon, has made no secret of his intent to shake up the agency since he became CEO of USAGM after a long confirmation battle in the Senate that finally ended after Trump and his allies launched a series of attacks on VOA and demanded new leadership.
Pack has removed numerous senior officials from their posts, including a handful of senior executives, but was barred last month by a federal judge from firing them. Last week, congressional aides expressed concerns that Pack was trying to terminate those officials in violation of the court order, although no action appears to have been taken.
USAGM declined to comment on those possible moves, which, according to staffers and congressional aides, have been discussed internally before new regulations limiting Pack’s powers as chief executive officer take effect with the expected passage of a defense spending bill that includes provisions related to VOA and its affiliates.
The court order stems from a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October by five USAGM executives who had been fired or suspended. They accused Pack and his senior advisers of violating the “statutory firewall” intended to protect the news organizations from political interference.
After the suit was filed, Pack announced that he had rescinded the “firewall rule” issued by USAGM’s predecessor, the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
VOA was founded during World War II, and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to international audiences.


shareblue--2020-12-09--GOP says trying to stop the pandemic is the new 'war on Christmas'

Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) made repeated false claims this week that Democrats want to cancel Christmas — but the only thing anyone is interested in canceling this year is the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Today 's Left wants to cancel : -Thomas Jefferson , -2nd Amendment , -Voting in-person , -Police , and Christmas , '' Jordan tweeted Wednesday morning .
`` The WHO now recommends against hugging over the holidays , '' he tweeted Tuesday .
`` Like we said last week , pretty soon you wo n't be able to say Merry Christmas . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Democrats of hating the holidays .
`` They tried to cancel Thanksgiving , '' he tweeted in November .
`` Did n't work .
They 're coming for Christmas next . ''
Nevada 's Democratic governor , Steve Sisolak , has come under fire from the right for attempting to enforce measures to combat the virus during the holidays .
Conservative columnist Victor Joecks echoed the charges of other commentators and social media accounts when he attacked the governor , accusing him of having `` exchanged his crown for the Grinch 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seuss character who attempts to steal Christmas .
`` He 's laid the groundwork to cancel Christmas , just like he tried to stop Thanksgiving , '' Joecks wrote .
In Wisconsin , two Republican lawmakers responded to a request by Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers that a Christmas tree not be put up in the state Capitol building , because it was closed to visitors due to the pandemic , by putting up their own .
State Reps. Shae Sortwell and Paul Tittl posted messages on the tree that read , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representative Sortwell .
Do not move without prior written approval from these Representatives '' and `` The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence . ''
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has also been busily regurgitating debunked `` war on Christmas '' claims .
`` If death is inevitable , and that may be the one thing you 're not allowed to say in this country , but it 's still true , '' Carlson said this week , `` then maybe we should pause before we destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate it .
Politicians understand this threat .
They 've figured out that Christmas is bigger than they are , and therefore , it 's a threat to them .
Better cancel it — and , in fact , theyW 're trying hard . ''
While accusations about the so-called war on Christmas come up every year , in 2020 the charges include claims that measures instituted to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus are actually stratagems against the holiday .
The World Health Organization has recommended against hugs and embraces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention recommends safety measures such as limiting crowd sizes at gatherings , washing hands frequently , hosting gatherings in well-ventilated spaces , and requiring visitors to wear masks .
The nation 's top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci has also said gatherings can safely occur if limited to no more than 10 people .
State officials such as Minnesota 's Democratic governor , Tim Walz , have suggested measures similar to those he implemented at Thanksgiving , when he issued an executive order limiting social gatherings to the members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb the pandemic .
The claims that safety measures are part of a left-wing plot against Americans who celebrate holidays must be taken seriously , writer Rebecca Onion noted in Slate on Nov. 21 .
`` The ‘ war on Christmas ’ hype is exactly the kind of 'accelerant ' that could make the virus worse , '' she wrote .
`` Indoor gatherings are killing people , and Americans who have been primed for years to perceive the continuity of tradition around Thanksgiving and Christmas as a point of partisan pride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) made repeated false claims this week that Democrats want to cancel Christmas — but the only thing anyone is interested in canceling this year is the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today’s Left wants to cancel: -Thomas Jefferson, -2nd Amendment, -Voting in-person, -Police, and Christmas,” Jordan tweeted Wednesday morning. “The WHO now recommends against hugging over the holidays,” he tweeted Tuesday. “Like we said last week, pretty soon you won’t be able to say Merry Christmas.”
It’s not the first time Jordan has accused Democrats of hating the holidays.
“They tried to cancel Thanksgiving,” he tweeted in November. “Didn’t work. They’re coming for Christmas next.”
Nevada’s Democratic governor, Steve Sisolak, has come under fire from the right for attempting to enforce measures to combat the virus during the holidays.
Conservative columnist Victor Joecks echoed the charges of other commentators and social media accounts when he attacked the governor, accusing him of having “exchanged his crown for the Grinch’s hat,” referring to the Dr. Seuss character who attempts to steal Christmas. “He’s laid the groundwork to cancel Christmas, just like he tried to stop Thanksgiving,” Joecks wrote.
In Wisconsin, two Republican lawmakers responded to a request by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that a Christmas tree not be put up in the state Capitol building, because it was closed to visitors due to the pandemic, by putting up their own. State Reps. Shae Sortwell and Paul Tittl posted messages on the tree that read, “This tree belongs to Representative Tittl and Representative Sortwell. Do not move without prior written approval from these Representatives” and “The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence.”
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has also been busily regurgitating debunked “war on Christmas” claims.
“If death is inevitable, and that may be the one thing you’re not allowed to say in this country, but it’s still true,” Carlson said this week, “then maybe we should pause before we destroy the living in the name of trying to eliminate it. Politicians understand this threat. They’ve figured out that Christmas is bigger than they are, and therefore, it’s a threat to them. Better cancel it — and, in fact, theyW’re trying hard.”
While accusations about the so-called war on Christmas come up every year, in 2020 the charges include claims that measures instituted to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus are actually stratagems against the holiday.
The World Health Organization has recommended against hugs and embraces at family gatherings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends safety measures such as limiting crowd sizes at gatherings, washing hands frequently, hosting gatherings in well-ventilated spaces, and requiring visitors to wear masks.
The nation’s top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci has also said gatherings can safely occur if limited to no more than 10 people. State officials such as Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, have suggested measures similar to those he implemented at Thanksgiving, when he issued an executive order limiting social gatherings to the members of a single household in an effort to curb the pandemic.
The claims that safety measures are part of a left-wing plot against Americans who celebrate holidays must be taken seriously, writer Rebecca Onion noted in Slate on Nov. 21.
“The ‘war on Christmas’ hype is exactly the kind of ‘accelerant’ that could make the virus worse,” she wrote. “Indoor gatherings are killing people, and Americans who have been primed for years to perceive the continuity of tradition around Thanksgiving and Christmas as a point of partisan pride are about to convene some big ones.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--New GOP ad aims at a Georgia Democrat — and hits Trump

A new GOP ad suggests that crime and the economy have gotten so bad under Republican control that no one can sleep at night .
The ad , posted this week by the National Republic Senatorial Committee , aims to scare Georgia voters into reelecting Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in upcoming January runoffs .
`` How does anyone sleep ?
Job worries .
Bills .
Violence '' a narrator asks in the 30-second attack against the incumbents ' Democratic opponents .
`` Now Raphael Warnock undermines the police and wants cashless bail .
Really ?
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jon Ossoff praises AOC 's radical Green New Deal , '' the spot dishonestly claims .
`` That 's a $ 10,000 bill for every Georgia family every year .
There goes the college fund !
Ossoff and Warnock in the Senate — we 'll never sleep again . ''
It is unusual that the ad focuses on violent crime and the declining economy , given that for the last four years both the Senate and White House have been under Republican control .
The party committee working to `` Save Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggesting Americans are terrified of what has happened on their watch .
After years of declining violent crime rates and economic expansion , many American cities saw an uptick in violence in 2020 and millions of Americans lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump , Loeffler , Perdue , and the Senate Republican majority have refused to act on bills to curb gun violence and to provide trillions in economic relief .
The specific attacks against Warnock and Ossoff have been debunked by fact-checkers in the past .
Warnock is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bail for violent criminals , though he does support reforming the system for nonviolent crimes ) .
And Ossoff does not support Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's Green New Deal proposal , though he does back clean energy investment .
Prior to the November elections , Trump also made the unusual decision to run highlighting worsening violent crime during his time in office after declaring in January 2017 that the `` American carnage '' in American cities would immediately end .
His 2020 reelection campaign presented urban areas as violent wastelands descending into total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not work .
Trump lost the Electoral College by what he once described as a `` landslide '' and lost the popular vote by more than 7 million votes .
The Loeffler-Warnock and Perdue-Ossoff runoff elections will be held on Jan. 5 .
If Democrats win both seats , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be able to break a tie and give them a majority in the Senate starting on Inauguration Day .
Both races are expected to be close in a state that President-elect Joe Biden won by about 12,000 votes last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

A new GOP ad suggests that crime and the economy have gotten so bad under Republican control that no one can sleep at night.
The ad, posted this week by the National Republic Senatorial Committee, aims to scare Georgia voters into reelecting Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in upcoming January runoffs.
“How does anyone sleep? Job worries. Bills. Violence” a narrator asks in the 30-second attack against the incumbents’ Democratic opponents.
“Now Raphael Warnock undermines the police and wants cashless bail. Really? A get-out-of-jail-free card for violent criminals. And Jon Ossoff praises AOC’s radical Green New Deal,” the spot dishonestly claims. “That’s a $10,000 bill for every Georgia family every year. There goes the college fund! Ossoff and Warnock in the Senate — we’ll never sleep again.”
It is unusual that the ad focuses on violent crime and the declining economy, given that for the last four years both the Senate and White House have been under Republican control. The party committee working to “Save Trump’s Majority!” in the Senate is suggesting Americans are terrified of what has happened on their watch.
After years of declining violent crime rates and economic expansion, many American cities saw an uptick in violence in 2020 and millions of Americans lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump, Loeffler, Perdue, and the Senate Republican majority have refused to act on bills to curb gun violence and to provide trillions in economic relief.
The specific attacks against Warnock and Ossoff have been debunked by fact-checkers in the past. Warnock is not anti-police and does not support abolishing cash bail for violent criminals, though he does support reforming the system for nonviolent crimes). And Ossoff does not support Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal proposal, though he does back clean energy investment.
Prior to the November elections, Trump also made the unusual decision to run highlighting worsening violent crime during his time in office after declaring in January 2017 that the “American carnage” in American cities would immediately end. His 2020 reelection campaign presented urban areas as violent wastelands descending into total “anarchy.”
The strategy did not work. Trump lost the Electoral College by what he once described as a “landslide” and lost the popular vote by more than 7 million votes.
The Loeffler-Warnock and Perdue-Ossoff runoff elections will be held on Jan. 5. If Democrats win both seats, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be able to break a tie and give them a majority in the Senate starting on Inauguration Day.
Both races are expected to be close in a state that President-elect Joe Biden won by about 12,000 votes last month.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--Republicans want to spend your money to investigate baseless voter fraud lies

A group of 27 House Republicans have signed on to a letter urging Attorney General William Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate `` irregularities in the 2020 election '' — a baseless claim to help excuse Donald Trump 's `` landslide '' loss to President-elect Joe Biden .
`` The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election , but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered , '' reads a letter sent by Rep. Lance Gooden ( R-LA ) and signed by 26 others from the House GOP caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no fraud .
`` To date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election , '' Barr said in an interview with the Associated Press earlier this month .
It was a rare moment where Barr refused to back up Trump 's conspiracy theories and lies .
Barr has previously propped up Trump 's baseless attacks on being spied on by former President Barack Obama , and even tried to sow doubt in the safety of absentee ballots as Trump railed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instances .
Ultimately , a special counsel is n't likely to find any `` fraud '' after other investigations have failed to find any — but it would cost taxpayers money for Congress to devote staff time and resources to draw the same conclusion .
Already , courts across the country have slammed Trump and his allies for making baseless voter fraud claims with no evidence .
`` Charges of unfairness are serious .
But calling an election unfair does not make it so , '' Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephanos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wrote in a decision throwing out one of the Trump campaign 's many lawsuits .
In fact , Trump 's attempt to steal the election through the judicial system has failed , as the final vote tallies have been certified in every state and the `` Safe Harbor '' deadline for states to resolve legal challenges to the results has passed .
Yet Trump is still raging about his loss , lying about fraud , and demanding the results be overturned .
Precious few Republicans are calling Trump out on his effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and fair elections .
In fact , just 25 out of 249 Republicans in the House and Senate surveyed by the Washington Post would even acknowledge the reality that Biden is president-elect .
Instead , like these more than two dozen House Republicans , GOP lawmakers are backing up Trump 's accusations of fraud .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) even offered to argue a case seeking to toss out millions of absentee ballots in Pennsylvania — an offer that will never come to fruition because the Supreme Court refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for voting rights advocates is that , in states like Georgia , Republicans are using the false allegations of fraud to make voting harder — ultimately attempting to suppress the vote over baseless lies .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A group of 27 House Republicans have signed on to a letter urging Attorney General William Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate “irregularities in the 2020 election” — a baseless claim to help excuse Donald Trump’s “landslide” loss to President-elect Joe Biden.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” reads a letter sent by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-LA) and signed by 26 others from the House GOP caucus.
However, Barr already said there was no fraud.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” Barr said in an interview with the Associated Press earlier this month.
It was a rare moment where Barr refused to back up Trump’s conspiracy theories and lies. Barr has previously propped up Trump’s baseless attacks on being spied on by former President Barack Obama, and even tried to sow doubt in the safety of absentee ballots as Trump railed against them all year, among other instances.
Ultimately, a special counsel isn’t likely to find any “fraud” after other investigations have failed to find any — but it would cost taxpayers money for Congress to devote staff time and resources to draw the same conclusion.
Already, courts across the country have slammed Trump and his allies for making baseless voter fraud claims with no evidence.
“Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so,” Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephanos Bibas, who was appointed by Trump, wrote in a decision throwing out one of the Trump campaign’s many lawsuits.
In fact, Trump’s attempt to steal the election through the judicial system has failed, as the final vote tallies have been certified in every state and the “Safe Harbor” deadline for states to resolve legal challenges to the results has passed.
Yet Trump is still raging about his loss, lying about fraud, and demanding the results be overturned.
Precious few Republicans are calling Trump out on his effort to undermine the fundamental democratic principle of free and fair elections. In fact, just 25 out of 249 Republicans in the House and Senate surveyed by the Washington Post would even acknowledge the reality that Biden is president-elect.
Instead, like these more than two dozen House Republicans, GOP lawmakers are backing up Trump’s accusations of fraud.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) even offered to argue a case seeking to toss out millions of absentee ballots in Pennsylvania — an offer that will never come to fruition because the Supreme Court refused to hear the suit.
And more trouble for voting rights advocates is that, in states like Georgia, Republicans are using the false allegations of fraud to make voting harder — ultimately attempting to suppress the vote over baseless lies.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--Trump uses his last few weeks in office to target LGBTQ workers

`` Religion should never be used as a weapon to exclude and discriminate , '' leaders and organizations wrote in a letter to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs .
Monday 's rule comes a few months after the Supreme Court decided that LGBTQ people were included under employment protections in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .
The administration has ignored the June decision , Bostock v. Clayton County , in many ways .
The Department of Education , for example , said in August that it would only apply parts of the landmark ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints .
Sasha Buchert , senior attorney at Lambda Legal , an organization focused on advancing LGBTQ rights , said , `` If allowed to stand , the rule would undermine Bostock by inviting federally funded contractors to request a religious exemption from complying with the nondiscrimination provisions prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ workers who work for federal contractors . ''
[ The rule ] seeks to allow almost any entity to claim a religious exemption that would allow a federal contractor to claim a right to fire a person , deny health benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marrying a same-sex partner , or to fire an employee , deny health benefits or other forms of discriminatory action against an applicant or employee who is or comes out as transgender , or who the employer or would-be employer discovers is transgender , for living in accordance with their gender identity .
According to a 2020 study that included surveys of 1,528 LGBTQ adults , 36 % of LGBTQ respondents said that they experienced discrimination in the workplace in the past year .
There are 4.1 million contract employees who work for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the director of the faith and progressive policy initiative at the Center for American Progress , stated in response to the final rule , `` This rule is the latest effort by the Trump administration to undermine nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people , religious minorities , and women . ''
Siddiqi continued , `` It provides an exemption to federal contractors , which employ 1 in 5 American workers , that will allow them to fire or hire employees in the name of religion . ''
She urged Biden to reverse the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission of The American Independent Foundation .

“Religion should never be used as a weapon to exclude and discriminate,” leaders and organizations wrote in a letter to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Monday’s rule comes a few months after the Supreme Court decided that LGBTQ people were included under employment protections in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The administration has ignored the June decision, Bostock v. Clayton County, in many ways. The Department of Education, for example, said in August that it would only apply parts of the landmark ruling to its decisions regarding student’s discrimination complaints.
Sasha Buchert, senior attorney at Lambda Legal, an organization focused on advancing LGBTQ rights, said, “If allowed to stand, the rule would undermine Bostock by inviting federally funded contractors to request a religious exemption from complying with the nondiscrimination provisions prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ workers who work for federal contractors.”
She added:
[The rule] seeks to allow almost any entity to claim a religious exemption that would allow a federal contractor to claim a right to fire a person, deny health benefits or other forms of discriminatory action for marrying a same-sex partner, or to fire an employee, deny health benefits or other forms of discriminatory action against an applicant or employee who is or comes out as transgender, or who the employer or would-be employer discovers is transgender, for living in accordance with their gender identity.
According to a 2020 study that included surveys of 1,528 LGBTQ adults, 36% of LGBTQ respondents said that they experienced discrimination in the workplace in the past year. There are 4.1 million contract employees who work for the federal government.
Maggie Siddiqi, the director of the faith and progressive policy initiative at the Center for American Progress, stated in response to the final rule, “This rule is the latest effort by the Trump administration to undermine nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and women.”
Siddiqi continued, “It provides an exemption to federal contractors, which employ 1 in 5 American workers, that will allow them to fire or hire employees in the name of religion.”
She urged Biden to reverse the rule once he takes office.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--No, a 'vast majority' of Americans don't think the election was rigged

During a Monday morning tweetstorm railing against the outcome of the Nov. 3 election , Donald Trump falsely claimed that most Americans think the election was `` rigged '' — but the facts say otherwise .
Trump retweeted an explanation of the difference between two of his many failed and ill-fated lawsuits seeking to overturn the election .
`` This was not my case as has been so incorrectly reported , '' he wrote in a post accompanying the tweet .
`` The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State ’ s case with Texas and numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ALL CRITERIA MET .
How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was RIGGED ? ''
But it 's not true that the majority of Americans believe the election was unfairly decided .
A Monmouth University poll in mid-November indicated that 52 % of Americans considered themselves either `` happy '' ( 34 % ) or `` satisfied '' ( 18 % ) that Trump lost the presidential election .
And , according to the same poll , well over half of Americans — a full 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fair and square . ''
Recent Morning Consult data also shows that around 61 % of Americans believe the election was `` probably '' or `` definitely '' free and fair .
Trump has been spouting debunked claims about rigged elections since before he entered the political sphere .
In 2012 , he complained about former President Barack Obama 's win , alleging it was the result of cheating .
`` This election is a total sham and a travesty , '' he tweeted about Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are not a democracy ! ''
In another tweet , he wrote that Americans `` ca n't let this [ Obama 's second term ] happen . ''
`` We should march on Washington and stop this travesty , '' he wrote .
`` Our nation is totally divided ! ''
Trump also falsely alleged the election was rigged when he lost in the 2016 Republican Iowa caucus to Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) , who won by three points .
`` Ted Cruz did n't win Iowa , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated .
Bad ! ''
Trump tweeted .
He also baselessly accused Cruz of `` fraud . ''
`` Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus , either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified , '' he wrote .
In 2016 , Trump repeatedly claimed that Hillary Clinton supporters committed fraud in various states , and tweeted that if all `` illegal '' ballots were thrown out , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the Electoral College .
Meanwhile , Trump 's own officials and close allies have admitted time and again that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
Even Attorney General William Barr , a close Trump confidante , has turned on Trump 's repeated lies , stating earlier in December that there was zero evidence to support his claims .
`` To date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election , '' he told the Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long asserted voter fraud where none exists .
According to a Washington Post report , only about 30 % of Republicans said that they were positive the outcome of the 2012 election was legitimate .
Research has shown that this sort of thinking is not uncommon among extreme partisans , and only feeds their conspiracy theories about election fraud .
A 2017 study in Political Research Quarterly noted that `` partisanship affects the timing and content of belief in election-related conspiracy theories , '' and that `` belief in election fraud is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiratorial thinking and motivated partisan reasoning . ''
Dan Cassino , professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University , has noted that such extremists are unlikely to be swayed by facts when it comes to election results .
`` More information is n't likely to change determined partisans ’ minds , '' he wrote in a Washington Post op-ed .
`` Political psychology research has revealed a phenomenon known as 'motivated reasoning ' in which people process information not to reach an objectively correct conclusion , but to bolster what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spurred on the recent wave of `` stop the steal '' protests on the far right .
Conservative supporters of Trump have fed on his claims of widespread election fraud , pushing mixed messages to either stop vote counts or resume them in various places across the country , depending on how Trump was faring there .
The protests have also sparked threats of violence against the election officials charged with carrying out the process , some of them Republicans themselves .
`` Someone 's going to get hurt , someone 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get killed .
And it 's not right .
It 's not right .
Death threats , physical threats , intimidation , it 's too much , '' said Gabriel Sterling , a Georgia elections official , on Dec. 1 .
Pleading with Trump and other GOP lawmakers to stop spreading lies about fraud , he added , `` Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this language or these actions .
Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Independent Foundation .

During a Monday morning tweetstorm railing against the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, Donald Trump falsely claimed that most Americans think the election was “rigged” — but the facts say otherwise.
Trump retweeted an explanation of the difference between two of his many failed and ill-fated lawsuits seeking to overturn the election.
“This was not my case as has been so incorrectly reported,” he wrote in a post accompanying the tweet. “The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State’s case with Texas and numerous others joining. It is very strong, ALL CRITERIA MET. How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was RIGGED?”
But it’s not true that the majority of Americans believe the election was unfairly decided.
A Monmouth University poll in mid-November indicated that 52% of Americans considered themselves either “happy” (34%) or “satisfied” (18%) that Trump lost the presidential election. And, according to the same poll, well over half of Americans — a full 60% — believe Biden won the election “fair and square.”
Recent Morning Consult data also shows that around 61% of Americans believe the election was “probably” or “definitely” free and fair.
Trump has been spouting debunked claims about rigged elections since before he entered the political sphere.
In 2012, he complained about former President Barack Obama’s win, alleging it was the result of cheating.
“This election is a total sham and a travesty,” he tweeted about Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)’s loss on election night that year. “We are not a democracy!”
In another tweet, he wrote that Americans “can’t let this [Obama’s second term] happen.”
“We should march on Washington and stop this travesty,” he wrote. “Our nation is totally divided!”
Trump also falsely alleged the election was rigged when he lost in the 2016 Republican Iowa caucus to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who won by three points.
“Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!” Trump tweeted.
He also baselessly accused Cruz of “fraud.”
“Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified,” he wrote.
In 2016, Trump repeatedly claimed that Hillary Clinton supporters committed fraud in various states, and tweeted that if all “illegal” ballots were thrown out, he would have won the 2016 popular vote as well as the Electoral College.
Meanwhile, Trump’s own officials and close allies have admitted time and again that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Even Attorney General William Barr, a close Trump confidante, has turned on Trump’s repeated lies, stating earlier in December that there was zero evidence to support his claims.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” he told the Associated Press on Dec. 1.
Republicans have long asserted voter fraud where none exists. According to a Washington Post report, only about 30% of Republicans said that they were positive the outcome of the 2012 election was legitimate.
Research has shown that this sort of thinking is not uncommon among extreme partisans, and only feeds their conspiracy theories about election fraud.
A 2017 study in Political Research Quarterly noted that “partisanship affects the timing and content of belief in election-related conspiracy theories,” and that “belief in election fraud is a common and predictable consequence of both underlying conspiratorial thinking and motivated partisan reasoning.”
Dan Cassino, professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, has noted that such extremists are unlikely to be swayed by facts when it comes to election results.
“More information isn’t likely to change determined partisans’ minds,” he wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. “Political psychology research has revealed a phenomenon known as ‘motivated reasoning’ in which people process information not to reach an objectively correct conclusion, but to bolster what they already believe.”
That thinking has spurred on the recent wave of “stop the steal” protests on the far right. Conservative supporters of Trump have fed on his claims of widespread election fraud, pushing mixed messages to either stop vote counts or resume them in various places across the country, depending on how Trump was faring there.
The protests have also sparked threats of violence against the election officials charged with carrying out the process, some of them Republicans themselves.
“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. Death threats, physical threats, intimidation, it’s too much,” said Gabriel Sterling, a Georgia elections official, on Dec. 1.
Pleading with Trump and other GOP lawmakers to stop spreading lies about fraud, he added, “Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-09--Giuliani says Trump got him COVID 'miracle cure' most people can't get

Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that he got `` exactly the same '' experimental COVID-19 treatment that Trump received when he was hospitalized after he tested positive for the coronavirus in October .
Trump had promised that all Americans who needed treatment would also receive the same experimental cocktail , free of charge .
But that has not happened , and thousands are continuing to die of causes related to the coronavirus .
Giuliani was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus earlier in the week , sending those who had met with him in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Trump 's ] doctor sent me here , talked me into it .
I did n't really want to go to the hospital and he said 'Do n't be stupid , we can get it over in three days if we send you to the hospital , ' '' Giuliani said by phone during a call to his daily radio show in the New York area .
`` The minute I took the cocktail , I felt 100 % better . ''
`` Sometimes , when you 're a celebrity , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're going to examine it more carefully and do everything right , '' Giuliani said , claiming that he did n't know that the treatment he received was not widely available .
Trump had received an experimental antibody treatment that early trials have shown promise in speeding up recovery from the virus .
And he continued to downplay the seriousness of COVID-19 , claiming the cocktail of therapeutics `` was a cure '' and telling supporters at a rally in October , `` I took something , Regeneron , which we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Business Insider estimated that the cost of Trump 's care would have been $ 650,000 if paid out of pocket .
Trump was one of the first 10 patients to receive the drugs , under compassionate-use approval .
It has since been cleared by the FDA for emergency use , but is not widely available .
Regeneron predicted last month it would have enough doses for about 80,000 patients by the end of November and 300,000 by the end of January .
More than 186,000 new coronavirus cases were reported in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close Trump ally , former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , received similar treatment in October , a comparable cocktail made by Eli Lilly and Co .
The company told S & P Global Market Intelligence at the time that it made the experimental drug available only under `` exceptional circumstances '' to patients not in clinical trials .
More than 282,000 Americans have died after contracting the coronavirus , more than 1,000 a day for the past month .
And the vast majority of COVID-19 patients have not had access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends are given .
Rather than do anything to address the rising number of cases or the lack of available therapeutic treatments , Trump has largely ignored the crisis .
At a `` vaccine summit '' on Tuesday , he called the imminent approval of coronavirus inoculations the end of the problem — though they too will be in short supply and unavailable to most Americans for months .
Instead of focusing on the ongoing global crisis , Trump used the occasion to repeat debunked conspiracy theories about President-elect Joe Biden 's victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges to have `` the courage '' to declare him the winner of the 2020 presidential election .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that he got “exactly the same” experimental COVID-19 treatment that Trump received when he was hospitalized after he tested positive for the coronavirus in October.
Trump had promised that all Americans who needed treatment would also receive the same experimental cocktail, free of charge. But that has not happened, and thousands are continuing to die of causes related to the coronavirus.
Giuliani was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus earlier in the week, sending those who had met with him in recent days scrambling to get tested themselves.
“[Trump’s] doctor sent me here, talked me into it. I didn’t really want to go to the hospital and he said ‘Don’t be stupid, we can get it over in three days if we send you to the hospital,'” Giuliani said by phone during a call to his daily radio show in the New York area. “The minute I took the cocktail, I felt 100% better.”
“Sometimes, when you’re a celebrity, they’re worried if something happens to you. They’re going to examine it more carefully and do everything right,” Giuliani said, claiming that he didn’t know that the treatment he received was not widely available.
Trump had received an experimental antibody treatment that early trials have shown promise in speeding up recovery from the virus. And he continued to downplay the seriousness of COVID-19, claiming the cocktail of therapeutics “was a cure” and telling supporters at a rally in October, “I took something, Regeneron, which we’re making available to everybody free.”
Business Insider estimated that the cost of Trump’s care would have been $650,000 if paid out of pocket.
Trump was one of the first 10 patients to receive the drugs, under compassionate-use approval. It has since been cleared by the FDA for emergency use, but is not widely available.
Regeneron predicted last month it would have enough doses for about 80,000 patients by the end of November and 300,000 by the end of January. More than 186,000 new coronavirus cases were reported in the United States on Tuesday alone.
Another close Trump ally, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, received similar treatment in October, a comparable cocktail made by Eli Lilly and Co. The company told S&P Global Market Intelligence at the time that it made the experimental drug available only under “exceptional circumstances” to patients not in clinical trials.
More than 282,000 Americans have died after contracting the coronavirus, more than 1,000 a day for the past month.
And the vast majority of COVID-19 patients have not had access to the treatments that Trump and his close friends are given.
Rather than do anything to address the rising number of cases or the lack of available therapeutic treatments, Trump has largely ignored the crisis. At a “vaccine summit” on Tuesday, he called the imminent approval of coronavirus inoculations the end of the problem — though they too will be in short supply and unavailable to most Americans for months.
Instead of focusing on the ongoing global crisis, Trump used the occasion to repeat debunked conspiracy theories about President-elect Joe Biden’s victory and to urge state lawmakers and federal judges to have “the courage” to declare him the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Cartoon: Executive vaccine fail

Cartoon: Executive vaccine fail

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--2020-12-10--Iowa governor says raging pandemic won't stop her from forcing schools to open

Iowa Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she would press for a law that would require all school districts in the state to offer 100 % in-person learning as an option for students , despite a concerning number of COVID-19 cases statewide .
Between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning , Iowa 's Department of Public Health reported more than 2,200 more confirmed virus cases and 99 deaths , according to the Des Moines Register .
In a news conference with a local PBS outlet Wednesday , Reynolds noted that studies have shown children are less at risk for contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said virtual learning had resulted in students falling behind in their academic progress .
But relatively few Iowa schools have been operating in a hybrid or all-virtual capacity to begin with , according to data from the state 's Education Department .
Only 26 of more than 300 school districts statewide have one or more schools offering hybrid or all-distance learning .
Reynolds urged parents to push for schools to return to fully in-person learning .
`` I think parents need the opportunity to also have the ( option ) to go 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I would just encourage parents out there to talk to your educators , talk to your school boards , and let ’ s get our kids back in school . ''
The Centers for Disease Control 's August guidelines for school reopening are clear that in-person learning remains the riskiest option for students and recommend all-virtual learning in communities where there is wide community spread .
Sept. 14 guidelines from the World Health Organization agree that a risk-based approach is necessary when considering school reopenings .
The WHO recommends that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed in areas with increased hospitalizations or an upward trend in COVID-19 cases .
Both the CDC and WHO have confirmed that the virus does spread more slowly among children , as Reynolds noted .
But what Reynolds failed to mention is that students are also more likely to infect higher-risk groups like teachers and staff members , who then contribute to community spread .
Most infectious disease specialists say that 10 % to 15 % is the threshold for determining elevated cause for concern about community spread in a given state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Health Department .
As of Wednesday , 63 of Iowa 's 99 counties had a 14-day positivity rate over 15 % , according to local reports .
And Iowa is n't the only state pushing for schools to remain open for in-person instruction despite soaring cases .
Florida , whose Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis has become notorious for his failure to implement COVID-19-related restrictions , has also elected to keep schools open this fall for in-person learning .
An ABC News affiliate reported last week that Florida 's schools would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning in the spring semester as well .
But Florida 's coronavirus case numbers are spiraling out of control .
There were 9,500 new cases reported Wednesday by the State Department of Health , with a positivity rate closing in on 10 % .
Florida saw 695 deaths in the first week of December — twice the death rate of November .
More than 4,000 Floridians are currently hospitalized with the virus , also twice as many as last month .
South Dakota as well , whose governor , Kristi Noem , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID restrictions , has pushed for in-person learning to continue .
While some school districts in the state reverted to virtual learning before Thanksgiving , many of the largest districts , including that of Sioux Falls , remain open .
Nearly 6,000 teachers , students , and staff have contracted the virus since South Dakota 's schools opened in the fall , according to local reports .
According to the CDC , South Dakota is currently ranked fourth in the nation for positivity rates per 100,000 residents .
Data shows that stay-at-home orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could help contain community spread in these states .
Delaware 's stay-at-home order coupled with other precautions resulted in an 88 % drop in coronavirus-related hospitalizations and a 100 % decrease in COVID-19 mortality rates between April and June .
And studies have repeatedly shown that school closures , strict shelter-in-place orders , and other social distancing measures are one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the virus .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she would press for a law that would require all school districts in the state to offer 100% in-person learning as an option for students, despite a concerning number of COVID-19 cases statewide.
Between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning, Iowa’s Department of Public Health reported more than 2,200 more confirmed virus cases and 99 deaths, according to the Des Moines Register.
In a news conference with a local PBS outlet Wednesday, Reynolds noted that studies have shown children are less at risk for contracting the virus than adults.
She also said virtual learning had resulted in students falling behind in their academic progress.
But relatively few Iowa schools have been operating in a hybrid or all-virtual capacity to begin with, according to data from the state’s Education Department. Only 26 of more than 300 school districts statewide have one or more schools offering hybrid or all-distance learning.
Reynolds urged parents to push for schools to return to fully in-person learning.
“I think parents need the opportunity to also have the (option) to go 100 percent in the classroom,” she said. “I would just encourage parents out there to talk to your educators, talk to your school boards, and let’s get our kids back in school.”
The Centers for Disease Control’s August guidelines for school reopening are clear that in-person learning remains the riskiest option for students and recommend all-virtual learning in communities where there is wide community spread.
Sept. 14 guidelines from the World Health Organization agree that a risk-based approach is necessary when considering school reopenings. The WHO recommends that, when possible, schools should be closed in areas with increased hospitalizations or an upward trend in COVID-19 cases.
Both the CDC and WHO have confirmed that the virus does spread more slowly among children, as Reynolds noted. But what Reynolds failed to mention is that students are also more likely to infect higher-risk groups like teachers and staff members, who then contribute to community spread.
Most infectious disease specialists say that 10% to 15% is the threshold for determining elevated cause for concern about community spread in a given state. This is also one metric used by the U.S. Health Department.
As of Wednesday, 63 of Iowa’s 99 counties had a 14-day positivity rate over 15%, according to local reports.
And Iowa isn’t the only state pushing for schools to remain open for in-person instruction despite soaring cases.
Florida, whose Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has become notorious for his failure to implement COVID-19-related restrictions, has also elected to keep schools open this fall for in-person learning.
An ABC News affiliate reported last week that Florida’s schools would continue to offer the option for in-person learning in the spring semester as well.
But Florida’s coronavirus case numbers are spiraling out of control. There were 9,500 new cases reported Wednesday by the State Department of Health, with a positivity rate closing in on 10%.
Florida saw 695 deaths in the first week of December — twice the death rate of November. More than 4,000 Floridians are currently hospitalized with the virus, also twice as many as last month.
South Dakota as well, whose governor, Kristi Noem, has repeatedly come under fire for her lax COVID restrictions, has pushed for in-person learning to continue.
While some school districts in the state reverted to virtual learning before Thanksgiving, many of the largest districts, including that of Sioux Falls, remain open.
Nearly 6,000 teachers, students, and staff have contracted the virus since South Dakota’s schools opened in the fall, according to local reports. According to the CDC, South Dakota is currently ranked fourth in the nation for positivity rates per 100,000 residents.
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center notes that positivity rate is a staggering 48.8%.
Data shows that stay-at-home orders and school closures are one measure that could help contain community spread in these states.
Delaware’s stay-at-home order coupled with other precautions resulted in an 88% drop in coronavirus-related hospitalizations and a 100% decrease in COVID-19 mortality rates between April and June.
And studies have repeatedly shown that school closures, strict shelter-in-place orders, and other social distancing measures are one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the virus.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--106 House Republicans back Texas' attempt to overturn election in other states

More than 100 House Republicans have endorsed a Texas lawsuit aimed at throwing out the votes in states carried by President-elect Joe Biden .
This came despite their oath to protect and defend the Constitution , which established the framework for state administration of presidential elections .
Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) announced this week that he will file an amicus brief on behalf of his GOP colleagues `` who are deeply concerned about the integrity of our election system , '' in support of the quixotic lawsuit .
According to CNN , he sent a personal email to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign on .
The suit , filed on Monday by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , seeks to overturn the results from the 2020 presidential elections in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin — four of the five states won by Donald Trump in 2016 but by Biden in 2020 .
It asks that the Supreme Court force those states to hold new elections .
His filing does not actually allege any actual specific fraud , but generally complains that different states conduct elections differently .
Trump and 17 Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him have endorsed the lawsuit , though legal experts say the case is unlikely to go anywhere .
Sens .
Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee , James Lankford of Oklahoma , and Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia have also publicly expressed support for the Texas suit .
On Thursday , Johnson released the names of 105 colleagues signing onto his amicus brief .
The list includes House Minority Whip Steve Scalise as well as most of the Republican caucus .
Notably , several of the signatories endorsed throwing out the votes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Buddy Carter , Drew Ferguson , and Austin Scott of Georgia ; Jack Bergman , Bill Huizenga , John Moolenaar , and Tim Walberg of Michigan ; John Joyce , Fred Keller , Mike Kelly , Scott Perry , Glenn Thompson , and Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania ; and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin each backed disenfranchising their own constituents .
But not all Republicans are backing the effort .
In a series of tweets on Thursday , Rep. Chip Roy of Texas denounced it as a `` dangerous violation of federalism '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one state asking federal courts to police the voting procedures of other states . ''
Article II of the Constitution mandates that `` Each State shall appoint , in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct , a Number of Electors , equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress . ''
Even Texas Sen. John Cornyn said he did not grasp the `` legal theory '' behind Paxton 's case and was `` unconvinced . ''
`` Number one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great state as Texas , have a say-so on how other states administer their elections ? ''
he told CNN on Wednesday .
`` We have a diffused and dispersed system , and even though we might not like it , they may think it 's unfair , those [ election policies ] are decided at the state and local level and not at the national level . ''
Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska — one of the states supporting the Texas lawsuit — said the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit . ''
Paxton is currently under indictment and also under federal investigation for another matter .
In a response filing on Thursday , Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the case a `` seditious abuse of the judicial process '' based on a `` surreal alternate reality . ''
Top Republican leaders in House and Senate did not immediately respond to inquiries for this story about whether they support the case .
Published with permission of @ @ @ @ @

More than 100 House Republicans have endorsed a Texas lawsuit aimed at throwing out the votes in states carried by President-elect Joe Biden. This came despite their oath to protect and defend the Constitution, which established the framework for state administration of presidential elections.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced this week that he will file an amicus brief on behalf of his GOP colleagues “who are deeply concerned about the integrity of our election system,” in support of the quixotic lawsuit. According to CNN, he sent a personal email to every other House Republican urging them to sign on.
The suit, filed on Monday by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeks to overturn the results from the 2020 presidential elections in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — four of the five states won by Donald Trump in 2016 but by Biden in 2020.
It asks that the Supreme Court force those states to hold new elections. His filing does not actually allege any actual specific fraud, but generally complains that different states conduct elections differently.
Trump and 17 Republican state attorneys general from states carried by him have endorsed the lawsuit, though legal experts say the case is unlikely to go anywhere. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, James Lankford of Oklahoma, and Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia have also publicly expressed support for the Texas suit.
On Thursday, Johnson released the names of 105 colleagues signing onto his amicus brief. The list includes House Minority Whip Steve Scalise as well as most of the Republican caucus.
Notably, several of the signatories endorsed throwing out the votes from their own states. Reps. Rick Allen, Buddy Carter, Drew Ferguson, and Austin Scott of Georgia; Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenaar, and Tim Walberg of Michigan; John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Glenn Thompson, and Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania; and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin each backed disenfranchising their own constituents.
But not all Republicans are backing the effort. In a series of tweets on Thursday, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas denounced it as a “dangerous violation of federalism” that “sets a precedent to have one state asking federal courts to police the voting procedures of other states.” Article II of the Constitution mandates that “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress.”
Even Texas Sen. John Cornyn said he did not grasp the “legal theory” behind Paxton’s case and was “unconvinced.”
“Number one, why would a state, even such a great state as Texas, have a say-so on how other states administer their elections?” he told CNN on Wednesday. “We have a diffused and dispersed system, and even though we might not like it, they may think it’s unfair, those [election policies] are decided at the state and local level and not at the national level.”
Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska — one of the states supporting the Texas lawsuit — said the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule in Texas’ favor and that “it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit.” Paxton is currently under indictment and also under federal investigation for another matter.
In a response filing on Thursday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the case a “seditious abuse of the judicial process” based on a “surreal alternate reality.”
Top Republican leaders in House and Senate did not immediately respond to inquiries for this story about whether they support the case.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Pennsylvania responds to lawsuit to toss out election with blazing hot fire

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday filed a response to Texas ' lawsuit — which asks the United States Supreme Court to invalidate the presidential election results in the Keystone State along with three others President-elect Joe Biden won — slamming it as an `` affront to principles of constitutional democracy . ''
The response dismantles the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton line by line to show that there is no conceivable way the Supreme Court could simply throw out the ballots of millions of voters that were legally cast .
Legal experts have already said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear the case , let alone side with Paxton .
`` The Texas # SCOTUS lawsuit trying to overthrow the election results in four battleground states is little more than a stunt — and that ’ s *exactly* why it ’ s so offensive , '' University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck tweeted .
Even Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska — one of the 17 states supporting the Texas lawsuit — said it appears to be an effort by Paxton , who is under indictment and facing multiple legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pardon from Trump by going along with Trump 's coup attempt .
`` I 'm no lawyer , but I suspect the Supreme Court swats this away , '' Sasse said of the lawsuit .
`` From the brief , it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit — as all of its assertions have already been rejected by federal courts and Texas ' own solicitor general is n't signing on . ''
Nevertheless , Donald Trump , 17 other Republican attorneys general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress , have praised the lawsuit — which is part of the failed effort by Trump and his allies to get courts to overturn Biden 's win and hand the election to Trump .
Every state has since certified its results , giving Biden 306 Electoral College votes — far more than the 270 needed to win .
The Electoral College meets Monday to vote , when Biden 's victory will be officially cemented .
Pennsylvania 's response to the Texas lawsuit was devastating .
Here are some highlights : Since Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country have been flooded with frivolous lawsuits aimed at disenfranchising large swaths of voters and undermining the legitimacy of the election .
The State of Texas has now added its voice to the cacophony of bogus claims .
Texas seeks to invalidate elections in four states for yielding results with which it disagrees .
Its request for this Court to exercise its original jurisdiction and then anoint Texas ’ s preferred candidate for President is legally indefensible and is an affront to principles of constitutional democracy .
Far from trying to vindicate its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ultimately seeking redress for the political preferences of those of its citizens who voted for President Trump .
... .
In so doing , Texas repeats the same false allegations of election fraud that have already been repeatedly rejected by other courts .
… And its request for relief — to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters who reasonably relied upon the law — is uniquely unserious .
Nothing in the text , history , or structure of the Constitution supports Texas ’ s view that it can dictate the manner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Texas suffered no harm because it dislikes the results in those elections .
Further , Texas ’ s claims are also moot and barred by laches .
The predicate for Texas to take action was established well before Election Day , but it waited until now—after all four States have certified their elections—to bring this action .
While Texas waited to see the results , millions of voters relied on the settled rules .
Those voters should not be punished for not choosing Texas ’ s preferred candidate , and Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay in bringing this action .
You can read the entire brief here .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday filed a response to Texas’ lawsuit — which asks the United States Supreme Court to invalidate the presidential election results in the Keystone State along with three others President-elect Joe Biden won — slamming it as an “affront to principles of constitutional democracy.”
The response dismantles the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton line by line to show that there is no conceivable way the Supreme Court could simply throw out the ballots of millions of voters that were legally cast.
Legal experts have already said they do not believe the Supreme Court would hear the case, let alone side with Paxton.
“The Texas #SCOTUS lawsuit trying to overthrow the election results in four battleground states is little more than a stunt — and that’s *exactly* why it’s so offensive,” University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck tweeted.
Even Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska — one of the 17 states supporting the Texas lawsuit — said it appears to be an effort by Paxton, who is under indictment and facing multiple legal troubles, to try to seek a pardon from Trump by going along with Trump’s coup attempt.
“I’m no lawyer, but I suspect the Supreme Court swats this away,” Sasse said of the lawsuit. “From the brief, it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit — as all of its assertions have already been rejected by federal courts and Texas’ own solicitor general isn’t signing on.”
Nevertheless, Donald Trump, 17 other Republican attorneys general, and a handful of GOP members of Congress, have praised the lawsuit — which is part of the failed effort by Trump and his allies to get courts to overturn Biden’s win and hand the election to Trump.
Every state has since certified its results, giving Biden 306 Electoral College votes — far more than the 270 needed to win. The Electoral College meets Monday to vote, when Biden’s victory will be officially cemented.
Pennsylvania’s response to the Texas lawsuit was devastating. Here are some highlights:
Since Election Day, State and Federal courts throughout the country have been flooded with frivolous lawsuits aimed at disenfranchising large swaths of voters and undermining the legitimacy of the election. The State of Texas has now added its voice to the cacophony of bogus claims. Texas seeks to invalidate elections in four states for yielding results with which it disagrees. Its request for this Court to exercise its original jurisdiction and then anoint Texas’s preferred candidate for President is legally indefensible and is an affront to principles of constitutional democracy.
Texas has not suffered harm simply because it dislikes the result of the election, and nothing in the text, history, or structure of the Constitution supports Texas’s view that it can dictate the manner in which four other states run their elections.
Texas’s effort to get this Court to pick the next President has no basis in law or fact. The Court should not abide this seditious abuse of the judicial process, and should send a clear and unmistakable signal that such abuse must never be replicated.
Texas offers statements about Pennsylvania law and Pennsylvania’s election administration. Befitting of Texas’s distance and unfamiliarity with either, those statements are littered with patently false allegations and conclusions.
Texas’s suggestion of a wide-ranging conspiracy is a fantasy.
This dispute, on the other hand, involves Pennsylvania’s interpretation of its own laws, and Texas’s disagreement with that interpretation. … And Texas’s claims are neither serious nor dignified.
Far from trying to vindicate its own sovereign or quasi-sovereign interests, Texas is ultimately seeking redress for the political preferences of those of its citizens who voted for President Trump. …. In so doing, Texas repeats the same false allegations of election fraud that have already been repeatedly rejected by other courts. … And its request for relief — to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters who reasonably relied upon the law — is uniquely unserious.
Let us be clear. Texas invites this Court to overthrow the votes of the American people and choose the next President of the United States. That Faustian invitation must be firmly rejected.
Texas commenced the present action on December 7, 2020, thirty-four days after the General Election and thirteen days after the results were certified by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Disenfranchising millions of voters after Pennsylvania has already certified its election results would grievously undermine the public’s trust in the electoral system, contravene democratic principles, and reward Texas for its inexcusable delay and procedural gamesmanship.
Texas seeks the unprecedented step of commandeering the electoral process of a separate and co-equal sovereign state and disenfranchising almost 7 million Pennsylvanians who reasonably relied on the rules which were in place when they voted on Election Day.
Texas literally seeks to decimate the electorate of the United States.
Indeed, Texas’s argument is so untethered from the actual state of the law that it makes the remarkable claim that a state legislature’s power to direct the manner by which presidential electors are appointed is “plenary.” … So plenary is that power, Texas claims, that state legislatures are not bound by either the state constitution that establishes them or the laws that the legislature itself has passed. … Texas is gravely mistaken.
Nothing in the text, history, or structure of the Constitution supports Texas’s view that it can dictate the manner in which four sister States run their elections, and Texas suffered no harm because it dislikes the results in those elections. Further, Texas’s claims are also moot and barred by laches. The predicate for Texas to take action was established well before Election Day, but it waited until now—after all four States have certified their elections—to bring this action. While Texas waited to see the results, millions of voters relied on the settled rules. Those voters should not be punished for not choosing Texas’s preferred candidate, and Texas should not be rewarded for its unreasonable delay in bringing this action.
And Texas asks this Court to contort its original jurisdiction jurisprudence in an election where millions of people cast ballots under truly extraordinary circumstances, sometimes risking their very health and safety to do so. Accepting Texas’s view would do violence to the Constitution and the Framers’ vision, and would plunge this Court into “one of the most intensely partisan aspects of American political life.”
You can read the entire brief here.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Biden asks Asian American woman to lead US trade for first time in history

Katherine Tai , President-elect Joe Biden 's pick for the nation 's top trade post , will make history if she 's confirmed as the first Asian American woman — and woman of color , for that matter — in the Cabinet position .
The U.S. trade representative role was created less than 40 years ago , but even in its short history , no woman of color has ever served .
Only 13 officials have served in the position , and for the first 27 years , the role was filled by men .
In 1989 , Carla Anderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position .
Since then , only one other woman , Charlene Barshevsky in 1997 , has served .
Tai , who currently serves as the chief trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee , also speaks fluent Mandarin and served previously served as chief counsel for China Trade Enforcement in the Office of the United States Trade Representative .
In that role , she was tasked with representing the United States in disputes against China at the World Trade Organization .
Biden 's camp has sung her praises , calling her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ servant and veteran international trade expert who has spent her career working to level the playing field for American workers and families . ''
`` Her deep experience will allow the Biden-Harris administration to hit the ground running on trade , and harness the power of our trading relationships to help the U.S. dig out of the COVID-induced economic crisis and pursue the President-elect ’ s vision of a pro-American worker trade strategy , '' the transition team said in a press release on Thursday .
Another trade lawyer Lauren Mandell , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , said Tai 's experience `` successfully litigating trade disputes with China '' was `` unmatched , '' according to the South China Morning Post .
`` She intimately understands the challenge to the global trading system posed by China , as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the WTO as a tool to advance U.S. interests , '' Mandell said .
The paper described her as the `` first true China trade expert '' for the Cabinet 's trade role .
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying Tai would be `` breaking barriers and clearing the way for others to follow . ''
Senate Democrats also approved of the pick .
Tai is the `` most qualified candidate for the job , '' Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) said in a statement , adding that `` she is uniquely prepared to tackle issues on China and knows how to partner with our allies to advance U.S .
interests . ''
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) said Tai has `` knows how to champion the values that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She worked closely with me and my staff to craft the strongest ever protections for American workers in a trade agreement , and pass them into law with bipartisan support , '' he said .
The ranking member on the Senate finance committee called her `` an inspired choice , '' urging Senate Republicans to approve her confirmation .
Born in Connecticut , Tai is the first American-born citizen in her family .
Raised in the Washington , D.C. , area , she later graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second Asian American woman tapped to serve in Biden 's Cabinet , alongside Neera Tanden , who was selected for director of the Office of Management and Budget .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Katherine Tai, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for the nation’s top trade post, will make history if she’s confirmed as the first Asian American woman — and woman of color, for that matter — in the Cabinet position.
The U.S. trade representative role was created less than 40 years ago, but even in its short history, no woman of color has ever served.
Only 13 officials have served in the position, and for the first 27 years, the role was filled by men.
In 1989, Carla Anderson Hills became the first woman in the position. Since then, only one other woman, Charlene Barshevsky in 1997, has served.
Tai, who currently serves as the chief trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, also speaks fluent Mandarin and served previously served as chief counsel for China Trade Enforcement in the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In that role, she was tasked with representing the United States in disputes against China at the World Trade Organization.
Biden’s camp has sung her praises, calling her “a dedicated, deeply respected public servant and veteran international trade expert who has spent her career working to level the playing field for American workers and families.”
“Her deep experience will allow the Biden-Harris administration to hit the ground running on trade, and harness the power of our trading relationships to help the U.S. dig out of the COVID-induced economic crisis and pursue the President-elect’s vision of a pro-American worker trade strategy,” the transition team said in a press release on Thursday.
Another trade lawyer Lauren Mandell, who worked with Tai at the U.S. trade office, said Tai’s experience “successfully litigating trade disputes with China” was “unmatched,” according to the South China Morning Post.
“She intimately understands the challenge to the global trading system posed by China, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the WTO as a tool to advance U.S. interests,” Mandell said.
The paper described her as the “first true China trade expert” for the Cabinet’s trade role.
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (D-CA) also applauded Biden’s pick, saying Tai would be “breaking barriers and clearing the way for others to follow.”
Senate Democrats also approved of the pick.
Tai is the “most qualified candidate for the job,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said in a statement, adding that “she is uniquely prepared to tackle issues on China and knows how to partner with our allies to advance U.S. interests.”
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Tai has “knows how to champion the values that matter to U.S. families.”
“She worked closely with me and my staff to craft the strongest ever protections for American workers in a trade agreement, and pass them into law with bipartisan support,” he said.
The ranking member on the Senate finance committee called her “an inspired choice,” urging Senate Republicans to approve her confirmation.
Born in Connecticut, Tai is the first American-born citizen in her family. Raised in the Washington, D.C., area, she later graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School.
Tai’s selection makes her the second Asian American woman tapped to serve in Biden’s Cabinet, alongside Neera Tanden, who was selected for director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Judge appointed by Trump not very impressed by Trump election lawsuit

A federal judge Thursday cast doubt on Donald Trump 's lawsuit that seeks to overturn Joe Biden 's win in Wisconsin , saying siding with Trump would be `` the most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary . ''
Trump is pursuing extraordinary attempts to overturn Biden 's win with a pair of lawsuits in Wisconsin , in federal and state courts .
Hearings on both cases were scheduled for Thursday .
In the state case , Trump wants to disqualify more than 221,000 ballots and in the federal case he wants to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump the winner .
At the beginning of arguments in the federal case , U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig marveled at Trump 's request .
`` It 's not lost on me that this is a political case , obviously , and that the relief that 's been requested , if that relief were granted , this would be a most remarkable proceeding and probably the most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary , '' Ludwig said .
Ludwig , a Trump appointee , had previously called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` very odd . ''
Trump 's attorney Bill Bock argued that the election was n't run properly and that the risks of voter fraud were increased because ballot drop boxes were not staffed , voting by mail was widely used and voters who said they were indefinitely confined were allowed to cast absentee ballots without showing a valid photo ID .
`` In what area of American life is it more important that the rules be followed and the playing field be level than in an election for president of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attorneys are urging the courts to act quickly so he can appeal any adverse ruling before members of the Electoral College meet on Monday and cast Wisconsin 's 10 votes for Biden .
Attorneys for Gov .
Tony Evers and the bipartisan state elections commission say the cases are without merit and should be dismissed .
On Wednesday , a federal judge in Wisconsin dismissed another lawsuit filed by the chairman of the La Crosse County Republican party that argued there was massive fraud that warranted the court declaring Trump the winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's former campaign attorney Sidney Powell , have been dismissed in Arizona , Georgia and Michigan .
Powell appealed the Wisconsin ruling on Thursday to the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
Trump 's state lawsuit made Wisconsin the only state that missed Tuesday 's safe harbor deadline , which means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast Monday and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6 .
Missing the deadline wo n't deprive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral votes .
Biden won Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , which came after a Trump-ordered recount in the state 's two largest Democratic counties , were then challenged by Trump in the two lawsuits he filed in Wisconsin .
Out of the roughly 50 lawsuits filed around the country contesting the Nov. 3 vote , Trump has lost more than 35 and the others are pending , according to an Associated Press tally .
The Wisconsin Supreme Court already refused to hear Trump 's lawsuit once , saying it must first go through lower courts .
But the court is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is controlled 4-3 by conservative justices .
One of them , Justice Brian Hagedorn , has three times joined liberals in deciding against taking the Trump lawsuit and two others filed by Trump allies seeking to overturn the election .
`` The relief being sought by the petitioners is the most dramatic invocation of judicial power I have ever seen , '' Hagedorn wrote in denying a Wisconsin Voters Alliance case .
Chief Justice Patience Roggensack , a conservative , said invalidating 221,000 votes , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of reach for a number of reasons . ''
In the state case , Trump wants to disqualify absentee ballots cast early and in-person , saying there was n't a proper written request made for the ballots ; absentee ballots cast by people who claimed `` indefinitely confined '' status ; absentee ballots collected by poll workers at Madison parks ; and absentee ballots where clerks filled in missing information on ballot envelopes .

A federal judge Thursday cast doubt on Donald Trump’s lawsuit that seeks to overturn Joe Biden’s win in Wisconsin, saying siding with Trump would be “the most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary.”
Trump is pursuing extraordinary attempts to overturn Biden’s win with a pair of lawsuits in Wisconsin, in federal and state courts. Hearings on both cases were scheduled for Thursday. In the state case, Trump wants to disqualify more than 221,000 ballots and in the federal case he wants to give the GOP-controlled Legislature the power to name Trump the winner.
At the beginning of arguments in the federal case, U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig marveled at Trump’s request.
“It’s not lost on me that this is a political case, obviously, and that the relief that’s been requested, if that relief were granted, this would be a most remarkable proceeding and probably the most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig, a Trump appointee, had previously called the Trump request “bizarre” and “very odd.”
Trump’s attorney Bill Bock argued that the election wasn’t run properly and that the risks of voter fraud were increased because ballot drop boxes were not staffed, voting by mail was widely used and voters who said they were indefinitely confined were allowed to cast absentee ballots without showing a valid photo ID.
“In what area of American life is it more important that the rules be followed and the playing field be level than in an election for president of the United States?” Bock said.
Trump’s attorneys are urging the courts to act quickly so he can appeal any adverse ruling before members of the Electoral College meet on Monday and cast Wisconsin’s 10 votes for Biden. Attorneys for Gov. Tony Evers and the bipartisan state elections commission say the cases are without merit and should be dismissed.
On Wednesday, a federal judge in Wisconsin dismissed another lawsuit filed by the chairman of the La Crosse County Republican party that argued there was massive fraud that warranted the court declaring Trump the winner. Similar lawsuits, all filed by Trump’s former campaign attorney Sidney Powell, have been dismissed in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan.
Powell appealed the Wisconsin ruling on Thursday to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trump’s state lawsuit made Wisconsin the only state that missed Tuesday’s safe harbor deadline, which means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast Monday and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Missing the deadline won’t deprive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral votes.
Biden won Wisconsin by about 20,600 votes. Those certified results, which came after a Trump-ordered recount in the state’s two largest Democratic counties, were then challenged by Trump in the two lawsuits he filed in Wisconsin.
Out of the roughly 50 lawsuits filed around the country contesting the Nov. 3 vote, Trump has lost more than 35 and the others are pending, according to an Associated Press tally.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court already refused to hear Trump’s lawsuit once, saying it must first go through lower courts. But the court is likely to soon have the case before it again.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is controlled 4-3 by conservative justices. One of them, Justice Brian Hagedorn, has three times joined liberals in deciding against taking the Trump lawsuit and two others filed by Trump allies seeking to overturn the election.
“The relief being sought by the petitioners is the most dramatic invocation of judicial power I have ever seen,” Hagedorn wrote in denying a Wisconsin Voters Alliance case.
Chief Justice Patience Roggensack, a conservative, said invalidating 221,000 votes, as the Trump lawsuit seeks, “may be out of reach for a number of reasons.”
In the state case, Trump wants to disqualify absentee ballots cast early and in-person, saying there wasn’t a proper written request made for the ballots; absentee ballots cast by people who claimed “indefinitely confined” status; absentee ballots collected by poll workers at Madison parks; and absentee ballots where clerks filled in missing information on ballot envelopes.