shareblue--2020-11-13--Justice Alito is upset that being homophobic in public isn't cool anymore

Justice Samuel Alito on Thursday night bemoaned the public disapproval of homophobia in a keynote speech for a convention of the Federalist Society , a powerful and influential right-wing organization of conservative lawyers .
It was an unprecedented violation of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges , which states that `` a judge should not participate in extrajudicial activities that detract from the dignity of the judge ’ s office , interfere with the performance of the judge ’ s official duties , reflect adversely on the judge ’ s impartiality , lead to frequent disqualification , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Code ] . ''
`` You ca n't say that marriage is a union between one man and one woman .
Until very recently , that 's what the vast majority of Americans thought .
Now it 's considered bigotry .
That this would happen after our decision in Obergefell should not have come as a surprise , '' Alito said .
Obergefell v. Hodges was the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality .
By the time Obergefell was decided , public opinion had been shifting in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he and the other justices who dissented `` could see where it would lead . ''
`` I wrote the following : I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes but if they repeat those views in public , they will risk being labeled as bigots , and treated as such by governments , employers , and schools .
That is just what is coming to pass .
One of the great challenges for the Supreme Court going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech . ''
He added : `` Although that freedom is falling out of favor in some circles , we need to do whatever we can to prevent it from becoming a second-tier constitutional right . ''
Alito also complained about the treatment of a bakery owner who had refused to bake a wedding cake ordered by a gay couple in 2012 .
The Supreme Court ruled in the case , Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission , that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had violated the baker 's free exercise rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his speech , Alito claimed there was `` no evidence that anybody has been harmed '' by the decisions in cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop .
He said there 's `` no reason to think that Jack Phillips ' stand would deprive any same-sex couple of a wedding cake '' because the couple received a free cake from another bakery and `` celebrity chefs have jumped to the couple 's defense . ''
Fatima Goss-Graves , president of the National Women 's Law Project , which advocates for gender justice in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alito 's speech was `` alarmingly political .
...
I do n't know how the public can think we can get a fair shake before this Court on critical questions that will continue to come before the Court . ''
Chris Geidner , director of strategy at the Justice Collaborative , said : `` This was a hyper-political , partisan speech , and his message in sum was : ' I 'm free to say this now .
We have the votes . '
'' Conservatives welcomed Alito 's remarks .
Jenna Ellis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign and counsel to Donald Trump tweeted : `` Justice Alito is a hero . ''
Ellis notoriously deliberately misgendered the Pennsylvania secretary of health , Dr. Rachel Levine , who is a transgender woman .
She refused to apologize .
Alito also lied about Plan B , the morning after pill , calling it an abortifacient , and complained about restrictions meant to keep people safe during the pandemic .
Steven Mazie , who covers the Supreme Court for the Economist , tweeted that Alito discussed a case concerning Plan B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future .
`` This is incompatible with the judicial oath , '' Mazie said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Justice Samuel Alito on Thursday night bemoaned the public disapproval of homophobia in a keynote speech for a convention of the Federalist Society, a powerful and influential right-wing organization of conservative lawyers.
It was an unprecedented violation of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which states that “a judge should not participate in extrajudicial activities that detract from the dignity of the judge’s office, interfere with the performance of the judge’s official duties, reflect adversely on the judge’s impartiality, lead to frequent disqualification, or violate the limitations set forth [in the Code].”
“You can’t say that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Until very recently, that’s what the vast majority of Americans thought. Now it’s considered bigotry. That this would happen after our decision in Obergefell should not have come as a surprise,” Alito said.
Obergefell v. Hodges was the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality. By the time Obergefell was decided, public opinion had been shifting in favor of marriage equality for years.
Alito said he and the other justices who dissented “could see where it would lead.”
“I wrote the following: I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots, and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools. That is just what is coming to pass. One of the great challenges for the Supreme Court going forward will be to protect freedom of speech.”
He added: “Although that freedom is falling out of favor in some circles, we need to do whatever we can to prevent it from becoming a second-tier constitutional right.”
Alito also complained about the treatment of a bakery owner who had refused to bake a wedding cake ordered by a gay couple in 2012. The Supreme Court ruled in the case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had violated the baker’s free exercise rights in the way it handled the case.
In his speech, Alito claimed there was “no evidence that anybody has been harmed” by the decisions in cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop. He said there’s “no reason to think that Jack Phillips’ stand would deprive any same-sex couple of a wedding cake” because the couple received a free cake from another bakery and “celebrity chefs have jumped to the couple’s defense.”
Fatima Goss-Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Project, which advocates for gender justice in public policy and the courts, tweeted that Alito’s speech was “alarmingly political. … I don’t know how the public can think we can get a fair shake before this Court on critical questions that will continue to come before the Court.”
Chris Geidner, director of strategy at the Justice Collaborative, said: “This was a hyper-political, partisan speech, and his message in sum was: ‘I’m free to say this now. We have the votes.'”
Conservatives welcomed Alito’s remarks. Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to the Trump campaign and counsel to Donald Trump tweeted: “Justice Alito is a hero.”
Ellis notoriously deliberately misgendered the Pennsylvania secretary of health, Dr. Rachel Levine, who is a transgender woman. She refused to apologize.
Alito also lied about Plan B, the morning after pill, calling it an abortifacient, and complained about restrictions meant to keep people safe during the pandemic.
Steven Mazie, who covers the Supreme Court for the Economist, tweeted that Alito discussed a case concerning Plan B that the Supreme Court might take up in the future. “This is incompatible with the judicial oath,” Mazie said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-13--GOP-run states won't take science seriously and it's killing Americans

Florida Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis just hired a sports blogger with an anti-science , anti-mask bias to crunch COVID data in his state .
Kyle Lamb , a podcast host , describes himself as `` not an expert , '' and , according to a Washington Post report , has no experience with either epidemiology or data analysis .
But he still got the job from avid Trump supporter DeSantis , who also pushed to reopen the state early and has refused to issue a statewide masking order .
Lamb 's job will involve assessing the state of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worsening .
Hospitalizations for the virus in the state have risen 20 % in recent days , with some 864,000 cases and more than 17,000 deaths in the state total .
In Idaho , cases have skyrocketed as well , with 1,693 cases on Wednesday alone , and more than 78,000 cases and 750 deaths in total .
Primary care clinics are crammed at maximum capacity , with many staff out ill or quarantined , but its Republican governor , Brad Little , has not issued a masking order .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee told Little that stricter measures would be the only way to control the virus .
`` A statewide masking requirement , combined with the other social distancing measures and limitation on group gatherings , is our only hope of avoiding disaster , '' the committee told Little .
Idaho 's positivity rate currently ranks fourth in the country , far higher than that of its neighboring states .
On Oct. 11 , the state was averaging about 880 new cases a day statewide .
In mid-November , that number is up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,070 new cases on Wednesday alone .
Its Republican governor , Kay Ivey , just lifted occupancy limits and restrictions on retail businesses , gyms , and entertainment venues .
Barbershops , hair salons , and restaurants are also no longer required to follow social-distancing guidelines if all parties are masked , according to Alabama Today .
`` Simply put , [ lifting occupancy limits ] should be welcome news as we get ready for the upcoming holiday season , '' Ivey said .
`` From the outset of this pandemic , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a livelihood . ''
Meanwhile , according to Johns Hopkins data , South Dakota has the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita in the country , and 1 in 53 people in the state are currently testing positive .
But South Dakota 's Republican governor , Kristi Noem , has also failed to issue a masking order for the state , drawing sharp criticism from Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz this week .
Walz blasted Noem for this leadership failure , as well as for failing to cancel the Sturgis Motorcycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer .
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune , Noem has repeatedly undermined the science behind masks and questioned whether they prevent the spread of the disease .
While President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are taking the first steps to roll out a coordinated national response to the pandemic when they take office , the reluctance of deep red states to follow basic CDC guidelines could kneecap the process .
In a Nov. 9 address , Biden implored Americans to wear masks .
In recent days , he 's also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A recent NPR report indicates that fewer than half of states currently require face masks in public places .
A federal surveillance program , including contact tracing and more testing , is also a top priority for the incoming administration .
Biden has also said that when he takes office , he will individually contact state governors and urge them to enact state masking guidelines .
If they refuse , he 'll move on to the mayors of each city .
But Biden 's efforts require the cooperation of state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem in GOP-run cities and states if officials refuse to comply .

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis just hired a sports blogger with an anti-science, anti-mask bias to crunch COVID data in his state.
Kyle Lamb, a podcast host, describes himself as “not an expert,” and, according to a Washington Post report, has no experience with either epidemiology or data analysis. But he still got the job from avid Trump supporter DeSantis, who also pushed to reopen the state early and has refused to issue a statewide masking order.
Lamb’s job will involve assessing the state of the outbreak in Florida, which is rapidly worsening. Hospitalizations for the virus in the state have risen 20% in recent days, with some 864,000 cases and more than 17,000 deaths in the state total.
In Idaho, cases have skyrocketed as well, with 1,693 cases on Wednesday alone, and more than 78,000 cases and 750 deaths in total.
Primary care clinics are crammed at maximum capacity, with many staff out ill or quarantined, but its Republican governor, Brad Little, has not issued a masking order.
Last week, the State of Idaho Disaster Medical Advisory Committee told Little that stricter measures would be the only way to control the virus.
“A statewide masking requirement, combined with the other social distancing measures and limitation on group gatherings, is our only hope of avoiding disaster,” the committee told Little.
Idaho’s positivity rate currently ranks fourth in the country, far higher than that of its neighboring states.
In Alabama, COVID hospitalizations are climbing sky-high.
On Oct. 11, the state was averaging about 880 new cases a day statewide. In mid-November, that number is up to 1,551 per day, with a staggering 2,070 new cases on Wednesday alone.
Its Republican governor, Kay Ivey, just lifted occupancy limits and restrictions on retail businesses, gyms, and entertainment venues.
Barbershops, hair salons, and restaurants are also no longer required to follow social-distancing guidelines if all parties are masked, according to Alabama Today.
“Simply put, [lifting occupancy limits] should be welcome news as we get ready for the upcoming holiday season,” Ivey said. “From the outset of this pandemic, I said you cannot have a life without a livelihood.”
Meanwhile, according to Johns Hopkins data, South Dakota has the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita in the country, and 1 in 53 people in the state are currently testing positive.
But South Dakota’s Republican governor, Kristi Noem, has also failed to issue a masking order for the state, drawing sharp criticism from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz this week.
Walz blasted Noem for this leadership failure, as well as for failing to cancel the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held in the state over the summer.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Noem has repeatedly undermined the science behind masks and questioned whether they prevent the spread of the disease.
While President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are taking the first steps to roll out a coordinated national response to the pandemic when they take office, the reluctance of deep red states to follow basic CDC guidelines could kneecap the process.
In a Nov. 9 address, Biden implored Americans to wear masks. In recent days, he’s also named a vibrant new coronavirus task force.
A recent NPR report indicates that fewer than half of states currently require face masks in public places.
A federal surveillance program, including contact tracing and more testing, is also a top priority for the incoming administration.
Biden has also said that when he takes office, he will individually contact state governors and urge them to enact state masking guidelines. If they refuse, he’ll move on to the mayors of each city.
But Biden’s efforts require the cooperation of state and local officials with national guidelines — a potential problem in GOP-run cities and states if officials refuse to comply.


shareblue--2020-11-13--GOP senators say Biden should have intel briefings — but they won't admit he won

A handful of Senate Republicans said this week that Joe Biden should be able to access daily presidential intelligence briefings as he prepares to take office — but refused to acknowledge him as the president-elect .
Most other GOP senators have not even gone that far .
Though every major media outlet determined on Saturday that Joe Biden had defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election , Trump has refused to concede , and his administration has blocked Biden from official support for his transition .
Until Emily Murphy , the administrator of the General Services Administration appointed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially recognizing the result of the election , Biden 's team may not communicate with government agencies , access millions in transition funds , check security clearances for prospective hires , or coordinate calls with foreign leaders through the Department of State .
The Trump administration has even declined to provide daily intelligence briefings to President-elect Biden , a courtesy given to every incoming administration since at least 1968 .
Even during the 2000 recount , the Clinton administration offered daily briefings to George W. Bush in case he emerged as the winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin wrote in a letter in 2017 , referring to a different transfer of power : `` An incoming administration must be ready to govern on day one .
Any threat to the close coordination between the transition and outgoing administration could create vulnerabilities to governance , readiness , and national security . ''
This time around , Johnson is singing a different tune , responding after a reporter asked him if he had congratulated Biden : `` There 's nothing to congratulate him about . ''
So far , just four Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , Mitt Romney of Utah , and Ben Sasse of Nebraska — have publicly recognized Biden 's victory .
The American Independent Foundation reached out to the other 49 sitting Republican senators for comment .
None immediately responded .
One of them , Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey , told a local news outlet on Tuesday : `` We 're on a path it looks likely Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States .
It 's not 100 % certain but it is quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process ought to begin . ''
Toomey said that a second Trump administration was unlikely , but did not refer to Biden as the president-elect .
Another , Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota , said Tuesday : `` Well , with regard to the transition itself — I think they should be able to work out any issue between them , to allow certain parts of it to move forward . ''
Several others have stopped short of acknowledging Biden 's win or the need for an orderly transfer of power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by CNN as of Thursday afternoon , Sens .
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , Chuck Grassley of Iowa , James Lankford of Oklahoma , Rob Portman of Ohio , Marco Rubio of Florida , and John Thune of South Dakota have all expressed their support for Biden receiving intelligence briefings — though some , like Graham , have also baselessly suggested that Republicans are being cheated out of winning the election .
Politico reported that Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri agreed with them on Thursday , while John Cornyn of Texas said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actual daily presidential intelligence briefing , `` I think the information needs to be communicated in some way . ''
Hillary Clinton conceded Donald Trump 's victory in the 2016 presidential race the day after the election , saying that Americans owed him `` an open mind and a chance to lead . ''
Barack Obama immediately began the process of ensuring a smooth transition , inviting Trump to the White House and saying , `` My No .
1 priority in the next two months is to try to facilitate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
As Trump continues to falsely claim that he won reelection , his followers are sticking with him .
A poll earlier this week found that 70 % of Republican voters do not believe the nation had a `` free and fair '' election .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A handful of Senate Republicans said this week that Joe Biden should be able to access daily presidential intelligence briefings as he prepares to take office — but refused to acknowledge him as the president-elect. Most other GOP senators have not even gone that far.
Though every major media outlet determined on Saturday that Joe Biden had defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Trump has refused to concede, and his administration has blocked Biden from official support for his transition.
Until Emily Murphy, the administrator of the General Services Administration appointed by Trump, signs a letter of ascertainment officially recognizing the result of the election, Biden’s team may not communicate with government agencies, access millions in transition funds, check security clearances for prospective hires, or coordinate calls with foreign leaders through the Department of State.
The Trump administration has even declined to provide daily intelligence briefings to President-elect Biden, a courtesy given to every incoming administration since at least 1968. Even during the 2000 recount, the Clinton administration offered daily briefings to George W. Bush in case he emerged as the winner.
As Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin wrote in a letter in 2017, referring to a different transfer of power: “An incoming administration must be ready to govern on day one. Any threat to the close coordination between the transition and outgoing administration could create vulnerabilities to governance, readiness, and national security.”
This time around, Johnson is singing a different tune, responding after a reporter asked him if he had congratulated Biden: “There’s nothing to congratulate him about.”
So far, just four Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska — have publicly recognized Biden’s victory.
The American Independent Foundation reached out to the other 49 sitting Republican senators for comment. None immediately responded.
One of them, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, told a local news outlet on Tuesday: “We’re on a path it looks likely Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States. It’s not 100% certain but it is quite likely. So I think a transition process ought to begin.”
Toomey said that a second Trump administration was unlikely, but did not refer to Biden as the president-elect.
Another, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, said Tuesday: “Well, with regard to the transition itself — I think they should be able to work out any issue between them, to allow certain parts of it to move forward.”
Several others have stopped short of acknowledging Biden’s win or the need for an orderly transfer of power.
According to a roundup of reactions posted by CNN as of Thursday afternoon, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Rob Portman of Ohio, Marco Rubio of Florida, and John Thune of South Dakota have all expressed their support for Biden receiving intelligence briefings — though some, like Graham, have also baselessly suggested that Republicans are being cheated out of winning the election.
Politico reported that Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri agreed with them on Thursday, while John Cornyn of Texas said that even if Biden doesn’t get the actual daily presidential intelligence briefing, “I think the information needs to be communicated in some way.”
Hillary Clinton conceded Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential race the day after the election, saying that Americans owed him “an open mind and a chance to lead.” Barack Obama immediately began the process of ensuring a smooth transition, inviting Trump to the White House and saying, “My No. 1 priority in the next two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful.”
As Trump continues to falsely claim that he won reelection, his followers are sticking with him. A poll earlier this week found that 70% of Republican voters do not believe the nation had a “free and fair” election.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-14--Say goodbye to the Muslim ban: Biden expected to make major changes on immigration

Some dramatic moves on immigration are expected in the early days of the Biden administration .
Joe Biden will likely use executive orders to reverse some of Donald Trump 's most controversial actions , rolling back moves that were a central feature of his administration and important to his base .
The Biden administration plans to restore protection for people brought to the U.S. illegally as minors and stop using Pentagon funds to build a border wall .
Biden unveiled a detailed , highly ambitious plan on immigration , but it will take time to undo many actions taken by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely face a divided Congress , making it difficult to enact any kind of sweeping , comprehensive changes to the nation 's immigration system .
Here 's a look at what to expect : Restricting immigration was a signature issue for Trump , who infamously called Mexicans rapists as he pledged to build border wall in launching his campaign .
His administration banned travelers from some predominantly Muslim countries as one of its first acts , took many steps to limit legal immigration , and cut the number of refugees allowed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said `` immigration is central to who we are as a nation , '' noting that most Americans can trace their ancestry to immigrants , but it is n't a core issue .
It 's not even mentioned on his transition website 's top priorities : COVID-19 , economic recovery , racial justice , and climate change .
Biden named Cecilia Munoz , President Barack Obama 's top immigration adviser , to his transition team , which some interpreted as signaling a more moderate tack .
Biden has said he will move quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration initiatives .
The border wall ?
The roughly 400 miles built so far wo n't come down , but the new administration wo n't keep building it or taking money from the Pentagon to fund it over the objections of Congress .
The incoming administration plans to reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , which currently shields from deportation about 650,000 people who came to the country when they were young .
He plans to overturn the travel ban on people visiting the United States from 13 countries , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first moves in office was to tell immigration officials that everyone in the country illegally was subject to deportation .
Biden is expected to return to criteria similar to what Obama adopted toward the end of his tenure , largely limiting deportations to people with serious criminal records in the United States .
Biden said he wants the government to help find parents of hundreds of children who were separated from their parents at the border early in the Trump administration .
Biden wants to get rid of policies that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court — but he is expected to move cautiously to avoid triggering more arrivals .
Rep. Veronica Escobar , a Texas Democrat who was a Biden appointee to the joint immigration task force with Bernie Sanders , said a resolution will require coordination with Mexico .
`` This is a moment that 's going to require true leadership , '' she said .
WHY SOME CHANGES WILL TAKE TIME Nearly every major policy change under Trump is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including considerations of protecting executive power .
Other reversals would be subject to formal rule-making procedures that require time .
Stephen Yale-Loehr , a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School , thinks Biden will move cautiously on asylum to avoid setting off a new wave of arrivals and says other changes will face `` procedural and practical problems . ''
Take the `` public charge '' rule , which disqualifies more people from green cards if they rely on government benefits .
Biden wants it reversed but would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A federal appeals court sided with Trump on ending humanitarian protections that have allowed hundreds of thousands of people from El Salvador , Nicaragua , Haiti , and Sudan to remain in the United States .
Biden says only that he would order an `` immediate review '' of `` Temporary Protected Status . ''
Yale-Loehr , a strong critic of Trump 's policies , says it is `` going to take four years to undo all the damage that the Trump administration has done '' while Biden attends to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE SAME At least initially , Biden may keep in place a Trump administration order that authorizes Customs and Border Protection to quickly expel any migrant as a public health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Even though critics question the health justification for the order , the new administration may decide it 's necessary to avoid a rush of migrants and to protect Border Patrol agents and other CBP employees , says Doris Meissner , a former senior U.S. immigration official now with the Migration Policy Institute .
`` This health circumstance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January or February , '' she says .
Biden says he will `` commit significant political capital to finally deliver legislative immigration reform , '' which would be necessary to fix problems with the American immigration system and resolve the fate of millions of undocumented people living in the U.S. That 's a long shot , at best , with the divided Congress .
George W. Bush called for a big immigration bill , to no avail .
Obama pushed for one as well , and it died in the House .

Some dramatic moves on immigration are expected in the early days of the Biden administration. Joe Biden will likely use executive orders to reverse some of Donald Trump’s most controversial actions, rolling back moves that were a central feature of his administration and important to his base. The Biden administration plans to restore protection for people brought to the U.S. illegally as minors and stop using Pentagon funds to build a border wall. Biden unveiled a detailed, highly ambitious plan on immigration, but it will take time to undo many actions taken by Trump. The incoming president will also likely face a divided Congress, making it difficult to enact any kind of sweeping, comprehensive changes to the nation’s immigration system. Here’s a look at what to expect:
__
A CHANGE OF TONE
Restricting immigration was a signature issue for Trump, who infamously called Mexicans rapists as he pledged to build border wall in launching his campaign. His administration banned travelers from some predominantly Muslim countries as one of its first acts, took many steps to limit legal immigration, and cut the number of refugees allowed in the country by 80%.
Biden has said “immigration is central to who we are as a nation,” noting that most Americans can trace their ancestry to immigrants, but it isn’t a core issue. It’s not even mentioned on his transition website’s top priorities: COVID-19, economic recovery, racial justice, and climate change.
Biden named Cecilia Munoz, President Barack Obama’s top immigration adviser, to his transition team, which some interpreted as signaling a more moderate tack.
__
BIG, EARLY MOVES
Biden has said he will move quickly to undo some of Trump’s signature immigration initiatives. The border wall? The roughly 400 miles built so far won’t come down, but the new administration won’t keep building it or taking money from the Pentagon to fund it over the objections of Congress.
The incoming administration plans to reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which currently shields from deportation about 650,000 people who came to the country when they were young. He plans to overturn the travel ban on people visiting the United States from 13 countries, many of them Muslim-majority.
One of Trump’s first moves in office was to tell immigration officials that everyone in the country illegally was subject to deportation. Biden is expected to return to criteria similar to what Obama adopted toward the end of his tenure, largely limiting deportations to people with serious criminal records in the United States.
Biden said he wants the government to help find parents of hundreds of children who were separated from their parents at the border early in the Trump administration.
Biden wants to get rid of policies that have been “detrimental” to seeking asylum — such as the policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court — but he is expected to move cautiously to avoid triggering more arrivals.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat who was a Biden appointee to the joint immigration task force with Bernie Sanders, said a resolution will require coordination with Mexico.
“This is a moment that’s going to require true leadership,” she said.
__
WHY SOME CHANGES WILL TAKE TIME
Nearly every major policy change under Trump is in court and may take effort to disentangle, including considerations of protecting executive power. Other reversals would be subject to formal rule-making procedures that require time.
Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School, thinks Biden will move cautiously on asylum to avoid setting off a new wave of arrivals and says other changes will face “procedural and practical problems.”
Take the “public charge” rule, which disqualifies more people from green cards if they rely on government benefits. Biden wants it reversed but would need to go through the extensive rule-making exercise. A federal appeals court sided with Trump on ending humanitarian protections that have allowed hundreds of thousands of people from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Sudan to remain in the United States. Biden says only that he would order an “immediate review” of “Temporary Protected Status.”
Yale-Loehr, a strong critic of Trump’s policies, says it is “going to take four years to undo all the damage that the Trump administration has done” while Biden attends to the pandemic and other issues.
__
WHAT COULD STAY THE SAME
At least initially, Biden may keep in place a Trump administration order that authorizes Customs and Border Protection to quickly expel any migrant as a public health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though critics question the health justification for the order, the new administration may decide it’s necessary to avoid a rush of migrants and to protect Border Patrol agents and other CBP employees, says Doris Meissner, a former senior U.S. immigration official now with the Migration Policy Institute.
“This health circumstance is not likely to just disappear come January or February,” she says.
__
PROSPECTS FOR MAJOR IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL
Biden says he will “commit significant political capital to finally deliver legislative immigration reform,” which would be necessary to fix problems with the American immigration system and resolve the fate of millions of undocumented people living in the U.S. That’s a long shot, at best, with the divided Congress. George W. Bush called for a big immigration bill, to no avail. Obama pushed for one as well, and it died in the House.


shareblue--2020-11-14--2020 election brings more Indigenous lawmakers to Congress

Internet access , health care , and basic necessities like running water and electricity within Indigenous communities have long been at the center of congressional debates .
But until recently , Congress did n't have many Indigenous members who were pushing for solutions and funding for those issues .
Hope is growing after the Native delegation in the U.S. House expanded by two on Election Day : Yvette Herrell , who is Cherokee , prevailed in New Mexico 's 2nd Congressional District ; and Kai Kahele , a Native Hawaiian , won that state 's 2nd District .
They will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Reps. Deb Haaland of New Mexico , who 's Laguna ; Sharice Davids of Kansas , who 's Ho-Chunk ; Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma , who 's Cherokee ; and Tom Cole of Oklahoma , who 's Chickasaw .
Of the six who prevailed , half are Democrats and half Republican — a divide Cole said would `` absolutely be indispensable in passing anything the next two years . ''
The winners were among a dozen Indigenous major-party candidates running in top-of-the-ticket races .
`` I always consider tribal affairs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The tribal sovereignty and trust responsibility are not partisan issues .
You either believe in those or you do n't . ''
Representation means progress , scholars say , particularly for Indigenous children who will see their language and culture on display in Congress .
It 's fueled by efforts to recruit Indigenous candidates and back them financially , get-out-the-vote campaigns , and Native communities flexing their political muscle .
About 100 Indigenous candidates were on general election ballots across the country , most seeking seats in state legislatures .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress that is inspiring women , more than anything , to run , '' said Traci Morris , executive director of the American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University who 's Chickasaw .
`` That 's what I see — I see we all think we can do it now .
And there was huge involvement . ''
Still , Indigenous people remain underrepresented in Congress .
The U.S. Senate has not had a Native American member since Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado retired in 2005 .
He has Northern Cheyenne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Coeur d'Alene , lost to the incumbent for a U.S. Senate seat in Idaho this year .
But the House victories wo n't necessarily translate to immediate power in Washington .
Kahele said he imagines he 'll spend time learning about Indigenous issues outside of his native Hawaii and educating other Native and non-Natives in Congress .
And while it 's not easy to ignore Indigenous lawmakers if they 're sitting across the table , they often can be pigeonholed , said Richard Monette , who teaches federal Indian law at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , in the end , the scale tips toward being more good than bad , '' said Monette , a former chair of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa .
`` That 's fair to say , but I will say this is complex . ''
Herrell , for example , said she 's proud of her heritage but did n't tout it in her bid to unseat Democrat Xochitl Torres Small in a complicated district that includes minority communities along the U.S.-Mexico border , tribes , ranchers , farmers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really prefer to call myself an American , '' she told the Associated Press .
`` I 'm a New Mexican , and it 's not about labels , it 's not about race .
It 's about people and representing all of our values , all of our shared likes and even dislikes and coming together . ''
The House formed the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus in 1997 that has dozens of non-Indigenous members and is now led by Cole and Haaland .
Most notably , it worked to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of missing and slain Native American women .
But the leadership team , which also includes Davids and Mullin , does n't always agree .
`` We all make decisions based on two things : our life experiences and the way we were raised , '' Mullin said in a statement to the AP .
`` With more Native Americans in Congress , we can make a bigger impact and better educate our colleagues about Native issues . ''
Haaland and Cole said the focus in the upcoming session will be COVID-19 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal funding for tribes , broadband internet access , further addressing missing and slain Indigenous women , and land put into trust for tribes .
Kahele , who became the second Native Hawaiian elected to Congress since statehood , has said he will champion Indigenous voices and push for things like housing assistance , the protection of natural resources , and for the federal government to right the wrongs committed against Indigenous Hawaiians .
Hawaii was an independent kingdom until 1893 , when American businessmen backed by U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years later , making it a territory .
It gained statehood in 1959 .
While the United States apologized in 1993 , Kahele said `` that was the first step in what needs to be a process of healing and reparations . ''
Native Hawaiians are not among the more than 570 federally recognized Native American tribes , though they 've sought the designation .
They share common struggles in land loss , health care , and lack of economic prosperity , and have access to some of the same federal funding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribes .
Kahele said he 's already reached out to his Native colleagues in the House .
`` If we work together , we can achieve so much more , '' Kahele said .
`` And there are a lot out there who want us to fight , to compete against each other for the same federal resources . ''

Internet access, health care, and basic necessities like running water and electricity within Indigenous communities have long been at the center of congressional debates. But until recently, Congress didn’t have many Indigenous members who were pushing for solutions and funding for those issues.
Hope is growing after the Native delegation in the U.S. House expanded by two on Election Day: Yvette Herrell, who is Cherokee, prevailed in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District; and Kai Kahele, a Native Hawaiian, won that state’s 2nd District.
They will join four Native Americans who won reelection: Reps. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, who’s Laguna; Sharice Davids of Kansas, who’s Ho-Chunk; Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who’s Cherokee; and Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who’s Chickasaw.
Of the six who prevailed, half are Democrats and half Republican — a divide Cole said would “absolutely be indispensable in passing anything the next two years.” The winners were among a dozen Indigenous major-party candidates running in top-of-the-ticket races.
“I always consider tribal affairs to be non-partisan,” Cole said Monday. “The tribal sovereignty and trust responsibility are not partisan issues. You either believe in those or you don’t.”
Representation means progress, scholars say, particularly for Indigenous children who will see their language and culture on display in Congress. It’s fueled by efforts to recruit Indigenous candidates and back them financially, get-out-the-vote campaigns, and Native communities flexing their political muscle. About 100 Indigenous candidates were on general election ballots across the country, most seeking seats in state legislatures.
“It’s seeing people that look like us in Congress that is inspiring women, more than anything, to run,” said Traci Morris, executive director of the American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University who’s Chickasaw. “That’s what I see — I see we all think we can do it now. And there was huge involvement.”
Still, Indigenous people remain underrepresented in Congress. The U.S. Senate has not had a Native American member since Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado retired in 2005. He has Northern Cheyenne heritage. Democrat Paulette Jordan, who is Coeur d’Alene, lost to the incumbent for a U.S. Senate seat in Idaho this year.
But the House victories won’t necessarily translate to immediate power in Washington. Kahele said he imagines he’ll spend time learning about Indigenous issues outside of his native Hawaii and educating other Native and non-Natives in Congress.
And while it’s not easy to ignore Indigenous lawmakers if they’re sitting across the table, they often can be pigeonholed, said Richard Monette, who teaches federal Indian law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I think that, in the end, the scale tips toward being more good than bad,” said Monette, a former chair of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. “That’s fair to say, but I will say this is complex.”
Herrell, for example, said she’s proud of her heritage but didn’t tout it in her bid to unseat Democrat Xochitl Torres Small in a complicated district that includes minority communities along the U.S.-Mexico border, tribes, ranchers, farmers, and oil and gas industry workers.
“I really prefer to call myself an American,” she told the Associated Press. “I’m a New Mexican, and it’s not about labels, it’s not about race. It’s about people and representing all of our values, all of our shared likes and even dislikes and coming together.”
The House formed the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus in 1997 that has dozens of non-Indigenous members and is now led by Cole and Haaland. Most notably, it worked to pass two bills to help address the epidemic of missing and slain Native American women. But the leadership team, which also includes Davids and Mullin, doesn’t always agree.
“We all make decisions based on two things: our life experiences and the way we were raised,” Mullin said in a statement to the AP. “With more Native Americans in Congress, we can make a bigger impact and better educate our colleagues about Native issues.”
Haaland and Cole said the focus in the upcoming session will be COVID-19’s impact on Native communities, chronic shortfalls in federal funding for tribes, broadband internet access, further addressing missing and slain Indigenous women, and land put into trust for tribes.
Kahele, who became the second Native Hawaiian elected to Congress since statehood, has said he will champion Indigenous voices and push for things like housing assistance, the protection of natural resources, and for the federal government to right the wrongs committed against Indigenous Hawaiians.
Hawaii was an independent kingdom until 1893, when American businessmen backed by U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. The United States annexed Hawaii five years later, making it a territory. It gained statehood in 1959.
While the United States apologized in 1993, Kahele said “that was the first step in what needs to be a process of healing and reparations.”
Native Hawaiians are not among the more than 570 federally recognized Native American tribes, though they’ve sought the designation. They share common struggles in land loss, health care, and lack of economic prosperity, and have access to some of the same federal funding and preference for bidding on federal contracts as tribes.
Kahele said he’s already reached out to his Native colleagues in the House.
“If we work together, we can achieve so much more,” Kahele said. “And there are a lot out there who want us to fight, to compete against each other for the same federal resources.”


shareblue--2020-11-16--Incoming congressman complains it's hard to get Jews to stop being Jewish

House Republican leaders were silent on Monday after publication of an interview conducted by the Jewish Insider with Madison Cawthorn , a newly elected Republican congressman in North Carolina who made antisemitic comments about his failed effort to convert Jews to Christianity .
Cawthorn , an evangelical Christian who made headlines on Election Day for tweeting , `` Cry more , lib , '' after his victory over Democratic candidate Moe Davis was announced , had been asked by interviewer Matthew Kassel if he had ever tried to convert Jews .
`` I have , unsuccessfully .
I have switched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , I guess , culturally Jewish people .
But being a practicing Jew , like , people who are religious about it , they are very difficult , '' he told the outlet .
`` I 've had a hard time connecting with them in that way.
” The American Independent Foundation reached out to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , Minority Whip Steve Scalise , and GOP Conference chair Liz Cheney for comment ; none immediately responded .
But all three were vocal in their condemnation last year after two Democratic congresswomen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anti-Semitic tropes have no place in the halls of Congress , '' McCarthy ( R-CA ) tweeted in February 2019 after Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN ) made comments suggesting the pro-Israel lobby was successful because it buys loyalty .
`` It is dangerous for Democrat leadership to stay silent on this reckless language . ''
Weeks later , Scalise ( R-LA ) tweeted that there was an `` alarming rise in anti-Semitism across the country & from some Democrats in Congress '' while pushing legislation to prohibit some anti-Israel activity .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News that there were `` so many anti-Semitic members of the House Democratic Caucus . ''
Both McCarthy and Scalise made contributions to Cawthorn 's 2020 campaign .
This is not the first time Cawthorn 's bigotry has come to light .
In 2017 , he posted excitedly on social media about visiting Adolf Hitler 's vacation home , a visit he said was on his `` bucket list . ''
Last month , he apologized for a website put up by his campaign that carried a charge that Davis had worked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academia job in Boston to work for non-white males , like Cory Booker who aims to ruin white males running for office . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Republican leaders were silent on Monday after publication of an interview conducted by the Jewish Insider with Madison Cawthorn, a newly elected Republican congressman in North Carolina who made antisemitic comments about his failed effort to convert Jews to Christianity.
Cawthorn, an evangelical Christian who made headlines on Election Day for tweeting, “Cry more, lib,” after his victory over Democratic candidate Moe Davis was announced, had been asked by interviewer Matthew Kassel if he had ever tried to convert Jews.
“I have, unsuccessfully. I have switched a lot of, uh, you know, I guess, culturally Jewish people. But being a practicing Jew, like, people who are religious about it, they are very difficult,” he told the outlet. “I’ve had a hard time connecting with them in that way.”
The American Independent Foundation reached out to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and GOP Conference chair Liz Cheney for comment; none immediately responded.
But all three were vocal in their condemnation last year after two Democratic congresswomen made comments they deemed antisemitic.
“Anti-Semitic tropes have no place in the halls of Congress,” McCarthy (R-CA) tweeted in February 2019 after Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) made comments suggesting the pro-Israel lobby was successful because it buys loyalty. “It is dangerous for Democrat leadership to stay silent on this reckless language.”
Weeks later, Scalise (R-LA) tweeted that there was an “alarming rise in anti-Semitism across the country & from some Democrats in Congress” while pushing legislation to prohibit some anti-Israel activity.
And Cheney (R-WY) lamented on Fox News that there were “so many anti-Semitic members of the House Democratic Caucus.”
Both McCarthy and Scalise made contributions to Cawthorn’s 2020 campaign.
This is not the first time Cawthorn’s bigotry has come to light.
In 2017, he posted excitedly on social media about visiting Adolf Hitler’s vacation home, a visit he said was on his “bucket list.”
Last month, he apologized for a website put up by his campaign that carried a charge that Davis had worked with a journalist who had “quit his academia job in Boston to work for non-white males, like Cory Booker who aims to ruin white males running for office.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--Most Americans want stricter gun control — but McConnell is still blocking it

A majority of Americans continue to support stricter gun laws , with 57 % saying gun laws should be strengthened , according to a new Gallup poll released on Monday .
The news comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to block a popular gun control bill the House passed in February 2019 , which would require background checks for all gun purchases in the United States .
It 's one of hundreds of bills the House passed that McConnell has refused to put up for a vote .
Polling from around the time the bill passed showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all gun purchases — including 89 % of Republicans and 93 % of gun owners .
McConnell said he was blocking the legislation because it did not get sign off from Donald Trump — who threatened to veto the gun control legislation if it made it to his desk .
`` I still await guidance from the White House as to what [ Trump ] thinks he ’ s comfortable signing , '' McConnell said in September 2019 , seven months after the gun control legislation passed the House , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when that happens , then we ’ ll have a real possibility of actually changing the law and hopefully making some progress . ''
On his campaign website , Biden vowed to `` enact universal background check legislation , requiring a background check for all gun sales with very limited exceptions , such as gifts between close family members . ''
It 's still unclear which party will control the Senate when a new Congress is sworn in in January .
Two GOP-held seats in Georgia went to runoffs , after no candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
If Democrats win both of those seats , Democrats would regain control of the Senate , with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote .
Even if McConnell did continue to control the Senate , he could not use Trump 's refusal to sign a background check bill as a reason not to put the popular background check bill up for a vote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A majority of Americans continue to support stricter gun laws, with 57% saying gun laws should be strengthened, according to a new Gallup poll released on Monday.
The news comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to block a popular gun control bill the House passed in February 2019, which would require background checks for all gun purchases in the United States. It’s one of hundreds of bills the House passed that McConnell has refused to put up for a vote.
Polling from around the time the bill passed showed that 90% of Americans backed background checks for all gun purchases — including 89% of Republicans and 93% of gun owners.
McConnell said he was blocking the legislation because it did not get sign off from Donald Trump — who threatened to veto the gun control legislation if it made it to his desk.
“I still await guidance from the White House as to what [Trump] thinks he’s comfortable signing,” McConnell said in September 2019, seven months after the gun control legislation passed the House, according to the Associated Press. “If and when that happens, then we’ll have a real possibility of actually changing the law and hopefully making some progress.”
President-elect Joe Biden, however, supports universal background checks.
On his campaign website, Biden vowed to “enact universal background check legislation, requiring a background check for all gun sales with very limited exceptions, such as gifts between close family members.”
It’s still unclear which party will control the Senate when a new Congress is sworn in in January.
Two GOP-held seats in Georgia went to runoffs, after no candidate garnered at least 50% of the vote. If Democrats win both of those seats, Democrats would regain control of the Senate, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote.
Even if McConnell did continue to control the Senate, he could not use Trump’s refusal to sign a background check bill as a reason not to put the popular background check bill up for a vote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--They rejected safety rules 6 months ago. Now their states are drowning in COVID.

Six months ago , the Washington Post published an op-ed under the names of five Republican governors who bragged that their states had stayed open and thrived despite the COVID-19 pandemic .
Now , half a year later , most of those governors ' states are seeing the worst spikes in the numbers of new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths in the country .
The May 5 column ran with the headline , `` Our states stayed open in the covid-19 pandemic .
Here 's why our approach worked . ''
Govs .
Mark Gordon of Wyoming , Pete Ricketts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kim Reynolds of Iowa , and Mike Parson of Missouri claimed that their decision to take a more laissez-faire approach to the economy in their states during the pandemic was `` based on sound medical and social science '' and `` created a model for success that can be applied throughout the country . ''
All but Missouri 's Parson were among the handful of governors who refused to issue any statewide stay-at-home orders in response to the pandemic against the recommendations of public health officials .
`` The core reasons our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenacity , grit and heart of our residents , '' the governors boasted .
`` Their clear-eyed , common-sense approach helped keep our states on track and have set us up to come out of this pandemic stronger than ever .
We look forward to leading the way . ''
But by May 15 , data was already showing Iowa and Nebraska with caseloads among the nation 's largest per capita and spikes in the numbers of new infections and deaths .
By September , Iowa was leading the nation with the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to data published by the Washington Post , Iowa currently ranks third , behind only the Dakotas , in states with the highest number of new infections per capita , with 964 cases per 100,000 people reported in the last week .
Wyoming ( ranked fifth-worst , with 771 cases per 100,000 ) and Nebraska ( seventh-worst , with 745 cases per 100,000 ) were not doing much better .
Arkansas ( 15th-worst , with 505 cases per 100,000 ) and Missouri ( 23rd-worst , with 342 cases per 100,000 ) were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in the country .
According to the same data analysis , Wyoming had the fifth-most deaths in the country per capita in the past week .
Iowa had the seventh-most , Nebraska tied for 11th-most , and Missouri had the 14th-most deaths in the country .
The nation has been repeatedly setting records for the largest number of new daily cases ever as the coronavirus continues to spread uncontrolled .
Gordon , Reynolds , Ricketts , and Hutchinson have said in recent days that they are considering new restrictions to combat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced last week he would loosen school safety rules .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Six months ago, the Washington Post published an op-ed under the names of five Republican governors who bragged that their states had stayed open and thrived despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, half a year later, most of those governors’ states are seeing the worst spikes in the numbers of new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths in the country.
The May 5 column ran with the headline, “Our states stayed open in the covid-19 pandemic. Here’s why our approach worked.” Govs. Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, and Mike Parson of Missouri claimed that their decision to take a more laissez-faire approach to the economy in their states during the pandemic was “based on sound medical and social science” and “created a model for success that can be applied throughout the country.”
All but Missouri’s Parson were among the handful of governors who refused to issue any statewide stay-at-home orders in response to the pandemic against the recommendations of public health officials.
“The core reasons our states are open for business are the tenacity, grit and heart of our residents,” the governors boasted. “Their clear-eyed, common-sense approach helped keep our states on track and have set us up to come out of this pandemic stronger than ever. We look forward to leading the way.”
But by May 15, data was already showing Iowa and Nebraska with caseloads among the nation’s largest per capita and spikes in the numbers of new infections and deaths.
By September, Iowa was leading the nation with the highest average daily number of new cases.
According to data published by the Washington Post, Iowa currently ranks third, behind only the Dakotas, in states with the highest number of new infections per capita, with 964 cases per 100,000 people reported in the last week. Wyoming (ranked fifth-worst, with 771 cases per 100,000) and Nebraska (seventh-worst, with 745 cases per 100,000) were not doing much better. Arkansas (15th-worst, with 505 cases per 100,000) and Missouri (23rd-worst, with 342 cases per 100,000) were also among the states with the worst outbreaks in the country.
According to the same data analysis, Wyoming had the fifth-most deaths in the country per capita in the past week. Iowa had the seventh-most, Nebraska tied for 11th-most, and Missouri had the 14th-most deaths in the country.
The nation has been repeatedly setting records for the largest number of new daily cases ever as the coronavirus continues to spread uncontrolled.
Gordon, Reynolds, Ricketts, and Hutchinson have said in recent days that they are considering new restrictions to combat the virus as cases spike.
Meanwhile Parson announced last week he would loosen school safety rules.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--Trump's refusal to accept election results could make the COVID crisis even worse

Donald Trump 's refusal to concede the election to his opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden , could impact the nation 's ability to roll out two new promising coronavirus vaccines and make the pandemic worse , according to his own experts .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , amplified the importance of a smooth transition between presidential administrations on Monday .
`` Obviously , it 's something we 're concerned about , '' Fauci , a member of the White House coronavirus task force , said on NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 've served in six administrations , so I 've seen a number of transitions , and I know that transitions are very important to get a smooth , essentially I used the metaphor ... passing the baton without stopping running .
I mean , you just want things to go very smoothly . ''
Asked just how critical a smooth transition was to any successful virus response , Fauci added , `` The virus is not going to stop and call a time out while things change .
The virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process is just going to keep going . ''
Fauci 's comments came the same day Moderna announced its coronavirus vaccine had proven 95 % effective , and days after Pfizer announced its vaccine , too , was 90 % effective .
Fauci said he wants to roll out the vaccine and get doses to high-risk individuals `` starting in December . ''
`` And then we really want to get the ball rolling as we get into January , February , and March .
We want a smooth process for that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way you do that is essentially by having the two groups speak to each other and exchange information . ''
Standing in the way of that smooth process is Trump 's decision to stonewall Biden 's transition to the White House .
Emily Murphy , Trump 's General Services Administration chief , has patently refused to sign a letter that would initiate the president-elect 's transition .
`` An [ election ] ascertainment has not yet been made , and [ the ] Administrator will continue to abide by , and fulfill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , a spokesperson told the Washington Post last week .
The transition delays themselves stem from Trump 's continued denial of his election loss to the former vice president , and his efforts to repeatedly peddle false claims of voter fraud , claims his own administration has repeatedly and thoroughly debunked .
`` The Radical Left Democrats , working with their partner , the Fake News Media , are trying to STEAL this Election .
We won ’ t let them ! ''
he tweeted Monday .
`` I won the Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twitter quickly labeled both posts as misleading , with a disclaimer beneath the latter which read , `` Official sources called this election differently . ''
Meanwhile , nearly every region across the United States has seen a significant surge in COVID-19 cases .
Just last month , states like Utah , Wisconsin , Indiana were forced to build overflow hospitals as they ran out of beds for the growing list of COVID-19 patients .
As of the time of publication , COVID-19 cases in the United States had surpassed 11.1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the virus , according to a New York Times database .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the election to his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, could impact the nation’s ability to roll out two new promising coronavirus vaccines and make the pandemic worse, according to his own experts.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, amplified the importance of a smooth transition between presidential administrations on Monday.
“Obviously, it’s something we’re concerned about,” Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said on NBC News’ “Today” show. “I’ve served in six administrations, so I’ve seen a number of transitions, and I know that transitions are very important to get a smooth, essentially I used the metaphor … passing the baton without stopping running. I mean, you just want things to go very smoothly.”
Asked just how critical a smooth transition was to any successful virus response, Fauci added, “The virus is not going to stop and call a time out while things change. The virus is just going to keep going. The process is just going to keep going.”
Fauci’s comments came the same day Moderna announced its coronavirus vaccine had proven 95% effective, and days after Pfizer announced its vaccine, too, was 90% effective. Fauci said he wants to roll out the vaccine and get doses to high-risk individuals “starting in December.”
“And then we really want to get the ball rolling as we get into January, February, and March. We want a smooth process for that,” he said. “And the way you do that is essentially by having the two groups speak to each other and exchange information.”
Standing in the way of that smooth process is Trump’s decision to stonewall Biden’s transition to the White House.
Emily Murphy, Trump’s General Services Administration chief, has patently refused to sign a letter that would initiate the president-elect’s transition.
“An [election] ascertainment has not yet been made, and [the] Administrator will continue to abide by, and fulfill, all requirements under the law” until then, a spokesperson told the Washington Post last week.
The transition delays themselves stem from Trump’s continued denial of his election loss to the former vice president, and his efforts to repeatedly peddle false claims of voter fraud, claims his own administration has repeatedly and thoroughly debunked.
“The Radical Left Democrats, working with their partner, the Fake News Media, are trying to STEAL this Election. We won’t let them!” he tweeted Monday.
“I won the Election!” Trump tweeted the same day.
Twitter quickly labeled both posts as misleading, with a disclaimer beneath the latter which read, “Official sources called this election differently.”
Meanwhile, nearly every region across the United States has seen a significant surge in COVID-19 cases. Just last month, states like Utah, Wisconsin, Indiana were forced to build overflow hospitals as they ran out of beds for the growing list of COVID-19 patients.
As of the time of publication, COVID-19 cases in the United States had surpassed 11.1 million, while more than 246,000 have died from the virus, according to a New York Times database.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--Trump's on a really bad losing streak in the courts

Donald Trump and his allies are failing in their efforts to use the court system to undo President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in the 2020 presidential election .
Multiple lawsuits have been dismissed by judges because lawyers for the Trump campaign and other GOP groups could not provide any evidence that there was anything untoward in the way ballots were cast and counted .
What 's more , Republicans seeking to keep Trump in office — despite the fact that a majority of voters rejected him — have begun to voluntarily dismiss their own lawsuits aimed at stopping certification of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be part of an effort to block the Electoral College from voting to officially make Biden the victor .
In all , not a single vote has been overturned as a result of the lawsuits , according to the Washington Post , a dismal record that makes Trump 's effort to overturn the will of the voters look less and less likely to succeed .
Here are the cases Trump and his Republican allies have lost so far in their efforts to steal the election , beginning with the most recent .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin alleging that local election officials included `` illegal Presidential Elector results '' in heavily Democratic counties .
The lawsuits had demanded that judges exclude results from those counties `` in the certification activities for Presidential Electors . ''
The lawsuits included provably false allegations that poll watchers were not allowed to witness ballot counting .
They also contained unfounded charges of voter fraud .
On Monday , the lawyers in all four of those those cases voluntarily dropped the suits , according to Marc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign .
Nov. 13 : Trump and his allies lose or voluntarily dismiss nine cases Last Friday was one of the worst days for Trump and his GOP allies ' efforts to overturn the results of the election , with nine lawsuits either dismissed by judges or voluntarily dropped by Trump lawyers .
In Pennsylvania , a pair of judges dismissed six cases the Trump campaign filed seeking to throw out nearly 9,000 absentee ballots in the state , alleging that the ballots were missing names , dates , or addresses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 8,329 ballots the Trump campaign challenged would be counted , with Richard Haaz , a judge with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas , writing : `` Voters should not be disenfranchised by reasonably relying upon voting instructions provided by election officials . ''
Even if the Trump campaign had been successful in throwing out those ballots , it would not have been enough to overturn the results in the state .
Biden currently leads in Pennsylvania by 67,653 votes .
And a federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a GOP candidate in Pennsylvania over the counting of ballots that were received after Election Day , ruling that they did not have standing to file the suit .
In Arizona , Trump , the Republican National Committee , and the Arizona Republican Party dropped a case alleging votes had been incorrectly rejected after Biden 's lead in the state was accepted as too large to be overcome even if the ruling in the case had been in the plaintiffs ' favor .
A state judge in Michigan dismissed a case filed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations of fraud in an effort to block certification of the votes in the heavily Democratic city of Detroit .
In his ruling , Judge Timothy Kenny said : `` Plaintiffs ' interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible . ''
The Trump campaign sought to block election officials from processing and counting ballots in heavily Democratic Clark County , Nevada , until Trump poll watchers could observe the process .
The campaign voluntarily dismissed its appeal of a ruling in the case , claiming the campaign had reached a settlement with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observe the count .
Trump is currently losing in Nevada by 33,596 votes .
Right-wing activists in Arizona filed a lawsuit alleging Trump supporters ' ballots in the state were thrown out because they used Sharpie pens to fill them in .
The allegation was not true ; Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said the false allegation was an effort `` floated by those seeking to undermine our democratic process for political gain . ''
The plaintiffs who falsely alleged their ballots were not counted due to use of Sharpie pens ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Election Integrity Fund , a right-wing group , filed a lawsuit in Michigan seeking to stop vote counting in the heavily Democratic city of Detroit , alleging fraud .
A judge dismissed the lawsuit , saying the group `` offered no evidence to support their assertions . ''
Nov. 5 : Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit to throw out ballots in Georgia The Trump campaign and the Georgia Republican Party filed a lawsuit in heavily Democratic Chatham County seeking to stop ballot counting , alleging that 53 votes had been illegally counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed the suit , ruling that the plaintiffs had not provided any evidence to support their claims .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump and his allies are failing in their efforts to use the court system to undo President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Multiple lawsuits have been dismissed by judges because lawyers for the Trump campaign and other GOP groups could not provide any evidence that there was anything untoward in the way ballots were cast and counted.
What’s more, Republicans seeking to keep Trump in office — despite the fact that a majority of voters rejected him — have begun to voluntarily dismiss their own lawsuits aimed at stopping certification of the results. Those lawsuits appeared to be part of an effort to block the Electoral College from voting to officially make Biden the victor.
In all, not a single vote has been overturned as a result of the lawsuits, according to the Washington Post, a dismal record that makes Trump’s effort to overturn the will of the voters look less and less likely to succeed.
Here are the cases Trump and his Republican allies have lost so far in their efforts to steal the election, beginning with the most recent.
Nov. 16: Republicans voluntarily drop four cases
Voters filed lawsuits in the four critical states of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin alleging that local election officials included “illegal Presidential Elector results” in heavily Democratic counties. The lawsuits had demanded that judges exclude results from those counties “in the certification activities for Presidential Electors.”
The lawsuits included provably false allegations that poll watchers were not allowed to witness ballot counting. They also contained unfounded charges of voter fraud.
On Monday, the lawyers in all four of those those cases voluntarily dropped the suits, according to Marc Elias, a lawyer working for the Biden campaign.
Nov. 13: Trump and his allies lose or voluntarily dismiss nine cases
Last Friday was one of the worst days for Trump and his GOP allies’ efforts to overturn the results of the election, with nine lawsuits either dismissed by judges or voluntarily dropped by Trump lawyers.
In Pennsylvania, a pair of judges dismissed six cases the Trump campaign filed seeking to throw out nearly 9,000 absentee ballots in the state, alleging that the ballots were missing names, dates, or addresses, CNN reported.
The judges ruled that all 8,329 ballots the Trump campaign challenged would be counted, with Richard Haaz, a judge with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, writing: “Voters should not be disenfranchised by reasonably relying upon voting instructions provided by election officials.”
Even if the Trump campaign had been successful in throwing out those ballots, it would not have been enough to overturn the results in the state. Biden currently leads in Pennsylvania by 67,653 votes.
And a federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of voters as well as a GOP candidate in Pennsylvania over the counting of ballots that were received after Election Day, ruling that they did not have standing to file the suit.
In Arizona, Trump, the Republican National Committee, and the Arizona Republican Party dropped a case alleging votes had been incorrectly rejected after Biden’s lead in the state was accepted as too large to be overcome even if the ruling in the case had been in the plaintiffs’ favor.
A state judge in Michigan dismissed a case filed by two GOP poll watchers who made baseless allegations of fraud in an effort to block certification of the votes in the heavily Democratic city of Detroit. In his ruling, Judge Timothy Kenny said: “Plaintiffs’ interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible.”
Nov. 10: Trump drops appeal in Nevada
The Trump campaign sought to block election officials from processing and counting ballots in heavily Democratic Clark County, Nevada, until Trump poll watchers could observe the process.
The campaign voluntarily dismissed its appeal of a ruling in the case, claiming the campaign had reached a settlement with local election officials to have more people observe the count.
Trump is currently losing in Nevada by 33,596 votes.
Nov. 7: Right-wing activists in Arizona drop baseless ‘Sharpiegate’ lawsuit
Right-wing activists in Arizona filed a lawsuit alleging Trump supporters’ ballots in the state were thrown out because they used Sharpie pens to fill them in.
The allegation was not true; Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said the false allegation was an effort “floated by those seeking to undermine our democratic process for political gain.”
The plaintiffs who falsely alleged their ballots were not counted due to use of Sharpie pens ultimately voluntarily dismissed the claims in the suit.
Nov. 6: Judge dismisses case in Michigan
The Election Integrity Fund, a right-wing group, filed a lawsuit in Michigan seeking to stop vote counting in the heavily Democratic city of Detroit, alleging fraud.
A judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying the group “offered no evidence to support their assertions.”
Nov. 5: Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit to throw out ballots in Georgia
The Trump campaign and the Georgia Republican Party filed a lawsuit in heavily Democratic Chatham County seeking to stop ballot counting, alleging that 53 votes had been illegally counted.
On Nov. 5, a judge dismissed the suit, ruling that the plaintiffs had not provided any evidence to support their claims.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--FBI says hate crimes in US are the worst they've been in a decade

Hate crimes in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than a decade as federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate-motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s , according to an FBI report released Monday .
There were 51 hate crime murders in 2019 , which includes 22 people who were killed in a shooting that targeted Mexicans at a Walmart in the border city of El Paso , Texas , the report said .
The suspect in that August 2019 shooting , which left two dozen other people injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal crimes in what authorities said was an attempt to scare Hispanics into leaving the United States .
There were 7,314 hate crimes last year , up from 7,120 the year before — and approaching the 7,783 of 2008 .
The FBI 's annual report defines hate crimes as those motivated by bias based on a person 's race , religion , or sexual orientation , among other categories .
Some of the 2019 increases may be the result of better reporting by police departments , but law enforcement officials and advocacy groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the rise .
The Justice Department has for years been specifically prioritizing hate crime prosecutions .
The data also shows there was a nearly 7 % increase in religion-based hate crimes , with 953 reports of crimes targeting Jews and Jewish institutions last year , up from 835 the year before .
The FBI said the number of hate crimes against African Americans dropped slightly to 1,930 , from 1,943 .
Anti-Hispanic hate crimes , however , rose to 527 in 2019 , from 485 in 2018 .
And the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's sexual orientation stayed relatively stable , with one fewer crime reported last year , compared with the year before , though there were 20 more hate crimes against gay men reported .
As the data was made public on Monday , advocacy groups , including the Anti-Defamation League , called on Congress and law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to improve data collection and reporting of hate crimes .
Critics have long warned that the data may be incomplete , in part because it is based on voluntary reporting by police agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 2,172 law enforcement agencies out of about 15,000 participating agencies across the country reported hate crime data to the FBI , the bureau said .
And while the number of agencies reporting hate crimes increased , the number of agencies participating in the program actually dropped from the year before .
A large number of police agencies appeared not to submit any hate crime data , which has been a consistent struggle for Justice Department officials .
`` The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI 's data collection process , '' the Anti-Defamation League 's president , Jonathan Greenblatt , said in a statement .
An Associated Press investigation in 2016 found that more than 2,700 city police and county sheriff 's departments across the country had not submitted a single hate crime report for the FBI 's annual crime tally during the previous six years .
Greenblatt also said America must `` remove the barriers that too often prevent people in marginalized communities – the individuals most likely to suffer hate crimes – from reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by other advocates .
`` The FBI 's report is another reminder that we have much work to do to address hate in America , '' said Margaret Huang , the president of the Southern Poverty Law Center .

Hate crimes in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than a decade as federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate-motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s, according to an FBI report released Monday.
There were 51 hate crime murders in 2019, which includes 22 people who were killed in a shooting that targeted Mexicans at a Walmart in the border city of El Paso, Texas, the report said. The suspect in that August 2019 shooting, which left two dozen other people injured, was charged with both state and federal crimes in what authorities said was an attempt to scare Hispanics into leaving the United States.
There were 7,314 hate crimes last year, up from 7,120 the year before — and approaching the 7,783 of 2008. The FBI’s annual report defines hate crimes as those motivated by bias based on a person’s race, religion, or sexual orientation, among other categories.
Some of the 2019 increases may be the result of better reporting by police departments, but law enforcement officials and advocacy groups don’t doubt that hate crimes are on the rise. The Justice Department has for years been specifically prioritizing hate crime prosecutions.
The data also shows there was a nearly 7% increase in religion-based hate crimes, with 953 reports of crimes targeting Jews and Jewish institutions last year, up from 835 the year before. The FBI said the number of hate crimes against African Americans dropped slightly to 1,930, from 1,943.
Anti-Hispanic hate crimes, however, rose to 527 in 2019, from 485 in 2018. And the total number of hate crimes based on a person’s sexual orientation stayed relatively stable, with one fewer crime reported last year, compared with the year before, though there were 20 more hate crimes against gay men reported.
As the data was made public on Monday, advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, called on Congress and law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to improve data collection and reporting of hate crimes. Critics have long warned that the data may be incomplete, in part because it is based on voluntary reporting by police agencies across the country.
Last year, only 2,172 law enforcement agencies out of about 15,000 participating agencies across the country reported hate crime data to the FBI, the bureau said. And while the number of agencies reporting hate crimes increased, the number of agencies participating in the program actually dropped from the year before. A large number of police agencies appeared not to submit any hate crime data, which has been a consistent struggle for Justice Department officials.
“The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes cannot be fully measured without complete participation in the FBI’s data collection process,” the Anti-Defamation League’s president, Jonathan Greenblatt, said in a statement.
An Associated Press investigation in 2016 found that more than 2,700 city police and county sheriff’s departments across the country had not submitted a single hate crime report for the FBI’s annual crime tally during the previous six years.
Greenblatt also said America must “remove the barriers that too often prevent people in marginalized communities – the individuals most likely to suffer hate crimes – from reporting hate-based incidents,” a sentiment shared by other advocates.
“The FBI’s report is another reminder that we have much work to do to address hate in America,” said Margaret Huang, the president of the Southern Poverty Law Center.


shareblue--2020-11-16--Georgia GOP can't stop fighting among themselves after Trump lost the state

Georgia 's top election official , Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , is firing back after repeated attacks on his professionalism and character by members of his own party .
After an onslaught of criticism by fellow Republicans after Donald Trump lost the state to President-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 election in a historic upset , Raffensperger seems to have had enough .
In a flurry of late-night Facebook posts Sunday night , Raffensperger systematically dismantled many of the lies Trump and others have spread in recent days about alleged mass voter fraud in Georgia .
He fact-checked Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company Dominion Voting Systems deleted or switched hundreds of thousands of votes from Biden to Trump .
He debunked the claim that the company is Venezuelan-owned ( it 's American-owned ) and linked to a BuzzFeed News article knocking down Trump 's assertions .
Raffensperger then refuted the widespread false claim by Republicans that `` ballot harvesting , '' or the collection of ballots by third parties , was responsible for the election outcome in Georgia .
`` First thing I did as a Secretary of State ? ''
he posted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report on the subject .
`` Banned ballot harvesting .
We passed it in 2019 .
Truth matters .
Integrity matters . ''
Raffensperger next posted a screenshot of one of Trump 's tweets criticizing mail-in voting as rife with fraud .
`` My team secured and strengthened absentee ballots for the first time since 2005 , '' Raffensperger said .
`` For the first time in the history of Georgia , Absentee ballots submitted through our electronic portal required photo ID .
My team — we made that happen . ''
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit against Raffensperger alleging that he had unconstitutionally changed an election policy in March and made it easier to commit voter fraud .
The suit refers to a March settlement Raffensperger came to with the Democratic Party on the issue of signature matching .
According to a local media report , the settlement stipulated that if a voter 's signature on a mail-in or absentee ballot did n't match the voter 's signatures on file , two other reviewers would have to be consulted .
The ballot could only be thrown out if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signatures did n't match .
The suit charges that this rule ought to have been approved by the state legislature and instead was unconstitutionally implemented by Raffensperger in a unilateral decision .
Wood asserts without evidence that by making the process so complicated , Raffensperger made it easier for election officials to overlook bad ballots , creating an atmosphere where voter fraud could thrive .
Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs , speaking on behalf of Raffensperger , called the claims `` silly '' and `` baseless . ''
`` Signature match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation to allow voters who failed to include a signature time to add one , '' Fuchs said on behalf of the secretary of state 's office .
`` Fulton County only had one rejected ballot in 2018 and now they have thousands .
We strengthened signature match , and will continue to do so , period . ''
Raffensperger wrote on Facebook that he wanted to `` address this disinformation about signature match . ''
`` We strengthened signature match , '' he wrote .
`` We helped train election officials on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice before a ballot is ever cast . ''
He then slammed U.S. Rep. Doug Collins , the Trump loyalist in Georgia who lost the primary election for Senate and who pushed for a recount .
Collins has alleged widespread voter fraud and specifically accused Raffensperger 's policies of fostering it .
`` Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar — but what 's new ? ''
Raffensperger posted .
The state 's Republican Lt. Gov .
Geoff Duncan , along with Raffensperger , has said there is no evidence of the voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Duncan 's bitter rival , Georgia GOP chair David Shafer , has panned the `` Duncan/Raffensperger '' narrative and supported the White House occupant 's claims of voter fraud .
And Georgia Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have also criticized Raffensperger for allegedly cooperating with Democrats in stealing the election from Trump .
Loeffler and Collins had a notoriously acrimonious relationship leading up to the Nov. 3 special election as the pair battled for Loeffler 's Senate seat .
Both launched campaigns trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are playing the unlikely role of teammates in their attacks on fellow Republican Raffensperger .
Loeffler and Perdue issued a joint statement Nov. 9 demanding that Raffensperger resign , baselessly claiming that `` the management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment for our state '' and that Raffensperger was responsible for `` too many failures '' in the election process .
Raffensperger responded with his own statement politely telling the Republican senators to shove off .
`` Earlier today Senators Loeffler and Perdue called for my resignation , '' he noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not going to happen .
The voters of Georgia hired me , and the voters will be the one to fire me . ''
Raffensperger added that , as secretary of state , he would `` continue to fight every day to ensure fair elections in Georgia , that every legal vote counts , and that illegal votes do n't count . ''
Last week , Raffensperger told the New York Times that while he expected attacks from the left for his handling of the election , he never expected criticism from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully expecting it to come from the one side , '' he said , but not `` from your own ranks . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Georgia’s top election official, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, is firing back after repeated attacks on his professionalism and character by members of his own party.
After an onslaught of criticism by fellow Republicans after Donald Trump lost the state to President-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 election in a historic upset, Raffensperger seems to have had enough.
In a flurry of late-night Facebook posts Sunday night, Raffensperger systematically dismantled many of the lies Trump and others have spread in recent days about alleged mass voter fraud in Georgia.
He fact-checked Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that machines provided by the company Dominion Voting Systems deleted or switched hundreds of thousands of votes from Biden to Trump. He debunked the claim that the company is Venezuelan-owned (it’s American-owned) and linked to a BuzzFeed News article knocking down Trump’s assertions.
Raffensperger then refuted the widespread false claim by Republicans that “ballot harvesting,” or the collection of ballots by third parties, was responsible for the election outcome in Georgia.
“First thing I did as a Secretary of State?” he posted on Facebook, linking to a local news report on the subject. “Banned ballot harvesting. We passed it in 2019. Truth matters. Integrity matters.”
Raffensperger next posted a screenshot of one of Trump’s tweets criticizing mail-in voting as rife with fraud.
“My team secured and strengthened absentee ballots for the first time since 2005,” Raffensperger said. “For the first time in the history of Georgia, Absentee ballots submitted through our electronic portal required photo ID. My team — we made that happen.”
Last week, attorney Lin Wood filed a suit against Raffensperger alleging that he had unconstitutionally changed an election policy in March and made it easier to commit voter fraud.
The suit refers to a March settlement Raffensperger came to with the Democratic Party on the issue of signature matching.
According to a local media report, the settlement stipulated that if a voter’s signature on a mail-in or absentee ballot didn’t match the voter’s signatures on file, two other reviewers would have to be consulted. The ballot could only be thrown out if two of the three reviewers agreed that the signatures didn’t match.
The suit charges that this rule ought to have been approved by the state legislature and instead was unconstitutionally implemented by Raffensperger in a unilateral decision.
Wood asserts without evidence that by making the process so complicated, Raffensperger made it easier for election officials to overlook bad ballots, creating an atmosphere where voter fraud could thrive.
Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs, speaking on behalf of Raffensperger, called the claims “silly” and “baseless.”
“Signature match is intact and the General Assembly passed legislation to allow voters who failed to include a signature time to add one,” Fuchs said on behalf of the secretary of state’s office. “Fulton County only had one rejected ballot in 2018 and now they have thousands. We strengthened signature match, and will continue to do so, period.”
Raffensperger wrote on Facebook that he wanted to “address this disinformation about signature match.”
“We strengthened signature match,” he wrote. “We helped train election officials on GBI signature match — which is confirmed twice before a ballot is ever cast.”
He then slammed U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, the Trump loyalist in Georgia who lost the primary election for Senate and who pushed for a recount. Collins has alleged widespread voter fraud and specifically accused Raffensperger’s policies of fostering it.
“Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar — but what’s new?” Raffensperger posted.
The state’s Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, along with Raffensperger, has said there is no evidence of the voter fraud Trump and Collins allege.
But according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Duncan’s bitter rival, Georgia GOP chair David Shafer, has panned the “Duncan/Raffensperger” narrative and supported the White House occupant’s claims of voter fraud.
And Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have also criticized Raffensperger for allegedly cooperating with Democrats in stealing the election from Trump.
Loeffler and Collins had a notoriously acrimonious relationship leading up to the Nov. 3 special election as the pair battled for Loeffler’s Senate seat.
Both launched campaigns trying to out-conservative the other. But now they are playing the unlikely role of teammates in their attacks on fellow Republican Raffensperger.
Loeffler and Perdue issued a joint statement Nov. 9 demanding that Raffensperger resign, baselessly claiming that “the management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment for our state” and that Raffensperger was responsible for “too many failures” in the election process.
Raffensperger responded with his own statement politely telling the Republican senators to shove off.