shareblue--2020-12-29--32 times Trump promised Americans health care — and failed to deliver

Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act dozens of times since he launched his campaign for president in 2015 , trashing former President Barack Obama 's signature policy achievement and vowing to give Americans better and cheaper health insurance .
However , as his first and only term in office enters its final days , it is now clear that Trump has officially failed to deliver on that promise .
He has not released any sort of plan , and even if he got one out now , Congress would not have the time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 20 .
The fact that Trump never actually produced a health care plan did n't stop him from making repeated promises .
As the 2020 election drew near , Trump said numerous times that he had a plan and that it would be released soon .
But he never actually released it , and instead tried to pass off an executive order as a health care plan .
The executive order merely stated that it was the official stance of the United States that people with preexisting conditions should have health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with preexisting conditions is contained in Obamacare , the law that Trump wants to repeal .
Legal challenges to the ACA are currently on the docket of the Supreme Court .
The court heard arguments in the case in the days after the election .
If it does strike down Obamacare , it will leave millions of people without health care coverage and saddle the administration of President-elect Joe Biden with the task of coming up with a replacement .
Here are 32 times Trump made the empty promise that he would repeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 campaign rally in New Hampshire We 're going to take care of them .
We have to take care of them .
Now , that 's not single-payer .
That 's not anything .
That 's just human decency .
... What we 're going to have is we 're going to have private plans .
We 're going to have maybe the health care savings plans , which are very good .
We 're going to get rid of the lines .
You know what happens when you get rid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the price goes way down .
The reason the lines are there is because the insurance companies are making a fortune having monopolies in the various states and make a fortune .
We will create quality , reliable , affordable health care in a free market where parents can make the health care decisions that they really want to make for their families .
It will be a much better health care at a much less expensive cost .
...
When we win on Nov. 8 and elect a Republican congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeal and replace Obamacare .
Have to do it .
I will ask Congress to convene a special session so we can repeal and replace , and it will be such an honor for me , for you , and for everybody in this country because Obamacare has to be replaced and we will do it and we will do it very , very quickly .
Of course , repeal and replace Obamacare .
But what — we had it done , folks .
It was done , and then , early in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wrong direction .
That cost our country a lot .
That was a very , very terrible thing that happened that night .
That was a very terrible thing .
… Repeal and replace .
And the person that voted that way only talked repeal and replace .
He campaigned on it .
So I 'll tell you this .
I 'll tell you this .
To get that , we are coming up with great health care .
… Our secretary of labor is coming out with a plan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be great .
Our secretary of health , Alex — we have Alex Acosta , you know that .
I have my two Alexes .
Both my Alexes are coming out with plans that are phenomenal plans , phenomenal plans , Alex Azar , Alex Acosta .
And they 'll be out over the next four weeks .
Sept. 24 , 2020 tweet about an executive order that was not a health care plan WALLACE : You , in the course of these four years , have never come up with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just this last Thursday you signed a largely symbolic Executive Order to protect people with pre-existing conditions five days before this debate .
So my question , sir , is what is the Trump health care plan ?
TRUMP : Well , first of all , I guess I 'm debating you , not him , but that 's okay .
I 'm not surprised .
Let me just tell you something .
There 's nothing symbolic .
I 'm cutting drug prices .
I 'm going with Favored Nations , which no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're going against big pharma .
Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90 % .
You could have done it during your 47 year period in government , but you did n't do it .
Nobody 's done it .
So we 're cutting health care .
TRUMP : All of the things that we 've done .
GUTHRIE : In point of fact , your administration is about to go to the Supreme Court to argue to throw out the rest of Obamacare , which includes the protections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
That 's right .
GUTHRIE : So your administration is in court right now , trying to get rid of that protection .
TRUMP : In order to replace it with a much better health care at a much lower price .
And always , under all circumstances , we are going to protect the Republicans .
And maybe I changed the party a lot over the last three years , but we will protect people with preexisting conditions .
And Savannah , what I want to do , get rid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already done it to a large extent because as you know , the individual mandate is gone .
That was the worst part .
GUTHRIE : You repealed , but you have n't replaced .
GUTHRIE : Now , you 've been in office almost four years .
GUTHRIE : You have both houses of Congress , Senate and House , in Republican hands , and there is not a replacement yet .
TRUMP : That 's right .
I 'm sorry , but if you look , we had both houses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of the individual mandate .
That went through the legislature .
GUTHRIE : But the promise was repeal and replace .
TRUMP : Look , look .
We should be on the same side .
I wanted very simple .
I 'm going to put it very simple .
We would like to terminate it , and we would like to replace it with something that 's much less expensive and much better .
We will always protect people with preexisting conditions .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act dozens of times since he launched his campaign for president in 2015, trashing former President Barack Obama’s signature policy achievement and vowing to give Americans better and cheaper health insurance.
However, as his first and only term in office enters its final days, it is now clear that Trump has officially failed to deliver on that promise. He has not released any sort of plan, and even if he got one out now, Congress would not have the time to pass it before he leaves office on Jan. 20.
The fact that Trump never actually produced a health care plan didn’t stop him from making repeated promises.
As the 2020 election drew near, Trump said numerous times that he had a plan and that it would be released soon.
But he never actually released it, and instead tried to pass off an executive order as a health care plan. The executive order merely stated that it was the official stance of the United States that people with preexisting conditions should have health care. Actual health care coverage for people with preexisting conditions is contained in Obamacare, the law that Trump wants to repeal. Legal challenges to the ACA are currently on the docket of the Supreme Court.
The court heard arguments in the case in the days after the election. If it does strike down Obamacare, it will leave millions of people without health care coverage and saddle the administration of President-elect Joe Biden with the task of coming up with a replacement.
Here are 32 times Trump made the empty promise that he would repeal and replace Obamacare:
July 29, 2015 interview with CNN’s Dana Bash
Repeal and replace with something terrific … The terrific will be plans that could be done by private companies. I have to be able to compete. I want to be able to compete and go to a company in California, a company in Iowa, a company in New Hampshire, a company — for — and I will get a good price.
Oct. 27, 2015 campaign rally in South Carolina
We’re going to terminate Obamacare which has turned out to be a complete disaster … we’re going to terminate it and replace it with something that’s going to be great and a lot less expensive and a lot less expensive for the government.
Jan. 27, 2016 campaign rally in South Carolina
We’re going to win with health care and Obamacare is going to be gone, but we’re going to win with health care. We’re going to win so much. You’re going to be so proud of your President. You’re going to be so proud of your country.
Feb. 8, 2016 campaign rally in New Hampshire
We’re going to bring down the price of health care. We’re going to bring it down, big league. Big, big league
Feb. 17, 2016 town hall with MSNBC
We’re going to take care of them. We have to take care of them. Now, that’s not single-payer. That’s not anything. That’s just human decency. … What we’re going to have is we’re going to have private plans. We’re going to have maybe the health care savings plans, which are very good. We’re going to get rid of the lines. You know what happens when you get rid of the lines? You have tremendous competition, and the price goes way down. The reason the lines are there is because the insurance companies are making a fortune having monopolies in the various states and make a fortune.
Feb. 22, 2016 campaign rally in Las Vegas
You’re going to end up with great health care for a fraction of the price and that’s gonna take place immediately after we go in. Okay? Immediately. Fast. Quick.
Feb. 25, 2016 GOP primary debate
I would absolutely get rid of Obamacare, we’re going to have something much better, but pre-existing conditions, when I’m referring to that, and I was referring to that very strongly on the show with Anderson Cooper, I want to keep pre-existing conditions. I think we need it. I think it’s a modern age, and I think we have to have it.
July 21, 2016 campaign rally in Ohio
We will repeal and replace disastrous Obamacare. You will be able to choose your own doctor again.
Aug. 5, 2016 campaign rally in Wisconsin
Health care, you know, the plan is terrible. It’s terrible. And we’re going to take care of everybody, but we’re going to end up with a great plan that costs much less money for the people and much less money for the country.
Aug. 8, 2016 speech at Detroit Economic Club
One of my first acts as president will be to repeal and replace disastrous Obamacare, saving another 2 million American jobs.
Sept. 12, 2016 campaign rally in North Carolina
On my first day in office, I am going to ask Congress to send me a bill to immediately repeal and replace, I just said it, Obamacare. And this will save another two million jobs. It is a disaster. You see what’s happening, your premiums are going through the roof. Your deductibles are so high you’ll never get to use it hopefully because the only way you’ll use it is it has to be a long slow death.
Oct. 4, 2016 campaign rally in Arizona
On my first day in office, I am going to ask a Republican Congress to send me a bill to immediately repeal and replace Obamacare.
Oct. 22, 2016 campaign rally in Pennsylvania
I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … The Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeal Obamacare and replace it with health savings accounts. We can do that.
Oct. 25, 2016 campaign rally in Florida
Together we’re going to deliver real change that once again puts America first. That begins with immediately repealing and replacing the disaster known as Obamacare. You saw what happened yesterday? The rates are going through the sky. We all knew that. I knew it before it was passed. I’ve been saying this for a long time. My first day in office I’m going to ask Congress to put a bill on my desk getting rid of this disastrous law and replacing it with reforms that expand choice, freedom, affordability. You’re going to have such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost and it’s going to be so easy.
Nov. 1, 2016 campaign rally in Pennsylvania
We will create quality, reliable, affordable health care in a free market where parents can make the health care decisions that they really want to make for their families. It will be a much better health care at a much less expensive cost. … When we win on Nov. 8 and elect a Republican congress, we will be able to immediately repeal and replace Obamacare. Have to do it. I will ask Congress to convene a special session so we can repeal and replace, and it will be such an honor for me, for you, and for everybody in this country because Obamacare has to be replaced and we will do it and we will do it very, very quickly.
Nov. 8, 2016 ‘Fox & Friends’ interview
We have to terminate Obamacare. Have to terminate it. We’re going to come up with great health care at a fraction of the cost, much better and much less expensive.
Nov. 13, 2016 ’60 Minutes’ interview
We’re going to do it simultaneously. It’ll be just fine. We’re not going to have, like, a two-day period and we’re not going to have a two-year period where there’s nothing. It will be repealed and replaced. And we’ll know. And it’ll be great health care for much less money. So it’ll be better health care, much better, for less money. Not a bad combination.
Dec. 26, 2017 tweet
Based on the fact that the very unfair and unpopular Individual Mandate has been terminated as part of our Tax Cut Bill, which essentially Repeals (over time) ObamaCare, the Democrats & Republicans will eventually come together and develop a great new HealthCare plan!
May 29, 2018 campaign rally in Tennessee
Of course, repeal and replace Obamacare. But what — we had it done, folks. It was done, and then, early in the morning, somebody turned the hand in the wrong direction. That cost our country a lot. That was a very, very terrible thing that happened that night. That was a very terrible thing. … Repeal and replace. And the person that voted that way only talked repeal and replace. He campaigned on it. So I’ll tell you this. I’ll tell you this. To get that, we are coming up with great health care. … Our secretary of labor is coming out with a plan in two weeks — association plan. Going to be great. Our secretary of health, Alex — we have Alex Acosta, you know that. I have my two Alexes. Both my Alexes are coming out with plans that are phenomenal plans, phenomenal plans, Alex Azar, Alex Acosta. And they’ll be out over the next four weeks.
April 1, 2019 Twitter thread
Everybody agrees that ObamaCare doesn’t work. Premiums & deductibles are far too high — Really bad HealthCare! Even the Dems want to replace it, but with Medicare for all, which would cause 180 million Americans to lose their beloved private health insurance. The Republicans are developing a really great HealthCare Plan with far lower premiums (cost) & deductibles than ObamaCare. In other words it will be far less expensive & much more usable than ObamaCare. Vote will be taken right after the Election when Republicans hold the Senate & win back the House. It will be truly great HealthCare that will work for America. Also, Republicans will always support Pre-Existing Conditions. The Republican Party will be known as the Party of Great HealtCare [sic]. Meantime, the USA is doing better than ever & is respected again!
April 3, 2019 tweet
I was never planning a vote prior to the 2020 Election on the wonderful HealthCare package that some very talented people are now developing for me & the Republican Party. It will be on full display during the Election as a much better & less expensive alternative to ObamaCare
Aug. 15, 2019 campaign rally in New Hampshire
We had it done, repeal and replace. But it’s got to happen and I think it’s going to actually be in the end, actually better. You watch.
June 27, 2020 tweets
Now that the very expensive, unpopular and unfair Individual Mandate provision has been terminated by us, many States & the U.S. are asking the Supreme Court that Obamacare itself be terminated so that it can be replaced with a FAR BETTER AND MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE. Obamacare is a joke! Deductible is far too high and the overall cost is ridiculous. My Administration has gone out of its way to manage OC much better than previous, but it is still no good. I will ALWAYS PROTECT PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS,ALWAYS!!!
July 19, 2020 interview with Fox News
We’re signing a health care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do.
Aug. 3, 2020 speech at the White House
I do want to say that we’re going to be introducing a tremendous health care plan sometime prior — hopefully, prior to the end of the month. It’s just completed now.
Sept. 22, 2020 promise from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
The President, in the next week or so, will be laying out his vision for health care. Some of that has already been put out there, like telemedicine and lowering the cost of drugs. But the President — and protecting preexisting conditions. But the President will be laying out some additional health care steps in the coming, I would say, two weeks.
Sept. 24, 2020 tweet about an executive order that was not a health care plan
Under The America First Healthcare Plan, we will ensure the highest standard of care anywhere in the world — cutting-edge treatments, state-of-the-art medicine, groundbreaking cures, and true health security for you and your loved ones!
Sept, 27, 2020 tweet
Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court. Would be a big WIN for the USA!
Sept. 29, 2020 debate exchange with moderator Chris Wallace
WALLACE: You, in the course of these four years, have never come up with a comprehensive plan to replace Obamacare, and just this last Thursday you signed a largely symbolic Executive Order to protect people with pre-existing conditions five days before this debate. So my question, sir, is what is the Trump health care plan? TRUMP: Well, first of all, I guess I’m debating you, not him, but that’s okay. I’m not surprised. Let me just tell you something. There’s nothing symbolic. I’m cutting drug prices. I’m going with Favored Nations, which no President has the courage to do because you’re going against big pharma. Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90%. You could have done it during your 47 year period in government, but you didn’t do it. Nobody’s done it. So we’re cutting health care. WALLACE: What about pre-existing conditions? TRUMP: All of the things that we’ve done.
Oct. 12, 2020 tweet
We will have Healthcare which is FAR BETTER than ObamaCare, at a FAR LOWER COST – BIG PREMIUM REDUCTION. PEOPLE WITH PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS WILL BE PROTECTED AT AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL THAN NOW. HIGHLY UNPOPULAR AND UNFAIR INDIVIDUAL MANDATE ALREADY TERMINATED. YOU’RE WELCOME!
Oct. 15, 2020 town hall exchange with Savannah Guthrie
GUTHRIE: In point of fact, your administration is about to go to the Supreme Court to argue to throw out the rest of Obamacare, which includes the protections for preexisting conditions. TRUMP: That’s right. That’s right. GUTHRIE: So your administration is in court right now, trying to get rid of that protection. TRUMP: In order to replace it with a much better health care at a much lower price. And always, under all circumstances, we are going to protect the Republicans. And maybe I changed the party a lot over the last three years, but we will protect people with preexisting conditions. And Savannah, what I want to do, get rid of the terrible Obamacare. I’ve already done it to a large extent because as you know, the individual mandate is gone. That was the worst part. GUTHRIE: You repealed, but you haven’t replaced. TRUMP: No, no. GUTHRIE: Now, you’ve been in office almost four years. TRUMP: We have done- GUTHRIE: You have both houses of Congress, Senate and House, in Republican hands, and there is not a replacement yet. TRUMP: That’s right. I’m sorry, but if you look, we had both houses and what did we do? We got rid of the individual mandate. That went through the legislature. GUTHRIE: But the promise was repeal and replace. TRUMP: Look, look. We should be on the same side. I wanted very simple. I’m going to put it very simple. We would like to terminate it, and we would like to replace it with something that’s much less expensive and much better. We will always protect people with preexisting conditions.
Oct. 22, 2020 debate
I’d like to terminate Obamacare, come up with a brand new, beautiful health care. The Democrats will do it, because there’ll be tremendous pressure on them. And we might even have the House by that time. And I think we’re going to win the House. You’ll see, but I think we’re going to win the House. But come up with a better health care, always protecting people with pre-existing conditions.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Federal judge stops Georgia officials who tried to block 4,000 people from voting

A federal judge ordered local election officials in Georgia to allow voting by more than 4,000 people whose eligibility was being challenged ahead of next week 's runoff elections for the U.S. Senate .
U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner blocked election boards in Ben Hill County and Muscogee County , which includes Columbus , from forcing large numbers of voters to prove their residency before casting ballots in the runoffs .
The judge ruled that denying so many voters access to the ballot so close to an election would likely violate the National Voter Registration Act .
Republican Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face runoff elections next Tuesday .
If both lose to Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , Democrats will take control of the Senate .
Challenges against roughly 4,000 voters in Muscogee County and more than 150 voters in Ben Hill County were part of an effort by the Texas-based conservative group True The Vote to coordinate challenges statewide under a Georgia law that allows any registered voter to challenge the eligibility of any other voter within the same county .
The group said on Dec. 18 that it was bringing challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against more than 364,000 voters whose residency was being questioned based on change of address data obtained from the U.S .
Postal Service .
It 's up to local election boards to determine whether the challenges have merit .
Several , including in Fulton and Cobb counties in metro Atlanta , have rejected them .
Because election officials in Muscogee and Ben Hill counties had determined the challenges had probable cause , anyone on the challenged list attempting to vote would have been required to prove their eligibility — as would anyone challenged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge 's order blocks the counties from impeding voting by anyone who was challenged , saying federal law prohibits `` systemic '' removal of voters from the rolls within 90 days of an election .
Attorneys for the county election boards had asked Gardner to recuse herself in the case .
The judge is the sister of Stacey Abrams , Georgia 's Democratic nominee for governor in 2018 and founder of the voting rights group Fair Fight .

A federal judge ordered local election officials in Georgia to allow voting by more than 4,000 people whose eligibility was being challenged ahead of next week’s runoff elections for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner blocked election boards in Ben Hill County and Muscogee County, which includes Columbus, from forcing large numbers of voters to prove their residency before casting ballots in the runoffs. The judge ruled that denying so many voters access to the ballot so close to an election would likely violate the National Voter Registration Act.
Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler both face runoff elections next Tuesday. If both lose to Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Democrats will take control of the Senate.
Challenges against roughly 4,000 voters in Muscogee County and more than 150 voters in Ben Hill County were part of an effort by the Texas-based conservative group True The Vote to coordinate challenges statewide under a Georgia law that allows any registered voter to challenge the eligibility of any other voter within the same county.
The group said on Dec. 18 that it was bringing challenges in each of Georgia’s 159 counties against more than 364,000 voters whose residency was being questioned based on change of address data obtained from the U.S. Postal Service.
It’s up to local election boards to determine whether the challenges have merit. Several, including in Fulton and Cobb counties in metro Atlanta, have rejected them.
Because election officials in Muscogee and Ben Hill counties had determined the challenges had probable cause, anyone on the challenged list attempting to vote would have been required to prove their eligibility — as would anyone challenged who mailed an absentee ballot.
The judge’s order blocks the counties from impeding voting by anyone who was challenged, saying federal law prohibits “systemic” removal of voters from the rolls within 90 days of an election.
Attorneys for the county election boards had asked Gardner to recuse herself in the case. The judge is the sister of Stacey Abrams, Georgia’s Democratic nominee for governor in 2018 and founder of the voting rights group Fair Fight.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Trump promised 20 million COVID vaccines by the end of the year. We aren't even close.

Top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that Donald Trump 's administration has fallen far short of its projected goal for number of vaccines administered by the end of the year — about 18 million short , in fact .
The administration had previously promised to deliver and administer 20 million vaccines by the end of the year .
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's COVID Data Tracker , only about 2.1 million Americans had received the first dose of the vaccine as of Tuesday morning .
Fauci said on CNN Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December . ''
`` Even if you undercount , 2 million as an undercount , how much undercount could it be ? ''
Fauci added .
`` So , we are below where we want to be . ''
Trump officials responsible for vaccine rollout have admitted Operation Warp Speed failed in its goal to vaccinate 20 million by year 's end .
`` Exactly how fast the ramp-up of immunizations , shots in arms , is slower than we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moncef Slaoui , the Trump official helming distribution , said in a press conference last week .
`` And as I told you earlier , we ’ re here to help the states to accelerate appropriately . ''
Army Gen. Gustave Perna , in charge of logistics of Operation Warp Speed , blamed delays on lag time between production and shipment .
`` We all made the error or mistake of assuming that vaccine that 's actually produced and being released is already available for shipment , when , in fact , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at which we generate a lot of data that shows this vaccine vial is actually safe and right and the time we can ship it , '' Slaoui said to CNN .
State officials have criticized Trump for his delay in signing the latest COVID relief bill — which he ultimately signed on Sunday — which , by extension , reportedly held up billions of dollars intended for vaccine distribution .
But Fauci said hope was on the horizon .
`` I believe that as we get into January , we are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` I hope allows us to catch up to the projected pace that we had spoken about a month or two ago when we were talking about the planned rollout of the vaccinations . ''
President-elect Joe Biden has faulted Trump for the delay on vaccine rollout as well .
According to his pandemic advisory team , Biden intends to invoke the Defense Production Act to exponentially increase the rate of vaccine production once he takes office in January .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

Top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that Donald Trump’s administration has fallen far short of its projected goal for number of vaccines administered by the end of the year — about 18 million short, in fact.
The administration had previously promised to deliver and administer 20 million vaccines by the end of the year. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker, only about 2.1 million Americans had received the first dose of the vaccine as of Tuesday morning.
Fauci said on CNN Tuesday that such a rate was “certainly not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December.”
“Even if you undercount, 2 million as an undercount, how much undercount could it be?” Fauci added. “So, we are below where we want to be.”
Trump officials responsible for vaccine rollout have admitted Operation Warp Speed failed in its goal to vaccinate 20 million by year’s end.
“Exactly how fast the ramp-up of immunizations, shots in arms, is slower than we thought it would be,” Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the Trump official helming distribution, said in a press conference last week. “And as I told you earlier, we’re here to help the states to accelerate appropriately.”
Army Gen. Gustave Perna, in charge of logistics of Operation Warp Speed, blamed delays on lag time between production and shipment.
“We all made the error or mistake of assuming that vaccine that’s actually produced and being released is already available for shipment, when, in fact, there is a two-days lag between the time at which we generate a lot of data that shows this vaccine vial is actually safe and right and the time we can ship it,” Slaoui said to CNN.
State officials have criticized Trump for his delay in signing the latest COVID relief bill — which he ultimately signed on Sunday — which, by extension, reportedly held up billions of dollars intended for vaccine distribution.
But Fauci said hope was on the horizon. “I believe that as we get into January, we are going to see an increase in the momentum,” he said. “I hope allows us to catch up to the projected pace that we had spoken about a month or two ago when we were talking about the planned rollout of the vaccinations.”
President-elect Joe Biden has faulted Trump for the delay on vaccine rollout as well. According to his pandemic advisory team, Biden intends to invoke the Defense Production Act to exponentially increase the rate of vaccine production once he takes office in January.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Georgia Sen. Perdue calls himself an 'outsider' — after nearly 6 years in Congress

Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) , who has been serving in his position for over five years , claimed on Tuesday he is an `` outsider '' to the political process .
Perdue 's claim came during an interview on Fox News where he was asked about Donald Trump 's criticism of Congress for voting to override his veto of the annual defense funding bill , which he rejected over a provision to change the names of military bases named after Confederate military figures .
`` I 'm an outsider in this political process , so is the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue said .
Perdue is a week away from reaching his sixth year in the Senate , after taking office on Jan. 5 , 2015 .
Perdue then went on to tout his role as the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Seapower .
Perdue is currently facing a challenge from Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of Georgia 's Senate runoff races , after neither obtained a majority of votes in the November election .
Perdue 's fellow Georgia senator , Kelly Loeffler , is also facing a runoff election against Democrat Raphael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 edition of Fox News ' `` America 's Newsroom '' : SANDRA SMITH , Fox News : Senator , I finally want to ask you about this veto override on the $ 740 billion defense spending bill .
The president just tweeted about this this morning , I 'll put it up on the screen , get your reaction to it .
He says `` weak and tired Republican 'leadership ' will allow the bad defense bill to pass .
Say goodbye to vital Section 230 termination , your national monuments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inserted by Elizabeth 'Pocahontas ' Warren , '' he tweeted .
That tweet goes on , but he 's calling out weak and tired Republican leadership for allowing that , how do you respond to the president on that ?
DAVID PERDUE : Sandra , I 'm an outsider in this political process , so is the president as far as that goes .
Look , what I 'm concerned about is I 'm chairman of the subcommittee on sea power in the Armed Services Committee and we 've been working for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand up to this China threat that we now see so vividly .
And what we ca n't do is go back to the period of time that was under Obama and Biden when they cut our military 25 % again , and that 's what the president 's trying to make sure of here .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), who has been serving in his position for over five years, claimed on Tuesday he is an “outsider” to the political process.
Perdue’s claim came during an interview on Fox News where he was asked about Donald Trump’s criticism of Congress for voting to override his veto of the annual defense funding bill, which he rejected over a provision to change the names of military bases named after Confederate military figures.
“I’m an outsider in this political process, so is the president as far as that goes,” Perdue said.
Perdue is a week away from reaching his sixth year in the Senate, after taking office on Jan. 5, 2015.
Perdue then went on to tout his role as the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Seapower.
Perdue is currently facing a challenge from Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of Georgia’s Senate runoff races, after neither obtained a majority of votes in the November election. Perdue’s fellow Georgia senator, Kelly Loeffler, is also facing a runoff election against Democrat Raphael Warnock next month.
From the Dec. 29 edition of Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom”:
SANDRA SMITH, Fox News: Senator, I finally want to ask you about this veto override on the $740 billion defense spending bill. The president just tweeted about this this morning, I’ll put it up on the screen, get your reaction to it. He says “weak and tired Republican ‘leadership’ will allow the bad defense bill to pass. Say goodbye to vital Section 230 termination, your national monuments, forts (names) and treasures (inserted by Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren,” he tweeted. That tweet goes on, but he’s calling out weak and tired Republican leadership for allowing that, how do you respond to the president on that? DAVID PERDUE: Sandra, I’m an outsider in this political process, so is the president as far as that goes. Look, what I’m concerned about is I’m chairman of the subcommittee on sea power in the Armed Services Committee and we’ve been working for the last three years to rebuild our military to stand up to this China threat that we now see so vividly. And what we can’t do is go back to the period of time that was under Obama and Biden when they cut our military 25% again, and that’s what the president’s trying to make sure of here.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Kayleigh McEnany is really still out here pushing election lies

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared on Fox News Monday night to peddle long-debunked election lies — a mere day after insisting on Twitter that she 's not a liar .
Among other things , McEnany falsely claimed that President-elect Joe Biden outperformed former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton 's 2016 performance in only four major metro areas during the 2020 election , suggesting that this somehow proved there had been massive election fraud .
`` This [ voter fraud ] happened in the places that needed to happen , which is why the four metros — the only four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were Philadelphia , Milwaukee , Atlanta , and Detroit , '' McEnany said .
That claim is demonstrably false .
Critics were swift to note that it had even been debunked by conservative outlets .
According to the right-leaning National Review in November , Biden 's margin of victory surpassed Hillary Clinton 's in at least 31 urban counties .
Contrary to McEnany 's claims , Philadelphia was among the metro areas where Biden 's performance did not improve , according to that report .
The National Review also noted that Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact `` distinctly subpar '' — and that even Donald Trump substantially improved upon his 2016 margin of victory in Detroit .
McEnany has a long history of pushing disinformation — serving as an unofficial campaign spokesperson while also working as press secretary , a contradictory role that 's been scrutinized by experts as a possible Hatch Act violation — even beyond the 2020 election , which Trump still insists he won .
Upon taking over the role of press secretary , she had one promise for the American people .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEnany told reporters at her first press conference on May 1 .
`` You have my word on that . ''
She then proceeded to violate that promise — not only in that same speech , but also on dozens of other occasions in the subsequent months .
After leaked tapes revealed that Trump had indeed lied to the American people about the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic at the start of the pandemic , despite having knowledge to the contrary , McEnany insisted he had done nothing wrong .
`` The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID , '' she said in September .
McEnany has also pushed false claims of voter fraud on the airwaves , falsely claiming Trump won Pennsylvania when he did n't .
In mid-December , long after Trump lost the election , she suggested there still might be a `` continuation of power '' involving Trump remaining in office .
`` [ Trump ] wo n't get ahead of that activity actually happening , but he has taken all statutory requirements necessary to either ensure a smooth transition or a continuation of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McEnany has also lied about former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama blocking an orderly transfer of power — when Trump quite literally thanked them for ensuring one , in his inauguration speech .
She 's made other easily debunked claims as well , falsely claiming Trump was the first president to celebrate World Aids Day and that the Trump administration has an all-female communications team .
Notoriously conservative Fox News even cut off a post-election press conference by McEnany in November , noting that she did n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stolen election .
`` Unless she has more details to back that up , I can ’ t in good countenance continue showing you this , '' said anchor Neil Cavuto .
McEnany 's latest false claim comes just one day after she took to Twitter to blast CNN 's Jake Tapper for saying Sunday that he wo n't interview her because she lies `` like most people breathe '' .
`` There are some people that are so mendacious , I just wouldn ’ t put them on air .
Kayleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tapper said .
`` Jason Miller from the Trump campaign , I would never book him .
These are just people who tell lies the way that most people breathe .
There was no value in that . ''
`` This is a therapy session for a broken network , and @ jaketapper is lazy enough to participate by lobbing baseless personal attacks with ZERO evidence , '' McEnany tweeted Monday .
`` Jake 's real problem : I do not leak .
I do not lie .
But I DO call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ i.e .
CNN Russia collusion hoax ! )
. ''
There is zero evidence to support her claim that the media created the `` Russia collusion hoax . ''
McEnany appeared to be referring to the nearly two-year-long Russian election interference investigation , ultimately spearheaded by former special counsel Robert Mueller , who determined there were at least 10 instances of possible obstruction by Trump on the matter , and myriad ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election and beyond .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared on Fox News Monday night to peddle long-debunked election lies — a mere day after insisting on Twitter that she’s not a liar.
Among other things, McEnany falsely claimed that President-elect Joe Biden outperformed former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s 2016 performance in only four major metro areas during the 2020 election, suggesting that this somehow proved there had been massive election fraud.
“This [voter fraud] happened in the places that needed to happen, which is why the four metros — the only four — where Joe Biden outperformed Hillary Clinton were Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Detroit,” McEnany said.
That claim is demonstrably false. Critics were swift to note that it had even been debunked by conservative outlets.
According to the right-leaning National Review in November, Biden’s margin of victory surpassed Hillary Clinton’s in at least 31 urban counties.
Contrary to McEnany’s claims, Philadelphia was among the metro areas where Biden’s performance did not improve, according to that report.
The National Review also noted that Biden’s gains in Detroit and Milwaukee were in fact “distinctly subpar” — and that even Donald Trump substantially improved upon his 2016 margin of victory in Detroit.
McEnany has a long history of pushing disinformation — serving as an unofficial campaign spokesperson while also working as press secretary, a contradictory role that’s been scrutinized by experts as a possible Hatch Act violation — even beyond the 2020 election, which Trump still insists he won.
Upon taking over the role of press secretary, she had one promise for the American people.
“I will never lie to you,” McEnany told reporters at her first press conference on May 1. “You have my word on that.”
She then proceeded to violate that promise — not only in that same speech, but also on dozens of other occasions in the subsequent months.
After leaked tapes revealed that Trump had indeed lied to the American people about the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic at the start of the pandemic, despite having knowledge to the contrary, McEnany insisted he had done nothing wrong.
“The president has never lied to the American public on COVID,” she said in September.
McEnany has also pushed false claims of voter fraud on the airwaves, falsely claiming Trump won Pennsylvania when he didn’t.
In mid-December, long after Trump lost the election, she suggested there still might be a “continuation of power” involving Trump remaining in office.
“[Trump] won’t get ahead of that activity actually happening, but he has taken all statutory requirements necessary to either ensure a smooth transition or a continuation of power,” she said in a briefing.
McEnany has also lied about former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama blocking an orderly transfer of power — when Trump quite literally thanked them for ensuring one, in his inauguration speech.
She’s made other easily debunked claims as well, falsely claiming Trump was the first president to celebrate World Aids Day and that the Trump administration has an all-female communications team.
Notoriously conservative Fox News even cut off a post-election press conference by McEnany in November, noting that she didn’t have any evidence to support her claims of a stolen election.
“Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing you this,” said anchor Neil Cavuto.
McEnany’s latest false claim comes just one day after she took to Twitter to blast CNN’s Jake Tapper for saying Sunday that he won’t interview her because she lies “like most people breathe”.
“There are some people that are so mendacious, I just wouldn’t put them on air. Kayleigh McEnany, I never booked her,” Tapper said. “Jason Miller from the Trump campaign, I would never book him. These are just people who tell lies the way that most people breathe. There was no value in that.”
McEnany fired back the next day.
“This is a therapy session for a broken network, and @jaketapper is lazy enough to participate by lobbing baseless personal attacks with ZERO evidence,” McEnany tweeted Monday. “Jake’s real problem: I do not leak. I do not lie. But I DO call out the lies of the media (i.e. CNN Russia collusion hoax!).”
There is zero evidence to support her claim that the media created the “Russia collusion hoax.” McEnany appeared to be referring to the nearly two-year-long Russian election interference investigation, ultimately spearheaded by former special counsel Robert Mueller, who determined there were at least 10 instances of possible obstruction by Trump on the matter, and myriad ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election and beyond.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Trump orders community funds to be used for private school vouchers

The $ 908 billion pandemic relief compromise that Donald Trump signed on Sunday did not include the administration 's demand for private school funding .
On Monday , Trump said he would provide it anyway .
Trump announced via press release that he had signed an executive order directing Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to `` allow funds available through the Community Services Block Grant program to be used by grantees and eligible entities to provide emergency learning scholarships to disadvantaged families for use by any child without access to in-person learning . ''
He specified that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private and parochial schools , homeschooling costs , or other private educational expenses .
The $ 700 million annual program was intended by Congress to reduce poverty and revitalize low-income communities by providing direct grants to low income individuals and families — not to send federal funds to private and religious schools .
The order came one day after Trump grudgingly signed bipartisan relief legislation , which he had earlier called a `` disgrace . ''
With the backing of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` skinny '' relief bill that would have provided funds for `` Emergency Education Freedom Grants '' for the next two years .
Had that version become law , it would have established a tax credit to reimburse individuals for donations to state-level scholarship funds that pay for educational expenses , such as private school or parochial school tuition — a backdoor route to private school vouchers .
Cruz 's language was left out of the compromise bill .
Last year , Trump who as a candidate had railed against Barack Obama 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to circumvent the legislative branch , used the same approach after he failed to convince Congress to fund his massive southern border wall — the one he had repeatedly promised would be fully paid for by Mexico .
Trump forced the longest partial government shutdown in the nation 's history in late 2018 and early 2019 to try to get billions appropriated for wall construction .
When his tactic failed , he declared that there was a `` national emergency '' and unilaterally siphoned billions of dollars intended for military families .
Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Trump administration 's four-year war on public education .
His Department of Education has spent that time attacking public schools and teachers , scheming to use taxpayer dollars to fund private and religious education , and rolling back protections for immigrants , sexual assault victims , LGBTQ kids , and Americans with student loan debt .
President-elect Joe Biden announced last week that he will replace DeVos with Miguel Cardona , a former public school teacher and Connecticut 's current education commissioner .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

The $908 billion pandemic relief compromise that Donald Trump signed on Sunday did not include the administration’s demand for private school funding.
On Monday, Trump said he would provide it anyway.
Trump announced via press release that he had signed an executive order directing Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to “allow funds available through the Community Services Block Grant program to be used by grantees and eligible entities to provide emergency learning scholarships to disadvantaged families for use by any child without access to in-person learning.” He specified that this could go to pay for tuition for private and parochial schools, homeschooling costs, or other private educational expenses.
The $700 million annual program was intended by Congress to reduce poverty and revitalize low-income communities by providing direct grants to low income individuals and families — not to send federal funds to private and religious schools.
The order came one day after Trump grudgingly signed bipartisan relief legislation, which he had earlier called a “disgrace.”
With the backing of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) had inserted language into an earlier Senate Republican “skinny” relief bill that would have provided funds for “Emergency Education Freedom Grants” for the next two years. Had that version become law, it would have established a tax credit to reimburse individuals for donations to state-level scholarship funds that pay for educational expenses, such as private school or parochial school tuition — a backdoor route to private school vouchers.
Cruz’s language was left out of the compromise bill.
Last year, Trump who as a candidate had railed against Barack Obama’s use of “unconstitutional” executive orders to circumvent the legislative branch, used the same approach after he failed to convince Congress to fund his massive southern border wall — the one he had repeatedly promised would be fully paid for by Mexico.
Trump forced the longest partial government shutdown in the nation’s history in late 2018 and early 2019 to try to get billions appropriated for wall construction. When his tactic failed, he declared that there was a “national emergency” and unilaterally siphoned billions of dollars intended for military families.
Monday’s order is likely the final salvo in the Trump administration’s four-year war on public education. His Department of Education has spent that time attacking public schools and teachers, scheming to use taxpayer dollars to fund private and religious education, and rolling back protections for immigrants, sexual assault victims, LGBTQ kids, and Americans with student loan debt.
President-elect Joe Biden announced last week that he will replace DeVos with Miguel Cardona, a former public school teacher and Connecticut’s current education commissioner.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--Sen. Kelly Loeffler suddenly changes her mind on relief checks for Americans

Just a few days after expressing opposition to increased direct relief for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic , Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) has suddenly changed her position — to match that of Donald Trump .
`` I will support '' benefit checks of $ 2,000 , Loeffler told Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' on Tuesday .
Loeffler 's announcement comes just hours after the Democratic-led House passed a measure for increased stimulus on Monday night .
Less than a week ago , Loeffler said she opposed efforts to increase relief checks beyond the $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate initially , in the most recent COVID relief bill , despite public support from Donald Trump .
When asked about the issue , Loeffler , who is the wealthiest sitting senator , said she would consider increasing the checks only `` if it repurposes wasteful spending toward that . ''
Her opponent in the Jan. 5 runoff election , Rev .
Raphael Warnock ( D ) , noted , `` This sounds like a no from billionaire Senator Loeffler .
Georgia families ca n't wait .
$ 2,000 checks should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : WILL CAIN , Fox News : I know in the previous couple of weeks , both you and your Republican colleague , David Perdue , have been proud of the stimulus relief bill , the coronavirus relief bill that was passed .
President Trump wanted more , though .
He wanted more than $ 600 checks going to Americans , he wanted to increase that amount to $ 2,000 .
That 's been passed now in the House , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so will you support that bill , that encouragement from the president , once it gets to the Senate ?
KELLY LOEFFLER : Well , Will , look , the president has fought for our country from day one , he continues to fight for every single American .
I 've stood by the president 100 % of the time , I 'm proud to do that , and I 've said , absolutely , we need to get relief to Americans now and I will support that .
Published with permission @ @ @ @ @ @

Just a few days after expressing opposition to increased direct relief for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) has suddenly changed her position — to match that of Donald Trump.
“I will support” benefit checks of $2,000, Loeffler told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.
Loeffler’s announcement comes just hours after the Democratic-led House passed a measure for increased stimulus on Monday night.
Less than a week ago, Loeffler said she opposed efforts to increase relief checks beyond the $600 that had passed in the House and the Senate initially, in the most recent COVID relief bill, despite public support from Donald Trump.
When asked about the issue, Loeffler, who is the wealthiest sitting senator, said she would consider increasing the checks only “if it repurposes wasteful spending toward that.”
Her opponent in the Jan. 5 runoff election, Rev. Raphael Warnock (D), noted, “This sounds like a no from billionaire Senator Loeffler. Georgia families can’t wait. $2,000 checks should be passed now.”
From the Dec. 29 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
WILL CAIN, Fox News: I know in the previous couple of weeks, both you and your Republican colleague, David Perdue, have been proud of the stimulus relief bill, the coronavirus relief bill that was passed. President Trump wanted more, though. He wanted more than $600 checks going to Americans, he wanted to increase that amount to $2,000. That’s been passed now in the House, it’s going to go to the Republican-controlled Senate, so will you support that bill, that encouragement from the president, once it gets to the Senate? KELLY LOEFFLER: Well, Will, look, the president has fought for our country from day one, he continues to fight for every single American. I’ve stood by the president 100% of the time, I’m proud to do that, and I’ve said, absolutely, we need to get relief to Americans now and I will support that.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-29--25 House Republicans abandon support for troops to protect Confederate monuments

Sixty-six House Republicans voted to uphold Donald Trump 's veto of a must-pass annual defense authorization bill on Monday , despite 25 of them previously voting for the exact same legislation weeks ago .
Despite the defections , more than the required two-thirds of the House voted to override Trump , 322-87 .
The annual legislation passed in the House and Senate earlier this month with a bipartisan supermajority in each chamber .
Then , 140 House Republicans and 42 GOP senators backed the $ 731.6 billion legislation to set funding levels and policies for the nation 's defense and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service members .
Trump ultimately vetoed the bill on Wednesday — at the last possible moment — objecting to provisions that required the renaming of military bases named for Confederate figures and to the fact that Congress did not insert unrelated provisions to punish social media companies he believes unfairly are biased against conservatives .
`` My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases , and who , from these locations , have fought , bled , and died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his veto message .
`` I have been clear in my opposition to politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles . ''
Under the Constitution , if the president vetoes a bill , Congress can override it if both two-thirds of the members of the House and two-thirds of the Senate vote to do so .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy voted for the original bill , but later made clear that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military .
`` I do n't believe Republicans , in our work with the president always , that you vote to override a veto , '' the California Republican told reporters before the original vote , though he predicted that he and the rest of his caucus `` would stand with the president , '' and sustain a veto if Trump killed the legislation .
Rep. Ron Estes ( R-KS ) also voted for the bill initially , but voted with Trump on Monday .
In a press statement , he explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the military `` bravely defend the rights and freedoms of Americans every day , '' claiming that `` our freedom of speech is also under attack here at home from big tech companies .
This has been especially evident in acknowledging voter fraud on social media that is then flagged or censored . ''
Rep. Barry Loudermilk ( R-GA ) said he flipped entirely because Trump said to .
`` I had some reservations with certain provisions in the NDAA ; but , as a veteran , I felt responsible to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funded , which is why I voted for the NDAA earlier this month , '' he wrote in a statement .
`` However , no one has a better pulse on the security of this nation and our military than the President of the United States , and I believe his objections to the bill are reasonable and intended to protect all Americans . ''
Among the other prominent Republicans who voted for the bill before Trump 's veto but later defected were Republican Policy Committee chair Gary Palmer of Alabama , National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota , recent party-switcher Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey , and Rep. Devin Nunes of California .
Now , the bill goes to the Senate , where an override vote attempt is planned for Tuesday .
If at least two-thirds of the senators follow the House 's lead , it will mark the first veto override of Trump 's presidency — days before he leaves office .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sixty-six House Republicans voted to uphold Donald Trump’s veto of a must-pass annual defense authorization bill on Monday, despite 25 of them previously voting for the exact same legislation weeks ago.
Despite the defections, more than the required two-thirds of the House voted to override Trump, 322-87.
The annual legislation passed in the House and Senate earlier this month with a bipartisan supermajority in each chamber. Then, 140 House Republicans and 42 GOP senators backed the $731.6 billion legislation to set funding levels and policies for the nation’s defense and authorize pay increases for America’s armed service members.
Trump ultimately vetoed the bill on Wednesday — at the last possible moment — objecting to provisions that required the renaming of military bases named for Confederate figures and to the fact that Congress did not insert unrelated provisions to punish social media companies he believes unfairly are biased against conservatives.
“My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases, and who, from these locations, have fought, bled, and died for their country,” Trump wrote in his veto message. “I have been clear in my opposition to politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.”
Under the Constitution, if the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override it if both two-thirds of the members of the House and two-thirds of the Senate vote to do so.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy voted for the original bill, but later made clear that he would put loyalty to Trump over support for the military.
“I don’t believe Republicans, in our work with the president always, that you vote to override a veto,” the California Republican told reporters before the original vote, though he predicted that he and the rest of his caucus “would stand with the president,” and sustain a veto if Trump killed the legislation.
McCarthy skipped Monday’s vote.
Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) also voted for the bill initially, but voted with Trump on Monday. In a press statement, he explained that he was doing so because members of the military “bravely defend the rights and freedoms of Americans every day,” claiming that “our freedom of speech is also under attack here at home from big tech companies. This has been especially evident in acknowledging voter fraud on social media that is then flagged or censored.”
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) said he flipped entirely because Trump said to. “I had some reservations with certain provisions in the NDAA; but, as a veteran, I felt responsible to ensure our national defense and military were properly funded, which is why I voted for the NDAA earlier this month,” he wrote in a statement. “However, no one has a better pulse on the security of this nation and our military than the President of the United States, and I believe his objections to the bill are reasonable and intended to protect all Americans.”
Among the other prominent Republicans who voted for the bill before Trump’s veto but later defected were Republican Policy Committee chair Gary Palmer of Alabama, National Republican Congressional Committee chair Tom Emmer of Minnesota, recent party-switcher Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, and Rep. Devin Nunes of California.
Now, the bill goes to the Senate, where an override vote attempt is planned for Tuesday. If at least two-thirds of the senators follow the House’s lead, it will mark the first veto override of Trump’s presidency — days before he leaves office.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Poker face

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

Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover made the platform an even more noxious misinformation machine
Musk’s policy and personnel changes, as well as his open endorsement of right-wing conspiracy theories, has left Twitter, now X, overrun with trolls and bigots.
By Nick Vachon and Will Fritz


shareblue--2020-12-30--18 bills that would have helped Americans if McConnell hadn't blocked them

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed last April to be the `` Grim Reaper '' who would kill all progressive bills as long as he was in charge .
And when the 116th Congress comes to an official end on Jan. 3 , the Kentucky Republican will have killed hundreds of pieces of legislation from the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives .
In February , McConnell was asked about the roughly 400 items passed by the House that were still awaiting Senate action .
`` It is true .
They 've been on full left-wing parade over there , trotting out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be issues in the fall campaign , '' McConnell told Fox News .
`` We 're not gon na pass those . ''
But while House passed hundreds of new items in 2020 , McConnell blocked action on nearly all of these and the still-pending 2019 bills .
Instead of legislating , he devoted the Senate 's time almost entirely to ramming through as many of Donald Trump 's judicial nominees as possible , for lifetime appointments .
Many of the House-passed bills left to die enjoyed bipartisan support and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some would have extended legal protections to vulnerable American communities ; others would have expanded access to affordable health care and medicine , helped fund essential programs , or protected people from dangers like gun violence , climate change , and domestic violence .
Here are 18 of the most significant proposals that McConnell and his Senate Republican majority killed : 1 .
H.R .
1 , the For the People Act This bill would have addressed corruption and sought to revitalize American democracy .
This bill would have provided funding to rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reduced prescription drug costs by allowing the government to negotiate bulk purchases of pharmaceuticals .
This bill would have restored the Voting Rights Act .
This bill would have banned discrimination against LGBTQ Americans .
This bill would have codified protections for `` Dreamers '' brought to the country as children by undocumented parents .
This bill would have ensured fair pay and made it easier to fight sex discrimination in the workplace .
This bill would have required universal background checks for all gun sales .
This bill would have ensured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agreement .
This bill would have made the residential portions of the District of Columbia a new state : the Washington , Douglass Commonwealth .
This bill would have gradually raised the federal minimum wage .
This bill would have renewed and enhanced protections against domestic violence , sexual assault , dating violence , and stalking .
13 .
H.R .
3884 , the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement ( MORE ) Act This bill would have decriminalized cannabis under federal law .
14 .
H.R .
4617 , the Stopping Harmful Interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SHIELD ) Act This bill would have improved election security and curbed foreign meddling .
15 .
H.R .
5309 , the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair ( CROWN ) Act This bill would have banned discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture .
This bill would have provided $ 3 trillion in pandemic relief .
This bill would have addressed systemic racism and police violence .
This bill would have increased funding for the U.S .
Postal Service and reversed a series of service cuts made prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives will have to pass all of these bills again in the new Congress .
Two January Senate runoffs in Georgia will determine whether McConnell is in a position to block them all again for the next two years .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed last April to be the “Grim Reaper” who would kill all progressive bills as long as he was in charge. And when the 116th Congress comes to an official end on Jan. 3, the Kentucky Republican will have killed hundreds of pieces of legislation from the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.
In February, McConnell was asked about the roughly 400 items passed by the House that were still awaiting Senate action.
“It is true. They’ve been on full left-wing parade over there, trotting out all of their left-wing solutions that are going to be issues in the fall campaign,” McConnell told Fox News. “We’re not gonna pass those.”
But while House passed hundreds of new items in 2020, McConnell blocked action on nearly all of these and the still-pending 2019 bills. Instead of legislating, he devoted the Senate’s time almost entirely to ramming through as many of Donald Trump’s judicial nominees as possible, for lifetime appointments.
Many of the House-passed bills left to die enjoyed bipartisan support and some were even authored by House Republicans. Some would have extended legal protections to vulnerable American communities; others would have expanded access to affordable health care and medicine, helped fund essential programs, or protected people from dangers like gun violence, climate change, and domestic violence.
Here are 18 of the most significant proposals that McConnell and his Senate Republican majority killed:
1. H.R. 1, the For the People Act
This bill would have addressed corruption and sought to revitalize American democracy.
2. H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act
This bill would have provided funding to rebuild America’s infrastructure.
3. H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act
This bill would have reduced prescription drug costs by allowing the government to negotiate bulk purchases of pharmaceuticals.
4. H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act
This bill would have restored the Voting Rights Act.
5. H.R. 5, the Equality Act
This bill would have banned discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.
6. H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act
This bill would have codified protections for “Dreamers” brought to the country as children by undocumented parents.
7. H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act
This bill would have ensured fair pay and made it easier to fight sex discrimination in the workplace.
8. H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act
This bill would have required universal background checks for all gun sales.
9. H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act
This bill would have ensured climate protections established under the international Paris Agreement.
10. H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act
This bill would have made the residential portions of the District of Columbia a new state: the Washington, Douglass Commonwealth.
11. H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act
This bill would have gradually raised the federal minimum wage.
12. H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
This bill would have renewed and enhanced protections against domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
13. H.R. 3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act
This bill would have decriminalized cannabis under federal law.
14. H.R. 4617, the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act
This bill would have improved election security and curbed foreign meddling.
15. H.R. 5309, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act
This bill would have banned discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture.
16. H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act
This bill would have provided $3 trillion in pandemic relief.
17. H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
This bill would have addressed systemic racism and police violence.
18. H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act
This bill would have increased funding for the U.S. Postal Service and reversed a series of service cuts made prior to the 2020 elections.
The House of Representatives will have to pass all of these bills again in the new Congress.
Two January Senate runoffs in Georgia will determine whether McConnell is in a position to block them all again for the next two years.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-30--Georgia Sen. David Perdue: It's fine for Trump to incite violence against my governor

Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) on Wednesday defended Donald Trump 's baseless attacks on the governor and secretary of state of Georgia .
Asked by Fox News if his runoff election has been made more difficult by Trump 's statements , Perdue said that was `` absolutely not '' the case and said Trump was `` exercising his right '' in objecting to the results .
Trump lost to Biden in Georgia by over 12,000 votes in results that have been certified three times , including after a recount of the results .
He has since repeatedly attacked Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn the state 's results and undo the will of the voters .
As Kemp has resisted the pressure campaign , Trump has gone after the governor again and again , including a recent call for Kemp 's resignation .
Trump has also targeted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ( a Republican ) , falsely alleging that his brother `` works for China '' and is part of a conspiracy to deny Trump an election win .
Georgia election officials have subsequently reported a spike in violent threats against them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's attacks .
From the Dec. 30 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : GRIFF JENKINS , Fox News : Senator , has your race been made more difficult by President Trump 's constant criticism and browbeating of your governor and secretary of state ?
DAVID PERDUE : Absolutely not .
I think that what the president 's doing is actually exercising his right .
There are implied inaccuracies in the count down here and the way this election was – look , we went from 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballots in November , and we know there are potentially some improprieties there and the president has done nothing but asking for some questions to be answered .
That 's what we 've been doing , we 've been to the courts and tried to do that , but my total focus , I think the president 's as well , right now in these closing days of this runoff election here in Georgia , where the future of the country really is at stake , the eyes of the country are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump knows what 's at stake , he 's coming Monday night to rally the troops , to make sure on election day we get every single Republican voter out .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) on Wednesday defended Donald Trump’s baseless attacks on the governor and secretary of state of Georgia.
Asked by Fox News if his runoff election has been made more difficult by Trump’s statements, Perdue said that was “absolutely not” the case and said Trump was “exercising his right” in objecting to the results.
Trump lost to Biden in Georgia by over 12,000 votes in results that have been certified three times, including after a recount of the results.
He has since repeatedly attacked Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, pushing him to overturn the state’s results and undo the will of the voters.
As Kemp has resisted the pressure campaign, Trump has gone after the governor again and again, including a recent call for Kemp’s resignation.
Trump has also targeted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (a Republican), falsely alleging that his brother “works for China” and is part of a conspiracy to deny Trump an election win.
Georgia election officials have subsequently reported a spike in violent threats against them and their families, largely as a result of Trump’s attacks.
From the Dec. 30 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
GRIFF JENKINS, Fox News: Senator, has your race been made more difficult by President Trump’s constant criticism and browbeating of your governor and secretary of state? DAVID PERDUE: Absolutely not. I think that what the president’s doing is actually exercising his right. There are implied inaccuracies in the count down here and the way this election was – look, we went from 5% absentee ballots to over 30% absentee ballots in November, and we know there are potentially some improprieties there and the president has done nothing but asking for some questions to be answered. That’s what we’ve been doing, we’ve been to the courts and tried to do that, but my total focus, I think the president’s as well, right now in these closing days of this runoff election here in Georgia, where the future of the country really is at stake, the eyes of the country are watching these two races very carefully and President Trump knows what’s at stake, he’s coming Monday night to rally the troops, to make sure on election day we get every single Republican voter out. If we do that, we win.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-30--Georgia's Asian American lawmakers work overtime to help AAPI voters ahead of runoffs

An often overlooked but key Asian American and Pacific Islander voting bloc could play a decisive role in Georgia 's U.S. Senate runoff elections — something the state 's five Asian American lawmakers know well .
All eyes are on the pair of Jan. 5 runoffs that will determine which political party will control the Senate .
Incumbent Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are running against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev .
Raphael Warnock , respectively .
Asian American lawmakers in the state are already heavily invested in the race , spending much of their time urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast a ballot in the elections .
In Georgia , data firm TargetSmart 's analysis found that the November elections saw a record 91 % increase from 2016 in Asian American and Pacific Islander voter turnout for the presidential election .
A fact sheet from the Asian American Advocacy Fund also showed Asian Americans to be the fastest-growing population in the state .
Two Asian American Democratic state legislature candidates in Georgia also won this year , bringing the total of Asian American state lawmakers up to five .
All of them hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia 's Asian American vote in their party 's favor , ramping up efforts in the weeks ahead of the election .
Michelle Au , a Chinese American doctor , won her Nov. 3 election , and is now set to become the first Asian American woman ever to serve as a Georgia state senator .
Efforts to increase turnout and voter registration were key factors in Au 's victory , the New York Times noted .
Weeks later , with a focus on the Senate runoffs , the Democratic state senator-elect appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address Asian American turnout for the two critical races .
`` The AAPI vote made a critical difference in the presidential election , and our work is not done .
Let ’ s show the rest of the country that Asian voters are a force to be reckoned with and send @ ossoff and @ ReverendWarnock to the U.S. Senate , '' Au tweeted on Dec. 20 along with photos of her at a well-attended voter mobilization event .
Democratic state Rep.-elect Marvin Lim also won his race on Nov. 3 , becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Georgia state House .
A passionate advocate against voter suppression , he expressed to the Asian American Action Fund just `` how important it is that we 're empowering immigrants that feel undervalued . ''
`` In my district in 2016 , only 30 % of eligible voters voted .
Imagine how much more impact we could make if more people were voting from those communities , '' Lim said .
In an effort to get out the vote , he hosted a virtual press conference on Dec. 11 to highlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituency-based outreach .
In 2016 , Sam Park was Georgia 's first openly gay Korean American to run for a state House seat .
He ultimately beat his opponent , a Republican incumbent .
In December 2020 , he kicked off canvassing events to get out the vote and created videos urging support for Ossoff and Warnock .
Sharing insight on the runoffs with NBC News , Park thinks `` the objective , of course , is to replicate the kind of turnout that we saw and the runoff election that we saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American communities . ''
Park noted that the Asian American and Pacific Islander community 's power and votes ca n't be underestimated .
He lauded Ossoff and Warnock 's campaigns for taking advantage of the momentum and increasing voter turnout from the November elections after they brought on Asian American organizers with long histories in Georgia 's communities .
Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen became the first Vietnamese American elected to the state 's Legislature in 2016 .
Now , she 's similarly spearheading efforts to knocked on doors and mobilize voters for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted about having canvassed over 8,000 voters in her district .
Nguyen told the New York Times recently that while she was canvassing for Park back in 2016 , she saw firsthand just how little attention was paid to Asian voters .
`` The pattern we saw when we were knocking on doors was that no one had ever talked to these people before , '' she said .
Echoing Park 's sentiment , she emphasized the importance of community organizers for the Senate runoffs , telling CNN , `` My message is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You have to invest early , and you have to invest in on the ground strategies and build broad based coalitions . ''
`` Voters will come out for people who have conversations with them who see them , who talk to them and who consider them to be an important part of the electorate , '' Nguyen added .
Meanwhile , Bangladeshi American Sheikh Rahman , the first Muslim state senator in Georgia , participated in an early voting march in December in support of Ossoff and Warnock .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats abroad , according to the New Arab .
`` This is a time that we 're really anxious as the world watches Georgia decide the future of the country , '' the Democratic lawmaker told the outlet , calling the two senate runoffs `` unprecedented . ''
Rahman continued , `` People 's idea about Georgia is from 40 or 50 years ago .
We 're a lot more progressive than they think .
People think the south is backwards .
Even small towns are more progressive than people think .
Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The five Asian American lawmakers ' voter efforts even garnered praise from U.S. Rep. Grace Meng ( D-NY ) , who tweeted in November , `` Thankful for strategy meeting w/ # aapi leaders @ Rahmanforga @ SamforGeorgia @ BeeForGeorgia @ AuforGA @ MarvinLimforGA who have been successful on the ground in increasing aapi vote in @ GeorgiaDemocrat and ensuring we are doing our part to help @ ReverendWarnock @ ossoff flip the [ Senate ] . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

An often overlooked but key Asian American and Pacific Islander voting bloc could play a decisive role in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff elections — something the state’s five Asian American lawmakers know well.
All eyes are on the pair of Jan. 5 runoffs that will determine which political party will control the Senate. Incumbent Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are running against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, respectively.
Asian American lawmakers in the state are already heavily invested in the race, spending much of their time urging the state’s AAPI voting bloc to cast a ballot in the elections.
In Georgia, data firm TargetSmart’s analysis found that the November elections saw a record 91% increase from 2016 in Asian American and Pacific Islander voter turnout for the presidential election. A fact sheet from the Asian American Advocacy Fund also showed Asian Americans to be the fastest-growing population in the state.
Two Asian American Democratic state legislature candidates in Georgia also won this year, bringing the total of Asian American state lawmakers up to five. All of them hope to wield their political influence to swing Georgia’s Asian American vote in their party’s favor, ramping up efforts in the weeks ahead of the election.
Michelle Au, a Chinese American doctor, won her Nov. 3 election, and is now set to become the first Asian American woman ever to serve as a Georgia state senator. Efforts to increase turnout and voter registration were key factors in Au’s victory, the New York Times noted.
Weeks later, with a focus on the Senate runoffs, the Democratic state senator-elect appeared at an event on Dec. 18 to address Asian American turnout for the two critical races.
“The AAPI vote made a critical difference in the presidential election, and our work is not done. Let’s show the rest of the country that Asian voters are a force to be reckoned with and send @ossoff and @ReverendWarnock to the U.S. Senate,” Au tweeted on Dec. 20 along with photos of her at a well-attended voter mobilization event.
Democratic state Rep.-elect Marvin Lim also won his race on Nov. 3, becoming the first Filipino American to be elected to the Georgia state House. A passionate advocate against voter suppression, he expressed to the Asian American Action Fund just “how important it is that we’re empowering immigrants that feel undervalued.”
“In my district in 2016, only 30% of eligible voters voted. Imagine how much more impact we could make if more people were voting from those communities,” Lim said.
In an effort to get out the vote, he hosted a virtual press conference on Dec. 11 to highlight the runoff campaigns’ efforts to expand constituency-based outreach.
In 2016, Sam Park was Georgia’s first openly gay Korean American to run for a state House seat. He ultimately beat his opponent, a Republican incumbent. In December 2020, he kicked off canvassing events to get out the vote and created videos urging support for Ossoff and Warnock.
Sharing insight on the runoffs with NBC News, Park thinks “the objective, of course, is to replicate the kind of turnout that we saw and the runoff election that we saw during the general election from the Asian American communities.”
Park noted that the Asian American and Pacific Islander community’s power and votes can’t be underestimated. He lauded Ossoff and Warnock’s campaigns for taking advantage of the momentum and increasing voter turnout from the November elections after they brought on Asian American organizers with long histories in Georgia’s communities.
Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen became the first Vietnamese American elected to the state’s Legislature in 2016. Now, she’s similarly spearheading efforts to knocked on doors and mobilize voters for the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns. She tweeted about having canvassed over 8,000 voters in her district.
Nguyen told the New York Times recently that while she was canvassing for Park back in 2016, she saw firsthand just how little attention was paid to Asian voters. “The pattern we saw when we were knocking on doors was that no one had ever talked to these people before,” she said.
Echoing Park’s sentiment, she emphasized the importance of community organizers for the Senate runoffs, telling CNN, “My message is you have to invest in all voters. You have to invest early, and you have to invest in on the ground strategies and build broad based coalitions.”
“Voters will come out for people who have conversations with them who see them, who talk to them and who consider them to be an important part of the electorate,” Nguyen added.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi American Sheikh Rahman, the first Muslim state senator in Georgia, participated in an early voting march in December in support of Ossoff and Warnock. He has also taken a virtual call with Georgia Democrats abroad, according to the New Arab.
“This is a time that we’re really anxious as the world watches Georgia decide the future of the country,” the Democratic lawmaker told the outlet, calling the two senate runoffs “unprecedented.”
Rahman continued, “People’s idea about Georgia is from 40 or 50 years ago. We’re a lot more progressive than they think. People think the south is backwards. Even small towns are more progressive than people think. Georgia is more open than they think.”
The five Asian American lawmakers’ voter efforts even garnered praise from U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), who tweeted in November, “Thankful for strategy meeting w/#aapi leaders @Rahmanforga @SamforGeorgia @BeeForGeorgia @AuforGA @MarvinLimforGA who have been successful on the ground in increasing aapi vote in @GeorgiaDemocrat and ensuring we are doing our part to help @ReverendWarnock @ossoff flip the [Senate].”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-30--GOP senator will try to overturn election because Twitter fact-checked Trump

Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) announced Wednesday that he plans to object to the Electoral College count next week , arguing that social media companies had been unfairly mean to Donald Trump during the election .
In a statement , Hawley said that he will `` object during the certification process on January 6 '' to raise `` critical issues . ''
On that date , a joint session of Congress will formally count the Electoral College results , certifying Joe Biden as the president-elect .
`` I can not vote to certify electoral college results on January 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly Pennsylvania , failed to follow their own state election laws , '' Hawley wrote .
`` And I can not vote to certify without pointing out the unprecedented effort by mega corporations , including Facebook and Twitter , to interfere in this election , in support of Joe Biden . ''
Under the law , if at least one member of the House of Representatives and at least one senator formally object to a state 's electoral votes , they can force a two-hour closed debate and a vote on whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result .
With a Democratic majority in the House and a majority of senators acknowledging Biden 's victory , such an effort could delay the process but would likely do nothing to overturn the 2020 results .
Several House Republicans — led by Rep. Mo Brooks ( R-AL ) and encouraged by Trump — have said they will use the process in a last-ditch effort to install the man who lost popular vote by more than 7 million votes and Electoral College vote by a margin Trump described as a `` landslide '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell reportedly begged his caucus not to join those efforts , suggesting it would lead to a `` terrible vote '' for Republicans forced to choose between alienating Trump and his supporters and doing their constitutional duty .
Hawley 's statement makes no suggestion that he actually believes Trump was the rightful victor .
The Missouri senator has been an outspoken critic of large tech companies , however , falsely claiming they are biased against conservatives .
Before the election , he accused Facebook and Twitter of `` active suppression of public speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unproven New York Post story about Hunter Biden .
There is no proof to back that assertion , which has been repeatedly debunked .
In the final days of the campaign , the companies repeatedly fact-checked Donald Trump 's many false claims about the election .
Trump slammed these disclaimers as `` out of control '' and pushed to punish them by taking away legal liability protections for tech companies .
But even if those companies were unfair to Trump , it would not be grounds under the law or the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moreover , many say the fact-checks did n't do much of anything to stop Trump 's messaging machine .
`` We repeatedly flag offenders that nevertheless seem to prosper and continue to do ads , '' one Facebook fact-checking partner told the Washington Post in November , specifically citing pro-Trump campaigns on social media .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced Wednesday that he plans to object to the Electoral College count next week, arguing that social media companies had been unfairly mean to Donald Trump during the election.
In a statement, Hawley said that he will “object during the certification process on January 6” to raise “critical issues.” On that date, a joint session of Congress will formally count the Electoral College results, certifying Joe Biden as the president-elect.
“I cannot vote to certify electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws,” Hawley wrote. “And I cannot vote to certify without pointing out the unprecedented effort by mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election, in support of Joe Biden.”
Under the law, if at least one member of the House of Representatives and at least one senator formally object to a state’s electoral votes, they can force a two-hour closed debate and a vote on whether to accept that state’s Electoral College result. With a Democratic majority in the House and a majority of senators acknowledging Biden’s victory, such an effort could delay the process but would likely do nothing to overturn the 2020 results.
Several House Republicans — led by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) and encouraged by Trump — have said they will use the process in a last-ditch effort to install the man who lost popular vote by more than 7 million votes and Electoral College vote by a margin Trump described as a “landslide” in 2016.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly begged his caucus not to join those efforts, suggesting it would lead to a “terrible vote” for Republicans forced to choose between alienating Trump and his supporters and doing their constitutional duty.
Hawley’s statement makes no suggestion that he actually believes Trump was the rightful victor.
The Missouri senator has been an outspoken critic of large tech companies, however, falsely claiming they are biased against conservatives. Before the election, he accused Facebook and Twitter of “active suppression of public speech” after the company restricted sharing of an unproven New York Post story about Hunter Biden.
There is no proof to back that assertion, which has been repeatedly debunked.
In the final days of the campaign, the companies repeatedly fact-checked Donald Trump’s many false claims about the election. Trump slammed these disclaimers as “out of control” and pushed to punish them by taking away legal liability protections for tech companies.
But even if those companies were unfair to Trump, it would not be grounds under the law or the Constitution, for the results to be overturned. Moreover, many say the fact-checks didn’t do much of anything to stop Trump’s messaging machine.
“We repeatedly flag offenders that nevertheless seem to prosper and continue to do ads,” one Facebook fact-checking partner told the Washington Post in November, specifically citing pro-Trump campaigns on social media.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.