shareblue--2020-11-06--Pennsylvania's GOP senator says Trump's lies about voter fraud are nonsense

A key Republican senator said Friday he saw no evidence to support Donald Trump 's baseless claim that Democrats are trying to `` steal '' the election and called Trump 's words `` very disturbing . ''
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania , whose state is a key battleground in the presidential election , said `` There 's simply no evidence anyone has shown me of any widespread corruption or fraud '' to supported Trump 's claim Thursday of fraud in balloting .
`` The president 's speech last night was very disturbing to me because he made very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support it , '' Toomey told `` CBS This Morning . ''
He added : `` I voted for President Trump .
I endorsed President Trump .
I want the next president to be the person who legitimately wins the Electoral College and I will accept whoever that is . ''
Trump , who has complained for weeks about mail-in ballots , escalated his allegations late Thursday , saying at the White House that the ballot-counting process is unfair and corrupt .
Trump did not back up his claims with any details or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not reported any instances of widespread voter fraud .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a neutral tone : `` Every legal vote should be counted , '' he tweeted .
`` All sides must get to observe the process . ''
Other GOP senators , governors and other elected officials swiftly pushed back against Trump , a rare break with someone who keeps a firm grip on his party .
Rep. Adam Kinzinger , a Republican from Illinois , tweeted Thursday that Trump 's claims of fraud are `` getting insane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' concerns about fraud , they need to be based on evidence and taken to court , Kinzinger said , adding , `` STOP Spreading debunked misinformation . ''
Maryland GOP Gov .
Larry Hogan , a potential 2024 presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump , said unequivocally : `` There is no defense for the President 's comments tonight undermining our Democratic process .
America is counting the votes , and we must respect the results as we always have before . ''
`` No election or person is more important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Other criticism , though less direct , came from members of Congress .
Sen. Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican who spoke at a recent Trump campaign rally , said in a tweet that if any candidate believes `` a state is violating election laws they have a right to challenge it in court & produce evidence in support of their claims . ''
Rubio said earlier : `` Taking days to count legally cast votes is NOT fraud .
And court challenges to votes cast after the legal voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , the party 's presidential nominee in 2012 , sought to provide a reassuring note .
Counting votes is often `` long '' and `` frustrating , '' Romney said .
If any irregularities are alleged , `` they will be investigated and ultimately resolved in the courts , '' Romney tweeted .
`` Have faith in democracy , our Constitution and the American people . ''
Trump 's tweets earlier Thursday declaring victory and calling for officials to `` STOP THE COUNT '' were a test of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line as he tries to challenge the voting process in court .
Before Trump 's speech in the White House briefing room , several Republicans challenged his attempts to halt vote-counting in Pennsylvania and other battleground states .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) urged `` everyone to be patient '' as results come in .
`` It is critical that we give election officials time to complete their jobs , and that we ensure all lawfully cast ballots are allowed and counted , '' she said in a statement .
Rep. Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seek reelection , called Trump 's comments about corruption `` dangerous '' and `` wrong . ''
Trump 's remarks undermine the U.S. political process and `` the very foundation this nation was built upon , '' Hurd said .
While Biden was close Friday to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House , it was unclear when a national winner would be determined after a long , bitter campaign dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on Americans and the national economy .
Democratic Sen. Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday he hopes Republicans step up their response to Trump 's unsubstantiated claims .
While Republicans may want to give Trump time to `` make his arguments , '' when it becomes clear that claims are without basis , `` My hope is that Republicans will put public and private pressure on him , '' Murphy said .
But one of Trump 's top congressional supporters said he supports efforts to question the vote counting process and is donating money to shore up legal challenges .
Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate $ 500,000 to Trump 's `` legal defense fund '' and urged people to go to the Trump campaign 's website to pitch in .
Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , a Trump ally who is an analyst for ABC News , said there was no basis for Trump 's argument .
Christie called Trump 's attack on the integrity of the election `` a bad strategic decision '' and `` a bad political decision , and it 's not the kind of decision you would expect someone to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump 's family , never shy about expressing their support , took to Twitter to question why GOP lawmakers were not rushing to their father 's defense .
`` Where are Republicans !
Have some backbone .
Fight against this fraud .
Our voters will never forget you if your sheep ! ''
Trump 's son Eric tweeted .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis urged Trump to `` Fight on , exhaust all options . ''
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem tweeted that Trump was fighting `` rigged election systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-OH ) said states administer U.S. elections , not the federal government .
`` We should respect that process and ensure that all ballots cast in accordance with state laws are counted .
It 's that simple , '' Portman said in a statement .

A key Republican senator said Friday he saw no evidence to support Donald Trump’s baseless claim that Democrats are trying to “steal” the election and called Trump’s words “very disturbing.”
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose state is a key battleground in the presidential election, said “There’s simply no evidence anyone has shown me of any widespread corruption or fraud” to supported Trump’s claim Thursday of fraud in balloting.
“The president’s speech last night was very disturbing to me because he made very, very serious allegations without any evidence to support it,” Toomey told “CBS This Morning.”
He added: “I voted for President Trump. I endorsed President Trump. I want the next president to be the person who legitimately wins the Electoral College and I will accept whoever that is.”
Trump, who has complained for weeks about mail-in ballots, escalated his allegations late Thursday, saying at the White House that the ballot-counting process is unfair and corrupt. Trump did not back up his claims with any details or evidence, and state and federal officials have not reported any instances of widespread voter fraud.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a neutral tone: “Every legal vote should be counted,” he tweeted. “All sides must get to observe the process.”
Other GOP senators, governors and other elected officials swiftly pushed back against Trump, a rare break with someone who keeps a firm grip on his party.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, tweeted Thursday that Trump’s claims of fraud are “getting insane.” If Trump has “legit” concerns about fraud, they need to be based on evidence and taken to court, Kinzinger said, adding, “STOP Spreading debunked misinformation.”
Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, a potential 2024 presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump, said unequivocally: “There is no defense for the President’s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process. America is counting the votes, and we must respect the results as we always have before.”
“No election or person is more important than our Democracy,” Hogan said on Twitter.
Other criticism, though less direct, came from members of Congress. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who spoke at a recent Trump campaign rally, said in a tweet that if any candidate believes “a state is violating election laws they have a right to challenge it in court & produce evidence in support of their claims.”
Rubio said earlier: “Taking days to count legally cast votes is NOT fraud. And court challenges to votes cast after the legal voting deadline is NOT suppression.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the party’s presidential nominee in 2012, sought to provide a reassuring note. Counting votes is often “long” and “frustrating,” Romney said.
If any irregularities are alleged, “they will be investigated and ultimately resolved in the courts,” Romney tweeted. “Have faith in democracy, our Constitution and the American people.”
Trump’s tweets earlier Thursday declaring victory and calling for officials to “STOP THE COUNT” were a test of how strongly he can keep Republicans in line as he tries to challenge the voting process in court.
Before Trump’s speech in the White House briefing room, several Republicans challenged his attempts to halt vote-counting in Pennsylvania and other battleground states.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) urged “everyone to be patient” as results come in. “It is critical that we give election officials time to complete their jobs, and that we ensure all lawfully cast ballots are allowed and counted,” she said in a statement.
Rep. Will Hurd, a Texas Republican who did not seek reelection, called Trump’s comments about corruption “dangerous” and “wrong.” Trump’s remarks undermine the U.S. political process and “the very foundation this nation was built upon,” Hurd said.
While Biden was close Friday to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House, it was unclear when a national winner would be determined after a long, bitter campaign dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on Americans and the national economy.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told the Associated Press Thursday he hopes Republicans step up their response to Trump’s unsubstantiated claims. While Republicans may want to give Trump time to “make his arguments,” when it becomes clear that claims are without basis, “My hope is that Republicans will put public and private pressure on him,” Murphy said.
But one of Trump’s top congressional supporters said he supports efforts to question the vote counting process and is donating money to shore up legal challenges. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Fox News Thursday night he would donate $500,000 to Trump’s “legal defense fund” and urged people to go to the Trump campaign’s website to pitch in.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Trump ally who is an analyst for ABC News, said there was no basis for Trump’s argument. Christie called Trump’s attack on the integrity of the election “a bad strategic decision” and “a bad political decision, and it’s not the kind of decision you would expect someone to make … who holds the position he holds.”
Trump’s family, never shy about expressing their support, took to Twitter to question why GOP lawmakers were not rushing to their father’s defense. “Where are Republicans! Have some backbone. Fight against this fraud. Our voters will never forget you if your sheep!” Trump’s son Eric tweeted.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Trump to “Fight on, exhaust all options.” South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem tweeted that Trump was fighting “rigged election systems.”
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said states administer U.S. elections, not the federal government. “We should respect that process and ensure that all ballots cast in accordance with state laws are counted. It’s that simple,” Portman said in a statement.


shareblue--2020-11-07--Music venues hit by COVID face permanent closure as Senate refuses to help

The venerable New Orleans funk band Galactic purchased the historic music club Tipitina 's in late November 2018 and , according to bassist Robert Mercurio , was making a go of it .
`` It 's a tight-margin business but we were making our notes and fulfilling our bills and whatnot .
So , it was moving along in a good direction , '' he said .
That was before the coronavirus pandemic forced shutdowns of public gatherings .
Audiences last packed into Tipitina 's for a March 12 performance by the Stooges Brass Band .
Now , Mercurio is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tipitina 's , a New Orleans cultural touchstone founded in the 1970s as the performance home for the late Henry Roeland Byrd , better known as rhythm and blues keyboard genius Professor Longhair .
For Mercurio , the problem is twofold .
Galactic is a band with nowhere to tour and a business whose operating model — packing hordes of people in front of a stage for hours — does n't work in a pandemic .
`` It 's terrifying , '' he said .
`` It 's extremely difficult to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Such fears are n't limited to New Orleans .
Independent music clubs all over the nation — pop culture icons like the Troubadour in West Hollywood ; the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville , Tennessee ; The Bitter End in New York 's Greenwich Village — are shuttered .
And owners fear for the future of their businesses and of a musical way of life .
`` There 's no amount of history or legendary status that will protect you , '' Audrey Fix Schaefer said .
She is a spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formed in the wake of the pandemic to raise awareness and money for the newly struggling clubs .
She points to the iconic jazz club Birdland in New York City .
`` Can you imagine having the type of rents that you have in midtown Manhattan and no revenue ? ''
NIVA , which has 2,800 members representing venues , promoters , and festivals , lobbied for congressional passage of what the organization calls the Save Our Stages Act .
The aid package , Schaefer said , has bipartisan backing and was included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed earlier this year in the Democratic-controlled House , and in a smaller relief package in the Republican-controlled Senate .
But with no imminent resolution of differences on the overall package between the chambers , there is no clear end in sight to the pandemic closures .
`` The rent is the rent , and that 's the problem , '' says Chris Cobb , owner of Nashville 's Exit/In .
He said fixed costs have n't come down much at the nearly 50-year-old venue , while revenue is down 94 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville 's Music Venue Alliance , and the possibility of more federal help are keeping him hopeful that they can buy themselves a few more months .
Some venues are turning to livestreaming to help themselves and create work for musicians left jobless by the pandemic .
The Maple Leaf Bar , a fixture in New Orleans ' Carrollton neighborhood since the 1970s , recently kicked off a series of streaming concerts dubbed `` The Viral Sessions , '' with Jon Cleary and his band .
`` It keeps musicians employed , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps our brand out there and we 've made some much needed income off of it as well . ''
But even with that income — minus the expenses of mounting the productions —Staples is n't sure how long he can keep The Maple Leaf going .
`` We can certainly go for another month and a half or two months , '' Staples said recently as he sat on the Leaf 's narrow stage , decorated with strings of tiny blue lights , vinyl records repurposed as wall hangings , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Booker , the flamboyant piano prodigy who performed there regularly until his death in 1983 .
`` But we need some way to generate income because the money I 've squirreled away — it 's depleted severely . ''
It 's already too late for some clubs .
U Street Music Hall in Washington closed for good on Oct. 5 , Schaefer noted .
Club owners said in an online post that they 'd hoped they could save the decade-old venue .
`` But due to the pandemic , mounting operational costs that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and no clear timeline for when clubs like ours can safely reopen , we had no choice recently but to make this heartbreaking decision . ''
Cobb fears too many such closures would mean loss of something irretrievable in his beloved Nashville and elsewhere .
`` This is an organic ecosystem that supports American music , '' he said by telephone .
`` Without this independent network , American music as we know it would not exist .
These are the venues where the superstars got their start .
It 's where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they built fan bases .
It 's where they get better .
Nobody plays the arena that did n't spend time touring the clubs . ''
In New York , The Bitter End owner Paul Rizzo agrees .
`` Stefani Germanotta , when she played at The Bitter End , was n't Lady Gaga yet , '' says Rizzo .
`` She had to play for a while .
You have to get experiences to become something that you are able to become . ''

The venerable New Orleans funk band Galactic purchased the historic music club Tipitina’s in late November 2018 and, according to bassist Robert Mercurio, was making a go of it.
“It’s a tight-margin business but we were making our notes and fulfilling our bills and whatnot. So, it was moving along in a good direction,” he said.
That was before the coronavirus pandemic forced shutdowns of public gatherings.
Audiences last packed into Tipitina’s for a March 12 performance by the Stooges Brass Band. Now, Mercurio is worried that COVID-19 could prove fatal to Tipitina’s, a New Orleans cultural touchstone founded in the 1970s as the performance home for the late Henry Roeland Byrd, better known as rhythm and blues keyboard genius Professor Longhair.
For Mercurio, the problem is twofold. Galactic is a band with nowhere to tour and a business whose operating model — packing hordes of people in front of a stage for hours — doesn’t work in a pandemic.
“It’s terrifying,” he said. “It’s extremely difficult to be a now-nonworking musician owning an unopened nightclub.”
Such fears aren’t limited to New Orleans. Independent music clubs all over the nation — pop culture icons like the Troubadour in West Hollywood; the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee; The Bitter End in New York’s Greenwich Village — are shuttered. And owners fear for the future of their businesses and of a musical way of life.
“There’s no amount of history or legendary status that will protect you,” Audrey Fix Schaefer said. She is a spokesperson for the National Independent Venue Association, which was formed in the wake of the pandemic to raise awareness and money for the newly struggling clubs. She points to the iconic jazz club Birdland in New York City. “Can you imagine having the type of rents that you have in midtown Manhattan and no revenue?”
NIVA, which has 2,800 members representing venues, promoters, and festivals, lobbied for congressional passage of what the organization calls the Save Our Stages Act. The aid package, Schaefer said, has bipartisan backing and was included in a $2.2 trillion relief plan passed earlier this year in the Democratic-controlled House, and in a smaller relief package in the Republican-controlled Senate. But with no imminent resolution of differences on the overall package between the chambers, there is no clear end in sight to the pandemic closures.
“The rent is the rent, and that’s the problem,” says Chris Cobb, owner of Nashville’s Exit/In. He said fixed costs haven’t come down much at the nearly 50-year-old venue, while revenue is down 94%. Fundraising efforts, such as those by Nashville’s Music Venue Alliance, and the possibility of more federal help are keeping him hopeful that they can buy themselves a few more months.
Some venues are turning to livestreaming to help themselves and create work for musicians left jobless by the pandemic. The Maple Leaf Bar, a fixture in New Orleans’ Carrollton neighborhood since the 1970s, recently kicked off a series of streaming concerts dubbed “The Viral Sessions,” with Jon Cleary and his band.
“It keeps musicians employed,” owner Hank Staples said. “It keeps our brand out there and we’ve made some much needed income off of it as well.”
But even with that income — minus the expenses of mounting the productions —Staples isn’t sure how long he can keep The Maple Leaf going.
“We can certainly go for another month and a half or two months,” Staples said recently as he sat on the Leaf’s narrow stage, decorated with strings of tiny blue lights, vinyl records repurposed as wall hangings, and a cardboard cutout of a nearly naked James Booker, the flamboyant piano prodigy who performed there regularly until his death in 1983. “But we need some way to generate income because the money I’ve squirreled away — it’s depleted severely.”
It’s already too late for some clubs. U Street Music Hall in Washington closed for good on Oct. 5, Schaefer noted.
Club owners said in an online post that they’d hoped they could save the decade-old venue. “But due to the pandemic, mounting operational costs that never paused even while we were closed, and no clear timeline for when clubs like ours can safely reopen, we had no choice recently but to make this heartbreaking decision.”
Cobb fears too many such closures would mean loss of something irretrievable in his beloved Nashville and elsewhere.
“This is an organic ecosystem that supports American music,” he said by telephone. “Without this independent network, American music as we know it would not exist. These are the venues where the superstars got their start. It’s where they honed their craft. It’s where they built fan bases. It’s where they get better. Nobody plays the arena that didn’t spend time touring the clubs.”
In New York, The Bitter End owner Paul Rizzo agrees. “Stefani Germanotta, when she played at The Bitter End, wasn’t Lady Gaga yet,” says Rizzo. “She had to play for a while. You have to get experiences to become something that you are able to become.”


shareblue--2020-11-07--Fox News declares Trump has lost the White House

Fox News on Saturday called the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden , declaring that Donald Trump has become the first incumbent to lose a presidential race in more than two decades .
The outlet named Biden the winner after calling Pennsylvania and Nevada for Biden , putting the former vice president over the 270 Electoral College vote threshold needed to secure a victory .
It 's yet another stunning development in what has been a wild 2020 election , as the network that features loud and proud Trump-supporting hosts , and serves as a messaging arm for Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare Trump the loser .
Fox News has enraged Trump and his supporters since Election Day .
The network was also the first to call Arizona for Biden at 11:20 p.m. Eastern on election night , saying Trump lost a state Republicans have carried in every presidential election since 1996 .
The New York Times reported that Fox News ' early call of the state sent Trump and his advisers into a rage — as it was the first to flip from a Trump state in 2016 to Biden in 2020 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so mad that his son-in-law , Jared Kushner , personally called Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch to demand the network retract its Arizona call — which Murdoch refused to do .
On Thursday morning , Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller attacked Fox News — as well as the Associated Press , which also called Arizona for Biden — claiming that Trump is `` on pace to win Arizona . ''
The campaign also whipped up its supporters to put pressure on Fox News to retract the call , trying to smear one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat .
The messaging seems to have worked , as a mob of pro-Trump protesters who tried to infiltrate a ballot counting facility in Arizona chanted `` Fox News sucks '' during their demonstration .
Other networks — including the Associated Press , CNN , and MSNBC — have called the election for Biden as well .
Biden 's campaign expressed confidence on Thursday that after all of the votes are tallied , Biden will be the victor .
Meanwhile , Trump and his campaign have been pushing to stop ballot counting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred Biden would be declared the winner .
Trump and his campaign have also been making baseless accusations of fraud , which even Fox News said were not rooted in any factual evidence .

Fox News on Saturday called the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden, declaring that Donald Trump has become the first incumbent to lose a presidential race in more than two decades.
The outlet named Biden the winner after calling Pennsylvania and Nevada for Biden, putting the former vice president over the 270 Electoral College vote threshold needed to secure a victory.
It’s yet another stunning development in what has been a wild 2020 election, as the network that features loud and proud Trump-supporting hosts, and serves as a messaging arm for Trump and Republican campaigns, was the first to declare Trump the loser.
Fox News has enraged Trump and his supporters since Election Day.
The network was also the first to call Arizona for Biden at 11:20 p.m. Eastern on election night, saying Trump lost a state Republicans have carried in every presidential election since 1996.
The New York Times reported that Fox News’ early call of the state sent Trump and his advisers into a rage — as it was the first to flip from a Trump state in 2016 to Biden in 2020.
In fact, Trump and his campaign were so mad that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, personally called Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch to demand the network retract its Arizona call — which Murdoch refused to do.
On Thursday morning, Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller attacked Fox News — as well as the Associated Press, which also called Arizona for Biden — claiming that Trump is “on pace to win Arizona.”
The campaign also whipped up its supporters to put pressure on Fox News to retract the call, trying to smear one of Fox News’ election experts as a Democrat.
The messaging seems to have worked, as a mob of pro-Trump protesters who tried to infiltrate a ballot counting facility in Arizona chanted “Fox News sucks” during their demonstration.
Other networks — including the Associated Press, CNN, and MSNBC — have called the election for Biden as well.
Biden’s campaign expressed confidence on Thursday that after all of the votes are tallied, Biden will be the victor.
Meanwhile, Trump and his campaign have been pushing to stop ballot counting in several states — even though if that occurred Biden would be declared the winner.
Trump and his campaign have also been making baseless accusations of fraud, which even Fox News said were not rooted in any factual evidence.


shareblue--2020-11-07--Madam Vice President: Kamala Harris makes history

For the first time in American history , a Black woman will be vice president .
Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) will become the first woman to hold the second-highest office in the country , as well as the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to assume the role .
She will take office in January .
Harris was born in Oakland , California , in 1964 .
Her parents met while they were both foreign students at UC-Berkeley , her dad from Jamaica , and her mother from India .
Former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mate in August .
She has served as the junior senator of California for the past four years , cosponsoring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 , which would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants , among other police reform measures .
Before her election to the Senate in 2016 , Harris served as San Francisco 's district attorney and California 's attorney general .
After running in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary , she dropped out of the primary last December .
During the presidential campaign , Harris has been the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , Donald Trump claimed that `` nobody likes '' Harris , and he and other GOP members have deliberately mispronounced her name for months .
Trump and his supporters claimed without evidence that Harris is n't a U.S. citizen , making her ineligible to run for vice president .
The racist attack mirrored Trump 's attack on President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign , when Trump falsely claimed that Obama was born in Kenya .
Trump himself has called Harris a `` nasty '' woman , echoing the slur he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has called Harris `` angry '' and filled with `` such hatred '' — terms that feed into the racist stereotype of the `` angry Black woman . ''
In August , conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh accused Harris of `` brazenly sleeping her way to the top '' and made derogatory comments about her `` backside . ''
In August , Amazon removed merchandise from its website that read `` Joe and the Hoe . ''
Harris has inspired many during the campaign .
Political observers praised Harris ' cross-examination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Senate confirmation hearings , as well as Attorney General William Barr during Senate hearings about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Harris ' Oct. 7 debate performance was a key moment of strength for the campaign during a turbulent , rancorous election year .
In one viral moment , Harris coolly called out Vice President Mike Pence 's repeated interruptions .
`` Mr. Vice President , I 'm speaking , '' she said with a smile .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

For the first time in American history, a Black woman will be vice president.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) will become the first woman to hold the second-highest office in the country, as well as the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to assume the role. She will take office in January.
Harris was born in Oakland, California, in 1964. Her parents met while they were both foreign students at UC-Berkeley, her dad from Jamaica, and her mother from India.
Former Vice President Joe Biden named Harris as his running mate in August. She has served as the junior senator of California for the past four years, cosponsoring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, among other police reform measures.
Before her election to the Senate in 2016, Harris served as San Francisco’s district attorney and California’s attorney general. After running in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, she dropped out of the primary last December.
During the presidential campaign, Harris has been the subject of racist and sexist attacks. In September, Donald Trump claimed that “nobody likes” Harris, and he and other GOP members have deliberately mispronounced her name for months.
Trump and his supporters claimed without evidence that Harris isn’t a U.S. citizen, making her ineligible to run for vice president. The racist attack mirrored Trump’s attack on President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign, when Trump falsely claimed that Obama was born in Kenya.
Trump himself has called Harris a “nasty” woman, echoing the slur he slung at Hillary Clinton in 2016. Trump has called Harris “angry” and filled with “such hatred” — terms that feed into the racist stereotype of the “angry Black woman.”
In August, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh accused Harris of “brazenly sleeping her way to the top” and made derogatory comments about her “backside.” In August, Amazon removed merchandise from its website that read “Joe and the Hoe.”
Harris has inspired many during the campaign. Political observers praised Harris’ cross-examination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his Senate confirmation hearings, as well as Attorney General William Barr during Senate hearings about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Harris’ Oct. 7 debate performance was a key moment of strength for the campaign during a turbulent, rancorous election year. In one viral moment, Harris coolly called out Vice President Mike Pence’s repeated interruptions.
“Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said with a smile.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-07--Joe Biden beats Donald Trump to win the presidency — from his basement

Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States , defeating incumbent Donald Trump in Tuesday 's general election despite repeated attacks from his predecessor about campaigning from his `` basement . ''
Kamala Harris will become America 's first female vice president , as well as the first Black and Asian American person to hold the office .
Biden , who represented the state of Delaware in the Senate from 1973 to 2009 and served two terms as vice president under President Barack Obama , ran on a promise to rebuild a nation struggling with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutional racism , and the impacts of climate change .
He styled the campaign as a `` battle for the soul of the nation '' and emphasized his empathy and desire to serve all Americans — even those who did not vote for him .
He won despite an onslaught of negative attacks , ageist aspersions , and outright lies from Trump and his campaign , who also sought to paint Biden as a `` basement '' dweller who refused to campaign in person , even amid the raging pandemic .
Biden for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts ' to help slow the spread of the virus by minimizing contact with others and encouraging his supporters to do the same .
Republicans also repeatedly pushed this election to make it harder for people to vote and tried to discredit the officials working to allow more people to cast ballots safely during the pandemic .
Both GOP officials and the Trump campaign attempted to steal the election itself , claiming as the results rolled in that the tabulations were off and that any mail-in ballots should not be counted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in multiple states , even as experts predicted they would go for Biden .
`` We have claimed , for Electoral Vote purposes , the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( which won ’ t allow legal observers ) the State of Georgia , and the State of North Carolina , each one of which has a BIG Trump lead .
Additionally , we hereby claim the State of Michigan if , in fact , there was a large number of secretly dumped ballots as has been widely reported ! ''
he tweeted on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence to back his claim that there were a `` large number of secretly dumped ballots '' in Michigan .
Trump , who was narrowly elected in 2016 despite losing the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million , broke most of his prominent campaign promises and suffered from underwater approval ratings consistently since February 2017 .
His oft-repeated pledges to replace the Affordable Care Act with a `` terrific '' plan that covered everyone , to make Mexico pay for a massive wall along the entire U.S. southern border , to rebuild the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget , and to unleash 5 % or 6 % economic growth proved to be little more than empty rhetoric .
Trump will likely be most remembered for his use of Twitter to belittle his critics , his lack of focus on policy , his lying to the American people tens of thousands of times , the Ukraine scandal that made him just the third American president to be impeached , and his botched handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
President-elect Biden has promised to implement a comprehensive plan to control the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has also vowed to prioritize LGBTQ rights , racial equity , immigration reform , ending gun violence , protecting the climate , and expanding the health care access .
This election also marks the seventh time in the past eight elections that the Democratic nominee won the most popular votes .

Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States, defeating incumbent Donald Trump in Tuesday’s general election despite repeated attacks from his predecessor about campaigning from his “basement.”
Kamala Harris will become America’s first female vice president, as well as the first Black and Asian American person to hold the office.
Biden, who represented the state of Delaware in the Senate from 1973 to 2009 and served two terms as vice president under President Barack Obama, ran on a promise to rebuild a nation struggling with a mass pandemic, an economic downturn, institutional racism, and the impacts of climate change. He styled the campaign as a “battle for the soul of the nation” and emphasized his empathy and desire to serve all Americans — even those who did not vote for him.
He won despite an onslaught of negative attacks, ageist aspersions, and outright lies from Trump and his campaign, who also sought to paint Biden as a “basement” dweller who refused to campaign in person, even amid the raging pandemic. Biden for his part was following the advice of health experts’ to help slow the spread of the virus by minimizing contact with others and encouraging his supporters to do the same.
Republicans also repeatedly pushed this election to make it harder for people to vote and tried to discredit the officials working to allow more people to cast ballots safely during the pandemic. Both GOP officials and the Trump campaign attempted to steal the election itself, claiming as the results rolled in that the tabulations were off and that any mail-in ballots should not be counted.
Trump and his family repeatedly claimed victory in multiple states, even as experts predicted they would go for Biden. “We have claimed, for Electoral Vote purposes, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (which won’t allow legal observers) the State of Georgia, and the State of North Carolina, each one of which has a BIG Trump lead. Additionally, we hereby claim the State of Michigan if, in fact, there was a large number of secretly dumped ballots as has been widely reported!” he tweeted on Wednesday evening.
He did not provide any evidence to back his claim that there were a “large number of secretly dumped ballots” in Michigan.
Trump, who was narrowly elected in 2016 despite losing the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million, broke most of his prominent campaign promises and suffered from underwater approval ratings consistently since February 2017. His oft-repeated pledges to replace the Affordable Care Act with a “terrific” plan that covered everyone, to make Mexico pay for a massive wall along the entire U.S. southern border, to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, to balance the budget, and to unleash 5% or 6% economic growth proved to be little more than empty rhetoric.
Trump will likely be most remembered for his use of Twitter to belittle his critics, his lack of focus on policy, his lying to the American people tens of thousands of times, the Ukraine scandal that made him just the third American president to be impeached, and his botched handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President-elect Biden has promised to implement a comprehensive plan to control the coronavirus crisis and rebuild the nation’s economy. He has also vowed to prioritize LGBTQ rights, racial equity, immigration reform, ending gun violence, protecting the climate, and expanding the health care access.
This election also marks the seventh time in the past eight elections that the Democratic nominee won the most popular votes.


shareblue--2020-11-07--Experts say social media companies didn't do enough to fight election lies

Ahead of the election , Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube promised to clamp down on election misinformation , including unsubstantiated charges of fraud and premature declarations of victory by candidates .
And they mostly did just that — though not without a few hiccups .
But overall their measures still did n't really address the problems exposed by the 2020 U.S. presidential contest , critics of the social platforms contend .
`` We 're seeing exactly what we expected , which is not enough , especially in the case of Facebook , '' said Shannon McGregor , an assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of North Carolina .
One big test emerged early Wednesday morning as vote-counting continued in battleground states including Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania .
Donald Trump made a White House appearance before cheering supporters , declaring he would challenge the poll results .
He also posted misleading statements about the election on Facebook and Twitter , following months of signaling his unfounded doubts about expanded mail-in voting and his desire for final election results when polls closed on Nov. 3 .
So what did tech companies do about it ?
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would , which primarily meant labeling false or misleading election posts in order to point users to reliable information .
In Twitter 's case , that sometimes meant obscuring the offending posts , forcing readers to click through warnings to see them and limiting the ability to share them .
The video-sharing app TikTok , popular with young people , said it pulled down some videos Wednesday from high-profile accounts that were making election fraud allegations , saying they violated the app 's policies on misleading information .
For Facebook and YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to election-related posts .
For instance , Google-owned YouTube showed video of Trump 's White House remarks suggesting fraud and premature victories , just as some traditional news channels did .
But Google placed an `` information panel '' beneath the videos noting that election results may not be final and linking to Google 's election results page with additional information .
`` They 're just appending this little label to the president 's posts , but they 're appending those to any politician talking about the election , '' said McGregor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional media outlets for shirking their responsibility to curb the spread of misinformation about the election results instead of amplifying a falsehood just because Trump said it .
`` Allowing any false claim to spread can lead more people to accept it once it 's there , '' she said .
Trump was n't alone in attracting such labels .
Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis got a label on Twitter for declaring a premature reelection victory in North Carolina .
The same thing happened to a Democratic official claiming that former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flurry of Trump claims that began early Wednesday morning continued after the sun rose over Washington .
By late morning , Trump was tweeting an unfounded complaint that his early lead in some states seemed to `` magically disappear '' as the night went on and more ballots were counted .
Twitter quickly slapped that with a warning that said `` some or all of the content shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process . ''
It was among a series of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which make it harder for viewers to see the posts without first reading the warning .
Much of the slowdown in the tabulation of results had been widely forecasted for months , because the coronavirus pandemic led many states to make it easier to vote by mail , and millions chose to do so rather than venturing out to cast ballots in person .
Mail ballots can take longer to process than ballots cast at polling places .
In a Sept. 3 post , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the results were in , the social network would label their post to note that official results are not yet in and directing people to the official results .
But Facebook limited that policy to official candidates and campaigns declaring premature victory in the overall election .
Posts that declared premature victory in specific states were flagged with a general notification about where to find election information but not warnings that the information was false or misleading .
Facebook also issued a blanket statement on the top of Facebook and Instagram feeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. presidential election were still being counted .
Twitter was a bit more proactive .
Based on its `` civic integrity policy , '' implemented last month , Twitter said it would label and reduce the visibility of tweets containing `` false or misleading information about civic processes '' in order to provide more context .
It labeled Trump 's tweets declaring premature victory as well as claims from Trump and others about premature victory in specific states .
The Twitter and Facebook actions were a step in the right direction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter 's case , said Jennifer Grygiel , a professor at Syracuse University and social media expert .
That 's because tweets from major figures can get almost instant traction , Grygiel said .
So even though Twitter labeled Trump 's tweets about `` being up big , '' votes being cast after polls closed , and others , by the time the label appeared , several minutes after the tweet , the misinformation had already spread .
One Wednesday , a Trump tweet falsely complaining that vote counters were `` working hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania count `` disappear '' was n't labeled for more than 15 minutes , and was not obscured .
`` Twitter ca n't really enforce policies if they do n't do it before it happens , in the case of the president , '' Grygiel said .
`` When a tweet hits the wire , essentially , it goes public .
It already brings this full force of impact of market reaction . ''
Grygiel suggested that for prominent figures like Trump , Twitter could moderate posts by delaying publication until a human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ label .
That means flagged tweets would publish with a label , making it more difficult to spread unlabeled misinformation , especially during important events like the election .
This is less of an issue on Facebook or YouTube , where people are less likely to interact with posts in real time .
YouTube could become more of an issue over the next few days , Grygiel suggested , if Trump 's false claims are adopted by YouTubers who are analyzing the election .
`` Generally , platforms have policies in place that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but at the end of the day it proved to be pretty ineffective , '' Grygiel said .
`` The president felt empowered to make claims . ''

Ahead of the election, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube promised to clamp down on election misinformation, including unsubstantiated charges of fraud and premature declarations of victory by candidates. And they mostly did just that — though not without a few hiccups.
But overall their measures still didn’t really address the problems exposed by the 2020 U.S. presidential contest, critics of the social platforms contend.
“We’re seeing exactly what we expected, which is not enough, especially in the case of Facebook,” said Shannon McGregor, an assistant professor of journalism and media at the University of North Carolina.
One big test emerged early Wednesday morning as vote-counting continued in battleground states including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Donald Trump made a White House appearance before cheering supporters, declaring he would challenge the poll results. He also posted misleading statements about the election on Facebook and Twitter, following months of signaling his unfounded doubts about expanded mail-in voting and his desire for final election results when polls closed on Nov. 3.
So what did tech companies do about it? For the most part, what they said they would, which primarily meant labeling false or misleading election posts in order to point users to reliable information. In Twitter’s case, that sometimes meant obscuring the offending posts, forcing readers to click through warnings to see them and limiting the ability to share them.
The video-sharing app TikTok, popular with young people, said it pulled down some videos Wednesday from high-profile accounts that were making election fraud allegations, saying they violated the app’s policies on misleading information. For Facebook and YouTube, it mostly meant attaching authoritative information to election-related posts.
For instance, Google-owned YouTube showed video of Trump’s White House remarks suggesting fraud and premature victories, just as some traditional news channels did. But Google placed an “information panel” beneath the videos noting that election results may not be final and linking to Google’s election results page with additional information.
“They’re just appending this little label to the president’s posts, but they’re appending those to any politician talking about the election,” said McGregor, who blamed both the tech giants and traditional media outlets for shirking their responsibility to curb the spread of misinformation about the election results instead of amplifying a falsehood just because Trump said it.
“Allowing any false claim to spread can lead more people to accept it once it’s there,” she said.
Trump wasn’t alone in attracting such labels. Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis got a label on Twitter for declaring a premature reelection victory in North Carolina. The same thing happened to a Democratic official claiming that former Vice President Joe Biden had won Wisconsin.
The flurry of Trump claims that began early Wednesday morning continued after the sun rose over Washington. By late morning, Trump was tweeting an unfounded complaint that his early lead in some states seemed to “magically disappear” as the night went on and more ballots were counted.
Twitter quickly slapped that with a warning that said “some or all of the content shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process.” It was among a series of such warnings Twitter applied to Trump tweets Wednesday, which make it harder for viewers to see the posts without first reading the warning.
Much of the slowdown in the tabulation of results had been widely forecasted for months, because the coronavirus pandemic led many states to make it easier to vote by mail, and millions chose to do so rather than venturing out to cast ballots in person. Mail ballots can take longer to process than ballots cast at polling places.
In a Sept. 3 post, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that if a candidate or campaign tried to declare victory before the results were in, the social network would label their post to note that official results are not yet in and directing people to the official results.
But Facebook limited that policy to official candidates and campaigns declaring premature victory in the overall election. Posts that declared premature victory in specific states were flagged with a general notification about where to find election information but not warnings that the information was false or misleading.
Facebook also issued a blanket statement on the top of Facebook and Instagram feeds on Wednesday noting that the votes for the U.S. presidential election were still being counted.
Twitter was a bit more proactive. Based on its ” civic integrity policy,” implemented last month, Twitter said it would label and reduce the visibility of tweets containing “false or misleading information about civic processes” in order to provide more context. It labeled Trump’s tweets declaring premature victory as well as claims from Trump and others about premature victory in specific states.
The Twitter and Facebook actions were a step in the right direction, but not that effective — particularly in Twitter’s case, said Jennifer Grygiel, a professor at Syracuse University and social media expert.
That’s because tweets from major figures can get almost instant traction, Grygiel said. So even though Twitter labeled Trump’s tweets about “being up big,” votes being cast after polls closed, and others, by the time the label appeared, several minutes after the tweet, the misinformation had already spread. One Wednesday, a Trump tweet falsely complaining that vote counters were “working hard” to make his lead in the Pennsylvania count “disappear” wasn’t labeled for more than 15 minutes, and was not obscured.
“Twitter can’t really enforce policies if they don’t do it before it happens, in the case of the president,” Grygiel said. “When a tweet hits the wire, essentially, it goes public. It already brings this full force of impact of market reaction.”
Grygiel suggested that for prominent figures like Trump, Twitter could moderate posts by delaying publication until a human moderator could decide whether it needs a label. That means flagged tweets would publish with a label, making it more difficult to spread unlabeled misinformation, especially during important events like the election.
This is less of an issue on Facebook or YouTube, where people are less likely to interact with posts in real time. YouTube could become more of an issue over the next few days, Grygiel suggested, if Trump’s false claims are adopted by YouTubers who are analyzing the election.
“Generally, platforms have policies in place that are an attempt to do something, but at the end of the day it proved to be pretty ineffective,” Grygiel said. “The president felt empowered to make claims.”


shareblue--2020-11-08--How the new Supreme Court could make abortion more dangerous

With Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the Supreme Court , the court now has a solid 6-3 anti-abortion majority .
Roe v. Wade will likely be seriously compromised over time , if not outright overruled .
However , restricting access to abortion , a recent study shows , does n't mean fewer abortions .
In fact , it 's quite the opposite .
A recent report authored in part by researchers at the Guttmacher Institute tracked the rates of unintended pregnancies and abortions and how those relate to the legal status of abortion in various countries .
Worldwide , around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion , whether it 's legal or not .
But over the last two decades , the percentage of unintended pregnancies which end in abortion increased in those countries where there were more abortion restrictions .
The researchers learned that in high-income countries where abortion is `` broadly legal , '' rates of abortion are lower than in high-income countries where abortion is restricted only to save the life or the health of the mother or is banned .
In the broadly legal high-income countries , 11 per 1000 women of reproductive age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where abortion is highly restricted or banned , 32 per 1000 women of reproductive age have abortions .
The United States currently falls into the `` broadly legal '' category .
However , many conservative legislators have agitated for that to change .
Guttmacher reported that almost half of the 58 new abortion restrictions enacted in 2019 were designed to ban some or all abortions .
Ten states already have `` trigger laws , '' which would make abortion illegal or almost completely illegal automatically if the Supreme Court overturns Roe .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In part , that increase may be because restrictions on abortion are often combined with highly restrictive views on birth control as well .
Better access to birth control decreases abortions .
One study at Washington University found that providing free birth control cut abortion rates by at least 62 % compared to the national rate .
But many conservative legislators and anti-abortion activists have pressed to make birth control illegal as well .
And Barrett , the newest member of the Court , has already said she believes that life begins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups that say allowing doctors to discuss birth control with patients is tantamount to bullying them not to reproduce .
It 's a worldview that comprehensively undermines reproductive health .
In a post-Roe world , the need for abortions in the United States wo n't decrease , but the safety of them likely will .
Across the world , millions of people have abortions every year , and almost half of those are unsafe , with complications that can lead to death .
As much as anti-abortion activists and legislators like to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their desire to restrict abortion , it 's simply untrue that maternal health is bolstered by abortion restrictions .
Barrett may get her wish to eliminate access to legal abortions in America , but it wo n't stop them from happening — they 'll just go underground and get more dangerous .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

With Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the Supreme Court, the court now has a solid 6-3 anti-abortion majority. Roe v. Wade will likely be seriously compromised over time, if not outright overruled. However, restricting access to abortion, a recent study shows, doesn’t mean fewer abortions. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
A recent report authored in part by researchers at the Guttmacher Institute tracked the rates of unintended pregnancies and abortions and how those relate to the legal status of abortion in various countries.
Worldwide, around 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion, whether it’s legal or not. But over the last two decades, the percentage of unintended pregnancies which end in abortion increased in those countries where there were more abortion restrictions.
The researchers learned that in high-income countries where abortion is “broadly legal,” rates of abortion are lower than in high-income countries where abortion is restricted only to save the life or the health of the mother or is banned.
In the broadly legal high-income countries, 11 per 1000 women of reproductive age have abortions. In the high-income countries where abortion is highly restricted or banned, 32 per 1000 women of reproductive age have abortions.
The United States currently falls into the “broadly legal” category. However, many conservative legislators have agitated for that to change.
Guttmacher reported that almost half of the 58 new abortion restrictions enacted in 2019 were designed to ban some or all abortions. Ten states already have “trigger laws,” which would make abortion illegal or almost completely illegal automatically if the Supreme Court overturns Roe. If that happens, abortions may actually increase.
In part, that increase may be because restrictions on abortion are often combined with highly restrictive views on birth control as well. Better access to birth control decreases abortions. One study at Washington University found that providing free birth control cut abortion rates by at least 62% compared to the national rate. But many conservative legislators and anti-abortion activists have pressed to make birth control illegal as well.
And Barrett, the newest member of the Court, has already said she believes that life begins at conception and has aligned herself with groups that say allowing doctors to discuss birth control with patients is tantamount to bullying them not to reproduce. It’s a worldview that comprehensively undermines reproductive health.
In a post-Roe world, the need for abortions in the United States won’t decrease, but the safety of them likely will.
Across the world, millions of people have abortions every year, and almost half of those are unsafe, with complications that can lead to death. As much as anti-abortion activists and legislators like to say that a concern for maternal health underpins their desire to restrict abortion, it’s simply untrue that maternal health is bolstered by abortion restrictions.
Barrett may get her wish to eliminate access to legal abortions in America, but it won’t stop them from happening — they’ll just go underground and get more dangerous.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-08--Rhode Island voters strip 'Plantations' from official state name

Rhode Island will now be officially known as ... Rhode Island .
The smallest state in the country will no longer have the distinction of also having the longest official name after voters approved a statewide referendum to strip the words `` and Providence Plantations '' from Rhode Island 's formal name — the culmination of a long running debate revived amid the nation 's reckoning with racial injustice .
Officially , Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790 .
Although the word `` Plantations '' in Rhode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a place where slaves labored , the measure 's backers insisted it still offends , especially since Rhode Island 's ties to the slave trade are undeniably deep .
Merchants from the state played a key role in the transatlantic slave trade , launching more than 1,000 voyages to buy and transport slaves from Africa to the Americas .
A similar ballot question was defeated a decade ago , but the campaign was resurrected earlier this year .
State Sen. Harold Metts , D-Providence , a Black lawmaker of Cape Verdean descent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's name of `` Plantations , '' called it `` a hurtful term to so many of us . ''
State officials said Wednesday they 'll begin assessing all state property where the offending phrase is inscribed , including the State House 's grand marble facade , in preparations for removal .
In a separate move in June , Democratic Gov .
Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to remove the phrase `` and Providence Plantations '' from some official documents , including state employee paychecks , and executive agency websites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of votes Wednesday after record turnout that delivered its four electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and returned all three of the state 's congressional Democrats to Washington .
But in a stunning rebuke of local Democratic leadership , House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello lost to Republican activist Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung , who outpolled him in a district in western Cranston that backed Donald Trump for president for a second time .
`` While I wish last night 's outcome had been different , it in no way diminishes the privilege of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said in a statement .
`` It 's been a good run . ''
Fenton-Fung said she looked forward to helping reform the state and continuing her husband 's legacy in Cranston .
Fenton-Fung is the wife of two-time GOP gubernatorial candidate and longtime Cranston Mayor Allan Fung , who remains popular but is term limited .
`` People rejected the way Speaker Mattiello was running the Statehouse and running campaigns , '' she told reporters after Mattiello conceded .
`` We were looking forward to the future and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vastly outnumbered in the state Legislature , but Fenton-Fung 's victory Tuesday is sure to trigger a power struggle among House Democrats , who have already called for a caucus at a hotel in Warwick Thursday evening .
The formal vote for House speaker , however , wo n't happen until January , when the new legislature convenes .
House Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi , who is Mattiello 's second-in-command and called Thursday 's meeting , has , as expected , put his name in the running for House speaker , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state due to the chamber 's control of the state budget process .
The Warwick Democrat , who was first elected in 2012 , has promised to reform the `` way that business is done at the State House '' and touted early support from nearly 20 female state lawmakers .
The Rhode Island Democratic Women 's Caucus , meanwhile , tweeted its support for the role for state Rep. Liana Cassar , a Barrington Democrat first elected in 2018 .
Mattiello rose to House speaker in 2014 after then-Speaker Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First elected in 2006 , he had served as majority leader under Fox , who was ultimately sentenced to three years in federal prison for accepting bribes and using campaign funds for personal expenses .
During the campaign , Fenton-Fung , a 39-year-old physical therapist , repeatedly called attention to scandals that have dogged Mattiello in recent years , including the money laundering trial of former campaign aide Jeffrey Britt .
More than 480,000 voters cast ballots , besting the state 's previous all-time high of more than 475,000 in 2008 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to preliminary tallies from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea 's office as polls closed Tuesday .
The office said the final voter turnout count would be higher as provisional ballots and other ballots cast by mail and in person would be added to the overall count Wednesday .
Elections officials had cautioned that results for some races might not be knowable on election night because of expected tabulation delays following a surge in mail-in and early in-person votes due to coronavirus concerns .
The outcome of the presidential race was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump lost to Hillary Clinton by more than 15 percentage points in 2016 .
Rhode Island has backed a Republican for the White House only four times in the modern era — twice for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 , once for Richard Nixon in 1972 and once for Ronald Reagan in 1984 .
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jack Reed defeated Republican challenger Allen Waters , a perennial candidate who mounted earlier unsuccessful campaigns for the state Senate and U.S. Senate in Massachusetts .
Reed , first elected to the Senate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the powerful Appropriations Committee and a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee .
Rhode Island 's other U.S. senator , Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse , is n't up for reelection until 2024 .
In the U.S. House , Democrat David Cicilline , one of Trump 's harshest critics in Congress , defeated independents Frederick Wysocki and Jeffrey Lemire to win a sixth term representing the 1st Congressional District .
And Rep. Jim Langevin , the first quadriplegic lawmaker to serve in Congress , defeated Republican former state lawmaker Robert Lancia in the 2nd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Rhode Island will now be officially known as … Rhode Island.
The smallest state in the country will no longer have the distinction of also having the longest official name after voters approved a statewide referendum to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island’s formal name — the culmination of a long running debate revived amid the nation’s reckoning with racial injustice.
Officially, Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790.
Although the word “Plantations” in Rhode Island’s name does not specifically refer to a place where slaves labored, the measure’s backers insisted it still offends, especially since Rhode Island’s ties to the slave trade are undeniably deep.
Merchants from the state played a key role in the transatlantic slave trade, launching more than 1,000 voyages to buy and transport slaves from Africa to the Americas.
A similar ballot question was defeated a decade ago, but the campaign was resurrected earlier this year.
State Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, a Black lawmaker of Cape Verdean descent who led the push to purge the state’s name of “Plantations,” called it “a hurtful term to so many of us.”
State officials said Wednesday they’ll begin assessing all state property where the offending phrase is inscribed, including the State House’s grand marble facade, in preparations for removal.
In a separate move in June, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to remove the phrase “and Providence Plantations” from some official documents, including state employee paychecks, and executive agency websites.
Meanwhile, election officials resumed counting thousands of votes Wednesday after record turnout that delivered its four electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and returned all three of the state’s congressional Democrats to Washington.
But in a stunning rebuke of local Democratic leadership, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello lost to Republican activist Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who outpolled him in a district in western Cranston that backed Donald Trump for president for a second time.
“While I wish last night’s outcome had been different, it in no way diminishes the privilege of serving in the House for so long,” he said in a statement. “It’s been a good run.”
Fenton-Fung said she looked forward to helping reform the state and continuing her husband’s legacy in Cranston. Fenton-Fung is the wife of two-time GOP gubernatorial candidate and longtime Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, who remains popular but is term limited.
“People rejected the way Speaker Mattiello was running the Statehouse and running campaigns,” she told reporters after Mattiello conceded. “We were looking forward to the future and we literally outworked him.”
Republicans are vastly outnumbered in the state Legislature, but Fenton-Fung’s victory Tuesday is sure to trigger a power struggle among House Democrats, who have already called for a caucus at a hotel in Warwick Thursday evening. The formal vote for House speaker, however, won’t happen until January, when the new legislature convenes.
House Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi, who is Mattiello’s second-in-command and called Thursday’s meeting, has, as expected, put his name in the running for House speaker, which is considered one of the most powerful offices in the state due to the chamber’s control of the state budget process.
The Warwick Democrat, who was first elected in 2012, has promised to reform the “way that business is done at the State House” and touted early support from nearly 20 female state lawmakers.
The Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus, meanwhile, tweeted its support for the role for state Rep. Liana Cassar, a Barrington Democrat first elected in 2018.
Mattiello rose to House speaker in 2014 after then-Speaker Gordon Fox resigned amid a public corruption investigation. First elected in 2006, he had served as majority leader under Fox, who was ultimately sentenced to three years in federal prison for accepting bribes and using campaign funds for personal expenses.
During the campaign, Fenton-Fung, a 39-year-old physical therapist, repeatedly called attention to scandals that have dogged Mattiello in recent years, including the money laundering trial of former campaign aide Jeffrey Britt.
More than 480,000 voters cast ballots, besting the state’s previous all-time high of more than 475,000 in 2008, when Democrat Barack Obama was elected president, according to preliminary tallies from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea’s office as polls closed Tuesday.
The office said the final voter turnout count would be higher as provisional ballots and other ballots cast by mail and in person would be added to the overall count Wednesday.
Elections officials had cautioned that results for some races might not be knowable on election night because of expected tabulation delays following a surge in mail-in and early in-person votes due to coronavirus concerns.
The outcome of the presidential race was in little doubt in Rhode Island, where Trump lost to Hillary Clinton by more than 15 percentage points in 2016. Rhode Island has backed a Republican for the White House only four times in the modern era — twice for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, once for Richard Nixon in 1972 and once for Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jack Reed defeated Republican challenger Allen Waters, a perennial candidate who mounted earlier unsuccessful campaigns for the state Senate and U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.
Reed, first elected to the Senate in 1996, is a senior member of the powerful Appropriations Committee and a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. Rhode Island’s other U.S. senator, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, isn’t up for reelection until 2024.
In the U.S. House, Democrat David Cicilline, one of Trump’s harshest critics in Congress, defeated independents Frederick Wysocki and Jeffrey Lemire to win a sixth term representing the 1st Congressional District.
And Rep. Jim Langevin, the first quadriplegic lawmaker to serve in Congress, defeated Republican former state lawmaker Robert Lancia in the 2nd Congressional District to win an 11th term.


shareblue--2020-11-09--GOP's fake claims of 'stolen election' are doing real damage

After the networks called the presidential election for Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday , reports of extremist violence have emerged around the country as Trump continues to prop up his false narrative about a `` stolen election . ''
On Sunday , approximately 100 Trump supporters gathered around the Nevada State Capitol making menacing threats , according to the Sierra Nevada Ally .
The group of protesters included Proud Boys in full regalia , whom Trump famously told to `` stand back and stand by '' in September at the first presidential debate .
According to the outlet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened their lives .
`` They threatened to punch our teeth out .
They threatened to kill us , '' one counterprotester told the Ally .
`` They threatened to stab us , all right here .
It just happened right here .
Little Proud Boys over there … Proud Boy wannabes or whatever . ''
Also on Sunday , demonstrators in Portland , Oregon allegedly attacked the Multnomah County Democrats ' headquarters , shattering windows and tagging the building with expletive-laden anti-Biden graffiti saying `` no presidents . ''
Some have suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Portland Police Bureau told Newsweek that law enforcement does not know who the culprits were .
Rachelle Dixon , vice-chair of the Multnomah County Democrats , told the outlet she suspects the attack was a `` false flag '' perpetrated by the alt-right .
On Saturday , Lang Holland , the police chief of Marshall , Arkansas , resigned after supposedly posting death threats to Democrats , claiming they stole the election .
`` Death to all Marxist Democrats , '' he wrote on Parler , a Twitter alternative frequented by right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no survivors !
! ''
The former police chief also shared a meme depicting prominent Democrats in prison jumpsuits .
He captioned it : `` I pray all those in that picture hang on the gallows and are drawn and quartered !
!
!
!
Anything less is not acceptable . ''
This followed the resignation of another police officer in Flomaton , Alabama , Capt .
Scott Walden , who left his job last week after he posted on social media saying , `` they need to line up ev1 of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for treason , '' following another comment of his that said , `` The idiots that voted for Biden hated Trump enough to throw the country away .
Thank the lying liberals and democrats news media . ''
Even before the election was called , anti-Biden violence was mounting nationwide , and mobs of Trump supporters swarmed facilities counting ballots .
A man was arrested Friday after threatening a mass shooting if Biden won the election .
In a disturbing Instagram video , the suspect claimed , `` At this point , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm just going to do like a school shooter , just take out all these Democrats and a few pedophiles on the way out . ''
The FBI is investigating the man , with spokesperson Laura Eimiller saying in a statement on Friday : `` The FBI is aware of the reported threats , and we 're working with our partners .
The subject is being evaluated by state officials .
The federal government has not made any arrest nor filed charges at this time . ''
In another instance , two men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia on Thursday while heading to the city 's convention center as poll workers there were counting votes .
Al Schmidt , one of three Philadelphia election commissioners , told CBS News over the weekend that `` from the inside looking out , it feels all very deranged . ''
`` At the end of the day , we are counting eligible votes cast by voters .
The controversy surrounding it is something I do n't understand .
It 's people making accusations that we would n't count those votes or people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with , just , all sorts of crazy stuff , '' said Schmidt , a Republican .
He said his offices are receiving threatening calls , including one stating , `` This is what the Second Amendment is for , people like us . ''
And the day before the election , just before Trump arrived in town for a rally , a Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids , Michigan , was desecrated with pro-Trump slogans like `` TRUMP '' and `` MAGA '' spraypainted on headstones .
Many experts predicted post-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 election .
The International Crisis Group , a Belgian-based think tank focusing on political conflict prevention , issued a report days before the election warning that post-election violence was extremely likely .
`` The United States is a mature democracy , it has strong institutions and it has n't faced the kinds of risks around elections that other countries that Crisis Group traditionally covers have faces , '' said Stephen Pomper , senior director for policy .
`` But then things changed . ''
The group cited several risk factors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump took office .
These factors include an increasingly politically divided country , growing numbers of armed fringe political groups , an election that was certain to be contested , and a sitting leader who would likely refuse to leave office .
The report notes that Trump 's `` toxic rhetoric and willingness to court conflict to advance his personal interests ( has ) no precedent in modern U.S .
history . ''
The Brookings Institute also predicted post-election violence a week before the election , blaming Trump for advancing a narrative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rapid increase in radicalized conservative and anarchist groups during the coronavirus pandemic .
According to Brookings , there was a 60 % growth between February and April of Facebook pages promoting political uprisings .
And other fringe right-wing extremist groups besides the Proud Boys — like QAnon and the Oath Keepers — have hinted at violence if Trump were not reelected .
Facebook was forced to ban a Stop the Steal group amassing hundreds of thousands of members due to threats of violence against the left .
Published with permission of The @ @ @ @

After the networks called the presidential election for Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday, reports of extremist violence have emerged around the country as Trump continues to prop up his false narrative about a “stolen election.”
On Sunday, approximately 100 Trump supporters gathered around the Nevada State Capitol making menacing threats, according to the Sierra Nevada Ally. The group of protesters included Proud Boys in full regalia, whom Trump famously told to “stand back and stand by” in September at the first presidential debate.
According to the outlet, counterprotesters claimed pro-Trump groups at the Capitol threatened their lives.
“They threatened to punch our teeth out. They threatened to kill us,” one counterprotester told the Ally. “They threatened to stab us, all right here. It just happened right here. Little Proud Boys over there … Proud Boy wannabes or whatever.”
Also on Sunday, demonstrators in Portland, Oregon allegedly attacked the Multnomah County Democrats’ headquarters, shattering windows and tagging the building with expletive-laden anti-Biden graffiti saying “no presidents.”
Some have suggested disgruntled leftists were to blame, but the Portland Police Bureau told Newsweek that law enforcement does not know who the culprits were.
Rachelle Dixon, vice-chair of the Multnomah County Democrats, told the outlet she suspects the attack was a “false flag” perpetrated by the alt-right.
On Saturday, Lang Holland, the police chief of Marshall, Arkansas, resigned after supposedly posting death threats to Democrats, claiming they stole the election.
“Death to all Marxist Democrats,” he wrote on Parler, a Twitter alternative frequented by right-wing extremists. “Take no prisoners leave no survivors!!”
The former police chief also shared a meme depicting prominent Democrats in prison jumpsuits.
He captioned it: “I pray all those in that picture hang on the gallows and are drawn and quartered!!!! Anything less is not acceptable.”
This followed the resignation of another police officer in Flomaton, Alabama, Capt. Scott Walden, who left his job last week after he posted on social media saying, “they need to line up ev1 of them and put a bullet in their skull for treason,” following another user’s comment that said, “The idiots that voted for Biden hated Trump enough to throw the country away. Thank the lying liberals and democrats news media.”
Even before the election was called, anti-Biden violence was mounting nationwide, and mobs of Trump supporters swarmed facilities counting ballots.
A man was arrested Friday after threatening a mass shooting if Biden won the election. In a disturbing Instagram video, the suspect claimed, “At this point, like, if Biden gets in, I’m just going to do like a school shooter, just take out all these Democrats and a few pedophiles on the way out.”
“If I go to hell, I’m taking these motherf—s with me,” he said in the video that has since been taken down, but a Beverly Hills Courier posted a recording of it.
The FBI is investigating the man, with spokesperson Laura Eimiller saying in a statement on Friday: “The FBI is aware of the reported threats, and we’re working with our partners. The subject is being evaluated by state officials. The federal government has not made any arrest nor filed charges at this time.”
In another instance, two men alleged to be armed were arrested in Philadelphia on Thursday while heading to the city’s convention center as poll workers there were counting votes.
Al Schmidt, one of three Philadelphia election commissioners, told CBS News over the weekend that “from the inside looking out, it feels all very deranged.”
“At the end of the day, we are counting eligible votes cast by voters. The controversy surrounding it is something I don’t understand. It’s people making accusations that we wouldn’t count those votes or people are adding fraudulent votes or just, coming up with, just, all sorts of crazy stuff,” said Schmidt, a Republican.
He said his offices are receiving threatening calls, including one stating, “This is what the Second Amendment is for, people like us.”
And the day before the election, just before Trump arrived in town for a rally, a Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was desecrated with pro-Trump slogans like “TRUMP” and “MAGA” spraypainted on headstones.
Many experts predicted post-election violence in the United States following the Nov. 3 election.
The International Crisis Group, a Belgian-based think tank focusing on political conflict prevention, issued a report days before the election warning that post-election violence was extremely likely.
“The United States is a mature democracy, it has strong institutions and it hasn’t faced the kinds of risks around elections that other countries that Crisis Group traditionally covers have faces,” said Stephen Pomper, senior director for policy. “But then things changed.”
The group cited several risk factors that have changed in the United States since Trump took office. These factors include an increasingly politically divided country, growing numbers of armed fringe political groups, an election that was certain to be contested, and a sitting leader who would likely refuse to leave office.
The report notes that Trump’s “toxic rhetoric and willingness to court conflict to advance his personal interests (has) no precedent in modern U.S. history.”
The Brookings Institute also predicted post-election violence a week before the election, blaming Trump for advancing a narrative of a rigged election, as well as a rapid increase in radicalized conservative and anarchist groups during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Brookings, there was a 60% growth between February and April of Facebook pages promoting political uprisings. And other fringe right-wing extremist groups besides the Proud Boys — like QAnon and the Oath Keepers — have hinted at violence if Trump were not reelected.
Facebook was forced to ban a Stop the Steal group amassing hundreds of thousands of members due to threats of violence against the left.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-09--LGBTQ rights groups say there will be a lot to fix when Biden is president

LGBTQ advocacy groups celebrated Democrat Joe Biden 's win in the 2020 presidential election last week after years of the administration of Donald Trump launching policy after policy against the rights of LGBTQ people .
But the organizations also vowed to avoid becoming `` complacent '' during a more LGBTQ-friendly administration and say they will hold the Biden administration accountable for its actions .
Rea Carey , executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force , stated over the weekend : `` We have a lot to be hopeful for , but for our dreams to become a reality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold this new administration accountable to their promises to the LGBTQ+ community and so many others of which we are part . ''
`` Additionally , let us not become complacent or pause in the comfort of a more LGBTQ+ friendly administration , '' Carey warned .
President-elect Joe Biden sent a clear signal to LGBTQ Americans on Saturday that he would support their rights , mentioning transgender voters in a speech celebrating his win , the first time a president-elect has mentioned transgender people in a victory speech .
Biden listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency : `` Democrats , Republicans , independents , progressives , moderates , conservatives , young , old , urban , suburban , rural , gay , straight , transgender , white , Latino , Asian , Native American . ''
During the last months of his campaign , Biden said , `` There should be zero discrimination '' against transgender people and denounced killings of transgender women of color .
He told Human Rights Campaign in September : `` Together we 'll pass the Equality Act , protect LGBTQ youth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ workers , win full rights for transgender Americans , recommit to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025 , advance LGBT rights around the globe , not just at home . ''
Biden has promised to reverse Trump administration policies that permit discrimination against LGBTQ people and said that passing the Equality Act in his first 100 days in office would be a `` top '' priority .
Among other plans shared on his campaign website , Biden has said he will prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the federal government , do more to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage of a bill focused on the equal treatment of LGBTQ seniors , and update FDA regulations that currently restrict blood donations based on sexual orientation .
LGBTQ advocacy groups say they will watch closely to see if Biden and the officials he appoints follow through on the many pledges he has made to advance the rights of LGBTQ people .
The National LGBTQ Task Force said the work is `` far from done '' and the first step for a Biden administration should be to roll back all of the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization said this should include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 's rule encouraging shelters to restrict access for transgender homeless people ; the Education Department and Justice Department 's decision to undo Obama-era guidance protecting transgender students from discrimination at school ; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ' decision to gut a regulation in the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination against transgender people in health care .
Shanequa Davis , senior organizer at the National LGBTQ Task Force , said the group will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on federal bills that directly affect people of color such as the Equality Act , which would clarify and expand LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections , and the Justice in Policing Act , which would create national standards for use of force and a national police conduct registry , among other reforms .
It also supports the BREATHE Act , which would divest taxpayer money from policing and invest it in alternatives for keeping communities safe .
Davis said the organization wants the Biden administration to make these bills a priority .
Eliza Byard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group focused on ridding schools of anti-LGBTQ harassment and discrimination , celebrated a `` resounding defeat for an administration that attacked LGBTQ+ people at all intersections of identity and experience , at every opportunity . ''
She added : `` But we can not allow ourselves to be complacent .
There is much work ahead to rebuild and repair our schools to ensure that an LGBTQ+ child finds safety and liberation in education . ''
A recent GLSEN school climate survey found that in recent years , after two decades of trends of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ students , progress has been interrupted .
The Matthew Shepard Foundation released a number of clear asks of the Biden administration on Sunday .
The foundation , which advocates against hate-based violence and is named after a young gay man who was viciously attacked and left to die in Wyoming in the 1990s , said the White House and new members of Congress should prioritize passing the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act , intended `` To provide incentives for hate crime reporting , provide grants for State-run hate crime hotlines , and establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matthew Shepard and James Byrd , Jr .
Hate Crimes Prevention Act , '' and the Emmett Till Antilynching Act , which creates a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching .
The foundation also advocated for a Biden administration to budget funding for the Justice Department , U.S. attorneys , and the FBI to `` create incentives for participation '' in data collection on hate crime statistics and include things such as mental health services and victim compensation funds for people who are targeted in hate crimes .
Cynthia Deitle , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said victims of hate crimes often experience anxiety and depression and may not socialize or go to work out of fear of being targeted again .
`` Once the leaders of our criminal justice system accept these realities , and devote money and resources to addressing the needs of these victims , these individuals can once again reenter society and begin to heal , '' she said .
Its final request was for Biden and administration officials to `` use their bully pulpit to educate about the impact of hate violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We must continue to use our voices and stand up for what is right .
We must continue to hold our elected officials accountable . ''
The Transgender Law Center also pledged to keep advocating for its priorities and goals with the Biden administration .
The center tweeted on Saturday : `` We wo n't let up on the pressure we 've built on governments to decriminalize our communities — Black folks , trans folks , sex workers , migrants , folks who are at the intersections . ''
The center added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
The work is never done until all of us are free . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

LGBTQ advocacy groups celebrated Democrat Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election last week after years of the administration of Donald Trump launching policy after policy against the rights of LGBTQ people. But the organizations also vowed to avoid becoming “complacent” during a more LGBTQ-friendly administration and say they will hold the Biden administration accountable for its actions.
Rea Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, stated over the weekend: “We have a lot to be hopeful for, but for our dreams to become a reality, we must now put in the work to hold this new administration accountable to their promises to the LGBTQ+ community and so many others of which we are part.”
“Additionally, let us not become complacent or pause in the comfort of a more LGBTQ+ friendly administration,” Carey warned.
President-elect Joe Biden sent a clear signal to LGBTQ Americans on Saturday that he would support their rights, mentioning transgender voters in a speech celebrating his win, the first time a president-elect has mentioned transgender people in a victory speech.
Biden listed the various groups whose votes won him the presidency: “Democrats, Republicans, independents, progressives, moderates, conservatives, young, old, urban, suburban, rural, gay, straight, transgender, white, Latino, Asian, Native American.”
During the last months of his campaign, Biden said, “There should be zero discrimination” against transgender people and denounced killings of transgender women of color.
He told Human Rights Campaign in September: “Together we’ll pass the Equality Act, protect LGBTQ youth, expand access to health care, support LGBTQ workers, win full rights for transgender Americans, recommit to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025, advance LGBT rights around the globe, not just at home.”
Biden has promised to reverse Trump administration policies that permit discrimination against LGBTQ people and said that passing the Equality Act in his first 100 days in office would be a “top” priority.
Among other plans shared on his campaign website, Biden has said he will prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the federal government, do more to assist homeless LGBTQ veterans, support the passage of a bill focused on the equal treatment of LGBTQ seniors, and update FDA regulations that currently restrict blood donations based on sexual orientation.
LGBTQ advocacy groups say they will watch closely to see if Biden and the officials he appoints follow through on the many pledges he has made to advance the rights of LGBTQ people.
The National LGBTQ Task Force said the work is “far from done” and the first step for a Biden administration should be to roll back all of the Trump administration’s actions against LGBTQ equality. The organization said this should include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s rule encouraging shelters to restrict access for transgender homeless people; the Education Department and Justice Department’s decision to undo Obama-era guidance protecting transgender students from discrimination at school; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to gut a regulation in the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination against transgender people in health care.
Shanequa Davis, senior organizer at the National LGBTQ Task Force, said the group will continue to center race in its work, including on federal bills that directly affect people of color such as the Equality Act, which would clarify and expand LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, and the Justice in Policing Act, which would create national standards for use of force and a national police conduct registry, among other reforms.
It also supports the BREATHE Act, which would divest taxpayer money from policing and invest it in alternatives for keeping communities safe. Davis said the organization wants the Biden administration to make these bills a priority.
Eliza Byard, the executive director of GLSEN, a group focused on ridding schools of anti-LGBTQ harassment and discrimination, celebrated a “resounding defeat for an administration that attacked LGBTQ+ people at all intersections of identity and experience, at every opportunity.”
She added: “But we cannot allow ourselves to be complacent. There is much work ahead to rebuild and repair our schools to ensure that an LGBTQ+ child finds safety and liberation in education.”
A recent GLSEN school climate survey found that in recent years, after two decades of trends of improvement in the climate in schools for LGBTQ students, progress has been interrupted.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation released a number of clear asks of the Biden administration on Sunday. The foundation, which advocates against hate-based violence and is named after a young gay man who was viciously attacked and left to die in Wyoming in the 1990s, said the White House and new members of Congress should prioritize passing the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, intended “To provide incentives for hate crime reporting, provide grants for State-run hate crime hotlines, and establish alternative sentencing for individuals convicted under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” and the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which creates a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching.
The foundation also advocated for a Biden administration to budget funding for the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys, and the FBI to “create incentives for participation” in data collection on hate crime statistics and include things such as mental health services and victim compensation funds for people who are targeted in hate crimes.
Cynthia Deitle, the organization’s director of civil rights reform, said victims of hate crimes often experience anxiety and depression and may not socialize or go to work out of fear of being targeted again.
“Once the leaders of our criminal justice system accept these realities, and devote money and resources to addressing the needs of these victims, these individuals can once again reenter society and begin to heal,” she said.
Its final request was for Biden and administration officials to “use their bully pulpit to educate about the impact of hate violence.”
Matthew Shepard Foundation staff stated, “We must continue to use our voices and stand up for what is right. We must continue to hold our elected officials accountable.”
The Transgender Law Center also pledged to keep advocating for its priorities and goals with the Biden administration. The center tweeted on Saturday: “We won’t let up on the pressure we’ve built on governments to decriminalize our communities — Black folks, trans folks, sex workers, migrants, folks who are at the intersections.”
The center added, “We are keeping a watchful eye on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The work is never done until all of us are free.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.