shareblue--2020-12-14--Tweets, tantrums, and lawsuits fail to change reality for sore loser Trump

Donald Trump 's month-long quest to overturn his landslide loss officially ended on Monday , when the six states whose results he was seeking to overturn all cast their Electoral College votes for Joe Biden , cementing his status as president-elect .
Biden wo n't officially cross the 270-vote threshold needed to win the Electoral College until California casts its votes later Monday afternoon .
However , with Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin all casting their votes for Biden , he will certainly be the winner by day 's end .
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days after Nov. 3 that Biden won .
But Trump and his allies embarked on a multi-tiered effort to baselessly allege voter fraud in the hopes that it would either convince enough judges in courts across the country to throw out legally cast ballots to hand Trump a second term , or coerce enough Republican-controlled state legislatures to simply ignore the results of the election in their states and install electors for Trump .
In the end , that effort failed spectacularly .
Trump and his allies lost an astounding 59 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marc Elias , who runs an organization that both tracked and fought against the legal challenges from Trump and his sycophants .
That included a case in Wisconsin on Monday , in which the state Supreme Court threw out a Trump campaign lawsuit that sought to invalidate 221,000 ballots in two heavily Democratic counties .
One of the liberal justices on the court , Jill Karofsky , said the lawsuit `` smacks of racism '' and was `` un-American , '' according to the Associated Press .
Elias said the Wisconsin case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' — meaning Trump 's effort to use the judicial system to steal the election had effectively failed .
Those legal challenges were based on lies of nonexistent election fraud .
Trump himself tweeted hundreds of lies about the election , including dozens of baseless voter fraud accusations , and dozens more about the election being rigged .
`` I WON THE ELECTION IN A LANDSLIDE , but remember , I only think in terms of legal votes , not all of the fake voters and fraud that miraculously floated in from everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a Dec. 12 tweet .
Biden in fact beat Trump by more than 7 million votes .
In the two weeks after the election , Trump tweeted or retweeted more than 300 times seeking to undermine confidence in the process with fake conspiracy theories and outright lies about the vote tally , according to the New York Times .
Trump also had some very public meltdowns about his loss , including posting a 46-minute-long video of conspiracy theories to explain why he did n't lose the election when he , indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his allies presented no evidence of that fraud in court — leading to condemnations from judges who ruled against the lawsuits .
`` Free , fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy .
Charges of unfairness are serious .
But calling an election unfair does not make it so , '' Stephanos Bibas — a Trump-appointed federal appeals judge — wrote in a decision that tossed out the Trump campaign 's attempt to invalidate millions of ballots in Pennsylvania .
`` Charges require specific allegations and then proof .
We have neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , the Electoral College electors met to cast their votes , with notable Trump foes — including Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams — serving as electors in New York and Georgia , respectively .
`` I believe we should abolish the Electoral College and select our president by the winner of the popular vote , same as every other office .
But while it still exists , I was proud to cast my vote in New York for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , '' Clinton tweeted after her vote .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump 's 232 — assuming all of the electors cast their votes as pledged , and do not become what 's known as `` faithless electors . ''
Coincidentally , that 's the same margin Trump won in 2016 — which Trump himself called a landslide at the time .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s month-long quest to overturn his landslide loss officially ended on Monday, when the six states whose results he was seeking to overturn all cast their Electoral College votes for Joe Biden, cementing his status as president-elect.
Biden won’t officially cross the 270-vote threshold needed to win the Electoral College until California casts its votes later Monday afternoon. However, with Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin all casting their votes for Biden, he will certainly be the winner by day’s end.
Of course, it’s been apparent since just a few days after Nov. 3 that Biden won. But Trump and his allies embarked on a multi-tiered effort to baselessly allege voter fraud in the hopes that it would either convince enough judges in courts across the country to throw out legally cast ballots to hand Trump a second term, or coerce enough Republican-controlled state legislatures to simply ignore the results of the election in their states and install electors for Trump.
In the end, that effort failed spectacularly.
Trump and his allies lost an astounding 59 legal challenges, according to Democratic lawyer Marc Elias, who runs an organization that both tracked and fought against the legal challenges from Trump and his sycophants.
That included a case in Wisconsin on Monday, in which the state Supreme Court threw out a Trump campaign lawsuit that sought to invalidate 221,000 ballots in two heavily Democratic counties. One of the liberal justices on the court, Jill Karofsky, said the lawsuit “smacks of racism” and was “un-American,” according to the Associated Press.
Elias said the Wisconsin case was the last remaining “significant post-election case” — meaning Trump’s effort to use the judicial system to steal the election had effectively failed.
Those legal challenges were based on lies of nonexistent election fraud.
Trump himself tweeted hundreds of lies about the election, including dozens of baseless voter fraud accusations, and dozens more about the election being rigged.
“I WON THE ELECTION IN A LANDSLIDE, but remember, I only think in terms of legal votes, not all of the fake voters and fraud that miraculously floated in from everywhere! What a disgrace!” Trump said in a Dec. 12 tweet. Biden in fact beat Trump by more than 7 million votes.
In the two weeks after the election, Trump tweeted or retweeted more than 300 times seeking to undermine confidence in the process with fake conspiracy theories and outright lies about the vote tally, according to the New York Times.
Trump also had some very public meltdowns about his loss, including posting a 46-minute-long video of conspiracy theories to explain why he didn’t lose the election when he, indeed, did.
However, Trump and his allies presented no evidence of that fraud in court — leading to condemnations from judges who ruled against the lawsuits.
“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so,” Stephanos Bibas — a Trump-appointed federal appeals judge — wrote in a decision that tossed out the Trump campaign’s attempt to invalidate millions of ballots in Pennsylvania.
“Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” Bibas added.
Ultimately, the disinformation campaign failed spectacularly.
On Monday, the Electoral College electors met to cast their votes, with notable Trump foes — including Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams — serving as electors in New York and Georgia, respectively.
“I believe we should abolish the Electoral College and select our president by the winner of the popular vote, same as every other office. But while it still exists, I was proud to cast my vote in New York for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Clinton tweeted after her vote.
Biden will end the day with 306 votes to Trump’s 232 — assuming all of the electors cast their votes as pledged, and do not become what’s known as “faithless electors.” Coincidentally, that’s the same margin Trump won in 2016 — which Trump himself called a landslide at the time.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-14--Young Latino voters could make the difference in Georgia Senate races

As Georgia heads into two key runoffs that will determine control of the U.S. Senate , Democrats are hoping to count on Latino voters who helped tilt the state blue in November .
But Donald Trump rattled Democrats by winning larger-than-expected shares of Hispanic votes in parts of the country , raising questions about how much Democrats can rely on the nation 's largest minority group as a cornerstone of their coalition .
The January runoffs between Republican U.S. Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock will be the next test of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino population of more than 1 million .
Democrats want to make sure Latinos turn out again , emphasizing immigration and COVID-19 relief in their campaigns .
Republicans want to cut Democrats ' advantage in a youthful and rapidly growing community , reprising Trump 's emphasis on a strong economy for working people and spurning what they describe as Democrats ' embrace of socialism .
Increasing Latino interest and participation has been fed in part by an upswell of political organizing in Latino communities that has reached voters like Anayely Moreno , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants .
`` I really grew up in a place where I did n't hear about politics , '' Moreno said `` It was n't common to talk about politics at home . ''
Moreno said the struggles of immigrants in her small city northeast of Atlanta , in a state where sentiment against illegal immigration has often been harsh , is the prime motivator driving her to the ballot box .
`` We do n't notice all the ways it affects every aspect of our lives , '' said Moreno , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that offers COVID-19 assistance to families and encourages them to vote .
`` No matter what you 're doing , our lives are affected by policy . ''
Moreno , at 24 , is in the sweet spot for Georgia 's emerging Latino politics .
It 's a young community , with the median age in the late 20s , according to census figures .
Spanish speakers began arriving in large numbers in Georgia in the 1990s , drawn by the boom coinciding with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics .
More than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 ; about another third are adults in the country illegally , those who study the community say .
Many of those who can vote are young adults , with about 20,000 Georgia Latinos turning 18 each year , according to census figures .
AP 's Votecast survey found that 3 % of Georgia 's 5 million voters in November were Latino and 60 % of them voted for Biden , versus 30 % for Trump .
Biden 's 36,000-vote margin among Latinos was more than double his overall winning margin in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to vote in Georgia increased from 33 % in 2016 to 42 % this year , according to an analysis by Emory University professor Bernard Fraga and Catalist , a liberal-leaning group that does voter analysis .
Jonathan Robinson , a lead research scientist with Catalist , said that turnout among Latinos increased more than turnout statewide , calling it a `` good sign '' for voting in the Senate runoffs .
Latinos were n't solely responsible for the first Democratic presidential victory in Georgia since 1992 .
Also needed were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chunk of white suburbanites who abandoned traditional Republican leanings , and strong support from Asian voters .
But Latino voters could be part of a coalition just big enough for Ossoff and Warnock to win .
`` Georgia is no longer only Black and white .
Georgia is multilingual and multiethnic , '' said Gigi Pedraza , executive director of Georgia 's Latino Community Fund , which has helped mobilize Latino voters .
The change was on display Monday in Lilburn , a suburb in sprawling Gwinnett County .
Ossoff and former U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castro urged people to register and vote in a rally at Plaza Las Americas , a shopping center catering to Spanish speakers .
Biden romped in Gwinnett County as a Democratic tide swept in new officials , including a new sheriff who pledges to end a program that checks the status of arrested people and turns those here illegally over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation .
That 's just one example of policies adopted by Republican officials to crack down on immigrants in the country illegally .
Jerry Gonzalez , CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials , noted that current Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp aired a television ad in 2018 saying he drove `` a big truck in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take them home myself . ''
`` Georgia is a hostile state toward immigrants , '' Gonzalez said , indicating it 's hard for Republicans to break through to Latinos .
`` If you 're talking in that level of rhetoric , then Latinos really do n't have any interest in listening to anything else you 're talking about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ though .
Jason Anavitarte was a national Latino adviser to Trump this year and won a state Senate seat northwest of Atlanta as a Republican .
He said Trump 's increasing share of the Latino vote nationally and in Georgia was not a `` blip on the radar '' but indicated that Trump 's economic message appealed to the community .
`` Not all Latinos care about immigration , '' said Anavitarte , who is of Puerto Rican descent .
`` I think they care about what is directly impacting them in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , what is impacting their kids ' education . ''
The COVID-19 response is a key issue among Latinos , said Maria del Rosario Palacios , who founded Georgia Familias Unidas to give personal protective equipment to workers at chicken plants and elsewhere who ca n't work from home .
Palacios said she sees a lot of confusion over the additional election , a requirement Georgia imposes that can be baffling to inexperienced voters .
`` Folks do n't really understand there is a runoff , '' Palacios said .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I voted in November .
I 'm good . '
'' Moreno shares that fear but said she 's surprised by the level of engagement she sees and believes the election could be a chance for Latino political power to advance .
`` I understand when some people feel like voting wo n't make a difference , '' Moreno said .
`` It 's small steps that get us somewhere .
More people came out to vote in November and that made a huge difference . ''

As Georgia heads into two key runoffs that will determine control of the U.S. Senate, Democrats are hoping to count on Latino voters who helped tilt the state blue in November.
But Donald Trump rattled Democrats by winning larger-than-expected shares of Hispanic votes in parts of the country, raising questions about how much Democrats can rely on the nation’s largest minority group as a cornerstone of their coalition.
The January runoffs between Republican U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock will be the next test of strength in a state with a growing Latino population of more than 1 million.
Democrats want to make sure Latinos turn out again, emphasizing immigration and COVID-19 relief in their campaigns. Republicans want to cut Democrats’ advantage in a youthful and rapidly growing community, reprising Trump’s emphasis on a strong economy for working people and spurning what they describe as Democrats’ embrace of socialism.
Increasing Latino interest and participation has been fed in part by an upswell of political organizing in Latino communities that has reached voters like Anayely Moreno, a Gainesville resident and the daughter of Mexican immigrants.
“I really grew up in a place where I didn’t hear about politics,” Moreno said “It wasn’t common to talk about politics at home.”
Moreno said the struggles of immigrants in her small city northeast of Atlanta, in a state where sentiment against illegal immigration has often been harsh, is the prime motivator driving her to the ballot box.
“We don’t notice all the ways it affects every aspect of our lives,” said Moreno, who volunteers with Georgia Familias Unidas, a group that offers COVID-19 assistance to families and encourages them to vote. “No matter what you’re doing, our lives are affected by policy.”
Moreno, at 24, is in the sweet spot for Georgia’s emerging Latino politics. It’s a young community, with the median age in the late 20s, according to census figures. Spanish speakers began arriving in large numbers in Georgia in the 1990s, drawn by the boom coinciding with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
More than a third of the community is younger than 18; about another third are adults in the country illegally, those who study the community say. Many of those who can vote are young adults, with about 20,000 Georgia Latinos turning 18 each year, according to census figures.
AP’s Votecast survey found that 3% of Georgia’s 5 million voters in November were Latino and 60% of them voted for Biden, versus 30% for Trump. Biden’s 36,000-vote margin among Latinos was more than double his overall winning margin in the state.
Turnout of Latino citizens old enough to vote in Georgia increased from 33% in 2016 to 42% this year, according to an analysis by Emory University professor Bernard Fraga and Catalist, a liberal-leaning group that does voter analysis. Jonathan Robinson, a lead research scientist with Catalist, said that turnout among Latinos increased more than turnout statewide, calling it a “good sign” for voting in the Senate runoffs.
Latinos weren’t solely responsible for the first Democratic presidential victory in Georgia since 1992. Also needed were a large number of Black voters, a chunk of white suburbanites who abandoned traditional Republican leanings, and strong support from Asian voters. But Latino voters could be part of a coalition just big enough for Ossoff and Warnock to win.
“Georgia is no longer only Black and white. Georgia is multilingual and multiethnic,” said Gigi Pedraza, executive director of Georgia’s Latino Community Fund, which has helped mobilize Latino voters.
The change was on display Monday in Lilburn, a suburb in sprawling Gwinnett County. Ossoff and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro urged people to register and vote in a rally at Plaza Las Americas, a shopping center catering to Spanish speakers.
Biden romped in Gwinnett County as a Democratic tide swept in new officials, including a new sheriff who pledges to end a program that checks the status of arrested people and turns those here illegally over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
That’s just one example of policies adopted by Republican officials to crack down on immigrants in the country illegally. Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, noted that current Republican Gov. Brian Kemp aired a television ad in 2018 saying he drove “a big truck in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take them home myself.”
“Georgia is a hostile state toward immigrants,” Gonzalez said, indicating it’s hard for Republicans to break through to Latinos. “If you’re talking in that level of rhetoric, then Latinos really don’t have any interest in listening to anything else you’re talking about.”
Republicans aren’t giving up, though. Jason Anavitarte was a national Latino adviser to Trump this year and won a state Senate seat northwest of Atlanta as a Republican. He said Trump’s increasing share of the Latino vote nationally and in Georgia was not a “blip on the radar” but indicated that Trump’s economic message appealed to the community.
“Not all Latinos care about immigration,” said Anavitarte, who is of Puerto Rican descent. “I think they care about what is directly impacting them in their home. They care about finding a job, what is impacting their kids’ education.”
The COVID-19 response is a key issue among Latinos, said Maria del Rosario Palacios, who founded Georgia Familias Unidas to give personal protective equipment to workers at chicken plants and elsewhere who can’t work from home.
Palacios said she sees a lot of confusion over the additional election, a requirement Georgia imposes that can be baffling to inexperienced voters.
“Folks don’t really understand there is a runoff,” Palacios said. “They say ‘No, no, no, I voted in November. I’m good.'”
Moreno shares that fear but said she’s surprised by the level of engagement she sees and believes the election could be a chance for Latino political power to advance.
“I understand when some people feel like voting won’t make a difference,” Moreno said. “It’s small steps that get us somewhere. More people came out to vote in November and that made a huge difference.”


shareblue--2020-12-14--Lindsey Graham is outraged that local school boards get to name schools

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) on Monday blasted the decision of a local school board in Virginia to change the names of two of its schools that are currently named for slaveholders .
Graham has in the past insisted that states and localities should make their own decisions regarding education .
`` To those who wondered if it was a slippery slope when it comes to renaming public buildings for the imperfect people who helped shape America : you need to look no further than Falls Church , Virginia , '' Graham tweeted .
`` They have concluded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Declaration of Independence , our nation 's first Secretary of State , and the third President of the United States , is no longer worthy of having an elementary school named after him . ''
`` This effort by modern day liberals to purge America of its founding history is truly shameful , '' Graham scolded .
Falls Church is a small city with an estimated population of 14,617 , located in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington , D.C. Its elected school board voted unanimously last week to rename Thomas Jefferson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After public hearings , a survey , and an extensive study , the board members decided that they did not want their city 's schools to be named after people who owned slaves , as both Jefferson and Mason did .
`` Our schools must be places where all students , staff , and community members feel safe , supported , and inspired , '' said chair Greg Anderson in a news release announcing the decision .
Graham has previously presented himself as a fierce defender of local control of education policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belongs in the hands of our parents , local officials and states , '' Graham said in 2014 in support of a move by Republican senators to denounce federal implementation of the Common Core state educational standards .
In a statement backing the nomination of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education in 2017 , Graham wrote , `` We must return control to our parents , local school districts , and states to make the best decisions for our students . ''
A Graham spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time Graham has made comments opposed to efforts to address the nation 's racist history .
As recently as June 2015 , he opposed removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina 's state Capitol grounds .
Though he grudgingly changed his mind in the wake of a mass shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston , he insisted that the image was `` a part of who we are . ''
In 2017 , he defended keeping Confederate monuments in his state , saying , `` The Civil War did exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past and make sure we do n't repeat the mistakes of our past , and move forward as a nation and as a state .
So I will support my state legislature 's ability to make these decisions , not Washington 's . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Monday blasted the decision of a local school board in Virginia to change the names of two of its schools that are currently named for slaveholders. Graham has in the past insisted that states and localities should make their own decisions regarding education.
“To those who wondered if it was a slippery slope when it comes to renaming public buildings for the imperfect people who helped shape America: you need to look no further than Falls Church, Virginia,” Graham tweeted. “They have concluded that Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, our nation’s first Secretary of State, and the third President of the United States, is no longer worthy of having an elementary school named after him.”
“This effort by modern day liberals to purge America of its founding history is truly shameful,” Graham scolded.
Falls Church is a small city with an estimated population of 14,617, located in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Its elected school board voted unanimously last week to rename Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and George Mason High School.
After public hearings, a survey, and an extensive study, the board members decided that they did not want their city’s schools to be named after people who owned slaves, as both Jefferson and Mason did. “Our schools must be places where all students, staff, and community members feel safe, supported, and inspired,” said chair Greg Anderson in a news release announcing the decision.
Graham has previously presented himself as a fierce defender of local control of education policies.
“Our resolution affirms that education belongs in the hands of our parents, local officials and states,” Graham said in 2014 in support of a move by Republican senators to denounce federal implementation of the Common Core state educational standards.
In a statement backing the nomination of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education in 2017, Graham wrote, “We must return control to our parents, local school districts, and states to make the best decisions for our students.”
A Graham spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
This is not the first time Graham has made comments opposed to efforts to address the nation’s racist history.
As recently as June 2015, he opposed removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina’s state Capitol grounds. Though he grudgingly changed his mind in the wake of a mass shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston, he insisted that the image was “a part of who we are.”
In 2017, he defended keeping Confederate monuments in his state, saying, “The Civil War did exist. We need to learn from our past and make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of our past, and move forward as a nation and as a state. So I will support my state legislature’s ability to make these decisions, not Washington’s.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-14--US health workers on the front lines 'relieved' to start getting COVID vaccine

The biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history kicked off Monday as health workers rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation 's death toll closed in on 300,000 .
`` I feel hopeful today .
Relieved , '' critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay said after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York .
With a countdown of `` three , two , one , '' workers at Ohio State University 's Wexner Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And in New Orleans , Steven Lee , an intensive care unit pharmacist at Ochsner Medical Center , summed up the moment as he got his own vaccination : `` We can finally prevent the disease as opposed to treating it . ''
Other hospitals around the country , from Rhode Island to Texas , unloaded precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech , with staggered deliveries set throughout Monday and Tuesday .
Several other countries also have authorized the vaccine , including Britain , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care workers , who along with nursing home residents will be first in line for vaccination , hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the United States and around the world .
`` This is mile 24 of a marathon .
People are fatigued .
But we also recognize that this end is in sight , '' said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle .
Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipped are a down payment on the amount needed .
More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week .
And later this week , the FDA will decide whether to greenlight the world 's second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine , made by Moderna Inc .
While the United States hopes for enough of both vaccines together to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of the month , there wo n't be enough for the average person to get a shot until spring .
`` This is the light at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long tunnel , '' New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions , not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later .
`` We 're also in the middle of a surge , and it 's the holidays , and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace , '' said Sue Mashni , chief pharmacy officer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City .
Plus , the shots can cause temporary fever , fatigue , and aches as they rev up people 's immune systems , forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations .
A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccinations .
Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated , while about a quarter do n't , and the rest are unsure , according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research .
The FDA , considered the world 's strictest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified , appears safe and strongly protective , and it laid out the data in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see .
`` Please , people , when you look back in a year and you say to yourself , 'Did I do the right thing ? '
I hope you 'll be able to say , 'Yes , because I looked at the evidence , ' '' Dr. Francis Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health , said Sunday on NBC 's `` Meet the Press . ''
`` People are dying right now .
How could you possibly say , 'Let 's wait and see ' ? ''
Still , in winning approval for widespread emergency use , the vaccine was cleared before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete .
That research is continuing to try to answer additional questions .
For example , while the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19 illness , it is not yet clear if it will stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all cases .
The shots still must be studied in children and during pregnancy .
But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify .
Also , regulators in Britain are investigating a few severe allergic reactions .
The FDA 's instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients .

The biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history kicked off Monday as health workers rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation’s death toll closed in on 300,000.
“I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay said after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.
With a countdown of “three, two, one,” workers at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center gave the first injections to applause.
And in New Orleans, Steven Lee, an intensive care unit pharmacist at Ochsner Medical Center, summed up the moment as he got his own vaccination: “We can finally prevent the disease as opposed to treating it.”
Other hospitals around the country, from Rhode Island to Texas, unloaded precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech, with staggered deliveries set throughout Monday and Tuesday. Several other countries also have authorized the vaccine, including Britain, which started vaccinating people last week.
For health care workers, who along with nursing home residents will be first in line for vaccination, hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the United States and around the world.
“This is mile 24 of a marathon. People are fatigued. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,” said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle.
Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures, the first of nearly 3 million doses being shipped are a down payment on the amount needed. More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to greenlight the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc.
While the United States hopes for enough of both vaccines together to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of the month, there won’t be enough for the average person to get a shot until spring.
“This is the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s a long tunnel,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions, not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later.
“We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
Plus, the shots can cause temporary fever, fatigue, and aches as they rev up people’s immune systems, forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations.
A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccinations. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t, and the rest are unsure, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research.
The FDA, considered the world’s strictest medical regulator, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified, appears safe and strongly protective, and it laid out the data in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see.
“Please, people, when you look back in a year and you say to yourself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ I hope you’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, because I looked at the evidence,'” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “People are dying right now. How could you possibly say, ‘Let’s wait and see’?”
Still, in winning approval for widespread emergency use, the vaccine was cleared before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete. That research is continuing to try to answer additional questions.
For example, while the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19 illness, it is not yet clear if it will stop the symptomless spread that accounts for half of all cases.
The shots still must be studied in children and during pregnancy. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify.
Also, regulators in Britain are investigating a few severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.


shareblue--2020-12-14--GOP congressman dresses up as pretend action hero in new ad for Georgia runoffs

Rep. Dan Crenshaw ( R-TX ) has depicted himself in a bizarre new Georgia runoff ad as an action hero poised to save the world from Democrats , whom he suggests pose a dangerous threat to the country .
Crenshaw 's ad promotes a Dec. 21 GOP rally in Walton County , Georgia , where the GOP congressman will campaign alongside Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue ahead of the Georgia runoff election on Jan. 5 .
In it , Crenshaw is pulled from an election rally by mysterious operatives , and prepares for war with `` antifa '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake scenario on the ground .
`` Far left activists are attempting to gain full and total control of the U.S. government , '' an ominous voiceover tells Crenshaw as a montage of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , and other prominent Democrats flickers across the screen .
`` Your mission will be to rally support across Georgia behind these American patriots , Sen. Perdue and Sen .
Loeffler . ''
Left-wing protesters are seen marching below , dressed in black clothing .
Crenshaw skydives out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground below .
At one point , the ad shows what appear to be two `` antifa '' activists sitting in a car awaiting Crenshaw 's attack .
`` I do n't even know why I 'm so angry , '' one says , before the other responds , `` Oh , the media told us to be . ''
Crenshaw then lands on top of the car from the sky , punching through the glass windshield to attack his `` enemies . ''
It 's not the first time Crenshaw has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world from the threat of Democrats .
The ad is a sequel of sorts to a September ad Crenshaw released to promote five fellow Republicans running for seats in the House of Representatives .
In that , he also portrayed himself as a superhero , once again jumping out of a plane and recruiting the other GOP candidates to support his cause — an apparent allusion to the Marvel `` Avengers '' franchise .
The new ad comes amid an uptick in violent threats to election officials in both parties who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November victory .
Trump has cast his political opponents as the enemy as a tactical move for years .
That strategy has escalated since Trump lost the November election , and even Georgia Republicans have blasted him for inciting violence against election officials .
`` Someone 's going to get hurt , someone 's going to get shot , someone 's going to get killed , '' Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling said in a press conference on Dec. 1 , addressing claims by Trump and his allies that the election had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do something about it .
`` Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence , '' he added .
Trump 's allies , meanwhile , have continued to push that violence regardless .
Far-right conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones , who has been banned from Facebook , iTunes , and YouTube for spreading disinformation , threatened Biden in a speech at a Trump rally over the weekend , claiming baselessly , `` I do n't know who 's going to the White House in 38 days but I sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globalist and Joe Biden will be removed one way or another . ''
Violent clashes between protesters and counterprotesters after that rally resulted in numerous injuries .
Many , including some conservative activists , have since slammed Jones for the apparent threats and pushed the FBI to investigate the matter .
Last week , tweets by the Arizona GOP also advocated for election-based violence , suggesting Republicans should be willing to die in a battle to overturn the election .
The group 's official account retweeted another user saying , `` I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight .
Are you ? ''
`` He is .
Are you ? ''
The Arizona GOP account added .
The account also tweeted a quote from the 2008 `` Rambo '' movie : `` This is what we do , this is who we are .
Live for nothing or die for something . ''
After backlash , the tweets were removed .
Former Arizona Republican Attorney General Grant Woods later condemned them .
`` In Arizona , the GOP has embraced a lot of fringe players and their fringe theories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads them to ultimately becoming a fringe party , '' he said in a New Times interview .
`` This sort of behavior , encouraging violence , is unacceptable .
We need all elected and formerly elected republicans to denounce it now . ''
Even though that sort of extremist rhetoric is feeding violence , Crenshaw has since stood by his new ad .
`` This video is driving the left absolutely mad , '' he tweeted Monday .
`` Share it .
Support . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) has depicted himself in a bizarre new Georgia runoff ad as an action hero poised to save the world from Democrats, whom he suggests pose a dangerous threat to the country.
Crenshaw’s ad promotes a Dec. 21 GOP rally in Walton County, Georgia, where the GOP congressman will campaign alongside Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue ahead of the Georgia runoff election on Jan. 5.
In it, Crenshaw is pulled from an election rally by mysterious operatives, and prepares for war with “antifa” activists as he is briefed on the fake scenario on the ground.
“Far left activists are attempting to gain full and total control of the U.S. government,” an ominous voiceover tells Crenshaw as a montage of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and other prominent Democrats flickers across the screen. “Your mission will be to rally support across Georgia behind these American patriots, Sen. Perdue and Sen. Loeffler.”
Left-wing protesters are seen marching below, dressed in black clothing. Crenshaw skydives out of a plane, attacking his opponents on the ground below.
At one point, the ad shows what appear to be two “antifa” activists sitting in a car awaiting Crenshaw’s attack.
“I don’t even know why I’m so angry,” one says, before the other responds, “Oh, the media told us to be.”
Crenshaw then lands on top of the car from the sky, punching through the glass windshield to attack his “enemies.”
It’s not the first time Crenshaw has depicted himself as an action hero saving the world from the threat of Democrats. The ad is a sequel of sorts to a September ad Crenshaw released to promote five fellow Republicans running for seats in the House of Representatives.
In that, he also portrayed himself as a superhero, once again jumping out of a plane and recruiting the other GOP candidates to support his cause — an apparent allusion to the Marvel “Avengers” franchise.
The new ad comes amid an uptick in violent threats to election officials in both parties who have certified or acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden’s November victory.
Trump has cast his political opponents as the enemy as a tactical move for years. That strategy has escalated since Trump lost the November election, and even Georgia Republicans have blasted him for inciting violence against election officials.
“Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed,” Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling said in a press conference on Dec. 1, addressing claims by Trump and his allies that the election had been stolen and their efforts to urge supporters to do something about it.
“Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence,” he added.
Trump’s allies, meanwhile, have continued to push that violence regardless.
Far-right conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones, who has been banned from Facebook, iTunes, and YouTube for spreading disinformation, threatened Biden in a speech at a Trump rally over the weekend, claiming baselessly, “I don’t know who’s going to the White House in 38 days but I sure know this, Joe Biden is a globalist and Joe Biden will be removed one way or another.”
Violent clashes between protesters and counterprotesters after that rally resulted in numerous injuries.
Many, including some conservative activists, have since slammed Jones for the apparent threats and pushed the FBI to investigate the matter.
Last week, tweets by the Arizona GOP also advocated for election-based violence, suggesting Republicans should be willing to die in a battle to overturn the election.
The group’s official account retweeted another user saying, “I am willing to give my life for this fight. Are you?”
“He is. Are you?” The Arizona GOP account added.
The account also tweeted a quote from the 2008 “Rambo” movie: “This is what we do, this is who we are. Live for nothing or die for something.”
After backlash, the tweets were removed. Former Arizona Republican Attorney General Grant Woods later condemned them.
“In Arizona, the GOP has embraced a lot of fringe players and their fringe theories. That’s one thing that just leads them to ultimately becoming a fringe party,” he said in a New Times interview. “This sort of behavior, encouraging violence, is unacceptable. We need all elected and formerly elected republicans to denounce it now.”
Even though that sort of extremist rhetoric is feeding violence, Crenshaw has since stood by his new ad.
“This video is driving the left absolutely mad,” he tweeted Monday. “Share it. Support.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-14--Here's the extremely unlikely way Trump could still overturn the election

Donald Trump said this weekend that he plans to continue his quixotic attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat .
But with the Electoral College set to officially elect Joe Biden on Monday , that will likely prove impossible .
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday , Trump said that a Supreme Court defeat and more than 50 other unsuccessful court challenges to last month 's results would not be the end of his fight to steal the election .
`` No , it 's not over .
We keep going and we 're going to continue to go forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he claimed , falsely stating that he won `` big '' in Georgia , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin — three of the five states that flipped from Trump to Biden this year .
And on Saturday , he tweeted , `` WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT !
!
! ''
But the clock is not on Trump 's side .
On Monday , 538 electors will gather in their state capitols and the District of Columbia to officially cast their votes .
According to the November election results , 306 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , and 232 to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence — a margin Trump described as a `` landslide '' in 2016 .
Under the Constitution 's framework , the electors ' sealed votes will be delivered to Congress within the next nine days and counted by the House and Senate on Jan. 6 .
Once the electors cast their votes , Trump will really have only one legal avenue left — finding lawmakers willing to challenge that count .
Should at least one senator and one representative sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral vote count , the House and Senate would immediately debate the challenge 's merits for two hours in their respective chambers .
After this discussion , the chambers would vote on whether to accept the votes as submitted .
If majorities in both chambers agreed with the objections , those electors ' votes would be set aside — otherwise , they 'd be counted .
Rep. Mo Brooks ( R-AL ) told the New York Times this week that he plans to attempt such an objection .
No senator has publicly committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if Brooks and someone in the Senate do sign such a statement , Democrats will hold a majority of House seats and at least 48 Senate seats .
While many Republican senators refused to acknowledge Biden 's victory , enough have that Trump would not be able to get a majority in that chamber either .
In 2000 and 2016 , a few House Democrats objected to George W. Bush and Donald Trump electors — but their efforts failed when no senator joined them in the move .
In 2004 , then-Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-Sen. Barbara Boxer ( D-CA ) similarly objected to the Ohio presidential results .
Republican leaders denounced the move as an endorsement of a baseless conspiracy theory like something on `` The X-Files . ''
After the required two-hour debates , the objections were quickly rejected by a bipartisan supermajority .
Trump is free to continue to file court challenges to the results for as long as he wishes — but at this point , they will do nothing to change the fact that Biden and Harris will be inaugurated in 37 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump said this weekend that he plans to continue his quixotic attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat. But with the Electoral College set to officially elect Joe Biden on Monday, that will likely prove impossible.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump said that a Supreme Court defeat and more than 50 other unsuccessful court challenges to last month’s results would not be the end of his fight to steal the election.
“No, it’s not over. We keep going and we’re going to continue to go forward. We have numerous local cases,” he claimed, falsely stating that he won “big” in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — three of the five states that flipped from Trump to Biden this year.
And on Saturday, he tweeted, “WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT!!!”
But the clock is not on Trump’s side.
On Monday, 538 electors will gather in their state capitols and the District of Columbia to officially cast their votes. According to the November election results, 306 of these electors are pledged to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and 232 to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence — a margin Trump described as a “landslide” in 2016.
Under the Constitution’s framework, the electors’ sealed votes will be delivered to Congress within the next nine days and counted by the House and Senate on Jan. 6.
Once the electors cast their votes, Trump will really have only one legal avenue left — finding lawmakers willing to challenge that count.
Should at least one senator and one representative sign a written objection to a state’s electoral vote count, the House and Senate would immediately debate the challenge’s merits for two hours in their respective chambers. After this discussion, the chambers would vote on whether to accept the votes as submitted. If majorities in both chambers agreed with the objections, those electors’ votes would be set aside — otherwise, they’d be counted.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) told the New York Times this week that he plans to attempt such an objection. No senator has publicly committed yet to joining his efforts.
But even if Brooks and someone in the Senate do sign such a statement, Democrats will hold a majority of House seats and at least 48 Senate seats. While many Republican senators refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, enough have that Trump would not be able to get a majority in that chamber either.
In 2000 and 2016, a few House Democrats objected to George W. Bush and Donald Trump electors — but their efforts failed when no senator joined them in the move.
In 2004, then-Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) and then-Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) similarly objected to the Ohio presidential results. Republican leaders denounced the move as an endorsement of a baseless conspiracy theory like something on “The X-Files.” After the required two-hour debates, the objections were quickly rejected by a bipartisan supermajority.
Trump is free to continue to file court challenges to the results for as long as he wishes — but at this point, they will do nothing to change the fact that Biden and Harris will be inaugurated in 37 days.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Trumplican brains

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

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


shareblue--2020-12-15--Melania Trump ignores mask rules yet again — this time at a children's hospital

First lady Melania Trump broke safety guidelines at the Children 's National Hospital when she removed her mask during a holiday visit on Tuesday .
The first lady took off her mask when reading `` Oliver the Ornament Meets Marley & Joan and Abbey '' by Todd Zimmerman to the children , with two sitting directly in front of her , the Hill noted .
`` I 'm very excited and looking forward to reading a book , '' she said .
She did not put her face covering back on as she left the facility , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` everyone '' to wear face coverings `` at all times while in any Children 's National facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . ''
As CNN reported , Mrs. Trump `` practiced social distancing '' during the visit but it was not clear if she had received any sort of special permission to remove her mask at any point .
Her latest action follows a pattern of inconsistency on the safety guideline , sometimes donning one — such as during a visit this past July to the Mary Elizabeth House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young , single mothers — while other times ignoring the safety measure altogether .
At an official White House meeting in July , she was pictured without one , despite others in the room keeping their face coverings on .
In November , the first lady was scrutinized for not wearing a mask to cast a ballot on Election Day in Palm Beach , Florida .
Earlier in October , she and Donald Trump 's elder children , Ivanka , Eric , and Donald Jr. , were all condemned for flouting Cleveland Clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the first presidential debate .
A campaign adviser later defended the first family , saying `` we believe in masks , but we also believe in some element of individual choice . ''
At a White House Halloween celebration , the first lady was also seen with her husband , neither of them wearing masks while meeting children during the annual trick or treating event , though the two remained socially distanced from guests .
Both Melania and Donald Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus just weeks earlier .
Those positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Garden ceremony announcing Justice Amy Coney Barrett 's Supreme Court nomination , where the first lady was pictured in the audience without a face covering .
The event later turned out to be the first White House `` superspreader '' event , prompting outbreak of infections among the guests .
Several more outbreaks occurred in the weeks that followed as the White House shunned safety measures and continued to host large-scale events .
More recently , the White House has hosted holiday parties , despite a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer Jenna Ellis , has since tested positive for the virus , after attending one such party earlier in December .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

First lady Melania Trump broke safety guidelines at the Children’s National Hospital when she removed her mask during a holiday visit on Tuesday.
The first lady took off her mask when reading “Oliver the Ornament Meets Marley & Joan and Abbey” by Todd Zimmerman to the children, with two sitting directly in front of her, the Hill noted.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to reading a book,” she said.
She did not put her face covering back on as she left the facility, according to the outlet.
The hospital’s policy requires “everyone” to wear face coverings “at all times while in any Children’s National facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
As CNN reported, Mrs. Trump “practiced social distancing” during the visit but it was not clear if she had received any sort of special permission to remove her mask at any point.
Her latest action follows a pattern of inconsistency on the safety guideline, sometimes donning one — such as during a visit this past July to the Mary Elizabeth House, a nonprofit organization in D.C. that helps young, single mothers — while other times ignoring the safety measure altogether.
At an official White House meeting in July, she was pictured without one, despite others in the room keeping their face coverings on.
In November, the first lady was scrutinized for not wearing a mask to cast a ballot on Election Day in Palm Beach, Florida.
Earlier in October, she and Donald Trump’s elder children, Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr., were all condemned for flouting Cleveland Clinic rules and taking off their face masks during the first presidential debate. A campaign adviser later defended the first family, saying “we believe in masks, but we also believe in some element of individual choice.”
At a White House Halloween celebration, the first lady was also seen with her husband, neither of them wearing masks while meeting children during the annual trick or treating event, though the two remained socially distanced from guests. Both Melania and Donald Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus just weeks earlier.
Those positive tests appeared to stem from a September Rose Garden ceremony announcing Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination, where the first lady was pictured in the audience without a face covering.
The event later turned out to be the first White House “superspreader” event, prompting outbreak of infections among the guests. Several more outbreaks occurred in the weeks that followed as the White House shunned safety measures and continued to host large-scale events.
More recently, the White House has hosted holiday parties, despite a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide. At least one person, Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis, has since tested positive for the virus, after attending one such party earlier in December.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-15--Supreme Court says keeping people safe from COVID threatens religious liberty

On Tuesday , the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious institutions in New Jersey and Colorado that had argued that their states ' pandemic-related regulations violated their religious freedom .
Justice Amy Coney Barrett , touted by the right as a champion of religious liberty , has been a critical factor in swaying recent decisions on this subject .
In the Colorado case , a small church opposed limits the state 's health department had placed on the number of people allowed in a building during services .
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the church in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's three liberal justices , Elena Kagan , Stephen Breyer , and Sonia Sotomayor , dissenting , on the grounds that the ruling was unnecessary , since Colorado had already removed the restrictions .
`` Absent our issuing different guidance , there is no reason to think Colorado will reverse course — and so no reason to think Harvest Church will again face capacity limits , '' Kagan wrote in the dissent .
In the New Jersey case , a rabbi and a minister claimed that the state 's mask mandate and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a building 's capacity violated their religious liberty .
The justices vacated lower court rulings that had favored the state in both cases .
The court issued injunctions allowing the houses of worship to operate at a higher capacity and with exceptions to mask-wearing comparable to those issued to restaurants and other nonretail businesses .
There were no signed dissents in the New Jersey case .
According to NBC , New Jersey had informed the court that the case was no longer relevant , since it had since lifted many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread earlier in the pandemic .
Health experts continue to urge measures to control the spread of the coronavirus : The World Health Organization 's guidelines for religious services , issued in April , note that places of worship should defer to the recommendations of national and local authorities and suggest that virtual gatherings are safer , while in May , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered specific guidelines and noting that congregations should `` take steps to limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and directives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In November , after Barrett 's confirmation , the Supreme Court blocked New York state 's enforcement of COVID restrictions on gatherings in religious institutions .
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court 's liberal justices in dissent , and Barrett cast the deciding vote .
On Dec. 3 , the court backed a California religious ministry that argued that Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom had imposed `` draconian and unconscionable prohibitions '' on the community .
The rulings in favor of religious institutions that challenge state regulations are a departure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In two rulings over the summer , the high court sided with Nevada and California against churches protesting COVID restrictions in 5-4 votes , with Roberts siding with the four liberal justices .
Conservatives say that Barrett 's appointment has made the recent rulings blocking COVID safety restrictions possible .
Conservative columnist Henry Olsen wrote of the New York case in a Nov. 27 op-ed published by the Washington Post , `` This reversal was possible only because of Barrett .
Without the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , there were only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of the governor 's order .
Barrett joined the four conservatives who had dissented in this summer 's cases to form the majority in this one . ''
The Family Research Council , a far-right activist group , attributed recent rulings to Barrett 's influence as well , tweeting , `` New Justice Amy Coney Barrett cast the tie-breaking vote solidifying the working mom ’ s standing as rock-solid defender of religious freedom . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious institutions in New Jersey and Colorado that had argued that their states’ pandemic-related regulations violated their religious freedom.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, touted by the right as a champion of religious liberty, has been a critical factor in swaying recent decisions on this subject.
In the Colorado case, a small church opposed limits the state’s health department had placed on the number of people allowed in a building during services. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the church in a 6-3 vote, with only the Court’s three liberal justices, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor, dissenting, on the grounds that the ruling was unnecessary, since Colorado had already removed the restrictions.
“Absent our issuing different guidance, there is no reason to think Colorado will reverse course — and so no reason to think Harvest Church will again face capacity limits,” Kagan wrote in the dissent.
In the New Jersey case, a rabbi and a minister claimed that the state’s mask mandate and a limit on service attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity violated their religious liberty.
The justices vacated lower court rulings that had favored the state in both cases. The court issued injunctions allowing the houses of worship to operate at a higher capacity and with exceptions to mask-wearing comparable to those issued to restaurants and other nonretail businesses.
There were no signed dissents in the New Jersey case.
According to NBC, New Jersey had informed the court that the case was no longer relevant, since it had since lifted many of the restrictions it had issued to prevent viral spread earlier in the pandemic.
Health experts continue to urge measures to control the spread of the coronavirus: The World Health Organization’s guidelines for religious services, issued in April, note that places of worship should defer to the recommendations of national and local authorities and suggest that virtual gatherings are safer, while in May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered specific guidelines and noting that congregations should “take steps to limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and directives of state and local authorities.”
In November, after Barrett’s confirmation, the Supreme Court blocked New York state’s enforcement of COVID restrictions on gatherings in religious institutions. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s liberal justices in dissent, and Barrett cast the deciding vote.
On Dec. 3, the court backed a California religious ministry that argued that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom had imposed “draconian and unconscionable prohibitions” on the community.
The rulings in favor of religious institutions that challenge state regulations are a departure from court decisions prior to Barrett’s appointment.
In two rulings over the summer, the high court sided with Nevada and California against churches protesting COVID restrictions in 5-4 votes, with Roberts siding with the four liberal justices.
Conservatives say that Barrett’s appointment has made the recent rulings blocking COVID safety restrictions possible.
Conservative columnist Henry Olsen wrote of the New York case in a Nov. 27 op-ed published by the Washington Post, “This reversal was possible only because of Barrett. Without the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, there were only three liberals to join the Chief Justice in support of the governor’s order. Barrett joined the four conservatives who had dissented in this summer’s cases to form the majority in this one.”
The Family Research Council, a far-right activist group, attributed recent rulings to Barrett’s influence as well, tweeting, “New Justice Amy Coney Barrett cast the tie-breaking vote solidifying the working mom’s standing as rock-solid defender of religious freedom.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-15--Pete Buttigieg will be first gay man ever nominated to the Cabinet

Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , is expected to be nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as secretary for the Department of Transportation , according to several news outlets , including the Associated Press , CNN , and the Washington Post .
This makes Buttigieg the first openly LGBTQ person to be nominated for a position in a White House Cabinet .
The LGBTQ Victory Institute , which aims to get more LGBTQ people into politics , celebrated the historic decision .
Buttigieg 's nomination is a `` milestone in a decades-long effort to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Annise Parker , the group 's president and CEO , in a statement .
`` It distances our nation from a troubled legacy of barring out LGBTQ people from government positions and moves us closer to the President-elect ’ s vision of a government that reflects America , '' she added .
`` As an out LGBTQ person , Pete will bring a unique perspective that will inform and influence policy throughout the federal government . ''
Rep. Angie Craig ( D-MN ) , the first lesbian mother elected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nomination and said she was `` thrilled that @ JoeBiden has made LGBTQ representation in his Cabinet a top priority . ''
Brad Hoylman , a Democratic New York state senator , who is openly gay , called Biden 's decision a `` milestone for equality . ''
Alphonso David , the president of the Human Rights Campaign , tweeted that Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris `` are keeping their promise & taking a significant step to create an administration that better reflects the diversity of our nation . ''
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protecting LGBTQ rights a `` top '' priority in his first 100 days in office .
`` To achieve our vision of equality , I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days — a priority that Donald Trump opposes , '' he said .
He also hired a number of openly LGBTQ people to serve on his transition team after winning the election — a step toward his promise to create an administration that will reflect the diversity of the American people .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's administration , which has pursued aggressively anti-LGBTQ policies over the last four years .
Trump did choose Richard Grenell , who is openly gay , to serve as acting director of National Intelligence , a position he held for a few months .
Republicans and the Trump campaign frequently touted Trump 's decision , since it made Grenell the first gay man to hold a Cabinet-level position , even though Grenell was never confirmed to the Senate and only stayed in the position temporarily .
Grenell , who led the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's decision to choose him for the role as evidence of Trump 's advocacy for LGBTQ people in a video for the Log Cabin Republicans released in August .
However , Grenell 's campaigning and other LGBTQ outreach efforts failed to persuade LGBTQ voters to support Trump 's campaign .
LGBTQ groups still hope to see more representation in the Biden administration .
The LGBTQ Victory Institute would like to Biden to appoint openly LGBTQ women ambassadors , LGBTQ ambassadors of color , and transgender ambassadors of color .
It is hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court justice and that all LGBTQ presidential appointees `` reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQ community . ''
It would like to see representation that meets the 4.5 % of LGBTQ people in the nation , which would that 185 of the 4,1000 presidential appointees would be LGBTQ .
David of the Human Rights Campaign tweeted further in response to the expected nomination of Buttigieg , `` We have & will continue to engage with the Transition team to ensure that LGBTQ people will be appointed at all levels of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full diversity of our community , including LGBTQ people of color , trans & gender non-conforming people . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is expected to be nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as secretary for the Department of Transportation, according to several news outlets, including the Associated Press, CNN, and the Washington Post.
This makes Buttigieg the first openly LGBTQ person to be nominated for a position in a White House Cabinet. The LGBTQ Victory Institute, which aims to get more LGBTQ people into politics, celebrated the historic decision.
Buttigieg’s nomination is a “milestone in a decades-long effort to ensure LGBTQ people are represented throughout our government,” said Annise Parker, the group’s president and CEO, in a statement.
“It distances our nation from a troubled legacy of barring out LGBTQ people from government positions and moves us closer to the President-elect’s vision of a government that reflects America,” she added. “As an out LGBTQ person, Pete will bring a unique perspective that will inform and influence policy throughout the federal government.”
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), the first lesbian mother elected to Congress, tweeted in support of Buttigieg’s nomination and said she was “thrilled that @JoeBiden has made LGBTQ representation in his Cabinet a top priority.”
Brad Hoylman, a Democratic New York state senator, who is openly gay, called Biden’s decision a “milestone for equality.”
Alphonso David, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, tweeted that Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “are keeping their promise & taking a significant step to create an administration that better reflects the diversity of our nation.”
During the campaign, Biden promised to make protecting LGBTQ rights a “top” priority in his first 100 days in office.
“To achieve our vision of equality, I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days — a priority that Donald Trump opposes,” he said.
He also hired a number of openly LGBTQ people to serve on his transition team after winning the election — a step toward his promise to create an administration that will reflect the diversity of the American people.
It’s a great departure from Donald Trump’s administration, which has pursued aggressively anti-LGBTQ policies over the last four years.
Trump did choose Richard Grenell, who is openly gay, to serve as acting director of National Intelligence, a position he held for a few months. Republicans and the Trump campaign frequently touted Trump’s decision, since it made Grenell the first gay man to hold a Cabinet-level position, even though Grenell was never confirmed to the Senate and only stayed in the position temporarily.
Grenell, who led the Trump campaign’s co-called LGBTQ outreach efforts, gave Trump’s decision to choose him for the role as evidence of Trump’s advocacy for LGBTQ people in a video for the Log Cabin Republicans released in August.
However, Grenell’s campaigning and other LGBTQ outreach efforts failed to persuade LGBTQ voters to support Trump’s campaign.
LGBTQ groups still hope to see more representation in the Biden administration. The LGBTQ Victory Institute would like to Biden to appoint openly LGBTQ women ambassadors, LGBTQ ambassadors of color, and transgender ambassadors of color. It is hoping Biden will nominate an openly LGBTQ U.S. Supreme Court justice and that all LGBTQ presidential appointees “reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQ community.”
It would like to see representation that meets the 4.5% of LGBTQ people in the nation, which would that 185 of the 4,1000 presidential appointees would be LGBTQ.
David of the Human Rights Campaign tweeted further in response to the expected nomination of Buttigieg, “We have & will continue to engage with the Transition team to ensure that LGBTQ people will be appointed at all levels of government & that those appointments will reflect the full diversity of our community, including LGBTQ people of color, trans & gender non-conforming people.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-15--Biden plans safe inauguration as Trump keeps hosting superspreaders

President-elect Joe Biden is planning to implement public safety measures for his Jan. 20 inauguration , in light of the raging coronavirus pandemic — a stark contrast to Donald Trump , who has continued to host potential superspreader events even as cases spike across the country .
Biden 's inaugural committee issued a statement on Tuesday outlining initial plans for the event , urging `` Americans to stay home , refrain from travel , and limit gatherings during the inauguration . ''
`` President-elect Biden 's unwavering commitment to the safety of the American people is our North Star as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health while honoring inaugural traditions and engaging Americans across the country , '' said Maju Varghese , the committee 's executive director .
The inauguration ceremony itself will include `` vigorous health and safety protocols , '' the committee said .
`` President-elect Biden will also deliver an inaugural address that lays out his vision to beat the virus , build back better , and bring the country together .
The ceremony 's footprint will be extremely limited , and the parade that follows will be reimagined , '' the statement read .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home . ''
Activities will likely mirror the virtual features in August 's Democratic National Convention , the Washington Post noted .
`` This is a once-in-a-generation moment that we ’ re in , '' Varghese told the Post .
`` The idea of some of the models you 've seen through the pandemic — from screens at NBA games or different camera angles to watch events at home — are things our creative team and digital team is thinking about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to flout safety guidelines and hold rallies across the country , even as the pandemic worsens in many places .
Earlier in December , Trump held a rally in Georgia where attendees packed together without masks or social distancing .
In November , just prior to the election , Trump traversed eight states , holding campaign rally after campaign rally where many did not wear masks and crowded closely together , ignoring COVID-19 safety measures .
Trump is also reportedly planning a counter-rally on the same day as Biden 's inauguration that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .
According to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to NBC News on Dec. 1 , the rally was at that time in the `` preliminary planning '' stages .
`` Trump is keen on the idea of formally launching a 2024 campaign on Inauguration Day because that ’ s when he filed for re-election in 2017 , '' the outlet reported .
Although it 's unclear what , if any , safety measures would be taken at that rally to prevent further spread of the virus , Trump 's events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning attendees ahead of time about mask requirements , but seemingly doing little to enforce them .
In fact , a recent Center for American Progress analysis found that county-level spikes in coronavirus cases followed half of Trump 's 22 campaign rallies between June and September .
In that same time period , a Stanford University study found that Trump 's rallies led to over 30,000 COVID-19 cases in the United States .
That appears to indicate that guidelines are being flouted to the point that the virus is allowed to spread freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still hosting White House holiday events .
In video of one such holiday party on Dec. 2 , attendees without masks were heard coughing as Trump bragged about `` trying to do another four years '' in the Oval Office .
Guests appeared crowded together with no social distancing .
Trump 's campaign lawyer , Jenna Ellis , notably tested positive for the virus after attending one of the White House parties .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden is planning to implement public safety measures for his Jan. 20 inauguration, in light of the raging coronavirus pandemic — a stark contrast to Donald Trump, who has continued to host potential superspreader events even as cases spike across the country.
Biden’s inaugural committee issued a statement on Tuesday outlining initial plans for the event, urging “Americans to stay home, refrain from travel, and limit gatherings during the inauguration.”
“President-elect Biden’s unwavering commitment to the safety of the American people is our North Star as we plan an inauguration that protects public health while honoring inaugural traditions and engaging Americans across the country,” said Maju Varghese, the committee’s executive director.
The inauguration ceremony itself will include “vigorous health and safety protocols,” the committee said.
“President-elect Biden will also deliver an inaugural address that lays out his vision to beat the virus, build back better, and bring the country together. The ceremony’s footprint will be extremely limited, and the parade that follows will be reimagined,” the statement read.
The committee also urged Americans “to refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home.”
Activities will likely mirror the virtual features in August’s Democratic National Convention, the Washington Post noted.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment that we’re in,” Varghese told the Post. “The idea of some of the models you’ve seen through the pandemic — from screens at NBA games or different camera angles to watch events at home — are things our creative team and digital team is thinking about.”
In sharp comparison, Trump has continued to flout safety guidelines and hold rallies across the country, even as the pandemic worsens in many places.
Earlier in December, Trump held a rally in Georgia where attendees packed together without masks or social distancing.
In November, just prior to the election, Trump traversed eight states, holding campaign rally after campaign rally where many did not wear masks and crowded closely together, ignoring COVID-19 safety measures.
Trump is also reportedly planning a counter-rally on the same day as Biden’s inauguration that could potentially end up being a superspreader event. According to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to NBC News on Dec. 1, the rally was at that time in the “preliminary planning” stages.
“Trump is keen on the idea of formally launching a 2024 campaign on Inauguration Day because that’s when he filed for re-election in 2017,” the outlet reported.
Although it’s unclear what, if any, safety measures would be taken at that rally to prevent further spread of the virus, Trump’s events have often followed a similar pattern, warning attendees ahead of time about mask requirements, but seemingly doing little to enforce them.
In fact, a recent Center for American Progress analysis found that county-level spikes in coronavirus cases followed half of Trump’s 22 campaign rallies between June and September. In that same time period, a Stanford University study found that Trump’s rallies led to over 30,000 COVID-19 cases in the United States.
That appears to indicate that guidelines are being flouted to the point that the virus is allowed to spread freely.
Despite those sobering statistics, Trump is still hosting White House holiday events.
In video of one such holiday party on Dec. 2, attendees without masks were heard coughing as Trump bragged about “trying to do another four years” in the Oval Office. Guests appeared crowded together with no social distancing.
Trump’s campaign lawyer, Jenna Ellis, notably tested positive for the virus after attending one of the White House parties.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-15--McConnell is suddenly very concerned about GOP not accepting election results

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday pleaded with his GOP colleagues not to object to the results of the Electoral College on Jan. 6 , when Congress plans to meet to formally accept President-elect Joe Biden 's victory , multiple outlets reported .
House Republicans plan to object to the Electoral College tally — which Biden won 306 to 232 — over baseless allegations of voter fraud .
Those House Republicans need a senator to object to force a vote from both chambers of Congress on whether to accept that final tally .
The stunt is destined to fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats in the House and would not vote to overturn Biden 's win .
The stunt would also likely fail in the Senate , where Republicans like Pennsylvania 's Pat Toomey and Utah 's Mitt Romney have slammed their own party for not accepting the results .
But McConnell and other members of Senate Republican leadership fear that such a vote could hurt the GOP 's chances in the midterm elections .
If they vote to uphold the Electoral College result and confirm Trump 's loss , it could enrage Trump 's loyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Republicans up for reelection .
But if they vote to overturn the Electoral College results and invalidate millions of legally cast ballots in a free and fair election , it could mobilize the millions of voters who voted for Biden against Republicans in the midterms .
It 's a `` terrible vote '' for Republicans , McConnell said on the call , according to Politico 's Jake Sherman .
Of course , these same Republicans , including McConnell , have spent the past month refusing to acknowledge that Biden won the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contest the results in court .
They kept up that position , even as courts across the country threw out those challenges .
Judges of all stripes chastised both the Trump campaign 's lawyers and the Trump allies who filed lawsuits to help in the coup attempt for providing no evidence of fraud and trying to use the courts to overturn the will of the voters .
In fact , it took McConnell until Tuesday to call Biden the president-elect , a full 42 days since the election and 38 days since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our country has officially a president-elect and a vice president-elect , '' McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor .
`` The Electoral College has spoken .
So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden . ''
Other Senate Republicans have been less equivocal in acknowledging the reality that Trump lost , with some still refusing to say that Biden won .
But forcing a vote would put Senate Republicans on record about whether they agree with tossing out the results from a free and fair election over baseless allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges for Senate Republicans , who are defending the majority of seats up in 2022 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday pleaded with his GOP colleagues not to object to the results of the Electoral College on Jan. 6, when Congress plans to meet to formally accept President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, multiple outlets reported.
House Republicans plan to object to the Electoral College tally — which Biden won 306 to 232 — over baseless allegations of voter fraud. Those House Republicans need a senator to object to force a vote from both chambers of Congress on whether to accept that final tally.
The stunt is destined to fail, because Democrats hold a majority of seats in the House and would not vote to overturn Biden’s win. The stunt would also likely fail in the Senate, where Republicans like Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey and Utah’s Mitt Romney have slammed their own party for not accepting the results.
But McConnell and other members of Senate Republican leadership fear that such a vote could hurt the GOP’s chances in the midterm elections.
If they vote to uphold the Electoral College result and confirm Trump’s loss, it could enrage Trump’s loyal followers, possibly inspiring them to mobilize against Republicans up for reelection.
But if they vote to overturn the Electoral College results and invalidate millions of legally cast ballots in a free and fair election, it could mobilize the millions of voters who voted for Biden against Republicans in the midterms.
It’s a “terrible vote” for Republicans, McConnell said on the call, according to Politico’s Jake Sherman.
Of course, these same Republicans, including McConnell, have spent the past month refusing to acknowledge that Biden won the election, saying Trump was within his rights to contest the results in court.
They kept up that position, even as courts across the country threw out those challenges. Judges of all stripes chastised both the Trump campaign’s lawyers and the Trump allies who filed lawsuits to help in the coup attempt for providing no evidence of fraud and trying to use the courts to overturn the will of the voters.
In fact, it took McConnell until Tuesday to call Biden the president-elect, a full 42 days since the election and 38 days since media outlets called the race.
“Our country has officially a president-elect and a vice president-elect,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor. “The Electoral College has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.”
Other Senate Republicans have been less equivocal in acknowledging the reality that Trump lost, with some still refusing to say that Biden won.
But forcing a vote would put Senate Republicans on record about whether they agree with tossing out the results from a free and fair election over baseless allegations of fraud. It could inspire primary challenges for Senate Republicans, who are defending the majority of seats up in 2022.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-15--Trump picks new acting attorney general with an ugly record of defending racism

Donald Trump has appointed Deputy Attorney Jeffrey Rosen to the position of acting attorney general , replacing Attorney General William Barr , who resigned on Monday .
Rosen 's history of defending racism raises concerns about his ability to apply the concept of equal justice under the law as the Trump administration crams in as many federal executions as it can before President-elect Joe Biden 's inauguration in January .
Barr had publicly contradicted Trump 's false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election .
Rosen has no experience as a federal prosecutor .
He previously served as deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the White House Office of Management and Budget .
During his 2019 hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee for the position of deputy attorney general , Rosen was asked by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut whether the Supreme Court 's landmark anti-segregation ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 was correct .
`` Senator , I do n't think that it would be a productive exercise for me to go through the most–thousands of Supreme Court opinions and say which ones are right and which ones are wrong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Fund issued a statement urging senators not to vote to confirm Rosen .
“ Jeffrey Rosen 's failure to endorse the Supreme Court 's unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education is unprecedented and unforgivable , '' wrote policy director Lisa Cylar Barrett , adding , `` Mr. Rosen 's refusal to explicitly support the decision sends a distressing signal about what we can expect to see from the Department he will help lead , if confirmed . ''
After he had voted against Rosen 's confirmation , Sen. Cory Booker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a written question , I asked Mr. Rosen about implicit racial bias and he replied that he had 'not studied the issue . '
It is profoundly troubling and beyond belief that the individual who is nominated to be the second-highest ranking law enforcement official in the United States has not studied the issue of implicit racial bias .
We need leaders at the Department of Justice who are familiar with these issues , who understand the problem of implicit bias in the criminal justice system , and who are dedicated to addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that leader . ''
Booker 's office did not immediately respond to request for comment on Rosen 's promotion .
In November 2019 , Rosen penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post that slammed Democratic prosecutors for police reform efforts : `` A prosecutor has a vital role : to enforce the law fairly and keep the public safe .
These purportedly progressive district attorneys , however , are shirking that duty in favor of unfounded decriminalization policies they claim are necessary to fix a 'broken ' system . ''
`` These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are appointed to lead and fueling mistrust by promoting false narratives about the criminal-justice system and law enforcement , '' Rosen wrote .
`` The prosecutors are essentially flipping the script , casting criminals as victims and police as villains .
This distortion is not only demoralizing to law enforcement but also emboldens hostility toward both the rule of law and those entrusted with enforcing it . ''
And in September 2020 , Rosen published an op-ed in the New York Post that was also posted on the official website of the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity for police officers , arguing that it 's unfair that the public can sue police officers for `` excessive force '' infractions : `` Police officers must be able to respond decisively and responsibly .
When a bad guy is threatening to slash innocents on a sidewalk with a knife , officers do n't have time to analyze legal memos . ''
Rosen is just the latest Trump appointee to deny the existence of racial bias in the justice system .
`` I do n't agree that there 's systemic racism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Barr said in July after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd , an unarmed Black man .
Only 13.4 % of the general population is Black , yet approximately 42 % of those on federal death row are .
As the Trump administration carries out a string of federal executions , including killing two Black men in the past week , with two more scheduled to be executed before Biden 's inauguration , Rosen 's positions on issues of race raise concerns .
One anonymous Justice Department prosecutor told NPR that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying , `` I think he is more prone to agree with the White House and do what the White House counsel wants .
I think he 'll be more of a loyal trooper to the White House , where Barr is more his own man . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has appointed Deputy Attorney Jeffrey Rosen to the position of acting attorney general, replacing Attorney General William Barr, who resigned on Monday. Rosen’s history of defending racism raises concerns about his ability to apply the concept of equal justice under the law as the Trump administration crams in as many federal executions as it can before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in January.
Barr had publicly contradicted Trump’s false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Rosen has no experience as a federal prosecutor. He previously served as deputy secretary of transportation and as general counsel in the White House Office of Management and Budget.
During his 2019 hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee for the position of deputy attorney general, Rosen was asked by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut whether the Supreme Court’s landmark anti-segregation ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 was correct.
“Senator, I don’t think that it would be a productive exercise for me to go through the most–thousands of Supreme Court opinions and say which ones are right and which ones are wrong,” Rosen responded.
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund issued a statement urging senators not to vote to confirm Rosen.
“Jeffrey Rosen’s failure to endorse the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education is unprecedented and unforgivable,” wrote policy director Lisa Cylar Barrett, adding, “Mr. Rosen’s refusal to explicitly support the decision sends a distressing signal about what we can expect to see from the Department he will help lead, if confirmed.”
After he had voted against Rosen’s confirmation, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) stated: “In a written question, I asked Mr. Rosen about implicit racial bias and he replied that he had ‘not studied the issue.’ It is profoundly troubling and beyond belief that the individual who is nominated to be the second-highest ranking law enforcement official in the United States has not studied the issue of implicit racial bias. We need leaders at the Department of Justice who are familiar with these issues, who understand the problem of implicit bias in the criminal justice system, and who are dedicated to addressing it. Mr. Rosen is clearly not that leader.”
Booker’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment on Rosen’s promotion.
In November 2019, Rosen penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post that slammed Democratic prosecutors for police reform efforts: “A prosecutor has a vital role: to enforce the law fairly and keep the public safe. These purportedly progressive district attorneys, however, are shirking that duty in favor of unfounded decriminalization policies they claim are necessary to fix a ‘broken’ system.”
“These prosecutors risk demeaning the very institutions they are appointed to lead and fueling mistrust by promoting false narratives about the criminal-justice system and law enforcement,” Rosen wrote. “The prosecutors are essentially flipping the script, casting criminals as victims and police as villains. This distortion is not only demoralizing to law enforcement but also emboldens hostility toward both the rule of law and those entrusted with enforcing it.”
And in September 2020, Rosen published an op-ed in the New York Post that was also posted on the official website of the Department of Justice, this one defending qualified immunity for police officers, arguing that it’s unfair that the public can sue police officers for “excessive force” infractions: “Police officers must be able to respond decisively and responsibly. When a bad guy is threatening to slash innocents on a sidewalk with a knife, officers don’t have time to analyze legal memos.”
Rosen is just the latest Trump appointee to deny the existence of racial bias in the justice system.
“I don’t agree that there’s systemic racism in police departments generally, in this country,” Barr said in July after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, an unarmed Black man.
Only 13.4% of the general population is Black, yet approximately 42% of those on federal death row are. As the Trump administration carries out a string of federal executions, including killing two Black men in the past week, with two more scheduled to be executed before Biden’s inauguration, Rosen’s positions on issues of race raise concerns.
One anonymous Justice Department prosecutor told NPR that he fears Rosen is just another Trump yes-man, saying, “I think he is more prone to agree with the White House and do what the White House counsel wants. I think he’ll be more of a loyal trooper to the White House, where Barr is more his own man.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.