cnbc--2020-11-24--Biden's foreign policy team lays out a national security vision that differs sharply from Trump's

Joining Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on stage in Wilmington , Delaware , were Antony Blinken , Biden 's pick for secretary of State ; Alejandro Mayorkas , his choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security ; Avril Haines , his nominee for director of national intelligence ; Jake Sullivan , the incoming national security advisor ; Linda Thomas-Greenfield , who was tapped to serve as ambassador to the United Nations , and former Secretary of State John Kerry , who will take on a newly created role as special envoy for climate change .
Biden said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its global leadership and its moral leadership , and will ensure that our service members , diplomats and intelligence professionals can do their jobs free of politics . ''
These were just two of the policy shifts that members of President-elect Joe Biden 's national security team pledged to enact Tuesday at an event introducing Biden 's choices for top Cabinet posts .
The event offered millions of Americans their first opportunity to hear directly from Biden 's nominees , who have decades of experience in foreign policy but are not necessarily household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previewed an approach to foreign policy that seems diametrically opposed to the one that President Donald Trump has pursued for the past four years .
There was no talk of `` America first '' and no hint of crackdowns on immigration or refugees .
There were no corporate CEOs or career military officers named to high posts and no suggestions that U.S. foreign policy needs to serve economic interests through trade deals and bilateral purchasing agreements .
Instead , the nominees spoke of the importance of reestablishing America 's moral leadership , championing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies and democracies around the world .
While few Republicans doubted the raw qualifications of Biden 's nominees , there was already grumbling on Tuesday from GOP senators about the new approach .
Biden will likely need the votes of at least a few Republicans in order to confirm his nominees to their posts .
`` Biden 's cabinet picks went to Ivy League schools , have strong resumes , attend all the right conferences & will be polite & orderly caretakers of America 's decline , '' Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American greatness and I have no interest in returning to the `` normal '' that left us dependent on China . ''
Yet judging from Biden 's past statements on China , his incoming administration is poised to take a tougher line with America 's top economic adversary than President Barack Obama did .
Below are some highlights from the nominees : Blinken : `` We have to proceed with equal measures of humility and confidence .
Humility because as the president-elect said , we ca n't solve all the world 's problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other countries , we need their cooperation and we need their partnership .
But also confidence , because America at its best still has a greater ability than any other country on Earth to bring others together to meet the challenges of our time . ''
Mayorkas : `` The Department of Homeland Security has a noble mission to help keep us safe , and to advance our proud history as a country of welcome ... My father and mother brought me to this country to escape communism .
They cherished our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States citizens , as was I . ''
Thomas-Greenfield : `` My fellow career diplomats and public servants around the world , I want to say to you : America is back .
Multilateralism is back .
Diplomacy is back . ''
Haines : `` Mr. President-elect , you know that I 've never shied away from speaking truth to power , and that will be my charge as director of national intelligence ... you would never want me to do otherwise , and you value the perspective of the intelligence community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even when what I have to say may be inconvenient or difficult .
And I assure you , there will be those times . ''
Sullivan : Mr. President-elect , `` You have also tasked us with putting people at the center of our foreign policy .
You have told us the alliances we rebuild , the institutions we lead , the agreements we sign , all of them should be judged by a basic question — will this make life better , easier , safer for families across this country ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting .
It means creating millions of middle-class jobs , it means less pollution in our air and our oceans , it means making life healthier for citizens across the world , and it means we will strengthen the security of every nation in the world .
In addressing the climate crisis , President-elect Joe Biden is determined to seize the future now and leave a healing planet to future generations . ''

Joining Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on stage in Wilmington, Delaware, were Antony Blinken, Biden's pick for secretary of State; Alejandro Mayorkas, his choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security; Avril Haines, his nominee for director of national intelligence; Jake Sullivan, the incoming national security advisor; Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who was tapped to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, and former Secretary of State John Kerry, who will take on a newly created role as special envoy for climate change.
Biden said his nominees will "restore America globally, its global leadership and its moral leadership, and will ensure that our service members, diplomats and intelligence professionals can do their jobs free of politics."
These were just two of the policy shifts that members of President-elect Joe Biden's national security team pledged to enact Tuesday at an event introducing Biden's choices for top Cabinet posts.
The event offered millions of Americans their first opportunity to hear directly from Biden's nominees, who have decades of experience in foreign policy but are not necessarily household names.
Taken together, their remarks previewed an approach to foreign policy that seems diametrically opposed to the one that President Donald Trump has pursued for the past four years.
There was no talk of "America first" and no hint of crackdowns on immigration or refugees. There were no corporate CEOs or career military officers named to high posts and no suggestions that U.S. foreign policy needs to serve economic interests through trade deals and bilateral purchasing agreements.
Instead, the nominees spoke of the importance of reestablishing America's moral leadership, championing human rights and strengthening multilateral relationships with allies and democracies around the world.
While few Republicans doubted the raw qualifications of Biden's nominees, there was already grumbling on Tuesday from GOP senators about the new approach. Biden will likely need the votes of at least a few Republicans in order to confirm his nominees to their posts.
"Biden's cabinet picks went to Ivy League schools, have strong resumes, attend all the right conferences & will be polite & orderly caretakers of America's decline," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tweeted Tuesday. "I support American greatness and I have no interest in returning to the "normal" that left us dependent on China."
Yet judging from Biden's past statements on China, his incoming administration is poised to take a tougher line with America's top economic adversary than President Barack Obama did.
Below are some highlights from the nominees:
Blinken: "We have to proceed with equal measures of humility and confidence. Humility because as the president-elect said, we can't solve all the world's problems alone. We need to be working with other countries, we need their cooperation and we need their partnership. But also confidence, because America at its best still has a greater ability than any other country on Earth to bring others together to meet the challenges of our time."
Mayorkas: "The Department of Homeland Security has a noble mission to help keep us safe, and to advance our proud history as a country of welcome ... My father and mother brought me to this country to escape communism. They cherished our democracy and were intensely proud to become United States citizens, as was I."
Thomas-Greenfield: "My fellow career diplomats and public servants around the world, I want to say to you: America is back. Multilateralism is back. Diplomacy is back."
Haines: "Mr. President-elect, you know that I've never shied away from speaking truth to power, and that will be my charge as director of national intelligence ... you would never want me to do otherwise, and you value the perspective of the intelligence community, [and] will do so even when what I have to say may be inconvenient or difficult. And I assure you, there will be those times."
Sullivan: Mr. President-elect, "You have also tasked us with putting people at the center of our foreign policy. You have told us the alliances we rebuild, the institutions we lead, the agreements we sign, all of them should be judged by a basic question — will this make life better, easier, safer for families across this country?"
Kerry: "The road ahead is exciting. It means creating millions of middle-class jobs, it means less pollution in our air and our oceans, it means making life healthier for citizens across the world, and it means we will strengthen the security of every nation in the world. In addressing the climate crisis, President-elect Joe Biden is determined to seize the future now and leave a healing planet to future generations."


cnbc--2020-11-24--Jailers interrupt Ghislaine Maxwell's sleep every 15 minutes to check if she's still breathing, lawy

Jailers interrupt Ghislaine Maxwell's sleep every 15 minutes to check if she's still breathing, lawyer says

Ghislaine Maxwell attends day 1 of the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20 , 2013 in New York City .
A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell on Tuesday complained to a federal judge that the accused accomplice of sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is being `` overmanaged '' in jail , which includes having her sleep interrupted every 15 minutes by guards with a flashlight checking to see whether she 's still breathing .
Maxwell 's lawyer also said that the British socialite is not being given enough time in the Brooklyn , New York , federal jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case and to `` prepare the defense of her life . ''
The complaint comes 15 months after Maxwell 's former boyfriend , Epstein , died from what has been officially ruled a suicide by hanging in another federal jail in New York City , where the wealthy money manager was being held on child sex trafficking charges .
Weeks before he died , Epstein was found on the floor of his jail cell semiconscious with marks on his neck , in what was his first apparent suicide bid .
Two guards at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to cover up their failure to monitor him and other inmates on the day of his death .
Maxwell is currently in 14-day quarantine after possible exposure to a jail staffer with Covid-19 , prosecutors revealed Monday .
Prosecutors have said she tested negative for the coronavirus .
Her lawyer , Bobbi Sternheim , in a letter to Manhattan federal Judge Alison Nathan on Tuesday , said that Maxwell was threatened with seven more days in quarantine if she declined to undergo two nasal swabs testing her for the coronavirus .
Sternheim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Covid-protection mask for `` an in-mouth inspection , '' and initially was not given soap or a toothbrush when she began quarantine .
The lawyer also said that medical staff has ceased doing daily checks on Maxwell , and have `` neither informed her of results of the COVID tests '' nor responded to her question of what she should do if she becomes symptomatic .
And despite the fact that no staffer supposedly is permitted to enter her cell in the Brooklyn jail during her quarantine , `` an unidentified man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entered to search '' that cell recently , Sternheim wrote Nathan .
Sternheim 's letter says that Maxwell is a `` non-violent , exemplary pretrial detainee with no criminal history , '' or history of violence , mental health issues or suicidal ideation .
Despite that , the lawyer wrote , Maxwell is `` overmanaged '' in jail under conditions that are more restrictive than those for terrorists , murderers , and other dangerous and at-risk inmates held in the most restrictive settings in the federal prison system .
Sternheim asked that Nathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tellez , to report directly to the judge and Maxwell 's legal team about her `` conditions of detention , '' as opposed to relying on second-hand accounts by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Southern District of New York .
The letter comes a day after those prosecutors wrote Nathan to inform her of Maxwell 's quarantine , and that Maxwell herself so far had tested negative for Covid .
Maxwell , 58 , is being held without bail in the Metropolitan Detention Center on charges related to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls to be sexually abused by Epstein in the 1990s .
She was arrested in July , almost exactly a year to the day after Epstein 's own arrest on federal charges , at a million-dollar hideaway in New Hampshire .
Maxwell has pleaded not guilty in the case , and is due to go on trial next year .
Epstein , who had been a friend of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton , as well as with Britain 's Prince Andrew , pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state crimes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual services .
He served 13 months in jail in that case .
Last year , Trump 's then-Labor secretary , Alex Acosta , resigned after heavy criticism of his decision in 2007 to cut a nonprosecution deal with Epstein for federal crimes when Acosta was the U.S. attorney for Miami exchange for his agreement to plead guilty to state charges .

Ghislaine Maxwell attends day 1 of the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013 in New York City.
A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell on Tuesday complained to a federal judge that the accused accomplice of sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is being "overmanaged" in jail, which includes having her sleep interrupted every 15 minutes by guards with a flashlight checking to see whether she's still breathing.
Maxwell's lawyer also said that the British socialite is not being given enough time in the Brooklyn, New York, federal jail to review documents related to her criminal case and to "prepare the defense of her life."
The complaint comes 15 months after Maxwell's former boyfriend, Epstein, died from what has been officially ruled a suicide by hanging in another federal jail in New York City, where the wealthy money manager was being held on child sex trafficking charges.
Weeks before he died, Epstein was found on the floor of his jail cell semiconscious with marks on his neck, in what was his first apparent suicide bid.
Two guards at that jail have been criminally charged with trying to cover up their failure to monitor him and other inmates on the day of his death.
Maxwell is currently in 14-day quarantine after possible exposure to a jail staffer with Covid-19, prosecutors revealed Monday. Prosecutors have said she tested negative for the coronavirus.
Her lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, in a letter to Manhattan federal Judge Alison Nathan on Tuesday, said that Maxwell was threatened with seven more days in quarantine if she declined to undergo two nasal swabs testing her for the coronavirus.
Sternheim complained that Maxwell was ordered to remove a Covid-protection mask for "an in-mouth inspection," and initially was not given soap or a toothbrush when she began quarantine.
The lawyer also said that medical staff has ceased doing daily checks on Maxwell, and have "neither informed her of results of the COVID tests" nor responded to her question of what she should do if she becomes symptomatic.
And despite the fact that no staffer supposedly is permitted to enter her cell in the Brooklyn jail during her quarantine, "an unidentified man entered to take photographs and a guard entered to search" that cell recently, Sternheim wrote Nathan.
Sternheim's letter says that Maxwell is a "non-violent, exemplary pretrial detainee with no criminal history," or history of violence, mental health issues or suicidal ideation.
Despite that, the lawyer wrote, Maxwell is "overmanaged" in jail under conditions that are more restrictive than those for terrorists, murderers, and other dangerous and at-risk inmates held in the most restrictive settings in the federal prison system.
Sternheim asked that Nathan order the jail's warden, Heriberto Tellez, to report directly to the judge and Maxwell's legal team about her "conditions of detention," as opposed to relying on second-hand accounts by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
The letter comes a day after those prosecutors wrote Nathan to inform her of Maxwell's quarantine, and that Maxwell herself so far had tested negative for Covid.
Maxwell, 58, is being held without bail in the Metropolitan Detention Center on charges related to her alleged recruitment and grooming of several underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein in the 1990s.
She was arrested in July, almost exactly a year to the day after Epstein's own arrest on federal charges, at a million-dollar hideaway in New Hampshire.
Maxwell has pleaded not guilty in the case, and is due to go on trial next year.
Epstein, who had been a friend of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as with Britain's Prince Andrew, pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state crimes, which included paying an underage girl for sexual services. He served 13 months in jail in that case.
Last year, Trump's then-Labor secretary, Alex Acosta, resigned after heavy criticism of his decision in 2007 to cut a nonprosecution deal with Epstein for federal crimes when Acosta was the U.S. attorney for Miami exchange for his agreement to plead guilty to state charges.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Wealthy Mercer family dramatically scaled back giving to conservative causes in buildup to 2020

Robert Mercer and Rebekah Mercer attend the 2017 TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25 , 2017 in New York City .
In the buildup to the 2020 election , the family led by financier Robert Mercer cut back on investments into conservative causes it has bankrolled over the last five years .
The shift came as Mercer began to distance himself from President Donald Trump and larger parts of the Republican Party .
Mercer , who was once the co-CEO of hedge fund giant Renaissance Technologies , and his daughter Rebekah gave very little to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting as some of his top financial supporters during the 2016 election .
The Mercer Family Foundation donated just over $ 1.4 million to outside causes , with the majority going to the dark-money group known as the Donors Trust , according to the nonprofit 's new 2019 tax return .
Nonprofit 990 returns are released a year after their coverage dates , and the information from the foundation 's new tax return had yet to be reported .
The two Mercers are listed as directors for the foundation .
Robert Mercer 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are also labeled as directors .
That $ 1.4 million represents over a 90 % drop in contributions from the Mercer family compared with the year prior .
In 2018 , the family foundation gave just over $ 12 million to often conservative organizations , including $ 500,000 to the Government Accountability Institute , or GAI , a think tank founded by conservative investigator Peter Schweizer and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon .
A representative for both Robert and Rebekah Mercer did not respond to a request for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't have the money to finance conservative organizations that were looking to make an impact during the two-year 2020 election cycle .
The disclosure for 2020 itself wo n't be released until next year .
Their latest 990 disclosure shows that , as of last year , the foundation 's fair market value of all its assets was nearly $ 35 million .
Robert Mercer himself was the sole donor to the foundation in 2019 , contributing over $ 2 million .
The year prior , the assets were worth at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family 's overall role in donating to such groups suggests that much of Rebekah Mercer 's funds are going toward Parler , a social media company that claims to embrace free speech and has attracted a slew of leading conservatives .
The Wall Street Journal reported that Mercer was the lead investor in the company .

Robert Mercer and Rebekah Mercer attend the 2017 TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City.
In the buildup to the 2020 election, the family led by financier Robert Mercer cut back on investments into conservative causes it has bankrolled over the last five years.
The shift came as Mercer began to distance himself from President Donald Trump and larger parts of the Republican Party. Mercer, who was once the co-CEO of hedge fund giant Renaissance Technologies, and his daughter Rebekah gave very little to Trump's bid for reelection, after acting as some of his top financial supporters during the 2016 election.
The Mercer Family Foundation donated just over $1.4 million to outside causes, with the majority going to the dark-money group known as the Donors Trust, according to the nonprofit's new 2019 tax return. Nonprofit 990 returns are released a year after their coverage dates, and the information from the foundation's new tax return had yet to be reported.
The two Mercers are listed as directors for the foundation. Robert Mercer's two other daughters, Jennifer and Heather, are also labeled as directors.
That $1.4 million represents over a 90% drop in contributions from the Mercer family compared with the year prior. In 2018, the family foundation gave just over $12 million to often conservative organizations, including $500,000 to the Government Accountability Institute, or GAI, a think tank founded by conservative investigator Peter Schweizer and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
A representative for both Robert and Rebekah Mercer did not respond to a request for comment.
It's not as if the family didn't have the money to finance conservative organizations that were looking to make an impact during the two-year 2020 election cycle. The disclosure for 2020 itself won't be released until next year.
Their latest 990 disclosure shows that, as of last year, the foundation's fair market value of all its assets was nearly $35 million. Robert Mercer himself was the sole donor to the foundation in 2019, contributing over $2 million. The year prior, the assets were worth at least $24 million.
The cutback in the family's overall role in donating to such groups suggests that much of Rebekah Mercer's funds are going toward Parler, a social media company that claims to embrace free speech and has attracted a slew of leading conservatives.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Mercer was the lead investor in the company.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Biden transition team receives official Operation Warp Speed briefing, HHS' Azar says, after weeks o

Biden transition team receives official Operation Warp Speed briefing, HHS' Azar says, after weeks of delays

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden 's transition team has been briefed on America 's response to the Covid-19 pandemic , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Tuesday .
Azar said that on Monday evening Rear Adm. Erica Schwartz , the official leading the transition planning effort , briefed the Biden team on Operation Warp Speed , which aims to get a coronavirus vaccine to the public in record time .
`` We are immediately getting them all of the pre-prepared transition briefing materials , '' Azar said .
`` We will ensure coordinated briefings with them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they feel they need , '' Azar said , adding that the `` transition planning and execution will be professional , cooperative and collaborative . ''
The Biden transition team did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
The move ends weeks of delays in the formal handover of power from President Donald Trump to the Biden administration in the wake of the U.S. presidential election .
Trump has not conceded the election to Biden .
The U.S. is grappling with a dramatic resurgence of coronavirus cases as major holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recorded at least 257,991 Covid-19 related deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The Trump administration has been criticized as not doing enough to control the spread of the deadly disease .
Last week , Pfizer and its partner BioNTech applied for an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for their Covid-19 vaccine .
The FDA process is expected to take a few weeks , and an advisory committee meeting to review the vaccine has been scheduled for early December .
Pfizer announced on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million doses of its vaccine for up to $ 1.95 billion .
The agreement , which is part of Operation Warp Speed , allows the U.S. to acquire an additional 500 million vaccine doses .

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden's transition team has been briefed on America's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Tuesday.
Azar said that on Monday evening Rear Adm. Erica Schwartz, the official leading the transition planning effort, briefed the Biden team on Operation Warp Speed, which aims to get a coronavirus vaccine to the public in record time.
"We are immediately getting them all of the pre-prepared transition briefing materials," Azar said.
"We will ensure coordinated briefings with them to ensure they're getting whatever information that they feel they need," Azar said, adding that the "transition planning and execution will be professional, cooperative and collaborative."
The Biden transition team did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
The move ends weeks of delays in the formal handover of power from President Donald Trump to the Biden administration in the wake of the U.S. presidential election. Trump has not conceded the election to Biden.
The U.S. is grappling with a dramatic resurgence of coronavirus cases as major holidays approach. Thus far, the nation has recorded at least 257,991 Covid-19 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The Trump administration has been criticized as not doing enough to control the spread of the deadly disease.
Last week, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech applied for an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for their Covid-19 vaccine. The FDA process is expected to take a few weeks, and an advisory committee meeting to review the vaccine has been scheduled for early December.
Pfizer announced on July 22 that the U.S. agreed to buy 100 million doses of its vaccine for up to $1.95 billion. The agreement, which is part of Operation Warp Speed, allows the U.S. to acquire an additional 500 million vaccine doses.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Pentagon sends nearly 300,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving dinner to U.S. troops around the wo

Pentagon sends nearly 300,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving dinner to U.S. troops around the world

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday , the Pentagon sent nearly 51,000 pounds of roasted turkey to American troops stationed on U.S. military installations around the world .
This year , Thanksgiving meals will be switched to grab-and-go style takeout instead of large group gatherings in dining facilities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus , the Pentagon said in a statement .
`` The holidays will look quite different this year for everyone , '' said Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Commander Army Brig .
Gen. Gavin Lawrence .
`` I 'm proud that our workforce is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfighters get a proper holiday meal , especially since many of us will not be able to be with our family and friends .
We want to make sure they get that taste of home no matter where they are in the world , '' he added .
In all , the Departments ' Defense Logistics Agency delivered nearly 300,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving food , such as ham and sweet potatoes , to service members throughout the Middle East , Europe , Africa , Korea , Qatar and Honduras , as well @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Pentagon sent nearly 51,000 pounds of roasted turkey to American troops stationed on U.S. military installations around the world.
This year, Thanksgiving meals will be switched to grab-and-go style takeout instead of large group gatherings in dining facilities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, the Pentagon said in a statement.
"The holidays will look quite different this year for everyone," said Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence. "I'm proud that our workforce is doing everything possible to make sure our warfighters get a proper holiday meal, especially since many of us will not be able to be with our family and friends. We want to make sure they get that taste of home no matter where they are in the world," he added.
In all, the Departments' Defense Logistics Agency delivered nearly 300,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving food, such as ham and sweet potatoes, to service members throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Korea, Qatar and Honduras, as well as other locations.
This year service members received:
• 9,000 whole turkeys
• 51,000 pounds of roasted turkeys
• 74,000 pounds of beef
• 21,000 pounds of ham
• 67,000 pounds of shrimp
• 16,000 pounds of sweet potatoes
• 19,000 pounds of pies and cakes
• 7,000 gallons of eggnog


cnbc--2020-11-25--Trump brags about Dow 30,000 at surprise news conference, leaves after a minute

Trump has repeatedly claimed that if Biden won the election , the stock market and the economy would `` crash . ''
But the Dow 's record-setting rally came weeks after news outlets called the race for Biden , and days after the president-elect started revealing the top officials who would occupy his Cabinet .
`` I just want to congratulate everybody .
The stock market , Dow Jones Industrial Average just hit 30,000 , which is the highest in history , '' Trump said in the briefing room .
`` We 've never broken 30,000 , and that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic . ''
`` The stock market 's just broken 30,000 — never been broken , that number .
That 's a sacred number , 30,000 , and nobody thought they 'd ever see it , '' Trump said .
`` I just want to congratulate all the people within the administration that worked so hard , and most importantly I want to congratulate the people of our country , because there are no people like you .
Thank you very much , everybody .
Thank you . ''
With that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , followed closely by Vice President Mike Pence .
Neither Trump nor any other official responded to the stream of questions shouted out from the White House press corps .
`` Mr. President , are you going to concede ? ''
were among the questions reporters asked as Trump walked away .
`` Sir , why not concede for the good of the country , sir ? ''
Trump has made just a few in-person appearances since Election Day , and during them has taken no questions from reporters .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Rose Garden , where he and first lady Melania Trump are set to present the national Thanksgiving turkey , a White House tradition .
Trump has falsely claimed he won reelection , and on Monday night tweeted he `` will never concede . ''
He also repeated multiple conspiracy theories that his legal team have cited in arguing , without evidence , that he was the victim of widespread electoral fraud .
But the lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign in key swing states have not focused on fraud .
Rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states from certifying the results of their elections by arguing , among other claims , that swaths of ballots should be discarded from final vote tallies .
None of those cases lodged by the Trump campaign or its allies have succeeded in invalidating ballots .
And four battleground states — Georgia , Michigan , Nevada and Pennsylvania — in recent days have certified their election results , which were all Biden wins .

In this article .DJI Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT
watch now
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on November 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
Trump has repeatedly claimed that if Biden won the election, the stock market and the economy would "crash." But the Dow's record-setting rally came weeks after news outlets called the race for Biden, and days after the president-elect started revealing the top officials who would occupy his Cabinet. "I just want to congratulate everybody. The stock market, Dow Jones Industrial Average just hit 30,000, which is the highest in history," Trump said in the briefing room. "We've never broken 30,000, and that's despite everything that's taken place with the pandemic." "The stock market's just broken 30,000 — never been broken, that number. That's a sacred number, 30,000, and nobody thought they'd ever see it," Trump said. "I just want to congratulate all the people within the administration that worked so hard, and most importantly I want to congratulate the people of our country, because there are no people like you. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you."
watch now
With that, the president turned and left the briefing room, followed closely by Vice President Mike Pence. Neither Trump nor any other official responded to the stream of questions shouted out from the White House press corps. "Mr. President, are you going to concede?" were among the questions reporters asked as Trump walked away. "Sir, why not concede for the good of the country, sir?" Trump has made just a few in-person appearances since Election Day, and during them has taken no questions from reporters. He was scheduled to appear again later Tuesday afternoon in the Rose Garden, where he and first lady Melania Trump are set to present the national Thanksgiving turkey, a White House tradition. Trump has falsely claimed he won reelection, and on Monday night tweeted he "will never concede." He also repeated multiple conspiracy theories that his legal team have cited in arguing, without evidence, that he was the victim of widespread electoral fraud. But the lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign in key swing states have not focused on fraud. Rather, those suit have sought to block states from certifying the results of their elections by arguing, among other claims, that swaths of ballots should be discarded from final vote tallies. None of those cases lodged by the Trump campaign or its allies have succeeded in invalidating ballots. And four battleground states — Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania — in recent days have certified their election results, which were all Biden wins.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Pennsylvania and Nevada certify Biden wins over Trump

Pennsylvania and Nevada on Tuesday officially certified that President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in both states ' elections , making Trump 's effort to reverse Biden 's projected win in the Electoral College even more unlikely to succeed .
The certifications of Biden 's victory in both states — where the Trump campaign had challenged new mail-in ballot processes — came came a day after Michigan certified that he had won the election in that state .
It also came a day after the Trump administration authorized the release of federal funds to the former Democratic vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
Despite that authorization Trump refuses to concede he lost .
And the Trump campaign is still waging a long-shot legal effort in a federal appeals court to reverse Biden 's win in Pennsylvania , which has 20 Electoral College votes , as part of a broader bid to undo his projected national win in the Electoral College .
But Tuesday 's certification of the popular votes in Pennsylvania and in Nevada , which has six electoral votes , as well as the certification of wins for Biden in Michigan and Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult for the Republican president .
Nationally , Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes — 36 more than he needs to clinch the presidency — compared with 232 electoral votes for Trump .
The Electoral College is scheduled to meet and vote on Dec. 14 .
Bob Bauer , the Biden campaign 's senior legal advisor , in a statement said , `` It 's readily apparent to everyone besides Donald Trump , [ Trump campaign lawyers ] Rudy Giuliani , and Jenna Ellis that this election is over and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump did everything he could to disenfranchise voters and stop the results from being certified in Pennsylvania , including filing over 15 unsuccessful lawsuits — most recently producing one of the more embarrassing courtroom performances of all time , with the judge in the case ruling that their arguments were 'without merit ' and 'unsupported by evidence , ' '' Bauer said .
`` Trump did not succeed in Pennsylvania and he will not succeed anywhere else .
Trump 's lawsuits will continue to fail , as they have in over 30 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to certify their results , and Joe Biden will be sworn in as President on January 20 , 2021 . ''
Biden , who is a native of Scranton , Pennsylvania , won the state with 50 % of the vote , compared with 48.8 % for Trump .
According to the tally released by Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar 's office on Tuesday , Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , received 3,458,229 votes , while Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received 3,377,674 votes .
Jo Jorgensen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her running mate , Jeremy Spike Cohen , received 79,380 votes , about 1,200 fewer votes than the margin between the Biden and Trump tickets .
In Nevada , whose vote results were certified by the state Supreme Court , Biden received 50 % of the vote and Trump got almost 47.7 % .
Biden won almost 343,600 vote more than Trump .
Pennsylvani Gov .
Tom Wolf in a tweet said that he had signed the `` Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Again , I want to thank the election officials who have administered a fair and free election during an incredibly challenging time in our commonwealth and country 's history , '' Wolf added in another tweet .
`` Our election workers have been under constant attack and they have performed admirably and honorably . ''
Boockvar said in a statement , `` We are tremendously grateful to all 67 counties who have been working extremely long hours to ensure that every qualified voter 's vote is counted safely and securely . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers are the true heroes of our democracy , enabling us to vote in record numbers , amid challenging circumstances , so that every eligible voter 's voice could be heard , '' Boockvar said .

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a drive-in campaign event at Bucks County Community College in Bristol, Pennsylvania, October 24, 2020. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Pennsylvania and Nevada on Tuesday officially certified that President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in both states' elections, making Trump's effort to reverse Biden's projected win in the Electoral College even more unlikely to succeed. The certifications of Biden's victory in both states — where the Trump campaign had challenged new mail-in ballot processes — came came a day after Michigan certified that he had won the election in that state. It also came a day after the Trump administration authorized the release of federal funds to the former Democratic vice president to begin his transition into the White House. Despite that authorization Trump refuses to concede he lost.
watch now
And the Trump campaign is still waging a long-shot legal effort in a federal appeals court to reverse Biden's win in Pennsylvania, which has 20 Electoral College votes, as part of a broader bid to undo his projected national win in the Electoral College. But Tuesday's certification of the popular votes in Pennsylvania and in Nevada, which has six electoral votes, as well as the certification of wins for Biden in Michigan and Georgia, will make that task even more difficult for the Republican president. Nationally, Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes — 36 more than he needs to clinch the presidency — compared with 232 electoral votes for Trump. The Electoral College is scheduled to meet and vote on Dec. 14. Bob Bauer, the Biden campaign's senior legal advisor, in a statement said, "It's readily apparent to everyone besides Donald Trump, [Trump campaign lawyers] Rudy Giuliani, and Jenna Ellis that this election is over and that Joe Biden won resoundingly." "Trump did everything he could to disenfranchise voters and stop the results from being certified in Pennsylvania, including filing over 15 unsuccessful lawsuits — most recently producing one of the more embarrassing courtroom performances of all time, with the judge in the case ruling that their arguments were 'without merit' and 'unsupported by evidence,'" Bauer said. "Trump did not succeed in Pennsylvania and he will not succeed anywhere else. Trump's lawsuits will continue to fail, as they have in over 30 cases since election day, states will continue to certify their results, and Joe Biden will be sworn in as President on January 20, 2021."
watch now
Biden, who is a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, won the state with 50% of the vote, compared with 48.8% for Trump. According to the tally released by Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar's office on Tuesday, Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, received 3,458,229 votes, while Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received 3,377,674 votes. Jo Jorgensen, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, and her running mate, Jeremy Spike Cohen, received 79,380 votes, about 1,200 fewer votes than the margin between the Biden and Trump tickets. In Nevada, whose vote results were certified by the state Supreme Court, Biden received 50% of the vote and Trump got almost 47.7%. Biden won almost 343,600 vote more than Trump. Pennsylvani Gov. Tom Wolf in a tweet said that he had signed the "Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris" after Boockvar certified their win. "Again, I want to thank the election officials who have administered a fair and free election during an incredibly challenging time in our commonwealth and country's history," Wolf added in another tweet. "Our election workers have been under constant attack and they have performed admirably and honorably." Boockvar said in a statement, "We are tremendously grateful to all 67 counties who have been working extremely long hours to ensure that every qualified voter's vote is counted safely and securely." "The county election officials and the poll workers are the true heroes of our democracy, enabling us to vote in record numbers, amid challenging circumstances, so that every eligible voter's voice could be heard," Boockvar said.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Almost no Trump voters consider Biden the legitimate 2020 election winner

A cutout of U.S. President Donald Trump is pictured as supporters take part in a protest against the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Atlanta , Georgia , November 21 , 2020 .
A mere 3 % of Trump voters believe he should concede to Biden and start the peaceful transfer of power .
Another 31 % want the president to fight in court until states certify results .
Two-thirds , or 66 % , think Trump should never concede .
As the president makes unsubstantiated claims about electoral malfeasance and sows doubts about vote tallies , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they accept Biden 's victory as legitimate , the survey released Monday found .
A staggering 73 % of respondents consider Trump the legitimate winner .
Another 24 % said they are not sure .
Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election .
Nearly every supporter of President Donald Trump thinks otherwise , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
The findings will have little practical effect on the president-elect Biden 's path to taking office on Jan. 20 .
He will win the White House with 306 electoral votes , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , Georgia and Arizona along the way .
The Trump campaign has repeatedly lost in court as it fails to show irregularities affected the results , and a hand count of votes in Georgia reaffirmed Biden 's victory .
But the poll underscores the potentially bigger harm Trump 's lies about the vote tallies have done to public faith in the electoral process .
The president appears to have convinced many of his supporters he lost unfairly , even as state officials and judges have repeatedly shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 73 million people voted for Trump in the election .
More than 79 million cast ballots for Biden .
The poll surveyed 1,203 people who voted for Trump in 2020 nationwide from Wednesday to Saturday .
It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points .
The vast majority of Trump voters — 81 % — said they would not give Biden a chance as president .
Only 19 % said they would .
Even so , Trump supporters backed some of the policies the former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nearly all , or 91 % , of respondents said they support proposals to require the federal government to buy products from American companies and make tax changes to encourage the rerouting of supply chains to the U.S. Three-fourths back plans to expand rural health care options and broadband access , along with proposals to help small and mid-sized farms compete with large companies .
Seven-in-10 said they back plans to create jobs by fixing infrastructure and investing in sustainable energy .
Two of Biden 's economic plans were least popular among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A mere 24 % of Trump voters support hiking taxes on corporations and people who make more than $ 400,000 per year .
Only 13 % back raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour .
Loyalty to Trump runs deep among the respondents .
Asked with whom they would identify if the president left the GOP , 72 % responded Trump 's party , while 28 % answered the Republican Party .

A cutout of U.S. President Donald Trump is pictured as supporters take part in a protest against the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Atlanta, Georgia, November 21, 2020.
As the president makes unsubstantiated claims about electoral malfeasance and sows doubts about vote tallies, only 3% of Trump voters surveyed said they accept Biden's victory as legitimate, the survey released Monday found. A staggering 73% of respondents consider Trump the legitimate winner. Another 24% said they are not sure.
Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Nearly every supporter of President Donald Trump thinks otherwise, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll.
A mere 3% of Trump voters believe he should concede to Biden and start the peaceful transfer of power. Another 31% want the president to fight in court until states certify results. Two-thirds, or 66%, think Trump should never concede.
The findings will have little practical effect on the president-elect Biden's path to taking office on Jan. 20. He will win the White House with 306 electoral votes, according to NBC News, flipping the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona along the way. The Trump campaign has repeatedly lost in court as it fails to show irregularities affected the results, and a hand count of votes in Georgia reaffirmed Biden's victory.
But the poll underscores the potentially bigger harm Trump's lies about the vote tallies have done to public faith in the electoral process. The president appears to have convinced many of his supporters he lost unfairly, even as state officials and judges have repeatedly shot down claims of fraud and wrongdoing.
More than 73 million people voted for Trump in the election. More than 79 million cast ballots for Biden.
The poll surveyed 1,203 people who voted for Trump in 2020 nationwide from Wednesday to Saturday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points.
The vast majority of Trump voters — 81% — said they would not give Biden a chance as president. Only 19% said they would.


cnbc--2020-11-24--A top Democrat on the House antitrust panel sets sights on Big Pharma after wrapping up tech probe

After wrapping up a more than year-long investigation into Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google , a top Democrat on the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust has his sights set on a new industry : Big Pharma .
Rep. Joe Neguse , D-Colo. , vice chairman of the subcommittee , is calling for a hearing to probe federal enforcers ' approach to evaluating pharmaceutical mergers .
He made the request in a letter sent Monday to committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. and subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline , D-R.I. , and shared exclusively with CNBC .
From there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine if a full investigation is warranted .
`` I think that this first hearing could be a starting point of sorts in providing both the committee and the American public with a better understanding of the scope of issues , '' Neguse said in a phone interview .
`` And from there , depending on what we glean during that hearing regarding the FTC 's merger policy , I think it could very well lead to a broader investigation similar to the investigation that the committee undertook in the digital economy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee to examine the Federal Trade Commission 's common approach of requiring pharmaceutical companies to divest assets before approving mergers .
The two Democratic commissioners at the agency have harshly criticized its historic approach to these mergers and pushed for more thorough reviews .
The agency has challenged 67 pharmaceutical mergers worth over $ 900 billion since 1994 , according to data compiled by the American Antitrust Institute for a September report .
But the agency only moved to block one of those deals and settled almost all of the rest with agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the report .
Neguse wrote in his letter that these deals could have a harmful impact on consumer prices , which can sometimes be a sign of an antitrust violation .
`` It would be one thing if the acquisitions resulted in deterring future anticompetitive conduct and decreased drug prices for consumers .
However , there is growing consensus that increases in drug prices can be attributed , in part , to mergers and consolidation in the industry , '' Neguse wrote , citing a 2017 study from the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was associated with higher generic drug prices .
The Covid-19 pandemic has called attention to existing concerns of rising drug prices and reduced innovation , Neguse wrote the committee leaders .
He told CNBC that drug pricing is the issue he hears about most from his constituents .
`` In the COVID-19 environment , it is critical that there is robust competition within our pharmaceutical market ; therefore , it is vital for the Committee to determine whether the FTC 's standard approach of pharmaceutical divestitures is an appropriate remedy to address anticompetitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He pointed to two recent deals : the FTC 's approval of AbbVie 's acquisition of Allergan and the proposed merger of Pfizer and Mylan .
He echoed the sentiments by the agency 's two Democratic commissioners , Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter , in their dissent to the approval of the Pfizer-Mylan deal .
Chopra wrote that `` the status quo approach of seeking settlements through divestitures of individual products is myopic and misses some of the fundamental elements of how firms compete in this industry . ''
' That merger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to several conditions , like divesting from seven products .
Republican Commissioner Christine Wilson , who voted to approve the merger , wrote in a statement that while she shares her colleagues ' concerns about high drug prices , the scope of the FTC 's power is limited .
She referred to an earlier statement she issued in approving a different pharmaceutical merger , where she wrote , `` Unfortunately , many of the causes of higher drug prices , including systemic distortions created by massive regulatory regimes and a pervasive principal/agent problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority of the Federal Trade Commission . ''
On the day Neguse sent his letter , pharmaceutical giant Merck announced a new deal to buy OncoImmune for $ 425 million in cash after the privately held company developed a promising drug to treat Covid .
Neguse declined to name specific companies he would evaluate in a potential probe , deferring to committee leadership , which has yet to decide on any such action .
But he said the `` most central lesson '' he took away from the committee 's investigation into tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law , but the value of using the subcommittee 's staff and resources to evaluate potential harm in a specific industry .
`` We were able to glean for the American public quite a bit of information that was perhaps not otherwise or previously known , '' he said of the tech investigation .
`` Turning now to the next task , which would be to address this other area where there is clear consumer harm and using those same techniques , in my view , would inure to the benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Here 's why some experts are calling for a breakup of Big Tech after the House antitrust report

After wrapping up a more than year-long investigation into Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google , a top Democrat on the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust has his sights set on a new industry: Big Pharma.
Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., vice chairman of the subcommittee, is calling for a hearing to probe federal enforcers' approach to evaluating pharmaceutical mergers.
He made the request in a letter sent Monday to committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. and subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., and shared exclusively with CNBC. From there, Neguse told CNBC, the committee could determine if a full investigation is warranted.
"I think that this first hearing could be a starting point of sorts in providing both the committee and the American public with a better understanding of the scope of issues," Neguse said in a phone interview. "And from there, depending on what we glean during that hearing regarding the FTC's merger policy, I think it could very well lead to a broader investigation similar to the investigation that the committee undertook in the digital economy and Big Tech."
Neguse wants the committee to examine the Federal Trade Commission's common approach of requiring pharmaceutical companies to divest assets before approving mergers. The two Democratic commissioners at the agency have harshly criticized its historic approach to these mergers and pushed for more thorough reviews.
The agency has challenged 67 pharmaceutical mergers worth over $900 billion since 1994, according to data compiled by the American Antitrust Institute for a September report. But the agency only moved to block one of those deals and settled almost all of the rest with agreements from the companies to divest certain assets, according to the report.
Neguse wrote in his letter that these deals could have a harmful impact on consumer prices, which can sometimes be a sign of an antitrust violation.
"It would be one thing if the acquisitions resulted in deterring future anticompetitive conduct and
decreased drug prices for consumers. However, there is growing consensus that increases in drug prices can be attributed, in part, to mergers and consolidation in the industry," Neguse wrote, citing a 2017 study from the Government Accountability Office that found that less competition was associated with higher generic drug prices.
The Covid-19 pandemic has called attention to existing concerns of rising drug prices and reduced innovation, Neguse wrote the committee leaders. He told CNBC that drug pricing is the issue he hears about most from his constituents.
"In the COVID-19 environment, it is critical that there is robust competition within our pharmaceutical market; therefore, it is vital for the Committee to determine whether the FTC's standard approach of pharmaceutical divestitures is an appropriate remedy to address anticompetitive harms," his letter said.
He pointed to two recent deals: the FTC's approval of AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan and the proposed merger of Pfizer and Mylan . He echoed the sentiments by the agency's two Democratic commissioners, Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, in their dissent to the approval of the Pfizer-Mylan deal. Chopra wrote that "the status quo approach of seeking settlements through divestitures of individual products is myopic and misses some of the fundamental elements of how firms compete in this industry."'
That merger was ultimately cleared after the parties agreed to several conditions, like divesting from seven products.
Republican Commissioner Christine Wilson, who voted to approve the merger, wrote in a statement that while she shares her colleagues' concerns about high drug prices, the scope of the FTC's power is limited. She referred to an earlier statement she issued in approving a different pharmaceutical merger, where she wrote, "Unfortunately, many of the causes of higher drug prices, including systemic distortions created by massive regulatory regimes and a pervasive principal/agent problem, fall outside the jurisdiction and legal authority of the Federal Trade Commission."
On the day Neguse sent his letter, pharmaceutical giant Merck announced a new deal to buy OncoImmune for $425 million in cash after the privately held company developed a promising drug to treat Covid.
Neguse declined to name specific companies he would evaluate in a potential probe, deferring to committee leadership, which has yet to decide on any such action. But he said the "most central lesson" he took away from the committee's investigation into tech markets was not necessarily about the specifics of the law, but the value of using the subcommittee's staff and resources to evaluate potential harm in a specific industry.
"We were able to glean for the American public quite a bit of information that was perhaps not otherwise or previously known," he said of the tech investigation. "Turning now to the next task, which would be to address this other area where there is clear consumer harm and using those same techniques, in my view, would inure to the benefit of the American public."
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.
WATCH: Here's why some experts are calling for a breakup of Big Tech after the House antitrust report


cnbc--2020-11-28--Top Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated

WASHINGTON — A top Iranian nuclear scientist has been assassinated near Tehran , Iran 's government confirmed Friday and alleged Israel was behind the killing without presenting evidence so far .
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , dubbed the `` father of the Iranian bomb , '' died from injuries after armed assassins fired upon his car , according to reports by Iranian media that have not been independently confirmed by NBC News .
State media shared photographs of a black Nissan sedan with multiple bullet holes through the windshield and blood on the road next to the car door .
No group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack .
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemned the killing on Twitter and alleged `` serious indications '' of Israeli involvement .
Iran 's top army commander , Abdolrahim Mousavi , said the Islamic Republic reserves the right to take revenge , blaming the U.S. and Israel for the scientist 's killing .
Fakhrizadeh 's death comes days before the 10-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari , which Iran also blamed on Israel .
The Israeli Embassy in Washington , D.C. , did not immediately respond to CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Department of State and the National Security Council declined to comment .
President Donald Trump did , however , retweet a news article and commentary about Fakhrizadeh 's death .
Little is known about Fakhrizadeh , a high-ranking Revolutionary Guard officer , long viewed as Iran 's top nuclear scientist overseeing the regime 's secret weapons programs .
In 2018 , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of continuing to develop nuclear weapons and said Fakhrizadeh was working within Iran 's Defense Ministry on `` special projects . ''
`` Remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the time .
Fakhrizadeh 's death is expected to escalate tensions between Iran and the United States , which have soared under the Trump administration following Washington 's exit from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement .
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , or JCPOA accord , brokered by the Obama administration , lifted sanctions on Iran that had crippled its economy and cut its oil exports roughly in half .
In exchange for sanctions relief , Iran accepted limits on its nuclear program until the terms expire in 2025 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrew the United States from the JCPOA .
Trump called it the `` worst deal ever . ''
The president has previously said that he wants to reach a broader deal with Iran that puts stricter limits on its nuclear and ballistic missile work and suppresses the regime 's role in regional proxy wars .
Tehran has refused to negotiate while U.S. sanctions remain in place .
Following Washington 's exit from the nuclear deal , other signatories of the pact — France , Germany , the U.K. , Russia and China — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In October , the United States unilaterally reimposed United Nations sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process , which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to do because it withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 .
The relationship between the U.S. and Iran took another turn for the worse during the summer of 2019 following a string of attacks in the Persian Gulf .
In June , U.S. officials said an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down an American military surveillance drone over the Strait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was over its territory .
That strike came a week after the U.S. blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region and after four tankers were attacked in May .
The U.S. that June slapped new sanctions on Iranian military leaders blamed for shooting down the drone .
The measures also aimed to block financial resources for Iran 's supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei .
Tensions soared again in September of last year when the U.S. blamed Iran for strikes in Saudi Arabia on the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That attack forced the kingdom to cut its production operations in half and triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a new war in the Middle East .
Iran maintains that it was not behind the attacks .
Earlier this year , the U.S. carried out an airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani , Iran 's top military commander .

watch now
WASHINGTON — A top Iranian nuclear scientist has been assassinated near Tehran, Iran's government confirmed Friday and alleged Israel was behind the killing, though nobody has claimed responsibility so far. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, dubbed the "father of the Iranian bomb," died from injuries after armed assassins fired upon his car, according to reports by Iranian media that have not been independently confirmed by NBC News. State media shared photographs of a black Nissan sedan with multiple bullet holes through the windshield and blood on the road next to the car door.
A view shows the scene of the attack that killed Prominent Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, outside Tehran, Iran, November 27, 2020. WANA via Reuters
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemned the killing on Twitter and alleged "serious indications" of Israeli involvement. Iran's top army commander, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said the Islamic Republic reserves the right to take revenge, blaming the U.S. and Israel for the scientist's killing. Fakhrizadeh's death comes days before the 10-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, which Iran also blamed on Israel. The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The Pentagon, Department of State and the National Security Council declined to comment. President Donald Trump did, however, retweet a news article and commentary about Fakhrizadeh's death. Little is known about Fakhrizadeh, a high-ranking Revolutionary Guard officer, long viewed as Iran's top nuclear scientist overseeing the regime's secret weapons programs. In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of continuing to develop nuclear weapons and said Fakhrizadeh was working within Iran's Defense Ministry on "special projects."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points at a screen with an image of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during a news conference at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 30, 2018. Amir Cohen | Reuters
"Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," Netanyahu said at the time. Fakhrizadeh's death is expected to escalate tensions between Iran and the United States, which have soared under the Trump administration following Washington's exit from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement.
The standoff with Iran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani makes a speech during a ceremony in Tehran, Iran on January 10, 2019. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA accord, brokered by the Obama administration, lifted sanctions on Iran that had crippled its economy and cut its oil exports roughly in half. In exchange for sanctions relief, Iran accepted limits on its nuclear program until the terms expire in 2025. In 2018, the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the JCPOA. Trump called it the "worst deal ever." The president has previously said that he wants to reach a broader deal with Iran that puts stricter limits on its nuclear and ballistic missile work and suppresses the regime's role in regional proxy wars. Tehran has refused to negotiate while U.S. sanctions remain in place. Following Washington's exit from the nuclear deal, other signatories of the pact — France, Germany, the U.K., Russia and China — tried to keep the agreement alive. In October, the United States unilaterally reimposed United Nations sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process, which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to do because it withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.
watch now
The relationship between the U.S. and Iran took another turn for the worse during the summer of 2019 following a string of attacks in the Persian Gulf. In June, U.S. officials said an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down an American military surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the aircraft was over its territory. That strike came a week after the U.S. blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region and after four tankers were attacked in May. The U.S. that June slapped new sanctions on Iranian military leaders blamed for shooting down the drone. The measures also aimed to block financial resources for Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tensions soared again in September of last year when the U.S. blamed Iran for strikes in Saudi Arabia on the world's largest crude processing plant and oil field. That attack forced the kingdom to cut its production operations in half and triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a new war in the Middle East. Iran maintains that it was not behind the attacks. Earlier this year, the U.S. carried out an airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran's top military commander.
Iranian mourners gather during the final stage of funeral processions for slain top general Qasem Soleimani, in his hometown Kerman on January 7, 2020. Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-11-27--Trump loses appeal of Pennsylvania election case

The opinion marks the latest court loss for Trump , who has refused to concede the election to Biden and is falsely asserting that he won the race .
On Wednesday , Trump flatly stated , `` We have to turn the election over . ''
The appellate court 's decision affirmed a federal judge 's ruling from a week earlier that denied the Trump campaign 's request to block the Keystone State from certifying that President-elect Joe Biden won its election .
The blistering opinion from a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominated by Republican presidents , said that the Trump campaign 's `` claims have no merit . ''
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected an attempt by President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign to keep alive its effort to undo the result of Pennsylvania 's presidential election .
Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani had argued on behalf of the Trump campaign in the case before U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport , Pennsylvania .
Giuliani has led the Trump campaign 's charge in the court of public opinion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he asserts tipped the outcome of the election .
But the appeals court noted in its 21-page opinion that when standing before Brann in a courtroom , Giuliani said that the campaign `` does n't plead fraud '' in the case .
`` Calling an election unfair does not make it so , '' the 3rd Circuit 's opinion read .
`` Charges require specific allegations and then proof .
We have neither here . ''
Another Trump campaign lawyer , Jenna Ellis , later Friday tweeted a joint statement with Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud . ''
Ellis ' tweet adds , `` On to SCOTUS ! ''
referring to the Supreme Court of the United States .
Rather than argue that fraud had been committed in Pennsylvania , the Trump campaign 's federal lawsuit had instead alleged that mail-in ballots had been handled differently in counties that skewed toward Democrats versus those that leaned more Republican .
The campaign also alleged that some observers watching the counting of votes at polling locations had been unfairly restricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that the campaign 's lawyers failed to present `` compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption '' in their unprecedented bid to invalidate millions of ballots .
In its appeal to the 3rd Circuit , the Trump campaign did not request that Brann 's ruling be reversed .
Instead , the campaign requested that it be allowed to submit an amended version of its legal complaint in order to `` restore claims which were inadvertently deleted '' from a previous version .
But even that pared-down argument was rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign appeals on a very narrow ground : whether the District Court abused its discretion in not letting the Campaign amend its complaint a second time .
It did not , '' read the opinion written by Stephanos Bibas , whom Trump nominated to the bench in 2017 .
The appellate court wrote that `` most of the claims '' in the Trump campaign 's latest complaint `` boil down to issues of state law . ''
`` Pennsylvania law is willing to overlook many technical defects .
It favors counting votes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the opinion said .
`` The Campaign tries to repackage these state-law claims as unconstitutional discrimination .
Yet its allegations are vague and conclusory , '' Bibas said in the opinion .
`` It never alleges that anyone treated the Trump campaign or Trump votes worse than it treated the Biden campaign or Biden votes .
And federal law does not require poll watchers or specify how they may observe .
It also says nothing about curing technical state-law errors in ballots .
Each of these defects is fatal . ''
Bibas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots being challenged by the Trump campaign is `` far smaller '' than Biden 's margin of victory in Pennsylvania .
`` Plus , tossing out millions of mail-in ballots would be drastic and unprecedented , disenfranchising a huge swath of the electorate and upsetting all down-ballot races too , '' Bibas added , calling that remedy `` grossly disproportionate . ''
Biden beat Trump in the state by more than 81,000 votes , clinching its 20 Electoral College votes .
Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes — 36 more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 232 for Trump .
Pennsylvania , along with other key swing states including Michigan , Georgia and Nevada , have already certified their votes for Biden .
Marc Scaringi , a lawyer and conservative talk-radio host representing the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania , in a letter to the appeals court Wednesday requested that Giuliani be allowed to make oral arguments in the case .
The appellate judges on Friday denied that request for oral argument .
In a footnote within that letter , Scaringi detailed a long-shot legal strategy for Trump to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that its results have already been certified .
The legal bank-shot would require a federal court invalidating that certification , then getting Pennsylvania 's General Assembly to send pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College .
`` A decision by the District Court that President Trump won the legal votes may have significant impact on the General Assembly , '' Scaringi wrote .
An appellate lawyer told CNBC that that strategy looks `` made up . ''

The opinion marks the latest court loss for Trump, who has refused to concede the election to Biden and is falsely asserting that he won the race. On Wednesday, Trump flatly stated, "We have to turn the election over."
The appellate court's decision affirmed a federal judge's ruling from a week earlier that denied the Trump campaign's request to block the Keystone State from certifying that President-elect Joe Biden won its election.
The blistering opinion from a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, all three of whom were nominated by Republican presidents, said that the Trump campaign's "claims have no merit."
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected an attempt by President Donald Trump's reelection campaign to keep alive its effort to undo the result of Pennsylvania's presidential election.
Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani had argued on behalf of the Trump campaign in the case before U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Giuliani has led the Trump campaign's charge in the court of public opinion, spreading unproven claims of widespread voter fraud that he asserts tipped the outcome of the election.
But the appeals court noted in its 21-page opinion that when standing before Brann in a courtroom, Giuliani said that the campaign "doesn't plead fraud" in the case.
"Calling an election unfair does not make it so," the 3rd Circuit's opinion read. "Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here."
Another Trump campaign lawyer, Jenna Ellis, later Friday tweeted a joint statement with Giuliani claiming, "The activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud."
Ellis' tweet adds, "On to SCOTUS!" referring to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Rather than argue that fraud had been committed in Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign's federal lawsuit had instead alleged that mail-in ballots had been handled differently in counties that skewed toward Democrats versus those that leaned more Republican. The campaign also alleged that some observers watching the counting of votes at polling locations had been unfairly restricted.
Brann, in his written decision, said that the campaign's lawyers failed to present "compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption" in their unprecedented bid to invalidate millions of ballots.
In its appeal to the 3rd Circuit, the Trump campaign did not request that Brann's ruling be reversed. Instead, the campaign requested that it be allowed to submit an amended version of its legal complaint in order to "restore claims which were inadvertently deleted" from a previous version.
But even that pared-down argument was rejected by the appeals court.
"The Campaign appeals on a very narrow ground: whether the District Court abused its discretion in not letting the Campaign amend its complaint a second time. It did not," read the opinion written by Stephanos Bibas, whom Trump nominated to the bench in 2017.
The appellate court wrote that "most of the claims" in the Trump campaign's latest complaint "boil down to issues of state law."
"Pennsylvania law is willing to overlook many technical defects. It favors counting votes as long as there is no fraud," the opinion said.
"The Campaign tries to repackage these state-law claims as unconstitutional discrimination. Yet its allegations are vague and conclusory," Bibas said in the opinion.
"It never alleges that anyone treated the Trump campaign or Trump votes worse than it treated the Biden campaign or Biden votes. And federal law does not require poll watchers or specify how they may observe. It also says nothing about curing technical state-law errors in ballots. Each of these defects is fatal."
Bibas also noted that the slice of mail-in ballots being challenged by the Trump campaign is "far smaller" than Biden's margin of victory in Pennsylvania.
"Plus, tossing out millions of mail-in ballots would be drastic and unprecedented, disenfranchising a huge swath of the electorate and upsetting all down-ballot races too," Bibas added, calling that remedy "grossly disproportionate."
Biden beat Trump in the state by more than 81,000 votes, clinching its 20 Electoral College votes. Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes — 36 more than he needed to win — compared with 232 for Trump.
Pennsylvania, along with other key swing states including Michigan, Georgia and Nevada, have already certified their votes for Biden.
Marc Scaringi, a lawyer and conservative talk-radio host representing the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania, in a letter to the appeals court Wednesday requested that Giuliani be allowed to make oral arguments in the case. The appellate judges on Friday denied that request for oral argument.
In a footnote within that letter, Scaringi detailed a long-shot legal strategy for Trump to overturn Biden's win in the state despite the fact that its results have already been certified. The legal bank-shot would require a federal court invalidating that certification, then getting Pennsylvania's General Assembly to send pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College.
"A decision by the District Court that President Trump won the legal votes may have significant impact on the General Assembly," Scaringi wrote.
An appellate lawyer told CNBC that that strategy looks "made up."


cnbc--2020-11-27--Almost no Trump voters consider Biden the legitimate 2020 election winner

A cutout of U.S. President Donald Trump is pictured as supporters take part in a protest against the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Atlanta , Georgia , November 21 , 2020 .
As the president makes unsubstantiated claims about electoral malfeasance and sows doubts about vote tallies , only 3 % of Trump voters surveyed said they accept Biden 's victory as legitimate , the survey released Monday found .
A staggering 73 % of respondents consider Trump the legitimate winner .
Another 24 % said they are not sure .
Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump thinks otherwise , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
A mere 3 % of Trump voters believe he should concede to Biden and start the peaceful transfer of power .
Another 31 % want the president to fight in court until states certify results .
Two-thirds , or 66 % , think Trump should never concede .
The findings will have little practical effect on the president-elect Biden 's path to taking office on Jan. 20 .
He will win the White House with 306 electoral votes , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , Georgia and Arizona along the way .
The Trump campaign has repeatedly lost in court as it fails to show irregularities affected the results , and a hand count of votes in Georgia reaffirmed Biden 's victory .
But the poll underscores the potentially bigger harm Trump 's lies about the vote tallies have done to public faith in the electoral process .
The president appears to have convinced many of his supporters he lost unfairly , even as state officials and judges have repeatedly shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 73 million people voted for Trump in the election .
More than 79 million cast ballots for Biden .
The poll surveyed 1,203 people who voted for Trump in 2020 nationwide from Wednesday to Saturday .
It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points .
The vast majority of Trump voters — 81 % — said they would not give Biden a chance as president .
Only 19 % said they would .


cnbc--2020-11-29--Biden names Jen Psaki White House press secretary along with an all-female senior communications tea

Biden names Jen Psaki White House press secretary along with an all-female senior communications team

Kate Bedingfield served as Biden 's campaign communications director and will take on the same role in the White House .
And Symone Sanders , a senior advisor on Biden 's presidential campaign , will be senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
`` Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis , to the climate crisis , and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice , '' Harris said in a statement .
`` To overcome these challenges , we need to communicate clearly , honestly , and transparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced , talented , and barrier-shattering team will help us do that . ''
The incoming Biden administration plans to bring back the daily press briefing , which the Trump White House did away with amid a contentious relationship with the media .
At one point , the Trump administration went more than a year without a formal press briefing .
Here are the biographies of the seven appointees as announced by Biden and Harris .
Elizabeth E. Alexander , Communications Director for the First Lady Elizabeth E. Alexander served as a Senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent the first years of the Obama-Biden administration as the Press Secretary to Vice President Biden , a role which followed her time as then-Senator Biden 's Communications Director on Capitol Hill .
She has worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S .
Attorneys ' offices in Washington , DC and Alexandria , Virginia , where she also served as a counselor to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia .
Previously , Alexander worked as Press Secretary for the United Nations Foundation , Press Secretary to Democratic National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressman Adam Schiff , and Deputy Press Secretary for Senator Chuck Schumer .
Before joining the Biden-Harris Campaign , Alexander was a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting , where she led the firm 's gender inclusion and workplace equality communications offering .
Originally from Texas , Alexander is a graduate of Texas A & M University and Georgetown University Law Center .
She lives in Bethesda , Maryland with her husband and two young sons .
Kate Bedingfield , White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield served as Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as Communications Director for Vice President Biden and as Associate Communications Director , Deputy Director of Media Affairs , and the Director of Response in the Obama-Biden White House .
Prior to the Obama-Biden administration , Bedingfield served as Communications Director to U.S .
Senator Jeanne Shaheen on her successful 2008 Senate campaign , Deputy National Press Secretary on the John Edwards for President campaign and Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006 when Democrats won back the House .
Bedingfield has also served as the Chief Spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Motion Picture Association of America and as the Vice President of Communications at Monumental Sports & Entertainment .
Originally from Georgia , Bedingfield is a graduate of the University of Virginia .
She lives in Washington , DC with her husband , son and daughter .
Ashley Etienne , Communications Director for the Vice President Ashley Etienne served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris Campaign .
Before that , Etienne served as Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , the first woman and person of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the Cabinet in the Obama-Biden administration and also led communications on President Obama 's signature My Brother 's Keeper initiative .
Prior to the Obama-Biden administration , she served as Deputy Communications Director and Spokesperson for then-House Democratic Leader Pelosi , Communications Director for House Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee , Spokesperson for the Corporation for National and Community Service , and as a Spokesperson in Virginia for the Obama-Biden Campaign in 2008 .
Etienne has provided strategic counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as president of her own consulting firm , Etienne & Associates .
Originally from Texas , Etienne is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and Johns Hopkins University .
Karine Jean Pierre , Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was Senior Advisor to President-Elect Joe Biden and Chief of Staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign .
Prior to her role on the campaign , she served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst .
Jean-Pierre served as Regional Political Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama 's 2012 re-election campaign .
She served as Southeast Regional Political Director for President Obama 's 2008 campaign , Deputy Campaign Manager for Martin O'Malley for President , Campaign Manager for the ACLU 's Reproductive Freedom Initiative , and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members in the New York City Council .
Previously , she worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics , pushing major companies to change their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised in New York , Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University . '
Jen Psaki , White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki currently oversees the confirmations team for the Biden-Harris Transition .
During the Obama-Biden administration , Psaki held several senior roles , including White House Communications Director , State Department Spokesperson under then-Secretary of State John Kerry , Deputy White House Communications Director and Deputy White House Press Secretary during the financial crisis .
She is a veteran of three presidential campaigns having served as traveling press secretary during the Obama-Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary and senior advisor in 2012 and as deputy press secretary for John Kerry 's presidential campaign in 2004 .
Psaki was a spokesperson at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006 when Democrats won back the House of Representatives and has also served as Communications Director to former Congressman Joe Crowley .
Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Transition Team , Psaki was the Vice President for Communications and Strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a CNN contributor .
Psaki is a graduate of the College of William and Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two children .
Symone Sanders , Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the Vice President Symone Sanders served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris Campaign .
In 2016 , Sanders became the youngest presidential press secretary while working on U.S .
Senator Bernie Sanders 's then-presidential campaign .
Before joining the Biden-Harris Campaign , Sanders was a CNN political commentator and served as principal of the 360 Group LLC , where she provided strategic communications guidance to organizations , businesses , individuals , campaigns and candidates .
Sanders is the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emerging Leaders Committee and former member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice , where she worked to raise the profile of young voices in the fight for juvenile justice reform and bring millennial perspectives to policy conversations .
Originally from Nebraska , Sanders is a graduate of Creighton University .
She currently lives in Washington D.C. with her partner .
Pili Tobar , Deputy White House Communications Director Pili Tobar served as the Communications Director for Coalitions on the Biden-Harris Campaign .
Before joining the campaign , Tobar served as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where she advocated on behalf of immigrants .
She has also served as the Hispanic Media Director for Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer , National Director of Hispanic Media and Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee , Communications Director for Congressman Ruben Gallego , and Communications Director for the Latino Victory Project .
Originally from Florida and raised in Guatemala , Tobar is a graduate of the University of Miami .
She lives in Washington D.C. with her wife and daughter .

Kate Bedingfield served as Biden's campaign communications director and will take on the same role in the White House. And Symone Sanders, a senior advisor on Biden's presidential campaign, will be senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
"Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis, to the climate crisis, and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice," Harris said in a statement. "To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly, and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering team will help us do that."
The incoming Biden administration plans to bring back the daily press briefing, which the Trump White House did away with amid a contentious relationship with the media. At one point, the Trump administration went more than a year without a formal press briefing.
Here are the biographies of the seven appointees as announced by Biden and Harris.
Elizabeth E. Alexander, Communications Director for the First Lady
Elizabeth E. Alexander served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Alexander spent the first years of the Obama-Biden administration as the Press Secretary to Vice President Biden, a role which followed her time as then-Senator Biden's Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She has worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys' offices in Washington, DC and Alexandria, Virginia, where she also served as a counselor to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Previously, Alexander worked as Press Secretary for the United Nations Foundation, Press Secretary to Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, Communications Director for Congressman Adam Schiff, and Deputy Press Secretary for Senator Chuck Schumer. Before joining the Biden-Harris Campaign, Alexander was a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, where she led the firm's gender inclusion and workplace equality communications offering. Originally from Texas, Alexander is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Georgetown University Law Center. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and two young sons.
Kate Bedingfield, White House Communications Director
Kate Bedingfield served as Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director for the Biden-Harris Campaign. She served as Communications Director for Vice President Biden and as Associate Communications Director, Deputy Director of Media Affairs, and the Director of Response in the Obama-Biden White House. Prior to the Obama-Biden administration, Bedingfield served as Communications Director to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen on her successful 2008 Senate campaign, Deputy National Press Secretary on the John Edwards for President campaign and Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006 when Democrats won back the House. Bedingfield has also served as the Chief Spokeswoman and Vice President of Corporate Communications at the Motion Picture Association of America and as the Vice President of Communications at Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Originally from Georgia, Bedingfield is a graduate of the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband, son and daughter.
Ashley Etienne, Communications Director for the Vice President
Ashley Etienne served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Before that, Etienne served as Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the first woman and person of color to hold the position. Etienne was Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the Cabinet in the Obama-Biden administration and also led communications on President Obama's signature My Brother's Keeper initiative. Prior to the Obama-Biden administration, she served as Deputy Communications Director and Spokesperson for then-House Democratic Leader Pelosi, Communications Director for House Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Spokesperson for the Corporation for National and Community Service, and as a Spokesperson in Virginia for the Obama-Biden Campaign in 2008. Etienne has provided strategic counsel to clients while at Dewey Square Group and as president of her own consulting firm, Etienne & Associates. Originally from Texas, Etienne is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and Johns Hopkins University.
Karine Jean Pierre, Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Karine Jean-Pierre was Senior Advisor to President-Elect Joe Biden and Chief of Staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Prior to her role on the campaign, she served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst. Jean-Pierre served as Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. She served as Southeast Regional Political Director for President Obama's 2008 campaign, Deputy Campaign Manager for Martin O'Malley for President, Campaign Manager for the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Initiative, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members in the New York City Council. Previously, she worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics, pushing major companies to change their business practices. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University.'
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary
Jen Psaki currently oversees the confirmations team for the Biden-Harris Transition. During the Obama-Biden administration, Psaki held several senior roles, including White House Communications Director, State Department Spokesperson under then-Secretary of State John Kerry, Deputy White House Communications Director and Deputy White House Press Secretary during the financial crisis. She is a veteran of three presidential campaigns having served as traveling press secretary during the Obama-Biden campaign in 2008, as traveling press secretary and senior advisor in 2012 and as deputy press secretary for John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004. Psaki was a spokesperson at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006 when Democrats won back the House of Representatives and has also served as Communications Director to former Congressman Joe Crowley. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Transition Team, Psaki was the Vice President for Communications and Strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a CNN contributor. Psaki is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and lives in Virginia with her husband and two children.
Symone Sanders, Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the Vice President
Symone Sanders served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris Campaign. In 2016, Sanders became the youngest presidential press secretary while working on U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders's then-presidential campaign. Before joining the Biden-Harris Campaign, Sanders was a CNN political commentator and served as principal of the 360 Group LLC, where she provided strategic communications guidance to organizations, businesses, individuals, campaigns and candidates. Sanders is the former chair of the Coalition of Juvenile Justice Emerging Leaders Committee and former member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, where she worked to raise the profile of young voices in the fight for juvenile justice reform and bring millennial perspectives to policy conversations. Originally from Nebraska, Sanders is a graduate of Creighton University. She currently lives in Washington D.C. with her partner.
Pili Tobar, Deputy White House Communications Director
Pili Tobar served as the Communications Director for Coalitions on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Before joining the campaign, Tobar served as the Deputy Director for America's Voice, where she advocated on behalf of immigrants. She has also served as the Hispanic Media Director for Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, National Director of Hispanic Media and Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee, Communications Director for Congressman Ruben Gallego, and Communications Director for the Latino Victory Project. Originally from Florida and raised in Guatemala, Tobar is a graduate of the University of Miami. She lives in Washington D.C. with her wife and daughter.