alternet--2020-12-11--Trump's loyalty test exposes the GOP's hatred for democracy: 'Seditious abuse of the judicial proces

Trump's loyalty test exposes the GOP's hatred for democracy: 'Seditious abuse of the judicial process'

When Texas attorney general Ken Paxton first filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court demanding that all the votes of Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — 10.4 million votes in total — be thrown out completely , the general media response was to call it a stunt .
Paxton is under investigation for an alleged bribery scheme , and observers speculated that , by filing this ridiculous lawsuit , he is trawling for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump , whose recent pardon of his crony Michael Flynn has instilled hope among other GOP lowlifes that they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Yet even though this suit is widely dismissed as a joke , a slew of other elected Republicans joined the lawsuit on Thursday , lending support to Paxton 's argument that red states should be able to overturn the results of an election that did n't end well for Republicans .
So far , 17 Republican state attorneys general and 106 Republicans in the House of Representatives — more than half the GOP caucus — have signed onto amicus briefs supporting Paxton 's absurd demands that all the votes of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Six states have asked to join Paxton 's lawsuit directly .
On Monday , only a couple of House Republicans — mainly Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama — were willing to openly support Trump 's efforts to steal the election .
Now it 's the majority of the House GOP caucus .
In doing so , these Republicans have outed themselves as opponents of democracy .
There is no other way to read this , and no wiggle room to pretend otherwise .
This is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other bad-faith gambits that Trump and his supporters are throwing out as distractions .
It 's about throwing out entire state elections because they favored a Democrat .
And while Republicans in the Senate have not formally signed onto this assault on the concept of democracy , many have done so informally .
Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , Georgia 's two Republican incumbents who are competing in runoff elections on Jan. 5 , have also publicly sided with Paxton .
In other words , these two senators are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while simultaneously demanding that those same voters watch their most recently cast ballots get thrown in the trash .
As confusing as this may appear , it 's ultimately about the Republican belief that elections should be democratic in name only , and the only real choice available to voters should be to vote Republican .
If the voters are foolish enough choose otherwise , their right to vote should be stripped away .
Paxton 's claim is that the voting pools of these states are irrevocably tainted by `` fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pretend there 's any evidence of any actual fraud , much less any evidence of fraud on a scale that could conceivably change the election results .
Indeed , the legal brief filed by Paxton admits that the fraud he 's supposing is `` undetectable . ''
To get around this problem , Paxton literally argues that the burden of proof is not on those making accusations of fraud , but on the accused — the state governments of Georgia , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin — to prove that they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue is not whether voters committed fraud but whether state officials violated the law by systematically loosening the measures for ballot integrity so that fraud becomes undetectable , '' Paxton writes in his suit .
Trump loves to whine about `` witch hunts , '' but this lawsuit is actually the real deal .
It 's making a broad-based , evidence-free accusation of fraud and refusing to prove it , instead insisting that the accused prove their innocence .
Of course , the states in question have already done that , time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these states have audited their elections , performed recounts and defended their voter integrity processes successfully in court .
But it 's in the nature of witch hunts that the accused can never offer enough proof of their innocence .
The accuser will remain unpersuaded .
Instead of evidence of fraud , Paxton 's lawsuit implicitly argues that fraud should be assumed in an election — that is , in any election won by a Democrat .
Using numbers that appear directly pulled from their asses , Paxton and company are arguing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have won those states , which should be reason enough to assume fraud — and fraud on such a grand scale that there 's no clear way for states to disprove the accusation .
As anyone who has been following the rhetoric spewed by Trump , his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and their minions and supporters can tell you , this is all operating from the overtly racist proposition that Black voters are inherently illegitimate .
Time and again , Trump and Giuliani have focused their ire on the way election results tipped blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta , Milwaukee , Philadelphia and Detroit — all cities with large Black populations — were finally counted .
Those were the vote `` dumps '' that Trump keeps ranting about .
There 's no mystery : In reality , those were large batches of votes that were counted late because they came from the biggest population centers in the state .
It 's entirely normal for big cities to finish counting votes later than small towns and suburban districts do .
More people equals more votes equals more time .
But Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will resonate with his racist base , because the votes in question come from racially diverse cities .
Paxton 's lawsuit folds in this racist logic by pointing out that votes counted towards the end of the process leaned more towards Biden than those counted earlier .
As Amber Phillips of the Washington Post notes , `` Paxton is literally arguing that the Supreme Court overturn an election because states counted their votes . ''
It only makes sense if you assume , say , that the entire state of Michigan 's votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were included in the total .
There is no non-racist way to assume that .
It 's tempting to write off this entire situation as another Trump-flavored clown show .
The fact that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas , who never turns down an opportunity to make a fool of himself , has offered to argue the case in front of the Supreme Court is just further proof .
( Free drinks to the justice who asks Cruz if Trump was right to accuse his father of murdering JFK . )
It remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up this insultingly dumb case , let alone rule in Trump 's favor .
Still , the reality is that this can not and should not be laughed off .
As Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has written , this whole exercise is a `` seditious abuse of the judicial process . ''
Sedition is a serious charge , but it 's the right word .
Most House Republicans and 17 state attorneys general are standing against the right of Americans to choose their own leaders .
As elected officials , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the people to declare that the people should not have such power .
Even if they lose this case , this time around , the fact that so many traitors hold elected office in America is a major crisis all by itself .

When Texas attorney general Ken Paxton first filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court demanding that all the votes of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — 10.4 million votes in total — be thrown out completely, the general media response was to call it a stunt. Paxton is under investigation for an alleged bribery scheme, and observers speculated that, by filing this ridiculous lawsuit, he is trawling for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, whose recent pardon of his crony Michael Flynn has instilled hope among other GOP lowlifes that they can bribe Trump to do the same for them.
Yet even though this suit is widely dismissed as a joke, a slew of other elected Republicans joined the lawsuit on Thursday, lending support to Paxton's argument that red states should be able to overturn the results of an election that didn't end well for Republicans. So far, 17 Republican state attorneys general and 106 Republicans in the House of Representatives — more than half the GOP caucus — have signed onto amicus briefs supporting Paxton's absurd demands that all the votes of the residents of these four states be destroyed. Six states have asked to join Paxton's lawsuit directly. On Monday, only a couple of House Republicans — mainly Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama — were willing to openly support Trump's efforts to steal the election. Now it's the majority of the House GOP caucus.
In doing so, these Republicans have outed themselves as opponents of democracy. There is no other way to read this, and no wiggle room to pretend otherwise. This isn't about "voter fraud" or any of the other bad-faith gambits that Trump and his supporters are throwing out as distractions. It's about throwing out entire state elections because they favored a Democrat.
And while Republicans in the Senate have not formally signed onto this assault on the concept of democracy, many have done so informally.
Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, Georgia's two Republican incumbents who are competing in runoff elections on Jan. 5, have also publicly sided with Paxton. In other words, these two senators are literally asking Georgians to vote for them, while simultaneously demanding that those same voters watch their most recently cast ballots get thrown in the trash.
As confusing as this may appear, it's ultimately about the Republican belief that elections should be democratic in name only, and the only real choice available to voters should be to vote Republican. If the voters are foolish enough choose otherwise, their right to vote should be stripped away.
Paxton's claim is that the voting pools of these states are irrevocably tainted by "fraud." Yet he doesn't even bother to pretend there's any evidence of any actual fraud, much less any evidence of fraud on a scale that could conceivably change the election results. Indeed, the legal brief filed by Paxton admits that the fraud he's supposing is "undetectable." To get around this problem, Paxton literally argues that the burden of proof is not on those making accusations of fraud, but on the accused — the state governments of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — to prove that they did not commit fraud.
"The constitutional issue is not whether voters committed fraud but whether state officials violated the law by systematically loosening the measures for ballot integrity so that fraud becomes undetectable," Paxton writes in his suit.
Trump loves to whine about "witch hunts," but this lawsuit is actually the real deal. It's making a broad-based, evidence-free accusation of fraud and refusing to prove it, instead insisting that the accused prove their innocence.
Of course, the states in question have already done that, time and again. With the nation watching, these states have audited their elections, performed recounts and defended their voter integrity processes successfully in court. But it's in the nature of witch hunts that the accused can never offer enough proof of their innocence. The accuser will remain unpersuaded.
Instead of evidence of fraud, Paxton's lawsuit implicitly argues that fraud should be assumed in an election — that is, in any election won by a Democrat. Using numbers that appear directly pulled from their asses, Paxton and company are arguing it was "improbable" that Biden could have won those states, which should be reason enough to assume fraud — and fraud on such a grand scale that there's no clear way for states to disprove the accusation.
As anyone who has been following the rhetoric spewed by Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and their minions and supporters can tell you, this is all operating from the overtly racist proposition that Black voters are inherently illegitimate. Time and again, Trump and Giuliani have focused their ire on the way election results tipped blue late in the vote-counting process, when Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Detroit — all cities with large Black populations — were finally counted.
Those were the vote "dumps" that Trump keeps ranting about. There's no mystery: In reality, those were large batches of votes that were counted late because they came from the biggest population centers in the state. It's entirely normal for big cities to finish counting votes later than small towns and suburban districts do. More people equals more votes equals more time. But Trump knows this language about "dumps" will resonate with his racist base, because the votes in question come from racially diverse cities.
Paxton's lawsuit folds in this racist logic by pointing out that votes counted towards the end of the process leaned more towards Biden than those counted earlier.
As Amber Phillips of the Washington Post notes, "Paxton is literally arguing that the Supreme Court overturn an election because states counted their votes."
It only makes sense if you assume, say, that the entire state of Michigan's votes are inherently tainted because Detroit's voters were included in the total. There is no non-racist way to assume that.
It's tempting to write off this entire situation as another Trump-flavored clown show. The fact that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who never turns down an opportunity to make a fool of himself, has offered to argue the case in front of the Supreme Court is just further proof. (Free drinks to the justice who asks Cruz if Trump was right to accuse his father of murdering JFK.) It remains unlikely that the Supreme Court will even take up this insultingly dumb case, let alone rule in Trump's favor.
Still, the reality is that this cannot and should not be laughed off. As Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has written, this whole exercise is a "seditious abuse of the judicial process."
Sedition is a serious charge, but it's the right word. Most House Republicans and 17 state attorneys general are standing against the right of Americans to choose their own leaders. As elected officials, they are using the power granted to them by the people to declare that the people should not have such power. Even if they lose this case, this time around, the fact that so many traitors hold elected office in America is a major crisis all by itself.


alternet--2020-12-11--'Delusions of fools': Conservative slams the GOP for 'beclowning itself' with a Supreme Court electi

'Delusions of fools': Conservative slams the GOP for 'beclowning itself' with a Supreme Court election case

More than 16 Republican attorneys general in states that President Donald Trump won in this year 's presidential election have signed onto Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton 's lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the election results in four battleground states that Biden won : Pennsylvania , Michigan , Georgia and Wisconsin .
But some on the right are attacking the lawsuit as deeply flawed , including radio host/blogger Erick Erickson — who has been a Trump supporter this year — and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden .
Erickson is a far-right social conservative and evangelical Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not a Never Trumper , a libertarian or one of the people on the right who crossed party lines and supported former Vice President Joe Biden .
But on his blog , Erickson slams Paxton 's lawsuit unmercifully , denouncing it as `` one of the stupidest bits of performative leg humping we have seen in the last five years . ''
`` These attorneys general are willing to beclown themselves and their states all to get in good with the losing presidential candidate , '' Erickson argues .
`` The suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states seek to interfere in the internal affairs of other states when those states are not actually electing the president , but allowing their voters to choose members of the Electoral College .
Were this to succeed , which it will not , the states will start suing each other at every election as a bit of theater . ''
Erickson goes on to list a variety of reasons why the lawsuit is `` absurd '' — for example , `` Texas alleges the other states changed election laws due to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know one state not being sued that did that ?
Texas . ''
Erickson notes that the states that have joined the lawsuit `` allege it is illegal to count ballots received after Election Day '' — even though `` several of the states making that claim also do that . ''
And Erickson points out that the lawsuit `` argues ( that ) a sign of voter fraud is that it is not likely Trump 2016 voters would vote for Biden in 2020 . ''
According to Erickson , `` Texas could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man who argues on behalf of the state before the Supreme Court — to sign onto the lawsuit .
That 's how frivolous it is . ''
Meanwhile , in Idaho — a deep red where Trump defeated Biden by 30 % — the state 's attorney general , Wasden , has no interest in joining Paxton 's lawsuit .
In an official statement this week , Wasden said , `` I 've spent substantial time reviewing Texas ' bill of complaint so I could fully understand and consider the legal arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am declining to join this effort . ''
The Idaho attorney general continued , `` As I have done since the day I took my oath of office — in which I pledged to uphold and protect both the Idaho and U.S. constitutions — I strive to protect the State of Idaho 's legal interests .
As is sometimes the case , the legally correct decision may not be the politically convenient decision .
But my responsibility is to the State of Idaho and the rule of law . ''
Wasden made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , emphasizing , `` This decision is necessary to protect Idaho 's sovereignty .
As attorney general , I have significant concerns about supporting a legal argument that could result in other states litigating against legal decisions made by Idaho 's legislature and governor .
Idaho is a sovereign state and should be free to govern itself without interference from any other state .
Likewise , Idaho should respect the sovereignty of its sister states . ''

More than 16 Republican attorneys general in states that President Donald Trump won in this year's presidential election have signed onto Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the election results in four battleground states that Biden won: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Wisconsin. But some on the right are attacking the lawsuit as deeply flawed, including radio host/blogger Erick Erickson — who has been a Trump supporter this year — and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden.
Erickson is a far-right social conservative and evangelical Christian fundamentalist who endorsed Trump's reelection campaign, not a Never Trumper, a libertarian or one of the people on the right who crossed party lines and supported former Vice President Joe Biden. But on his blog, Erickson slams Paxton's lawsuit unmercifully, denouncing it as "one of the stupidest bits of performative leg humping we have seen in the last five years."
"These attorneys general are willing to beclown themselves and their states all to get in good with the losing presidential candidate," Erickson argues. "The suit is absurd on its face. These states seek to interfere in the internal affairs of other states when those states are not actually electing the president, but allowing their voters to choose members of the Electoral College. Were this to succeed, which it will not, the states will start suing each other at every election as a bit of theater."
Erickson goes on to list a variety of reasons why the lawsuit is "absurd" — for example, "Texas alleges the other states changed election laws due to the pandemic without the legislature's blessing. You know one state not being sued that did that? Texas."
Erickson notes that the states that have joined the lawsuit "allege it is illegal to count ballots received after Election Day" — even though "several of the states making that claim also do that." And Erickson points out that the lawsuit "argues (that) a sign of voter fraud is that it is not likely Trump 2016 voters would vote for Biden in 2020."
According to Erickson, "Texas could not even get its solicitor general — the man who argues on behalf of the state before the Supreme Court — to sign onto the lawsuit. That's how frivolous it is."
He added:
I'm really tired of the Republican Party beclowning itself for a losing candidate out of fear for that candidate's voters. That is all this is and delusions of fools notwithstanding, despite all sorts of stupid arguments being wrapped in pomp and "equal protection" phraseology, the election is over and Joe Biden will be President-Elect officially next week.
Meanwhile, in Idaho — a deep red where Trump defeated Biden by 30% — the state's attorney general, Wasden, has no interest in joining Paxton's lawsuit.
In an official statement this week, Wasden said, "I've spent substantial time reviewing Texas' bill of complaint so I could fully understand and consider the legal arguments being made. After doing so, I am declining to join this effort."
The Idaho attorney general continued, "As I have done since the day I took my oath of office — in which I pledged to uphold and protect both the Idaho and U.S. constitutions — I strive to protect the State of Idaho's legal interests. As is sometimes the case, the legally correct decision may not be the politically convenient decision. But my responsibility is to the State of Idaho and the rule of law."
Wasden made a states' rights argument in his statement, emphasizing, "This decision is necessary to protect Idaho's sovereignty. As attorney general, I have significant concerns about supporting a legal argument that could result in other states litigating against legal decisions made by Idaho's legislature and governor. Idaho is a sovereign state and should be free to govern itself without interference from any other state. Likewise, Idaho should respect the sovereignty of its sister states."


alternet--2020-12-11--White House threatens to fire FDA chief if the vaccine isn't approved fast: report

The White House has reportedly threatened FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn with the possible loss of his job if he does not approve the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the day .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows spoke with Commissioner Hahn ( photo , right ) by phone on Friday , Axios reports , saying Meadows `` hinted '' that Hahn 's `` job security might be in jeopardy . ''
Hahn has since denied pressure from Meadows .
The Washington Post first reported the exchange , saying `` White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Food and Drug Administration , to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the nation 's first coronavirus vaccine by day 's end . ''
Trump himself pressured Hahn very publicly Friday morning , tweeting for him to approve the `` dam '' vaccine `` now . ''
Axios calls it `` one more example of the White House putting political pressure on the FDA to expedite its green light on a coronavirus vaccine . ''
There 's essentially no chance that the vaccine will not be approved , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval .
But any suggestion that the FDA is rushing approval or cutting corners could have extremely negative affects on some , especially conservatives , who already are opposed to taking the vaccine .

The White House has reportedly threatened FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn with the possible loss of his job if he does not approve the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the day.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows spoke with Commissioner Hahn (photo, right) by phone on Friday, Axios reports, saying Meadows "hinted" that Hahn's "job security might be in jeopardy." Hahn has since denied pressure from Meadows.
The Washington Post first reported the exchange, saying "White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Friday told Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the nation's first coronavirus vaccine by day's end."
Trump himself pressured Hahn very publicly Friday morning, tweeting for him to approve the "dam" vaccine "now."
Axios calls it "one more example of the White House putting political pressure on the FDA to expedite its green light on a coronavirus vaccine."
There's essentially no chance that the vaccine will not be approved, after an FDA advisory committee on Thursday recommended approval.
But any suggestion that the FDA is rushing approval or cutting corners could have extremely negative affects on some, especially conservatives, who already are opposed to taking the vaccine.


alternet--2020-12-11--Prosecutors zeroing in on Trump are 'escalating' their investigation: report

Many articles have been written about the pardons that President Donald Trump is likely to grant during his final weeks in office , including perhaps a preemptive pardon for himself .
But presidential pardons only exist at the federal level and not at the state level , which means that a preemptive pardon would have no effect on any charges that might come from a state prosecutor like Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance , Jr .
In an article published in the New York Times this week , journalists William K. Rashbaum , Ben Protess and David Enrich report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalating '' its investigation of Trump 's financial activities .
The reporters explain that prosecutors in Vance 's office , according to sources , have interviewed employees of Deutsche Bank and insurance broker Aon — both of which the Trump Organization has had extensive dealings with .
According to Rashbaum , Protess and Enrich , those interviews `` are the latest indication that once Mr. Trump leaves office , he still faces the potential threat of criminal charges that would be beyond the reach of federal pardons . ''
Vance 's office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its efforts , issuing new subpoenas and questioning witnesses , including some before a grand jury , according to the people with knowledge of the matter who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the investigation . ''
However , the Times journalists note , `` It remains unclear whether the office of the Manhattan district attorney , Cyrus R. Vance , Jr. , will ultimately bring charges .
The prosecutors have been fighting in court for more than a year to obtain Mr. Trump 's personal and corporate tax returns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
The issue now rests with the Supreme Court . ''
Rashbaum , Protess and Enrich explain , `` Employees of Deutsche Bank and Aon , two corporate giants , could be important witnesses .
As two of Mr. Trump 's oldest allies — and some of the only mainstream companies willing to do regular business with him — they might offer investigators a rich vein of information about the Trump Organization .
There is no indication that either company is suspected of wrongdoing . ''
Vance 's prosecutors , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` questioned two Deutsche Bank employees about the bank 's procedures for making lending decisions , according to a person familiar with the interviews '' —and those employees were `` experts in the bank 's underwriting process '' rather than `` bankers who worked with the Trump Organization . ''
According to the journalists , `` While the focus of those interviews was not on the relationship with Mr. Trump , bank officials expect Mr. Vance 's office to summon them for additional rounds of more specific questions in the near future , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of his allies have accused Vance 's office of conducting a baseless fishing expedition , claiming that Vance , a Democrat , is going after the president for partisan political reasons .
But Trump 's former personal attorney and fixer , Michael Cohen — who is now a blistering critic of the president — has said that Trump could face considerable legal exposure after he leaves the White House .
When Cohen testified before Congress in February 2019 , he accused Trump of exaggerating the worth of his assets when seeking a @ @

Many articles have been written about the pardons that President Donald Trump is likely to grant during his final weeks in office, including perhaps a preemptive pardon for himself. But presidential pardons only exist at the federal level and not at the state level, which means that a preemptive pardon would have no effect on any charges that might come from a state prosecutor like Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. In an article published in the New York Times this week, journalists William K. Rashbaum, Ben Protess and David Enrich report that Vance's office has been "escalating" its investigation of Trump's financial activities.
The reporters explain that prosecutors in Vance's office, according to sources, have interviewed employees of Deutsche Bank and insurance broker Aon — both of which the Trump Organization has had extensive dealings with. According to Rashbaum, Protess and Enrich, those interviews "are the latest indication that once Mr. Trump leaves office, he still faces the potential threat of criminal charges that would be beyond the reach of federal pardons." Vance's office, they report, has "stepped up its efforts, issuing new subpoenas and questioning witnesses, including some before a grand jury, according to the people with knowledge of the matter who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the investigation."
However, the Times journalists note, "It remains unclear whether the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., will ultimately bring charges. The prosecutors have been fighting in court for more than a year to obtain Mr. Trump's personal and corporate tax returns, which they have called central to their investigation. The issue now rests with the Supreme Court."
Rashbaum, Protess and Enrich explain, "Employees of Deutsche Bank and Aon, two corporate giants, could be important witnesses. As two of Mr. Trump's oldest allies — and some of the only mainstream companies willing to do regular business with him — they might offer investigators a rich vein of information about the Trump Organization. There is no indication that either company is suspected of wrongdoing."
Vance's prosecutors, according to Rashbaum, Protess and Enrich, recently "questioned two Deutsche Bank employees about the bank's procedures for making lending decisions, according to a person familiar with the interviews" —and those employees were "experts in the bank's underwriting process" rather than "bankers who worked with the Trump Organization."
According to the journalists, "While the focus of those interviews was not on the relationship with Mr. Trump, bank officials expect Mr. Vance's office to summon them for additional rounds of more specific questions in the near future, the person said."
Trump and many of his allies have accused Vance's office of conducting a baseless fishing expedition, claiming that Vance, a Democrat, is going after the president for partisan political reasons. But Trump's former personal attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen — who is now a blistering critic of the president — has said that Trump could face considerable legal exposure after he leaves the White House. When Cohen testified before Congress in February 2019, he accused Trump of exaggerating the worth of his assets when seeking a loan.


alternet--2020-12-11--The Texas lawsuit to overturn the election has grown so absurd that fake states are now signing on

Steve Vladeck , an adjunct professor for the University of Texas School of Law , highlighted his concerns about the latest developments in the Texas lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to disregard the votes of millions of Americans .
On Friday , Dec. 11 , Vladeck tweeted a new filing in the case .
According to the document , there are two new entities joining Texas 's post-presidential election legal battle to overturn votes in four battleground states and hand victory to Trump .
Amicus briefs have now been filed for `` New California State and New Nevada State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the filing : `` New California '' and `` New Nevada '' are not real states .
The so-called states listed in the lawsuit are nothing more than entities proposing to become states .
The representatives of both `` states '' are simply conservatives advocating to split from official states .
At this point , they have no legal basis to identify as actual genuine jurisdictions , and there 's no sign they have any viable prospect of ever becoming real .
`` New California State and New Nevada State are directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in election laws and procedures occur with unfortunate regularity in the current States of California and Nevada , '' the lawsuit reads .
It continued , `` Part of the reason for the formation of New California State and New Nevada Sate is to stop the lawless actions of Governors Newsome ( California ) and Sisolak ( Nevada ) .
An opinion by this Court affirming a national , uniform rule of law reestablishing the supremacy of The Electors Clause of Article II , § 1 of the United States Constitution will resolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these new States '' According to Vladeck , the filing further erodes the credibility of the lawsuit as it appears anyone can file amicus briefs in the Supreme Court .
The latest development comes as attorney generals in four states—Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin—are calling for the Supreme Court to reject the Texas lawsuit filed by the state 's Attorney General Ken Paxton ( R ) .
The opposing attorney generals also lambasted Paxton lawsuit arguing that it is `` legally indefensible and is an affront to principles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
`` Texas invites this Court to overthrow the votes of the American people and choose the next President of the United States .
That Faustian invitation must be firmly rejected , '' the brief said .
It also argued that the lawsuit `` seeks to invoke this Court 's original jurisdiction to achieve the extraordinary relief of disenfranchising all Pennsylvanians who voted and one-tenth of the voters in the entire Nation . ''

Steve Vladeck, an adjunct professor for the University of Texas School of Law, highlighted his concerns about the latest developments in the Texas lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to disregard the votes of millions of Americans.
On Friday, Dec. 11, Vladeck tweeted a new filing in the case. According to the document, there are two new entities joining Texas's post-presidential election legal battle to overturn votes in four battleground states and hand victory to Trump. Amicus briefs have now been filed for "New California State and New Nevada State."
Vladeck noted the glaring issue with the filing: "New California" and "New Nevada" are not real states.
The so-called states listed in the lawsuit are nothing more than entities proposing to become states. The representatives of both "states" are simply conservatives advocating to split from official states. At this point, they have no legal basis to identify as actual genuine jurisdictions, and there's no sign they have any viable prospect of ever becoming real.
"New California State and New Nevada State are directly impacted by the arbitrary and capricious changes in election laws and procedures occur with unfortunate regularity in the current States of California and Nevada," the lawsuit reads.
It continued, "Part of the reason for the formation of New California State and New Nevada Sate is to stop the lawless actions of Governors Newsome (California) and Sisolak (Nevada). An opinion by this Court affirming a national, uniform rule of law reestablishing the supremacy of The Electors Clause of Article II, § 1 of the United States Constitution will resolve some of the complaints causing the establishment of these new States"
According to Vladeck, the filing further erodes the credibility of the lawsuit as it appears anyone can file amicus briefs in the Supreme Court.
The latest development comes as attorney generals in four states—Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are calling for the Supreme Court to reject the Texas lawsuit filed by the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The opposing attorney generals also lambasted Paxton lawsuit arguing that it is "legally indefensible and is an affront to principles of constitutional democracy," according to CBS News.
"Texas invites this Court to overthrow the votes of the American people and choose the next President of the United States. That Faustian invitation must be firmly rejected," the brief said. It also argued that the lawsuit "seeks to invoke this Court's original jurisdiction to achieve the extraordinary relief of disenfranchising all Pennsylvanians who voted and one-tenth of the voters in the entire Nation."


alternet--2020-12-11--The end of the pandemic is in sight — but there's one huge hurdle left

The end is in sight , we are told .
The cavalry has arrived in the form of safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 on the verge of approval and being manufactured for widespread distribution .
The stock market has surged in response to every pharmaceutical company 's press release of its latest successful clinical trial .
Americans are expecting an end to this traumatic chapter of our history and are ready to turn the page on the year 2020 .
Except that if the United States has led the world in per capita infections and deaths because of deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mildest of safety precautions , do we expect the same people refusing to wear a face mask to take not one , but two doses of a brand-new vaccine ?
We may have safe and effective vaccines soon enough , but through a cruelly ironic twist of our nation 's perverted political climate , society may simply refuse to save itself .
Several key segments of the American population have varied reasons for vaccine skepticism .
Among Black and brown communities , there is a deep-seated and justifiable mistrust due to historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new polls about the COVID-19 vaccine .
On the American left , mistrust of large pharmaceutical companies putting profits above the public health—again justifiable—is driving cynicism about the motives of private corporations that have had piles of taxpayer cash thrown at them .
Among liberal elites , the growing popularity of `` clean eating , '' `` wellness , '' and taking personal responsibility for one 's health through expensive diets and rigorous exercise regimes has seeded an insidious movement that strives for purity as a pathway to well-being and health .
Part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over chemical ones , including for such life-threatening diseases as cancer .
It has also fueled the idea that medications including vaccines are `` dangerous '' contaminants to our bodies .
Quack doctors like Andrew Wakefield , celebrities like Jenny McCarthy , and political figures like Robert Kennedy Jr. have caused serious damage to trust in vaccine safety .
Before the pandemic , one of the biggest fears among public health experts was the resurgence of measles fueled by falling vaccination rates .
On the right , a similar vaccine skepticism has emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creating an unlikely coalition .
Republican Senator Ron Johnson went as far as inviting an anti-vaccine doctor to testify before a Senate committee recently .
Also prevalent is the notion that `` herd immunity '' —which is a term used to describe the threshold of safety that vaccines achieve if enough people take them—can be achieved simply by enough people catching the disease .
President Donald Trump has been one of the chief proponents of this thoroughly debunked idea .
Scientists have estimated that at least two-thirds of the population need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 .
In August , less than half of the population was willing to take a vaccine—an unsurprising number considering the widespread mistrust of vaccines in general .
Republicans are more skeptical than Democrats , which is also not surprising given that a majority of GOP voters still support Trump—a president whose relentless lies and science skepticism form the basis of his leadership .
A nation so steeped in misinformation that it ushered in a charlatan to take power for four long years is naturally susceptible to suspicion of vaccines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an effective vaccine could be produced in such a short period of time .
Indeed , past efforts at developing effective vaccines have taken many years .
In that context , the federal government 's `` Operation Warp Speed '' vaccine project has sparked fear .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , explained , `` People do n't understand that , because when they hear 'Operation Warp Speed , ' they think , 'Oh , my God , they 're jumping over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put us at risk . '
'' But in fact , decades of critical medical research formed the foundation upon which companies like Pfizer and Moderna have developed the mRNA type of vaccines that have thus far exceeded scientists ' expectations in clinical trials .
Fauci explained , `` The speed is a reflection of years of work that went before . ''
There is another insidious obstacle to a vaccination program .
We live in a nation enamored by libertarian ideals .
The concept of collective action to protect the common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual liberty '' and the Ayn-Rand-inspired notions that each American is solely responsible for their own happiness and well-being .
This idea forms the basis of our health care system—or lack thereof .
The coronavirus pandemic hit the United States at a time when we have no publicly funded universal health care system to speak of .
The U.S. government 's message to Americans is essentially that , unless you fall below the poverty line , have a disability , or are over the age of 65 , you are on your own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherever you can find it .
Once the novel coronavirus entered the picture , the frailties of this disjointed , disorganized , profit-based , and frankly cruel system were exposed like never before in recent memory .
Now , this same flawed system is expected to undertake a mass vaccination program to a skeptical public while at the same time struggling to treat ever-growing numbers of COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization .
True herd immunity can only be achieved when enough of the population has been inoculated that vulnerable populations ( infants , adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are protected .
Vaccines do n't just protect the individuals who take them ; they offer collective safeguards for society as a whole .
A population that has been conditioned to think about health as a solely individual concern has been hard-pressed to swallow such an idea .
Think about the obstinate mask-refusers among us .
As a journalist , every time I address vaccine skepticism on my broadcast program , I receive vitriolic hate mail claiming that I am a shill for `` big pharma '' or simply too stupid to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let misinformation , fear , and individualistic thinking discourage reporting on this issue .
In some ways , vaccines have become a victim of their own success .
Because we have lived ( until this year ) in a world relatively free of preventable but horrific diseases like smallpox and rubella—achieved through mass vaccination—many Americans have taken for granted the quality of life made possible through inoculation efforts .
The good news is that new polls show growing support for vaccination amidst an unfathomable rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are now willing to get vaccinated—close to the minimum threshold that could curb the spread of the disease .
Outreach and education efforts on accepting vaccinations in Black and Latino communities that have been hardest hit by the disease are underway .
Unfortunately , the vaccine refusers among us will likely continue to benefit from living in a largely vaccinated community , mooching off of the herd immunity they refuse to contribute to .
Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder , host and executive producer of `` Rising Up With Sonali , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations .
This article was produced by Economy for All , a project of the Independent Media Institute .

The end is in sight, we are told. The cavalry has arrived in the form of safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 on the verge of approval and being manufactured for widespread distribution. The stock market has surged in response to every pharmaceutical company's press release of its latest successful clinical trial. Americans are expecting an end to this traumatic chapter of our history and are ready to turn the page on the year 2020.
Except that if the United States has led the world in per capita infections and deaths because of deep skepticism from an intransigent population toward even the mildest of safety precautions, do we expect the same people refusing to wear a face mask to take not one, but two doses of a brand-new vaccine? We may have safe and effective vaccines soon enough, but through a cruelly ironic twist of our nation's perverted political climate, society may simply refuse to save itself.
Several key segments of the American population have varied reasons for vaccine skepticism. Among Black and brown communities, there is a deep-seated and justifiable mistrust due to historical government-sanctioned medical abuse that is reflected in new polls about the COVID-19 vaccine. On the American left, mistrust of large pharmaceutical companies putting profits above the public health—again justifiable—is driving cynicism about the motives of private corporations that have had piles of taxpayer cash thrown at them.
Among liberal elites, the growing popularity of "clean eating," "wellness," and taking personal responsibility for one's health through expensive diets and rigorous exercise regimes has seeded an insidious movement that strives for purity as a pathway to well-being and health. Part of that movement includes prizing natural remedies over chemical ones, including for such life-threatening diseases as cancer. It has also fueled the idea that medications including vaccines are "dangerous" contaminants to our bodies. Quack doctors like Andrew Wakefield, celebrities like Jenny McCarthy, and political figures like Robert Kennedy Jr. have caused serious damage to trust in vaccine safety. Before the pandemic, one of the biggest fears among public health experts was the resurgence of measles fueled by falling vaccination rates.
On the right, a similar vaccine skepticism has emerged as anti-vaccination activists court conservatives as allies, creating an unlikely coalition. Republican Senator Ron Johnson went as far as inviting an anti-vaccine doctor to testify before a Senate committee recently. Also prevalent is the notion that "herd immunity"—which is a term used to describe the threshold of safety that vaccines achieve if enough people take them—can be achieved simply by enough people catching the disease. President Donald Trump has been one of the chief proponents of this thoroughly debunked idea.
Scientists have estimated that at least two-thirds of the population need to be vaccinated in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. In August, less than half of the population was willing to take a vaccine—an unsurprising number considering the widespread mistrust of vaccines in general. Republicans are more skeptical than Democrats, which is also not surprising given that a majority of GOP voters still support Trump—a president whose relentless lies and science skepticism form the basis of his leadership. A nation so steeped in misinformation that it ushered in a charlatan to take power for four long years is naturally susceptible to suspicion of vaccines.
Some of the fear stems from disbelief that an effective vaccine could be produced in such a short period of time. Indeed, past efforts at developing effective vaccines have taken many years. In that context, the federal government's "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine project has sparked fear. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained, "People don't understand that, because when they hear 'Operation Warp Speed,' they think, 'Oh, my God, they're jumping over all these steps and they're going to put us at risk.'" But in fact, decades of critical medical research formed the foundation upon which companies like Pfizer and Moderna have developed the mRNA type of vaccines that have thus far exceeded scientists' expectations in clinical trials. Fauci explained, "The speed is a reflection of years of work that went before."
There is another insidious obstacle to a vaccination program. We live in a nation enamored by libertarian ideals. The concept of collective action to protect the common good flies in the face of "individual liberty" and the Ayn-Rand-inspired notions that each American is solely responsible for their own happiness and well-being. This idea forms the basis of our health care system—or lack thereof. The coronavirus pandemic hit the United States at a time when we have no publicly funded universal health care system to speak of. The U.S. government's message to Americans is essentially that, unless you fall below the poverty line, have a disability, or are over the age of 65, you are on your own to seek health insurance and health care wherever you can find it. Once the novel coronavirus entered the picture, the frailties of this disjointed, disorganized, profit-based, and frankly cruel system were exposed like never before in recent memory.
Now, this same flawed system is expected to undertake a mass vaccination program to a skeptical public while at the same time struggling to treat ever-growing numbers of COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization.
True herd immunity can only be achieved when enough of the population has been inoculated that vulnerable populations (infants, adults with vaccine allergies and elderly people) are protected. Vaccines don't just protect the individuals who take them; they offer collective safeguards for society as a whole. A population that has been conditioned to think about health as a solely individual concern has been hard-pressed to swallow such an idea. Think about the obstinate mask-refusers among us.
As a journalist, every time I address vaccine skepticism on my broadcast program, I receive vitriolic hate mail claiming that I am a shill for "big pharma" or simply too stupid to see the light. But we cannot let misinformation, fear, and individualistic thinking discourage reporting on this issue. In some ways, vaccines have become a victim of their own success. Because we have lived (until this year) in a world relatively free of preventable but horrific diseases like smallpox and rubella—achieved through mass vaccination—many Americans have taken for granted the quality of life made possible through inoculation efforts.
The good news is that new polls show growing support for vaccination amidst an unfathomable rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths. According to one new survey, 63 percent of Americans are now willing to get vaccinated—close to the minimum threshold that could curb the spread of the disease. Outreach and education efforts on accepting vaccinations in Black and Latino communities that have been hardest hit by the disease are underway. Unfortunately, the vaccine refusers among us will likely continue to benefit from living in a largely vaccinated community, mooching off of the herd immunity they refuse to contribute to.
Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of "Rising Up With Sonali," a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.
This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.


alternet--2020-12-11--Attorney explains why the raid on a Florida whistleblower exposes abuse of law enforcement

The raid on former Florida data scientist Rebekah Jones ' home is a clear example of what over-policing looks like in America , according to an editorial published by CNN .
Offering a grim , detailed account of what occurred at Jones ' home that day , attorney and writer Jill Filipovic described the actions of Florida cops .
`` They burst in , shouting orders and pointing guns , like it 's a military raid , '' she wrote .
`` It was a hyper-aggressive and totally unnecessary maneuver for carrying out a search warrant related to an alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reportedly a form of retaliation after Jones refused to manipulate COVID-related data to publicly downplay the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in the state of Florida .
As a result of her pushback , she was terminated from the Department of Health .
Since then , Jones has fought to raise awareness about the truth regarding coronavirus by running a dashboard .
Despite Jones ' attempts to alert the American public , the editorial describes the raid as `` indefensible . ''
`` Whatever Jones did or did n't do , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones 's security cam shows the terrifying intrusion ; she can be heard in the background crying out that her children are in the house as the police enter and point their guns up the stairs and shout for her family to come down .
Jones says the officers pointed their guns at her children , which the police deny . ''
Although Jones denied all allegations of possible wrongdoing , a search warrant of her home allowed for the confiscation of her electronic devices .
Following the raid , the law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defending officers ' actions .
`` Agents exercised tremendous restraint throughout the execution of the search warrant yesterday , especially considering the significant delay they faced in gaining entry and what that could represent to officer safety , '' the statement said .
Despite their law enforcement agency 's explanation , the editorial argues that there is no way to justify the level of aggression used to execute the search warrant .
`` How in any rational scenario can police justify such a guns-drawn , hyper-aggressive entry to make a simple search in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reason to believe will react with violence ? ''
it reads .
We should be asking why the police , whose salaries are paid with our tax dollars and who are tasked with protecting and serving our communities , behave with such hostility toward the people who are being policed -- instead of treating them with dignity -- and rely so heavily on lethal weapons to induce terror to get what they want .
While Jones previously criticized Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) for politicizing the pandemic instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , the governor 's office has denied any type of involvement in the raid on Jones ' home .

The raid on former Florida data scientist Rebekah Jones' home is a clear example of what over-policing looks like in America, according to an editorial published by CNN.
Offering a grim, detailed account of what occurred at Jones' home that day, attorney and writer Jill Filipovic described the actions of Florida cops. "They burst in, shouting orders and pointing guns, like it's a military raid," she wrote. "It was a hyper-aggressive and totally unnecessary maneuver for carrying out a search warrant related to an alleged computer crime."
The military-style raid was reportedly a form of retaliation after Jones refused to manipulate COVID-related data to publicly downplay the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in the state of Florida. As a result of her pushback, she was terminated from the Department of Health. Since then, Jones has fought to raise awareness about the truth regarding coronavirus by running a dashboard. Despite Jones' attempts to alert the American public, the editorial describes the raid as "indefensible."
"Whatever Jones did or didn't do, the raid on her home was indefensible. Jones's security cam shows the terrifying intrusion; she can be heard in the background crying out that her children are in the house as the police enter and point their guns up the stairs and shout for her family to come down. Jones says the officers pointed their guns at her children, which the police deny."
Although Jones denied all allegations of possible wrongdoing, a search warrant of her home allowed for the confiscation of her electronic devices. Following the raid, the law enforcement agency released a statement about the raid defending officers' actions.
"Agents exercised tremendous restraint throughout the execution of the search warrant yesterday, especially considering the significant delay they faced in gaining entry and what that could represent to officer safety," the statement said.
Despite their law enforcement agency's explanation, the editorial argues that there is no way to justify the level of aggression used to execute the search warrant. "How in any rational scenario can police justify such a guns-drawn, hyper-aggressive entry to make a simple search in the home of a woman they have no reason to believe will react with violence?" it reads.
We should be asking why the police, whose salaries are paid with our tax dollars and who are tasked with protecting and serving our communities, behave with such hostility toward the people who are being policed -- instead of treating them with dignity -- and rely so heavily on lethal weapons to induce terror to get what they want.
While Jones previously criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for politicizing the pandemic instead of effectively taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, the governor's office has denied any type of involvement in the raid on Jones' home.


alternet--2020-12-11--A GOP staffer is disgusted by the party's attempt 'destroy democracy': report

Although many Republicans in Congress are afraid to say anything critical of President Donald Trump and are terrified of offending his base , that does n't necessarily mean that they are n't criticizing him behind closed doors .
Former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor shared a text on Friday from a GOP staffer on Capitol Hill who finds it `` embarrassing '' that Republicans are so `` terrified '' of Trump .
On Twitter , the anti-Trump Republican did n't say who the staffer was — only that the person works for one of the `` 106 congressmen '' who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This refers to a Texas lawsuit brought to the Supreme Court seeking to context the voters ' choice in four swing states that went for Joe Biden , effectively trying to hand a second term to Trump .
More than 100 congressional Republicans , in addition to 17 GOP attorneys general , have signed on to the lawsuit along with the president , though legal experts across the board think it is doomed to failure .
The staffer who spoke to Taylor is clearly fed up with all the members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with Trump 's bogus claims .
`` Never thought my work would include trying to destroy democracy , '' the person said .
`` Privately they all say Trump lost , but publicly , they 're terrified of him .
It 's embarrassing . ''
They added : `` No staffer wants their name attached to this shit show . ''
Taylor said that he replied : `` Resign in protest .
We 'll help you find a job . ''
Taylor , who served as chief of staff in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 , is a vehement and outspoken Trump critic these days and endorsed Joe Biden in this year 's presidential election .
He also wrote the notorious anonymous op-ed in the New York Times in 2018 declaring himself part of `` a quiet resistance within the administration of people choosing to put country first . ''
Here are some responses to Taylor 's tweets :

Although many Republicans in Congress are afraid to say anything critical of President Donald Trump and are terrified of offending his base, that doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't criticizing him behind closed doors. Former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor shared a text on Friday from a GOP staffer on Capitol Hill who finds it "embarrassing" that Republicans are so "terrified" of Trump.
On Twitter, the anti-Trump Republican didn't say who the staffer was — only that the person works for one of the "106 congressmen" who is trying to overturn the election results. This refers to a Texas lawsuit brought to the Supreme Court seeking to context the voters' choice in four swing states that went for Joe Biden, effectively trying to hand a second term to Trump. More than 100 congressional Republicans, in addition to 17 GOP attorneys general, have signed on to the lawsuit along with the president, though legal experts across the board think it is doomed to failure.
The staffer who spoke to Taylor is clearly fed up with all the members of Congress who know Biden won but publicly go along with Trump's bogus claims.
"Never thought my work would include trying to destroy democracy," the person said. "Privately they all say Trump lost, but publicly, they're terrified of him. It's embarrassing."
They added: "No staffer wants their name attached to this shit show."
Taylor said that he replied: "Resign in protest. We'll help you find a job."
Taylor, who served as chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before leaving DHS in 2019, is a vehement and outspoken Trump critic these days and endorsed Joe Biden in this year's presidential election. He also wrote the notorious anonymous op-ed in the New York Times in 2018 declaring himself part of "a quiet resistance within the administration of people choosing to put country first."
Here are some responses to Taylor's tweets:


alternet--2020-12-11--The case of the missing president

The case of the missing president

Chaos and division are two words that clearly sum up President Donald Trump 's reckless presence currently taking a toll on the United States .
From the coronavirus continuing its accelerated spread in states across the country to the seeds of division Trump has sown throughout Congress and the Republican Party , his impact has left stains in many critical areas of government which has led to setbacks for the American public .
An editorial published by NBC News highlights the problems that stem from Trump 's leadership or lack thereof .
Although Trump is still in office , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as proof that there is still no leader actively working to reach resolutions to any problems .
The publication offers a grim breakdown of the coronavirus pandemic 's statistics noting that more than 15.5 million COVID cases have been reported across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic .
As hospitals nationwide are on the brink of capacity , the country 's COVID-related death toll is also continuing to rise , approaching 300,000 .
However , Trump has not uttered a word about the uptick in COVID cases .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials and pharmaceutical companies into expediting the vaccine — something he believes he can take credit for .
In the midst of the pandemic , Trump has only trained his focus on the post-election legal war he has created which has not only deepened the divide between both chambers of Congress but also between members of the Republican Party .
Although President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election more than one month ago , more than 200 Republicans are continuing to support Trump 's baseless claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proof .
In fact , the publication reports that a total of 106 Republican members of the House have even expressed support for the Texas lawsuit filed against four battleground states Trump lost during the election .
Despite Trump 's attempt to normalize polarization and chaos , the outcome all leads back to one origin : Trump 's lacking leadership .
As of Friday , Dec. 11 , no stimulus agreement has been reached , coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise at alarming rates , and Trump is still fighting to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his allies have lost more than 50 cases in court .

Chaos and division are two words that clearly sum up President Donald Trump's reckless presence currently taking a toll on the United States. From the coronavirus continuing its accelerated spread in states across the country to the seeds of division Trump has sown throughout Congress and the Republican Party, his impact has left stains in many critical areas of government which has led to setbacks for the American public.
An editorial published by NBC News highlights the problems that stem from Trump's leadership or lack thereof. Although Trump is still in office, the chaos and division looming over the country serve as proof that there is still no leader actively working to reach resolutions to any problems.
The publication offers a grim breakdown of the coronavirus pandemic's statistics noting that more than 15.5 million COVID cases have been reported across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic.
As hospitals nationwide are on the brink of capacity, the country's COVID-related death toll is also continuing to rise, approaching 300,000. However, Trump has not uttered a word about the uptick in COVID cases. Instead, he has only opted to bully public health officials and pharmaceutical companies into expediting the vaccine — something he believes he can take credit for.
In the midst of the pandemic, Trump has only trained his focus on the post-election legal war he has created which has not only deepened the divide between both chambers of Congress but also between members of the Republican Party.
Although President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election more than one month ago, more than 200 Republicans are continuing to support Trump's baseless claims of widespread voter fraud with no substantial proof. In fact, the publication reports that a total of 106 Republican members of the House have even expressed support for the Texas lawsuit filed against four battleground states Trump lost during the election.
Despite Trump's attempt to normalize polarization and chaos, the outcome all leads back to one origin: Trump's lacking leadership. As of Friday, Dec. 11, no stimulus agreement has been reached, coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise at alarming rates, and Trump is still fighting to overturn the election despite the fact that he and his allies have lost more than 50 cases in court.


alternet--2020-12-11--The election results in 3 Rust Belt counties could be a flashing red light for the future of the GOP

Of the five Trump states from 2016 that President-elect Joe Biden flipped this year , three were in the Rust Belt : Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin ( Biden also flipped Arizona and Georgia ) .
Ohio-based journalist Daniel McGraw analyzes Biden 's performance in three Rust Belt counties in an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on December 11 , arguing that if those counties are any indication , Republicans might run into problems in the Rust Belt in 2022 and 2024 as well .
The counties that McGraw focuses on are Pennsylvania 's Allegheny County ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland County ( which includes the Detroit suburbs ) and Wisconsin 's Dane County ( which includes Madison ) .
`` Trump won the three states that house these counties by about 77,000 votes combined in 2016 , '' McGraw explains .
`` They were the three states that he flipped , and they put him in the White House .
This time , Trump lost these states by about 250,000 combined votes . ''
McGraw adds that Biden 's success in the Rust Belt ca n't be attributed to densely populated urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump circle have tried to say the race was lost in these states in the big cities — Philadelphia , Detroit and Milwaukee — it was n't , '' McGraw observes .
`` For example , in Philadelphia County , Biden beat Trump by about 4000 fewer votes than Hillary Rodham Clinton did .
In Allegheny County , Biden beat Trump by about 40,000 more votes than Clinton did .
In other words : Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,000 or so votes in 2016 , and Biden just about made up that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to McGraw , the differences between 2016 and 2020 for Trump in the Rust Belt were that `` Trump 's campaign failed to recognize that the suburban population changed ; women 's earnings have gone up in the Midwest states , and they are often now the primary breadwinners in their households ; and midterm successes increase turnout by generating new voters , as seen by the fact that 2018 midterms in these counties moved the needle in 2020 . ''
Another problem for Trump , McGraw notes , is `` the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suburbs . ''
McGraw points out that Oakland County was 93 % White in 1980 but is 75 % White now .
Biden 's greatest disappointment in the Rust Belt was McGraw 's state , Ohio , which Biden lost to Trump by 8 % .
Although President Barack Obama won Ohio in 2008 and 2012 , Democrats have been struggling in the Buckeye State during the Trump era .
But other Rust Belt states were much better for the president-elect in 2020 .
And in future elections , McGraw argues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belt if they do n't take a close look at the reasons why Biden prevailed in Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
McGraw writes , `` People will be seeking stability rather than chaos , and there will be more counties like Dane , Oakland and Allegheny than not in the next few years… .
Republicans have a choice .
Take some short-term heat from Trump and his most dedicated fans by ditching him now .
Or carry him around the party 's neck like an albatross , alienating voters in must-win suburban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would , in turn , imperil their chances in 2024 of defeating Joe Biden 's reelection efforts . ''

Of the five Trump states from 2016 that President-elect Joe Biden flipped this year, three were in the Rust Belt: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin (Biden also flipped Arizona and Georgia). Ohio-based journalist Daniel McGraw analyzes Biden's performance in three Rust Belt counties in an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on December 11, arguing that if those counties are any indication, Republicans might run into problems in the Rust Belt in 2022 and 2024 as well.
The counties that McGraw focuses on are Pennsylvania's Allegheny County (which includes Pittsburgh), Michigan's Oakland County (which includes the Detroit suburbs) and Wisconsin's Dane County (which includes Madison).
"Trump won the three states that house these counties by about 77,000 votes combined in 2016," McGraw explains. "They were the three states that he flipped, and they put him in the White House. This time, Trump lost these states by about 250,000 combined votes."
McGraw adds that Biden's success in the Rust Belt can't be attributed to densely populated urban areas exclusively.
"While some in the Trump circle have tried to say the race was lost in these states in the big cities — Philadelphia, Detroit and Milwaukee — it wasn't," McGraw observes. "For example, in Philadelphia County, Biden beat Trump by about 4000 fewer votes than Hillary Rodham Clinton did. In Allegheny County, Biden beat Trump by about 40,000 more votes than Clinton did. In other words: Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,000 or so votes in 2016, and Biden just about made up that amount in one county."
According to McGraw, the differences between 2016 and 2020 for Trump in the Rust Belt were that "Trump's campaign failed to recognize that the suburban population changed; women's earnings have gone up in the Midwest states, and they are often now the primary breadwinners in their households; and midterm successes increase turnout by generating new voters, as seen by the fact that 2018 midterms in these counties moved the needle in 2020."
Another problem for Trump, McGraw notes, is "the fact that the African-American population has increased in the suburbs." McGraw points out that Oakland County was 93% White in 1980 but is 75% White now.
Biden's greatest disappointment in the Rust Belt was McGraw's state, Ohio, which Biden lost to Trump by 8%. Although President Barack Obama won Ohio in 2008 and 2012, Democrats have been struggling in the Buckeye State during the Trump era.
But other Rust Belt states were much better for the president-elect in 2020. And in future elections, McGraw argues, Republicans will have problems in the Rust Belt if they don't take a close look at the reasons why Biden prevailed in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
McGraw writes, "People will be seeking stability rather than chaos, and there will be more counties like Dane, Oakland and Allegheny than not in the next few years…. Republicans have a choice. Take some short-term heat from Trump and his most dedicated fans by ditching him now. Or carry him around the party's neck like an albatross, alienating voters in must-win suburban counties in 2022 along the way — which would, in turn, imperil their chances in 2024 of defeating Joe Biden's reelection efforts."


alternet--2020-12-11--Democrats have a Florida Problem — but it isn’t insurmountable

306 electoral votes .
The bad news is that Biden lost Florida to President Donald Trump by 4 % .
Democrats have a Florida problem , but it is n't insurmountable .
Conservative strategist Rick Wilson , a Tampa native and blistering Trump critic , has said that Democrats `` struggle '' in Florida .
MSNBC 's Joy Reid has been less optimistic about Democrats ' prospects in the Sunshine State , arguing that it is really a red state now and not a swing state .
But the overall pattern in Florida , which President Barack Obama won in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of Republicans enjoying huge double-digit wins in statewide races like they typically do in Wyoming , Idaho , Utah or Nebraska — all of which are deep red states .
Rather , the overall pattern has been one in which Democrats come within striking distance of victory but have a hard time getting past the finish line .
In the 2018 midterms , Democrats enjoyed a major blue wave in the U.S. House of Representatives and flipped 40 GOP-held seats .
But in Florida , Democrats were disappointed that year when gubernatorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ron DeSantis , now Florida 's governor , by only 1 % .
And incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson was voted out of office in 2018 , narrowly losing to former Florida Gov .
Rick Scott .
In 2020 's presidential election , Biden was able to flip five states that Trump won in 2016 — Pennsylvania , Arizona , Georgia , Wisconsin and Michigan — but in Florida ( which has 29 electoral votes ) , he could n't close the deal .
Florida , like Iowa and Ohio , was among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Biden lost in a state that is not overwhelmingly Anglo : Florida 's population is about 53 % non-Hispanic White .
Factoring in White Latinos , Florida is around 74 % White .
As much time as Trump has spent bashing Latinos during his presidency , he performed well among Cuban-Americans in Florida in 2020 — which was a problem for Biden .
Trump 's messaging that Biden is a `` socialist '' worked well among right-wing Cuban-Americans .
Of course , the notion that Biden is a `` socialist '' is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his history .
Biden , during his decades in the U.S. Senate and as vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009-2017 , had a decidedly centrist record .
If Biden lived in the U.K. , he would fit right in with the Conservative Party and would make a good Tory .
And Biden , as a U.S. senator , often bragged about his ability to make deals with right-wing Arizona Sen. John McCain — whose widow , Cindy McCain , endorsed the former vice president .
Biden , in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-wing Never Trump conservatives — from Rick Wilson and others in the Lincoln Project to Washington Post columnists George Will and Max Boot .
Regardless , Trump 's claim that Biden was a `` socialist '' worked well with many Cuban-American voters in Florida .
Biden , compared to Democratic presidential nominee Hilary Clinton in 2016 , underperformed even in the more Democrat-friendly parts of South Florida .
Part of the problem for Democrats is Trump 's Florida presence .
The outgoing president is now officially a Florida resident , and he uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political activities .
Trumpism will not disappear after he leaves the White House on January 20 , 2021 , especially if Trump starts his own media company or is hired in some capacity by a Fox News competitor like Newsmax TV .
Nonetheless , Florida is not a lost cause for Democrats , although they will need to step up their game in the Sunshine State .
That will mean an aggressive outreach to Florida 's non-Cuban Latinos , especially the state 's growing Puerto Rican population .
And it will also mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2020 , Black voters were crucial to Biden 's success in battleground states like Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin — and Florida is 16 % Black .
The challenges that Democrats face in Florida are not insurmountable , but they are challenges that definitely need to be addressed .

306 electoral votes. The bad news is that Biden lost Florida to President Donald Trump by 4%. Democrats have a Florida problem, but it isn't insurmountable.
Conservative strategist Rick Wilson, a Tampa native and blistering Trump critic, has said that Democrats "struggle" in Florida. MSNBC's Joy Reid has been less optimistic about Democrats' prospects in the Sunshine State, arguing that it is really a red state now and not a swing state.
But the overall pattern in Florida, which President Barack Obama won in 2008 and 2012, hasn't been one of Republicans enjoying huge double-digit wins in statewide races like they typically do in Wyoming, Idaho, Utah or Nebraska — all of which are deep red states. Rather, the overall pattern has been one in which Democrats come within striking distance of victory but have a hard time getting past the finish line.
In the 2018 midterms, Democrats enjoyed a major blue wave in the U.S. House of Representatives and flipped 40 GOP-held seats. But in Florida, Democrats were disappointed that year when gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum lost to far-right Republican Ron DeSantis, now Florida's governor, by only 1%. And incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson was voted out of office in 2018, narrowly losing to former Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
In 2020's presidential election, Biden was able to flip five states that Trump won in 2016 — Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan — but in Florida (which has 29 electoral votes), he couldn't close the deal. Florida, like Iowa and Ohio, was among Biden's disappointments on Election Night. And Biden lost in a state that is not overwhelmingly Anglo: Florida's population is about 53% non-Hispanic White. Factoring in White Latinos, Florida is around 74% White.
As much time as Trump has spent bashing Latinos during his presidency, he performed well among Cuban-Americans in Florida in 2020 — which was a problem for Biden. Trump's messaging that Biden is a "socialist" worked well among right-wing Cuban-Americans.
Of course, the notion that Biden is a "socialist" is laughable to anyone who knows a lot about his history. Biden, during his decades in the U.S. Senate and as vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009-2017, had a decidedly centrist record. If Biden lived in the U.K., he would fit right in with the Conservative Party and would make a good Tory. And Biden, as a U.S. senator, often bragged about his ability to make deals with right-wing Arizona Sen. John McCain — whose widow, Cindy McCain, endorsed the former vice president. Biden, in fact, was endorsed by a long list of right-wing Never Trump conservatives — from Rick Wilson and others in the Lincoln Project to Washington Post columnists George Will and Max Boot.
Regardless, Trump's claim that Biden was a "socialist" worked well with many Cuban-American voters in Florida. Biden, compared to Democratic presidential nominee Hilary Clinton in 2016, underperformed even in the more Democrat-friendly parts of South Florida.
Part of the problem for Democrats is Trump's Florida presence. The outgoing president is now officially a Florida resident, and he uses his Mar-a-Lago resort for many of his political activities. Trumpism will not disappear after he leaves the White House on January 20, 2021, especially if Trump starts his own media company or is hired in some capacity by a Fox News competitor like Newsmax TV.
Nonetheless, Florida is not a lost cause for Democrats, although they will need to step up their game in the Sunshine State. That will mean an aggressive outreach to Florida's non-Cuban Latinos, especially the state's growing Puerto Rican population. And it will also mean an unwavering African-American outreach in Florida. In 2020, Black voters were crucial to Biden's success in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — and Florida is 16% Black.
The challenges that Democrats face in Florida are not insurmountable, but they are challenges that definitely need to be addressed.


alternet--2020-12-11--Fox host erupts when guest calls her out for ignoring COVID-19 deaths: ‘You don’t know what’s in my

Fox host erupts when guest calls her out for ignoring COVID-19 deaths: ‘You don’t know what’s in my heart!’

A Fox News host erupted when a panelist called her out for ignoring the record number of COVID-19 deaths .
More than 3,250 died in the United States on Wednesday , setting another daily record as the coronavirus pandemic explodes and overburdens hospitals nationwide , and `` Outnumbered '' panelist Marie Harf asked moderator Harris Faulkner why they had n't mentioned the grim milestone .
`` Yeah , I mean , we are 43 minutes into the show and we have n't mentioned the 3,000 Americans that died yesterday , more than on 9/11 , and every day for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many American deaths , '' Harf said .
Harf urged government officials to do more to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and help Americans whose livelihoods were hurt by those necessary regulations .
`` Congress should be doing more to help businesses , '' Harf said .
`` But as we can see , these regulations can not lose sight of the tragedy that is unfolding everyday in this country , in large part because people want to go about life as normal and a lot of people do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence is overwhelming that they save lives . ''
Faulkner was still stuck on her guest 's first comment .
`` Can I just quickly say , because I feel like , Marie , you took a shot there and maybe you felt like it was necessary , but if you do n't think that our hearts are big enough to mourn the people we have lost during this pandemic , what exactly are you trying to say ? ''
Faulkner said .
`` That is offensive and it is not true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best way to protect those people that we love so much is to make sure that the decisions that we make give them longevity after the pandemic , as well , and to get what we do right based on the science , not just on , 'My gosh , the numbers are ballooning , let 's just destroy everything in the process of trying to save it . '
'' `` You are right , it did n't just happen nine days ago , it 's been months now , '' Faulkner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaching us , let 's live by that but please , keep your judgment someplace where you know you can fact check it because you ca n't see my heart , and trust me when I tell you it hurts all of us to mourn those Americans and people around the world . ''

A Fox News host erupted when a panelist called her out for ignoring the record number of COVID-19 deaths.
More than 3,250 died in the United States on Wednesday, setting another daily record as the coronavirus pandemic explodes and overburdens hospitals nationwide, and "Outnumbered" panelist Marie Harf asked moderator Harris Faulkner why they hadn't mentioned the grim milestone.
"Yeah, I mean, we are 43 minutes into the show and we haven't mentioned the 3,000 Americans that died yesterday, more than on 9/11, and every day for a while we're going to have that many American deaths," Harf said.
Harf urged government officials to do more to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and help Americans whose livelihoods were hurt by those necessary regulations.
"Congress should be doing more to help businesses," Harf said. "But as we can see, these regulations cannot lose sight of the tragedy that is unfolding everyday in this country, in large part because people want to go about life as normal and a lot of people don't want to wear masks even though the evidence is overwhelming that they save lives."
Faulkner was still stuck on her guest's first comment.
"Can I just quickly say, because I feel like, Marie, you took a shot there and maybe you felt like it was necessary, but if you don't think that our hearts are big enough to mourn the people we have lost during this pandemic, what exactly are you trying to say?" Faulkner said. "That is offensive and it is not true, it is not true. But the best way to protect those people that we love so much is to make sure that the decisions that we make give them longevity after the pandemic, as well, and to get what we do right based on the science, not just on, 'My gosh, the numbers are ballooning, let's just destroy everything in the process of trying to save it.'"
"You are right, it didn't just happen nine days ago, it's been months now," Faulkner added, "the science you are teaching us, let's live by that but please, keep your judgment someplace where you know you can fact check it because you can't see my heart, and trust me when I tell you it hurts all of us to mourn those Americans and people around the world."
Fox News' Harris Faulkner blows up at Marie Harf for noting that they went nearly the whole show without mentioning the record-setting covid death toll.
"That is offensive and it is not true... you can't see my heart and trust me when I tell you it hurts all of us!" pic.twitter.com/hSS4YjEQwN — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 10, 2020


alternet--2020-12-11--Trump's wealthy allies boast about COVID treatments most Americans will not have access to

President Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani 's recent update about the COVID-19 treatment he received while hospitalized sheds a glaring light on the disparities between how the treatment wealthy Americans receive for coronavirus compared to that of average Americans .
On Thursday , Giuliani boasted about his hospital stay at MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center following his coronavirus diagnosis .
According to the embattled lawyer , he was treated like `` a celebrity . ''
Giuliani claims he was given `` the cocktail , '' which he described as being `` exactly the same '' treatment Trump received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center back in November .
He also bragged about how his status likely contributed to him receiving exclusive treatment not normally available to the American public .
`` I think if it was n't me I would n't have been put in the hospital , '' Giuliani said during a call on Tuesday from the hospital .
`` Sometimes , when you 're a celebrity , they 're worried if something happens to you ...
They 're going to examine it more carefully and do everything right . ''
He later added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocktail yesterday , I felt 100 % better .
It works very quickly , wow . ''
However , MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow noted the most glaring takeaway from Giuliani 's boastful remarks : the disparities that exist between the wealthy and average Americans .
As Giuliani continued to travel from state to state and irresponsibly attend large gatherings with no masks or social distancing , nearly 300,000 lost their lives to coronavirus .
Sadly , many likely died due to limited access to exclusive treatments and a lack of resources available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become infected with the virus and the death toll rises at an alarming rate , many of Trump 's allies have not had to witness the grim side of coronavirus .
Like Giuliani , Secretary of Housing and Urban Development , Ben Carson , Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie ( R ) have also had the same monoclonal antibody treatment Trump received .
To make matters worse , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) continues to delay the next relief bill which would include funds to assist healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's allies are not impacted by the same problems the American public face .
Like Maddow 's arguments , an editorial published by ABC News also delivers stark criticism toward Giuliani 's boastful remarks .
The reality is that the star treatment Giuliani received is not available to most and drew a stark contrast to the dire reality facing many ordinary Americans who contract the virus , with a growing crisis in parts of the country staring down the prospect of shortages in facilities and healthcare professionals to treat the growing number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 11 , the United States has reported more than 16 million coronavirus cases , nationwide as the death toll approaches 300,000 .

President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani's recent update about the COVID-19 treatment he received while hospitalized sheds a glaring light on the disparities between how the treatment wealthy Americans receive for coronavirus compared to that of average Americans.
On Thursday, Giuliani boasted about his hospital stay at MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center following his coronavirus diagnosis. According to the embattled lawyer, he was treated like "a celebrity." Giuliani claims he was given "the cocktail," which he described as being "exactly the same" treatment Trump received while he was hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center back in November.
He also bragged about how his status likely contributed to him receiving exclusive treatment not normally available to the American public. "I think if it wasn't me I wouldn't have been put in the hospital," Giuliani said during a call on Tuesday from the hospital.
"Sometimes, when you're a celebrity, they're worried if something happens to you...They're going to examine it more carefully and do everything right." He later added, "The minute I took the cocktail yesterday, I felt 100% better. It works very quickly, wow."
However, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow noted the most glaring takeaway from Giuliani's boastful remarks: the disparities that exist between the wealthy and average Americans. As Giuliani continued to travel from state to state and irresponsibly attend large gatherings with no masks or social distancing, nearly 300,000 lost their lives to coronavirus.
Sadly, many likely died due to limited access to exclusive treatments and a lack of resources available to the American public. As Americans continue to become infected with the virus and the death toll rises at an alarming rate, many of Trump's allies have not had to witness the grim side of coronavirus. Like Giuliani, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) have also had the same monoclonal antibody treatment Trump received.
To make matters worse, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) continues to delay the next relief bill which would include funds to assist healthcare systems across the country. However, Trump's allies are not impacted by the same problems the American public face.
Like Maddow's arguments, an editorial published by ABC News also delivers stark criticism toward Giuliani's boastful remarks.
The reality is that the star treatment Giuliani received is not available to most and drew a stark contrast to the dire reality facing many ordinary Americans who contract the virus, with a growing crisis in parts of the country staring down the prospect of shortages in facilities and healthcare professionals to treat the growing number of patients.
As of Friday, Dec. 11, the United States has reported more than 16 million coronavirus cases, nationwide as the death toll approaches 300,000.