alternet--2020-11-06--Here's why Biden has pulled ahead in Georgia

We go to Atlanta for an update , after Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump for the first time in Georgia .
The 2020 presidential election could hinge on this extraordinarily tight race .
Many credit the state 's blue shift to community organizers on the ground , including Stacey Abrams , who lost a hotly contested race for governor of Georgia in 2018 amid claims of widespread voter suppression and has since led a massive effort to get out the vote through her organizations Fair Fight and Fair Count .
Both Senate races in Georgia also appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state could determine if the GOP holds onto its Senate majority .
`` There has been a wide investment that has been deeply driven by community to expand the electorate , '' says Anoa Changa , a freelance journalist based in Atlanta who focuses on electoral justice and voting rights .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org .
I 'm Amy Goodman , with Juan González , as we go to Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump for the first time in an extraordinarily tight race for Georgia 's 16 electoral votes .
With more than 98 % reporting , Biden leads by more than 900 votes .
Election officials estimate between 5,000 to 10,000 votes remain to be counted .
On Thursday , Georgia 's voting system implementation manager , Gabriel Sterling , said a presidential recount is , quote , `` more than likely . ''
He responded to a reporter 's question about election fairness and allegations of a , quote , `` rigged system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crediting Georgia 's blue shift to community organizers on the ground , including Stacey Abrams , who lost a hotly contested race for governor of Georgia in 2018 and claims of widespread voter suppression .
She has since been getting out the vote in Georgia with her organization , Fair Fight .
Well , for more , we go to Atlanta , where we 're joined by Anoa Changa .
She 's a freelance journalist based in Atlanta covering electoral justice and voting rights .
Georgia is turning everything on its head , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying where he was ahead and now behind is all Democrat-run states .
Georgia is run by a Republican governor , Republican secretary of state .
There 's a whole Republican infrastructure there .
And it 's now flipped blue .
You also have the two Senate races that could well go to a runoff , and they could determine the balance of the Senate .
Talk about the significance of what 's happening in Georgia right now , Anoa .
ANOA CHANGA : Amy , thank you so much for making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 's happening in Georgia and the ridiculous claims coming from the current president of the United States about fraud , which have been debunked time and time again .
And as you just astutely pointed out , Brian Kemp and Brad Raffensperger are actually Republicans and have been in control of the state of Georgia for the last 10 years , with Brian Kemp previously serving also as secretary of state , and notably in 2018 being — overseeing his own election to the governorship , right ?
So , what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work , as you pointed out , with Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight post-2018 , but also also organizations like the New Georgia Project , founded in 2013 and 2014 by Stacey Abrams and Nse Ufot , who serves as the current CEO .
You also have Black Voters Matter , the Georgia People 's Agenda .
You have so many amazing organizations — Asian Americans Advancing Justice .
There has been a wide investment that has been deeply driven by community to expand the electorate and also recognizes the coalition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , progressive voters , young voters , is what was going to shift Georgia to a state that actually respected all people , regardless of their citizenship status , regardless of their income , etc.
, and actually bring about opportunity to change .
We are still a state that has not had Medicaid expansion , among other things .
And so , what we 're seeing right now is a culmination of several years , if not more , of the work of many Georgians to reset the state back from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of centrist , moderate , white Dem leadership that lost the state back in 2010 .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Anoa , while the focus has been on the presidential race and also those Senate races , the U.S. Senate races , there have been quite a few changes in down-ballot races .
Could you talk about what 's happening in some of the sheriff races , as well ?
ANOA CHANGA : Yeah .
I mean , right here in the metro Atlanta area , we just saw two candidates for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , again , a part of the long-term work that 's being pushed , that flipped two sheriffs that do not support participation in 287 ( g ) .
So , you have new sheriffs coming in who are willing to withdraw support from the 287 ( g ) program .
If folks are not familiar with that , that is a cooperation agreement between law enforcement and ICE .
And that has been a major victory , among some other issues around detention and racial profiling that Latinx organizers , AAPI , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been working on around the state .
We also saw Deborah Gonzalez , who is a candidate for DA , go into a runoff .
Deborah had to sue the state multiple times for her race to even happen , as it was canceled previously to allow the appointed position to — the appointed person to remain in that position .
So , Deborah Gonzalez is now moving forward in Athens County .
That 's the Western District DA race .
We also saw Jackie Johnson , the corrupt DA who conspired to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jail — we saw Jackie Johnson lose her race , as well .
So we 're seeing a lot happening .
We 've seen several shifts in folks flipping House district races , as well .
I mean , there 's just been a lot happening across state .
A couple of county commissioner seats have been picked up .
It 's just been a lot .
And again , that 's a testament to the grassroots organizing that has been happening , some of it in line with the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — most of it has been outside of traditional party politics , the traditional candidates .
AMY GOODMAN : And these two Senate races , the significance ?
I mean , if you have both Senate races go to a runoff in January , the whole country — and possibly a call for a recount , if it 's really razor thin between Joe Biden and President Trump — the entire country will be turning to Georgia , to say the least .
ANOA CHANGA : Yeah .
I mean , what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have seen , because trusting in the work of local organizers and then also just looking at the numbers on the map , in terms of , like , who the new voters are , who were the existing voters that have not been touched — people have been doing organizing work in Southwest Georgia , down in Dodge County , despite hurricanes and other incidents .
So folks know that these Senate seats are not just important to Georgia in terms of being able to flip them , but also in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of the whole nation and the Senate .
But with that is coming a mandate from Georgians , in terms of making sure that the South , as a whole — because it 's not just about Georgia .
It 's about the whole South .
We 've seen amazing victories across the South .
And that is attributed to deep organizing that has happened across the region , that tends to be Black- , Indigenous- , POC-led , right ?
And so , we know that we need a fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country , as well as how we examine and talk about different states , whether we 're talking about rural voters and the work that rural organizers are doing , or we 're talking about , quote-unquote , `` red versus blue '' state .
It 's amazing to wake up this morning to the work and to see proof of concept for everyone else to understand what we know to be true here in Georgia .
when we look at Mississippi and Mississippi voters overturning a remnant of Jim Crow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Electoral College , that basically prevented Black — anyone Black or of color to ever win statewide .
We see , in Alamance County , North Carolina , which recently made news for the attack on voters , just elected its first Latino to the state House .
We have seen , like , amazing efforts across the board .
Florida flipped to — or , Florida supported a $ 15 minimum wage .
So , the work is there .
The investment just needs to happen .
And it ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are going to build up or be the backbone of the Democratic Party .
It has to be grounded in the people 's interests and what is for the greater good , and really putting democracy back in the center of all of our focus , and not worrying about paying attention to bothsidesism and so-called objectivity .
AMY GOODMAN : Anoa Changa , I want to thank you very much for being with us , freelance journalist based in Atlanta , Georgia , covering electoral justice and voting rights .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports that are coming in from Pennsylvania .
Joe Biden has just taken a narrow lead in Pennsylvania by more than 5,000 votes — again , has flipped Pennsylvania by more than 5,000 votes .
There are still tens of thousands of votes to be counted .
The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License .
Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org .
Some of the work ( s ) that this program incorporates , however , may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional permissions , contact us .

We go to Atlanta for an update, after Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump for the first time in Georgia. The 2020 presidential election could hinge on this extraordinarily tight race. Many credit the state's blue shift to community organizers on the ground, including Stacey Abrams, who lost a hotly contested race for governor of Georgia in 2018 amid claims of widespread voter suppression and has since led a massive effort to get out the vote through her organizations Fair Fight and Fair Count. Both Senate races in Georgia also appear to be headed to runoff elections, and the state could determine if the GOP holds onto its Senate majority. "There has been a wide investment that has been deeply driven by community to expand the electorate," says Anoa Changa, a freelance journalist based in Atlanta who focuses on electoral justice and voting rights.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I'm Amy Goodman, with Juan González, as we go to Georgia, where Joe Biden has pulled ahead of Donald Trump for the first time in an extraordinarily tight race for Georgia's 16 electoral votes. With more than 98% reporting, Biden leads by more than 900 votes. Election officials estimate between 5,000 to 10,000 votes remain to be counted. On Thursday, Georgia's voting system implementation manager, Gabriel Sterling, said a presidential recount is, quote, "more than likely." He responded to a reporter's question about election fairness and allegations of a, quote, "rigged system."
GABRIEL STERLING: Well, I think if anybody's going to try to rig a system, they might have seen something a little bit less close than this. That's one. Two, we have, in this process, 159 dedicated elections directors and their staff who are working to get this right. They are working diligently every single day. We have the — we know how many requests came in for absentee ballots. We know how many ballots were received. So, that is an outward bound, so nobody could suddenly show up with 100,000 extra ballots somewhere. In this state, in particular, we take security very seriously. … We're going to have a recount for president, more than likely. And people will see those outcomes stay essentially the same.
AMY GOODMAN: Many are crediting Georgia's blue shift to community organizers on the ground, including Stacey Abrams, who lost a hotly contested race for governor of Georgia in 2018 and claims of widespread voter suppression. She has since been getting out the vote in Georgia with her organization, Fair Fight.
Well, for more, we go to Atlanta, where we're joined by Anoa Changa. She's a freelance journalist based in Atlanta covering electoral justice and voting rights.
Georgia is turning everything on its head, Anoa. You have Trump alleging fraud, saying where he was ahead and now behind is all Democrat-run states. Georgia is run by a Republican governor, Republican secretary of state. There's a whole Republican infrastructure there. And it's now flipped blue. You also have the two Senate races that could well go to a runoff, and they could determine the balance of the Senate. Talk about the significance of what's happening in Georgia right now, Anoa.
ANOA CHANGA: Amy, thank you so much for making some time for us to talk about what's happening in Georgia and the ridiculous claims coming from the current president of the United States about fraud, which have been debunked time and time again. And as you just astutely pointed out, Brian Kemp and Brad Raffensperger are actually Republicans and have been in control of the state of Georgia for the last 10 years, with Brian Kemp previously serving also as secretary of state, and notably in 2018 being — overseeing his own election to the governorship, right?
So, what we're seeing right now is the continuation of work, as you pointed out, with Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight post-2018, but also also organizations like the New Georgia Project, founded in 2013 and 2014 by Stacey Abrams and Nse Ufot, who serves as the current CEO. You also have Black Voters Matter, the Georgia People's Agenda. You have so many amazing organizations — Asian Americans Advancing Justice. There has been a wide investment that has been deeply driven by community to expand the electorate and also recognizes the coalition of Black, Latinx, AAPI and other voters, progressive voters, young voters, is what was going to shift Georgia to a state that actually respected all people, regardless of their citizenship status, regardless of their income, etc., and actually bring about opportunity to change. We are still a state that has not had Medicaid expansion, among other things. And so, what we're seeing right now is a culmination of several years, if not more, of the work of many Georgians to reset the state back from where it has been under the control of centrist, moderate, white Dem leadership that lost the state back in 2010.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Anoa, while the focus has been on the presidential race and also those Senate races, the U.S. Senate races, there have been quite a few changes in down-ballot races. Could you talk about what's happening in some of the sheriff races, as well?
ANOA CHANGA: Yeah. I mean, right here in the metro Atlanta area, we just saw two candidates for sheriff in Cobb County and Gwinnett County, again, a part of the long-term work that's being pushed, that flipped two sheriffs that do not support participation in 287(g). So, you have new sheriffs coming in who are willing to withdraw support from the 287(g) program. If folks are not familiar with that, that is a cooperation agreement between law enforcement and ICE. And that has been a major victory, among some other issues around detention and racial profiling that Latinx organizers, AAPI, Black organizers, like folks, have been working on around the state.
We also saw Deborah Gonzalez, who is a candidate for DA, go into a runoff. Deborah had to sue the state multiple times for her race to even happen, as it was canceled previously to allow the appointed position to — the appointed person to remain in that position. So, Deborah Gonzalez is now moving forward in Athens County. That's the Western District DA race.
We also saw Jackie Johnson, the corrupt DA who conspired to keep the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery out of jail — we saw Jackie Johnson lose her race, as well.
So we're seeing a lot happening. We've seen several shifts in folks flipping House district races, as well. I mean, there's just been a lot happening across state. A couple of county commissioner seats have been picked up. It's just been a lot. And again, that's a testament to the grassroots organizing that has been happening, some of it in line with the Democratic Party, and some of it has been — most of it has been outside of traditional party politics, the traditional candidates.
AMY GOODMAN: And these two Senate races, the significance? I mean, if you have both Senate races go to a runoff in January, the whole country — and possibly a call for a recount, if it's really razor thin between Joe Biden and President Trump — the entire country will be turning to Georgia, to say the least.
ANOA CHANGA: Yeah. I mean, what we have known here in Georgia, what we have seen, because trusting in the work of local organizers and then also just looking at the numbers on the map, in terms of, like, who the new voters are, who were the existing voters that have not been touched — people have been doing organizing work in Southwest Georgia, down in Dodge County, despite hurricanes and other incidents. So folks know that these Senate seats are not just important to Georgia in terms of being able to flip them, but also in terms of the balance of power, in terms of the whole nation and the Senate.
But with that is coming a mandate from Georgians, in terms of making sure that the South, as a whole — because it's not just about Georgia. It's about the whole South. We've seen amazing victories across the South. And that is attributed to deep organizing that has happened across the region, that tends to be Black-, Indigenous-, POC-led, right? And so, we know that we need a fundamental reimagining of how we engage in politics in this country, as well as how we examine and talk about different states, whether we're talking about rural voters and the work that rural organizers are doing, or we're talking about, quote-unquote, "red versus blue" state.
It's amazing to wake up this morning to the work and to see proof of concept for everyone else to understand what we know to be true here in Georgia. when we look at Mississippi and Mississippi voters overturning a remnant of Jim Crow that had its own version of basically an Electoral College, that basically prevented Black — anyone Black or of color to ever win statewide. We see, in Alamance County, North Carolina, which recently made news for the attack on voters, just elected its first Latino to the state House. We have seen, like, amazing efforts across the board. Florida flipped to — or, Florida supported a $15 minimum wage.
So, the work is there. The investment just needs to happen. And it can't just be aligned with whether or not people are going to build up or be the backbone of the Democratic Party. It has to be grounded in the people's interests and what is for the greater good, and really putting democracy back in the center of all of our focus, and not worrying about paying attention to bothsidesism and so-called objectivity.
AMY GOODMAN: Anoa Changa, I want to thank you very much for being with us, freelance journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia, covering electoral justice and voting rights.
And this just in: We have these reports that are coming in from Pennsylvania. Joe Biden has just taken a narrow lead in Pennsylvania by more than 5,000 votes — again, has flipped Pennsylvania by more than 5,000 votes. There are still tens of thousands of votes to be counted.
The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License . Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.


alternet--2020-11-06--GOP leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly backtracks from his claim that 'Trump won this election'

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had to backtrack on Friday after claiming on Fox News the previous night that `` President Trump won this election . ''
As of this writing , only one major election outlet — Decision Desk HQ — had called the election ; it projected Joe Biden as the winner , based on his lead in Pennsylvania , which appears to be insurmountable .
Other outlets have yet to declare a winner , but vote counts in the remaining key swing states , with the exception of North Carolina , all seemed to be leaning against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paths to a clear victory , whereas something extraordinary would have to change for Trump to win .
Dave Wasserman , of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report , revealed on Friday afternoon that McCarthy had clarified to him that he did not intend to declare Trump the victor in the presidential election .
Instead , Wasserman said , McCarthy meant that the president `` gets the credit for helping us win House seats . ''
This explanation was particularly odd , though , because McCarthy had posted the video of him incorrectly declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite this correction , McCarthy still seems intent on feeding into Trump 's disinformation campaign about the election results .
In the video , he urged viewers : `` Everyone who 's listening : Do not be quiet .
Do not be silent about this .
We can not allow this to happen before our very eyes .
We need to unite together .
You do n't need to be a Republican .
You believe every legal vote needs to count .
You believe in the American process .
Join together and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was nonsensical and almost certainly intentionally misleading .
There 's nothing to `` stop '' — the vote counting is ongoing .
The suggestion that `` every legal vote needs to count '' was meant to imply that a significant number of illegal votes are being counted — a conspiracy theory Trump is trying to use to his advantage .
The truth is Trump and the GOP fear that the continued counting of legitimate votes will make him a loser , so they 're desperately trying to find a way to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's comments to Wasserman , he may also be hedging his bets , not wanting to stick too closely to Trump if he goes down .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had to backtrack on Friday after claiming on Fox News the previous night that "President Trump won this election."
As of this writing, only one major election outlet — Decision Desk HQ — had called the election; it projected Joe Biden as the winner, based on his lead in Pennsylvania, which appears to be insurmountable. Other outlets have yet to declare a winner, but vote counts in the remaining key swing states, with the exception of North Carolina, all seemed to be leaning against the incumbent president. Biden has multiple paths to a clear victory, whereas something extraordinary would have to change for Trump to win.
Dave Wasserman, of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, revealed on Friday afternoon that McCarthy had clarified to him that he did not intend to declare Trump the victor in the presidential election.
Instead, Wasserman said, McCarthy meant that the president "gets the credit for helping us win House seats." This explanation was particularly odd, though, because McCarthy had posted the video of him incorrectly declaring victory for Trump on Twitter Thursday night.
Despite this correction, McCarthy still seems intent on feeding into Trump's disinformation campaign about the election results. In the video, he urged viewers: "Everyone who's listening: Do not be quiet. Do not be silent about this. We cannot allow this to happen before our very eyes. We need to unite together. You don't need to be a Republican. You believe every legal vote needs to count. You believe in the American process. Join together and and let's stop this."
This was nonsensical and almost certainly intentionally misleading. There's nothing to "stop" — the vote counting is ongoing. The suggestion that "every legal vote needs to count" was meant to imply that a significant number of illegal votes are being counted — a conspiracy theory Trump is trying to use to his advantage. The truth is Trump and the GOP fear that the continued counting of legitimate votes will make him a loser, so they're desperately trying to find a way to stop that result.
But based on McCarthy's comments to Wasserman, he may also be hedging his bets, not wanting to stick too closely to Trump if he goes down.


alternet--2020-11-06--The Biden team had the perfect response to fears Trump won't leave office if he loses

The Joe Biden campaign let it be known late Friday morning that it will have no trouble making sure President Donald Trump is removed from the White House if he—as looks increasingly likely—loses reelection but refuses to go voluntarily .
With votes still being counted in crucial states , Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement that `` the American people will decide this election , '' and then—in a quite apparent reference to Trump—added that `` the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House . ''
Trump , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathetic '' and false claims that fraud is the reason he remains behind in key states , particularly Pennsylvania .
The presidential race as of midday Friday remained `` too close to call '' for most major news outlets and decision desks , but the window was rapidly closing for any chance for President Donald Trump—who has continued to lie and spew nonsense about election fraud as it suits him—to win reelection .
As of this writing : • Joe Biden has taken the lead in Pennsylvania .
• The latest ballots in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the latest numbers released by the state , Biden now has 624,246 votes ( 49.83 % of the total ) , compared to Trump 's 602,170 ( 48.07 % ) .
The current difference of 22,076 votes , is approximately twice Biden 's earlier 11,000 vote lead .
• In Georgia , Biden also took his first lead Friday morning as that state 's counting neared completion , though the race remained within the margin of a possible recount and nearly tied with the candidates each carrying approximately 49.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64,000 thousand votes to count , NBC News reports that Biden 's lead currently sits at 1,584 votes .
• Arizona also remained `` too close to call , '' but Biden 's lead had increased to 50 % over Trump 's 48.6 % .
In that state , with just over 225,000 votes left to count , Biden maintained a lead of nearly 44,000 votes .
Of those four key states , none is more important than Pennsylvania , where a confirmed win there for Biden would all but assure him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure victory .
According to the New York Times—which now calculates that electoral race as 253 to 214 in favor of Biden—a win the Keystone State—worth 20 electoral votes— '' would be decisive '' for the Democratic former vice president .
`` If Joe Biden 's lead over President Trump in Pennsylvania holds , he will win the presidency , '' the Times reported .
While the results are still not official , political observers were becoming increasingly willing to say out loud that the contest is now over and that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has won , but Trump wo n't concede , '' tweeted former labor secretary Robert Reich just before 11:00 am on Friday morning .
`` Since elections are officially over only when the loser concedes , this one will be going on until January 20 , when Joe Biden is sworn in .
Between now and then , Trump will make our lives as miserable as he can . ''

The Joe Biden campaign let it be known late Friday morning that it will have no trouble making sure President Donald Trump is removed from the White House if he—as looks increasingly likely—loses reelection but refuses to go voluntarily.
With votes still being counted in crucial states, Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement that "the American people will decide this election," and then—in a quite apparent reference to Trump—added that "the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House."
Trump, meanwhile, continued to lash out and make "pathetic" and false claims that fraud is the reason he remains behind in key states, particularly Pennsylvania.
The presidential race as of midday Friday remained "too close to call" for most major news outlets and decision desks, but the window was rapidly closing for any chance for President Donald Trump—who has continued to lie and spew nonsense about election fraud as it suits him—to win reelection.
As of this writing:
Joe Biden has taken the lead in Pennsylvania.
The latest ballots in Nevada saw his lead over Trump double. According to the latest numbers released by the state, Biden now has 624,246 votes (49.83% of the total), compared to Trump's 602,170 (48.07%). The current difference of 22,076 votes, is approximately twice Biden's earlier 11,000 vote lead.
In Georgia, Biden also took his first lead Friday morning as that state's counting neared completion, though the race remained within the margin of a possible recount and nearly tied with the candidates each carrying approximately 49.4% of the vote. With an estimated 64,000 thousand votes to count, NBC News reports that Biden's lead currently sits at 1,584 votes.
Arizona also remained "too close to call," but Biden's lead had increased to 50% over Trump's 48.6%. In that state, with just over 225,000 votes left to count, Biden maintained a lead of nearly 44,000 votes.
Of those four key states, none is more important than Pennsylvania, where a confirmed win there for Biden would all but assure him of surpassing the 270 electoral college votes needed to secure victory. According to the New York Times—which now calculates that electoral race as 253 to 214 in favor of Biden—a win the Keystone State—worth 20 electoral votes—"would be decisive" for the Democratic former vice president.
"If Joe Biden's lead over President Trump in Pennsylvania holds, he will win the presidency," the Times reported.
Mr. Biden, who was winning the popular vote by more than four million votes and has already won 253 electoral votes, pulled ahead of Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania by about 9,000 votes on Friday morning. If his lead holds — and it is expected to — the state's 20 electoral votes would vault him past the threshold to win the election. In Georgia, his lead was so narrow that state officials said a recount was inevitable.
In Arizona, Mr. Biden maintained his lead as election officials continued to plow through tens of thousands of ballots from Phoenix and its sprawling suburbs. His advantage shrank slightly, but not by as much as Republicans had hoped. In Nevada, Mr. Biden nearly doubled his lead Friday to around 20,000 votes.
While the results are still not official, political observers were becoming increasingly willing to say out loud that the contest is now over and that Biden should be considered the winner.
"Biden has won, but Trump won't concede," tweeted former labor secretary Robert Reich just before 11:00 am on Friday morning. "Since elections are officially over only when the loser concedes, this one will be going on until January 20, when Joe Biden is sworn in. Between now and then, Trump will make our lives as miserable as he can."


alternet--2020-11-06--Trump's limp coup is falling apart — and right-wing media is losing it

Most still-rational Americans , watching Donald Trump 's atrocity of a press conference on Thursday night , had two simultaneous reactions : Wow , that man really is the worst living American , and also , yeah , this is all over except for the paperwork .
It was an odd mix of emotions .
There was the disgust of watching the actual president of the actual United States demand that legal votes be thrown out insinuating that millions of American voters were somehow fakes .
But there was also the relief of seeing Trump 's facade of bravado collapsing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiding behind that wall of bluster .
Even many Trump voters knew , at that moment , that it was over .
Trump 's attempted coup is collapsing under the weight of his own incompetence and laziness .
We are now at the portion of the right-wing cycle of failure where the supporters of the corrupt and failed Republican president slink away and pretend that they were never that into him in the first place .
( See : Nixon , Richard M. , and Bush , George W. ) But for whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are clinging fiercely to the side of the sinking ship , insisting , as the water starts lapping against their skinny tails , that Captain Bleach-Injector can still somehow save himself .
Thursday night , a frantic Sean Hannity was on Fox News , baselessly claiming that Philadelphia election officials counting Pennsylvania ballots are `` violating the law '' and suggesting , apparently not as a joke , `` a do-over in that state . ''
On his radio show , Hannity begged for state-appointed electors who 'll vote for Trump , defying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State GOP leaders have declined . )
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared on Laura Ingraham 's Fox News show and falsely claimed that `` Trump won this election , '' demanding , `` Everyone who 's listening , do not be quiet . ''
He then tweeted out the video clip , in case there was any doubt he was trying to rile up Republican voters with these lies .
Twitter put a content warning on the video .
Ingraham went along with McCarthy 's antics , demanding that other Republican politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and claiming that `` we have huge amounts of money from Mark Zuckerberg and George Soros and others flooding '' into `` canvassing , you know , states like Pennsylvania . ''
This claim is not only untrue but also nonsensical : The apparent implication is that , while Republicans are allowed to canvass and organize , Democrats have no such right .
Tucker Carlson was relatively limp , trying to boost Trump 's conspiracy theories and complaining about `` the media '' calling the election .
The latter is a particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coup plot — which he has laid out in great detail over the past couple of months — was to seize on the appearance that he was ahead in early media reports on Tuesday night as evidence he had `` won , '' even though all votes had n't counted .
On Hannity 's show , South Carolina 's Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham let loose with baseless accusations , which carried a strong whiff of racism , that Philadelphia 's elections are `` crooked as a snake '' while Arizona 's are to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will probably lose that state too . )
Even former football coach Tommy Tuberville , having defeated Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama , decided that one of his first acts as a senator-elect was to declare that `` the game is over '' but `` the referees are suddenly adding touchdowns to the other team 's side of the scoreboard . ''
It 's a false analogy that elides the fact that votes are always counted after the polls close .
Salon 's Sophia Tesfaye has an astounding list of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get the full scale of how bad this is .
Right-wing media whining has already drifted toward violent fantasies .
Newt Gingrich , after letting loose with a racist rant about the `` Philadelphia machine , '' the `` Atlanta machine '' and the `` machine in Detroit , '' demanded on Fox News that Attorney General Bill Barr arrest election workers and menacingly declared that `` federal agents can carry guns in the pursuit of people who are breaking the law . ''
While interviewing Rudy Giuliani on his radio show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` we should just force our way in '' to voting centers to keep votes from being counted .
This was a bridge too far even for Giuliani , who suggested `` that would require a fistfight , which I guess our people do n't want to get involved in . ''
After falsely announcing that `` Trump won an overwhelming victory '' and was already `` in his second term '' in a Fox Business interview , disgraced former Trump adviser Steve Bannon went on his own radio show and fantasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director Christopher Wray .
`` I 'd put the heads on pikes , '' Bannon said , `` as a warning to federal bureaucrats . ''
All of this , it should go without saying , is deeply evil .
These people are n't just undermining democracy and telling outragous lies , they 're often trying to incite violence against their fellow Americans .
But evil is , sadly , to be expected .
That 's what has become of the Republican Party after decades of dehumanizing propaganda and five years of Trumpism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how irrational this behavior is .
All these pundits and politicians are out there , flailing around and lying for Trump , and for what ?
He 's a dead man walking , and they know it .
The lawsuits Trump 's team are filing are unbelievably feeble , so much so that it 's clear they 're less meant as a serious effort to rescue Trump from electoral defeat than to bolster his delusions that he 's being unfairly victimized .
There 's no point in defending Trump now , especially not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Fox News hosts and politicians like Graham or McCarthy .
It 's certainly not going to make it more likely there 's some miracle where Trump pulls himself out of a nosedive .
The only purpose of all this nonsense is to soothe Trump 's injured ego with pretty lies about how he should have won and it 's all rigged and he 's the real winner here and not the massive loser he looks like to the whole world right now .
And I have to ask : To what end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump when he 's the president — it 's gross and cynical , but entirely rational , to want the power of having a president on your side .
It 's another thing entirely to keep at it when he 's on his way out .
It 's especially weird to demonstrate loyalty to Trump , a man who will never return it and would sell out all his bootlickers to black-market organ salesmen if he thought that might save his sorry ass .
I 'm forced to conclude that these people merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After four years of relentless lying and toadying to this reality-TV villain who sleazed his way into the Oval Office , the Trump apologists do n't know how to quit him .
Even as the building collapses around them , they 're carrying on as if Trump will somehow find a way to survive this , because that 's what they 've been conditioned to believe .
The saddest part ?
Their audiences and supporters will forget all this when Trump finally leaves office .
That 's when the right will move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ever Happened .

Most still-rational Americans, watching Donald Trump's atrocity of a press conference on Thursday night, had two simultaneous reactions: Wow, that man really is the worst living American, and also, yeah, this is all over except for the paperwork.
It was an odd mix of emotions. There was the disgust of watching the actual president of the actual United States demand that legal votes be thrown out insinuating that millions of American voters were somehow fakes. But there was also the relief of seeing Trump's facade of bravado collapsing, exposing the loser that was always hiding behind that wall of bluster. Even many Trump voters knew, at that moment, that it was over. Trump's attempted coup is collapsing under the weight of his own incompetence and laziness.
We are now at the portion of the right-wing cycle of failure where the supporters of the corrupt and failed Republican president slink away and pretend that they were never that into him in the first place. (See: Nixon, Richard M., and Bush, George W.) But for whatever reason, a decent number of rats are clinging fiercely to the side of the sinking ship, insisting, as the water starts lapping against their skinny tails, that Captain Bleach-Injector can still somehow save himself.
Thursday night, a frantic Sean Hannity was on Fox News, baselessly claiming that Philadelphia election officials counting Pennsylvania ballots are "violating the law" and suggesting, apparently not as a joke, "a do-over in that state." On his radio show, Hannity begged for state-appointed electors who'll vote for Trump, defying the actual voters of Pennsylvania. (State GOP leaders have declined.)
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared on Laura Ingraham's Fox News show and falsely claimed that "Trump won this election," demanding, "Everyone who's listening, do not be quiet." He then tweeted out the video clip, in case there was any doubt he was trying to rile up Republican voters with these lies. Twitter put a content warning on the video.
Ingraham went along with McCarthy's antics, demanding that other Republican politicians "better stand and fight" for Trump and claiming that "we have huge amounts of money from Mark Zuckerberg and George Soros and others flooding" into "canvassing, you know, states like Pennsylvania." This claim is not only untrue but also nonsensical: The apparent implication is that, while Republicans are allowed to canvass and organize, Democrats have no such right.
Tucker Carlson was relatively limp, trying to boost Trump's conspiracy theories and complaining about "the media" calling the election. The latter is a particularly shameless play, as Trump's entire coup plot — which he has laid out in great detail over the past couple of months — was to seize on the appearance that he was ahead in early media reports on Tuesday night as evidence he had "won," even though all votes hadn't counted.
On Hannity's show, South Carolina's Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham let loose with baseless accusations, which carried a strong whiff of racism, that Philadelphia's elections are "crooked as a snake" while Arizona's are to be trusted. (News flash: Trump will probably lose that state too.)
Even former football coach Tommy Tuberville, having defeated Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama, decided that one of his first acts as a senator-elect was to declare that "the game is over" but "the referees are suddenly adding touchdowns to the other team's side of the scoreboard." It's a false analogy that elides the fact that votes are always counted after the polls close.
Salon's Sophia Tesfaye has an astounding list of other examples from GOP politicians, so readers can get the full scale of how bad this is.
Right-wing media whining has already drifted toward violent fantasies. Newt Gingrich, after letting loose with a racist rant about the "Philadelphia machine," the "Atlanta machine" and the "machine in Detroit," demanded on Fox News that Attorney General Bill Barr arrest election workers and menacingly declared that "federal agents can carry guns in the pursuit of people who are breaking the law."
While interviewing Rudy Giuliani on his radio show, Trumpian pseudo-fascist crackpot Sebastian Gorka declared that "we should just force our way in" to voting centers to keep votes from being counted. This was a bridge too far even for Giuliani, who suggested "that would require a fistfight, which I guess our people don't want to get involved in."
After falsely announcing that "Trump won an overwhelming victory" and was already "in his second term" in a Fox Business interview, disgraced former Trump adviser Steve Bannon went on his own radio show and fantasized about killing Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
"I'd put the heads on pikes," Bannon said, "as a warning to federal bureaucrats."
All of this, it should go without saying, is deeply evil. These people aren't just undermining democracy and telling outragous lies, they're often trying to incite violence against their fellow Americans. But evil is, sadly, to be expected. That's what has become of the Republican Party after decades of dehumanizing propaganda and five years of Trumpism.
But what's more puzzling is how irrational this behavior is. All these pundits and politicians are out there, flailing around and lying for Trump, and for what? He's a dead man walking, and they know it. The lawsuits Trump's team are filing are unbelievably feeble, so much so that it's clear they're less meant as a serious effort to rescue Trump from electoral defeat than to bolster his delusions that he's being unfairly victimized.
There's no point in defending Trump now, especially not in the stick-your-neck-out way we're seeing from Fox News hosts and politicians like Graham or McCarthy. It's certainly not going to make it more likely there's some miracle where Trump pulls himself out of a nosedive.
The only purpose of all this nonsense is to soothe Trump's injured ego with pretty lies about how he should have won and it's all rigged and he's the real winner here and not the massive loser he looks like to the whole world right now.
And I have to ask: To what end? It's one thing to flatter Trump when he's the president — it's gross and cynical, but entirely rational, to want the power of having a president on your side. It's another thing entirely to keep at it when he's on his way out. It's especially weird to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, a man who will never return it and would sell out all his bootlickers to black-market organ salesmen if he thought that might save his sorry ass.
I'm forced to conclude that these people merely stunned and falling back on bad habits. After four years of relentless lying and toadying to this reality-TV villain who sleazed his way into the Oval Office, the Trump apologists don't know how to quit him. Even as the building collapses around them, they're carrying on as if Trump will somehow find a way to survive this, because that's what they've been conditioned to believe.
The saddest part? Their audiences and supporters will forget all this when Trump finally leaves office. That's when the right will move seamlessly into Phase II: Forget This Ever Happened.


alternet--2020-11-06--Green New Deal champion Chloe Maxmin unseats powerful state GOP incumbent in rural Maine

The results of the U.S. Senate race this week in Maine—won by four-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins after Democrats poured $ 50 million into challenger Sara Gideon 's campaign—may have given the impression that a Trumpian right-wing agenda has an iron grip on the state 's more conservative rural voters , but the victory of Democratic state Rep. Chloe Maxmin , a progressive champion who ran on the promise of a Green New Deal and offering a `` politics as public service '' in a strong GOP district , tells a much different story .
Two years after winning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , representing conservative , rural District 88 , Maxmin secured a win in her challenge to state Senate Republican Leader Dana Dow .
As in her first campaign for elected office , Maxmin won over voters in state Senate District 13—where residents chose Collins over Gideon—by engaging deeply with her community and offering a platform focused on climate action , investing in universal broadband access , and treating healthcare as a human right .
Maxmin 's campaign was focused on providing help to people in a part of Maine where many feel disillusioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state legislature and Washington , D.C.—but her energy was spent less on convincing voters to back a progressive agenda and more on giving them a platform to talk about their own experiences .
`` When I talk to folks , I mostly listen , I do n't show up and talk about myself , '' Maxmin told Common Dreams on Thursday .
`` I really try and listen and make sure that the voices that I hear are reflected in our campaign ...
The work that we do on our side is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we see them as one of the primary ways that we can start building a new type of politics .
So we did n't use any party consultants .
We designed all of our mailers , palm cards , postcards ourselves .
We 're all about authentic conversation and just had dozens and dozens of volunteers writing postcards or having conversations with voters and using the same style of just listening , and not going around saying , 'You should vote for Chloe because of this , ' but trying to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My sense is that people really saw that we were doing it differently and that I could be in office differently , too , '' she added .
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit earlier this year , the Maxmin campaign further stepped up its commitment to engaging directly with voters , enlisting 200 volunteers to check on voters ' wellbeing .
`` Maxmin called upon her volunteers to reach out to every senior in her district and her network of campaign volunteers provided food , assistance with prescription drugs and identified transpiration needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progressive grassroots group Mainers for Accountable Leadership , told Common Dreams .
`` Chloe is both a community organizer and an elected official .
Not only is Chloe willing to listen to the people where they are—at their dinner table or at their door—she is demonstrably responsive to their needs and leverages the organizing structure of her campaign to assist her in accomplishing mutual aid work . ''
Other Democratic campaigns in the state , Follayttar noted , `` could have done this as well .
We transform lives by being present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another .
We move into legislative action by turning the concerns heard at the door into legislation . ''
Maxmin , who introduced the state 's Green New Deal in 2019 , with the notable backing of the state AFL-CIO , and co-founded the fossil fuel divestment campaign Divest Harvard while in college , won applause from national climate action campaigners at 350.org and Friends of the Earth .
`` Just seeing the amazing news that Chloe Maxmin—who was a young leader of Divest Harvard—has won a seat in the Maine State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an organizer with 350.org , on Wednesday .
`` Youth of the climate movement gaining political office ! ''
Maxmin 's tactic of engaging authentically with voters in reminiscent of `` deep canvassing , '' a method of campaigning used by the national grassroots network People 's Action and found to be 102 times more effective at winning over undecided voters than a typical brief interaction during a door-knocking or phone-banking campaign .
`` Deep canvassing differs from traditional campaign tactics because it relies on soul , '' People 's Action Director George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deep canvass conversation , you break down your walls and the canvasser and voter really connect with one another .
This is the kind of organizing that changes hearts and minds . ''
Maxmin told Common Dreams that her campaign led her to `` thousands '' of similar interactions .
`` I had thousands of conversations with people , '' she said .
`` And it 's so interesting when you have that kind of breadth to your exposure of humanity , just the themes that you hear .
And it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mostly hearing about how people are so frustrated with everyone and everything on both sides and just hating the negative campaigning . ''
Mike Tipping of Maine People 's Alliance , an affiliate of People 's Action , credited Maxmin 's ability to connect with voters across party lines , stressing that Maxmin ran a campaign she defined as `` bipartisan '' rather than `` progressive '' because issues that matter to voters in her rural district are important to people of all political beliefs .
`` These are universal progressive values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Too often we talk about these things in a partisan lens , but overwhelmingly people believe we need to tax the wealthy , that we need to raise the minimum wage , that we need sick days , paid family leave , healthcare access that 's real , that everyone can see a doctor when they need to .
Those are not limited to a party .
And when you build a multi-race , multi-class coalition like Chloe did ... That 's how you win in those places . ''
In `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Forest Woodward about Maxmin and her campaign manager , Canyon Woodward , Maxmin is seen knocking on doors in rural Maine , talking to voters about how their lives could be impacted by a Green New Deal for the state and other progressive legislation .
`` Every year we keep electing the same kind of folks , '' she says in the film .
`` They tell us the same things , they act the same way , we elect them , they get into the state House , and they break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the same disillusionment that we had before . ''
In 2018 , Maxmin began her campaign in House District 88 as an underdog , 16 points behind her opponent , but credited her tireless face-to-face campaigning with securing victory .
`` What Chloe and I have done is pretty simple , '' said Woodward in `` Rural Runner , '' which was filmed as the team was beginning Maxmin 's campaign for the state Senate race .
`` We put one foot in front of the other , we listen , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we do our best .
We never really know what we 're capable of unless we try . ''
After becoming the first Democrat ever to win House District 88 at the age of 26 , Maxmin introduced her state 's own Green New Deal , centering the legislation on a just transition for workers in the fossil fuel sector and investing in solar installations for newly-built schools .
In the State House , she has also sponsored legislation to provide access to rural public transportation , an issue she campaigned on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equalizer in rural communities . ''
Maine Senate District 13 has been represented by Republicans for most of the last decade .
While the national Democratic Party often express wariness about engaging with voters in traditionally conservative areas about issues erroneously deemed `` left wing , '' such as far-reaching action to solve the climate emergency , Maxmin 's winning campaigns suggest Democrats can find more success with rural voters by being unapologetic proponents of policies aimed at helping working people .
`` She is no shrinking violet and did n't try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who she is , and I think voters responded to that , '' Tipping said .
During the campaigns Maxmin and Woodward have run together , they wrote in an article for The Nation in 2018 , `` We dig into the local , cultivating relationships and utilizing the resourcefulness of our rural communities to build a rooted movement ... We see that rural America is alive and beautiful , eager to be heard and remembered . ''
`` Many have welcomed us into their homes and honored us with stories of family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our campaign , who are voting Democrat for the first time , who have never voted in a midterm but now are because our movement gives them hope , '' they continued .
`` We view our campaign as a movement , built on shared values and authentic conversations , '' Maxmin and Woodward wrote .
`` We build real political power , with lasting muscle for the long fight , with an inside-outside movement that elects authentic representatives to fight for everyone and continues to organize beyond the election to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @

The results of the U.S. Senate race this week in Maine—won by four-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins after Democrats poured $50 million into challenger Sara Gideon's campaign—may have given the impression that a Trumpian right-wing agenda has an iron grip on the state's more conservative rural voters, but the victory of Democratic state Rep. Chloe Maxmin, a progressive champion who ran on the promise of a Green New Deal and offering a "politics as public service" in a strong GOP district, tells a much different story.
Two years after winning a seat in the state House of Representatives, representing conservative, rural District 88, Maxmin secured a win in her challenge to state Senate Republican Leader Dana Dow. As in her first campaign for elected office, Maxmin won over voters in state Senate District 13—where residents chose Collins over Gideon—by engaging deeply with her community and offering a platform focused on climate action, investing in universal broadband access, and treating healthcare as a human right.
Maxmin's campaign was focused on providing help to people in a part of Maine where many feel disillusioned by politics and neglected by leaders in the state legislature and Washington, D.C.—but her energy was spent less on convincing voters to back a progressive agenda and more on giving them a platform to talk about their own experiences.
"When I talk to folks, I mostly listen, I don't show up and talk about myself," Maxmin told Common Dreams on Thursday. "I really try and listen and make sure that the voices that I hear are reflected in our campaign... The work that we do on our side is to really think about campaigns differently, because we see them as one of the primary ways that we can start building a new type of politics. So we didn't use any party consultants. We designed all of our mailers, palm cards, postcards ourselves. We're all about authentic conversation and just had dozens and dozens of volunteers writing postcards or having conversations with voters and using the same style of just listening, and not going around saying, 'You should vote for Chloe because of this,' but trying to understand where people are at."
"My sense is that people really saw that we were doing it differently and that I could be in office differently, too," she added.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, the Maxmin campaign further stepped up its commitment to engaging directly with voters, enlisting 200 volunteers to check on voters' wellbeing.
"Maxmin called upon her volunteers to reach out to every senior in her district and her network of campaign volunteers provided food, assistance with prescription drugs and identified transpiration needs," Marie Follayttar, director of the progressive grassroots group Mainers for Accountable Leadership, told Common Dreams. "Chloe is both a community organizer and an elected official. Not only is Chloe willing to listen to the people where they are—at their dinner table or at their door—she is demonstrably responsive to their needs and leverages the organizing structure of her campaign to assist her in accomplishing mutual aid work."
Other Democratic campaigns in the state, Follayttar noted, "could have done this as well. We transform lives by being present in them and building community to support one another. We move into legislative action by turning the concerns heard at the door into legislation."
Maxmin, who introduced the state's Green New Deal in 2019, with the notable backing of the state AFL-CIO, and co-founded the fossil fuel divestment campaign Divest Harvard while in college, won applause from national climate action campaigners at 350.org and Friends of the Earth.
"Just seeing the amazing news that Chloe Maxmin—who was a young leader of Divest Harvard—has won a seat in the Maine State Senate!" exclaimed Thelma Young-Lutunatabua, an organizer with 350.org, on Wednesday. "Youth of the climate movement gaining political office!"
Maxmin's tactic of engaging authentically with voters in reminiscent of "deep canvassing," a method of campaigning used by the national grassroots network People's Action and found to be 102 times more effective at winning over undecided voters than a typical brief interaction during a door-knocking or phone-banking campaign.
"Deep canvassing differs from traditional campaign tactics because it relies on soul," People's Action Director George Goehl told Common Dreams. "In a deep canvass conversation, you break down your walls and the canvasser and voter really connect with one another. This is the kind of organizing that changes hearts and minds."
Maxmin told Common Dreams that her campaign led her to "thousands" of similar interactions.
"I had thousands of conversations with people," she said. "And it's so interesting when you have that kind of breadth to your exposure of humanity, just the themes that you hear. And it was really, really consistent—rarely hearing direct issues, mostly hearing about how people are so frustrated with everyone and everything on both sides and just hating the negative campaigning."
Mike Tipping of Maine People's Alliance, an affiliate of People's Action, credited Maxmin's ability to connect with voters across party lines, stressing that Maxmin ran a campaign she defined as "bipartisan" rather than "progressive" because issues that matter to voters in her rural district are important to people of all political beliefs.
"These are universal progressive values," Tipping told Common Dreams. "Too often we talk about these things in a partisan lens, but overwhelmingly people believe we need to tax the wealthy, that we need to raise the minimum wage, that we need sick days, paid family leave, healthcare access that's real, that everyone can see a doctor when they need to. Those are not limited to a party. And when you build a multi-race, multi-class coalition like Chloe did... That's how you win in those places."
In "Rural Runner," a short film by Forest Woodward about Maxmin and her campaign manager, Canyon Woodward, Maxmin is seen knocking on doors in rural Maine, talking to voters about how their lives could be impacted by a Green New Deal for the state and other progressive legislation.
"Every year we keep electing the same kind of folks," she says in the film. "They tell us the same things, they act the same way, we elect them, they get into the state House, and they break the same promises and we're left with the same disillusionment that we had before."
In 2018, Maxmin began her campaign in House District 88 as an underdog, 16 points behind her opponent, but credited her tireless face-to-face campaigning with securing victory.
"What Chloe and I have done is pretty simple," said Woodward in "Rural Runner," which was filmed as the team was beginning Maxmin's campaign for the state Senate race. "We put one foot in front of the other, we listen, we show up every day rain or shine, we do our best. We never really know what we're capable of unless we try."
After becoming the first Democrat ever to win House District 88 at the age of 26, Maxmin introduced her state's own Green New Deal, centering the legislation on a just transition for workers in the fossil fuel sector and investing in solar installations for newly-built schools.
In the State House, she has also sponsored legislation to provide access to rural public transportation, an issue she campaigned on this year and called "the great equalizer in rural communities." Maine Senate District 13 has been represented by Republicans for most of the last decade.
While the national Democratic Party often express wariness about engaging with voters in traditionally conservative areas about issues erroneously deemed "left wing," such as far-reaching action to solve the climate emergency, Maxmin's winning campaigns suggest Democrats can find more success with rural voters by being unapologetic proponents of policies aimed at helping working people.
"She is no shrinking violet and didn't try and moderate herself or be anyone other than who she is, and I think voters responded to that," Tipping said.
During the campaigns Maxmin and Woodward have run together, they wrote in an article for The Nation in 2018, "We dig into the local, cultivating relationships and utilizing the resourcefulness of our rural communities to build a rooted movement... We see that rural America is alive and beautiful, eager to be heard and remembered."
"Many have welcomed us into their homes and honored us with stories of family members who are registering to vote just for our campaign, who are voting Democrat for the first time, who have never voted in a midterm but now are because our movement gives them hope," they continued.
"We view our campaign as a movement, built on shared values and authentic conversations," Maxmin and Woodward wrote. "We build real political power, with lasting muscle for the long fight, with an inside-outside movement that elects authentic representatives to fight for everyone and continues to organize beyond the election to maintain pressure on our politicians."


alternet--2020-11-06--A psychologist offers 10 tips to manage the uncertainty and stress of election aftermath

Well-meaning advice for people freaking out about current events often includes encouragement to be patient , stay calm and keep the faith… but how on Earth are you supposed to do that amid the insanity of 2020 ?
As a practicing clinical psychologist and professor who studies how to manage anxiety and tolerate uncertainty , I offer 10 suggestions to make it through this highly stressful election period .
While it is tempting to stay glued to your devices during this time , the never-ending doomscrolling and screen-refreshing becomes overwhelming and keeps you in a state of tension and constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social media predicts poorer long-term mental health during times of crisis .
Plan some breaks where you can engage in other activities that take your mind off politics and the uncertainties we face , and allow things to feel a little more normal for a while .
It 's hard not to know things – outcomes of elections , for instance .
But not knowing should n't mean that you assume the worst-case scenario has occurred .
When you 're anxious ( as many in the U.S. are right now ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambiguous situations , but this tendency is neither accurate nor helpful .
Jumping to catastrophic conclusions is like setting off a series of false alarms that keep you on edge and exaggerate your sense of threat .
The feeling of deep disappointment about election results you do n't like , or apprehension about upcoming results , can trigger a desire to withdraw and hole up .
While that response is natural , it tends to be counterproductive .
Staying engaged in activities that give you a sense of accomplishment , pleasure or meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painful .
While in many ways it is true that 2020 is unique and unprecedented , it 's also the case that human beings tend to be remarkably resilient , even in the face of tremendous stress and trauma .
This difficult time will not last forever .
Things wo n't magically all get better , but time will move forward , this situation will change and you will keep putting one foot in front of the other .
5 .
Do n't go through this time alone While the pandemic means you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this should not mean staying socially or emotionally distant .
When people experience acute stress , they cope much better if they have social support .
So reach out and stay connected – whether that means texting about the latest vote count with a friend or purposefully taking a break from ruminating on current events ( it 's a great chance to deeply discuss how you each feel about the new season of “ The Mandalorian '' ) .
No , I am not referring to your bowels – maintain a regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pattern .
While recommendations for self-care may seem unimportant , attending to those basic bodily needs can go a long way toward keeping your resources sufficiently replenished so you can meet the high demands of this time .
There is increasing evidence that poor sleep is closely connected to many mental and emotional health difficulties .
So stop refreshing your feed in the wee hours and try to sleep .
This may feel like an odd time to be asked to support others when you feel so depleted yourself , but helping others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health .
Moreover , it provides a sense of control .
There 's so much during this time that you can not control – there is no magic wand that speeds up vote counting in those critical contested races or makes senate run-offs in January come sooner .
But taking action to improve things now for the people around you both helps others and reminds you that you can make a difference in meaningful ways .
So , bake cookies to drop off on the doorstep of the friend who is quarantined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a work colleague 's overwhelming to-do list .
If you 're in a position to help , make a donation to a cause you care about .
It 's a win-win .
Each person is different in what helps them to relax or feel more centered .
Focusing on and slowing down your breathing , for instance , can help keep you grounded in the present moment and reduce the spiral of upsetting thoughts about what might come next .
For many people , online mindfulness exercises or relaxation recordings can make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health programs that have been reviewed by experts and pick the resource that 's right for you .
The combination of “ COVID-19 brain '' plus “ election brain '' ( along with the pain and losses of the last eight months ) means few of us will be at our best right now .
There 's a lot of room between performing at 100 % of your usual capacity and climbing into bed and hiding under the covers for days on end .
Personally , I 'm trying to average 80 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health , discrimination and other challenges at this time than I am may shoot for a lower percentage .
No one is making it through this time unscathed , so kindness to ourselves and others is desperately needed .
[ Get our best science , health and technology stories .
Sign up for The Conversation 's science newsletter . ]
10 .
Reach out if you need additional help If recommendations 1-9 are n't cutting it , there are lots of resources to help people through this difficult period : • Try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as COVID Coach • Use my research team 's free intervention to reduce anxious thinking : MindTrails ( part of an online study ) Be patient , stay calm and keep the faith is a tall order .
I 'll be happy if I can get most of the way there .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

by Bethany Teachman, University of Virginia
Well-meaning advice for people freaking out about current events often includes encouragement to be patient, stay calm and keep the faith… but how on Earth are you supposed to do that amid the insanity of 2020?
As a practicing clinical psychologist and professor who studies how to manage anxiety and tolerate uncertainty, I offer 10 suggestions to make it through this highly stressful election period.
1. Put the phone down!
While it is tempting to stay glued to your devices during this time, the never-ending doomscrolling and screen-refreshing becomes overwhelming and keeps you in a state of tension and constant vigilance. The excessive consumption of news and social media predicts poorer long-term mental health during times of crisis.
Plan some breaks where you can engage in other activities that take your mind off politics and the uncertainties we face, and allow things to feel a little more normal for a while.
2. Uncertainty doesn't equal catastrophe
It's hard not to know things – outcomes of elections, for instance. But not knowing shouldn't mean that you assume the worst-case scenario has occurred. When you're anxious (as many in the U.S. are right now), you tend to assign threatening meanings to ambiguous situations, but this tendency is neither accurate nor helpful. Jumping to catastrophic conclusions is like setting off a series of false alarms that keep you on edge and exaggerate your sense of threat.
3. Don't retreat into bed
The feeling of deep disappointment about election results you don't like, or apprehension about upcoming results, can trigger a desire to withdraw and hole up. While that response is natural, it tends to be counterproductive. Staying engaged in activities that give you a sense of accomplishment, pleasure or meaning can make managing this time far less painful.
4. Remember it's happened before
While in many ways it is true that 2020 is unique and unprecedented, it's also the case that human beings tend to be remarkably resilient, even in the face of tremendous stress and trauma. This difficult time will not last forever. Things won't magically all get better, but time will move forward, this situation will change and you will keep putting one foot in front of the other.
5. Don't go through this time alone
While the pandemic means you need to remain physically distant from others, this should not mean staying socially or emotionally distant. When people experience acute stress, they cope much better if they have social support.
So reach out and stay connected – whether that means texting about the latest vote count with a friend or purposefully taking a break from ruminating on current events (it's a great chance to deeply discuss how you each feel about the new season of “The Mandalorian").
6. Stay regular
No, I am not referring to your bowels – maintain a regular and healthy eating, sleep and exercise pattern. While recommendations for self-care may seem unimportant, attending to those basic bodily needs can go a long way toward keeping your resources sufficiently replenished so you can meet the high demands of this time. There is increasing evidence that poor sleep is closely connected to many mental and emotional health difficulties.
So stop refreshing your feed in the wee hours and try to sleep.
7. Help others
This may feel like an odd time to be asked to support others when you feel so depleted yourself, but helping others is linked to benefits in your own mental health.
Moreover, it provides a sense of control. There's so much during this time that you cannot control – there is no magic wand that speeds up vote counting in those critical contested races or makes senate run-offs in January come sooner. But taking action to improve things now for the people around you both helps others and reminds you that you can make a difference in meaningful ways.
So, bake cookies to drop off on the doorstep of the friend who is quarantined. Offer to take an item off a work colleague's overwhelming to-do list. If you're in a position to help, make a donation to a cause you care about. It's a win-win.
8. Take a breath
Each person is different in what helps them to relax or feel more centered. Focusing on and slowing down your breathing, for instance, can help keep you grounded in the present moment and reduce the spiral of upsetting thoughts about what might come next.
For many people, online mindfulness exercises or relaxation recordings can make a big difference. Check out online mental health programs that have been reviewed by experts and pick the resource that's right for you.
9. Offer compassion to yourself
The combination of “COVID-19 brain" plus “election brain" (along with the pain and losses of the last eight months) means few of us will be at our best right now.
There's a lot of room between performing at 100% of your usual capacity and climbing into bed and hiding under the covers for days on end. Personally, I'm trying to average 80%. People managing greater homeschooling, economic, health, discrimination and other challenges at this time than I am may shoot for a lower percentage.
No one is making it through this time unscathed, so kindness to ourselves and others is desperately needed.
[Get our best science, health and technology stories.Sign up for The Conversation's science newsletter.]
10. Reach out if you need additional help
If recommendations 1-9 aren't cutting it, there are lots of resources to help people through this difficult period:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Find a therapist
Find culturally competent mental health care
Try an app focused on managing COVID-19 stressors, such as COVID Coach
Use my research team's free intervention to reduce anxious thinking: MindTrails (part of an online study)
Be patient, stay calm and keep the faith is a tall order. I'll be happy if I can get most of the way there.
Bethany Teachman, Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


alternet--2020-11-06--Steve Bannon faces massive backlash after saying Trump should behead Fauci and the FBI director

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon 's Twitter account has been permanently shut down after he suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray should be beheaded .
On Thursday , Bannon found himself at the center of controversy after shared the latest segment of his livestreamed online show , `` War Room : Pandemic . ''
In the video , which was posted to Bannon 's Facebook , YouTube , and Twitter accounts , he falsely claimed President Donald Trump had won the presidential election despite vote counts still in progress in multiple states .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also suggested that Fauci and Wray be fired and beheaded .
`` I 'd put the heads on pikes .
Right .
I 'd put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats .
You either get with the program or you are gone . ''
The video was later removed from Twitter and Facebook .
However , it had been viewed more than 200,000 times before Facebook made the call to remove it .
Mailchimp , also banned Bannon from its platform .
The popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to promote his podcast by newsletter , took to Twitter with a response to the social media users who noticed Bannon 's business ties to the email platform .
`` We can confirm we 've identified this account and closed it for violations of our Terms , '' Mailchimp tweeted .
Amid Bannon 's latest controversy , his lawyers are reportedly making their best efforts to distance from him .
In fact , Bannon 's current counsel William Burck released a one-paragraph letter stating his intent to no longer represent him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process of retaining new counsel , and Quinn Emanuel intends to move to withdraw .
As a result , Mr. Bannon respectfully requests that the status conference in this matter be adjourned for three weeks so that he may formally retain new counsel . ''

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's Twitter account has been permanently shut down after he suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray should be beheaded.
On Thursday, Bannon found himself at the center of controversy after shared the latest segment of his livestreamed online show, "War Room: Pandemic." In the video, which was posted to Bannon's Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter accounts, he falsely claimed President Donald Trump had won the presidential election despite vote counts still in progress in multiple states. At one point during the video, he also suggested that Fauci and Wray be fired and beheaded.
"I'd put the heads on pikes. Right. I'd put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats. You either get with the program or you are gone."
Watch the clip below:
The video was later removed from Twitter and Facebook. However, it had been viewed more than 200,000 times before Facebook made the call to remove it. Mailchimp, also banned Bannon from its platform. The popular email marketing automation platform, which Bannon used to promote his podcast by newsletter, took to Twitter with a response to the social media users who noticed Bannon's business ties to the email platform.
"We can confirm we've identified this account and closed it for violations of our Terms," Mailchimp tweeted.
Amid Bannon's latest controversy, his lawyers are reportedly making their best efforts to distance from him. In fact, Bannon's current counsel William Burck released a one-paragraph letter stating his intent to no longer represent him.
Burck wrote, "Mr. Bannon is in the process of retaining new counsel, and Quinn Emanuel intends to move to withdraw. As a result, Mr. Bannon respectfully requests that the status conference in this matter be adjourned for three weeks so that he may formally retain new counsel."


alternet--2020-11-06--Former Bush speechwriter: Trump has suffered a 'staggering repudiation'

On Friday afternoon , as former Vice President Joe Biden 's lead in the Pennsylvania vote count continued to increase , he appeared to be on his way to a victory in the 2020 presidential election .
Many liberal and progressive pundits have lamented that the election was n't the across-the-board blue tsunami they were hoping for .
But conservative John Podhoretz , in an article for Commentary Magazine , lays out some reasons why he considers the election a vehement rejection of President Donald Trump .
`` The 2020 election , it appears , was a staggering repudiation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Of him .
Personally .
You 're not hearing this right now because the right is in denial about the results… .
And you 're not hearing it because liberals are too busy expressing continuing shock and outrage inside their bubble… .
that anyone could even cast one vote for the man .
And yet , it 's true . ''
The 59-year-old Podhoretz , who was a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W .
Bush , goes on to cite this year 's heavy voter participation as evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Joe Biden is on track to receive more than 80 million votes — nearly 20 % higher than Barack Obama 's previous record in 2008 , '' Podhoretz explains .
`` Hillary Clinton received 66 million votes in 2016 .
Biden may best her total by close to 30 % .
Clinton won 20 states in 2016 .
Obama won 24 states in 2012 .
Biden may end up winning 25 states . ''
Podhoretz writes that `` the public seems to have seen fit to deny Biden a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's little or no enthusiasm for the man . ''
Rather , Podhoretz says , tens of millions of voters were motivated by their tremendous disdain for Trump .
Biden , according to Podhoretz , `` just was n't Donald Trump — and that proved to be enough to generate 80-plus million votes .
That followed a 2018 election in which 62 million Democrats cast ballots and flipped the House blue — 9 million more than Republicans and a level of turnout for a midterm the likes of which we 've hardly ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article by noting that Maine 's Susan Collins , Iowa 's Joni Ernst , South Carolina 's Lindsey Graham and other incumbent GOP senators who were `` thought to be doomed or nearly doomed '' were not voted out of office .
But millions of voters , he says , were determined to rid the White House of Donald J. Trump .
`` The fact that Washington Republicans were n't ditched — combined with Biden 's colorlessness and lack of an agenda — means that the astonishing turnout among Democrats and independents was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive Donald Trump from office , '' Podhoretz writes .
`` And that , it seems , is the only clear message of the 2020 election . ''

On Friday afternoon, as former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the Pennsylvania vote count continued to increase, he appeared to be on his way to a victory in the 2020 presidential election. Many liberal and progressive pundits have lamented that the election wasn't the across-the-board blue tsunami they were hoping for. But conservative John Podhoretz, in an article for Commentary Magazine, lays out some reasons why he considers the election a vehement rejection of President Donald Trump.
"The 2020 election, it appears, was a staggering repudiation of Donald Trump," Podhoretz argues. "Of him. Personally. You're not hearing this right now because the right is in denial about the results…. And you're not hearing it because liberals are too busy expressing continuing shock and outrage inside their bubble…. that anyone could even cast one vote for the man. And yet, it's true."
The 59-year-old Podhoretz, who was a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush, goes on to cite this year's heavy voter participation as evidence of how vehemently Trump was "repudiated."
"Joe Biden is on track to receive more than 80 million votes — nearly 20% higher than Barack Obama's previous record in 2008," Podhoretz explains. "Hillary Clinton received 66 million votes in 2016. Biden may best her total by close to 30%. Clinton won 20 states in 2016. Obama won 24 states in 2012. Biden may end up winning 25 states."
Podhoretz writes that "the public seems to have seen fit to deny Biden a Democratic Senate" and contends that "there's little or no enthusiasm for the man." Rather, Podhoretz says, tens of millions of voters were motivated by their tremendous disdain for Trump.
Biden, according to Podhoretz, "just wasn't Donald Trump — and that proved to be enough to generate 80-plus million votes. That followed a 2018 election in which 62 million Democrats cast ballots and flipped the House blue — 9 million more than Republicans and a level of turnout for a midterm the likes of which we've hardly ever seen."
Podhoretz wraps up his article by noting that Maine's Susan Collins, Iowa's Joni Ernst, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham and other incumbent GOP senators who were "thought to be doomed or nearly doomed" were not voted out of office. But millions of voters, he says, were determined to rid the White House of Donald J. Trump.
"The fact that Washington Republicans weren't ditched — combined with Biden's colorlessness and lack of an agenda — means that the astonishing turnout among Democrats and independents was driven by one overwhelming objective: to drive Donald Trump from office," Podhoretz writes. "And that, it seems, is the only clear message of the 2020 election."


alternet--2020-11-06--Here's the dirty little secret about Democrats' hold on power in the House of Representatives

Despite all of the pre-election warnings and pleas for patience , it 's been a 72 hour emotional roller coaster for Democrats .
Some of the angst was driven more by high expectations than reality ( as AlterNet 's Joshua Holland put it : `` Think how happy we 'd be right now if we had expected a tight race and hoped for a Biden win '' ) .
Some is based on real shortfalls with painful consequences .
But the fact that Democrats are poised to lose seats in the House should be the least of Democrats ' worries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively thin House majority is disappointing : Democrats clearly underperformed their set of opportunities .
They lost seats when they might have gained , including in some off-the-radar races .
And yes , there is a real and potentially significant downside here : a much thinner margin to work with going into the 2022 campaign , which if current trends hold both in the presidential race ( heading toward a Biden win ) and midterm election ( a likely pendulum swing against the party holding the White House ) , could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a running start on that race is the main reason that House Republicans are `` celebrating '' right now .
But no , the idea that Democrats will face any significant practical problems in managing a slim majority – let alone that those challenges could render the chamber `` nearly ungovernable '' as Politico opined – should not be a major concern .
As a senior House staffer for a decade – working both in the minority and the majority – I can share a dirty little secret : nowadays , House members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each term – the vote for Speaker , which cements who runs the majority .
In part , that is because we are in an era of extreme partisan dysfunction , so Congress has steadily passed less and less real policy in the last three decades , except in rare instances of unified one-party control in Washington .
But in part that 's just due to the basic structure of the House .
You would n't hear much about this on Schoolhouse Rock , but the reality is that the majority controls just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committees that are responsible for shaping and advancing legislation , to deciding which bills are actually brought to the floor .
And that would be true even in a majority that rested on a single member .
Perhaps the most subtly important clout that the majority wields ( and one that is fairly opaque to the public , because it is pretty far down in the weeds ) is through the Committee on Rules .
In the House , each bill goes to the floor with its own rule attached for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what that rule will be , the majority almost always gets to tailor the outcome they want : they can determine how long the bill will be discussed , whether amendments can be offered , and even whether the usual standing rules of the House will apply ( which can govern everything from procedures to limits on spending ) .
In fact , there is so much relative power in holding that majority that the offices of members of congress in the minority often become little more than constituent service and press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in legislation or debate ( constituent service is a noble and valuable function of congressional service ; the merits of generating local media coverage are in the eye of the beholder ) .
Once upon a time , there was more to it .
For example , in the past , members in the minority could also bring earmarked project funding back home as a service to their districts , but that function has been lost to a somewhat misguided and puritanical earmark reform movement .
And in yesteryear , there was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the minority to work substantive amendments into bills .
Now , these opportunities are rare .
From the Democrats ' standpoint , dealing with an emboldened Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( or a delicate 50-50 Senate , in their remaining dream scenario ) will be a daily grind .
But the relative challenge of managing their own chamber 's minority will be pretty darn low .
Republicans do have a few procedural tricks that they can use ( Democrats use them too when they are in the minority ) .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give Democrats tough votes using `` motions to recommit '' – a tool that allows the minority to lob a tricky issue at members in swing districts to make them uncomfortable during the final passage of a bill .
But nowadays members of congress are pretty inured to that kind of bait ( it did n't cause any Republicans to break with their party in the eight years they held the majority between 2011 and 2019 , and it 's hard to find examples of anyone losing a re-election race due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
And besides , a number of the most vulnerable Democratic members who might have been susceptible to those kinds of `` gotcha '' maneuvers have now been picked off in 2020 .
On top of that , Democrats have governed with about the same size majority we are likely to have in the upcoming Congress – and with the same leadership team they now have – between 2007-2009 .
They know how to handle it .
There is some deftness required , but with a likely Republican ( or razor-thin split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standstill on big legislative initiatives , they will not need to call on their most at-risk members to pass the kind hyper aggressive progressive bills that might cause them to squirm .
There will surely be some tough challenges ahead for the whole party .
A hostile , Republican-dominated appellate and Supreme Court , failing to overturn Republican legislative majorities in key states that will now further gerrymander scads of congressional districts for the next decade , and Senate barriers to desperately needed pro-democracy reforms are real problems .
Fortunately , a diminished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fretful about a lot of things , but the House is n't the place to lose sleep .

Despite all of the pre-election warnings and pleas for patience, it's been a 72 hour emotional roller coaster for Democrats. Some of the angst was driven more by high expectations than reality (as AlterNet's Joshua Holland put it: "Think how happy we'd be right now if we had expected a tight race and hoped for a Biden win"). Some is based on real shortfalls with painful consequences.
But the fact that Democrats are poised to lose seats in the House should be the least of Democrats' worries.
Yes, the prospect of a relatively thin House majority is disappointing: Democrats clearly underperformed their set of opportunities. They lost seats when they might have gained, including in some off-the-radar races.
And yes, there is a real and potentially significant downside here: a much thinner margin to work with going into the 2022 campaign, which if current trends hold both in the presidential race (heading toward a Biden win) and midterm election (a likely pendulum swing against the party holding the White House), could be a relatively tough go for Democrats. Getting a running start on that race is the main reason that House Republicans are "celebrating" right now.
But no, the idea that Democrats will face any significant practical problems in managing a slim majority – let alone that those challenges could render the chamber "nearly ungovernable" as Politico opined – should not be a major concern.
As a senior House staffer for a decade – working both in the minority and the majority – I can share a dirty little secret: nowadays, House members usually cast only one truly consequential vote each term – the vote for Speaker, which cements who runs the majority. In part, that is because we are in an era of extreme partisan dysfunction, so Congress has steadily passed less and less real policy in the last three decades, except in rare instances of unified one-party control in Washington.
But in part that's just due to the basic structure of the House. You wouldn't hear much about this on Schoolhouse Rock, but the reality is that the majority controls just about everything, from assigning members to the committees that are responsible for shaping and advancing legislation, to deciding which bills are actually brought to the floor. And that would be true even in a majority that rested on a single member.
Perhaps the most subtly important clout that the majority wields (and one that is fairly opaque to the public, because it is pretty far down in the weeds) is through the Committee on Rules. In the House, each bill goes to the floor with its own rule attached for how it will be considered. In deciding what that rule will be, the majority almost always gets to tailor the outcome they want: they can determine how long the bill will be discussed, whether amendments can be offered, and even whether the usual standing rules of the House will apply (which can govern everything from procedures to limits on spending).
In fact, there is so much relative power in holding that majority that the offices of members of congress in the minority often become little more than constituent service and press release mills, with almost no substantive role in legislation or debate (constituent service is a noble and valuable function of congressional service; the merits of generating local media coverage are in the eye of the beholder). Once upon a time, there was more to it. For example, in the past, members in the minority could also bring earmarked project funding back home as a service to their districts, but that function has been lost to a somewhat misguided and puritanical earmark reform movement. And in yesteryear, there was more genuinely bipartisan legislation, or the potential for the minority to work substantive amendments into bills. Now, these opportunities are rare.
From the Democrats' standpoint, dealing with an emboldened Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (or a delicate 50-50 Senate, in their remaining dream scenario) will be a daily grind. But the relative challenge of managing their own chamber's minority will be pretty darn low. Republicans do have a few procedural tricks that they can use (Democrats use them too when they are in the minority). For example, they will continue to try to give Democrats tough votes using "motions to recommit" – a tool that allows the minority to lob a tricky issue at members in swing districts to make them uncomfortable during the final passage of a bill.
But nowadays members of congress are pretty inured to that kind of bait (it didn't cause any Republicans to break with their party in the eight years they held the majority between 2011 and 2019, and it's hard to find examples of anyone losing a re-election race due to a vote on a motion to recommit). And besides, a number of the most vulnerable Democratic members who might have been susceptible to those kinds of "gotcha" maneuvers have now been picked off in 2020.
On top of that, Democrats have governed with about the same size majority we are likely to have in the upcoming Congress – and with the same leadership team they now have – between 2007-2009. They know how to handle it. There is some deftness required, but with a likely Republican (or razor-thin split) Senate and Biden administration at a standstill on big legislative initiatives, they will not need to call on their most at-risk members to pass the kind hyper aggressive progressive bills that might cause them to squirm.
There will surely be some tough challenges ahead for the whole party. A hostile, Republican-dominated appellate and Supreme Court, failing to overturn Republican legislative majorities in key states that will now further gerrymander scads of congressional districts for the next decade, and Senate barriers to desperately needed pro-democracy reforms are real problems. Fortunately, a diminished House majority is not. Dems can be fretful about a lot of things, but the House isn't the place to lose sleep.