alternet--2020-11-10--Progressives push Biden not to 'appoint a single corporate lobbyist, lawyer or executive' to top pos

Progressives push Biden not to 'appoint a single corporate lobbyist, lawyer or executive' to top posts

President-elect Joe Biden is facing sustained demands from progressive activists and Democrats not to appoint corporate executives or lobbyists to his administration .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , one of Biden 's former presidential rivals , also weighed in on the issue on Monday , saying that a new White House that rejects corporate lobbyists is one way to right the wrongs of the current administration .
`` Trump 's government—run by the corporate lobbyists , for the corporate lobbyists—has devastated programs and rules that help working people , '' tweeted Warren .
`` Americans have made it clear : the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to again hand over the keys to giant corporations and lobbyists . ''
Rejecting such corporate influence , as Demand Progress pointed out Monday , would simply be in line with what most voters want : As David Sirota , former speech writer for the 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign , wrote in a Guardian op-ed published Tuesday morning , Biden must avoid the mistakes made by the Obama administration when it repeatedly pushed off the Democrat 's progressive wing instead of embracing it .
Biden , according to Sirota , This week 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell—intended as a message to the former vice president—from progressive Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) and then-congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman of New York as well as dozens of advocacy groups .
They urged the lawmakers to reject corporate candidates for Senate-confirmed positions .
`` One of the most important lessons of the Trump administration is the need to stop putting corporate officers and lobbyists in charge of our government , '' the letter stated .
`` As elected leaders , we should stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate affiliations are acceptable for government service and which are not . ''
A separate letter from a coalition of youth-led progressive organizations released in April carried a similar message .
The groups , including Sunrise Movement and Alliance for Youth Action , laid out a slate of demands for Biden , including for him to `` appoint zero current or former Wall Street executives or corporate lobbyists , or people affiliated with the fossil fuel , health insurance or private prison corporations , to your transition team , advisor roles , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole lives witnessing our political leaders prioritize the voices of wealthy lobbyists and big corporations over our needs .
From this harshp , '' they continued , `` we 've powered a resurgence of social movement demanding fundamental change . ''
`` Why would we want a return to normalcy ? ''
the groups wrote .
`` We need a vision for the future , not a return to the past . ''

President-elect Joe Biden is facing sustained demands from progressive activists and Democrats not to appoint corporate executives or lobbyists to his administration.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of Biden's former presidential rivals, also weighed in on the issue on Monday, saying that a new White House that rejects corporate lobbyists is one way to right the wrongs of the current administration.
"Trump's government—run by the corporate lobbyists, for the corporate lobbyists—has devastated programs and rules that help working people," tweeted Warren. "Americans have made it clear: the last thing they want is for Washington to again hand over the keys to giant corporations and lobbyists."
Rejecting such corporate influence, as Demand Progress pointed out Monday, would simply be in line with what most voters want:
As David Sirota, former speech writer for the 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign, wrote in a Guardian op-ed published Tuesday morning, Biden must avoid the mistakes made by the Obama administration when it repeatedly pushed off the Democrat's progressive wing instead of embracing it. Biden, according to Sirota,
can refuse to populate his administration with corporate insiders, lobbyists, and Republican cabinet secretaries and instead staff the executive branch with officials committed to progressive economic policies.
Meanwhile, Biden can launch his first 100 days by introducing legislation that honors his campaign promises to boost the minimum wage, strengthen union protections, and impose a wealth tax on billionaires. He can also push for a public health insurance option and for investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate mitigation.
A Fox News exit poll shows many of those are popular—for example, the survey showed nearly three quarters of voters favor "changing to a government-run healthcare plan" and favor "increasing government spending on green and renewable energy." Waging high-profile fights with Senate Republicans over these matters is good politics, and could potentially peel off necessary Republican votes for good policy.
This week's calls follow a letter sent in October to Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell—intended as a message to the former vice president—from progressive Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and then-congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman of New York as well as dozens of advocacy groups. They urged the lawmakers to reject corporate candidates for Senate-confirmed positions.
"One of the most important lessons of the Trump administration is the need to stop putting corporate officers and lobbyists in charge of our government," the letter stated. "As elected leaders, we should stop trying to make unsupportable distinctions between which corporate affiliations are acceptable for government service and which are not."
A separate letter from a coalition of youth-led progressive organizations released in April carried a similar message.
The groups, including Sunrise Movement and Alliance for Youth Action, laid out a slate of demands for Biden, including for him to "appoint zero current or former Wall Street executives or corporate lobbyists, or people affiliated with the fossil fuel, health insurance or private prison corporations, to your transition team, advisor roles, or cabinet"
"We've spent out whole lives witnessing our political leaders prioritize the voices of wealthy lobbyists and big corporations over our needs. From this harshp," they continued, "we've powered a resurgence of social movement demanding fundamental change."
"Why would we want a return to normalcy?" the groups wrote. "We need a vision for the future, not a return to the past."


alternet--2020-11-10--Top Pentagon official resigns in response to firing of Defense Secretary Esper

On October 25 , Jonathan Swan and Alayna Treene of Axios reported that according to sources , President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ Mark Esper after the 2020 presidential election .
Sure enough , Trump fired Esper on @ @ @ @ @ Press is reporting that James Anderson , top policy adviser at the Pentagon , has @ @ @ @ @ firing .
According to AP , `` Defense officials spoke about Anderson 's resignation on @ @ @ @ @ personnel matters .
A wide range of policy staff positions in the Pentagon have been @ @ @ @ @ acting basis over the past year or more , as a number of staff have @ @ @ @ @ confirmed . ''
Trump has appointed Christopher Miller to serve as acting secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ October 25 , Swan and Treene also reported that Trump planned to fire CIA Director @ @ @ @ @ Christopher Wray after the election — and with Esper having been fired , many journalists @ @ @ @ @ Wray might soon be on the chopping block as well .

On October 25, Jonathan Swan and Alayna Treene of Axios reported that according to sources, President Donald Trump planned to fire Defense Secretary Mark Esper after the 2020 presidential election. Sure enough, Trump fired Esper on Monday, and the Associated Press is reporting that James Anderson, top policy adviser at the Pentagon, has resigned in response to that firing.
According to AP, "Defense officials spoke about Anderson's resignation on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. A wide range of policy staff positions in the Pentagon have been filled with people on an acting basis over the past year or more, as a number of staff have left or have not been confirmed."
Trump has appointed Christopher Miller to serve as acting secretary of the U.S. Defense Department.
On October 25, Swan and Treene also reported that Trump planned to fire CIA Director Gina Haspel and FBI Director Christopher Wray after the election — and with Esper having been fired, many journalists are reporting that Haspel and Wray might soon be on the chopping block as well.


alternet--2020-11-10--Americans demand Dem senator expose Republicans privately asking him to congratulate Biden on electi

Americans demand Dem senator expose Republicans privately asking him to congratulate Biden on election victory

U.S .
Senator Chris Coons , Democrat of Delaware , says he is receiving calls from his Republican colleagues telling @ @ @ @ @ Biden won the presidential election but ca n't say that publicly right now .
Many @ @ @ @ @ furious , demanding he expose them .
On CNN Coons said `` it is past @ @ @ @ @ stand up and say , 'we should accept the results of this election , ' @ @ @ @ @ with colleagues to urge them to do so . ''
Asked what Republicans are telling @ @ @ @ @ Coons said : `` Bluntly ?
That they accept – they call me to say @ @ @ @ @ my well wishes to the President-Elect , but I ca n't say that publicly yet @ @ @ @ @ , `` these are conversations best kept private . ''

U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, says he is receiving calls from his Republican colleagues telling him privately them know Joe Biden won the presidential election but can't say that publicly right now.
Many on social media immediately became furious, demanding he expose them.
On CNN Coons said "it is past time for Republican leaders to stand up and say, 'we should accept the results of this election,' and I continue to work with colleagues to urge them to do so."
Asked what Republicans are telling him behind the scenes, Coons said: "Bluntly? That they accept – they call me to say, 'Congratulations. Please convey my well wishes to the President-Elect, but I can't say that publicly yet.'"
Coons claimed, "these are conversations best kept private."
Many Americans disagreed.


alternet--2020-11-10--Trump probably 'can’t steal the election' — but here's why you should be 'alarmed' anyway: conservat

Trump probably 'can’t steal the election' — but here's why you should be 'alarmed' anyway: conservative

Although President-elect Joe Biden has won a decisive victory in the United States ' 2020 presidential election and defeated President Donald Trump by at least 4.2 million votes — flipping Pennsylvania , Michigan and other key battleground states that Trump won in 2016 — many Democrats are nervous .
Trump is refusing to concede defeat and is vowing to fight the election results in court .
Never Trump conservative William Kristol addresses their fears in an article published in The Bulwark on November 9 , writing that although Trump 's legal arguments and voter fraud claims are bogus , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and be `` alarmed '' anyway .
Kristol explains that in order for Trump to `` steal the election , '' he would `` have to convince state or federal courts of ridiculous arguments .
He 'd have to flip not one , but three states .
And state legislative leaders have shown no interest in the faux-originalist argument that they can ignore the voters of their states — and the laws of their states — and appoint their own slate of electors . ''
Kristol adds , however , that although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what if the demagoguery about election fraud and the sophistry about the prerogatives of state legislatures is repeated over and over for four weeks by Trump and his surrogates , and is n't refuted by many , if any , prominent conservatives and Republicans ?
And what do we make of ( Senate Majority Leader ) Mitch McConnell refusing to acknowledge the election results today ? ''
The Never Trump conservative discusses a concern that some Trump critics have been raising : what if Republican officials in individual states that Biden won refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes , `` Are we 100 percent certain this does n't soften the ground enough so that what seems almost unthinkable now becomes thinkable ?
Are we 100 percent certain the state legislature in , say , Georgia , wo n't start considering things that now seem outside the realm of the possible ?
And if the unthinkable actually happens in Georgia , are we certain that it could not then happen in Wisconsin ?
And Pennsylvania ? ''
Kristol goes on to discuss the post-election firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI Director Christopher Wray might be fired by Trump as well .
`` Is it totally outside the realm of the possible that , with more compliant figures in charge of these parts of the government , 'information ' might be revealed or plots 'discovered ' that help legitimize not allowing the process to move forward to an Electoral College vote that would yield power to Joe Biden ?
, '' Kristol writes .
`` It 's probably outside the realm of the possible .
Probably 99 % outside , but not 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will be `` mocked for alarmism '' for voicing such concerns , but he wraps up his article by stressing that is better to be safe than sorry where democracy is concerned .
`` If prominent Republicans and influential conservatives take the threat seriously , and speak and act against it , they can harden our institutional and civic defenses against any such threat , '' Kristol argues .
`` A little alarmism in the defense of liberty is no vice .
Complacency in the defense of democracy is no virtue @ @

Although President-elect Joe Biden has won a decisive victory in the United States' 2020 presidential election and defeated President Donald Trump by at least 4.2 million votes — flipping Pennsylvania, Michigan and other key battleground states that Trump won in 2016 — many Democrats are nervous. Trump is refusing to concede defeat and is vowing to fight the election results in court. Never Trump conservative William Kristol addresses their fears in an article published in The Bulwark on November 9, writing that although Trump's legal arguments and voter fraud claims are bogus, his opponents should keep a close eye on him and be "alarmed" anyway.
Kristol explains that in order for Trump to "steal the election," he would "have to convince state or federal courts of ridiculous arguments. He'd have to flip not one, but three states. And state legislative leaders have shown no interest in the faux-originalist argument that they can ignore the voters of their states — and the laws of their states — and appoint their own slate of electors."
Kristol adds, however, that although "that view is probably correct…. what if the demagoguery about election fraud and the sophistry about the prerogatives of state legislatures is repeated over and over for four weeks by Trump and his surrogates, and isn't refuted by many, if any, prominent conservatives and Republicans? And what do we make of (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell refusing to acknowledge the election results today?"
The Never Trump conservative discusses a concern that some Trump critics have been raising: what if Republican officials in individual states that Biden won refuse to accept the election results?
Kristol writes, "Are we 100 percent certain this doesn't soften the ground enough so that what seems almost unthinkable now becomes thinkable? Are we 100 percent certain the state legislature in, say, Georgia, won't start considering things that now seem outside the realm of the possible? And if the unthinkable actually happens in Georgia, are we certain that it could not then happen in Wisconsin? And Pennsylvania?"
Kristol goes on to discuss the post-election firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper, noting that CIA Director Gina Haspel and FBI Director Christopher Wray might be fired by Trump as well.
"Is it totally outside the realm of the possible that, with more compliant figures in charge of these parts of the government, 'information' might be revealed or plots 'discovered' that help legitimize not allowing the process to move forward to an Electoral College vote that would yield power to Joe Biden?," Kristol writes. "It's probably outside the realm of the possible. Probably 99% outside, but not 100 percent."
The anti-Trump conservative notes that he will be "mocked for alarmism" for voicing such concerns, but he wraps up his article by stressing that is better to be safe than sorry where democracy is concerned.
"If prominent Republicans and influential conservatives take the threat seriously, and speak and act against it, they can harden our institutional and civic defenses against any such threat," Kristol argues. "A little alarmism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Complacency in the defense of democracy is no virtue."


alternet--2020-11-10--‘The ACA is safe’: Justice Kavanaugh stuns legal experts by suggesting he will save Obamacare

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday suggested that he could be the deciding vote in favor of saving former @ @ @ @ @ health care law .
During oral arguments about the Affordable Care Act 's individual mandate @ @ @ @ @ provision could be struck down without invalidating the entire law .
`` I tend to @ @ @ @ @ is a very straightforward case for severability under our precedents meaning that we would excise @ @ @ @ @ rest of the act in place , '' Kavanaugh said .
`` That strikes me @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court expert Ian Millhiser noted on Twitter .
Read some of the reactions to @ @ @ @ @

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday suggested that he could be the deciding vote in favor of saving former President Barack Obama's signature health care law.
During oral arguments about the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, Kavanaugh hinted that the provision could be struck down without invalidating the entire law.
"I tend to agree with you that this is a very straightforward case for severability under our precedents meaning that we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place," Kavanaugh said.
"That strikes me as the ballgame," Supreme Court expert Ian Millhiser noted on Twitter.
Read some of the reactions to Kavanaugh's remarks below.


alternet--2020-11-10--'Naked political ploy': Outrage after Barr memo aims to bolster baseless Trump fraud allegations

U.S. Attorney General William Barr came under fire overnight after issuing a memo to federal prosecutors that critics warn aims to bolster President Donald Trump 's continued baseless claims that rampant voter fraud—which does n't factually exist—cost him reelection .
According to the Huffington Post : The reversal of longstanding DOJ policy—especially under circumstances when no allegations of significant fraud have been substantiated and as Trump continues his refusal to concede or acknowledge the vote tabulations which show he lost the electoral college and popular vote tallies by significant margins—was seen by legal experts as a brazen effort by Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous narrative about the integrity of the election .
Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , tweeted : Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
was unsparing in her rebuke : In response to the memo ( pdf ) , Kristen Clarke , president and executive director of the Lawyers ' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , denounced the directive as a partisan effort to give comfort to the president 's baseless claims while doing serious damage to the reputation of the DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We condemn Attorney General 's Barr post-election attempt to weaponize the Justice Department to breathe life into President Trump 's baseless and unsubstantiated claims of vote fraud , '' Clarke said in a statement late Monday night .
`` Barr 's attempt to interject and activate federal prosecutors is clearly part of a coordinated attempt to sow chaos and discord , and undermine confidence in the electoral outcome . ''
`` Americans , '' she continued , `` will see this move for what it is—a naked political ploy and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially astounding given the Justice Department 's deafening silence regarding countless documented instances of voter suppression and voting discrimination this season . ''
Speaking with the New York Times , Stephen I. Vladeck , a University of Texas School of Law professor , said the memo is deeply troubling .
`` It would be problematic enough if Barr were reversing longstanding Justice Department guidance because of significant , substantiated claims of misconduct—that could presumably be handled at the local and state level , '' Vladeck said .
`` But to do so when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's clear strategy is to delegitimize the results of a proper election—is one of the more problematic acts of any attorney general in my lifetime . ''
Following Barr 's issuance of the memo , the Times ' DOJ correspondent Katie Benner reported that Richard Pilger , the DOJ official who heads the voter fraud division , resigned his position in objection to the orders it contained : Pilger will remain in the DOJ , but stepped aside from his job as head of the Election Crimes Branch .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had first broached a similar idea some weeks ago and that political leadership in the Justice Department 's Criminal Division , of which the Election Crimes Branch is a part , pushed back .
Those officials were blindsided when Barr 's memo was released on Monday , the people said . ''

U.S. Attorney General William Barr came under fire overnight after issuing a memo to federal prosecutors that critics warn aims to bolster President Donald Trump's continued baseless claims that rampant voter fraud—which doesn't factually exist—cost him reelection.
According to the Huffington Post:
Barr's memo, sent to U.S. attorneys across the country, authorizes an exception to Justice Department guidelines, telling top federal prosecutors they could "pursue substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities prior to the certification of elections in your jurisdictions in certain cases." Barr wrote that he'd already done so in specific instances.
"Such inquiries and reviews may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State," Barr wrote. "Any investigation of claims of irregularities that, if true, would clearly not impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State should normally be deferred until after the election certification process is completed."
The reversal of longstanding DOJ policy—especially under circumstances when no allegations of significant fraud have been substantiated and as Trump continues his refusal to concede or acknowledge the vote tabulations which show he lost the electoral college and popular vote tallies by significant margins—was seen by legal experts as a brazen effort by Barr to legitimatize the president's baseless and dangerous narrative about the integrity of the election.
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, tweeted:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was unsparing in her rebuke:
In response to the memo (pdf), Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, denounced the directive as a partisan effort to give comfort to the president's baseless claims while doing serious damage to the reputation of the DOJ as a non-political arm of the government.
"We condemn Attorney General's Barr post-election attempt to weaponize the Justice Department to breathe life into President Trump's baseless and unsubstantiated claims of vote fraud," Clarke said in a statement late Monday night. "Barr's attempt to interject and activate federal prosecutors is clearly part of a coordinated attempt to sow chaos and discord, and undermine confidence in the electoral outcome."
"Americans," she continued, "will see this move for what it is—a naked political ploy and it will not succeed. This move is especially astounding given the Justice Department's deafening silence regarding countless documented instances of voter suppression and voting discrimination this season."
Speaking with the New York Times, Stephen I. Vladeck, a University of Texas School of Law professor, said the memo is deeply troubling. "It would be problematic enough if Barr were reversing longstanding Justice Department guidance because of significant, substantiated claims of misconduct—that could presumably be handled at the local and state level," Vladeck said. "But to do so when there is no such evidence—and when the president's clear strategy is to delegitimize the results of a proper election—is one of the more problematic acts of any attorney general in my lifetime."
Following Barr's issuance of the memo, the Times' DOJ correspondent Katie Benner reported that Richard Pilger, the DOJ official who heads the voter fraud division, resigned his position in objection to the orders it contained:
Pilger will remain in the DOJ, but stepped aside from his job as head of the Election Crimes Branch.
According to the Washington Post, "people said Barr had first broached a similar idea some weeks ago and that political leadership in the Justice Department's Criminal Division, of which the Election Crimes Branch is a part, pushed back. Those officials were blindsided when Barr's memo was released on Monday, the people said."


alternet--2020-11-10--Justice Clarence Thomas takes shot at 'chilling' mask mandates during SCOTUS Obamacare hearing

Justice Clarence Thomas , who once went for an entire decade without asking a single question during Supreme Court oral arguments , weighed in on Tuesday 's landmark review of the Affordable Care Act by taking a potshot at coronavirus mask mandates .
Central to today 's hearing is if the now-defunct `` individual mandate '' being found unconstitutional in a lower court means the entire ObamaCare law must be struck down .
Despite coronavirus cases surging out of control – more than 10 million Americans have contracted the virus and the U.S. is rapidly approaching a quarter-million deaths – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandates , '' which are proven to save thousands of lives .
`` I assume that in most places there is no penalty for wearing a face mask , or a mask during COVID , '' Justice said Thomas , who was the most far-right jurist on the Supreme Court until Amy Coney Barrett 's recent swearing in .
`` But there is some degree of opprobrium if one does not wear it in certain settings .
What if someone violates that command , let 's say it 's in similar terms to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Would they have standing to challenge the mandate to wear a mask ? ''
he asked .
Thomas then went on to say that `` even without a penalty '' either to not buy insurance or to not wear a mask , `` you could have a chilling effect . ''
Thomas ' question is not by accident .
It comes just one day after President-elect Joe Biden announced his coronavirus task force and that he would try to get a nationwide mask mandate `` by working with governors and mayors . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a far right wing activist and lobbyist who has been spreading lies about Joe Biden .

Justice Clarence Thomas, who once went for an entire decade without asking a single question during Supreme Court oral arguments, weighed in on Tuesday's landmark review of the Affordable Care Act by taking a potshot at coronavirus mask mandates.
Central to today's hearing is if the now-defunct "individual mandate" being found unconstitutional in a lower court means the entire ObamaCare law must be struck down.
Despite coronavirus cases surging out of control – more than 10 million Americans have contracted the virus and the U.S. is rapidly approaching a quarter-million deaths – Justice Thomas decided to attack "mask mandates," which are proven to save thousands of lives.
"I assume that in most places there is no penalty for wearing a face mask, or a mask during COVID," Justice said Thomas, who was the most far-right jurist on the Supreme Court until Amy Coney Barrett's recent swearing in.
"But there is some degree of opprobrium if one does not wear it in certain settings. What if someone violates that command, let's say it's in similar terms to the mandate here but no penalty. Would they have standing to challenge the mandate to wear a mask?" he asked.
Thomas then went on to say that "even without a penalty" either to not buy insurance or to not wear a mask, "you could have a chilling effect."
Thomas' question is not by accident.
It comes just one day after President-elect Joe Biden announced his coronavirus task force and that he would try to get a nationwide mask mandate "by working with governors and mayors."
Thomas' wife, Ginni Thomas, is a far right wing activist and lobbyist who has been spreading lies about Joe Biden.


alternet--2020-11-10--Intel officials worry what ‘financially vulnerable’ Trump will do with classified info once he leave

Intel officials worry what ‘financially vulnerable’ Trump will do with classified info once he leaves office: report

With Donald Trump slated to step down as president of the United States on January 20th of next year , national security experts and officials are worried by the prospect of the outgoing president using America 's secrets to benefit himself financially in future business deals overseas .
According to a report from the Washington Post , Trump often used hints about the country 's nuclear capabilities to cow other countries to bend to his will , and now officials worry he will use what he knows to curry favor with the governments of countries where he might want go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No new president has ever had to fear that his predecessor might expose the nation 's secrets as President-elect Joe Biden must with Trump , current and former officials said , '' the Post reports .
`` Not only does Trump have a history of disclosures , he checks the boxes of a classic counterintelligence risk : He is deeply in debt and angry at the U.S. government , particularly what he describes as the `` deep state '' conspiracy that he believes tried to stop him from winning the White House in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an illegal effort to rob him of reelection . ''
According to former CIA official David Priess , `` Anyone who is disgruntled , dissatisfied or aggrieved is a risk of disclosing classified information , whether as a current or former officeholder .
Trump certainly fits that profile . ''
Jack Goldsmith , who ran the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration agreed but held out a bit of hope the president wo n't do much damage .
`` A knowledgeable and informed president with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of self-discipline , would be a disaster .
The only saving grace here is that he has n't been paying attention , '' he told the Post .
Earlier reports from the New York Times stated that the president has approximately $ 421 million in debt coming due soon , and the president is expected to be facing massive legal bills after losing the protection of the office from lawsuits and criminal charges .
`` Experts agreed that the biggest risk Trump poses out of office is the clumsy release of information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he might trade on secrets , perhaps in exchange for favors , to ingratiate himself with prospective clients in foreign countries or to get back at his perceived enemies .
When he leaves office , Trump will be facing a crushing amount of debt , including hundreds of millions of dollars in loans that he has personally guaranteed , '' the report states .
According to Larry Pfeiffer , who served as chief of staff to former CIA Director Michael Hayden , `` People with significant debt are always of grave concern to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frail one .
And people in dire situations make dire decisions .
Many of the individuals who 've committed espionage against our country are people who are financially vulnerable . ''
You can read more here .

With Donald Trump slated to step down as president of the United States on January 20th of next year, national security experts and officials are worried by the prospect of the outgoing president using America's secrets to benefit himself financially in future business deals overseas.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Trump often used hints about the country's nuclear capabilities to cow other countries to bend to his will, and now officials worry he will use what he knows to curry favor with the governments of countries where he might want go forward with real estate ventures.
"No new president has ever had to fear that his predecessor might expose the nation's secrets as President-elect Joe Biden must with Trump, current and former officials said," the Post reports. "Not only does Trump have a history of disclosures, he checks the boxes of a classic counterintelligence risk: He is deeply in debt and angry at the U.S. government, particularly what he describes as the "deep state" conspiracy that he believes tried to stop him from winning the White House in 2016 and what he falsely claims is an illegal effort to rob him of reelection."
According to former CIA official David Priess, "Anyone who is disgruntled, dissatisfied or aggrieved is a risk of disclosing classified information, whether as a current or former officeholder. Trump certainly fits that profile."
Jack Goldsmith, who ran the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration agreed but held out a bit of hope the president won't do much damage.
"A knowledgeable and informed president with Trump's personality characteristics, including lack of self-discipline, would be a disaster. The only saving grace here is that he hasn't been paying attention," he told the Post.
Earlier reports from the New York Times stated that the president has approximately $421 million in debt coming due soon, and the president is expected to be facing massive legal bills after losing the protection of the office from lawsuits and criminal charges.
"Experts agreed that the biggest risk Trump poses out of office is the clumsy release of information. But they didn't rule out that he might trade on secrets, perhaps in exchange for favors, to ingratiate himself with prospective clients in foreign countries or to get back at his perceived enemies. When he leaves office, Trump will be facing a crushing amount of debt, including hundreds of millions of dollars in loans that he has personally guaranteed," the report states.
According to Larry Pfeiffer, who served as chief of staff to former CIA Director Michael Hayden, "People with significant debt are always of grave concern to security professionals. The human condition is a frail one. And people in dire situations make dire decisions. Many of the individuals who've committed espionage against our country are people who are financially vulnerable."
You can read more here.


alternet--2020-11-11--Martha McSally  joins fellow GOP losers in refusing to concede Senate race — even as math shows she

Martha McSally  joins fellow GOP losers in refusing to concede Senate race — even as math shows she can’t win

Sen. Martha McSally , R-Ariz. , refuses to concede her election , even though she trails her Democratic rival by a margin which exceeds the total number of outstanding ballots by the thousands .
The Associated Press projected that Senator-elect Mark Kelly , a retired astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords , D-Ariz. , would win the election nearly a week ago .
Kelly has already named his transition team , and he 's been assigned temporary office space .
McSally , who also lost her 2018 Senate bid before being appointed by Republican Gov .
Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCain 's seat , refuses to concede the race .
With no more than 59,993 ballots left to count , McSally trailed Kelly by 81,322 votes as of Tuesday morning , according to Arizona Mirror reporter Jeremy Duda .
Though McSally graciously conceded her 2018 race to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , D-Ariz. , she appears to have latched onto President Donald Trump 's baseless allegations sowing doubt in the election result this go around .
McSally has neither addressed her constituents nor posted any formal statements to her social media accounts .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly , his campaign told the Arizona Daily Star .
Declaring victory in the race , Kelly has wasted no time waiting on his opponent .
Unlike the other senators elected this month , Arizona held a special election .
That means Kelly could be sworn in to replace McSally as early as Nov. 30 , when election results are certified .
He will serve the remainder of McCain 's term , which ends after 2022 .
`` As I prepare for the work of representing all Arizonans in the U.S. Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am committed to being a senator who will work to get things done and be an independent voice for them in Washington on day one , '' Kelly said in a statement .
`` This team of community leaders , Republicans and Democrats , will help ensure we are successful in this next mission , serving and getting results for Arizonans . ''
McSally is not the only Republican who has refused to concede her loss despite insurmountable math .
Republican Michigan candidate John James , who also lost his 2018 Senate bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Gary Peters , D-Mich. , nearly a week after the race was called .
James , who lost by about 85,000 votes , has baselessly alleged cheating without citing any evidence .
`` It 's sad and it 's pathetic .
They lost , '' Peters said at a press conference .
`` This is where you see someone 's character . ''
`` I would just say to Mr. James and their campaign : Accept the opinion and the votes of the people of the state of Michigan , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to do . ''
While the refusal by McSally and James to admit their losses mirror Trump 's attempts to try to discredit the election he lost , some Republican candidates ' complaints have been even more egregious .
Errol Webber , a Republican who trails Rep. Karen Bass , D-Calif. , by a whopping 72 points , called for an `` audit '' of the vote .
`` I will NOT concede , '' he vowed .
Republican Kimberly Klacik claimed that her campaign would `` investigate '' the results of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-Md.
, which she lost by more than 40 points .
Election officials in both states said there was no evidence of irregularities , but that has not stopped Trump and his allies from undermining the elections .
Republican leaders have increasingly backed Trump 's unsubstantiated claims in spite of strong pushback from Republican officials who oversaw the vote in some of the states being targeted with legal actions .
Republicans and Trump advisers are `` increasingly resigned to a Biden victory , '' but they have resisted pushing back on the baseless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's base of supporters , The Washington Post reported .
`` What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time ?
No one seriously thinks the results will change , '' a senior Republican official told the outlet .
`` He went golfing this weekend .
It 's not like he 's plotting how to prevent Joe Biden from taking power on Jan. 20 .
He 's tweeting about filing some lawsuits .
Those lawsuits will fail .
Then he 'll tweet some more about how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll leave . ''
Sen. Chris Coons , D-Del.
, also told CNN on Tuesday that Republicans had privately called him to pass along congratulations to Biden .
Some Republicans , on the other hand , have warned that attempts to appease the president and his supporters could backfire .
A Politico/Morning Consult poll released Monday showed that 70 % of Republican voters now believe the election was neither free nor fair .
Rep. Will Hurd , R-Texas , called Trump 's unfounded allegations `` dangerous . ''
Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Reps. Adam Kinzinger , R-Ill. , and Denver Riggleman , R-Va. , called on the president to `` respect the democratic process '' and stop `` spreading debunked misinformation . ''
Trump is `` wrong to say the election was rigged , corrupt and stolen , '' said Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , adding that his unfounded claim `` damages the cause of freedom here and around the world .
.
.
and recklessly inflames destructive and dangerous passions . ''

Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., refuses to concede her election, even though she trails her Democratic rival by a margin which exceeds the total number of outstanding ballots by the thousands.
The Associated Press projected that Senator-elect Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., would win the election nearly a week ago. Kelly has already named his transition team, and he's been assigned temporary office space.
McSally, who also lost her 2018 Senate bid before being appointed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey to fill the late Sen. John McCain's seat, refuses to concede the race. With no more than 59,993 ballots left to count, McSally trailed Kelly by 81,322 votes as of Tuesday morning, according to Arizona Mirror reporter Jeremy Duda.
Though McSally graciously conceded her 2018 race to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., she appears to have latched onto President Donald Trump's baseless allegations sowing doubt in the election result this go around.
McSally has neither addressed her constituents nor posted any formal statements to her social media accounts. She also has not privately reached out to Kelly, his campaign told the Arizona Daily Star.
Declaring victory in the race, Kelly has wasted no time waiting on his opponent. Unlike the other senators elected this month, Arizona held a special election. That means Kelly could be sworn in to replace McSally as early as Nov. 30, when election results are certified. He will serve the remainder of McCain's term, which ends after 2022.
"As I prepare for the work of representing all Arizonans in the U.S. Senate, I want Arizonans to know that I am committed to being a senator who will work to get things done and be an independent voice for them in Washington on day one," Kelly said in a statement. "This team of community leaders, Republicans and Democrats, will help ensure we are successful in this next mission, serving and getting results for Arizonans."
McSally is not the only Republican who has refused to concede her loss despite insurmountable math.
Republican Michigan candidate John James, who also lost his 2018 Senate bid, refused to concede his race to Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., nearly a week after the race was called. James, who lost by about 85,000 votes, has baselessly alleged cheating without citing any evidence.
"It's sad and it's pathetic. They lost," Peters said at a press conference. "This is where you see someone's character."
Peters called Republican legal challenges filed in the state "frivolous."
"I would just say to Mr. James and their campaign: Accept the opinion and the votes of the people of the state of Michigan," he added. "That's the right thing to do."
While the refusal by McSally and James to admit their losses mirror Trump's attempts to try to discredit the election he lost, some Republican candidates' complaints have been even more egregious.
Errol Webber, a Republican who trails Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., by a whopping 72 points, called for an "audit" of the vote. "I will NOT concede," he vowed.
Republican Kimberly Klacik claimed that her campaign would "investigate" the results of her race against Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., which she lost by more than 40 points.
Election officials in both states said there was no evidence of irregularities, but that has not stopped Trump and his allies from undermining the elections.
Republican leaders have increasingly backed Trump's unsubstantiated claims in spite of strong pushback from Republican officials who oversaw the vote in some of the states being targeted with legal actions.
Republicans and Trump advisers are "increasingly resigned to a Biden victory," but they have resisted pushing back on the baseless fraud claims in order to avoid angering the president's base of supporters, The Washington Post reported.
"What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time? No one seriously thinks the results will change," a senior Republican official told the outlet. "He went golfing this weekend. It's not like he's plotting how to prevent Joe Biden from taking power on Jan. 20. He's tweeting about filing some lawsuits. Those lawsuits will fail. Then he'll tweet some more about how the election was stolen, and then he'll leave."
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., also told CNN on Tuesday that Republicans had privately called him to pass along congratulations to Biden.
Some Republicans, on the other hand, have warned that attempts to appease the president and his supporters could backfire. A Politico/Morning Consult poll released Monday showed that 70% of Republican voters now believe the election was neither free nor fair.
Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, called Trump's unfounded allegations "dangerous." Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said they were "very disturbing." Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and Denver Riggleman, R-Va., called on the president to "respect the democratic process" and stop "spreading debunked misinformation."
Trump is "wrong to say the election was rigged, corrupt and stolen," said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, adding that his unfounded claim "damages the cause of freedom here and around the world . . . and recklessly inflames destructive and dangerous passions."


alternet--2020-11-11--NYT fact-checks Trump with epic front-page banner: ‘Election officials nationwide find no fraud'

President Donald Trump will awake on Wednesday to a brutal banner headline in The New York Times .
`` Election @ @ @ @ @ representing both political parties said that there was no evidence that fraud or other irregularities @ @ @ @ @ outcome of the presidential race , amounting to a forceful rebuke of President Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ , '' the newspaper reported .
`` Over the last several days , the president @ @ @ @ @ , congressional Republicans and right wing allies have put forth the false claim that the @ @ @ @ @ Trump and have refused to accept results that showed Joseph R. Biden Jr. as the @ @ @ @ @ explained .
`` But top election officials across the country said in interviews and statements @ @ @ @ @ a remarkable success despite record turnout and the complications of a dangerous pandemic . ''

President Donald Trump will awake on Wednesday to a brutal banner headline in The New York Times.
"Election officials in dozens of states representing both political parties said that there was no evidence that fraud or other irregularities played a role in the outcome of the presidential race, amounting to a forceful rebuke of President Trump's portrait of a fraudulent election," the newspaper reported.
"Over the last several days, the president, members of his administration, congressional Republicans and right wing allies have put forth the false claim that the election was stolen from Mr. Trump and have refused to accept results that showed Joseph R. Biden Jr. as the winner," The Times explained. "But top election officials across the country said in interviews and statements that the process had been a remarkable success despite record turnout and the complications of a dangerous pandemic."


alternet--2020-11-11--How this Pennsylvania Republican's bizarre tweet launched a furor

On Tuesday afternoon , Pennsylvania politician Dean Browning — a white , heterosexual , self-described `` proud pro-life & pro-2A Christian conservative '' — tweeted , `` I 'm a black gay guy and I can personally say that Obama did nothing for me , my life only changed a little bit and it was for the worse . ''
The tweet continued : `` Everything is so much better under Trump though .
I feel respected — which I never do when democrats are involved . ''
Browning , who is a former commissioner in Lehigh County , Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of his earlier posts , in which he said , `` What Trump built in 4 years , Biden will destroy in 4 months . ''
Twitter users leapt on Browning 's bizarre response , many speculating that it was obvious that he had forgotten to log into his `` sock puppet '' account .
A sock puppet account is an online identity used for purposes of deception by concealing its owner 's real identity .
In this case , it seemed Browning had exposed an account on which he masquerades as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had he ?
If this situation already seems bizarre to you , just buckle up .
Things are about to get much weirder .
After several hours had passed , Browning posted an explanation by way of an additional tweet .
`` Regarding the tweet that is going viral from my account — I was quoting a message that I received earlier this week from a follower , '' he wrote .
`` Sorry if context was not clear .
Trump received record minority votes & record LGBTQ votes .
Many people wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in private . ''
But then , in a now-deleted tweet , the Washington Post 's Philip Bump found a contender for Browning 's sock puppet account .
`` You know who replies to Dean Browning a lot ?
'Dan Purdy , ' a gay black Trump supporter who joined Twitter in October , '' wrote Bump .
But then , in a now-deleted tweet , the Washington Post 's Philip Bump found a contender for Browning 's sock puppet account .
`` You know who replies to Dean Browning a lot ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump supporter who joined Twitter in October , '' wrote Bump .
When Salon reached out to Browning , he responded via email that his failure to make it clear that his viral tweet was a follower 's quote was `` an oversight on [ his ] part '' and that `` there will be a video up shortly that will clear things up . ''
Sure enough , just after 5pm , the Dan Purdy account posted a video — the first to be posted from the account — that featured a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent that message to Dean , Dean accidentally posted it somehow , that 's the end of the story .
No , he 's not a sock puppet .
No , I 'm not a bot . ''
At this point , the entire saga had gone bananas on social media , and a horde of Twitter sleuths began dissecting the video .
Some theorized that Purdy was merely an actor hired by Browning to help cover his gaffe .
`` Fiverr will get you any Dan Purdy you want , '' one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform fiverr.com , in which anyone can quickly hire freelance talent .
Then there was a break in the case .
Some internet sleuths noticed the avatar used on the Dan Purdy account was identical to one used as a profile picture on the Facebook account of a Philadelphia man named Byl Holte — and that the man tagged in photos as Holte bore a shocking resemblance to the man who appeared in Purdy 's Twitter video ( purported to be Purdy ) .
A dive into Holte 's background reveals several interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Medium , where he identifies himself as an `` Anti-feminist TV Critic '' and complains about anti-racism and feminism in the film industry ; he is listed on LinkedIn as a `` boutique landscape designer '' in Pennsylvania ; And , in the weirdest twist yet , he is music legend Patti LaBelle 's adopted son .
LaBelle adopted the two children of her sister , Jackie Holte , after her death in 1989 .
They are named Stayce and William , or `` Byl . ''
Byl Holte 's Facebook account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at family gatherings .
The Dan Purdy account has since been deactivated , and Browning 's last tweet reads : `` I see I 'm trending with Patti LaBelle tonight .
I guess we 've not gone only viral — but over the rainbow . ''
Regardless , some questions still remain unanswered : What is the relationship between Holte and Browning ?
Is the `` Dan Purdy '' account actually Holte 's ?
Was Browning ignorant of the racist and sexist comments on the fake Dan Purdy account — and if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follower ?
And , most importantly , what does Patti LaBelle think about all this ?

On Tuesday afternoon, Pennsylvania politician Dean Browning — a white, heterosexual, self-described "proud pro-life & pro-2A Christian conservative" — tweeted, "I'm a black gay guy and I can personally say that Obama did nothing for me, my life only changed a little bit and it was for the worse."
The tweet continued: "Everything is so much better under Trump though. I feel respected — which I never do when democrats are involved."
Browning, who is a former commissioner in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, sent this tweet in response to one of his earlier posts, in which he said, "What Trump built in 4 years, Biden will destroy in 4 months."
Twitter users leapt on Browning's bizarre response, many speculating that it was obvious that he had forgotten to log into his "sock puppet" account. A sock puppet account is an online identity used for purposes of deception by concealing its owner's real identity. In this case, it seemed Browning had exposed an account on which he masquerades as a gay Black Trump supporter.
Or had he?
If this situation already seems bizarre to you, just buckle up. Things are about to get much weirder.
After several hours had passed, Browning posted an explanation by way of an additional tweet.
"Regarding the tweet that is going viral from my account — I was quoting a message that I received earlier this week from a follower," he wrote. "Sorry if context was not clear. Trump received record minority votes & record LGBTQ votes. Many people won't say it vocally, but do in private."
But then, in a now-deleted tweet, the Washington Post's Philip Bump found a contender for Browning's sock puppet account. "You know who replies to Dean Browning a lot? 'Dan Purdy,' a gay black Trump supporter who joined Twitter in October," wrote Bump.
But then, in a now-deleted tweet, the Washington Post's Philip Bump found a contender for Browning's sock puppet account. "You know who replies to Dean Browning a lot? 'Dan Purdy,' a gay black Trump supporter who joined Twitter in October," wrote Bump.
When Salon reached out to Browning, he responded via email that his failure to make it clear that his viral tweet was a follower's quote was "an oversight on [his] part" and that "there will be a video up shortly that will clear things up."
Sure enough, just after 5pm, the Dan Purdy account posted a video — the first to be posted from the account — that featured a middle-aged Black man claiming, "I sent that message to Dean, Dean accidentally posted it somehow, that's the end of the story. No, he's not a sock puppet. No, I'm not a bot."
At this point, the entire saga had gone bananas on social media, and a horde of Twitter sleuths began dissecting the video. Some theorized that Purdy was merely an actor hired by Browning to help cover his gaffe. "Fiverr will get you any Dan Purdy you want," one tweeted in response, referring to online platform fiverr.com, in which anyone can quickly hire freelance talent.
Then there was a break in the case.
Some internet sleuths noticed the avatar used on the Dan Purdy account was identical to one used as a profile picture on the Facebook account of a Philadelphia man named Byl Holte — and that the man tagged in photos as Holte bore a shocking resemblance to the man who appeared in Purdy's Twitter video (purported to be Purdy).
A dive into Holte's background reveals several interesting things: He's written several articles on Medium, where he identifies himself as an "Anti-feminist TV Critic" and complains about anti-racism and feminism in the film industry; he is listed on LinkedIn as a "boutique landscape designer" in Pennsylvania; And, in the weirdest twist yet, he is music legend Patti LaBelle's adopted son.
LaBelle adopted the two children of her sister, Jackie Holte, after her death in 1989. They are named Stayce and William, or "Byl." Byl Holte's Facebook account features public photos of him with LaBelle at family gatherings.
The Dan Purdy account has since been deactivated, and Browning's last tweet reads: "I see I'm trending with Patti LaBelle tonight. I guess we've not gone only viral — but over the rainbow."
Regardless, some questions still remain unanswered: What is the relationship between Holte and Browning? Is the "Dan Purdy" account actually Holte's? Was Browning ignorant of the racist and sexist comments on the fake Dan Purdy account — and if not, why choose to quote that specific follower? And, most importantly, what does Patti LaBelle think about all this?


alternet--2020-11-11--Can Trump really stage a coup? Experts break it down

For the first time in history , an incumbent president is refusing to concede after clearly and indisputably losing a presidential election .
That 's making observers , citizens , and experts nervous that Trump may be preparing to stage a coup of some sort , or perhaps call again on his supporters to commit violence to sustain his rule .
Though it sounds alarmist , such happenings are certainly not unprecedented in the global arena ; the United States frequently interferes with the Democratic process in other countries , and often undermines it in order to provoke a coup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a governing party , as US interests did in Bolivia last year .
What is more unprecedented is for such a thing to happen in the United States .
We 've certainly had bitter and controversial presidential elections , including , infamously , in 2000 .
Moreover , the Founding Fathers prophesied this happening : as my colleague Matthew Rozsa noted , in early American history George Washington warned against Americans electing a president who 'd refuse to step down .
But in a historical first , Trump is the first president to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some to believe he 's setting the gears in motion for a coup d'etat .
Since the election was called on Saturday , Trump has tweeted baseless claims that there 's a pathway to invalidating counted ballots .
In addition to his refusal to concede , he 's pushed to fight the election results with evidence-free lawsuits .
As Barton Gellman wrote in The Atlantic before the election , the possibility that Trump might not concede was a prophecy that turned out true .
`` We have no precedent or procedure to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Electoral College but Trump refuses to concede , '' Gellman said , noting that there are `` endless happenstances in any election for lawyers to exploit . ''
Now that we find ourselves one week post-election , there are various opinions about what Trump might do , and what is actually possible for him to do given his limited political power .
Here 's what experts are saying about the potential for a coup .
While a coup may not be imminent , some fear Trump 's baseless election lies are eroding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguing that rather than a coup , we should be more concerned that Trump 's baseless claims erode faith in democracy .
Such moves are often the first step in a longer process towards a future coup — a kind of death spiral for democracy .
In an article in the Washington Post , political scientist Henry Farrell said Trump 's baseless claims about voter fraud `` corrode American democracy . ''
In part , Farrell writes , because when Trump 's followers and supporters believe his claims , they are saying they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's borne out by polling : A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll found 70 percent of Republicans say they do n't believe the 2020 election was `` free and fair , '' an alarmingly high percentage .
Farrell points to an interview he did with political scientist Adam Przeworski , who said : `` Regulating conflicts by elections is then self-enforcing . ''
`` Violence and other costly forms of conflict are avoided by the mere fact that the political forces expect to take turns , '' Przeworski told Farrell .
`` Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an election are too high or when the opposition sees no chance to win according to rules . ''
A coup wo n't happen because the courts will save us In The Nation , Elie Mystal , who covers the courts , the criminal justice system , and politics , writes that yes Trump is trying to overturn the election , but is not likely to succeed .
The main reason is that none of Trump 's lawsuits provide evidence of voter fraud .
`` Trump 's claims that his poll watchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania is flatly untrue , and his lawyers have had to admit in court that they were allowed in the room , '' Mystal writes .
`` They 've been reduced to arguing that their poll watchers were not close enough , which , whatever .
The remedy for that is to move them closer , not throw out tens of thousands of votes . ''
As Mystal explains , none of Trump 's flawed claims would result in the courts throwing away counted votes because that `` is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , what Mystal argues is that the Trump campaign is going to put America through 70 days of turmoil all in the name of a grift .
`` These lawsuits purportedly challenging the election are a huge money-making opportunity for the Trump campaign , '' Mystal writes .
`` If you read the fine print on the new fundraising e-mails Trump 's campaign is sending out to supporters , they say that '60 percent of contributions ' will go toward retiring campaign debt . ''
But as Mystal notes , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and uses the military to keep him in power '' then yes , we 'd be at war .
Yet as Salon columnist Amanda Marcotte opined , Trump 's attempted coup appears disorganized , as he clearly does n't have the support of generals .
Marcotte likened it to a `` clown show . ''
Coups are one thing , but what about a civil war ?
It 's important to remember that an estimated 71 million Americans voted for Trump , and 76 million voted for President-elect Joe Biden .
Our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more so , than in 2016 .
But research shows that such divisiveness is n't enough fodder for a civil war .
As the Washington Post explained , while Americans are at odds with each other civil wars usually happen when `` the state is weak . ''
In other words , when both the country has high poverty rates and it lacks the law enforcement and military capabilities to control armed rebellions .
Others are less optimistic that a civil war is n't on the horizon .
Salon 's Chauncey DeVega recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Nation .
`` The United States never resolved the first civil war , '' Kreitner said .
`` The idea of a second civil war has been around literally since within months of the end of the first one .
Too many Americans do not appreciate that fact . ''
He continued : Theory : Trump is just playing to get out the vote for special elections Trump is trying to keep his base engaged for political reasons , some political scientists suspect .
However , claiming voter fraud falsely still undermines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes it looks like Trump is trying to reverse the outcome of elections that by all accounts had equal monitoring of ballot counting by Republicans and Democrats , and in states where the Chief Election Officer is a Republican ( GA , NV ) , '' Wendy Schiller , chair of Brown University 's political science department , told The Boston Globe .
`` As unrealistic as these efforts are , they are a direct attack on the fundamental system of elections . ''
The appearance of what Trump is doing matters most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Everything Mitch McConnell is doing and saying is about keeping the Trump voters enraged enough to get out in full force for those Senate seats , '' Schiller wrote , referencing the upcoming runoff elections for both Senate seats in Georgia .
Paul M. Collins Jr. , a professor of legal studies and political science at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst , agreed that Republicans are trying to keep their supporters engaged and angry to leverage the base for whatever Trump is planning for next .
`` They see them as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the electoral process itself , '' Collins told The Boston Globe .
`` I think they believe this will help maintain their base of support , whether for a potential 2024 presidential run or to help the president succeed in whatever other plans he has after January of 2021 . ''

For the first time in history, an incumbent president is refusing to concede after clearly and indisputably losing a presidential election. That's making observers, citizens, and experts nervous that Trump may be preparing to stage a coup of some sort, or perhaps call again on his supporters to commit violence to sustain his rule.
Though it sounds alarmist, such happenings are certainly not unprecedented in the global arena; the United States frequently interferes with the Democratic process in other countries, and often undermines it in order to provoke a coup or make a citizenry lose faith in a governing party, as US interests did in Bolivialast year. What is more unprecedented is for such a thing to happen in the United States. We've certainly had bitter and controversial presidential elections, including, infamously, in 2000. Moreover, the Founding Fathers prophesied this happening: as my colleague Matthew Rozsa noted, in early American history George Washington warned against Americans electing a president who'd refuse to step down.
But in a historical first, Trump is the first president to flat out refuse to concede, leading some to believe he's setting the gears in motion for a coup d'etat. Since the election was called on Saturday, Trump has tweeted baseless claims that there's a pathway to invalidating counted ballots. In addition to his refusal to concede, he's pushed to fight the election results with evidence-free lawsuits.
As Barton Gellman wrote in The Atlantic before the election, the possibility that Trump might not concede was a prophecy that turned out true. "We have no precedent or procedure to end this election if Biden seems to carry the Electoral College but Trump refuses to concede," Gellman said, noting that there are "endless happenstances in any election for lawyers to exploit."
Now that we find ourselves one week post-election, there are various opinions about what Trump might do, and what is actually possible for him to do given his limited political power. Here's what experts are saying about the potential for a coup.
While a coup may not be imminent, some fear Trump's baseless election lies are eroding faith in democracy
Some political scientists are arguing that rather than a coup, we should be more concerned that Trump's baseless claims erode faith in democracy. Such moves are often the first step in a longer process towards a future coup — a kind of death spiral for democracy.
In an article in the Washington Post, political scientist Henry Farrell said Trump's baseless claims about voter fraud "corrode American democracy." In part, Farrell writes, because when Trump's followers and supporters believe his claims, they are saying they don't believe in our democracy. That's borne out by polling: A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll found 70 percent of Republicans say they don't believe the 2020 election was "free and fair," an alarmingly high percentage.
As Farrell wrote:
"They will think that the game is fixed so that they have no opportunity of winning. In a worst-case scenario, this can lead to accelerating democratic breakdown. If the people on one side believe that democracy is systematically rigged against them, they are unlikely to submit to the democratic process and may instead turn to other means to protect their interests. This may, in turn, provoke a spiral of retaliation and counter-retaliation."
Farrell points to an interview he did with political scientist Adam Przeworski, who said: "Regulating conflicts by elections is then self-enforcing."
"Violence and other costly forms of conflict are avoided by the mere fact that the political forces expect to take turns," Przeworski told Farrell. "Yet this mechanism fails when the short-term stakes in an election are too high or when the opposition sees no chance to win according to rules."
A coup won't happen because the courts will save us
In The Nation, Elie Mystal, who covers the courts, the criminal justice system, and politics, writes that yes Trump is trying to overturn the election, but is not likely to succeed. The main reason is that none of Trump's lawsuits provide evidence of voter fraud.
"Trump's claims that his poll watchers were not allowed to watch the counting of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania is flatly untrue, and his lawyers have had to admit in court that they were allowed in the room," Mystal writes. "They've been reduced to arguing that their poll watchers were not close enough, which, whatever. The remedy for that is to move them closer, not throw out tens of thousands of votes."
As Mystal explains, none of Trump's flawed claims would result in the courts throwing away counted votes because that "is not something that courts do."
In fact, what Mystal argues is that the Trump campaign is going to put America through 70 days of turmoil all in the name of a grift.
"These lawsuits purportedly challenging the election are a huge money-making opportunity for the Trump campaign," Mystal writes. "If you read the fine print on the new fundraising e-mails Trump's campaign is sending out to supporters, they say that '60 percent of contributions' will go toward retiring campaign debt."
But as Mystal notes, if Trump launches "a full-scale coup d'état and uses the military to keep him in power" then yes, we'd be at war.
Yet as Salon columnist Amanda Marcotte opined, Trump's attempted coup appears disorganized, as he clearly doesn't have the support of generals. Marcotte likened it to a "clown show."
Coups are one thing, but what about a civil war?
It's important to remember that an estimated 71 million Americans voted for Trump, and 76 million voted for President-elect Joe Biden. Our country remains just as divided, if not more so, than in 2016. But research shows that such divisiveness isn't enough fodder for a civil war. As the Washington Post explained, while Americans are at odds with each other civil wars usually happen when "the state is weak." In other words, when both the country has high poverty rates and it lacks the law enforcement and military capabilities to control armed rebellions.
Others are less optimistic that a civil war isn't on the horizon. Salon's Chauncey DeVega recently interviewed Richard Kreitner, who writes for The Nation. "The United States never resolved the first civil war," Kreitner said. "The idea of a second civil war has been around literally since within months of the end of the first one. Too many Americans do not appreciate that fact." He continued:
The issues that led to the first civil war remain in many ways unresolved. There is a massive reckoning over the country's own history that has been long postponed. Resolving such matters is rarely peaceful. There are also foreign adversaries and other forces who are interfering in the election. All the elements for the story are present right now in America.
Theory: Trump is just playing to get out the vote for special elections
Trump is trying to keep his base engaged for political reasons, some political scientists suspect. However, claiming voter fraud falsely still undermines democracy.
"By all appearances, yes it looks like Trump is trying to reverse the outcome of elections that by all accounts had equal monitoring of ballot counting by Republicans and Democrats, and in states where the Chief Election Officer is a Republican (GA, NV)," Wendy Schiller, chair of Brown University's political science department, told The Boston Globe. "As unrealistic as these efforts are, they are a direct attack on the fundamental system of elections."
The appearance of what Trump is doing matters most to the GOP, Schiller argues.
"Everything Mitch McConnell is doing and saying is about keeping the Trump voters enraged enough to get out in full force for those Senate seats," Schiller wrote, referencing the upcoming runoff elections for both Senate seats in Georgia.
Paul M. Collins Jr., a professor of legal studies and political science at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, agreed that Republicans are trying to keep their supporters engaged and angry to leverage the base for whatever Trump is planning for next.
"They see them as a way of delegitimizing the Biden administration and the electoral process itself," Collins told The Boston Globe. "I think they believe this will help maintain their base of support, whether for a potential 2024 presidential run or to help the president succeed in whatever other plans he has after January of 2021."


alternet--2020-11-11--Here's why this effort to steal an election and corrupt democracy won't work: Robert Reich

Joe Biden has won .
He will be our next president .
Normally , the loser of the race would give a gracious concession speech , and accept the results .
That wo n't happen this time around , because Donald Trump is a pathological narcissist who will never admit defeat .
But there 's no legal requirement for the losing candidate to formally concede—it 's just another tradition Trump will choose to ignore .
He can bluster and protest all he wants , but like it or not , the Constitution and federal law establish a clear timeline of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the new president takes office .
Here 's how that process normally plays out , how Trump might try to undermine it , and why he is unlikely to succeed .
The first date to look out for is December 8th .
After Election Day , states have until this date , called the `` safe harbor '' deadline , to resolve any election disputes .
Each state has a unique process outlined in its state constitution for this , and the federal deadline was created so that state electoral disputes do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 14th .
This is when the electors meet in their states , and cast paper ballots for president and vice president .
And then governors certify the electors ' votes .
The governor sends these certified results to Congress by December 23rd .
On January 6th , 2021 , the newly sworn-in Congress meets in a joint session to officially accept each state 's Electoral College votes and count them .
This is normally a ceremonial event in which the already-settled results of the election are simply made official .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lastly , on January 20th , the president and vice president are inaugurated .
Normally , no one pays much attention to this process before Inauguration Day because it goes off without a hitch .
But we 've seen that Trump will do anything to hold onto power .
It 's important to know how and when he might try to undermine this process , and also understand how unlikely it is he 'll succeed .
Trump backers are trying to push Republican-controlled state legislatures to appoint their own slates of Trump electors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched empty legal challenges to perfectly normal vote counts—trying to sow enough doubt to give the state legislatures political cover to appoint their own electors .
This is n't likely to happen .
It would be challenged as an unconstitutional power grab , since state legislatures have almost always deferred to the results of the state 's popular vote in assigning electoral votes .
And not to mention , it would spark massive public outrage .
Thankfully , it does n't look like Republican legislators in any of the key swing states want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed president , and some have even explicitly come out against this plan .
All this is to say , be patient , keep the faith , and do n't fall into Trump 's cry for attention .
We must see this for what it is : A final attempt of a desperate , bitter man to cling to power .
Joe Biden will be our next president .

Joe Biden has won. He will be our next president.
Normally, the loser of the race would give a gracious concession speech, and accept the results.
That won't happen this time around, because Donald Trump is a pathological narcissist who will never admit defeat. But there's no legal requirement for the losing candidate to formally concede—it's just another tradition Trump will choose to ignore.
He can bluster and protest all he wants, but like it or not, the Constitution and federal law establish a clear timeline of how electoral votes are processed, and when the new president takes office. Here's how that process normally plays out, how Trump might try to undermine it, and why he is unlikely to succeed.
The first date to look out for is December 8th. After Election Day, states have until this date, called the "safe harbor" deadline, to resolve any election disputes. Each state has a unique process outlined in its state constitution for this, and the federal deadline was created so that state electoral disputes don't drag on endlessly.
Next is December 14th. This is when the electors meet in their states, and cast paper ballots for president and vice president. And then governors certify the electors' votes.
The governor sends these certified results to Congress by December 23rd.
On January 6th, 2021, the newly sworn-in Congress meets in a joint session to officially accept each state's Electoral College votes and count them. This is normally a ceremonial event in which the already-settled results of the election are simply made official. This is when the presidential race formally ends.
Lastly, on January 20th, the president and vice president are inaugurated.
Normally, no one pays much attention to this process before Inauguration Day because it goes off without a hitch. But we've seen that Trump will do anything to hold onto power. It's important to know how and when he might try to undermine this process, and also understand how unlikely it is he'll succeed.
Trump backers are trying to push Republican-controlled state legislatures to appoint their own slates of Trump electors. That's why the campaign has launched empty legal challenges to perfectly normal vote counts—trying to sow enough doubt to give the state legislatures political cover to appoint their own electors.
This isn't likely to happen. It would be challenged as an unconstitutional power grab, since state legislatures have almost always deferred to the results of the state's popular vote in assigning electoral votes. And not to mention, it would spark massive public outrage.
Thankfully, it doesn't look like Republican legislators in any of the key swing states want to expend their political capital defending a failed president, and some have even explicitly come out against this plan.
All this is to say, be patient, keep the faith, and don't fall into Trump's cry for attention. We must see this for what it is: A final attempt of a desperate, bitter man to cling to power.
Joe Biden will be our next president.


alternet--2020-11-11--Why we didn’t get a vaccine by Election Day – but why we may get one soon

A COVID-19 vaccine was not ready before the general election , as many people , including the president , had hoped .
But there are promising signs that one may be available soon .
A sparse press release issued Nov. 9 by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer suggests that the end is in sight , with preliminary results indicating that its vaccine is 90 % effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 .
The company said it intends this month to seek emergency use authorization , or EUA , from the FDA , bringing some encouraging news to the fight against the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new technology in which a molecule called messenger RNA is injected into the body .
This mRNA molecule provides the instructions for cells in the body to manufacture a protein , called the spike glycoprotein , that plays an essential role in allowing the SARS-CoV-2 to infect human cells .
When the immune system detects the spike glycoprotein , it generates an immune response .
If the vaccinated individual is later exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 , the individual 's immune system is prepared to rapidly attack and destroy the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Virginia who cares for patients with COVID-19 .
I am conducting a clinical trial of the Regeneron antibodies against the new coronavirus spike glycoprotein to see if it is possible to prevent household transmission .
I also do basic research on treatment and prevention of infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
The most important tool for preventing further cases is a vaccine .
So you might be wondering when we can expect one .
How big is the problem ?
The U.S. recorded a new record of 117,988 daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. has entered a surge of COVID-19 that has surpassed the first and second waves in the number of cases .
As winter weather arrives people spend more time indoors , which increases that chance that the virus will be transmitted .
That is especially true if people do n't adhere to common-sense and effective protective measures such as masks and social distancing .
Which vaccines are front-runners for approval ?
Of the six vaccines that the federal government is backing , it is likely that more than one will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they all missed Election Day because phase 3 trials , which measure safety and efficacy , are still ongoing .
One of the advantages of using the messenger RNA approach is speed of development , although no vaccine using that technology has been approved in the U.S. before .
Pfizer , Moderna and AstraZeneca are the front-runners .
New York-based Pfizer , in partnership with the German biotech company BioNTech , announced in a press release the initial results of their phase 3 study of its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine .
So far 94 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the phase 3 study .
Pfizer did not specify how many of these were in the placebo group and how many were in the group that received the vaccine , but the split of cases between the two groups suggests the vaccine is 90 % effective at preventing infection in those who have never been exposed .
As a comparison , this is almost as effective as a single dose of the hugely successful measles vaccine , which most infants receive as part of the measles , mumps and rubella vaccine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer has enrolled almost 44,000 volunteers .
Half of these received the vaccine and half the placebo .
Of those who received the two-dose vaccine , half of the subjects had received the second vaccine dose a month and a half ago .
And the last person received a second dose by Oct. 27 .
Pfizer can apply for emergency authorization from the FDA as soon as late November .
This would be two months after at least half of the subjects completed the second and final dose of the vaccine .
Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-dose vaccine on Oct. 22 .
Of these , 26,000 had received their second dose by that date .
Assuming the vaccine is proved effective , the company will also need to monitor volunteers and collect safety data for two months after all the subjects have received their second dose to reach the FDA-mandated safety endpoint .
This suggests the earliest that Moderna could apply for EUA would be late December or early January 2021 .
AstraZeneca has enrolled 23,000 subjects in phase 3 studies of its adenovirus-based vaccine .
The vaccine uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adenovirus , to carry instructions to manufacture the coronavirus spike glycoprotein into human cells .
The company expects efficacy results in late 2020 .
The major federal-corporate partnership to develop COVID-19 vaccines is called Operation Warp Speed .
It is co-led by the secretary of Health and Human Services and the secretary of Defense .
The goal is to deliver 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine starting in January to people in the U.S. Operation Warp Speed is supporting the parallel development of multiple vaccines , each of which is using different technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , development and/or manufacture and purchase of vaccines from Johnson & Johnson-Janssen , Moderna , AstraZeneca-Oxford , Novavax , Pfizer , and Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline .
The support for AstraZeneca , Moderna , Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer includes investments in manufacturing capabilities and/or prepurchasing of vaccines .
Operation Warp Speed is also purchasing syringes and glass vials and is funding a distribution network .
This is a robust approach , in my opinion , as it allows for the best vaccination approaches to win while financially supporting the production of millions of doses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are approved after having been proved safe and effective therefore will have a jump-start , as doses will be ready for immediate distribution .
So why was n't there a vaccine by Election Day ?
Simply put , not enough time had elapsed since the phase 3 trials started this fall to assess whether the vaccines were effective , and for the two-month safety period after vaccination to have passed .
EUA approval , when it comes , will not be the last hurdle , as the vaccines must be manufactured in tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest quality , and must be distributed ( for some vaccines on dry ice ) and administered .
Operation Warp Speed is purchasing needles and vials and funding a distribution network .
State and local jurisdictions are now in the planning stages for distribution and administration .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning for the vaccine to be administered first to health care professionals , essential workers , national security populations and people aged 65 and older and with underlying illnesses .
Vaccination of low-risk individuals in the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer .
A vaccine for children likely will not be available until even later .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation 's newsletter . ]
While we all want a vaccine as soon as possible so that life can eventually return to what we remember as normal , it is reassuring that the highest standards of safety and efficacy are being applied , and that federal support for the effort extends from research to testing to distribution .
Lots of challenges await us , but as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a thousand miles begins with a single step . ''
We are now many steps into this journey , thanks to the dedicated and collaborative efforts of scientists , physicians and public health care professionals around the world .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

by William Petri, University of Virginia
A COVID-19 vaccine was not ready before the general election, as many people, including the president, had hoped. But there are promising signs that one may be available soon.
A sparse press release issued Nov. 9 by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer suggests that the end is in sight, with preliminary results indicating that its vaccine is 90% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The company said it intends this month to seek emergency use authorization, or EUA, from the FDA, bringing some encouraging news to the fight against the pandemic.
The Pfizer vaccine is based on a new technology in which a molecule called messenger RNA is injected into the body. This mRNA molecule provides the instructions for cells in the body to manufacture a protein, called the spike glycoprotein, that plays an essential role in allowing the SARS-CoV-2 to infect human cells. When the immune system detects the spike glycoprotein, it generates an immune response. If the vaccinated individual is later exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, the individual's immune system is prepared to rapidly attack and destroy the coronavirus.
I am an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Virginia who cares for patients with COVID-19. I am conducting a clinical trial of the Regeneron antibodies against the new coronavirus spike glycoprotein to see if it is possible to prevent household transmission. I also do basic research on treatment and prevention of infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The most important tool for preventing further cases is a vaccine. So you might be wondering when we can expect one.
How big is the problem?
The U.S. recorded a new record of 117,988 daily coronavirus cases in data released Nov. 6. The U.S. has entered a surge of COVID-19 that has surpassed the first and second waves in the number of cases.
As winter weather arrives people spend more time indoors, which increases that chance that the virus will be transmitted. That is especially true if people don't adhere to common-sense and effective protective measures such as masks and social distancing.
Which vaccines are front-runners for approval?
Of the six vaccines that the federal government is backing, it is likely that more than one will be available to the public in 2021 – they all missed Election Day because phase 3 trials, which measure safety and efficacy, are still ongoing. One of the advantages of using the messenger RNA approach is speed of development, although no vaccine using that technology has been approved in the U.S. before.
Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca are the front-runners.
New York-based Pfizer, in partnership with the German biotech company BioNTech, announced in a press release the initial results of their phase 3 study of its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine.
So far 94 cases of COVID-19 infection have been observed in the phase 3 study. Pfizer did not specify how many of these were in the placebo group and how many were in the group that received the vaccine, but the split of cases between the two groups suggests the vaccine is 90% effective at preventing infection in those who have never been exposed. As a comparison, this is almost as effective as a single dose of the hugely successful measles vaccine, which most infants receive as part of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine when they are around a year old.
Pfizer has enrolled almost 44,000 volunteers. Half of these received the vaccine and half the placebo. Of those who received the two-dose vaccine, half of the subjects had received the second vaccine dose a month and a half ago. And the last person received a second dose by Oct. 27. Pfizer can apply for emergency authorization from the FDA as soon as late November. This would be two months after at least half of the subjects completed the second and final dose of the vaccine.
Moderna completed recruitment of 30,000 subjects for its two-dose vaccine on Oct. 22. Of these, 26,000 had received their second dose by that date. Assuming the vaccine is proved effective, the company will also need to monitor volunteers and collect safety data for two months after all the subjects have received their second dose to reach the FDA-mandated safety endpoint. This suggests the earliest that Moderna could apply for EUA would be late December or early January 2021.
AstraZeneca has enrolled 23,000 subjects in phase 3 studies of its adenovirus-based vaccine. The vaccine uses a common-cold virus from chimpanzees, called adenovirus, to carry instructions to manufacture the coronavirus spike glycoprotein into human cells. The company expects efficacy results in late 2020.
How is Operation Warp Speed helping?
The major federal-corporate partnership to develop COVID-19 vaccines is called Operation Warp Speed. It is co-led by the secretary of Health and Human Services and the secretary of Defense. The goal is to deliver 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine starting in January to people in the U.S. Operation Warp Speed is supporting the parallel development of multiple vaccines, each of which is using different technology.
Warp Speed is supporting the research, development and/or manufacture and purchase of vaccines from Johnson & Johnson-Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Novavax, Pfizer, and Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline.
The support for AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer includes investments in manufacturing capabilities and/or prepurchasing of vaccines. Operation Warp Speed is also purchasing syringes and glass vials and is funding a distribution network.
This is a robust approach, in my opinion, as it allows for the best vaccination approaches to win while financially supporting the production of millions of doses of different vaccines in parallel. Vaccines that are approved after having been proved safe and effective therefore will have a jump-start, as doses will be ready for immediate distribution.
So why wasn't there a vaccine by Election Day?
Simply put, not enough time had elapsed since the phase 3 trials started this fall to assess whether the vaccines were effective, and for the two-month safety period after vaccination to have passed.
EUA approval, when it comes, will not be the last hurdle, as the vaccines must be manufactured in tens to hundreds of millions of doses in the highest quality, and must be distributed (for some vaccines on dry ice) and administered. Operation Warp Speed is purchasing needles and vials and funding a distribution network. State and local jurisdictions are now in the planning stages for distribution and administration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning for the vaccine to be administered first to health care professionals, essential workers, national security populations and people aged 65 and older and with underlying illnesses. Vaccination of low-risk individuals in the general population will be later, likely in the summer. A vaccine for children likely will not be available until even later.
[Deep knowledge, daily.Sign up for The Conversation's newsletter.]
While we all want a vaccine as soon as possible so that life can eventually return to what we remember as normal, it is reassuring that the highest standards of safety and efficacy are being applied, and that federal support for the effort extends from research to testing to distribution.
Lots of challenges await us, but as the Chinese proverb states, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." We are now many steps into this journey, thanks to the dedicated and collaborative efforts of scientists, physicians and public health care professionals around the world.
William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.