alternet--2020-12-03--Trump stunned his own staff by privately praising QAnon extremists: report

This weekend , President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a GOP rally in Georgia , where he will be campaigning for two incumbent U.S. Senate candidates : Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue .
But according to the Washington Post , some Georgia Republicans are worried that Trump might say or do something embarrassing that hurts the candidates .
And a meeting in which Trump reportedly spoke favorably about the far-right and delusional QAnon movement is a prime example of why they are worried .
Post reporters Josh Dawsey , Amy Gardner and Cleve R. Wootson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Sen. Todd C. Young of Indiana and other Republicans to discuss Georgia .
Trump brought up Marjorie Taylor Greene , a far-right QAnon conspiracy theorist who had won a GOP congressional primary in Georgia ( Greene went on to win the general election on November 3 ) .
According to Post sources , Trump mispronounced QAnon as `` Q-an-uhn '' and praised them as people who `` basically believe in good government . ''
The Post reporters note , `` The room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House chief of staff , leaned forward to say he had never heard it described that way .
Trump had similarly praised QAnon , which the FBI has identified as a potential domestic terrorist threat , during an August news conference . ''
Adherents of the QAnon conspiracy fiction believe that the U.S. government has been infiltrated by an international cabal of pedophiles , child sex traffickers , Satanists and cannibals and that Trump was put in the White House to combat the cabal .
The `` Q '' in QAnon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Q , '' who QAnon supporters believe is offering updates on Trump 's battle .
The outcome of the runoff Senate races in Georgia in January is vitally important to the GOP , as it will determine whether or not Republicans maintain their majority in the U.S. Senate .
And according to Dawsey , Gardner and Wootson , GOP activists are hoping that Trump 's visit to Georgia will help Loeffler and Perdue rather than hurt them .
`` President Trump 's planned trip to Georgia on Saturday to campaign for two Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put some Republicans on edge that he could do more harm than good by repeating false claims about the voting system , attacking GOP officials and further inflaming a simmering civil war within the state party , '' the Post journalists note .
`` That war showed no signs of abating this week , with competing GOP factions growing increasingly angry and distrustful of one another . ''
Trump , who lost Georgia to President-elect Joe Biden , has been claiming , without evidence , that he really won the state and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of widespread voter fraud .
Far-right pro-Trump attorneys and conspiracy theorists Sidney Powell and Lin Wood have filed lawsuits challenging the election results in Georgia , where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a conservative Republican , has been receiving death threats after saying that the election was perfectly secure in his state and acknowledging Biden as president-elect .
Trump has denounced Raffensperger as an `` enemy of the people , '' and Loeffler and Perdue are among the Georgia Republicans who have called for his resignation .
Powell and Wood , claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia , have urged voters to boycott the Senate runoffs — and Republicans who want to see Loeffler and Perdue win fear that their recommendation could discourage turnout among Republican voters and give Democrats control of the Senate .

This weekend, President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a GOP rally in Georgia, where he will be campaigning for two incumbent U.S. Senate candidates: Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue. But according to the Washington Post, some Georgia Republicans are worried that Trump might say or do something embarrassing that hurts the candidates. And a meeting in which Trump reportedly spoke favorably about the far-right and delusional QAnon movement is a prime example of why they are worried.
Post reporters Josh Dawsey, Amy Gardner and Cleve R. Wootson, Jr. explain that "over the summer," Trump met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Todd C. Young of Indiana and other Republicans to discuss Georgia. Trump brought up Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right QAnon conspiracy theorist who had won a GOP congressional primary in Georgia (Greene went on to win the general election on November 3). According to Post sources, Trump mispronounced QAnon as "Q-an-uhn" and praised them as people who "basically believe in good government."
The Post reporters note, "The room was silent again before Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, leaned forward to say he had never heard it described that way. Trump had similarly praised QAnon, which the FBI has identified as a potential domestic terrorist threat, during an August news conference."
Adherents of the QAnon conspiracy fiction believe that the U.S. government has been infiltrated by an international cabal of pedophiles, child sex traffickers, Satanists and cannibals and that Trump was put in the White House to combat the cabal. The "Q" in QAnon refers to an anonymous figure named "Q," who QAnon supporters believe is offering updates on Trump's battle.
The outcome of the runoff Senate races in Georgia in January is vitally important to the GOP, as it will determine whether or not Republicans maintain their majority in the U.S. Senate. And according to Dawsey, Gardner and Wootson, GOP activists are hoping that Trump's visit to Georgia will help Loeffler and Perdue rather than hurt them.
"President Trump's planned trip to Georgia on Saturday to campaign for two Senate candidates embroiled in tight runoff races has put some Republicans on edge that he could do more harm than good by repeating false claims about the voting system, attacking GOP officials and further inflaming a simmering civil war within the state party," the Post journalists note. "That war showed no signs of abating this week, with competing GOP factions growing increasingly angry and distrustful of one another."
Trump, who lost Georgia to President-elect Joe Biden, has been claiming, without evidence, that he really won the state and that his victory was stolen from him because of widespread voter fraud. Far-right pro-Trump attorneys and conspiracy theorists Sidney Powell and Lin Wood have filed lawsuits challenging the election results in Georgia, where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a conservative Republican, has been receiving death threats after saying that the election was perfectly secure in his state and acknowledging Biden as president-elect.
Trump has denounced Raffensperger as an "enemy of the people," and Loeffler and Perdue are among the Georgia Republicans who have called for his resignation.
Powell and Wood, claiming that the election was "rigged" in Georgia, have urged voters to boycott the Senate runoffs — and Republicans who want to see Loeffler and Perdue win fear that their recommendation could discourage turnout among Republican voters and give Democrats control of the Senate.


alternet--2020-12-03--'They broke the law': DC attorney general rebuts Ivanka Trump's attack over inauguration case

Ivanka Trump , along with the Trump Organization , has been under investigation for years for suspicions around the conduct of the president 's 2017 inaugural committee and its funding .
This week , she found herself being deposed for reportedly more than five hours by the D.C. attorney general as the investigation continues , leading her to lash out and accuse the investigators of being politically motivated .
But Karl Racine , the attorney general in question , hit back , saying it is clear the Trump family and the inaugural committee broke the law .
At the heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the Trump family use inaugural funds for extensive self-dealing .
Because the committee , which raised an unprecedented amount of funds , spent much of its money on Trump properties , it could have been illegally funneling money to the family by charging egregiously high amounts for Trump Organization services .
`` This week I spent 5+ hours in a deposition with the Democrat D.C. AG 's office where they questioned the rates charged by the Trump Hotel at the inauguration , '' Ivanka said in a post on Twitter on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email from 4 years ago where I sent instructions to the hotel to charge ' a fair market rate ' ( see below ) which the hotel then did .
This 'inquiry ' is another politically motivated demonstration of vindictiveness & waste of taxpayer dollars . ''
In the email she shared , she said : `` Just seeing this .
why do n't you call and negotiate .
It should be a fair market rate . ''
However , despite her suggestion that this is some kind of vindication , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have put this down in writing to cover up the fact that she was actually not seeking a fair market rate .
The suggestion that negotiations occur over the phone could even indicate that she wanted more substantive discussions about the funds to happen without a paper trail .
Racine disputed the idea that his investigation was a `` waste . ''
`` We filed suit after gathering evidence that the Presidential Inaugural Committee knowingly entered into a grossly overpriced contract with the Trump Hotel , '' he said in reply to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim to the contrary is incorrect . ''
He added : `` DC law requires nonprofits to use funds for stated public purposes , and to avoid unreasonable , wasteful expenses .
Our investigation revealed the Committee willfully used nonprofit funds to enrich the Trump family .
It 's very simple : They broke the law .
That 's why we sued . ''
He also shared an email from Stephanie Winston Wolkoff , a former aide to Melania Trump who has since turned on the family and written a tell-all book .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about some of the conduct surrounding inauguration spending .
`` I wanted to follow up on our conversation and express my concern , '' she said in the email .
`` These are events in PE 's honor at his hotel and one of them is with and for family and close friends .
Please take into consideration that when this is audited it will become public knowledge that locations were also gifted and costs underwritten to lower rental fees .
I understand that compared to the original pricing this is great but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In my opinion the max rental fee should be $ 85,000 per day . ''
Reports also indicate federal prosecutors have also scrutinized the inauguration 's finances , but no federal charges have been brought in the case .

Ivanka Trump, along with the Trump Organization, has been under investigation for years for suspicions around the conduct of the president's 2017 inaugural committee and its funding. This week, she found herself being deposed for reportedly more than five hours by the D.C. attorney general as the investigation continues, leading her to lash out and accuse the investigators of being politically motivated.
But Karl Racine, the attorney general in question, hit back, saying it is clear the Trump family and the inaugural committee broke the law.
At the heart of the investigation is the question of whether the Trump family use inaugural funds for extensive self-dealing. Because the committee, which raised an unprecedented amount of funds, spent much of its money on Trump properties, it could have been illegally funneling money to the family by charging egregiously high amounts for Trump Organization services.
"This week I spent 5+ hours in a deposition with the Democrat D.C. AG's office where they questioned the rates charged by the Trump Hotel at the inauguration," Ivanka said in a post on Twitter on Thursday. "I shared with them an email from 4 years ago where I sent instructions to the hotel to charge 'a fair market rate' (see below) which the hotel then did. This 'inquiry' is another politically motivated demonstration of vindictiveness & waste of taxpayer dollars."
In the email she shared, she said: "Just seeing this. why don't you call and negotiate. It should be a fair market rate."
However, despite her suggestion that this is some kind of vindication, it's hardly proof of her innocence. She may have put this down in writing to cover up the fact that she was actually not seeking a fair market rate. The suggestion that negotiations occur over the phone could even indicate that she wanted more substantive discussions about the funds to happen without a paper trail.
Racine disputed the idea that his investigation was a "waste."
"We filed suit after gathering evidence that the Presidential Inaugural Committee knowingly entered into a grossly overpriced contract with the Trump Hotel," he said in reply to Ivanka Trump's claims. "Any claim to the contrary is incorrect."
He added: "DC law requires nonprofits to use funds for stated public purposes, and to avoid unreasonable, wasteful expenses. Our investigation revealed the Committee willfully used nonprofit funds to enrich the Trump family. It's very simple: They broke the law. That's why we sued."
He also shared an email from Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide to Melania Trump who has since turned on the family and written a tell-all book. In the email, she expressed concern about some of the conduct surrounding inauguration spending.
"I wanted to follow up on our conversation and express my concern," she said in the email. "These are events in PE's honor at his hotel and one of them is with and for family and close friends. Please take into consideration that when this is audited it will become public knowledge that locations were also gifted and costs underwritten to lower rental fees. I understand that compared to the original pricing this is great but we should look at the whole context. In my opinion the max rental fee should be $85,000 per day."
And as CNN reported:
In December 2016 [Rick] Gates wrote to Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter, that he was "a bit worried about the optics of PIC [Presidential Inaugural Committee] paying Trump Hotel a high fee and the media making a big story out of it," according to the lawsuit.
Reports also indicate federal prosecutors have also scrutinized the inauguration's finances, but no federal charges have been brought in the case.


alternet--2020-12-03--Here's why Georgia officials are warning that pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell is a 'security risk'

Right-wing attorney Sidney Powell 's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election have been so outrageous and over-the-top that even President Donald Trump 's legal team has distanced itself from her .
And according to Law & Crime reporter Aaron Keller , Georgia officials believed that her proposal for inspecting voting machines in that state posed a `` security risk . ''
Georgia is among the battleground states that President-elect Joe Biden won in the 2020 election , but Powell — like other pro-Trump attorneys — has been claiming , without credible evidence , that Trump was the real winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election was fraudulent .
In a lawsuit that she filed with Lin Wood , another far-right pro-Trump attorney , Powell wanted her team to conduct forensic inspections of Georgia 's voting machines .
But during a federal court hearing held on Sunday in the Northern District of Georgia , Russell David Willard — an attorney representing Georgia officials — warned that what Powell , Wood and their team were proposing was downright dangerous .
Powell , during the hearing , told Batten that she wanted to inspect voting machines in ten Georgia counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's not just the data that comes out of the machines that is crucial to the fraud case that is so rampant across the country — it is the fact that an algorithm we believe was uploaded to the Dominion machines that weighted the votes for Mr. Biden over the votes for President Trump at approximately 1.22 over .78 . ''
But Willard told Judge Timothy C. Batten , Sr. , `` You can not allow , during the midst of an election cycle , a third party to come in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kingdom . ''
According to William , `` Powell 's minions '' could `` go in and image everything , download the software , and figure out for future elections a way to hack in so that their preferred candidate can win . ''
`` That is , in effect , what they are seeking here , '' Willard told Batten .
`` They want to image , as they just said , not only the data on the machines , but also , the entire software package and the security protocols that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no federal court can possibly countenance . ''
Keller notes that Powell told Batten the Dominion Voting Systems program used in Georgia was also used in Venezuela to help leftist Huge Chavez steal elections in that South American country .
But Dominion , in response to Powell 's claims , has countered that its software has never been used Venezuela .
In a press release , Dominion stated , `` Dominion has no ties to the Venezuelan government , nor any other foreign government , including China and Iran .
Dominion has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no connection or relationship with the now deceased former Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez .
Other companies have serviced elections in Venezuela , but Dominion is not one of them . ''
Keller also notes that Batten `` ordered several machines to remain untouched ( in Georgia ) .
The judge chiseled out a decision after much back-and-forth and pleading by Wood ) .
Future briefs and hearings were also set . ''

Right-wing attorney Sidney Powell's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election have been so outrageous and over-the-top that even President Donald Trump's legal team has distanced itself from her. And according to Law & Crime reporter Aaron Keller, Georgia officials believed that her proposal for inspecting voting machines in that state posed a "security risk."
Georgia is among the battleground states that President-elect Joe Biden won in the 2020 election, but Powell — like other pro-Trump attorneys — has been claiming, without credible evidence, that Trump was the real winner in the Peach State and that the election was fraudulent. In a lawsuit that she filed with Lin Wood, another far-right pro-Trump attorney, Powell wanted her team to conduct forensic inspections of Georgia's voting machines. But during a federal court hearing held on Sunday in the Northern District of Georgia, Russell David Willard — an attorney representing Georgia officials — warned that what Powell, Wood and their team were proposing was downright dangerous.
Powell, during the hearing, told Batten that she wanted to inspect voting machines in ten Georgia counties. "The important part is, it's not just the data that comes out of the machines that is crucial to the fraud case that is so rampant across the country — it is the fact that an algorithm we believe was uploaded to the Dominion machines that weighted the votes for Mr. Biden over the votes for President Trump at approximately 1.22 over .78."
But Willard told Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., "You cannot allow, during the midst of an election cycle, a third party to come in and get the proverbial keys to the software kingdom." According to William, "Powell's minions" could "go in and image everything, download the software, and figure out for future elections a way to hack in so that their preferred candidate can win."
"That is, in effect, what they are seeking here," Willard told Batten. "They want to image, as they just said, not only the data on the machines, but also, the entire software package and the security protocols that are set up. That is something no federal court can possibly countenance."
Keller notes that Powell told Batten the Dominion Voting Systems program used in Georgia was also used in Venezuela to help leftist Huge Chavez steal elections in that South American country. But Dominion, in response to Powell's claims, has countered that its software has never been used Venezuela.
In a press release, Dominion stated, "Dominion has no ties to the Venezuelan government, nor any other foreign government, including China and Iran. Dominion has never participated in any elections in Venezuela and has no connection or relationship with the now deceased former Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Other companies have serviced elections in Venezuela, but Dominion is not one of them."
Keller also notes that Batten "ordered several machines to remain untouched (in Georgia). The judge chiseled out a decision after much back-and-forth and pleading by Wood). Future briefs and hearings were also set."


alternet--2020-12-03--What the myth of Sisyphus reveals about daily life under in COVID times

Albert Camus was a 20th century French Algerian thinker who won the Nobel Prize for his literary works .
These days it is his novel The Plague that has naturally been receiving attention .
In this essay I instead consider what Camus ' philosophical classic , The Myth of Sisyphus , reveals about the status of our lives with COVID-19 .
In The Myth of Sisyphus , Camus addresses a cluster of philosophical questions about how to appraise our lives , including whether life is worth living , how life is absurd , and what could make life meaningful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the image of Sisyphus , a mythic figure from ancient Greece .
Sisyphus had treated some of the gods disrespectfully , and so Zeus , the king of the Greek gods , punished him by having him roll a heavy stone up a large hill for eternity .
Every time Sisyphus got the rock to the top of the hill , it would roll back to the bottom , at which point Sisyphus would roll the rock back to the top , only to see it fall back down again , ad infinitum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an absurd and meaningless life .
“ Are our lives like that ? ''
Camus and many philosophers after him have asked .
Well , many are now , if they were n't before .
I have sprayed disinfectant on my kitchen surfaces .
My sink , refrigerator , stove , and dishwasher are apparently free of 99.9 % of all known germs .
After having put the disinfectant away , I use my kitchen as normal .
I later realise that the bottle of disinfectant itself was not disinfected .
Plastic evidently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I bought the bottle from the shop – and who knows who touched it there ?
– only yesterday .
I disinfect the entire kitchen again , now including the bottle of disinfectant .
I have told my children about the importance of social distancing , but allow the teenager to go and play catch with one friend at the park .
After all , they need to be two metres away from each other to play .
Two other friends in the meantime text him , and then soon join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unexpectedly comes , and , being considerate , he invites them all to his place nearby , while I 'm out foraging for food .
I arrive home to find four teenagers huddled together looking at a computer screen .
I again tell my children about the importance of social distancing .
While in the car at a stoplight , I have used wipes to clean off my radio knobs , gear shift , and steering wheel .
Then I realise that the wipe itself now has coronavirus on it , supposing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my hands have of course been holding the wipe .
I instinctively use another wipe on my hands again , but then see that this wipe , too , that I have been touching will now have coronavirus .
Since the light has now turned green , I proceed to touch the steering wheel… I have taken a bit of poetic licence with these vignettes , but I expect they ring true .
Note that it is not merely at the individual level that one finds such patterns , but also at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about six to ten weeks of lockdown , the coronavirus transmission rate plummets , to the point where the risk of infection becomes small .
At that point governments naturally let people out of their homes , to resume normal life .
But it takes just a handful of pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic people from the outside to reintroduce coronavirus to a population that , after lockdown , lacks it .
And we know how quickly and widely it spreads .
Once coronavirus has returned to our part of the world , our governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some months .
Then we shall return to our fare of Friends reruns , stilted conversations on Zoom , and the dreaded question , “ So , what 's for lunch ? ''
.
The expansion and contraction of social life could continue indefinitely .
Coronavirus and the meaning of life One part of the problem with Sisyphus is that his life is repetitive .
He just rolls a large stone .
Another part of his problem is that his life is pointless .
He never achieves anything with his stone-rolling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roll the stone .
Zeus has given him no other option .
And , then , Sisyphus is surely bored .
Unlike a large stone , coronavirus is very small , and yet our struggle against it is precisely a Sisyphean task : we have no choice but to push coronavirus away , doing so over and over again , having little hope of that making a real difference , and being far from enlivened by the process .
Coronavirus is a plague not merely on the happiness that comes with health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning in our lives , which is something different .
An important question at this point , which I leave unanswered here , is how to deal with a loss of meaningfulness .
I note only that the strategies will not be the same as improving lung function or diversifying portfolio assets .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

by Thaddeus Metz, University of Johannesburg
Albert Camus was a 20th century French Algerian thinker who won the Nobel Prize for his literary works. These days it is his novel The Plague that has naturally been receiving attention. In this essay I instead consider what Camus' philosophical classic, The Myth of Sisyphus, reveals about the status of our lives with COVID-19.
In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus addresses a cluster of philosophical questions about how to appraise our lives, including whether life is worth living, how life is absurd, and what could make life meaningful. Camus answers these questions by reflecting on the image of Sisyphus, a mythic figure from ancient Greece.
Sisyphus had treated some of the gods disrespectfully, and so Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, punished him by having him roll a heavy stone up a large hill for eternity. Every time Sisyphus got the rock to the top of the hill, it would roll back to the bottom, at which point Sisyphus would roll the rock back to the top, only to see it fall back down again, ad infinitum.
It is a classic image of an absurd and meaningless life. “Are our lives like that?" Camus and many philosophers after him have asked.
Well, many are now, if they weren't before.
Life with coronavirus
I have sprayed disinfectant on my kitchen surfaces. My sink, refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher are apparently free of 99.9% of all known germs. After having put the disinfectant away, I use my kitchen as normal.
I later realise that the bottle of disinfectant itself was not disinfected. Plastic evidently retains coronavirus for up to three days, and I bought the bottle from the shop – and who knows who touched it there? – only yesterday.
I disinfect the entire kitchen again, now including the bottle of disinfectant.
I have told my children about the importance of social distancing, but allow the teenager to go and play catch with one friend at the park. After all, they need to be two metres away from each other to play.
Two other friends in the meantime text him, and then soon join him at the park. A thunderstorm unexpectedly comes, and, being considerate, he invites them all to his place nearby, while I'm out foraging for food. I arrive home to find four teenagers huddled together looking at a computer screen.
I again tell my children about the importance of social distancing.
While in the car at a stoplight, I have used wipes to clean off my radio knobs, gear shift, and steering wheel.
Then I realise that the wipe itself now has coronavirus on it, supposing the bug was in my car. And my hands have of course been holding the wipe.
I instinctively use another wipe on my hands again, but then see that this wipe, too, that I have been touching will now have coronavirus. Since the light has now turned green, I proceed to touch the steering wheel…
I have taken a bit of poetic licence with these vignettes, but I expect they ring true. Note that it is not merely at the individual level that one finds such patterns, but also at the social one:
It appears that after about six to ten weeks of lockdown, the coronavirus transmission rate plummets, to the point where the risk of infection becomes small. At that point governments naturally let people out of their homes, to resume normal life.
But it takes just a handful of pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic people from the outside to reintroduce coronavirus to a population that, after lockdown, lacks it. And we know how quickly and widely it spreads.
Once coronavirus has returned to our part of the world, our governments will again require us to enter lockdown for some months. Then we shall return to our fare of Friends reruns, stilted conversations on Zoom, and the dreaded question, “So, what's for lunch?". The expansion and contraction of social life could continue indefinitely.
Coronavirus and the meaning of life
One part of the problem with Sisyphus is that his life is repetitive. He just rolls a large stone.
Another part of his problem is that his life is pointless. He never achieves anything with his stone-rolling.
Yet another is that Sisyphus is compelled to roll the stone. Zeus has given him no other option.
And, then, Sisyphus is surely bored.
Unlike a large stone, coronavirus is very small, and yet our struggle against it is precisely a Sisyphean task: we have no choice but to push coronavirus away, doing so over and over again, having little hope of that making a real difference, and being far from enlivened by the process.
Coronavirus is a plague not merely on the happiness that comes with health and wealth, but also on the meaning in our lives, which is something different. An important question at this point, which I leave unanswered here, is how to deal with a loss of meaningfulness. I note only that the strategies will not be the same as improving lung function or diversifying portfolio assets.
Thaddeus Metz, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


alternet--2020-12-03--‘The grift is on, baby’: Ex-GOP chair slams Trump’s post-election donors as ‘suckers’

Although President-elect Joe Biden enjoyed a decisive victory over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election — winning 306 electoral votes and defeating Trump by more than 6 million in the popular vote — the outgoing president continues to receive millions of dollars in donations .
And former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele , during an MSNBC appearance on December 2 , slammed Trump 's post-election donors as `` suckers . ''
Claiming , with zero evidence , that he is the real winner of the 2020 presidential election and that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 170 million for his so-called Election Defense Fund .
And according to CNN 's Brianna Keilar , 75 % of those donations are being shared with a new leadership PAC called the Save America PAC — which Keilar has denounced as a `` slush fund . ''
Appearing on MSNBC 's `` The ReidOut , '' Steele told host Joy Reid that Trump 's post-election donors are `` suckers '' if they honestly believe their donations will keep Trump in the White House after January 20 .
Steele , a Never Trumper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little dirty part of this is Donald Trump , right now , Joy , is raising money at a faster rate to , sort of , steal the election than he did when he was trying to win the election .
And that 's what people need to understand , alright ?
He 's raising more money now than he did when he was actually running for the job that he 's now trying to say that they stole from him .
So , look , the grift is on , baby .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand it . ''
In 2009 , Steele became the first African-American to chair the RNC — and he remained in that position until 2011 .
Steele , who is conservative but not an extremist , supported GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012 .
But he has been a vehement critic of Trump and has been active in the Lincoln Project , a right-wing anti-Trump group .
Steele told Reid that if Trump 's supporters want to donate money to him , that 's up to them — but they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being used for .
`` It ai n't going into his recount , '' Steele told Reid .
`` It 's going into his PAC .
And that PAC money — and this is important — allows him to go out and do political stuff unrelated to the recount .
If you all want to give him the money , that 's on you .
But know what it 's going to . ''
All about that grift , bout that grift

Although President-elect Joe Biden enjoyed a decisive victory over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election — winning 306 electoral votes and defeating Trump by more than 6 million in the popular vote — the outgoing president continues to receive millions of dollars in donations. And former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele, during an MSNBC appearance on December 2, slammed Trump's post-election donors as "suckers."
Claiming, with zero evidence, that he is the real winner of the 2020 presidential election and that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud, Trump has brought in a whopping $170 million for his so-called Election Defense Fund. And according to CNN's Brianna Keilar, 75% of those donations are being shared with a new leadership PAC called the Save America PAC — which Keilar has denounced as a "slush fund."
Appearing on MSNBC's "The ReidOut," Steele told host Joy Reid that Trump's post-election donors are "suckers" if they honestly believe their donations will keep Trump in the White House after January 20.
Steele, a Never Trumper, told Reid, "The great little dirty part of this is Donald Trump, right now, Joy, is raising money at a faster rate to, sort of, steal the election than he did when he was trying to win the election. And that's what people need to understand, alright? He's raising more money now than he did when he was actually running for the job that he's now trying to say that they stole from him. So, look, the grift is on, baby. It is just on. You need to understand it."
In 2009, Steele became the first African-American to chair the RNC — and he remained in that position until 2011. Steele, who is conservative but not an extremist, supported GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012. But he has been a vehement critic of Trump and has been active in the Lincoln Project, a right-wing anti-Trump group.
Steele told Reid that if Trump's supporters want to donate money to him, that's up to them — but they need to realize what their donations are actually being used for.
"It ain't going into his recount," Steele told Reid. "It's going into his PAC. And that PAC money — and this is important — allows him to go out and do political stuff unrelated to the recount. If you all want to give him the money, that's on you. But know what it's going to."
Watch the video below:


alternet--2020-12-03--More ethical concerns: Foreign real estate projects will likely be high priority for Trump post-pres

More ethical concerns: Foreign real estate projects will likely be high priority for Trump post-presidency

After President Donald Trump leaves the White House on January 20 , 2021 , he will be free to overtly and openly take part in the activities of the Trump Organization — and that includes foreign real estate deals .
Politico 's Anita Kumar reports that the Trump Organization is expected to look into projects in India , Brazil , Turkey , Colombia and other countries .
And some politicians on Capitol Hill believe that Trump 's non-U.S. projects could raise ethical concerns .
Vanity Fair 's Eric Lutz explains , `` Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there was really no precedent for the shady and complex web of business interests Donald Trump brought into the White House with him four years ago .
Not only did he never untangle himself from his personal interests — over the course of four tumultuous years , he actively blurred the line between the personal , professional and political until there was no distinguishing between the three .
If his presidency was unprecedented , so , too , will his post-presidency . ''
Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly , who is on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There are some boundaries that did n't exist before .
And I have no doubt that he will blow past those boundaries and not respect any of them . ''
And Rep. Jamie Raskin , another Democrat on the Oversight Committee , told Politico , `` The president does not feel bound by actual legal prohibitions , much less merely ethical or moral ones .
We can expect that he will continue to operate his business in conjunction with foreign businesses and governments . ''
Lutz notes that in 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , Jr. , told the Indian website Mint that he expects India to be a high priority for the Trump Organization .
Trump , Jr. told Mint , `` After politics , we would certainly look at India and other markets . ''
Politico also spoke to Barbara Res , a former executive in the Trump Organization and author of the book `` Tower of Lies : What My 18 Years of Working With Donald Trump Reveals About Him . ''
Res told Politico , `` He 'll do what he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he will do Trump Towers in different cities — Moscow , Seoul , who knows ?
It 's going to generate more money for him .
There are two things that make him run : ego and money . ''

After President Donald Trump leaves the White House on January 20, 2021, he will be free to overtly and openly take part in the activities of the Trump Organization — and that includes foreign real estate deals.
Politico's Anita Kumar reports that the Trump Organization is expected to look into projects in India, Brazil, Turkey, Colombia and other countries. And some politicians on Capitol Hill believe that Trump's non-U.S. projects could raise ethical concerns.
Vanity Fair's Eric Lutz explains, "Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm. The Bush family had its oil interests. But there was really no precedent for the shady and complex web of business interests Donald Trump brought into the White House with him four years ago. Not only did he never untangle himself from his personal interests — over the course of four tumultuous years, he actively blurred the line between the personal, professional and political until there was no distinguishing between the three. If his presidency was unprecedented, so, too, will his post-presidency."
Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who is on the House Oversight Committee, told Politico, "There are some boundaries that didn't exist before. And I have no doubt that he will blow past those boundaries and not respect any of them." And Rep. Jamie Raskin, another Democrat on the Oversight Committee, told Politico, "The president does not feel bound by actual legal prohibitions, much less merely ethical or moral ones. We can expect that he will continue to operate his business in conjunction with foreign businesses and governments."
Lutz notes that in 2019, the president's son, GOP activist Donald Trump, Jr., told the Indian website Mint that he expects India to be a high priority for the Trump Organization. Trump, Jr. told Mint, "After politics, we would certainly look at India and other markets."
Politico also spoke to Barbara Res, a former executive in the Trump Organization and author of the book "Tower of Lies: What My 18 Years of Working With Donald Trump Reveals About Him."
Res told Politico, "He'll do what he does. He'll license his name, and he will do Trump Towers in different cities — Moscow, Seoul, who knows? It's going to generate more money for him. There are two things that make him run: ego and money."


alternet--2020-12-03--'This is a revolution, sir': Millions of Indian workers launched a general strike and 'converged' wi

'This is a revolution, sir': Millions of Indian workers launched a general strike and 'converged' with farmers' protest

Last week , workers in India launched a huge general strike protesting the corporatist policies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
And the general strike , according to the democratic socialist website Jacobin , has `` converged '' with a major protest by Indian farmers .
Jacobin reporter Thomas Crowley explains , `` Last week 's general strike in India featured some of these components : the call by national-level unions in response to the ( Bharatiya Janata Party 's ) anti-worker policies ; the claims of massive turnout — 250 million people , in this case ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But this being 2020 , the November 26 walkout also had a different quality to it .
Back in March , the government used the pandemic as an excuse to crack down on and clear the last physical remnants of widespread protests against its discriminatory citizenship laws .
And so , the sight of people out on the streets in protest was a striking display . ''
Crowley notes that India 's general strike `` converged with a march launched by a broad group of farmers ' organizations , all planning to descend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Crowley , `` Social media was suddenly awash with images of farmers using tractors and trucks to break down the barriers erected by police to keep them out of the city .
In one video , a protester emphatically explained to a policeman at the barricades that 'this is a revolution , sir . '
'' Crowley observes that as of December 1 , India 's central government `` started meeting with farm union leaders , but protesters say that will keep camping at the border until their demands are met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Delhi march was a continuation of protests that erupted in September , when the BJP-controlled national legislature pushed through three controversial bills meant to open up the agricultural sector to large corporate and financial interests , '' Crowley notes .
`` Farmers fear the legislation is a prelude to the government dismantling the long-standing system of minimum support prices ( MSP ) , which provide some stability to farmers by setting the price at which the government buys a variety of crops . ''
Kirti Pandey , a reporter for India 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although the protests by India 's farmers have been receiving a great deal of coverage globally , many people outside of India do n't understand what the protests are about .
Pandey explains that Indian farmers are protesting against two farm bills that were recently passed by the Rajya Sabha , the upper chamber of the Indian parliament : the Farmers ' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill and the Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill .
`` The two bills had already cleared the lower house ( of India 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pandey notes .
`` When they were introduced in the Rajya Sabha , there was ruckus . ''
According to Pandey , the Farmers ' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill `` allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee ( APMC ) regulated markets .
The APMCs are government-controlled marketing yards or mandis .
So , the farmers clearly have more choice on who they want to sell . ''
And Pandey adds that the Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill `` makes provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for contract farming .
The farmer and an ordained buyer can strike a deal before the production happens . ''
Pandey reports , `` The farmers of Uttar Pradesh , Punjab and Haryana are angry with the provisions of these bills , as they are afraid that these bills may be the platform that the government at the Centre is setting up for the replacement or scrapping of the otherwise robust support system prevalent in their states for the purchase of their crops .
They fear that the minimum support price ( MSP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the Green Revolution of the 1960s kicked in may be snatched away… .
under the pretext of giving the farmers more playing ground and better platforms . ''

Last week, workers in India launched a huge general strike protesting the corporatist policies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And the general strike, according to the democratic socialist website Jacobin, has "converged" with a major protest by Indian farmers.
Jacobin reporter Thomas Crowley explains, "Last week's general strike in India featured some of these components: the call by national-level unions in response to the (Bharatiya Janata Party's) anti-worker policies; the claims of massive turnout — 250 million people, in this case; and the time-limited nature of the strike. But this being 2020, the November 26 walkout also had a different quality to it. Back in March, the government used the pandemic as an excuse to crack down on and clear the last physical remnants of widespread protests against its discriminatory citizenship laws. And so, the sight of people out on the streets in protest was a striking display."
Crowley notes that India's general strike "converged with a march launched by a broad group of farmers' organizations, all planning to descend on the capital of Delhi."
According to Crowley, "Social media was suddenly awash with images of farmers using tractors and trucks to break down the barriers erected by police to keep them out of the city. In one video, a protester emphatically explained to a policeman at the barricades that 'this is a revolution, sir.'"
Crowley observes that as of December 1, India's central government "started meeting with farm union leaders, but protesters say that will keep camping at the border until their demands are met."
"In many ways, the Delhi march was a continuation of protests that erupted in September, when the BJP-controlled national legislature pushed through three controversial bills meant to open up the agricultural sector to large corporate and financial interests," Crowley notes. "Farmers fear the legislation is a prelude to the government dismantling the long-standing system of minimum support prices (MSP), which provide some stability to farmers by setting the price at which the government buys a variety of crops."
Kirti Pandey, a reporter for India's Times Now website, points out that although the protests by India's farmers have been receiving a great deal of coverage globally, many people outside of India don't understand what the protests are about.
Pandey explains that Indian farmers are protesting against two farm bills that were recently passed by the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian parliament: the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill and the Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill.
"The two bills had already cleared the lower house (of India's parliament), the Lok Sabha," Pandey notes. "When they were introduced in the Rajya Sabha, there was ruckus."
According to Pandey, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill "allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated markets. The APMCs are government-controlled marketing yards or mandis. So, the farmers clearly have more choice on who they want to sell." And Pandey adds that the Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill "makes provisions for the setting up of a framework for contract farming. The farmer and an ordained buyer can strike a deal before the production happens."
Pandey reports, "The farmers of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana are angry with the provisions of these bills, as they are afraid that these bills may be the platform that the government at the Centre is setting up for the replacement or scrapping of the otherwise robust support system prevalent in their states for the purchase of their crops. They fear that the minimum support price (MSP) guarantee that was their safety net since the Green Revolution of the 1960s kicked in may be snatched away…. under the pretext of giving the farmers more playing ground and better platforms."


alternet--2020-12-03--'Simply unthinkable': Law officers call for halt to Trump's executions

A group consisting of more than 90 law enforcement officials have penned a letter urging federal authorities to halt the executions President Donald Trump has scheduled throughout the final weeks of his presidency .
In the letter , the group , which consists of `` current and former prosecutors , state attorneys general , police chiefs and sheriffs '' expressed concerns about the president 's actions going forward `` claiming that the uncertain transition period and resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic risk undermining confidence in the criminal justice system , '' according to USA Today .
`` When people believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or applying the death penalty unjustly ... their trust in our system of government and law enforcement is undermined , '' the officials stated .
This year , the Trump administration sharply increased the country 's death penalty usage , executing a total of eight inmates .
The president has two scheduled this month and an additional three set to take place in January before he leaves office .
The group argues that the expedited schedule appears to be a `` rush '' despite the threat that the pandemic poses .
They also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing amid the pandemic .
`` It is impossible for attorneys to effectively represent their clients during this time , either in clemency or in their motions to stay or reverse the sentence of death , '' the group said .
`` At a time when the country is struggling through a deadly pandemic , spending scarce resources to carry out federal executions and forcing defense lawyers to risk their lives to defend clients on death row is simply unthinkable . ''
Miriam Krinsky , a former federal prosecutor and executive director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's execution schedule as she described it as a `` sad legacy '' for the Trump administration to leave .
`` It is ironic that his focus seems to be reserved for those who are close to him or for political payback , '' she said .
`` It is yet another example of system failure . ''

A group consisting of more than 90 law enforcement officials have penned a letter urging federal authorities to halt the executions President Donald Trump has scheduled throughout the final weeks of his presidency.
In the letter, the group, which consists of "current and former prosecutors, state attorneys general, police chiefs and sheriffs" expressed concerns about the president's actions going forward "claiming that the uncertain transition period and resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic risk undermining confidence in the criminal justice system," according to USA Today.
"When people believe the state is executing a person, or applying the death penalty unjustly... their trust in our system of government and law enforcement is undermined," the officials stated.
This year, the Trump administration sharply increased the country's death penalty usage, executing a total of eight inmates. The president has two scheduled this month and an additional three set to take place in January before he leaves office. The group argues that the expedited schedule appears to be a "rush" despite the threat that the pandemic poses.
They also expressed concern about the difficulty lawyers are facing amid the pandemic.
"It is impossible for attorneys to effectively represent their clients during this time, either in clemency or in their motions to stay or reverse the sentence of death," the group said. "At a time when the country is struggling through a deadly pandemic, spending scarce resources to carry out federal executions and forcing defense lawyers to risk their lives to defend clients on death row is simply unthinkable."
Miriam Krinsky, a former federal prosecutor and executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, criticized Trump's execution schedule as she described it as a "sad legacy" for the Trump administration to leave.
"It is ironic that his focus seems to be reserved for those who are close to him or for political payback," she said. "It is yet another example of system failure."


alternet--2020-12-03--Trump accused of withholding data needed to reunite families separated at border: 'Unconscionable'

Following what one attorney described as months of deliberate stonewalling , the Trump administration has finally handed over key data that could help legal advocates reunite immigrant families separated under the Justice Department 's destructive `` zero tolerance '' policy .
In a court filing ( pdf ) Wednesday , attorneys with the ACLU said they have not yet been able to locate the parents of 628 children , down from 666 last month .
The filing revealed that the Trump administration provided `` information from another government database that had not previously been disclosed ( the Executive Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day before Thanksgiving .
`` Among other things , the information includes phone numbers that had not previously been disclosed , '' the court document reads .
Lee Gelernt , deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants ' Rights Project and one of the lawyers working to reunite families , told CNN that `` we 've been asking them for any additional information they have forever and we only finally got this information after outcry that parents still could not be found and the issue reached the presidential debate level . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of parents and children through this information , '' Gelernt added .
`` But make no mistake about it : Not only has the Trump administration not been helping us , but it 's now clear they failed to disclose information in their possession . ''
During the pre-election presidential debate in October , President Donald Trump claimed his administration was `` trying very hard '' to reunite the families it separated—contradicting the accounts of lawyers and advocates—but expressed no regret over ripping children from their parents , a practice psychiatrists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Children are brought here by coyotes and lots of bad people , cartels , '' Trump said , a claim immigrant rights groups refuted .
In response to the new court filing , government watchdogs and lawmakers demanded a probe into the Trump administration 's intentional withholding of information that could prove critical to reuniting hundreds of families .
Rep. Joaquin Castro ( D-Texas ) tweeted late Wednesday that `` a human rights commission should investigate what happened , even refer prosecutions . ''
`` These families belong together here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Following what one attorney described as months of deliberate stonewalling, the Trump administration has finally handed over key data that could help legal advocates reunite immigrant families separated under the Justice Department's destructive "zero tolerance" policy.
In a court filing (pdf) Wednesday, attorneys with the ACLU said they have not yet been able to locate the parents of 628 children, down from 666 last month. The filing revealed that the Trump administration provided "information from another government database that had not previously been disclosed (the Executive Office for Immigration Review)" last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
"Among other things, the information includes phone numbers that had not previously been disclosed," the court document reads.
Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and one of the lawyers working to reunite families, toldCNN that "we've been asking them for any additional information they have forever and we only finally got this information after outcry that parents still could not be found and the issue reached the presidential debate level."
"We hope we can find a significant number of parents and children through this information," Gelernt added. "But make no mistake about it: Not only has the Trump administration not been helping us, but it's now clear they failed to disclose information in their possession."
During the pre-election presidential debate in October, President Donald Trump claimed his administration was "trying very hard" to reunite the families it separated—contradicting the accounts of lawyers and advocates—but expressed no regret over ripping children from their parents, a practice psychiatrists and human rights organizations have denounced as torture.
"Children are brought here by coyotes and lots of bad people, cartels," Trump said, a claim immigrant rights groups refuted.
In response to the new court filing, government watchdogs and lawmakers demanded a probe into the Trump administration's intentional withholding of information that could prove critical to reuniting hundreds of families.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) tweeted late Wednesday that "a human rights commission should investigate what happened, even refer prosecutions."
"These families belong together here in the United States," said Castro.


alternet--2020-12-03--A review of Jenna Ellis’ professional history shows she is not the seasoned constitutional law exper

A review of Jenna Ellis’ professional history shows she is not the seasoned constitutional law expert she plays on TV: report

Jenna Ellis has become a star player on President Trump 's legal team , billing herself as a `` constitutional law attorney '' taking part in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results .
But according to the New York Times , Ellis ' credentials are n't what they 're cracked up to be .
She has become one of Trump 's most visible defenders and on Wednesday lashed out at Attorney General Bill Barr for saying he had not seen any evidence of widespread voter fraud .
`` …a review of her professional history , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have worked with her , show that Ms. Ellis , 36 , is not the seasoned constitutional law expert she plays on TV , '' write the Times ' Jeremy W. Peters and Alan Feuer , adding that since she graduated from law school in 2011 , `` nothing in her record in the courtroom — limited mostly to appearances in state court as a prosecutor or as counsel for clients charged with assault , prostitution , theft and domestic abuse — shows any time spent litigating election law cases . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Constitution , the Times reports that a national databases of federal cases shows she has never appeared in federal district or circuit court .
She also does not appear to have played a major role in any cases beyond her criminal and civil work in Colorado .
Out of around 50 election-related lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign , Ellis has not signed her name or appeared in court to argue a single one .
`` I find it astonishing that she 's gotten to this point , '' Stephanie Stout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few years told the Times .
Stout said Ellis was fired from a case they both worked on because she `` not up to the job . ''
`` She just did n't have the legal chops , '' Stout added .
`` After that , Jenna decided that I had stolen the case from her . ''
Read the full report over at The New York Times .

Jenna Ellis has become a star player on President Trump's legal team, billing herself as a "constitutional law attorney" taking part in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results. But according to the New York Times, Ellis' credentials aren't what they're cracked up to be. She has become one of Trump's most visible defenders and on Wednesday lashed out at Attorney General Bill Barr for saying he had not seen any evidence of widespread voter fraud.
"…a review of her professional history, as well as interviews with more than a half-dozen lawyers who have worked with her, show that Ms. Ellis, 36, is not the seasoned constitutional law expert she plays on TV," write the Times' Jeremy W. Peters and Alan Feuer, adding that since she graduated from law school in 2011, "nothing in her record in the courtroom — limited mostly to appearances in state court as a prosecutor or as counsel for clients charged with assault, prostitution, theft and domestic abuse — shows any time spent litigating election law cases."
While she styles herself as an expert on the Constitution, the Times reports that a national databases of federal cases shows she has never appeared in federal district or circuit court. She also does not appear to have played a major role in any cases beyond her criminal and civil work in Colorado. Out of around 50 election-related lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign, Ellis has not signed her name or appeared in court to argue a single one.
"I find it astonishing that she's gotten to this point," Stephanie Stout, a lawyer who worked with Ellis a few years told the Times. Stout said Ellis was fired from a case they both worked on because she "not up to the job."
"She just didn't have the legal chops," Stout added. "After that, Jenna decided that I had stolen the case from her."
Read the full report over at The New York Times.


alternet--2020-12-03--Trump 'erupted' at Bill Barr during 'angry' meeting earlier this week: report

President Donald Trump 's relationship with Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly sunk to a new low this week after Barr @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice had not uncovered any evidence of systemic voter fraud .
Sources @ @ @ @ @ that Trump angrily chewed out Barr during a meeting earlier this week in which the @ @ @ @ @ 's lack of success in overturning the 2020 election results .
`` Trump and Barr @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday after the attorney general told the AP the Justice Department uncovered no evidence of @ @ @ @ @ election outcome , which led Trump to erupt , '' reports Collins .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ person familiar says Trump was n't screaming . ''
Trump 's feelings toward Barr have @ @ @ @ @ 's reportedly threatened to fire him despite the fact that there are less than two @ @ @ @ @ .

President Donald Trump's relationship with Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly sunk to a new low this week after Barr told the Associated Press that the Department of Justice had not uncovered any evidence of systemic voter fraud.
Sources tell CNN's Kaitlan Collins that Trump angrily chewed out Barr during a meeting earlier this week in which the president vented about the DOJ's lack of success in overturning the 2020 election results.
"Trump and Barr had a 'contentious' meeting Tuesday after the attorney general told the AP the Justice Department uncovered no evidence of fraud that would change the election outcome, which led Trump to erupt," reports Collins. "It was angry, but a person familiar says Trump wasn't screaming."
Trump's feelings toward Barr have grown so negative that he's reportedly threatened to fire him despite the fact that there are less than two months left in his presidency.


alternet--2020-12-03--Georgia Republicans 'scared' of Trump's upcoming visit as supporters encourage boycott of Senate run

Georgia Republicans 'scared' of Trump's upcoming visit as supporters encourage boycott of Senate runoffs

Saturday , December 5 , President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Georgia to campaign on behalf of two incumbent Republican U.S. Senate candidates : Sen. David Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler .
The outcome of the runoff elections in January will determine whether or not the GOP maintains its Senate majority .
Georgia Republicans , journalist Marc Caputo reports in Politico , are `` excited '' that Trump will be speaking at a Saturday rally .
But they are also `` a little scared '' about what the volatile outgoing president might say .
And to complicate matters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to sit the runoff elections out .
Republicans in Georgia , according to Caputo , are `` not entirely certain what to expect from the president 's first post-election rally — or how much he understands that the event is about helping the two endangered GOP incumbents get across the finish line in the January 5 runoff , not advancing his own political interests or settling scores . ''
Georgia , once a deep red state , has evolved into a southern swing state .
Liberal/progressive Democrat Stacey Abrams narrowly lost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race in 2018 , but President-elect Joe Biden managed to flip Georgia this year and win its electoral votes .
Atlanta 's suburbs , once GOP strongholds , have become more Democrat-friendly .
Trump , however , has been claiming , without evidence , that he is the real winner in Georgia and that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud in the Peach State .
And some pro-Trump lawyers , including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood , appeared at a `` Stop the Steal '' rally on Wednesday , December 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to boycott the two `` rigged '' Senate runoff elections .
Powell and Wood are saying , in essence , that there is no point in voting for Perdue or Loeffler because Democrats will steal those elections .
And that 's a different message from the Georgia Republicans who are campaigning aggressively for Perdue or Loeffler and are glad to see Trump campaigning for them .
Republican Allen Peake , a former state legislator in Georgia , is hoping that when Trump speaks at the December 5 rally , he will keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than claiming he has been the victim of widespread voter fraud .
Peake , who describes himself as a `` mainstream Republican , '' told Politico , `` It 's important that Trump comes and focuses on the Senate election and not the other peripheral sideshow of whining and complaining and making baseless accusations .
But that 's kind of been his mode for the past four years .
I do n't think he will change .
So , I 'm very concerned about this on Saturday . ''
In Georgia , far-right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a conservative Republican , for acknowledging Biden as president-elect and stressing that there was zero evidence of widespread voter fraud in his state .
Raffensperger has been the target of death threats , and Trump described him as `` an enemy of the people . ''
Trump has also been railing against Gov .
Kemp for accepting Biden 's victory .
Peake told Politico , `` If all ( Trump ) does is whine and complain and talk bad about Kemp and the secretary of state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and he might as well not even come .
This is a crazy time in Georgia politics , that 's for sure . ''
Republican Lynn Westmoreland , who formerly served in the Georgia House of Representatives , described the GOP infighting in the state as a `` family feud '' and told Politico , `` People are mad .
They 're mad at the whole system ... .
Everyone 's shooting arrows . ''
Caputo notes that Powell and Wood have added to the `` chaos '' in Georgia by filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results with scant evidence but loads of conspiracy theories . ''
According to the Politico reporter , `` Wood and other Trump backers have encouraged Trump supporters not to vote January 5 if Loeffler and Perdue do n't do more to deliver the state to Trump .
A hand recount of ballots showed the president still lost the state .
Powell , who was booted from the Trump legal team after her wild claims drew unflattering publicity , has alleged , without evidence , that Loeffler actually lost the ( Georgia Senate ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Republican Buzz Brockway , another former state legislator interviewed by Politico , explained , `` There 's a lot of tension .
How do you square the idea that the president and others are pushing that this election is stolen and rigged , but you should still go out and vote ? ''

Saturday, December 5, President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Georgia to campaign on behalf of two incumbent Republican U.S. Senate candidates: Sen. David Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler. The outcome of the runoff elections in January will determine whether or not the GOP maintains its Senate majority. Georgia Republicans, journalist Marc Caputo reports in Politico, are "excited" that Trump will be speaking at a Saturday rally. But they are also "a little scared" about what the volatile outgoing president might say. And to complicate matters, some far-right pro-Trump attorneys are encouraging GOP voters to sit the runoff elections out.
Republicans in Georgia, according to Caputo, are "not entirely certain what to expect from the president's first post-election rally — or how much he understands that the event is about helping the two endangered GOP incumbents get across the finish line in the January 5 runoff, not advancing his own political interests or settling scores."
Georgia, once a deep red state, has evolved into a southern swing state. Liberal/progressive Democrat Stacey Abrams narrowly lost to Republican Brian Kemp in Georgia's gubernatorial race in 2018, but President-elect Joe Biden managed to flip Georgia this year and win its electoral votes. Atlanta's suburbs, once GOP strongholds, have become more Democrat-friendly.
Trump, however, has been claiming, without evidence, that he is the real winner in Georgia and that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud in the Peach State. And some pro-Trump lawyers, including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, appeared at a "Stop the Steal" rally on Wednesday, December 2 in Georgia — where they urged Republican voters to boycott the two "rigged" Senate runoff elections. Powell and Wood are saying, in essence, that there is no point in voting for Perdue or Loeffler because Democrats will steal those elections. And that's a different message from the Georgia Republicans who are campaigning aggressively for Perdue or Loeffler and are glad to see Trump campaigning for them.
Republican Allen Peake, a former state legislator in Georgia, is hoping that when Trump speaks at the December 5 rally, he will keep the focus on Perdue or Loeffler rather than claiming he has been the victim of widespread voter fraud.
Peake, who describes himself as a "mainstream Republican," told Politico, "It's important that Trump comes and focuses on the Senate election and not the other peripheral sideshow of whining and complaining and making baseless accusations. But that's kind of been his mode for the past four years. I don't think he will change. So, I'm very concerned about this on Saturday."
In Georgia, far-right Trump supporters have focused their ire on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a conservative Republican, for acknowledging Biden as president-elect and stressing that there was zero evidence of widespread voter fraud in his state. Raffensperger has been the target of death threats, and Trump described him as "an enemy of the people." Trump has also been railing against Gov. Kemp for accepting Biden's victory.
Peake told Politico, "If all (Trump) does is whine and complain and talk bad about Kemp and the secretary of state, then the trip will be a disaster — and he might as well not even come. This is a crazy time in Georgia politics, that's for sure."
Republican Lynn Westmoreland, who formerly served in the Georgia House of Representatives, described the GOP infighting in the state as a "family feud" and told Politico, "People are mad. They're mad at the whole system.... Everyone's shooting arrows."
Caputo notes that Powell and Wood have added to the "chaos" in Georgia by filing "lawsuits against the state's election results with scant evidence but loads of conspiracy theories." According to the Politico reporter, "Wood and other Trump backers have encouraged Trump supporters not to vote January 5 if Loeffler and Perdue don't do more to deliver the state to Trump. A hand recount of ballots showed the president still lost the state. Powell, who was booted from the Trump legal team after her wild claims drew unflattering publicity, has alleged, without evidence, that Loeffler actually lost the (Georgia Senate) primary to (Doug) Collins."
Republican Buzz Brockway, another former state legislator interviewed by Politico, explained, "There's a lot of tension. How do you square the idea that the president and others are pushing that this election is stolen and rigged, but you should still go out and vote?"


alternet--2020-12-03--Pompeo ignores raging pandemic — invites 900 people to indoor holiday party

As State Department leadership expressed concern about the accelerated uptick in coronavirus cases , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife , Susan , are hosting holiday parties .
At a time when the United States is reporting a weekly average of more than 165,000 , the couple invited hundreds of partygoers to a holiday event held on the eighth floor of the State Department building , according to The Washington Post .
Despite the warnings and mitigation guidelines in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus , event planners were reportedly told that the mitigation efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held by the Pompeo couple .
The party currently being criticized is just one of many in Pompeo 's lineup of holiday parties scheduled over the next three weeks .
In fact , the publication obtained an invitation from an upcoming holiday event , titled , `` Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays '' which is expected to be held in the State Department 's prominent event space , the Benjamin Franklin Room .
According to two officials aware of the event planning , more than 900 invitations have gone out for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of another superspreader event .
As Pompeo continues to celebrate , public health experts are urging Americans to wear masks , social distance , and refrain from holding or attending large gatherings during the holiday season .
Many have shared their reaction to the White House 's blatant disregard for the raging pandemic .
Ian Lipkin , director of Columbia University 's Center for Infection and Immunity , expressed concern about the dangers of holding such large gatherings at such a critical time during the pandemic .
`` I 'm flabbergasted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of this kind is dangerous on so many levels . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci has also warned against holiday large holiday gatherings .
`` What we expect , unfortunately , as we go for the next couple of weeks into December , is that we might see a surge superimposed on the surge we are already in , '' Fauci told NBC 's `` Meet the Press '' on Sunday .
`` I do n't want to frighten people , except to say it is not too late to do something about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 3 , the United States has reported more than 14 million coronavirus cases .
The death toll , which currently stands at more than 270,000 , is continuing to rise .

As State Department leadership expressed concern about the accelerated uptick in coronavirus cases, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife, Susan, are hosting holiday parties.
At a time when the United States is reporting a weekly average of more than 165,000, the couple invited hundreds of partygoers to a holiday event held on the eighth floor of the State Department building, according to The Washington Post. Despite the warnings and mitigation guidelines in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, event planners were reportedly told that the mitigation efforts did not apply to the event being held by the Pompeo couple.
The party currently being criticized is just one of many in Pompeo's lineup of holiday parties scheduled over the next three weeks. In fact, the publication obtained an invitation from an upcoming holiday event, titled, "Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays" which is expected to be held in the State Department's prominent event space, the Benjamin Franklin Room.
According to two officials aware of the event planning, more than 900 invitations have gone out for that event, which raises concerns about the possibility of another superspreader event.
As Pompeo continues to celebrate, public health experts are urging Americans to wear masks, social distance, and refrain from holding or attending large gatherings during the holiday season.
Many have shared their reaction to the White House's blatant disregard for the raging pandemic. Ian Lipkin, director of Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity, expressed concern about the dangers of holding such large gatherings at such a critical time during the pandemic.
"I'm flabbergasted," said Lipkin. "An indoor event of this kind is dangerous on so many levels."
Dr. Anthony Fauci has also warned against holiday large holiday gatherings. "What we expect, unfortunately, as we go for the next couple of weeks into December, is that we might see a surge superimposed on the surge we are already in," Fauci told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "I don't want to frighten people, except to say it is not too late to do something about this."
As of Thursday, Dec. 3, the United States has reported more than 14 million coronavirus cases. The death toll, which currently stands at more than 270,000, is continuing to rise.


alternet--2020-12-03--'All about money': Insider explains how Trump will 'set himself up for the future' by undermining Bi

'All about money': Insider explains how Trump will 'set himself up for the future' by undermining Biden

Before the November 3 election , President Donald Trump 's former personal attorney , Michael Cohen , warned that if Trump lost to former Vice President Joe Biden , there was no way he would graciously accept the election results — and sure enough , Trump continues to claim he was the real winner even though Biden won 306 electoral votes and defeated him by more than 6 million in the popular vote .
Cohen discussed Trump 's response to Biden 's victory during an interview with New York Magazine 's Jeff Wise , stressing that the vindictive `` monster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he can to undermine Biden in the weeks and months ahead .
Trump and his legal team are claiming , without evidence , that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud in Georgia , Arizona , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and other battleground states that Biden won .
And according to Cohen , the fact that Trump 's voter fraud claims have no merit does n't mean that they are n't profitable .
`` It 's all a shameless con job , '' Cohen told Wise .
`` He sees his claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nothing behind it beyond greed .
Trump is using the moment to raise money .
The number is actually shockingly large : over $ 150 million , a majority of it from small-dollar donations .
This money is not going to his Election Defense Fund ; it 's to keep him relevant in the GOP and launch his media brand .
It 's all about money and power , and you need one to get the other . ''
When Wise asked Cohen if Trump actually believes his voter fraud claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of him that can not accept losing .
In his mind , the only way Biden could have won is through fraud .
He has convinced himself of a narrative and is being fed back what he wants to hear from sycophants .
The only one of these scumbags who truly believes this crap is ( attorney ) Sidney Powell , but she is legitimately insane . ''
Cohen , who voted for Biden , noted that Trump still has millions of diehard supporters who will contribute to his Save America PAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` he 'll continue to suck from the veins of his MAGA faithful while chipping away at the Biden presidency , casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election — all of this is in service of a Trump 2024 run for president and his return to power .
If this happens , all bets are off .
He will try to change the Constitution and give himself a third term . ''
According to Cohen , `` Every moment is a moment to dominate and win .
Where some would see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to leverage power by granting pardons , raising money and setting himself up for the future . ''
During the interview , Cohen also predicted that after Trump leaves the White House on January 20 , 2021 , he `` will be indicted , along with his sons '' by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance , Jr. `` as part of the widening probe into criminality and fraud at the Trump Organization . ''
And Trump , according to Cohen , has good reason to be afraid of Vance 's office .
Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming due , and it 's going to be nasty… .
I believe he will do anything and everything to stay out of prison .
It terrifies him .
If he can find a way to pardon himself , he will do it . ''

Before the November 3 election, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, warned that if Trump lost to former Vice President Joe Biden, there was no way he would graciously accept the election results — and sure enough, Trump continues to claim he was the real winner even though Biden won 306 electoral votes and defeated him by more than 6 million in the popular vote. Cohen discussed Trump's response to Biden's victory during an interview with New York Magazine's Jeff Wise, stressing that the vindictive "monster" and outgoing president will do everything he can to undermine Biden in the weeks and months ahead.
Trump and his legal team are claiming, without evidence, that he was the victim of widespread voter fraud in Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other battleground states that Biden won. And according to Cohen, the fact that Trump's voter fraud claims have no merit doesn't mean that they aren't profitable.
"It's all a shameless con job," Cohen told Wise. "He sees his claims of fraud as driving up donations — there's nothing behind it beyond greed. Trump is using the moment to raise money. The number is actually shockingly large: over $150 million, a majority of it from small-dollar donations. This money is not going to his Election Defense Fund; it's to keep him relevant in the GOP and launch his media brand. It's all about money and power, and you need one to get the other."
When Wise asked Cohen if Trump actually believes his voter fraud claims, he responded, "There is that part of him that cannot accept losing. In his mind, the only way Biden could have won is through fraud. He has convinced himself of a narrative and is being fed back what he wants to hear from sycophants. The only one of these scumbags who truly believes this crap is (attorney) Sidney Powell, but she is legitimately insane."
Cohen, who voted for Biden, noted that Trump still has millions of diehard supporters who will contribute to his Save America PAC. The former Trump Organization attorney predicted, "he'll continue to suck from the veins of his MAGA faithful while chipping away at the Biden presidency, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election — all of this is in service of a Trump 2024 run for president and his return to power. If this happens, all bets are off. He will try to change the Constitution and give himself a third term."
According to Cohen, "Every moment is a moment to dominate and win. Where some would see a lame-duck presidency, Trump views an opportunity to leverage power by granting pardons, raising money and setting himself up for the future."
During the interview, Cohen also predicted that after Trump leaves the White House on January 20, 2021, he "will be indicted, along with his sons" by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance, Jr. "as part of the widening probe into criminality and fraud at the Trump Organization." And Trump, according to Cohen, has good reason to be afraid of Vance's office.
Cohen told Wise, "The bill is coming due, and it's going to be nasty…. I believe he will do anything and everything to stay out of prison. It terrifies him. If he can find a way to pardon himself, he will do it."


alternet--2020-12-03--Authorities tie viral 'protesters needed' Craigslist ad to registered Republican voter

Local authorities in Lancaster County , NE , have confirmed the viral Craigslist ad seeking protesters is tied to a Lincoln , NE , resident and registered Republican .
Back in June , when the Black Lives Matter was at the helm of the civil rights movement that swept the United States following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department , someone claiming to be affiliated with Antifa placed an ad on Craigslist with the subject line : `` protesters needed , '' reports KETV .
`` Basically we want to cause as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ad reads .
`` We want chaos to further our agenda . ''
The unknown author of the post even went a step further offering to pay $ 25 per hour to those willing to participate in the `` protests . ''
He also offered to pay bond for any paid protesters that might be arrested amid civil unrest .
The disturbing ad quickly began circulating on multiple social networks before going viral .
Upon further investigation , authorities were able to determine that the man was a Lincoln , NE , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the ad , the man insisted he `` was n't serious . ''
Despite the ad going viral , he also claimed it did not lead to any `` commotion . ''
As of Dec. 3 , the man has not been charged in connection with the ad .

Local authorities in Lancaster County, NE, have confirmed the viral Craigslist ad seeking protesters is tied to a Lincoln, NE, resident and registered Republican.
Back in June, when the Black Lives Matter was at the helm of the civil rights movement that swept the United States following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department, someone claiming to be affiliated with Antifa placed an ad on Craigslist with the subject line: "protesters needed," reports KETV.
"Basically we want to cause as much chaos and destruction as possible," the ad reads. "We want chaos to further our agenda."
The unknown author of the post even went a step further offering to pay $25 per hour to those willing to participate in the "protests." He also offered to pay bond for any paid protesters that might be arrested amid civil unrest. The disturbing ad quickly began circulating on multiple social networks before going viral.
Upon further investigation, authorities were able to determine that the man was a Lincoln, NE, resident in his 30s. When questioned about the ad, the man insisted he "wasn't serious." Despite the ad going viral, he also claimed it did not lead to any "commotion." As of Dec. 3, the man has not been charged in connection with the ad.


alternet--2020-12-03--Sore-loser Trump reportedly won't attend Biden's inauguration or invite Biden family to White House

Donald Trump has now said that he will leave the White House if the Electoral College votes him out , but do n't take that as a sign that Trump will ever—ever , ever—issue anything that can be perceived as a confession .
Trump just wants to deny the nation the singular pleasure of seeing him exit the people 's house via a physical expulsion .
It 's been clear for some time that Trump 's next role is the same one he had cast for himself in 2016 : rightful king in exile .
Well before he shocked himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous cycle , Trump laid on the groundwork to claim that the election was `` rigged '' and that he collected all the `` real votes '' from real Americans .
That way , Trump could do one unbroken cycle of rallies with lots of `` lock her , him , and also her '' up chants .
Four years later , Trump is blowing the dust off that plan .
Trump may exit the White House , but he 's going to do it in the most snotty , petty , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News are reporting that we should not expect to see Trump 's pouting face at Joe Biden 's inaugural .
Which is a shame , not just because watching Trump scowl his way through the ceremony would be a source of national entertainment , but because it would be an absolute breech in a long line of peaceful transitions .
However , Trump would not be the first ; Andrew Johnson was the last of three who refused to attend the inauguration of the successors .
Racist .
Authoritarian .
Impeached .
Sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to not showing up to signal the unbroken chain of government authority , Trump also intends to refuse Biden the basic courtesies involved in handing over power .
That means Trump does not intend to offer Biden and his family the traditional visit and tour of the White House .
On the one hand , that 's fine .
Biden knows where to find it .
However , it 's emblematic of how Trump will do the absolute minimum that might be interpreted as accepting the outcome of the election .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concede .
There 's little doubt that the 2021 inaugural will be a constrained affair , limited as it will be by the pandemic that Trump has not even attempted to control .
( Though if a few million doses of vaccine do get to frontline healthcare workers , inviting as many of them as can attend to be Biden 's guests , and celebrating them on the day of the inauguration , might be nice . )
But Trump is likely to do everything he can to rain on that day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose that day to announce the beginning of his 2024 campaign .
That announcement would be not just a thumb in the eye of tradition and a big middle finger to even a moment of national unity , it would be an absolute signal to Mitch McConnell and Republicans in both the House and Senate that any sign of normal governance over the next four years would be unacceptable .
Still , there 's something Trump should remember … every act gets old eventually .
And he 's old already .

Donald Trump has now said that he will leave the White House if the Electoral College votes him out, but don't take that as a sign that Trump will ever—ever, ever—issue anything that can be perceived as a confession. Trump just wants to deny the nation the singular pleasure of seeing him exit the people's house via a physical expulsion.
It's been clear for some time that Trump's next role is the same one he had cast for himself in 2016: rightful king in exile. Well before he shocked himself by squeaking out a win in the previous cycle, Trump laid on the groundwork to claim that the election was "rigged" and that he collected all the "real votes" from real Americans. That way, Trump could do one unbroken cycle of rallies with lots of "lock her, him, and also her" up chants. Four years later, Trump is blowing the dust off that plan.
Trump may exit the White House, but he's going to do it in the most snotty, petty, and ugly way imaginable.
Sources at NBC News are reporting that we should not expect to see Trump's pouting face at Joe Biden's inaugural. Which is a shame, not just because watching Trump scowl his way through the ceremony would be a source of national entertainment, but because it would be an absolute breech in a long line of peaceful transitions. However, Trump would not be the first; Andrew Johnson was the last of three who refused to attend the inauguration of the successors. Racist. Authoritarian. Impeached. Sounds like an appropriate role model.
In addition to not showing up to signal the unbroken chain of government authority, Trump also intends to refuse Biden the basic courtesies involved in handing over power. That means Trump does not intend to offer Biden and his family the traditional visit and tour of the White House. On the one hand, that's fine. Biden knows where to find it. However, it's emblematic of how Trump will do the absolute minimum that might be interpreted as accepting the outcome of the election. Trump also never intends to call Biden to concede.
There's little doubt that the 2021 inaugural will be a constrained affair, limited as it will be by the pandemic that Trump has not even attempted to control. (Though if a few million doses of vaccine do get to frontline healthcare workers, inviting as many of them as can attend to be Biden's guests, and celebrating them on the day of the inauguration, might be nice.)
But Trump is likely to do everything he can to rain on that day. Not only will he not attend—he may choose that day to announce the beginning of his 2024 campaign. That announcement would be not just a thumb in the eye of tradition and a big middle finger to even a moment of national unity, it would be an absolute signal to Mitch McConnell and Republicans in both the House and Senate that any sign of normal governance over the next four years would be unacceptable.
Still, there's something Trump should remember … every act gets old eventually. And he's old already.