alternet--2020-11-13--Republicans fear Trump's sore-loser campaign could undermine the party in Georgia

Ever since his definitive loss in the presidential race became clear , Donald Trump and his campaign team have been working overtime to suck up as much money as possible from Republican donors .
Not only has Trump formed a so-called leadership PAC that 's designed to take in small donations from the masses , but his campaign manager Bill Stepien also made a last-minute push for high-dollar donations to Trump 's legal defense fund last Saturday , just before the major networks called the race for Joe Biden .
Now , as the fate of the Senate rests on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lawmakers are realizing that loser Trump 's selfishly futile fundraising efforts are siphoning precious resources away from the battles that actually matter in Georgia , according to Politico .
On top of that , the high-profile recount Trump forced in Georgia may not even be legal , according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
The rules governing a Georgia election audit call for reviewing only a random sample of ballots rather than every single one .
`` The audit would have concluded when all ballots were counted and the odds that the full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , according to State Election Board rules .
But instead of pulling a smaller sample of ballots , Raffensperger plans to audit every ballot , '' writes AJC .
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , who has been under fire from his GOP colleagues for Trump 's failures in the state , has justified the full hand recount by insisting `` the margin is just so close right now . ''
For the record , 14,000 votes may be close , but it 's not recount close .
No way .
Recounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the margin is anywhere over several hundred votes .

Ever since his definitive loss in the presidential race became clear, Donald Trump and his campaign team have been working overtime to suck up as much money as possible from Republican donors.
Not only has Trump formed a so-called leadership PAC that's designed to take in small donations from the masses, but his campaign manager Bill Stepien also made a last-minute push for high-dollar donations to Trump's legal defense fund last Saturday, just before the major networks called the race for Joe Biden.
Now, as the fate of the Senate rests on two Georgia runoffs, some GOP donors and lawmakers are realizing that loser Trump's selfishly futile fundraising efforts are siphoning precious resources away from the battles that actually matter in Georgia, according to Politico.
Senate Republicans have also made a joint fundraising page to collect money for Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue — but it didn't attract the widespread social media attention of Trump's efforts.
Sorry, suckers.
On top of that, the high-profile recount Trump forced in Georgia may not even be legal, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The rules governing a Georgia election audit call for reviewing only a random sample of ballots rather than every single one.
"The audit would have concluded when all ballots were counted and the odds that the full tabulation was incorrect was less than 10%, according to State Election Board rules. But instead of pulling a smaller sample of ballots, Raffensperger plans to audit every ballot," writes AJC.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who has been under fire from his GOP colleagues for Trump's failures in the state, has justified the full hand recount by insisting "the margin is just so close right now."
For the record, 14,000 votes may be close, but it's not recount close. No way. Recounts almost never change election results, particularly when the margin is anywhere over several hundred votes.


alternet--2020-11-13--Kayleigh McEnany refers questions to White House in Fox News appearance as Trump campaign adviser

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , who has supplemented her taxpayer-funded government work with a role as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump 's failed re-election campaign , referred questions to the White House during a Fox News appearance in her campaign role .
McEnany , who in late October drew criticism for the dual roles , declined to tell `` Fox & Friends '' co-host Brian Kilmeade whether her boss would give President-elect Joe Biden access to the highly classified President 's Daily Brief — which Trump rarely reads , according to multiple reports .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
That would be a question more for the White House , '' McEnany said before addressing the issue from the White House 's perspective .
`` But I will say that all laws are being followed with regard to an expected transition , though we expect to continue on as the Trump administration .
We will see how our litigation goes . ''
McEnany spoke in front of an image of the White House .
McEnany 's network appearances in her personal capacity potentially violate the Hatch Act , the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in political activity in their official roles , according to government ethics watchdogs .
McEnany , who in April left her job as Trump campaign spokesperson to join the administration , was introduced in a Fox Business segment last month as `` Trump 2020 senior adviser and White House press secretary . ''
During another appearance on the same day , with McEnany in front of images of both the White House and the Trump campaign logo , Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney told viewers that she was `` serving now as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Trump campaign spokesperson told Salon at the time that cable news shows had been instructed not to refer to McEnany by her White House title , a directive which Kilmeade appeared not to fully adhere to on Thursday .
`` Kayleigh McEnany joins us .
She 's got a dual role .
Here , she 's on as a Trump 2020 campaign adviser , '' Kilmeade said , referring abstractly to the press secretary 's administration role .
`` She 's playing a delicate balancing act , '' national security attorney Bradley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal administration , this would never be tolerated .
With this one , we know they only care about the Hatch Act whenever it 's convenient . ''
`` Kayleigh McEnany 's salary is being paid by American taxpayers .
Rather than doing that job , she spends her time volunteering on the president 's already-lost campaign , '' Jordan Libowitz , communications director for government ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , told Salon .
`` She walks a very tight line not to violate the Hatch Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be completely avoided if she just focused on the job she was paid to do — something you 'd expect when more than 1,000 Americans are dying a day in a pandemic , and the president has n't made public comments in a week . ''
McEnany attempted to defend her latest `` Fox & Friends '' appearance by falsely claiming it was protected by the Constitution on Twitter .
`` When you enter government , you do not lose First Amendment rights , '' she tweeted later on Thursday .
`` Hatch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity , which I diligently work to do .
Reporters ( who ironically have freedom of press embedded in the 1st Amendment ) , are complaining about my 1A right to speech ! ''
Despite that diligence , McEnany — speaking in front of an image of the White House — still spoke with White House authority , assuring `` Fox & Friends '' viewers that the administration was following `` all laws '' and `` we '' expect to have a second term .
McEnany attempted to defend her latest `` Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was protected by the Constitution on Twitter .
`` When you enter government , you do not lose First Amendment rights , '' she tweeted later on Thursday .
`` Hatch Act says to separate govt & political activity , which I diligently work to do .
Reporters ( who ironically have freedom of press embedded in the 1st Amendment ) , are complaining about my 1A right to speech ! ''
Despite that diligence , McEnany — speaking in front of an image of the White House — still spoke with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Friends '' viewers that the administration was following `` all laws '' and `` we '' expect to have a second term .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who has supplemented her taxpayer-funded government work with a role as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump's failed re-election campaign, referred questions to the White House during a Fox News appearance in her campaign role.
McEnany, who in late October drew criticism for the dual roles, declined to tell "Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade whether her boss would give President-elect Joe Biden access to the highly classified President's Daily Brief — which Trump rarely reads, according to multiplereports.
"I haven't spoken to the president about that. That would be a question more for the White House," McEnany said before addressing the issue from the White House's perspective. "But I will say that all laws are being followed with regard to an expected transition, though we expect to continue on as the Trump administration. We will see how our litigation goes."
McEnany spoke in front of an image of the White House. McEnany's network appearances in her personal capacity potentially violate the Hatch Act, the federal law which bars federal employees from engaging in political activity in their official roles, according to government ethics watchdogs.
McEnany, who in April left her job as Trump campaign spokesperson to join the administration, was introduced in a Fox Business segment last month as "Trump 2020 senior adviser and White House press secretary." During another appearance on the same day, with McEnany in front of images of both the White House and the Trump campaign logo, Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney told viewers that she was "serving now as adviser for the Trump campaign."
A Trump campaign spokesperson told Salon at the time that cable news shows had been instructed not to refer to McEnany by her White House title, a directive which Kilmeade appeared not to fully adhere to on Thursday.
"Kayleigh McEnany joins us. She's got a dual role. Here, she's on as a Trump 2020 campaign adviser," Kilmeade said, referring abstractly to the press secretary's administration role.
"She's playing a delicate balancing act," national security attorney Bradley Moss told Salon. "In a normal administration, this would never be tolerated. With this one, we know they only care about the Hatch Act whenever it's convenient."
"Kayleigh McEnany's salary is being paid by American taxpayers. Rather than doing that job, she spends her time volunteering on the president's already-lost campaign," Jordan Libowitz, communications director for government ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told Salon.
"She walks a very tight line not to violate the Hatch Act," Libowitz continued. "It could be completely avoided if she just focused on the job she was paid to do — something you'd expect when more than 1,000 Americans are dying a day in a pandemic, and the president hasn't made public comments in a week."
McEnany attempted to defend her latest "Fox & Friends" appearance by falsely claiming it was protected by the Constitution on Twitter.
"When you enter government, you do not lose First Amendment rights," she tweeted later on Thursday. "Hatch Act says to separate govt & political activity, which I diligently work to do. Reporters (who ironically have freedom of press embedded in the 1st Amendment), are complaining about my 1A right to speech!"
Despite that diligence, McEnany — speaking in front of an image of the White House — still spoke with White House authority, assuring "Fox & Friends" viewers that the administration was following "all laws" and "we" expect to have a second term.
McEnany attempted to defend her latest "Fox & Friends" appearance by falsely claiming it was protected by the Constitution on Twitter.
"When you enter government, you do not lose First Amendment rights," she tweeted later on Thursday. "Hatch Act says to separate govt & political activity, which I diligently work to do. Reporters (who ironically have freedom of press embedded in the 1st Amendment), are complaining about my 1A right to speech!"
Despite that diligence, McEnany — speaking in front of an image of the White House — still spoke with White House authority, assuring "Fox & Friends" viewers that the administration was following "all laws" and "we" expect to have a second term.


alternet--2020-11-13--Trump and Biden have competing views of masculinity – here's what they mean for presidential leaders

Trump and Biden have competing views of masculinity – here's what they mean for presidential leadership

Shortly after news networks called the presidential race in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , Harris ' husband , Doug Emhoff , posted the following tweet : More than a heartwarming glimpse into the vice president-elect 's private life , the tweet signaled that gender norms in a Biden/Harris administration will differ from those on display in the White House during the past four years .
In fact , a number of tweets went viral over the weekend of Nov. 7 and 8 that showcased a version of masculinity that contrasts sharply with the one projected by Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies gender and political leadership , I 've written about how gender stereotypes collide with our culture 's understanding of the U.S. presidency , casting presidents as the patriarch in chief and inhibiting women 's campaigns for the top job .
These stereotypes also constrain the men who have served as U.S. president , often promoting a “ toxic '' version of masculinity that Trump took to an extreme .
The 2020 campaign gave voters an opportunity to compare and contrast how the two campaigns modeled gender roles differently .
These differences not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; they also shape the roles of “ president '' and “ vice president , '' making it more or less likely that , in the future , those offices can be held by someone other than a heterosexual white man .
The phrase “ toxic masculinity '' is often misunderstood .
“ Toxic masculinity '' does not mean that men are bad or that every version of masculinity is “ toxic . ''
It means that a particular version of masculinity – one that discourages empathy , expresses strength through dominance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with white patriarchy – is bad for people of all genders and for society more generally .
Trump 's propensity to resist empathy , insult women and project dominance is well documented .
The onset of COVID-19 offered a particularly sharp distinction between Trump 's and Biden 's leadership styles .
Writing for The Washington Post , Matt Viser observed that Biden 's and Trump 's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic reflect very different approaches to masculinity .
Trump mocks Biden 's mask-wearing and flaunts his recovery from the virus as a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's unwillingness to wear a mask as a silly “ macho thing '' and urges supporters to “ take care of your neighbors '' by masking up .
In the context of a global pandemic , these distinct leadership styles have life-and-death consequences .
To appreciate how far-reaching the implications are , however , consider a few more snapshots from the 2020 campaign .
In the campaign 's final days , former White House videographer Arun Chaudhary tweeted a 2018 clip of Biden hugging and comforting the disabled son of Chris Hixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save students during the mass shooting on Feb. 14 , 2018 , at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School : The tweet went viral , indicating many people 's receptiveness to a more humane version of masculinity .
The Biden/Harris victory seemed to open space for other men to similarly reject the emotional strictures of toxic masculinity .
Appearing on CNN , commentator Van Jones was overcome with emotion when reflecting on the impact of the election .
He connected his feelings explicitly to the cultural construction of masculinity , saying , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just want my sons to look at this … '' Moreover , although Trump often asserts himself by making up derogatory names for women who challenge him , Twitter user StaceyMargaret Jones made clear that she views being respectful to assertive women as a sign of strength : In addition to perpetuating sexism , toxic masculinity is associated with homophobia and transphobia , fueling violent attacks on trans women , particularly trans women of color .
Trump 's transphobia took the form of his policy aimed at banning transgender individuals from military service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet on July 26 , 2017 , catching the Department of Defense off guard .
That 's why a small but groundbreaking moment from Biden 's victory speech was so important to the LGBTQ community .
Biden identified transgender people as an important part of his electoral coalition , demonstrating a very different approach to gender identity than that of President Trump .
Tweets from the transgender community confirmed the significance of a U.S. president-elect acknowledging voters who challenge traditional gender norms , as did the cheers that erupted from patrons at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist Charlotte Clymer argued in mid-October that Biden 's support of LGBTQ human rights is more than lip service , and Biden is on record identifying discrimination against transgender people as the “ civil rights issue of our time . ''
Biden 's and Harris ' approaches to gender roles in their personal lives also will expand what the president and vice president symbolize .
Communication scholars have documented the ways in which the U.S. presidency historically has been a “ two-person career '' in which the president 's family is supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American family , with the president/father as the head , the wife/first lady in a supporting role , and obedient children rounding out the picture .
The ceremonial duties required of the president and first lady typically have required even career-focused political spouses to put their work on hold during their time in the White House .
Jill Biden , however , might be the first presidential spouse to continue to work in her chosen profession – teaching at a community college – while serving as first lady .
And Doug Emhoff will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman vice president , causing sometimes humorous confusion over what he should be called : second gentleman ?
second husband ?
vice dude ?
The serious point to be made is that the small ways that Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff will broaden our expectations of presidential and vice presidential spouses also expand the possibilities for who can run for the top jobs .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation 's newsletter . ]
So , even though the 2020 presidential campaign pitted two white , heterosexual men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and Harris poses a challenge to how we envision the president and vice president .
American masculinity has been subjected to well-deserved critique , and the negative effects of toxic masculinity are manifold and substantial .
But the photos tweeted in recent weeks – of men hugging others with compassion , crying openly and acknowledging women and the LGBTQ community with respect and gratitude – remind us of one thing : This , too , is American masculinity .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
@ @ @ @ @

by Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University
Shortly after news networks called the presidential race in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, posted the following tweet:
More than a heartwarming glimpse into the vice president-elect's private life, the tweet signaled that gender norms in a Biden/Harris administration will differ from those on display in the White House during the past four years.
In fact, a number of tweets went viral over the weekend of Nov. 7 and 8 that showcased a version of masculinity that contrasts sharply with the one projected by Donald Trump.
As a communication scholar who studies gender and political leadership, I've written about how gender stereotypes collide with our culture's understanding of the U.S. presidency, casting presidents as the patriarch in chief and inhibiting women's campaigns for the top job.
These stereotypes also constrain the men who have served as U.S. president, often promoting a “toxic" version of masculinity that Trump took to an extreme.
The 2020 campaign gave voters an opportunity to compare and contrast how the two campaigns modeled gender roles differently. These differences not only reveal important insights about each campaign; they also shape the roles of “president" and “vice president," making it more or less likely that, in the future, those offices can be held by someone other than a heterosexual white man.
Different approaches to masculine leadership
The phrase “toxic masculinity" is often misunderstood. “Toxic masculinity" does not mean that men are bad or that every version of masculinity is “toxic."
It means that a particular version of masculinity – one that discourages empathy, expresses strength through dominance, normalizes violence against women and associates leadership with white patriarchy – is bad for people of all genders and for society more generally.
Trump's propensity to resist empathy, insult women and project dominance is well documented. The onset of COVID-19 offered a particularly sharp distinction between Trump's and Biden's leadership styles.
Writing for The Washington Post, Matt Viser observed that Biden's and Trump's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic reflect very different approaches to masculinity. Trump mocks Biden's mask-wearing and flaunts his recovery from the virus as a sign of strength and manliness. Biden derides Trump's unwillingness to wear a mask as a silly “macho thing" and urges supporters to “take care of your neighbors" by masking up.
In the context of a global pandemic, these distinct leadership styles have life-and-death consequences. To appreciate how far-reaching the implications are, however, consider a few more snapshots from the 2020 campaign.
In the campaign's final days, former White House videographer Arun Chaudhary tweeted a 2018 clip of Biden hugging and comforting the disabled son of Chris Hixon, the heroic teacher who died trying to save students during the mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School:
The tweet went viral, indicating many people's receptiveness to a more humane version of masculinity.
The Biden/Harris victory seemed to open space for other men to similarly reject the emotional strictures of toxic masculinity. Appearing on CNN, commentator Van Jones was overcome with emotion when reflecting on the impact of the election. He connected his feelings explicitly to the cultural construction of masculinity, saying, “Being a good man matters. I just want my sons to look at this …"
Moreover, although Trump often asserts himself by making up derogatory names for women who challenge him, Twitter user StaceyMargaret Jones made clear that she views being respectful to assertive women as a sign of strength:
Expanding views of gender
In addition to perpetuating sexism, toxic masculinity is associated with homophobia and transphobia, fueling violent attacks on trans women, particularly trans women of color.
Trump's transphobia took the form of his policy aimed at banning transgender individuals from military service, a policy he impulsively announced via tweet on July 26, 2017, catching the Department of Defense off guard.
That's why a small but groundbreaking moment from Biden's victory speech was so important to the LGBTQ community. Biden identified transgender people as an important part of his electoral coalition, demonstrating a very different approach to gender identity than that of President Trump.
Tweets from the transgender community confirmed the significance of a U.S. president-elect acknowledging voters who challenge traditional gender norms, as did the cheers that erupted from patrons at a Philadelphia bar during the speech:
LGBTQ activist Charlotte Clymer argued in mid-October that Biden's support of LGBTQ human rights is more than lip service, and Biden is on record identifying discrimination against transgender people as the “civil rights issue of our time."
Biden's and Harris' approaches to gender roles in their personal lives also will expand what the president and vice president symbolize.
Communication scholars have documented the ways in which the U.S. presidency historically has been a “two-person career" in which the president's family is supposed to represent an idealized version of the traditional American family, with the president/father as the head, the wife/first lady in a supporting role, and obedient children rounding out the picture. The ceremonial duties required of the president and first lady typically have required even career-focused political spouses to put their work on hold during their time in the White House.
Jill Biden, however, might be the first presidential spouse to continue to work in her chosen profession – teaching at a community college – while serving as first lady. And Doug Emhoff will be the first male spouse of a woman vice president, causing sometimes humorous confusion over what he should be called: second gentleman? second husband? vice dude?
The serious point to be made is that the small ways that Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff will broaden our expectations of presidential and vice presidential spouses also expand the possibilities for who can run for the top jobs.
[Deep knowledge, daily.Sign up for The Conversation's newsletter.]
So, even though the 2020 presidential campaign pitted two white, heterosexual men against each other, the election of Biden and Harris poses a challenge to how we envision the president and vice president.
American masculinity has been subjected to well-deserved critique, and the negative effects of toxic masculinity are manifold and substantial. But the photos tweeted in recent weeks – of men hugging others with compassion, crying openly and acknowledging women and the LGBTQ community with respect and gratitude – remind us of one thing: This, too, is American masculinity.
Karrin Vasby Anderson, Professor of Communication Studies, Colorado State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


alternet--2020-11-13--The danger of scientists denouncing Trump

by Kevin L. Young , University of Massachusetts Amherst ; Bernhard Leidner , University of Massachusetts Amherst , and Stylianos Syropoulos , University of Massachusetts Amherst The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work .
When the scientific establishment gets involved in partisan politics , it decreases people 's trust in science , especially among conservatives , according to our recent research .
In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election , several prestigious scientific journals took the highly unusual step of either endorsing Joe Biden or criticizing Donald Trump in their pages .
In September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scathing article titled “ Trump lied about science , '' which was followed by other strong critiques from both the New England Journal of Medicine and the cancer research journal Lancet Oncology .
Several other top publications – including Nature and Scientific American – soon followed , with overt endorsements of Biden .
The statements focused on each candidate 's impact on scientific knowledge and science-based decision-making .
To evaluate whether political endorsements like these might influence people 's attitudes toward science , we ran an online survey experiment .
We asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news article about a scientific journal or magazine .
We asked a second group of people to read an article that contained the same description of the publication but with additional details about the political position it took and quotes from its actual statements regarding Biden and Trump .
Then we asked respondents about their trust in scientists , scientific journals and science as an institution .
We found that trust in science declined among respondents who learned about a publication 's partisan statement .
The magnitude of the observed effects is small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of controls and is persistent across different ways of measuring trust in science .
The finding was most pronounced for conservatives , likely because the endorsements were all supportive of Biden and against Trump .
Furthermore , we also found an interesting indirect effect .
As trust in science decreased , so did the reported likelihood of complying with scientific recommendations about health behaviors related to COVID-19 – for example , wearing face masks .
There 's a lot of new research in the area of trust in science , including large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that there is still confidence in scientific expertise – but this declines as soon as science mixes with policy recommendations in people 's minds .
Public policy issues have become highly polarized , reflecting larger political trends .
While scientific research itself has not driven such polarization , some areas of scientific research , such as climate change , have become very politicized .
Further , while public trust in scientists and science has remained largely stable over the years , the American public is divided along party lines in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , science .
Even more concerning , trust in science and medicine has been on the decline since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Our findings suggest there may be costs when scientific institutions take partisan stances on electoral politics .
How we did our work Because a single survey – even with a sample as large as our initial group of 2,975 demographically diverse Americans – could be a fluke , we ran a second survey .
We configured a new sample of 1,000 people to be representative of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings better .
The results lined up with those from the first study , indicating that our findings were not a fluke but robust .
We will submit our full analysis to a peer-reviewed journal soon .
Because of the experimental design of our study , the effects we have identified ca n't be due to people 's initial views coming into the survey .
That 's because participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups , no matter what their prior beliefs on science or partisan positions .
As with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether these effects will last or not .
The highly partisan environment of the 2020 election may make some of our results specific to this time and place .
Kevin L. Young , Associate Professor of Economics , University of Massachusetts Amherst ; Bernhard Leidner , Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences , University of Massachusetts Amherst , and Stylianos Syropoulos , PhD Student in Psychological and Brain Sciences , University of Massachusetts Amherst This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

by Kevin L. Young, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Bernhard Leidner, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Stylianos Syropoulos, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
When the scientific establishment gets involved in partisan politics, it decreases people's trust in science, especially among conservatives, according to our recent research.
In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, several prestigious scientific journals took the highly unusual step of either endorsing Joe Biden or criticizing Donald Trump in their pages.
In September, the editor-in-chief of the journal Science wrote a scathing article titled “Trump lied about science," which was followed by other strong critiques from both the New England Journal of Medicine and the cancer research journal Lancet Oncology.
Several other top publications – including Nature and Scientific American – soon followed, with overt endorsements of Biden. The statements focused on each candidate's impact on scientific knowledge and science-based decision-making.
To evaluate whether political endorsements like these might influence people's attitudes toward science, we ran an online survey experiment.
We asked one group of respondents to read a news article about a scientific journal or magazine. We asked a second group of people to read an article that contained the same description of the publication but with additional details about the political position it took and quotes from its actual statements regarding Biden and Trump. Then we asked respondents about their trust in scientists, scientific journals and science as an institution.
We found that trust in science declined among respondents who learned about a publication's partisan statement. The magnitude of the observed effects is small but statistically significant, holds across a range of controls and is persistent across different ways of measuring trust in science. The finding was most pronounced for conservatives, likely because the endorsements were all supportive of Biden and against Trump.
Furthermore, we also found an interesting indirect effect. As trust in science decreased, so did the reported likelihood of complying with scientific recommendations about health behaviors related to COVID-19 – for example, wearing face masks.
Why it matters
There's a lot of new research in the area of trust in science, including large polls of the public. Some findings suggest that there is still confidence in scientific expertise – but this declines as soon as science mixes with policy recommendations in people's minds.
Public policy issues have become highly polarized, reflecting larger political trends. While scientific research itself has not driven such polarization, some areas of scientific research, such as climate change, have become very politicized.
Further, while public trust in scientists and science has remained largely stable over the years, the American public is divided along party lines in terms of trust in, and perceived impartiality of, science. Even more concerning, trust in science and medicine has been on the decline since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our findings suggest there may be costs when scientific institutions take partisan stances on electoral politics.
How we did our work
Because a single survey – even with a sample as large as our initial group of 2,975 demographically diverse Americans – could be a fluke, we ran a second survey. We configured a new sample of 1,000 people to be representative of the U.S. population, allowing us to generalize our findings better. The results lined up with those from the first study, indicating that our findings were not a fluke but robust. We will submit our full analysis to a peer-reviewed journal soon.
Because of the experimental design of our study, the effects we have identified can't be due to people's initial views coming into the survey. That's because participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups, no matter what their prior beliefs on science or partisan positions.
As with any experimental study, we don't know whether these effects will last or not. The highly partisan environment of the 2020 election may make some of our results specific to this time and place.
Kevin L. Young, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Bernhard Leidner, Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Stylianos Syropoulos, PhD Student in Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


alternet--2020-11-14--The Trump plan for mass death is unfolding before our eyes

On Friday , the COVID Tracking Project reported that the number of positive coronavirus infections in the last day had reached 170,000 , the highest record ever and a number that was , just a few months ago , hard to imagine .
It 's now our daily reality , and it 's likely to only get worse .
Other figures are just as frightening .
Hospitalizations — one of the clearest signs of the seriousness of the out break —have reached a new high at 69,000 , according to the project .
Deaths are at a disturbing 1,300 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spike in recent weeks following the more recent spike in cases .
And as the newest and largest wave yet engulfs the country , reports have begun to appear of hospitals being overwhelmed with patients , which is almost certainly a precursor to a spike in the case fatality rate .
It 's our horrifying new status quo , and one that experts and observers have been warning would unfold this fall for months .
But the ming-boggling truth is that for the Trump administration , everything is pretty much going as planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring , President Donald Trump has seemed increasingly drawn to the so-called ( and , indeed , misleadingly named ) `` herd immunity '' approach to the pandemic .
On this approach , you reject government restrictions meant to stop people from getting the virus .
What advocates of this strategy believe is that it 's best that more people get the virus , because eventually , enough people will have had it , they 'll immune , and life will return to normal .
Trump brought on Dr. Scott Atlas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the White House team , because he advocated this approach and opposed restrictions .
His views were at odds with the approach favored by the bulk of the health experts in the administration , but the president liked his ideas , so they have won the day .
The White House has occasionally denied or talked around the idea that it 's intentionally carrying out a `` herd immunity '' strategy , but reporting has made clear the plan the administration has adopted .
Per the New York Times : The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of scientists arguing that authorities should allow the coronavirus to spread among young healthy people while protecting the elderly and the vulnerable — an approach that would rely on arriving at `` herd immunity '' through infections rather than a vaccine .
On a call convened Monday by the White House , two senior administration officials , both speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to give their names , cited an October 4 petition titled The Great Barrington Declaration , which argues against lockdowns and calls for a reopening of businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health , '' the declaration states , adding , `` The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity , is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection , while better protecting those who are at highest risk .
We call this Focused Protection . ''
The problem with this approach — the reason it 's rejected by most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will lead to mass suffering and death .
That 's what the increase in hospitalizations is telling us .
Medical researcher Dr. Atul Gawande made the point in a recent tweet : But there 's another important point .
One crucial part of the `` herd immunity strategy , '' in theory , is protecting the vulnerable .
Since COVID-19 poses the most significant mortality risk to the elderly and people with other health conditions , advocates argue , this population needs to be kept safe while the virus spreads and creates immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As people like Alex Tabarrok argued early on , though , this tactic has little hope of success .
You ca n't meaningfully isolate elderly people from the rest of society .
What do you do with the grandmother living in a home with parents who are essential workers and kids who are back at school ?
What do you do with the workers a nursing homes , who have lives outside of work ?
Who will pay for people with chronic health conditions to stay home from their jobs for months on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time , the White House has n't actually done anything to meaningfully protect vulnerable from the wave of the virus crashing over the country .
Trump has touted vaccines and therapeutics , including therapeutics that may have saved his own life when he was hospitalized with the infection .
But there are n't nearly enough therapeutics for all the patients in need — nor the top-notch care the president received — and the vaccines wo n't be ready for full distribution into well into 2022 .
On Friday , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April , though he had previously said it could be distributed last month , in October , which never happened .
And right now , the administration has no plan to stop surging virus .
Most Republicans are following his lead , and even Democratic governors who might prefer to take a more aggressive approach are hamstrung by a lack of federal resources .
There is no plan to stop the virus .
The federal government just intends to let it spread through all of us .
It 's a plan for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care enough to stop it .

On Friday, the COVID Tracking Project reported that the number of positive coronavirus infections in the last day had reached 170,000, the highest record ever and a number that was, just a few months ago, hard to imagine. It's now our daily reality, and it's likely to only get worse.
Other figures are just as frightening. Hospitalizations — one of the clearest signs of the seriousness of the out break —have reached a new high at 69,000, according to the project. Deaths are at a disturbing 1,300, though that rate is almost certain to spike in recent weeks following the more recent spike in cases. And as the newest and largest wave yet engulfs the country, reports have begun to appear of hospitals being overwhelmed with patients, which is almost certainly a precursor to a spike in the case fatality rate.
It's our horrifying new status quo, and one that experts and observers have been warning would unfold this fall for months. But the mind-boggling truth is that for the Trump administration, everything is pretty much going as planned.
Ever since the first wave in the spring, President Donald Trump has seemed increasingly drawn to the so-called (and, indeed, misleadingly named) "herd immunity" approach to the pandemic. On this approach, you reject government restrictions meant to stop people from getting the virus. What advocates of this strategy believe is that it's best that more people get the virus, because eventually, enough people will have had it, they'll immune, and life will return to normal.
Trump brought on Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist and Fox News guest, to the White House team, because he advocated this approach and opposed restrictions. His views were at odds with the approach favored by the bulk of the health experts in the administration, but the president liked his ideas, so they have won the day.
The White House has occasionally denied or talked around the idea that it's intentionally carrying out a "herd immunity" strategy, but reporting has made clear the plan the administration has adopted. Per the New York Times:
The White House has embraced a declaration by a group of scientists arguing that authorities should allow the coronavirus to spread among young healthy people while protecting the elderly and the vulnerable — an approach that would rely on arriving at "herd immunity" through infections rather than a vaccine.
...
On a call convened Monday by the White House, two senior administration officials, both speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to give their names, cited an October 4 petition titled The Great Barrington Declaration, which argues against lockdowns and calls for a reopening of businesses and schools.
"Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health," the declaration states, adding, "The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk. We call this Focused Protection."
The problem with this approach — the reason it's rejected by most of the public health community — is that it will lead to mass suffering and death. That's what the increase in hospitalizations is telling us. Medical researcher Dr. Atul Gawande made the point in a recent tweet:
But there's another important point. One crucial part of the "herd immunity strategy," in theory, is protecting the vulnerable. Since COVID-19 poses the most significant mortality risk to the elderly and people with other health conditions, advocates argue, this population needs to be kept safe while the virus spreads and creates immunity among the rest of the people.
As people like Alex Tabarrok argued early on, though, this tactic has little hope of success. You can't meaningfully isolate elderly people from the rest of society. What do you do with the grandmother living in a home with parents who are essential workers and kids who are back at school? What do you do with the workers a nursing homes, who have lives outside of work? Who will pay for people with chronic health conditions to stay home from their jobs for months on end?
It's untenable. And at the same time, the White House hasn't actually done anything to meaningfully protect vulnerable from the wave of the virus crashing over the country.
Trump has touted vaccines and therapeutics, including therapeutics that may have saved his own life when he was hospitalized with the infection. But there aren't nearly enough therapeutics for all the patients in need — nor the top-notch care the president received — and the vaccines won't be ready for full distribution into well into 2022. On Friday, Trump announced that the vaccines will be available in April, though he had previously said it could be distributed last month, in October, which never happened. And right now, the administration has no plan to stop surging virus. Most Republicans are following his lead, and even Democratic governors who might prefer to take a more aggressive approach are hamstrung by a lack of federal resources.
There is no plan to stop the virus. The federal government just intends to let it spread through all of us. It's a plan for mass death, because they don't care enough to stop it.


alternet--2020-11-14--'This is a really, really big deal': Michigan Gov. moves to shut down Line 5 pipeline

Environmental and Indigenous activists celebrated Friday after Democratic Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer took action to shut down the decades-old Enbridge Line 5 oil and natural gas pipelines that run under the Straits of Mackinac , narrow waterways that connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan—two of the Great Lakes .
Citing the threat to the Great Lakes as well as `` persistent and incurable violations '' by Enbridge , Whitmer and Michigan Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ) Director Dan Eichinger informed the Canadian fossil fuel giant that a 1953 easement allowing it to operate the pipelines is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asked the Ingham County Circuit Court to validate , gives Enbridge until May 2021 to stop operating the twin pipelines , `` allowing for an orderly transition that protects Michigan 's energy needs over the coming months , '' according to a statement from the governor 's office .
The Great Lakes collectively contain about a fifth of the world 's surface fresh water .
As Whitmer explained Friday , `` Here in Michigan , the Great Lakes define our borders , but they also define who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enbridge has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs , '' the governor said .
`` They have repeatedly violated the terms of the 1953 easement by ignoring structural problems that put our Great Lakes and our families at risk . ''
`` Most importantly , Enbridge has imposed on the people of Michigan an unacceptable risk of a catastrophic oil spill in the Great Lakes that could devastate our economy and way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's why we 're taking action now , and why I will continue to hold accountable anyone who threatens our Great Lakes and fresh water . ''
MLive noted that the state attorney general 's new filing `` is in addition to Nessel 's lawsuit filed in 2019 seeking the shutdown of Line 5 , which remains pending in the same court . ''
Nessel said Friday that Whitmer and Eichinger `` are making another clear statement that Line 5 poses a great risk to our state , and it must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The `` bombshell news , '' as one Michigan reporter called it , elicited applause from environmentalists and Indigenous leaders within and beyond the state .
`` This is a brave and just decision for the Great Lakes , '' Mike Shriberg , the National Wildlife Federation 's regional executive director for the Great Lakes , told MLive .
`` It 's going to benefit the Great Lakes by removing what is probably the single biggest threat to water quality in the region . ''
`` Line 5 should have never been built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Free Press .
`` Gov .
Whitmer is now bravely , and correctly , standing up for the Great Lakes . ''
`` This is a legacy-defining action by the governor , '' he added .
`` She is standing on the side not only of clean water , but clean energy and the jobs that go along with the transition to a renewable energy economy . ''
Dallas Goldtooth , Keep It In The Ground Campaign organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network , welcomed the `` huge news '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of campaigning by tribal nations against the Line 5 : '' We are thrilled and thankful for Gov .
Whitmer 's decision to revoke the easement for Enbridge 's pipeline to run beneath the Straits , '' Bryan Newland , president of the Bay Mills Indian Community , said in a statement from Earthjustice .
`` Enbridge has consistently shown that it only cares about its profits and not about the communities of the Great Lakes .
This is a monumental first step in rectifying the harm that the company has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations for decades . ''
The shutdown notice is `` an enormous victory for the climate , and for incredible organizers who have fought for many years ! ''
declared activist and author Bill McKibben , who co-founded 350.org .
After thanking both Whitmer and `` the indefatigable organizers , '' he added that `` it 's not often enough we Shut Stuff Down ! ''
Sen. Gary Peters ( D-Mich. ) also welcomed the development in a statement Friday .
Peters , who secured a narrow reelection victory last week , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science , and Transportation Committee , which oversees the federal agency responsible for pipeline safety .
`` There 's no question an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac would have catastrophic and long-term consequences to the economic and environmental health of Michigan and the Great Lakes , '' Peters said .
`` Unfortunately here in Michigan , we already know from the Enbridge pipeline leak in the Kalamazoo River just how devastating and costly spills are to our state . ''
`` Given the structural integrity and age concerns around Line 5—particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inability to be transparent with Michiganders , it 's clear that Line 5 poses too serious of a threat and must be removed in the coming months , '' the congressman continued , vowing to work with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ( PHMSA ) and the State of Michigan `` to swiftly evaluate alternatives to Line 5 while continuing to hold Enbridge accountable . ''

Environmental and Indigenous activists celebrated Friday after Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took action to shut down the decades-old Enbridge Line 5 oil and natural gas pipelines that run under the Straits of Mackinac, narrow waterways that connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan—two of the Great Lakes.
Citing the threat to the Great Lakes as well as "persistent and incurable violations" by Enbridge, Whitmer and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Dan Eichinger informed the Canadian fossil fuel giant that a 1953 easement allowing it to operate the pipelines is being revoked and terminated.
The move, which Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asked the Ingham County Circuit Court to validate, gives Enbridge until May 2021 to stop operating the twin pipelines, "allowing for an orderly transition that protects Michigan's energy needs over the coming months," according to a statement from the governor's office.
The Great Lakes collectively contain about a fifth of the world's surface fresh water. As Whitmer explained Friday, "Here in Michigan, the Great Lakes define our borders, but they also define who we are as people."
"Enbridge has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs," the governor said. "They have repeatedly violated the terms of the 1953 easement by ignoring structural problems that put our Great Lakes and our families at risk."
"Most importantly, Enbridge has imposed on the people of Michigan an unacceptable risk of a catastrophic oil spill in the Great Lakes that could devastate our economy and way of life," she added. "That's why we're taking action now, and why I will continue to hold accountable anyone who threatens our Great Lakes and fresh water."
MLivenoted that the state attorney general's new filing "is in addition to Nessel's lawsuit filed in 2019 seeking the shutdown of Line 5, which remains pending in the same court." Nessel said Friday that Whitmer and Eichinger "are making another clear statement that Line 5 poses a great risk to our state, and it must be removed from our public waterways."
The "bombshell news," as one Michigan reporter called it, elicited applause from environmentalists and Indigenous leaders within and beyond the state.
"This is a brave and just decision for the Great Lakes," Mike Shriberg, the National Wildlife Federation's regional executive director for the Great Lakes, told MLive. "It's going to benefit the Great Lakes by removing what is probably the single biggest threat to water quality in the region."
As the Detroit Free Pressdetailed Friday:
Enbridge was responsible for one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history—a major leak on one of its large oil transmission lines near Marshall in July 2010. That spill fouled more than 38 miles of the Kalamazoo River and took four years and more than $1 billion to clean up. Enbridge in 2016 agreed to a $177-million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency, including $62 million in penalties, over the Marshall spill and a 2010 spill on another of its pipelines in Romeoville, Illinois.
A similar spill disaster on Line 5 in the Straits would devastate the Great Lakes shoreline communities and the Michigan economy, critics of the pipeline have long contended. Enbridge officials have countered that Line 5 is safe.
"Line 5 should have never been built in the first place," Shriberg told the Free Press. "Gov. Whitmer is now bravely, and correctly, standing up for the Great Lakes."
"This is a legacy-defining action by the governor," he added. "She is standing on the side not only of clean water, but clean energy and the jobs that go along with the transition to a renewable energy economy."
Dallas Goldtooth, Keep It In The Ground Campaign organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network, welcomed the "huge news" in a series of tweets that acknowledged the years of campaigning by tribal nations against the Line 5:
"We are thrilled and thankful for Gov. Whitmer's decision to revoke the easement for Enbridge's pipeline to run beneath the Straits," Bryan Newland, president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, said in a statement from Earthjustice. "Enbridge has consistently shown that it only cares about its profits and not about the communities of the Great Lakes. This is a monumental first step in rectifying the harm that the company has already inflicted upon Bay Mills and other tribal nations for decades."
The shutdown notice is "an enormous victory for the climate, and for incredible organizers who have fought for many years!" declared activist and author Bill McKibben, who co-founded 350.org. After thanking both Whitmer and "the indefatigable organizers," he added that "it's not often enough we Shut Stuff Down!"
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) also welcomed the development in a statement Friday. Peters, who secured a narrow reelection victory last week, is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees the federal agency responsible for pipeline safety.
"There's no question an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac would have catastrophic and long-term consequences to the economic and environmental health of Michigan and the Great Lakes," Peters said. "Unfortunately here in Michigan, we already know from the Enbridge pipeline leak in the Kalamazoo River just how devastating and costly spills are to our state."
"Given the structural integrity and age concerns around Line 5—particularly in recent years—and Enbridge's failures and inability to be transparent with Michiganders, it's clear that Line 5 poses too serious of a threat and must be removed in the coming months," the congressman continued, vowing to work with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the State of Michigan "to swiftly evaluate alternatives to Line 5 while continuing to hold Enbridge accountable."


alternet--2020-11-13--Secretary Azar's praise for Trump was accidentally revealing as COVID-19 reaches all-time high

As the number of new coronavirus cases in the United States hit a record high for the third straight day on Friday , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tried to praise outgoing President Donald Trump 's response to the pandemic .
Azar 's comments came at a late afternoon news conference about Covid-19—during which Trump , who has refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden , took no questions from reporters and did not directly mention last week 's election .
Speaking after Trump , the health secretary said : `` Thank you , Mr. President , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we are today .
The success that Operation Warp Speed has realized so far has been made possible only because of the bold vision you announced not even six months ago right here in the Rose Garden . ''
As of Friday , the United States shattered records yet again by reporting over 176,000 cases .
According to the Washington Post , `` Eighteen states , most of them in the Midwest , have reported record numbers of hospitalizations , a 'catastrophic ' surge that experts say is rooted in distrust of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar 's attempted praise during the event to update the public on Covid-19 vaccine trials and the reality that Americans are facing right now in terms of both health and financial conditions was immediately highlighted on social media by journalists and critics of Trump : The Trump administration , along with the president personally , has faced intense criticism for mishandling the pandemic .
In the wake of Trump 's defeat , cases have kept climbing—including among Secret Service agents—and critics have continued to call him out for failing to adequately tackle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed over 242,000 Americans , the Trump administration is spending its final days in office fighting a bogus voter 'fraud ' problem that does not exist , '' Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) said Thursday .
`` Pathetic .
The Biden-Harris Administration can not come soon enough . ''
By Friday evening , the Post 's tracker put the nation 's death toll from the pandemic above 243,000 and documented more than 10.7 million cases in the U.S. alone .
In response to the surges across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing restrictions .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown , a Democrat , on Friday announced a two-week statewide `` freeze '' to stem the spread of the virus that , according to the Columbian , will restrict restaurants and bars to take-out only as well as close gyms and both indoor and outdoor recreational facilities from November 18 to December 2 .
In a video address , Brown warned that `` if we do not act immediately , we will soon reach a breaking point . ''
Meanwhile , in New Mexico , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Friday a two-week shutdown in her state .
Starting Monday , `` dining at restaurants , gyms , salons and other 'nonessential ' businesses will have to close their doors , '' reported KRQE .
`` The new rules will be in effect until November 30 . ''

As the number of new coronavirus cases in the United States hit a record high for the third straight day on Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tried to praise outgoing President Donald Trump's response to the pandemic.
Azar's comments came at a late afternoon news conference about Covid-19—during which Trump, who has refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden, took no questions from reporters and did not directly mention last week's election.
Speaking after Trump, the health secretary said: "Thank you, Mr. President, for providing the leadership that's gotten us where we are today. The success that Operation Warp Speed has realized so far has been made possible only because of the bold vision you announced not even six months ago right here in the Rose Garden."
As of Friday, the United States shattered records yet again by reporting over 176,000 cases. According to the Washington Post, "Eighteen states, most of them in the Midwest, have reported record numbers of hospitalizations, a 'catastrophic' surge that experts say is rooted in distrust of the government."
The contrast between Azar's attempted praise during the event to update the public on Covid-19 vaccine trials and the reality that Americans are facing right now in terms of both health and financial conditions was immediately highlighted on social media by journalists and critics of Trump:
The Trump administration, along with the president personally, has faced intense criticism for mishandling the pandemic. In the wake of Trump's defeat, cases have kept climbing—including among Secret Service agents—and critics have continued to call him out for failing to adequately tackle the crisis.
"Instead of fighting to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed over 242,000 Americans, the Trump administration is spending its final days in office fighting a bogus voter 'fraud' problem that does not exist," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Thursday. "Pathetic. The Biden-Harris Administration cannot come soon enough."
By Friday evening, the Post's tracker put the nation's death toll from the pandemic above 243,000 and documented more than 10.7 million cases in the U.S. alone. In response to the surges across the country, some Democratic leaders are increasing restrictions.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, on Friday announced a two-week statewide "freeze" to stem the spread of the virus that, according to the Columbian, will restrict restaurants and bars to take-out only as well as close gyms and both indoor and outdoor recreational facilities from November 18 to December 2.
In a video address, Brown warned that "if we do not act immediately, we will soon reach a breaking point."
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also announced on Friday a two-week shutdown in her state. Starting Monday, "dining at restaurants, gyms, salons and other 'nonessential' businesses will have to close their doors," reportedKRQE. "The new rules will be in effect until November 30."


alternet--2020-11-13--'Not credible': Judge smacks down Trump supporters in election case

A Michigan judge has just refused to grant the supporters of the President an injunction to halt certification of election results from Detroit , in a case based on pro-Trump conspiracy theories .
`` The chief judge of Michigan 's Third Judicial Circuit rejected an injunction sought by President Donald Trump 's supporters on Friday , finding little substance in the hodgepodge of complaints and theories brought by two poll watchers alleging electoral improprieties in Detroit , '' Law & Crime reports .
`` Plaintiffs are unable to meet their burden for the relief sought , '' Judge Timothy Kenny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' interpretation of events ' at the TCF Center absentee counting board 'is incorrect and not credible , ' '' Judge Kenny said , according to Bridge Michigan 's politics reporter Jonathan Oosting .
The attorney for the City of Detroit , David Fink , said Trump supporters `` are searching everywhere they can for validation of the conspiracy theories that they have . ''
`` It 's starting to feel a little bit like 'Groundhog Day , ' '' he said in a hearing on Wednesday .
`` But unlike 'Groundhog Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all . ''

A Michigan judge has just refused to grant the supporters of the President an injunction to halt certification of election results from Detroit, in a case based on pro-Trump conspiracy theories.
"The chief judge of Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit rejected an injunction sought by President Donald Trump's supporters on Friday, finding little substance in the hodgepodge of complaints and theories brought by two poll watchers alleging electoral improprieties in Detroit," Law & Crime reports.
"Plaintiffs are unable to meet their burden for the relief sought," Judge Timothy Kenny wrote in his decision.
"'Plaintiffs' interpretation of events' at the TCF Center absentee counting board 'is incorrect and not credible,'" Judge Kenny said, according to Bridge Michigan's politics reporter Jonathan Oosting.
The attorney for the City of Detroit, David Fink, said Trump supporters "are searching everywhere they can for validation of the conspiracy theories that they have."
"It's starting to feel a little bit like 'Groundhog Day,'" he said in a hearing on Wednesday. "But unlike 'Groundhog Day,' this isn't funny at all."


alternet--2020-11-13--Trump comes close to almost acknowledging Biden's win

President Donald Trump held a last-minute news conference from the White House Rose Garden Friday afternoon , and for the @ @ @ @ @ almost acknowledging President-elect Joe Biden will take office in January .
Promising he would not @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases soaring almost exponentially and deaths increasing rapidly , Trump told reporters : `` @ @ @ @ @ to a lockdown – I will not go – this administration will not be going @ @ @ @ @ the , the , ah , whatever happens in the future , who knows , @ @ @ @ @ I guess time will tell , but I can tell you . ''
Biden was @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .

President Donald Trump held a last-minute news conference from the White House Rose Garden Friday afternoon, and for the first time came close to almost acknowledging President-elect Joe Biden will take office in January.
Almost.
Promising he would not support any lockdowns, despite coronavirus cases soaring almost exponentially and deaths increasing rapidly, Trump told reporters: "Ideally we won't go to a lockdown – I will not go – this administration will not be going to a lockdown, hopefully the, the, ah, whatever happens in the future, who knows, which administration will be, I guess time will tell, but I can tell you."
Biden was declared president-elect last week on Saturday.
Watch:
Update:


alternet--2020-11-13--The far right is cracking up as fantasies of Trump's fascist takeover evaporate

The far right had a dream : That one day , people who had been exiled to the unacceptable margins of American political life could play the role of Donald Trump 's brownshirts .
In the weeks leading up to the election , excitement was rising among those Americans who convinced themselves that Trump would be the glorious leader in a national purge of their perceived enemies .
QAnon fans buzzed with excitement that `` the storm '' — their term for their belief that the entire Democratic establishment , as well as many popular celebrities , would be rounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon .
The Proud Boys , a neofascist group that claim to defend `` Western civilization , '' were also riled up after Trump told them to `` stand by '' during a presidential debate in September .
The menagerie of white supremacists and militia groups were stepping up recruitment efforts , stoked about what they believed would soon be the eruption of a new civil war .
Then came the election .
Trump lost .
This has been very difficult for those people to accept .
People with fanatical and delusional beliefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they 've been hit over the head with reality , of course .
The various subcultures of crackpots that have sprung up under Trump are no exception .
Still , the election results have sent these groups reeling .
All of them have spent the past four years growing their ranks and orbiting around Trump , convinced that he was a savior figure who would crush their perceived enemies .
For believers in QAnon , that belief manifested in a fantasy that Trump was going to round up all the members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imaginary shadowy conspiracy of Democrats , Hollywood celebrities and progressive activists that they believe both secretly runs the world and is also a network of Satan-worshipping cannibal pedophiles .
Trump , they told themselves , was secretly organizing `` the storm '' to round up and destroy this sinister global conspiracy .
But since Trump 's election , Q — a user account that started on 8chan and drifted over to 8kun after 8chan was disbanded — has fallen silent .
QAnon faithful believe the account is run by a current or former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , it 's probably run by the father-and-son duo Jim and Ron Watkins , who are conspiracy theorists and definitely not U.S. intelligence agents .
Without Q 's guidance , the QAnon cult appears to be confused and angry .
`` They were not expecting him to lose , and they were not expecting Fox News to call it , '' Fredrick Brennan , the founder of 8chan — who has spent the past few months giving interviews accusing the Watkinses of running Q 's account — told the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging . ''
Q believers have n't given up the faith yet , of course .
But without guidance from its leader , the QAnon community is adrift and very likely to fracture into competing and antagonistic splinter sects , as is common in these kinds of communities .
Witness , for instance , what 's happening to the Proud Boys , which started off largely as a male chauvinist group but has morphed into what looks very much like a neofascist organization that purports to defend `` Western civilization . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , when Trump refused to denounce them during a debate and instead told them to `` stand down and stand by , '' clearly implying that they should be at the ready to defend his grip on the White House if he felt it was under threat .
But even though Trump is half-heartedly still trying to steal the election , he has so far disappointed the Proud Boys by not calling on them to commit violence against his enemies in a glorious coup .
( Mostly , Trump is hiding from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fringe right-wing sites and playing golf . )
So , as often happens with marginal subcultures full of deeply unpleasant people , the Proud Boys are breaking apart , torn asunder by infighting .
At heart is a fight between two figureheads , Kyle Chapman and Enrique Tarrio , over whether the Proud Boys should stick by their dubious claim that there is nothing racist about the ideology of `` Western chauvinism , '' or should openly embrace white nationalism and anti-Semitism .
Chapman is representing the blatant-racism side , declaring himself the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves , no kidding , the `` Proud Goys . ''
Tarrio is insisting that Chapman is a flunkey , failing to understand that the same can be said of anyone associated with the Proud Boys .
Other right wing militia and white nationalist groups , such as the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers , spent the weeks before the election firing themselves up for what they believed was an upcoming civil war .
Now that Trump 's presidency is deflating like a day-after birthday balloon , they 're not quite ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Stewart Rhodes , the leader of the Oath Keepers , appeared on Infowars with Alex Jones and promised the faithful that the violence against hated liberals is still coming .
`` We have men already stationed outside D.C. as a nuclear option in case they attempt to remove the president illegally , we will step in and stop it , '' Rhodes declared , swearing that his forces are armed and `` prepared to go in , if the president calls us up . ''
As with most of the threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both a fantasy and a dangerous one .
It 's just plain silly to imagine that a handful of middle-aged and badly organized conspiracy theorists , no matter how many guns they have , could manage the task of seizing the federal government in a paramilitary coup .
It 's dangerous , of course , because these people do have guns .
Unfortunately , as we 've seen with mass shootings like those in El Paso and Pittsburgh , the car attacks on Black Lives Matter protesters , and the shooting in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radicalized by such talk are fully capable of acts of domestic terrorism against civilians .
On Saturday , these various groups of extremists are planning to descend on Washington for a demonstration in support of Trump 's fading effort to steal the election , which they of course spin as preventing Democrats from stealing the election .
( As always with right-wingers , everything is projection . )
As usual , far-right figures are over-hyping their efforts , calling the supposed rally the `` Million MAGA March '' or the `` March for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of the groups who claim they plan to show up have even applied for a permit , suggesting that they know what 's likely to happen : An underwhelming display by a handful of loudmouths with angry signs , whose demands are incoherent and who have no plan of action to achieve their goals anyway .
As I witnessed in Philadelphia , even when the far right had a solid target and goal — stopping election officials from counting ballots — they could barely muster up a handful of people .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off by a group of leftists armed with cardboard signs and a boombox .
Washington , D.C. , does n't permit the open carry of weapons , taking away yet another incentive to show up for the deeply insecure men of this movement .
There 's nothing they can do to save Donald Trump .
All they have left is impotent flailing .
None of which is to say that we can just wash our hands of the far right and never think about them again .
Far from it : The right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives to their way of thinking .
Surveys suggest that more than 80 % of Trump voters believe Joe Biden 's victory was illegitimate , and about half of all Republican voters buy into the QAnon conspiracy theories to some degree .
What were once whacked-out `` far-right '' beliefs are now just mainstream conservatism .
The difference between the fringe and the mainstream of the Republican Party now is less about belief and more about a willingness to take action .
That fringe — the ones who 've actually joined far-right groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` rally '' — is scrambling now .
But such people never really go away .
They 'll find some other cause to latch onto , some other justification for their fascist impulses .
Some , unfortunately , will continue to seek violence or even to commit acts of terrorism .
But for now , Trump 's defeat is a mighty blow to the far right .
Their dreams of crushing the people they view as `` the left '' and of `` reclaiming '' the culture of America were always ludicrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump sprayed at Black Lives Matter demonstrators .
But now , with Trump on his way to Palm Beach exile , they 've lost their lodestar .
The process of fracture and dispersal for these self-appointed warriors of the right has begun .
We must hope they do n't find another figurehead to rally around anytime soon .

The far right had a dream: That one day, people who had been exiled to the unacceptable margins of American political life could play the role of Donald Trump's brownshirts.
In the weeks leading up to the election, excitement was rising among those Americans who convinced themselves that Trump would be the glorious leader in a national purge of their perceived enemies. QAnon fans buzzed with excitement that "the storm" — their term for their belief that the entire Democratic establishment, as well as many popular celebrities, would be rounded up into prison camps — was coming soon. The Proud Boys, a neofascist group that claim to defend "Western civilization," were also riled up after Trump told them to "stand by" during a presidential debate in September. The menagerie of white supremacists and militia groups were stepping up recruitment efforts, stoked about what they believed would soon be the eruption of a new civil war.
Then came the election. Trump lost. This has been very difficult for those people to accept.
People with fanatical and delusional beliefs famously don't give them up just because they've been hit over the head with reality, of course. The various subcultures of crackpots that have sprung up under Trump are no exception.
Still, the election results have sent these groups reeling. All of them have spent the past four years growing their ranks and orbiting around Trump, convinced that he was a savior figure who would crush their perceived enemies.
For believers in QAnon, that belief manifested in a fantasy that Trump was going to round up all the members of the "deep state," their imaginary shadowy conspiracy of Democrats, Hollywood celebrities and progressive activists that they believe both secretly runs the world and is also a network of Satan-worshipping cannibal pedophiles. Trump, they told themselves, was secretly organizing "the storm" to round up and destroy this sinister global conspiracy.
But since Trump's election, Q — a user account that started on 8chan and drifted over to 8kun after 8chan was disbanded — has fallen silent. QAnon faithful believe the account is run by a current or former U.S. intelligence agent and Trump loyalist. In fact, it's probably run by the father-and-son duo Jim and Ron Watkins, who are conspiracy theorists and definitely not U.S. intelligence agents. Without Q's guidance, the QAnon cult appears to be confused and angry.
"They were not expecting him to lose, and they were not expecting Fox News to call it," Fredrick Brennan, the founder of 8chan — who has spent the past few months giving interviews accusing the Watkinses of running Q's account — told the New York Times. "It was really psychologically damaging."
Q believers haven't given up the faith yet, of course. But without guidance from its leader, the QAnon community is adrift and very likely to fracture into competing and antagonistic splinter sects, as is common in these kinds of communities.
Witness, for instance, what's happening to the Proud Boys, which started off largely as a male chauvinist group but has morphed into what looks very much like a neofascist organization that purports to defend "Western civilization." The Proud Boys had their proudest moment in September, when Trump refused to denounce them during a debate and instead told them to "stand down and stand by," clearly implying that they should be at the ready to defend his grip on the White House if he felt it was under threat.
But even though Trump is half-heartedly still trying to steal the election, he has so far disappointed the Proud Boys by not calling on them to commit violence against his enemies in a glorious coup. (Mostly, Trump is hiding from public view, tweeting out articles from fringe right-wing sites and playing golf.) So, as often happens with marginal subcultures full of deeply unpleasant people, the Proud Boys are breaking apart, torn asunder by infighting.
At heart is a fight between two figureheads, Kyle Chapman and Enrique Tarrio, over whether the Proud Boys should stick by their dubious claim that there is nothing racist about the ideology of "Western chauvinism," or should openly embrace white nationalism and anti-Semitism. Chapman is representing the blatant-racism side, declaring himself the new president of the splinter group calling themselves, no kidding, the "Proud Goys." Tarrio is insisting that Chapman is a flunkey, failing to understand that the same can be said of anyone associated with the Proud Boys.
Other right wing militia and white nationalist groups, such as the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers, spent the weeks before the election firing themselves up for what they believed was an upcoming civil war. Now that Trump's presidency is deflating like a day-after birthday balloon, they're not quite ready to give up the fantasy.
On Wednesday, Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, appeared on Infowars with Alex Jones and promised the faithful that the violence against hated liberals is still coming.
"We have men already stationed outside D.C. as a nuclear option in case they attempt to remove the president illegally, we will step in and stop it," Rhodes declared, swearing that his forces are armed and "prepared to go in, if the president calls us up."
As with most of the threats made by far-right figures, this is both a fantasy and a dangerous one. It's just plain silly to imagine that a handful of middle-aged and badly organized conspiracy theorists, no matter how many guns they have, could manage the task of seizing the federal government in a paramilitary coup.
It's dangerous, of course, because these people do have guns. Unfortunately, as we've seen with mass shootings like those in El Paso and Pittsburgh, the car attacks on Black Lives Matter protesters, and the shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, men who have been radicalized by such talk are fully capable of acts of domestic terrorism against civilians.
On Saturday, these various groups of extremists are planning to descend on Washington for a demonstration in support of Trump's fading effort to steal the election, which they of course spin as preventing Democrats from stealing the election. (As always with right-wingers, everything is projection.) As usual, far-right figures are over-hyping their efforts, calling the supposed rally the "Million MAGA March" or the "March for Trump."
In reality, almost none of the groups who claim they plan to show up have even applied for a permit, suggesting that they know what's likely to happen: An underwhelming display by a handful of loudmouths with angry signs, whose demands are incoherent and who have no plan of action to achieve their goals anyway.
As I witnessed in Philadelphia, even when the far right had a solid target and goal — stopping election officials from counting ballots — they could barely muster up a handful of people. The ones who showed up were easily run off by a group of leftists armed with cardboard signs and a boombox. Washington, D.C., doesn't permit the open carry of weapons, taking away yet another incentive to show up for the deeply insecure men of this movement. There's nothing they can do to save Donald Trump. All they have left is impotent flailing.
None of which is to say that we can just wash our hands of the far right and never think about them again. Far from it: The right-wing fringe has been enormously successful in recruiting conservatives to their way of thinking. Surveys suggest that more than 80% of Trump voters believe Joe Biden's victory was illegitimate, and about half of all Republican voters buy into the QAnon conspiracy theories to some degree. What were once whacked-out "far-right" beliefs are now just mainstream conservatism.
The difference between the fringe and the mainstream of the Republican Party now is less about belief and more about a willingness to take action. That fringe — the ones who've actually joined far-right groups and may actually show up at Saturday's "rally" — is scrambling now. But such people never really go away. They'll find some other cause to latch onto, some other justification for their fascist impulses. Some, unfortunately, will continue to seek violence or even to commit acts of terrorism.
But for now, Trump's defeat is a mighty blow to the far right. Their dreams of crushing the people they view as "the left" and of "reclaiming" the culture of America were always ludicrous, no matter how much tear gas Trump sprayed at Black Lives Matter demonstrators. But now, with Trump on his way to Palm Beach exile, they've lost their lodestar. The process of fracture and dispersal for these self-appointed warriors of the right has begun. We must hope they don't find another figurehead to rally around anytime soon.