truthout--2020-11-07--Progressives Helped Defeat Trump. They’re Readying Bold Demands for Biden.

After days of uncertainty amid concurrent global crises , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was declared the winner of the closely-watched contest that denied President Donald Trump a second term Saturday morning , after votes tallied in the battleground state of Pennsylvania pushed Biden over the 270 electoral vote threshold .
According to NBC News : “ The former vice president amassed 273 Electoral College votes after winning Pennsylvania ’ s 20 electors , according to NBC News , surpassing the 270 needed to win the White House and defeat President Donald Trump.
” The Associated Press , which put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s column , also called the race : The determination in Pennsylvania put Biden at 273 electoral votes to Trump ’ s 214 — a deficit the president has no way of overcoming even as five other states — Alaska , Georgia , Nevada , and North Carolina — continue to process their results .
Adding Arizona ’ s eleven electortal to Biden ’ s column , put his electoral count to 284 .
Shortly after the news broke , Biden said in a tweet addressed to the nation that he was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead our great country.
” “ The work ahead of us will be hard , ” he added , “ but I promise you this : I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not .
I will keep the faith that you have place in me.
” “ This nightmare is coming to an end .
Despite every attempt to silence our voices and block our vote , the will of the people won , ” declared George Goehl , director of the grassroots advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We , the voters , decided this !
” said Tamara Toles O ’ Laughlin , North America director for 350 Action , in a statement when the news broke .
“ By working together , our unapologetic movement for people and planet has been steadfast and patient as our votes were counted .
People power stood up to Donald Trump ’ s fascist vision for America and elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into the White House .
The government we chose must be sworn in because this is the people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email from the Sunrise Movement was expressive : “ We fucking did it.
” “ Excuse my language , ” said the group ’ s executive director Varshini Prakash , “ but we fucking did it .
It ’ s official .
We WON.
” “ We won .
And this is a big win , ” said María Urbina , acting co-executive director and national political director of Indivisible .
“ A record number of voters turned out amidst a pandemic to express the will of the people , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House by clear margins .
Come January , we ’ ll move forward together to swear in a President and Vice President who are serious about governing and will be expected to deliver on an agenda of dignity and justice for all.
” “ Together , ” Urbina added , “ we can make good on the promise of an America that works for all of us , that prioritizes the most vulnerable , and that ensures we can all live with dignity .
For now , we celebrate .
This victory belongs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s victory comes in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis , a monthslong national reckoning over systemic racism , seemingly endless U.S. war , and the global climate emergency .
There have been more than 9.7 million Covid-19 cases and nearly 236,000 deaths in the United States out of over 49 million infections and 1.24 million deaths worldwide .
On top of that is the broader crisis of Trump ’ s presidency , which has featured rollbacks of environmental and public health protections at the behest of deep-pocketed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda , ” efforts to degrade the rights of historically marginalized groups , inhumane immigration policies — including forcibly separating migrant children from their parents at the border — and constant lies .
Since Election Day , Trump has escalated his attacks on American democracy by falsely declaring victory early Wednesday , tweeting disinformation about the election , and delivering on Thursday evening what one reporter called “ the most dishonest speech he has ever given.
” His campaign has also filed multiple lawsuits this week related to the race , validating pre-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote to retain power .
The president ’ s actions sparked nationwide demonstrations demanding election officials “ count every vote.
” Amid fears that Trump may refuse to concede , Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement on Friday that “ the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.
” Born in Scranton , Pennsylvania , in 1942 , Biden studied history and political science at the University of Delaware then earned a law degree at Syracuse University .
After practicing law as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and entering local politics in Delaware ’ s New Castle County , he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 .
Biden represented Delaware in the Senate for nearly four decades — with stints chairing the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees — before serving as vice president for both terms of President Barack Obama ’ s administration .
After declining to run in 2016 , Biden beat 27 primary competitors to secure the 2020 Democratic nomination .
Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , Biden ’ s running mate , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1964 , Harris hails from Oakland , California .
After graduating from Howard University , she earned a law degree from the University of California , Hastings .
She was district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 .
She will be the first woman , as well as the first Black and South Asian American , to serve as vice president .
Since Biden selected Harris in August , progressives have pledged to continue engaging with the pair and pushing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare for All and a Green New Deal .
As climate campaigners have pressured Biden and Harris to pursue more ambitious proposals , they have also emphasized that “ Trump ’ s climate policies are a raging dumpster fire.
” On Wednesday , the U.S. ditched the 2015 Paris climate agreement at Trump ’ s direction ; Biden has vowed to reenter the accord .
While progressives — including former primary rivals Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
— have rallied behind Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has also faced extensive criticism for his political track record on numerous fronts , such as his support for the Iraq War , his primary role in the 1994 crime bill , and his refusal to back universal public healthcare or a ban on fracking for fossil fuels .
“ The evident defeat of Donald Trump would not have been possible without the grassroots activism and hard work of countless progressives , ” Norman Solomon wrote in a column for Common Dreams early Friday .
“ Now , on vital issues — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militarism , the prison-industrial complex , corporate power , and so much more — it ’ s time to engage with the battle that must happen inside the Democratic Party.
” Some news outlets , such as Vox and Business Insider , declared Biden victorious on Friday morning , based on a determination from their election-calling partner , Decision Desk HQ , at 8:50 am ET that the former vice president had won Pennsylvania — hours before other election-calling operations or major news network announced a winner .
“ The race is over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned , because of the vote totals coming out of Philadelphia this morning , ” Drew McCoy , the president of Decision Desk , told Vox senior politics correspondent Andrew Prokop .
“ It became pretty obvious that as the remaining votes across the state and in Philadelphia are counted , Biden ’ s lead will continue to grow .
”

Progressives have pledged to push Biden and Harris to embrace policies like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal.
After days of uncertainty amid concurrent global crises, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was declared the winner of the closely-watched contest that denied President Donald Trump a second term Saturday morning, after votes tallied in the battleground state of Pennsylvania pushed Biden over the 270 electoral vote threshold.
According to NBC News: “The former vice president amassed 273 Electoral College votes after winning Pennsylvania’s 20 electors, according to NBC News, surpassing the 270 needed to win the White House and defeat President Donald Trump.”
The Associated Press, which put both Arizona and Pennsylvania in Biden’s column, also called the race:
The determination in Pennsylvania put Biden at 273 electoral votes to Trump’s 214 — a deficit the president has no way of overcoming even as five other states — Alaska, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina — continue to process their results. Adding Arizona’s eleven electortal to Biden’s column, put his electoral count to 284.
Shortly after the news broke, Biden said in a tweet addressed to the nation that he was “honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.”
“The work ahead of us will be hard,” he added, “but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not. I will keep the faith that you have place in me.”
America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country. The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not. I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020
Progressives immediately celebrated Biden’s victory and expressed elation over Trump’s pending departure.
“This nightmare is coming to an end. Despite every attempt to silence our voices and block our vote, the will of the people won,” declared George Goehl, director of the grassroots advocacy group People’s Action.
“We, the voters, decided this!” said Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, North America director for 350 Action, in a statement when the news broke. “By working together, our unapologetic movement for people and planet has been steadfast and patient as our votes were counted. People power stood up to Donald Trump’s fascist vision for America and elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into the White House. The government we chose must be sworn in because this is the people’s democracy.”
The fall of tyrants must be celebrated, it's a human right! Profound thanks to all the grassroots groups who did deep organizing to make this happen and who will be pushing hard every day for the new admin to do whatever it takes to get us all to safety. — Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) November 7, 2020
The subject line in an email from the Sunrise Movement was expressive: “We fucking did it.”
“Excuse my language,” said the group’s executive director Varshini Prakash, “but we fucking did it. It’s official. We WON.”
Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on your historic win! We have not only voted out the most corrupt, dangerous president in modern history but have the opportunity to carry out the most progressive agenda our country has ever seen. Let’s get to work! — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 7, 2020
“We won. And this is a big win,” said María Urbina, acting co-executive director and national political director of Indivisible. “A record number of voters turned out amidst a pandemic to express the will of the people, and to put a historic ticket in the White House by clear margins. Come January, we’ll move forward together to swear in a President and Vice President who are serious about governing and will be expected to deliver on an agenda of dignity and justice for all.”
“Together,” Urbina added, “we can make good on the promise of an America that works for all of us, that prioritizes the most vulnerable, and that ensures we can all live with dignity. For now, we celebrate. This victory belongs to all of us.”
Biden’s victory comes in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis, a monthslong national reckoning over systemic racism, seemingly endless U.S. war, and the global climate emergency. There have been more than 9.7 million Covid-19 cases and nearly 236,000 deaths in the United States out of over 49 million infections and 1.24 million deaths worldwide.
On top of that is the broader crisis of Trump’s presidency, which has featured rollbacks of environmental and public health protections at the behest of deep-pocketed polluters, a “pro-corporate, anti-worker agenda,” efforts to degrade the rights of historically marginalized groups, inhumane immigration policies — including forcibly separating migrant children from their parents at the border — and constant lies.
Since Election Day, Trump has escalated his attacks on American democracy by falsely declaring victory early Wednesday, tweeting disinformation about the election, and delivering on Thursday evening what one reporter called “the most dishonest speech he has ever given.” His campaign has also filed multiple lawsuits this week related to the race, validating pre-election warnings that he would try to steal the vote to retain power.
The president’s actions sparked nationwide demonstrations demanding election officials “count every vote.” Amid fears that Trump may refuse to concede, Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement on Friday that “the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”
Citizens across the country are asked officials to ‘count every vote’ after Trump and his supporters called for counting to stop in several key states pic.twitter.com/pRf2u86g7k — NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 6, 2020
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942, Biden studied history and political science at the University of Delaware then earned a law degree at Syracuse University. After practicing law as a public defender and at a firm, and entering local politics in Delaware’s New Castle County, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972.
Biden represented Delaware in the Senate for nearly four decades — with stints chairing the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees — before serving as vice president for both terms of President Barack Obama’s administration. After declining to run in 2016, Biden beat 27 primary competitors to secure the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Biden’s running mate, was among his primary competitors. Born in 1964, Harris hails from Oakland, California. After graduating from Howard University, she earned a law degree from the University of California, Hastings. She was district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. She will be the first woman, as well as the first Black and South Asian American, to serve as vice president.
Since Biden selected Harris in August, progressives have pledged to continue engaging with the pair and pushing them to embrace bold, popular policies including Medicare for All and a Green New Deal. As climate campaigners have pressured Biden and Harris to pursue more ambitious proposals, they have also emphasized that “Trump’s climate policies are a raging dumpster fire.” On Wednesday, the U.S. ditched the 2015 Paris climate agreement at Trump’s direction; Biden has vowed to reenter the accord.
While progressives — including former primary rivals Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — have rallied behind Biden’s bid to oust Trump, the future president has also faced extensive criticism for his political track record on numerous fronts, such as his support for the Iraq War, his primary role in the 1994 crime bill, and his refusal to back universal public healthcare or a ban on fracking for fossil fuels.
“The evident defeat of Donald Trump would not have been possible without the grassroots activism and hard work of countless progressives,” Norman Solomon wrote in a column for Common Dreams early Friday. “Now, on vital issues — climate, healthcare, income inequality, militarism, the prison-industrial complex, corporate power, and so much more — it’s time to engage with the battle that must happen inside the Democratic Party.”
Some news outlets, such as Vox and Business Insider, declared Biden victorious on Friday morning, based on a determination from their election-calling partner, Decision Desk HQ, at 8:50 am ET that the former vice president had won Pennsylvania — hours before other election-calling operations or major news network announced a winner.
BREAKING: Joe Biden is projected to win the #2020Election, per Decision Desk. The former two-term vice president and 36-year Senate veteran will be the 46th president of the United States. https://t.co/t3Aea1DevF pic.twitter.com/3lt6KLUg8S — Vox (@voxdotcom) November 6, 2020
“The race is over, as far as our call is concerned, because of the vote totals coming out of Philadelphia this morning,” Drew McCoy, the president of Decision Desk, told Vox senior politics correspondent Andrew Prokop. “It became pretty obvious that as the remaining votes across the state and in Philadelphia are counted, Biden’s lead will continue to grow.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-11-07--Celebrations Break Out in Major Cities Across US Following Trump’s Defeat

Joe Biden has finally been elected as the 46th president of the United States , according to the Associated Press , CNN , The New York Times and other major media outlets .
On Saturday morning , after the former vice president took a 34,000-vote lead in Pennsylvania — just above the 0.5 % threshold that would have dictated a recount — AP called the Keystone State , and the presidential election , at 11:28 a.m. Eastern time .
With that , Donald Trump ’ s contentious and divisive presidency apparently draws to a close .
According to numerous reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrations of Biden ’ s victory have begun to break out in major cities across the country , on a beautiful fall day on the Eastern seaboard and throughout most of the nation .
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will address the nation at 8 p.m. Eastern time from outside the Chase Center in Wilmington , Delaware , according to the AP .
All major broadcast networks and news networks will carry the speech live .
President Trump was reportedly playing golf at a course he owns in Virginia at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not yet conceded defeat , in yet another departure from the norms of electoral politics , and there are no signs he will do so anytime soon .
The president issued a statement in his typically combative and borderline-nonsensical style soon after the AP election call , which began : “ We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner , and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him : they don ’ t want the truth to be exposed.
” The statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certified as the winner of any states , ” which is true — because no states certify their final votes for several weeks after Election Day .
Trump further alleged that his campaign “ has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor , ” without clarifying what any of those might be .
Representatives of Trump ’ s campaign , led by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani , were holding a news conference in Philadelphia to discuss alleged voting irregularities in Pennsylvania at virtually the same time as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Giuliani appeared taken aback by the news that all the major news networks had called the election , and the press conference rapidly veered off the campaign ’ s apparent script .
This long-delayed moment brings an end to an extraordinary five-day vote count during which time seemed suspended for many Americans , while rumors and conspiracy theories flowed freely on social media .
Results have remained in doubt in several states ever since election night — and at this writing , Alaska , Georgia and North Carolina have still not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either candidate .
( Biden was declared the winner in Nevada shortly after the Pennsylvania call . )
Biden holds a narrow lead in Georgia , which is heading for a recount .
Trump seems certain to win Alaska and likely to win North Carolina , but those states may not report final vote totals for days or weeks .
As a result , the final electoral vote total will not be clear for some time .
The AP currently has Biden at 290 electoral votes , because that organization called Arizona for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media outlets have not done so .
The New York Times credits Biden with 279 electoral votes .
( At least 270 are required to win the election . )
Biden ’ s final total could be as many as 306 electoral votes , while Trump will likely finish with at least 232 .
The final result could well wind up as a virtual mirror image of the 2016 count , won by Trump over Hillary Clinton , 304 to 227 .
In any event , Biden has won a conclusive victory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a remarkably high turnout .
With vote counting not yet complete in a number of large states — including New York , California and Illinois , where millions of Democratic-leaning votes remain uncounted — Biden currently has about 74.5 million votes , or 50.5 % of the total , to 70.3 million for Trump , or 47.7 % .
Both candidates in this race received more votes than any previous presidential candidate in U.S. history , one of many reasons why the 2020 election will long be remembered as an extraordinary event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has told friends and advisers he has no plans to concede .
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded to the reports by predicting the president would be escorted from the White House if he refuses to leave .
“ As we said on July 19th , the American people will decide this election , ” Bates said in a statement .
“ And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.
” A statement from the Trump campaign on Thursday protested the “ false projection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and argued that there were “ irregularities ” in Pennsylvania and Nevada that might affect the result , though the campaign ’ s legal challenges have thus far fallen flat .
The campaign also predicted a victorious recount in Georgia and an “ outright ” win in Arizona , although both those outcomes seem doubtful — and have now been rendered irrelevant .
At this point , there is no realistic way for Trump to overturn the verdict of the voters in numerous states .
Biden ’ s long-expected victory comes after Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voter fraud in states where Biden has won or holds the lead .
On Wednesday , the president even attempted to declare victory , via Twitter , in states that had not been called , and where he has now been conclusively or apparently defeated .
Trump has also demanded that officials “ stop the count , ” though there is no legal reason to halt the counting of valid votes .
Although some Republicans have echoed Trump ’ s false claims about the vote count , other GOP lawmakers have begun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The president ’ s allegations of large-scale fraud and theft of the election are not substantiated , ” Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , said on Friday .
“ I ’ m not aware of any significant wrongdoing here.
” “ There is no defense for the President ’ s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process , ” said Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , who said he cast his vote for Ronald Reagan .
“ America is counting the votes , and we must respect the results as we always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bauer said the suits were legally “ meritless ” and only intended to “ create an opportunity ” for the Trump campaign “ to message falsely about what ’ s taking place in the electoral process.
” Some Trump allies have even floated the idea of Republican-led state legislatures appointing electors that would override the popular vote result in their states to back Trump .
Although the Constitution allows for that possibility , nothing similar has occurred since the 19th century .
Republican legislative leaders in Pennsylvania again rejected that idea on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times and we will happily say it again , ” state Senate leader Jake Corman and House leader Kerry Benninghoff , said in a joint statement .
“ The Pennsylvania General Assembly does not have and will not have a hand in choosing the state ’ s presidential electors or in deciding the outcome of the presidential election .
”

Joe Biden has finally been elected as the 46th president of the United States, according to the Associated Press, CNN, The New York Times and other major media outlets. On Saturday morning, after the former vice president took a 34,000-vote lead in Pennsylvania — just above the 0.5% threshold that would have dictated a recount — AP called the Keystone State, and the presidential election, at 11:28 a.m. Eastern time. With that, Donald Trump’s contentious and divisive presidency apparently draws to a close.
According to numerous reports from news sources and social media, celebrations of Biden’s victory have begun to break out in major cities across the country, on a beautiful fall day on the Eastern seaboard and throughout most of the nation.
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will address the nation at 8 p.m. Eastern time from outside the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, according to the AP. All major broadcast networks and news networks will carry the speech live.
President Trump was reportedly playing golf at a course he owns in Virginia at the time Biden was declared president-elect. He has not yet conceded defeat, in yet another departure from the norms of electoral politics, and there are no signs he will do so anytime soon.
The president issued a statement in his typically combative and borderline-nonsensical style soon after the AP election call, which began: “We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed.” The statement observed that Biden “has not been certified as the winner of any states,” which is true — because no states certify their final votes for several weeks after Election Day. Trump further alleged that his campaign “has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor,” without clarifying what any of those might be.
Representatives of Trump’s campaign, led by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, were holding a news conference in Philadelphia to discuss alleged voting irregularities in Pennsylvania at virtually the same time as the AP announced Biden’s victory. Giuliani appeared taken aback by the news that all the major news networks had called the election, and the press conference rapidly veered off the campaign’s apparent script.
This long-delayed moment brings an end to an extraordinary five-day vote count during which time seemed suspended for many Americans, while rumors and conspiracy theories flowed freely on social media. Results have remained in doubt in several states ever since election night — and at this writing, Alaska, Georgia and North Carolina have still not been called by any major media organization for either candidate. (Biden was declared the winner in Nevada shortly after the Pennsylvania call.) Biden holds a narrow lead in Georgia, which is heading for a recount. Trump seems certain to win Alaska and likely to win North Carolina, but those states may not report final vote totals for days or weeks.
As a result, the final electoral vote total will not be clear for some time. The AP currently has Biden at 290 electoral votes, because that organization called Arizona for Biden several days ago, whereas other media outlets have not done so. The New York Times credits Biden with 279 electoral votes. (At least 270 are required to win the election.) Biden’s final total could be as many as 306 electoral votes, while Trump will likely finish with at least 232. The final result could well wind up as a virtual mirror image of the 2016 count, won by Trump over Hillary Clinton, 304 to 227.
In any event, Biden has won a conclusive victory in the popular vote, in an election with a remarkably high turnout. With vote counting not yet complete in a number of large states — including New York, California and Illinois, where millions of Democratic-leaning votes remain uncounted — Biden currently has about 74.5 million votes, or 50.5% of the total, to 70.3 million for Trump, or 47.7%. Both candidates in this race received more votes than any previous presidential candidate in U.S. history, one of many reasons why the 2020 election will long be remembered as an extraordinary event.
Multiple news outlets have reported that Trump has told friends and advisers he has no plans to concede. Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded to the reports by predicting the president would be escorted from the White House if he refuses to leave.
“As we said on July 19th, the American people will decide this election,” Bates said in a statement. “And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”
A statement from the Trump campaign on Thursday protested the “false projection of Joe Biden as the winner” and argued that there were “irregularities” in Pennsylvania and Nevada that might affect the result, though the campaign’s legal challenges have thus far fallen flat. The campaign also predicted a victorious recount in Georgia and an “outright” win in Arizona, although both those outcomes seem doubtful — and have now been rendered irrelevant. At this point, there is no realistic way for Trump to overturn the verdict of the voters in numerous states.
Biden’s long-expected victory comes after Trump’s repeated and blatantly false claims of voter fraud in states where Biden has won or holds the lead. On Wednesday, the president even attempted to declare victory, via Twitter, in states that had not been called, and where he has now been conclusively or apparently defeated. Trump has also demanded that officials “stop the count,” though there is no legal reason to halt the counting of valid votes.
Although some Republicans have echoed Trump’s false claims about the vote count, other GOP lawmakers have begun publicly speaking out against his inflammatory rhetoric.
“The president’s allegations of large-scale fraud and theft of the election are not substantiated,” Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said on Friday. “I’m not aware of any significant wrongdoing here.”
“There is no defense for the President’s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process,” said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who said he cast his vote for Ronald Reagan. “America is counting the votes, and we must respect the results as we always have before.”
Biden campaign attorney Bob Bauer said the suits were legally “meritless” and only intended to “create an opportunity” for the Trump campaign “to message falsely about what’s taking place in the electoral process.”
Some Trump allies have even floated the idea of Republican-led state legislatures appointing electors that would override the popular vote result in their states to back Trump. Although the Constitution allows for that possibility, nothing similar has occurred since the 19th century. Republican legislative leaders in Pennsylvania again rejected that idea on Friday.
“We have said it many times and we will happily say it again,” state Senate leader Jake Corman and House leader Kerry Benninghoff, said in a joint statement. “The Pennsylvania General Assembly does not have and will not have a hand in choosing the state’s presidential electors or in deciding the outcome of the presidential election.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-11-07--Joe Biden Declared Winner of 2020 Presidential Election

Former Vice President Joe Biden has officially been declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election , surpassing the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to secure victory over incumbent President Donald Trump .
Biden was declared the winner after the Associated Press announced he had won Pennsylvania , securing the additional electoral votes that he needed to win the race .
The night prior , Biden had stopped short of declaring an official victory , but said he expected to win .
He called for bridging political divides in the U.S. in his remarks .
“ We have to remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t total unrelenting , unending warfare , ” Biden said on Friday evening .
“ No , the purpose of our politics , the work of our nation , isn ’ t to fan the flames of conflict , but to solve problems , to guarantee justice , to give everybody a fair shot.
” Biden ’ s victory followed several days of ballot counting in a number of swing states .
Biden currently leads Trump in vote totals in the states of Pennsylvania , Georgia , Arizona and Nevada .
If he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will likely receive over 300 Electoral College votes in total .
The news of Biden ’ s win was generally met positively by progressive organizations and leaders , with the caveat that he should be held accountable once in office .
“ Don ’ t let this moment placate you , ” Black Socialists in America tweeted .
“ The social and economic systems that have led to our present conditions and the fascists who have exploited them aren ’ t going away anytime soon.
” “ Black People .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote the Movement for Black Lives .
“ Our vote .
Our movement .
Our power .
We organized .
We mobilized .
We defeated Trump !
” “ There is still work to do .
There will always be more work to do , ” writer Rebecca Nagle said .
“ But one way you make that long-haul sustainable is by celebrating the wins when they come.
” “ It ’ s ok to celebrate the fall of a tyrant .
Goodbye Trump , ” added the Democratic Socialists of America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ survive the next part .
These next few months will be very hard , ” said Kelly Hayes , host of Truthout ’ s “ Movement Memos ” podcast .
“ But today , I ’ m gon na try to be kind to myself and let my tense muscles relax a bit .
No one who tells you there ’ s no time for that cares whether you endure in this work or about you as an individual.
“ Revelers reportedly packed the streets of New York City to celebrate the electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cheering loudly .
Similar celebrations were seen on the streets of Washington , D.C. , and crowds reportedly started gathering outside of the White House to commemorate Trump ’ s loss .
Trump ’ s defeat is indeed a historic one .
In the history of presidential elections , only 10 presidents who ran for reelection have ever failed to win a second term .
( Trump will become the 11th . )
Since the middle of the 20th century , only two presidents who had previously won office to the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president after Richard Nixon resigned ) have lost reelection bids — Jimmy Carter and George H.W .
Bush .
The election is historic for another reason : This is the first time in U.S. history that a woman will be part of a winning presidential ticket .
On January 20 , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-California ) will become the first woman ever to serve as vice president .
Harris called Biden on the phone Saturday to celebrate their win .
Biden himself celebrated by issuing a statement on Twitter .
“ America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have chosen me to lead our great country , ” Biden wrote .
“ The work ahead of us will be hard , but I promise you this : I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.
” The president-elect will reportedly address the nation regarding his election win later on Saturday evening .
Although news organizations were largely in agreement about the outcome , Biden ’ s win may be contested .
Trump has said in the past few days that he plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , and that he may ask for recounts in places like Wisconsin , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Georgia ( in spite of his aversion to recounts four years ago ) .
He may also seek a legal challenge into the validity of vote counting itself , as he ’ s said many times , falsely , that the votes counted made before November 3 but counted after Election Day were illegitimate .
Indeed , immediately after the announcement was made , Trump , who was reportedly golfing at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would bring about a challenge to the validity of the election .
“ We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner , and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him : They don ’ t want the truth to be exposed , ” Trump ’ s statement read .
“ Legal votes decide who is president , not the news media .
Beginning Monday , our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts disputed the errant arguments Trump and his surrogates have made in recent days alleging fraud .
Attempting to stop vote counting , or to disqualify votes that were counted after November 3 , will be a difficult case for the president to argue , as there is no evidence that such votes violated the laws of those states in any way .
“ Unless something new happens , I don ’ t see a viable path for Trump to litigate his way out of an Electoral College loss , ” Richard Hasen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of California , Irvine , said to NPR .

Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, when he’s inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has officially been declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, surpassing the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to secure victory over incumbent President Donald Trump.
Biden was declared the winner after the Associated Press announced he had won Pennsylvania, securing the additional electoral votes that he needed to win the race.
The night prior, Biden had stopped short of declaring an official victory, but said he expected to win. He called for bridging political divides in the U.S. in his remarks.
“We have to remember the purpose of our politics isn’t total unrelenting, unending warfare,” Biden said on Friday evening. “No, the purpose of our politics, the work of our nation, isn’t to fan the flames of conflict, but to solve problems, to guarantee justice, to give everybody a fair shot.”
Biden’s victory followed several days of ballot counting in a number of swing states.
Biden currently leads Trump in vote totals in the states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. If he can maintain his current numbers there, he will likely receive over 300 Electoral College votes in total.
The news of Biden’s win was generally met positively by progressive organizations and leaders, with the caveat that he should be held accountable once in office.
“Don’t let this moment placate you,” Black Socialists in America tweeted. “The social and economic systems that have led to our present conditions and the fascists who have exploited them aren’t going away anytime soon.”
“Black People. It’s time to celebrate us,” wrote the Movement for Black Lives. “Our vote. Our movement. Our power. We organized. We mobilized. We defeated Trump!”
Black People.
It's time to celebrate us.
Our vote. Our movement. Our power.
We organized. We mobilized. We defeated Trump! #WeDidThat pic.twitter.com/e5pZWUOJsl — Movement 4 Black Lives (@Mvmnt4BlkLives) November 7, 2020
“There is still work to do. There will always be more work to do,” writer Rebecca Nagle said. “But one way you make that long-haul sustainable is by celebrating the wins when they come.”
“It’s ok to celebrate the fall of a tyrant. Goodbye Trump,” added the Democratic Socialists of America.
“Now it’s time to survive the next part. These next few months will be very hard,” said Kelly Hayes, host of Truthout’s “Movement Memos” podcast. “But today, I’m gonna try to be kind to myself and let my tense muscles relax a bit. No one who tells you there’s no time for that cares whether you endure in this work or about you as an individual.“
Revelers reportedly packed the streets of New York City to celebrate the electoral outcome, honking car horns, clapping and cheering loudly.
I’ve lived in NYC my whole life and I’ve never seen anything like this pic.twitter.com/KVZakF7F5n — Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 7, 2020
Similar celebrations were seen on the streets of Washington, D.C., and crowds reportedly started gathering outside of the White House to commemorate Trump’s loss.
Trump’s defeat is indeed a historic one. In the history of presidential elections, only 10 presidents who ran for reelection have ever failed to win a second term. (Trump will become the 11th.) Since the middle of the 20th century, only two presidents who had previously won office to the presidency (excluding Gerald Ford, who became president after Richard Nixon resigned) have lost reelection bids — Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush.
The election is historic for another reason: This is the first time in U.S. history that a woman will be part of a winning presidential ticket. On January 20, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) will become the first woman ever to serve as vice president.
Harris called Biden on the phone Saturday to celebrate their win.
"We did it": Kamala Harris calls Joe Biden to celebrate their projected win in the presidential election. https://t.co/A1G3dwnQX2 pic.twitter.com/J7O7GHXtNX — CBS News (@CBSNews) November 7, 2020
Biden himself celebrated by issuing a statement on Twitter.
“America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country,” Biden wrote. “The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.”
The president-elect will reportedly address the nation regarding his election win later on Saturday evening.
Although news organizations were largely in agreement about the outcome, Biden’s win may be contested. Trump has said in the past few days that he plans to contest the race in a number of states, and that he may ask for recounts in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia (in spite of his aversion to recounts four years ago). He may also seek a legal challenge into the validity of vote counting itself, as he’s said many times,falsely, that the votes counted made before November 3 but counted after Election Day were illegitimate.
Indeed, immediately after the announcement was made, Trump, who was reportedly golfing at the time, issued a statement expressing the strong likelihood he would bring about a challenge to the validity of the election.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: They don’t want the truth to be exposed,” Trump’s statement read. “Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media. Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.”
But experts disputed the errant arguments Trump and his surrogates have made in recent days alleging fraud. Attempting to stop vote counting, or to disqualify votes that were counted after November 3, will be a difficult case for the president to argue, as there is no evidence that such votes violated the laws of those states in any way.
“Unless something new happens, I don’t see a viable path for Trump to litigate his way out of an Electoral College loss,” Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine, said to NPR.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-11-07--Chomsky: Voting Is Not the End of Our Work. It’s Only the Beginning.

Joe Biden is the winner of the 2020 election .
Yet while Trump has lost , the Democrats failed to materialize the blue wave some expected — and Trump fared extremely well despite the pandemic .
In this exclusive interview , Noam Chomsky shares some of his insights about Trump ’ s continuing popularity and what the left needs to do in the years ahead , emphasizing that voting is never an end — only a beginning .
C.J .
Polychroniou : Although Biden has won the election , the Democrats failed to materialize a blue-wave landslide , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with large-scale Trumpism .
Given that you were extremely skeptical of the polls from day one , what do you think contributed to the massive turnout for Trump , even as Biden saw an even more massive turnout ?
Or , to phrase the questions differently , why is nearly half the country continuing to support a dangerous charlatan leader with such a feverish passion ?
Noam Chomsky : The very fact that someone could be considered a serious candidate after just having killed tens if not hundreds of thousands of Americans through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary victory for Trump — and a defeat for the country , for the world and for hopes for a decent future .
Some of Trump ’ s victories are very revealing .
A report on NPR discussed his victory in a solid Democratic county on the Texas-Mexico border with many poor Latinos that hadn ’ t voted Republican for a century , since Harding .
The NPR analyst attributes Biden ’ s loss to his famous “ gaffe ” in the last debate , in which he said that we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the not very distant future .
Not his words , of course , but that ’ s the meaning of his statement : that we have to make moves to transition away from fossil fuels , which are central to the regional economy .
Whether that ’ s the reason for the radical shift , or whether it ’ s attributable to another of the colossal Democratic organizing failures , the fact that the outcome is attributed to the gaffe is itself indicative of the rot in the dominant culture .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] a serious “ gaffe ” to dare to hint that we have to act to avoid a cataclysm .
Poor working people in the border area are not voting for the predictable consequences of Trump ’ s race toward cataclysm .
They may simply be skeptical about what science predicts .
Sixty percent of conservative Republicans ( 35 percent of moderate Republicans ) believe that humans are contributing “ not too much/not at all ” to global warming .
A poll reported in Science found that only 20 percent of Republicans trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right for the country.
” Why then believe the dire predictions ?
These , after all , are the messages pounded into their heads daily by the White House and its media echo chamber .
South Texan working people may not be ready to sacrifice their lives and communities today on the basis of claims in elite circles that they are instructed not to trust .
These tendencies can not be blamed solely on Trump ’ s malevolence .
They trace back to the failure of the Democratic Party to bring to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental catastrophe while also improving lives and work — not because such programs don ’ t exist ; they do .
But because they don ’ t appeal to the donor-oriented Clintonite neoliberals who run the Democratic Party .
There ’ s more .
Trump has shown political genius in tapping the poisonous currents that run right below the surface of American society .
He has skillfully nourished and amplified the currents of white supremacy , racism and xenophobia that have deep roots in American history and culture , now exacerbated by fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ our ” country with its shrinking white majority .
And the concerns are deep .
A careful study by political scientist Larry Bartels reveals that Republicans feel that “ the traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it , ” and more than 40 percent agree that “ a time will come when patriotic Americans have to take the law into their own hands.
” Trump has also skillfully tapped reservoirs of anger and economic resentment among the working and middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan neoliberal assault of the last 40 years .
If they feel that they have been robbed , they have good reason .
The Rand Corporation recently estimated transfer of wealth from the lower 90 percent to the very rich during the four neoliberal decades : $ 47 trillion , not small change .
Looking more closely , the transfer was primarily to a small fraction of the very rich .
Since Reagan , the top 0.1 percent has doubled their share of the country ’ s wealth to an astonishing 20 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of principles of economics or laws of history but of deliberate policy decisions .
If decisions are shifted from government ( “ government is the problem , ” as Reagan claimed ) they do not disappear .
They are placed in the hands of the corporate sector , which must be guided solely by greed ( per neoliberal economic guru Milton Friedman ) .
With such guidelines in place , results are not hard to anticipate .
On top of the near- $ 50 trillion train robbery , the international economy ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set American working people in competition with those in low-wage countries with no workers ’ rights while the very rich are granted protection from market forces , by exorbitant patent rights , to take one example .
Again , the effects of this bipartisan enterprise are not a surprise .
Less educated workers may not know the details or understand the mechanisms that have been designed to undermine their lives , but they see the outcomes .
The Democrats offer them nothing .
They long ago abandoned the working class and have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact harms workers even more than the opposition , but he excoriates “ elites ” — while slavishly serving the super-rich and corporate sector , as his legislative program and executive orders amply demonstrate .
Apart from almost daily steps to chip away at the environment that sustains life and to pack the judiciary top-to-bottom with far right young lawyers , the main achievement of the Trump-McConnell administration has been the tax scam of 2017 : “ a delayed tax increase dressed up as a tax cut , ” economist Joseph Stiglitz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dirty little secret : It ’ s not just planning to increase taxes on most Americans .
The increase has already been signed , sealed and delivered , buried in the pages of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
” The law was carefully designed to lower taxes initially so as to “ hoodwink ” Americans to think their taxes were being reduced , but with mechanisms to ensure that tax increases “ would affect nearly everyone but people at the top of the economic hierarchy .
All taxpayer income groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that ’ s about 65 percent of taxpayers — will face a higher tax rate in 2021 than in 2019.
” It ’ s the same device that the George W. Bush Republicans used to sell their 2001 “ tax cut ” — for the rich .
What happens if Trump refuses to accept a Biden victory and seeks to settle the matter in the Supreme Court ?
And when corporate lawyers and the militias end up doing their thing , is it even remotely possible that the country could end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it won ’ t come to that , but it ’ s a speculation with little basis or credibility .
Trump has strong reasons — maybe even his personal future — to hold on to office by any possible means .
We are not in the days of Richard Nixon , who had good reasons to question the legitimacy of the vote he lost in 1960 , but had the decency to put the welfare of the country about his personal ambitions .
Not Donald Trump .
And the organization that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political party of 60 years ago .
Trump still has two months to wield the wrecking ball that has already diminished the United States , harmed the world and severely threatened the future .
His penchant for wrecking everything he did not create , whatever the cost , is hard to miss .
He might decide to go for broke .
What are the next steps for the left ?
For the left , elections are a brief interlude in a life of real politics , a moment to ask whether it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — typically against .
In 2020 , the choice was transparent , for reasons not worth reviewing .
Then back to work .
Once Trump is fully removed , the work will be to move forward to construct the better world that is within reach .
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity .
It has also been updated to reflect Joe Biden ’ s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 election .

Joe Biden is the winner of the 2020 election. Yet while Trump has lost, the Democrats failed to materialize the blue wave some expected — and Trump fared extremely well despite the pandemic. In this exclusive interview, Noam Chomsky shares some of his insights about Trump’s continuing popularity and what the left needs to do in the years ahead, emphasizing that voting is never an end — only a beginning.
C.J. Polychroniou: Although Biden has won the election, the Democrats failed to materialize a blue-wave landslide, and it is clear we will continue to deal with large-scale Trumpism. Given that you were extremely skeptical of the polls from day one, what do you think contributed to the massive turnout for Trump, even as Biden saw an even more massive turnout? Or, to phrase the questions differently, why is nearly half the country continuing to support a dangerous charlatan leader with such a feverish passion?
Noam Chomsky: The very fact that someone could be considered a serious candidate after just having killed tens if not hundreds of thousands of Americans through a disastrous response to COVID-19 is an extraordinary victory for Trump — and a defeat for the country, for the world and for hopes for a decent future.
Some of Trump’s victories are very revealing. A report on NPR discussed his victory in a solid Democratic county on the Texas-Mexico border with many poor Latinos that hadn’t voted Republican for a century, since Harding. The NPR analyst attributes Biden’s loss to his famous “gaffe” in the last debate, in which he said that we have to act to save human society from destruction in the not very distant future. Not his words, of course, but that’s the meaning of his statement: that we have to make moves to transition away from fossil fuels, which are central to the regional economy. Whether that’s the reason for the radical shift, or whether it’s attributable to another of the colossal Democratic organizing failures, the fact that the outcome is attributed to the gaffe is itself indicative of the rot in the dominant culture. In the U.S., it is [considered] a serious “gaffe” to dare to hint that we have to act to avoid a cataclysm.
Poor working people in the border area are not voting for the predictable consequences of Trump’s race toward cataclysm. They may simply be skeptical about what science predicts. Sixty percent of conservative Republicans (35 percent of moderate Republicans) believe that humans are contributing “not too much/not at all” to global warming. A poll reported in Science found that only 20 percent of Republicans trust scientists “a lot…to do what is right for the country.” Why then believe the dire predictions? These, after all, are the messages pounded into their heads daily by the White House and its media echo chamber.
South Texan working people may not be ready to sacrifice their lives and communities today on the basis of claims in elite circles that they are instructed not to trust. These tendencies cannot be blamed solely on Trump’s malevolence. They trace back to the failure of the Democratic Party to bring to the public a serious program to fend off environmental catastrophe while also improving lives and work — not because such programs don’t exist; they do. But because they don’t appeal to the donor-oriented Clintonite neoliberals who run the Democratic Party.
There’s more. Trump has shown political genius in tapping the poisonous currents that run right below the surface of American society. He has skillfully nourished and amplified the currents of white supremacy, racism and xenophobia that have deep roots in American history and culture, now exacerbated by fear that “they” will take over “our” country with its shrinking white majority. And the concerns are deep. A careful study by political scientist Larry Bartels reveals that Republicans feel that “the traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it,” and more than 40 percent agree that “a time will come when patriotic Americans have to take the law into their own hands.”
Trump has also skillfully tapped reservoirs of anger and economic resentment among the working and middle classes who have been subjected to the bipartisan neoliberal assault of the last 40 years. If they feel that they have been robbed, they have good reason. The Rand Corporation recently estimated transfer of wealth from the lower 90 percent to the very rich during the four neoliberal decades: $47 trillion, not small change. Looking more closely, the transfer was primarily to a small fraction of the very rich. Since Reagan, the top 0.1 percent has doubled their share of the country’s wealth to an astonishing 20 percent.
These outcomes are not the result of principles of economics or laws of history but of deliberate policy decisions. If decisions are shifted from government (“government is the problem,” as Reagan claimed) they do not disappear. They are placed in the hands of the corporate sector, which must be guided solely by greed (per neoliberal economic guru Milton Friedman). With such guidelines in place, results are not hard to anticipate.
On top of the near-$50 trillion train robbery, the international economy (“globalization”) has been structured to set American working people in competition with those in low-wage countries with no workers’ rights while the very rich are granted protection from market forces, by exorbitant patent rights, to take one example. Again, the effects of this bipartisan enterprise are not a surprise.
Less educated workers may not know the details or understand the mechanisms that have been designed to undermine their lives, but they see the outcomes. The Democrats offer them nothing. They long ago abandoned the working class and have been full collaborators in the racket. Trump in fact harms workers even more than the opposition, but he excoriates “elites” — while slavishly serving the super-rich and corporate sector, as his legislative program and executive orders amply demonstrate.
Apart from almost daily steps to chip away at the environment that sustains life and to pack the judiciary top-to-bottom with far right young lawyers, the main achievement of the Trump-McConnell administration has been the tax scam of 2017: “a delayed tax increase dressed up as a tax cut,” economist Joseph Stiglitz explains. “The Trump administration has a dirty little secret: It’s not just planning to increase taxes on most Americans. The increase has already been signed, sealed and delivered, buried in the pages of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”
The law was carefully designed to lower taxes initially so as to “hoodwink” Americans to think their taxes were being reduced, but with mechanisms to ensure that tax increases “would affect nearly everyone but people at the top of the economic hierarchy. All taxpayer income groups with incomes of $75,000 and under — that’s about 65 percent of taxpayers — will face a higher tax rate in 2021 than in 2019.” It’s the same device that the George W. Bush Republicans used to sell their 2001 “tax cut” — for the rich.
What happens if Trump refuses to accept a Biden victory and seeks to settle the matter in the Supreme Court? And when corporate lawyers and the militias end up doing their thing, is it even remotely possible that the country could end up under martial law?
My uneducated guess is that it won’t come to that, but it’s a speculation with little basis or credibility. Trump has strong reasons — maybe even his personal future — to hold on to office by any possible means. We are not in the days of Richard Nixon, who had good reasons to question the legitimacy of the vote he lost in 1960, but had the decency to put the welfare of the country about his personal ambitions. Not Donald Trump. And the organization that grovels at his feet is not the political party of 60 years ago.
Trump still has two months to wield the wrecking ball that has already diminished the United States, harmed the world and severely threatened the future. His penchant for wrecking everything he did not create, whatever the cost, is hard to miss. He might decide to go for broke.
What are the next steps for the left?
For the left, elections are a brief interlude in a life of real politics, a moment to ask whether it’s worth taking off time to vote — typically against. In 2020, the choice was transparent, for reasons not worth reviewing. Then back to work. Once Trump is fully removed, the work will be to move forward to construct the better world that is within reach.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. It has also been updated to reflect Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-11-07--Guantánamo Prisoners Sent to UAE Risk Forced Expulsion, Secret Detention

One of the very last actions of the Obama administration , on his last day in office in 2017 , was to transfer four prisoners from the military prison at Guantánamo Bay — one to his native Saudi Arabia and three for resettlement in a third country , the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) .
This brought the prisoner population down to 41 , a number that has only fallen by one since then .
The men were among 196 prisoners resettled by the Obama administration upon transfer from Guantánamo , effectively but not recognized as refugees , often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s foreign policy and wars .
Transferred from Guantánamo in Obama ’ s attempts to close the facility , for many of these men , who were never charged or tried and were cleared for release , freedom has remained elusive .
This is the case for most of the 23 transferred to the UAE between November 2015 and January 2017 .
On October 15 , 2020 , a group of UN Special Rapporteurs expressed concerns over the situation of the remaining 19 transferred prisoners who remain in the UAE , all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbitrary detention at secret locations since their arrival there and now face the prospect of forced expulsion to their home countries ( Russia for one of them and Yemen for the other 18 ) .
The experts state that the Yemenis were “ were allegedly forced to sign documents consenting to their repatriation , or otherwise remain indefinitely in Emirati detention.
” The other prisoner , Ravil Mingazov , was the only Russian prisoner not to return home in 2004 .
His seven returnee compatriots have faced ongoing , continuous persecution , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting in one being shot dead by the police and spurious charges and detention for others , including a life sentence for one of the former Guantánamo prisoners .
Mingazov has insisted on never being returned to Russia .
The UN experts expressed concerns for the 18 Yemenis in view of the ongoing war in the country .
Obama ceased the transfer of Yemenis from Guantánamo in 2010 ; this was later extended due to the war .
In view of the international law principle of non-refoulement , the forced transfer of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest statement follows concerns the experts raised with the UAE authorities in July .
Since their arrival in the country , all the men have been held at unknown locations with limited access to family ( some visits have been permitted ) and legal and medical visits .
Some of the men allege they have been tortured at UAE facilities .
At least two of them have gone on hunger strike in protest in the past year and there are reports of the men being held in solitary confinement .
None have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UAE .
Guantánamo prisoners cleared for release were transferred to the UAE in three groups between November 2015 and January 2017 , including the largest single transfer of 15 men ( three Afghans and 12 Yemenis ) in August 2016 .
At that time , the U.S. thanked the UAE for its “ humanitarian gesture ” but the risks of transfer there were already evident , as what had become of the prisoners transferred in November 2015 was unknown .
U.S. officials allegedly assured prisoners and their lawyers that they would be released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Emirati society and allowed family reunification , but that has not happened for any of the men .
U.S. lawyers for the men wrote to the UAE authorities on three occasions without a response .
Some blame the Trump administration for failing to track resettled prisoners .
However , the UN experts ’ demands include that “ the UAE authorities disclose the terms of the resettlement programme ( with the United States ) , ” an agreement made with the Obama administration .
They state , “ We are seriously concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of implementation of this resettlement programme agreed between the UAE and the United States.
” Transfers of prisoners from Guantánamo by the Obama administration , in some cases , involved trade deals and other benefits ; for example , the company of a former political strategist to the Obama administration , who helped to broker the 2009 transfer of Uighur prisoners to Bermuda , won a consultancy contract with the Bermudan government in 2017 .
Uruguay ’ s sale of oranges to the U.S. resumed in return for accepting six Guantánamo prisoners in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s apparent displeasure at hosting the men , it has insisted on several occasions on having one prisoner , Jihad Diyab , a Syrian refugee , returned to the country after his attempts to flee abroad .
With many prisoners released by both the Bush and Obama administrations still subject to surveillance and restrictions in various countries , it is possible , as one former U.S. official put it , that “ this seems like the UAE is imprisoning them on behalf of the U.S. government.
” The UN experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised the case of Afghan national Haji Hamdullah , who was one of three Afghan nationals resettled in the UAE and returned to Afghanistan in December 2019 .
Hamdullah “ was forcibly repatriated to Afghanistan , without security assurances , despite his claims of risking torture and ill-treatment in Afghanistan.
” He died in Kabul on May 4 , 2020 .
In a January 2020 interview with the Turkish Anadolu Agency news outlet , Hamdullah said , “ Worst was our stay in the UAE .
It was un-Islamic and against human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferring us to the UAE , and a rosy picture was painted for us for our six-month stay in the UAE , so we approved and agreed to this offer by the U.S. Foreign Ministry.
” He urged the Afghan government to take action against the UAE .
It is possible that the terms of the U.S.-UAE resettlement agreement mean that the prisoners would only be allowed to remain for a limited period .
Senegal agreed to resettle two prisoners on humanitarian grounds in 2016 , but they were unlawfully transferred to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April 2018 , where they promptly “ disappeared ” While some states have reportedly been given cash incentives to accept prisoners , the UAE instead has seen its stock as a global political player rise , including in the war in Yemen , with U.S. backing over the past five years .
The risk to these 19 men can not be underestimated and is not without precedent .
They remain at risk whether they stay in the UAE , subject to a regime of continuing secret indefinite arbitrary detention , or return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk further persecution and , potentially , death .
Given that Guantánamo remains open after almost 19 years , it is clear that both the Republicans and Democrats have a poor record on the treatment of the prisoners and a weak grip on human rights .
While closing Guantánamo has not been an election issue since 2008 , its continuing existence remains a stain on the U.S .
In a year that has seen millions of U.S. residents receive little more than complacency from their government in the face of a global pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other basic benefits , the question of whose interests Guantánamo protects and at what cost needs to be raised .
Demands for the closure of Guantánamo and the release of the remaining 40 prisoners must ensure that prisoners are released to safety and are genuinely set free .

One of the very last actions of the Obama administration, on his last day in office in 2017, was to transfer four prisoners from the military prison at Guantánamo Bay — one to his native Saudi Arabia and three for resettlement in a third country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This brought the prisoner population down to 41, a number that has only fallen by one since then.
The men were among 196 prisoners resettled by the Obama administration upon transfer from Guantánamo, effectively but not recognized as refugees, often as a result of the U.S.’s foreign policy and wars. Transferred from Guantánamo in Obama’s attempts to close the facility, for many of these men, who were never charged or tried and were cleared for release, freedom has remained elusive. This is the case for most of the 23 transferred to the UAE between November 2015 and January 2017.
On October 15, 2020, a group of UN Special Rapporteurs expressed concerns over the situation of the remaining 19 transferred prisoners who remain in the UAE, all of whom have been subject to indefinite and arbitrary detention at secret locations since their arrival there and now face the prospect of forced expulsion to their home countries (Russia for one of them and Yemen for the other 18). The experts state that the Yemenis were “were allegedly forced to sign documents consenting to their repatriation, or otherwise remain indefinitely in Emirati detention.”
The other prisoner, Ravil Mingazov, was the only Russian prisoner not to return home in 2004. His seven returnee compatriots have faced ongoing, continuous persecution, both in the Russian Federation and abroad, resulting in one being shot dead by the police and spurious charges and detention for others, including a life sentence for one of the former Guantánamo prisoners. Mingazov has insisted on never being returned to Russia.
The UN experts expressed concerns for the 18 Yemenis in view of the ongoing war in the country. Obama ceased the transfer of Yemenis from Guantánamo in 2010; this was later extended due to the war. In view of the international law principle of non-refoulement, the forced transfer of any of the men would be illegal.
The latest statement follows concerns the experts raised with the UAE authorities in July. Since their arrival in the country, all the men have been held at unknown locations with limited access to family (some visits have been permitted) and legal and medical visits. Some of the men allege they have been tortured at UAE facilities. At least two of them have gone on hunger strike in protest in the past year and there are reports of the men being held in solitary confinement. None have faced any charges or prosecution in the UAE.
Guantánamo prisoners cleared for release were transferred to the UAE in three groups between November 2015 and January 2017, including the largest single transfer of 15 men (three Afghans and 12 Yemenis) in August 2016. At that time, the U.S. thanked the UAE for its “humanitarian gesture” but the risks of transfer there were already evident, as what had become of the prisoners transferred in November 2015 was unknown. U.S. officials allegedly assured prisoners and their lawyers that they would be released from a residential rehabilitation program and reintegrated into Emirati society and allowed family reunification, but that has not happened for any of the men. U.S. lawyers for the men wrote to the UAE authorities on three occasions without a response.
Some blame the Trump administration for failing to track resettled prisoners. However, the UN experts’ demands include that “the UAE authorities disclose the terms of the resettlement programme (with the United States),” an agreement made with the Obama administration. They state, “We are seriously concerned about the secrecy surrounding the terms and mode of implementation of this resettlement programme agreed between the UAE and the United States.”
Transfers of prisoners from Guantánamo by the Obama administration, in some cases, involved trade deals and other benefits; for example, the company of a former political strategist to the Obama administration, who helped to broker the 2009 transfer of Uighur prisoners to Bermuda, won a consultancy contract with the Bermudan government in 2017. Uruguay’s sale of oranges to the U.S. resumed in return for accepting six Guantánamo prisoners in 2016. In spite of the Uruguayan government’s apparent displeasure at hosting the men, it has insisted on several occasions on having one prisoner, Jihad Diyab, a Syrian refugee, returned to the country after his attempts to flee abroad. With many prisoners released by both the Bush and Obama administrations still subject to surveillance and restrictions in various countries, it is possible, as one former U.S. official put it, that “this seems like the UAE is imprisoning them on behalf of the U.S. government.”
The UN experts, in their July 2020 communication, also raised the case of Afghan national Haji Hamdullah, who was one of three Afghan nationals resettled in the UAE and returned to Afghanistan in December 2019. Hamdullah “was forcibly repatriated to Afghanistan, without security assurances, despite his claims of risking torture and ill-treatment in Afghanistan.” He died in Kabul on May 4, 2020.
In a January 2020 interview with the Turkish Anadolu Agency news outlet, Hamdullah said, “Worst was our stay in the UAE. It was un-Islamic and against human rights. We were told in Guantánamo about transferring us to the UAE, and a rosy picture was painted for us for our six-month stay in the UAE, so we approved and agreed to this offer by the U.S. Foreign Ministry.” He urged the Afghan government to take action against the UAE.
It is possible that the terms of the U.S.-UAE resettlement agreement mean that the prisoners would only be allowed to remain for a limited period. Senegal agreed to resettle two prisoners on humanitarian grounds in 2016, but they were unlawfully transferred to their native Libya, exactly two years later in April 2018, where they promptly “disappeared . ” While some states have reportedly been given cash incentives to accept prisoners, the UAE instead has seen its stock as a global political player rise, including in the war in Yemen, with U.S. backing over the past five years.
The risk to these 19 men cannot be underestimated and is not without precedent. They remain at risk whether they stay in the UAE, subject to a regime of continuing secret indefinite arbitrary detention, or return to their home countries, where they risk further persecution and, potentially, death.
Given that Guantánamo remains open after almost 19 years, it is clear that both the Republicans and Democrats have a poor record on the treatment of the prisoners and a weak grip on human rights. While closing Guantánamo has not been an election issue since 2008, its continuing existence remains a stain on the U.S. In a year that has seen millions of U.S. residents receive little more than complacency from their government in the face of a global pandemic, and as millions file for unemployment and other basic benefits, the question of whose interests Guantánamo protects and at what cost needs to be raised. Demands for the closure of Guantánamo and the release of the remaining 40 prisoners must ensure that prisoners are released to safety and are genuinely set free.
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truthout--2020-11-08--Army Corps Suspends Permit for Toxic Plastics Complex in “Chemical Alley”

The Army Corps of Engineers said it intends to suspend a permit for the construction of a $ 9.4 billion plastics complex in Louisiana that would emit a toxic brew of chemicals in the area dubbed “ Chemical Alley.
” The Corps made its plan public in a motion filed in federal court Wednesday , a day before the agency was supposed to defend its decision to approve the permit .
It will issue a formal notice containing the reasoning for its decision on Tuesday .
The complex , which is a project of the Taiwanese-based conglomerate Formosa Plastics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s largest petrochemical plants along the lower Mississippi River in St. James Parish , Louisiana .
Last year , an analysis by ProPublica and The Times-Picayune and The Advocate , conducted with an expert in air modeling , estimated that in the community across the river from the plant , hundreds of residents will face double the toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals than they currently do .
One mile east in the predominantly Black community of St. James , those levels could more than triple .
The analysis , which estimated the concentrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complex is up and running , used the expected emissions from Formosa ’ s permit application and the same model used by Louisiana ’ s Department of Environmental Quality , or LDEQ , to calculate air pollution from proposed chemical plants .
The analysis also found that the air around Formosa ’ s site is more toxic with cancer-causing chemicals than 99.6 % of industrialized areas of the country .
If the complex emits all the chemicals it proposes in its permit application , it would rank in the top 1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of the concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals in its vicinity .
A collection of St. James residents and environmental advocacy organizations sued to stop the plant from being built , alleging that officials violated the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by approving the destruction of wetlands and failing to account for disproportionate health impacts of air pollution on St. James .
“ We can see Goliath is starting to fall .
If the agency had listened to the people of St. James Parish , the Corps would never have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place , ” Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade said in a press release .
The statement cites findings from ProPublica ’ s analysis .
In the motion it filed Wednesday , the Corps said that it had identified a portion of its permit analysis under the Clean Water Act that needs to be reevaluated .
The act requires an analysis of all environmental impacts , including air pollution .
Julie Simmonds , a lawyer with the Center for Biological Diversity , said air pollution and its disproportionate impacts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their federal suit .
“ Environmental justice pervades the entire lawsuit , ” Simmonds said .
“ Every one of our claims has an angle emphasizing just how damaging this project is to environmental justice and entrenching racism .
The air pollution impacts are the biggest part of that.
” The Corps declined to comment , citing the pending litigation .
Formosa spokesperson Janile Parks said the company has worked cooperatively with the Corps throughout the permit process and will continue to work with the agency to provide any additional information it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been very diligent to make sure it has done everything required to ensure proper issuance of , and compliance with , its permits and will continue to do so , ” Parks added .
In February , a similar collection of St. James residents and environmental advocacy groups sued LDEQ for approving the air permits Formosa needs for its complex .
LDEQ said it can not comment on pending litigation .
Corinne Van Dalen , a lawyer from Earthjustice , one of the plaintiffs , said she is confident that her clients will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings are arbitrary and capricious .
They are not supported by record evidence , ” Van Dalen said , referring to the LDEQ ’ s issuance of Formosa ’ s air permits .
“ They didn ’ t take into consideration how the decision would impact a minority area right next door .
”

Proposed emissions from the plant would triple the levels of cancer-causing chemicals in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
The Army Corps of Engineers said it intends to suspend a permit for the construction of a $9.4 billion plastics complex in Louisiana that would emit a toxic brew of chemicals in the area dubbed “Chemical Alley.”
The Corps made its plan public in a motion filed in federal court Wednesday, a day before the agency was supposed to defend its decision to approve the permit. It will issue a formal notice containing the reasoning for its decision on Tuesday.
The complex, which is a project of the Taiwanese-based conglomerate Formosa Plastics, would place one of the world’s largest petrochemical plants along the lower Mississippi River in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Last year, an analysis by ProPublica and The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, conducted with an expert in air modeling, estimated that in the community across the river from the plant, hundreds of residents will face double the toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals than they currently do. One mile east in the predominantly Black community of St. James, those levels could more than triple.
The analysis, which estimated the concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals in the air after the complex is up and running, used the expected emissions from Formosa’s permit application and the same model used by Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality, or LDEQ, to calculate air pollution from proposed chemical plants.
The analysis also found that the air around Formosa’s site is more toxic with cancer-causing chemicals than 99.6% of industrialized areas of the country. If the complex emits all the chemicals it proposes in its permit application, it would rank in the top 1% nationwide of major plants in America in terms of the concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals in its vicinity.
A collection of St. James residents and environmental advocacy organizations sued to stop the plant from being built, alleging that officials violated the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by approving the destruction of wetlands and failing to account for disproportionate health impacts of air pollution on St. James.
“We can see Goliath is starting to fall. If the agency had listened to the people of St. James Parish, the Corps would never have issued this permit to Formosa Plastics in the first place,” Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade said in a press release. The statement cites findings from ProPublica’s analysis.
In the motion it filed Wednesday, the Corps said that it had identified a portion of its permit analysis under the Clean Water Act that needs to be reevaluated. The act requires an analysis of all environmental impacts, including air pollution.
Julie Simmonds, a lawyer with the Center for Biological Diversity, said air pollution and its disproportionate impacts on the Black community is a critical aspect of their federal suit.
“Environmental justice pervades the entire lawsuit,” Simmonds said. “Every one of our claims has an angle emphasizing just how damaging this project is to environmental justice and entrenching racism. The air pollution impacts are the biggest part of that.”
The Corps declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.
Formosa spokesperson Janile Parks said the company has worked cooperatively with the Corps throughout the permit process and will continue to work with the agency to provide any additional information it may need.
“The company has been very diligent to make sure it has done everything required to ensure proper issuance of, and compliance with, its permits and will continue to do so,” Parks added.
In February, a similar collection of St. James residents and environmental advocacy groups sued LDEQ for approving the air permits Formosa needs for its complex.
LDEQ said it cannot comment on pending litigation.
Corinne Van Dalen, a lawyer from Earthjustice, one of the plaintiffs, said she is confident that her clients will win the case.
“The agency findings are arbitrary and capricious. They are not supported by record evidence,” Van Dalen said, referring to the LDEQ’s issuance of Formosa’s air permits. “They didn’t take into consideration how the decision would impact a minority area right next door.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.