washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Hunter Biden probe politicized by intelligence community

When Hunter Biden ’ s laptop contents burst open in the conservative press in October , an influential Washington group rushed to the aid of his dad , now-presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden .
Retired U.S. intelligence officials became political activists , directly injecting their credentials into the presidential campaign .
They signed an open letter asserting that text messages about Hunter Biden ’ s cash flow from Ukraine and China , and how his father helped were a Russian plot .
There was no evidence of a Russia-laptop link , but the claim provided Democrats and the liberal media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storyline of Biden influence peddling .
“ The politicization of the intelligence community , and IC retirees emboldened to pile on any anti-Trump movement , is a novel and dangerous development in American politics , ” retired CIA clandestine officer Kent Clizbe told The Washington Times .
“ The genie ’ s out of the bottle.
” It was not the first time the intelligence community — retired and active members of the FBI , the CIA , the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ( DNI ) and other agencies — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spying and false claims hamstrung the Trump White House for four years .
“ Intel leaders act like this in banana republics , not in democracies , ” said a congressional Republican staffer .
“ At least until Trump was elected.
” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer , New York Democrat , famously warned President-elect Trump during the transition that criticizing the intelligence community ’ s Russia cyber probe would bring retaliation .
“ Let me tell you , you take on the intelligence community , they have six ways from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Schumer said on MSNBC .
“ So even for a practical , supposedly hard-nosed businessman , he ’ s being really dumb to do this.
” Some of the ways the intelligence community used its power against Mr. Trump : ⦁ An August 2016 intelligence “ defensive briefing ” on foreign threats was disguised by the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane team as a chance to investigate candidate Trump , an internal memo shows .
Intelligence never alerted him about the Kremlin ’ s computer hacking campaign against Democratic presidential nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B. Comey chose to brief President-elect Trump on the now-discredited Christopher Steele dossier , but never told him the allegations against him came from a partisan Democratic operation .
Mr. Comey left his one-on-one meeting with Mr. Trump and went straight to the New York FBI field office to brief Crossfire Hurricane .
The Comey meeting leaked immediately to the news media , causing turmoil for Mr. Trump and his transition team .
⦁ The FBI received intelligence in January 2017 that the dossier was part of Kremlin disinformation targeting Mr. Trump but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration intelligence sources leaked damaging , inaccurate “ scoops , ” such as The New York Times story that the National Security Agency owned a substantial number of communications intercepts between the Trump campaign and Kremlin intelligence .
Mr. Comey and Crossfire Hurricane leader Peter Strzok both have said such intercepts did not exist .
⦁ Fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe took the extraordinary step of opening a counterintelligence investigation into the president after he had dismissed Mr. Comey .
To this day , Mr. McCabe , now a CNN analyst , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian agent .
⦁ Former DNI Director James R. Clapper and former CIA Director John O. Brennan repeatedly implied on CNN and MSNBC that Mr. Trump was a Russian spy , agent and asset .
They offered no proof .
Among the Justice Department and congressional investigations on Russian interference in the 2015 election , no report has said Mr. Trump was a Russian asset .
⦁ Mr. Brennan told CNN viewers that many Trump associates would be indicted for Russian election collusion .
None was .
⦁ Mr. Clapper gave credence to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his numerous CNN appearances .
Responding to Mr. Trump ’ s assertion it was “ fake , ” Mr. Clapper said , “ I don ’ t think that is an accurate characterization for the entirety of the dossier.
” Financed by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party , the dossier was compiled by Mr. Steele , a former British intelligence officer in London .
He relied greatly on Russian-born Igor Danchenko , who debriefed friends in Moscow .
The FBI concluded that the dossier ’ s dozen or so claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider the dossier one of the great hoaxes in American politics .
⦁ Mr. Comey and Mr. McCabe insisted the unfounded dossier be included in the January 2017 intelligence community official report on Russian election interference .
Dossier material ended up in the report ’ s appendix .
It listed the most serious unproven claims against Mr. Trump .
⦁ The FBI spied on the Trump campaign with confidential human sources assigned to two campaign volunteers , physical surveillance of retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn , a year ’ s worth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page , the August 2016 “ defensive briefing , ” and U.S. intelligence bugging Mr. Flynn ’ s phone calls during transition .
With weeks to go before they left office , an unusual number of Obama administration officials , 39 , requested that Mr. Flynn ’ s name be “ unmasked ” in intelligence reports from the National Security Agency .
Then came the open Oct. 19 pro-Biden letter by more than 50 former intelligence officials , first reported by Politico .
They wrote , without any specific evidence , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.
” Signers included harsh Trump critics — Mr. Clapper ; former CIA Director Michael Hayden , who has likened the treatment of illegal border crossers to the Holocaust ; former CIA Director Leon Panetta ; Mr. Brennan ; and former Acting CIA Director Michael J. Morell , an adviser to the Clinton campaign .
Delivered as a political gift , candidate Biden cited this unproven allegation , as did Rep. Adam B. Schiff , California Democrat and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the discredited Steele dossier as a way to bring down Mr. Trump .
History has not vindicated the group and its letter .
DNI John Ratcliffe asserted there was no such evidence of Russian involvement .
He was backed up by the FBI , who had seized Hunter Biden ’ s MacBook Pro at a repair shop in Wilmington , Delaware .
Recipients and senders on Hunter Biden ’ s text messages and email chains either confirmed their authenticity or stayed silent .
No Biden family member has challenged the communications ’ authenticity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Post , which obtained the laptop hard drive from Trump attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani , and by other media reports has survived scrutiny .
Hunter Biden , who used illegal drugs and at the time had found out that he had fathered a child with an exotic dancer , was breaking up with his brother ’ s widow , and was revealed to have left a cocaine pipe and his driver ’ s license in a rental car .
He apparently forgot about the laptop he had left for repairs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden did not respond to calls to pick it up .
Alarmed by its contents , he shared the drive with the FBI and Mr. Giuliani .
In sum , the messages showed that Hunter Biden was deeply involved in business deals with wealthy , shady operators , such as Chinese communist-linked tycoon Ye Jianming , who Beijing accused of corruption in 2018 and disappeared .
One message showed that after Hunter Biden had won a lucrative spot on the board of a corrupted Ukrainian energy firm , a company executive thanked him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Biden .
What ’ s more , they showed that Joseph R. Biden was well aware of his son ’ s foreign business entanglements .
He repeatedly has said he has never spoken with Hunter about any of his dealings .
In one message , including Hunter Biden , former partner Tony Bobulinski and other partners , there was a discussion of cutting in the elder Biden with a 10 % stake in a new Chinese-funded investment firm .
He was referred to as “ the big guy.
” Besides the laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s dealings with corrupt people .
Treasury Department suspicious activity reports showed that he received millions of dollars from a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin , a Ukrainian oligarch , a Kazakhstan oligarch and Chinese interests .
The Senate report on suspicious bank tries gained new relevance on Dec. 9 .
Hunter Biden issued a statement saying the U.S. attorney for Delaware has informed him that he is under criminal investigation for possible income tax fraud .
NBC News cited an email that suggests part of the probe deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Ukraine .
Said Mr. Clizbe , the former CIA officer : “ Never before the Trump administration have we seen retired IC officers applying their political skills , lining up to do it , clamoring to do it , in the battleground of national partisan politics.
” One Russia probe figure who believes the U.S. intelligence community tried to ruin her life is Svetlana Lokhova .
In 2014 , while at Cambridge University in England researching Soviet-era intelligence , she attended an on-campus dinner featuring then-Defense Intelligence Agency head Michael Flynn as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump-Russia conspiracies captured the U.S. news media , the Russian-born Ms. Lokhova suddenly found herself the subject of news stories , They said she had done something inappropriate , but not specified , with Mr. Flynn at the dinner .
The press now had a new Russian nexus with which to go after Mr. Flynn , who at the time was under FBI investigation .
The news reports were not true .
A concealed FBI document flushed out by Attorney General William Barr showed Mr. Flynn was cleared on Jan. 4 , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign contact .
And Ms. Lokhova says the redacted document also exonerates her .
She says she knows where the bogus tale came from — the FBI ’ s own counterintelligence source , Washington national security figure Stefan Halper .
She has said so in a lawsuit filed in Virginia against the news media .
Its dismissal is now on appeal .
News stories in 2017 said that a confidential source at Cambridge was the person upset by Mr. Flynn ’ s supposed conduct .
Ms. Lokhova went on to write a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Conspiracy to Topple President Trump.
” The opening paragraph quotes President Trump : “ Spygate is ‘ the greatest scandal in U.S. political history.
’ ” The book continues : “ After the 2016 Presidential election political opponents attempted to unseat the elected US President Donald J. Trump .
The plotters , among them some of the former leadership of Obama ’ s intelligence community used information they knew was false and supplied to them by a man with links to an ‘ obviously unethical if not criminal spying operation during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted remarks are from left-leaning journalist Glenn Greenwald .
The reference was to Mr. Halper and his past government work .
He has denied any wrongdoing .
Ms. Lokhova told The Washington Times in July : “ The evidence shows the FBI is paying a known liar .
I ’ m interested in why the U.S. government allowed this known liar and paid him and sent him to the United Kingdom to ruin my life .
”

When Hunter Biden’s laptop contents burst open in the conservative press in October, an influential Washington group rushed to the aid of his dad, now-presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
Retired U.S. intelligence officials became political activists, directly injecting their credentials into the presidential campaign. They signed an open letter asserting that text messages about Hunter Biden’s cash flow from Ukraine and China, and how his father helped were a Russian plot.
There was no evidence of a Russia-laptop link, but the claim provided Democrats and the liberal media a counternarrative to ignore the entire scandalous storyline of Biden influence peddling.
“The politicization of the intelligence community, and IC retirees emboldened to pile on any anti-Trump movement, is a novel and dangerous development in American politics,” retired CIA clandestine officer Kent Clizbe told The Washington Times. “The genie’s out of the bottle.”
It was not the first time the intelligence community — retired and active members of the FBI, the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and other agencies — tried to sabotage President Trump. Leaks, spying and false claims hamstrung the Trump White House for four years.
“Intel leaders act like this in banana republics, not in democracies,” said a congressional Republican staffer. “At least until Trump was elected.”
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, famously warned President-elect Trump during the transition that criticizing the intelligence community’s Russia cyber probe would bring retaliation.
“Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you,” Mr. Schumer said on MSNBC. “So even for a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, he’s being really dumb to do this.”
Some of the ways the intelligence community used its power against Mr. Trump:
• An August 2016 intelligence “defensive briefing” on foreign threats was disguised by the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane team as a chance to investigate candidate Trump, an internal memo shows. Intelligence never alerted him about the Kremlin’s computer hacking campaign against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
• FBI Director James B. Comey chose to brief President-elect Trump on the now-discredited Christopher Steele dossier, but never told him the allegations against him came from a partisan Democratic operation. Mr. Comey left his one-on-one meeting with Mr. Trump and went straight to the New York FBI field office to brief Crossfire Hurricane.
The Comey meeting leaked immediately to the news media, causing turmoil for Mr. Trump and his transition team.
• The FBI received intelligence in January 2017 that the dossier was part of Kremlin disinformation targeting Mr. Trump but never shared the information.
• Obama administration intelligence sources leaked damaging, inaccurate “scoops,” such as The New York Times story that the National Security Agency owned a substantial number of communications intercepts between the Trump campaign and Kremlin intelligence. Mr. Comey and Crossfire Hurricane leader Peter Strzok both have said such intercepts did not exist.
• Fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe took the extraordinary step of opening a counterintelligence investigation into the president after he had dismissed Mr. Comey. To this day, Mr. McCabe, now a CNN analyst, invokes innuendo that Mr. Trump is a Russian agent.
• Former DNI Director James R. Clapper and former CIA Director John O. Brennan repeatedly implied on CNN and MSNBC that Mr. Trump was a Russian spy, agent and asset. They offered no proof.
Among the Justice Department and congressional investigations on Russian interference in the 2015 election, no report has said Mr. Trump was a Russian asset.
• Mr. Brennan told CNN viewers that many Trump associates would be indicted for Russian election collusion. None was.
• Mr. Clapper gave credence to the dossier in October 2017 during one of his numerous CNN appearances. Responding to Mr. Trump’s assertion it was “fake,” Mr. Clapper said, “I don’t think that is an accurate characterization for the entirety of the dossier.”
Financed by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party, the dossier was compiled by Mr. Steele, a former British intelligence officer in London. He relied greatly on Russian-born Igor Danchenko, who debriefed friends in Moscow. The FBI concluded that the dossier’s dozen or so claims against Trump allies were inaccurate. Republicans consider the dossier one of the great hoaxes in American politics.
• Mr. Comey and Mr. McCabe insisted the unfounded dossier be included in the January 2017 intelligence community official report on Russian election interference. Dossier material ended up in the report’s appendix. It listed the most serious unproven claims against Mr. Trump.
• The FBI spied on the Trump campaign with confidential human sources assigned to two campaign volunteers, physical surveillance of retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a year’s worth of fraudulently obtained wiretaps on campaign volunteer Carter Page, the August 2016 “defensive briefing,” and U.S. intelligence bugging Mr. Flynn’s phone calls during transition.
With weeks to go before they left office, an unusual number of Obama administration officials, 39, requested that Mr. Flynn’s name be “unmasked” in intelligence reports from the National Security Agency.
The letter
Then came the open Oct. 19 pro-Biden letter by more than 50 former intelligence officials, first reported by Politico. They wrote, without any specific evidence, that the Hunter Biden laptop “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
Signers included harsh Trump critics — Mr. Clapper; former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who has likened the treatment of illegal border crossers to the Holocaust; former CIA Director Leon Panetta; Mr. Brennan; and former Acting CIA Director Michael J. Morell, an adviser to the Clinton campaign.
Delivered as a political gift, candidate Biden cited this unproven allegation, as did Rep. Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In 2017, Mr. Schiff embraced the discredited Steele dossier as a way to bring down Mr. Trump.
History has not vindicated the group and its letter. DNI John Ratcliffe asserted there was no such evidence of Russian involvement. He was backed up by the FBI, who had seized Hunter Biden’s MacBook Pro at a repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware.
Recipients and senders on Hunter Biden’s text messages and email chains either confirmed their authenticity or stayed silent. No Biden family member has challenged the communications’ authenticity.
The story as presented by The New York Post, which obtained the laptop hard drive from Trump attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, and by other media reports has survived scrutiny.
Hunter Biden, who used illegal drugs and at the time had found out that he had fathered a child with an exotic dancer, was breaking up with his brother’s widow, and was revealed to have left a cocaine pipe and his driver’s license in a rental car. He apparently forgot about the laptop he had left for repairs in 2019. The shop owner said Mr. Biden did not respond to calls to pick it up. Alarmed by its contents, he shared the drive with the FBI and Mr. Giuliani.
In sum, the messages showed that Hunter Biden was deeply involved in business deals with wealthy, shady operators, such as Chinese communist-linked tycoon Ye Jianming, who Beijing accused of corruption in 2018 and disappeared. One message showed that after Hunter Biden had won a lucrative spot on the board of a corrupted Ukrainian energy firm, a company executive thanked him for setting up a meeting with then-Vice President Biden.
What’s more, they showed that Joseph R. Biden was well aware of his son’s foreign business entanglements. He repeatedly has said he has never spoken with Hunter about any of his dealings.
In one message, including Hunter Biden, former partner Tony Bobulinski and other partners, there was a discussion of cutting in the elder Biden with a 10% stake in a new Chinese-funded investment firm. He was referred to as “the big guy.”
Besides the laptop, there is other evidence of Hunter Biden’s dealings with corrupt people. Treasury Department suspicious activity reports showed that he received millions of dollars from a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin, a Ukrainian oligarch, a Kazakhstan oligarch and Chinese interests.
The Senate report on suspicious bank tries gained new relevance on Dec. 9. Hunter Biden issued a statement saying the U.S. attorney for Delaware has informed him that he is under criminal investigation for possible income tax fraud. NBC News cited an email that suggests part of the probe deals with not disclosing $400,000 in income from Ukraine.
Said Mr. Clizbe, the former CIA officer: “Never before the Trump administration have we seen retired IC officers applying their political skills, lining up to do it, clamoring to do it, in the battleground of national partisan politics.”
Russian-born scholar
One Russia probe figure who believes the U.S. intelligence community tried to ruin her life is Svetlana Lokhova.
In 2014, while at Cambridge University in England researching Soviet-era intelligence, she attended an on-campus dinner featuring then-Defense Intelligence Agency head Michael Flynn as speaker.
Three years later, as Trump-Russia conspiracies captured the U.S. news media, the Russian-born Ms. Lokhova suddenly found herself the subject of news stories, They said she had done something inappropriate, but not specified, with Mr. Flynn at the dinner.
The press now had a new Russian nexus with which to go after Mr. Flynn, who at the time was under FBI investigation.
The news reports were not true. A concealed FBI document flushed out by Attorney General William P. Barr showed Mr. Flynn was cleared on Jan. 4, 2017, of any inappropriate conduct with a foreign contact. And Ms. Lokhova says the redacted document also exonerates her.
She says she knows where the bogus tale came from — the FBI’s own counterintelligence source, Washington national security figure Stefan Halper. She has said so in a lawsuit filed in Virginia against the news media. Its dismissal is now on appeal. News stories in 2017 said that a confidential source at Cambridge was the person upset by Mr. Flynn’s supposed conduct.
Ms. Lokhova went on to write a book about the ordeal, “Spygate Exposed: The Conspiracy to Topple President Trump.”
The opening paragraph quotes President Trump: “Spygate is ‘the greatest scandal in U.S. political history.’”
The book continues: “After the 2016 Presidential election political opponents attempted to unseat the elected US President Donald J. Trump. The plotters, among them some of the former leadership of Obama’s intelligence community used information they knew was false and supplied to them by a man with links to an ‘obviously unethical if not criminal spying operation during the 1980 presidential campaign.’”
The quoted remarks are from left-leaning journalist Glenn Greenwald. The reference was to Mr. Halper and his past government work. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ms. Lokhova told The Washington Times in July: “The evidence shows the FBI is paying a known liar. I’m interested in why the U.S. government allowed this known liar and paid him and sent him to the United Kingdom to ruin my life.”
When Mr. Comey appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept 30, he provided a full-throated defense of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane.
“Overall, I’m proud of the work,” he said. “There are parts of it that are concerning, which I’m sure we’ll talk about. But overall, I’m proud of the work.”
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Trump says states certifying Joe Biden win committing 'severely punishable crime'

President Trump said on the eve of the Electoral College voting to verify Joe Biden ‘ s election that swing states are committing “ a severely punishable crime ” by certifying fraudulent votes .
“ Swing States that have found massive VOTER FRAUD , which is all of them , CAN NOT LEGALLY CERTIFY these votes as complete & correct without committing a severely punishable crime , ” Mr. Trump tweeted .
“ THIS ELECTION IS UNDER PROTEST !
” Members of the Electoral College will meet on Monday in state capitals to cast their votes officially for the candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mr. Trump ’ s 232 .
A candidate needs 270 to win .
The president , who lost an election challenge at the Supreme Court on Friday night , reiterated his claim that Mr. Biden ‘ s victory was gained through massive cheating by Democratic officials in battleground states .
“ Everybody knows that dead people , below age people , illegal immigrants , fake signatures , prisoners , and many others voted illegally , ” the president said .
“ Also , machine ‘ glitches ’ ( another word for FRAUD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fake ballots , ‘ stuffing the ballot box ’ , votes for pay , roughed up Republican Poll Watchers , and sometimes even more votes than people voting , took place in Detroit , Philadelphia , Milwaukee , Atlanta , Pittsburgh , and elsewhere .
He said , “ In all Swing State cases , there are far more votes than are necessary to win the State , and the Election itself .
Therefore , VOTES CAN NOT BE CERTIFIED.
” The president ’ s legal team has been rejected dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other irregularities in six states .

President Trump said on the eve of the Electoral College voting to verify Joseph R. Biden’s election that swing states are committing “a severely punishable crime” by certifying fraudulent votes.
“Swing States that have found massive VOTER FRAUD, which is all of them, CANNOT LEGALLY CERTIFY these votes as complete & correct without committing a severely punishable crime,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “THIS ELECTION IS UNDER PROTEST!”
Members of the Electoral College will meet on Monday in state capitals to cast their votes officially for the candidates. Mr. Biden won 306 electoral votes to Mr. Trump’s 232. A candidate needs 270 to win.
The president, who lost an election challenge at the Supreme Court on Friday night, reiterated his claim that Mr. Biden’s victory was gained through massive cheating by Democratic officials in battleground states.
“Everybody knows that dead people, below age people, illegal immigrants, fake signatures, prisoners, and many others voted illegally,” the president said. “Also, machine ‘glitches’ (another word for FRAUD), ballot harvesting, non-resident voters, fake ballots, ‘stuffing the ballot box’, votes for pay, roughed up Republican Poll Watchers, and sometimes even more votes than people voting, took place in Detroit, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and elsewhere.
He said, “In all Swing State cases, there are far more votes than are necessary to win the State, and the Election itself. Therefore, VOTES CANNOT BE CERTIFIED.”
The president’s legal team has been rejected dozens of times in court complaints alleging election fraud or other irregularities in six states.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Senate Filibuster threatened by Ossoff, Warnock wins in Georgia runoffs

ATLANTA — Democrats ’ chances to make any headway on their agenda in Congress — including statehood for the District of Columbia , gun control and an increase in the minimum wage — ride on the outcome of the Senate runoff elections in Georgia early next month .
True power , however , hinges on more than whether the two Democrats in the Georgia races , Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , win on Jan. 5 .
Liberal Democrats want the two candidates , if they win , to join calls to blow up the legislative filibuster in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP virtually powerless on Capitol Hill .
That perhaps helps explain why Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock have been coy about their views on the touchy subject .
“ If they were to come out and say , ‘ I am going to eliminate the filibuster , ’ that plays into the message that is run more by [ Sen. David ] Perdue than [ Sen. Kelly ] Loeffler and that is if Dems have control of the Senate they are going to do all kinds of untoward things — taking away health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going to compromise , ” said Charles S. Bullock , III , a political science professor at the University of Georgia .
At the same time , the two Democrats don ’ t want to anger the far-left vote by dismissing the idea , forcing them to walk a political tightrope between the two political worlds .
Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock ’ s campaigns did not respond to requests for comment .
Voters ultimately will have the final say Jan. 5 .
The contest will determine whether Democrats can muster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold once and for all .
President Trump and Republicans , meanwhile , are warning voters that Democrats are going to do everything in their power — including scrapping the filibuster — to jam through a far-left policy wish list .
“ Radical Democrats , if they get power , they will immediately abolish the Senate filibuster , allowing them to pass any bill they want and giving them free rein to ram through the most extreme left-wing agenda ever conceived , while at the same time destroying our military through the lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a recent rally in Valdosta , Georgia , where he was campaigning for Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler .
The filibuster , long one of the Senate ‘ s defining features , has been used with more frequency this past decade .
It ’ s also being slowly dismantled , with Democrats in 2013 defanging the filibuster for all presidential nominations save for Supreme Court justices , and with Republicans finishing the job for high court nominees in 2017 .
Both parties have also turned to workarounds , such as using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t allowed , to try to win their priorities .
But for now , the filibuster remains a hurdle to getting most bills passed .
To change the filibuster would usually take a rules change , which requires a two-thirds vote .
But the past two changes in 2013 and 2017 were done using the “ nuclear option ” shortcut , which can be done on a majority vote .
The shortcut doesn ’ t actually rewrite the rule but changes the Senate ‘ s interpretation .
The effect is the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in the House , where no filibuster exists , have long complained about their counterparts in the Senate .
“ I believe that the filibuster has outlived its usefulness , ” Delegate Eleanor Holmes told The Washington Times last week .
Ms. Holmes Norton , a Democrat and Washington ’ s non-voting member of Congress , has been battling for decades to win statehood for the District of Columbia , and after passing a bill through the House this year she ’ s as close as she ’ s ever been — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
“ I would have been for abolishing the filibuster even before there was a statehood bill that passed , ” she said .
The statehood push for D.C. and Puerto Rico still must overcome lingering pockets of opposition among Democrats and , in the case of Washington , questions of constitutionality .
Former President Barack Obama in July targeted the filibuster in his eulogy at Rep. John Lewis ’ funeral , saying if Democrats wanted to honor the civil rights icon and build upon his legacy then it could be time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all this takes eliminating the filibuster , another Jim Crow relic in order to secure the God-given right of every American then that is what we should do , ” Mr. Obama said .
The irony is that Mr. Obama repeatedly relied on the filibuster when he was in the Senate to throw roadblocks up in front of Republican priorities .
But Mr. Trump ’ s stance opposing the end of the filibuster is just as ironic .
For much of the last four years , he urged the GOP to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic Party has been dreaming big about the change , but Sen. Joe Manchin III threw cold water on the idea last month , saying he wouldn ’ t support the change if his party flips control of the chamber .
“ I want to allay those fears , I want to rest those fears for you right now because when they talk about whether it be packing the courts , or ending the filibuster , I will not vote to do that , ” the West Virginia Democrat told Roll Call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote to pack the courts … and I will not vote to end the filibuster.
” If Mr. Manchin sticks to his word , Democrats ’ hopes are sunk .
Even if they win both Georgia seats , they ’ d emerge with a 50-50 Senate and would have control based on presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris ’ tie-breaking vote .
With Mr. Manchin opposing a filibuster change , likely along with every Republican , there wouldn ’ t be enough votes to do it .
Neil Sroka , a spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t do it , Republicans will when given the chance .
“ What it will come down is : at the end of the day the choice for whether the filibuster survives the next two years if we have a Democratic majority is going to be in the hands of Republicans because if you have complete intransigence , if you gave [ Senate Majority Leader ] Mitch McConnell his circa 2009 strategy of obstructing everything and giving [ Democrats ] nothing , then I think the filibuster reform is inevitable.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats to embrace the end of the filibuster if they refuse to cooperate on key issues .
“ I don ’ t think under Joe Biden ’ s administration you are going to see the filibuster blown up so we can pass Medicare for All , but if Republicans stand in the way of common-sense reform , like background checks [ on gun sales ] and pathway for ‘ Dreamers ’ that is when the mask falls and it becomes clear the only path forward is eliminating this arcane rule , ” he @ @

ATLANTA — Democrats’ chances to make any headway on their agenda in Congress — including statehood for the District of Columbia, gun control and an increase in the minimum wage — ride on the outcome of the Senate runoff elections in Georgia early next month.
True power, however, hinges on more than whether the two Democrats in the Georgia races, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, win on Jan. 5. Liberal Democrats want the two candidates, if they win, to join calls to blow up the legislative filibuster in the Senate — a move that would render the GOP virtually powerless on Capitol Hill.
That perhaps helps explain why Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock have been coy about their views on the touchy subject.
“If they were to come out and say, ‘I am going to eliminate the filibuster,’ that plays into the message that is run more by [Sen. David] Perdue than [Sen. Kelly] Loeffler and that is if Dems have control of the Senate they are going to do all kinds of untoward things — taking away health insurance, raising taxes and that they are not going to compromise,” said Charles S. Bullock, III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia.
At the same time, the two Democrats don’t want to anger the far-left vote by dismissing the idea, forcing them to walk a political tightrope between the two political worlds.
Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock’s campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.
Voters ultimately will have the final say Jan. 5.
The contest will determine whether Democrats can muster the support to eliminate the 60-vote supermajority threshold once and for all.
President Trump and Republicans, meanwhile, are warning voters that Democrats are going to do everything in their power — including scrapping the filibuster — to jam through a far-left policy wish list.
“Radical Democrats, if they get power, they will immediately abolish the Senate filibuster, allowing them to pass any bill they want and giving them free rein to ram through the most extreme left-wing agenda ever conceived, while at the same time destroying our military through the lack of funding,” Mr. Trump said at a recent rally in Valdosta, Georgia, where he was campaigning for Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler.
The filibuster, long one of the Senate’s defining features, has been used with more frequency this past decade.
It’s also being slowly dismantled, with Democrats in 2013 defanging the filibuster for all presidential nominations save for Supreme Court justices, and with Republicans finishing the job for high court nominees in 2017.
Both parties have also turned to workarounds, such as using the budget process, where a filibuster isn’t allowed, to try to win their priorities.
But for now, the filibuster remains a hurdle to getting most bills passed.
To change the filibuster would usually take a rules change, which requires a two-thirds vote. But the past two changes in 2013 and 2017 were done using the “nuclear option” shortcut, which can be done on a majority vote.
The shortcut doesn’t actually rewrite the rule but changes the Senate’s interpretation. The effect is the same, though — a new standard.
Democrats in the House, where no filibuster exists, have long complained about their counterparts in the Senate.
“I believe that the filibuster has outlived its usefulness,” Delegate Eleanor Holmes told The Washington Times last week.
Ms. Holmes Norton, a Democrat and Washington’s non-voting member of Congress, has been battling for decades to win statehood for the District of Columbia, and after passing a bill through the House this year she’s as close as she’s ever been — but the Senate filibuster stands in her way.
“I would have been for abolishing the filibuster even before there was a statehood bill that passed,” she said.
The statehood push for D.C. and Puerto Rico still must overcome lingering pockets of opposition among Democrats and, in the case of Washington, questions of constitutionality.
Former President Barack Obama in July targeted the filibuster in his eulogy at Rep. John Lewis’ funeral, saying if Democrats wanted to honor the civil rights icon and build upon his legacy then it could be time to scrap the rule.
“If all this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic in order to secure the God-given right of every American then that is what we should do,” Mr. Obama said.
The irony is that Mr. Obama repeatedly relied on the filibuster when he was in the Senate to throw roadblocks up in front of Republican priorities.
But Mr. Trump’s stance opposing the end of the filibuster is just as ironic. For much of the last four years, he urged the GOP to take the step themselves.
The far left of the Democratic Party has been dreaming big about the change, but Sen. Joe Manchin III threw cold water on the idea last month, saying he wouldn’t support the change if his party flips control of the chamber.
“I want to allay those fears, I want to rest those fears for you right now because when they talk about whether it be packing the courts, or ending the filibuster, I will not vote to do that,” the West Virginia Democrat told Roll Call last month. “I will not vote to pack the courts … and I will not vote to end the filibuster.”
If Mr. Manchin sticks to his word, Democrats’ hopes are sunk.
Even if they win both Georgia seats, they’d emerge with a 50-50 Senate and would have control based on presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris’ tie-breaking vote.
With Mr. Manchin opposing a filibuster change, likely along with every Republican, there wouldn’t be enough votes to do it.
Neil Sroka, a spokesperson for Democracy for America, said if Democrats don’t do it, Republicans will when given the chance.
“What it will come down is: at the end of the day the choice for whether the filibuster survives the next two years if we have a Democratic majority is going to be in the hands of Republicans because if you have complete intransigence, if you gave [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell his circa 2009 strategy of obstructing everything and giving [Democrats] nothing, then I think the filibuster reform is inevitable.”
Mr. Sroka said Republicans could drive more Democrats to embrace the end of the filibuster if they refuse to cooperate on key issues.
“I don’t think under Joe Biden’s administration you are going to see the filibuster blown up so we can pass Medicare for All, but if Republicans stand in the way of common-sense reform, like background checks [on gun sales] and pathway for ‘Dreamers’ that is when the mask falls and it becomes clear the only path forward is eliminating this arcane rule,” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Pilot killed after aircraft crashes in Alabama field

ATTALLA , Ala. ( AP ) - The pilot of a small aircraft was killed when his plane crashed into @ @ @ @ @ the weekend , according to the National Transportation Safety Board .
The pilot was not @ @ @ @ @ injuries or deaths were reported .
The plane , a Beech V35A , took off @ @ @ @ @ at around 11:31 a.m. Saturday and was heading for Merritt Island , Florida , National @ @ @ @ @ Knudson said Sunday The plane climbed to 9,000 feet ( 2,743 meters ) and made @ @ @ @ @ in Birmingham , Alabama , but later lost radar communication , Knudson said , adding @ @ @ @ @ the last we heard.
” The plane went down in a field in Attalla , @ @ @ @ @ p.m. , officials said .
Knudson said two inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration were @ @ @ @ @ officials .

ATTALLA, Ala. (AP) - The pilot of a small aircraft was killed when his plane crashed into a field in Alabama over the weekend, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The pilot was not immediately identified. No other injuries or deaths were reported.
The plane, a Beech V35A, took off from Murray, Kentucky, at around 11:31 a.m. Saturday and was heading for Merritt Island, Florida, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said Sunday
The plane climbed to 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) and made contact with air traffic controllers in Birmingham, Alabama, but later lost radar communication, Knudson said, adding: “That’s the last we heard.”
The plane went down in a field in Attalla, Alabama, just before 1 p.m., officials said.
Knudson said two inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration were on the scene with local officials.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Inside the Beltway: Media organizations say journalists should get the COVID-19 vaccine early

Some believe the news media should be in the early wave of people who will receive the coronavirus vaccine .
The reason ?
Some also believe that journalists qualify as first responders because they , too , are exposed to the virus while reporting on it .
While producing nonstop hostile coverage of President Trump , the media has also covered the coronavirus pandemic nonstop for the last 10 months .
That fact has prompted 13 major journalism organizations to declare that journalists are “ essential ” workers who deserve to be included in the initial populations to receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crisis , journalists represent an even more critical lifeline to their communities .
In the case of this enduring pandemic , journalists have taken on an even more essential role , serving as the connective fabric for Americans who are isolated and physically separated from each other , and informing them of the constantly evolving risks in their individual communities , ” the organization wrote in a letter to Jose Romero , chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices .
“ Journalists provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practical information , ” said the Dec. 8 letter , which pointed out that the media does not necessarily work from home .
“ Despite efforts to protect themselves and the public , members of the media are necessarily exposed to the COVID-19 virus while doing their job sand serving as ‘ first informers ’ in local communities across the country , ” the organization advised .
“ We respectfully urge you to consider the inclusion of journalists in subsequent phases of priority vaccine deployment , ” the letter said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role played by journalists — a role that can not be performed without physically engaging in the communities they serve , regardless of the risk.
” The letter was endorsed by America ’ s Public Television Stations , the Asian American Journalists Association , the National Association of Black Journalists , the National Association of Broadcasters , the National Association of Hispanic Journalists , the National Newspaper Association , the National Press Photographers Association , the Native American Journalists Association , the News Leaders Association , NLGJA : the Association of LGBTQ Journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Broadcasting Service , the Radio Television Digital News Association , and the Society of Professional Journalists .
UH YES , THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN Many Americans share President Trump ’ s belief that the 2020 presidential election was “ stolen ” from him .
“ Sixty-eight percent of Republicans believe the election was stolen from President Trump .
Among Trump voters , 77 % think he actually won .
And , so do 26 % of independents and even 10 % of Democrats .
Overall , 36 % of voters say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new Fox Poll released Sunday advised .
Much of the GOP continues to stand by Mr. Trump , but there ’ s a predictable partisan divide as well from those who favor presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden .
“ Most Republicans ( 66 % ) say the president ’ s actions , which include filing lawsuits against some states that voted for Joe Biden , are helping American democracy , while majorities of Democrats ( 84 % ) and independents ( 56 % ) think he is harming it , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is much public interest in Mr. Trump ’ s actions in the next presidential election .
“ Nearly 4 in 10 voters , 37 % , would like Trump to run for president again in 2024 .
That includes 79 % of Trump voters and 71 % of Republicans , as well as 27 % of independents and 10 % of Democrats , ” the analysis noted .
The Fox News poll of 1,007 registered U.S. voters was conducted Dec. 6-9 , with a 3 % margin of error .
More intriguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ column ’ s end .
Those seeking Christmas or other holiday gifts for their favorite conservatives and Republicans can find some ideas at the Media Research Center ’ s online Christmas store , which offers items with noteworthy emblems , mottoes and images .
The conservative press watchdog has some pivotal sayings on wearables , mugs , magnet and stickers .
Among those mottoes : “ Proud to say Merry Christmas ” ; “ CNN tested positive for fake news ” ; “ Believe in America , not the media ” ; “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ I ’ m conservative , deal with it.
” The press has weighed in plenty about The Wall Street Journal , which suggested in a recent op-ed that presumed-first lady Jill Biden should jettison the honorific “ Dr. ” in her formal title because she has a Ph.D. rather than a medical degree .
Even Merriam-Webster — the dictionary — got in on the cause , pointing out that the Latin origins of the word “ doctor ” actually point to someone who is teacher .
Meanwhile , some headlines to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s ‘ Dr. ’ Jill Biden to you , sir .
You got a problem with that ?
” ( Vogue ) ; “ Dr .
Jill Biden receives support after WSJ Op-Ed : This would never have been written about a man ” ( People ) ; “ Kamala Harris ‘ husband slams WSJ op-ed urging Jill Biden to stop calling herself a doctor ” ( Newsweek ) ; “ Yes , there is a doctor in the house : Dr. Jill Biden ” ( The Baltimore Sun ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal ’ s Jill Biden op-ed vanishes from Northwestern University website ” ( The Daily Beast ) • 36 % of registered U.S. voters agree that the presidential election “ was stolen ” from President Trump .
• 77 % of Trump voters , 73 % of Republican women , 68 % of all Republicans , 64 % of Republican men , 18 % of Democratic men , 10 % of all Democrats , 8 % of Biden voters and 3 % of Democratic women agree .
• 61 % of conservatives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of liberals also agree .
• 56 % of evangelicals , 43 % of rural White residents , 42 % of Whites , 28 % of Hispanics and 9 % of Blacks also agree .
• 36 % of those under 45 years of age , 36 % of those over age 45 , 35 % of those over age 65 and 32 % of those under age 35 also agree .
Source : A Fox New poll of 1,007 registered U.S. voters conducted Dec. 6-9 .

NEWS AND OPINION:
Some believe the news media should be in the early wave of people who will receive the coronavirus vaccine. The reason? Some also believe that journalists qualify as first responders because they, too, are exposed to the virus while reporting on it.
While producing nonstop hostile coverage of President Trump, the media has also covered the coronavirus pandemic nonstop for the last 10 months. That fact has prompted 13 major journalism organizations to declare that journalists are “essential” workers who deserve to be included in the initial populations to receive the new coronavirus vaccine.
“In times of crisis, journalists represent an even more critical lifeline to their communities. In the case of this enduring pandemic, journalists have taken on an even more essential role, serving as the connective fabric for Americans who are isolated and physically separated from each other, and informing them of the constantly evolving risks in their individual communities,” the organization wrote in a letter to Jose Romero, chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
“Journalists provide information on the vaccine itself and other practical information,” said the Dec. 8 letter, which pointed out that the media does not necessarily work from home.
“Despite efforts to protect themselves and the public, members of the media are necessarily exposed to the COVID-19 virus while doing their job sand serving as ‘first informers’ in local communities across the country,” the organization advised. “We respectfully urge you to consider the inclusion of journalists in subsequent phases of priority vaccine deployment,” the letter said. “We hope you will also consider the essential role played by journalists — a role that cannot be performed without physically engaging in the communities they serve, regardless of the risk.”
The letter was endorsed by America’s Public Television Stations, the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the National Newspaper Association, the National Press Photographers Association, the Native American Journalists Association, the News Leaders Association, NLGJA: the Association of LGBTQ Journalists, the News Media Alliance, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists.
UH YES, THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN
Many Americans share President Trump‘s belief that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from him.
“Sixty-eight percent of Republicans believe the election was stolen from President Trump. Among Trump voters, 77% think he actually won. And, so do 26% of independents and even 10% of Democrats. Overall, 36% of voters say the election was stolen from Trump,” a new Fox Poll released Sunday advised.
Much of the GOP continues to stand by Mr. Trump, but there’s a predictable partisan divide as well from those who favor presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
“Most Republicans (66%) say the president’s actions, which include filing lawsuits against some states that voted for Joe Biden, are helping American democracy, while majorities of Democrats (84%) and independents (56%) think he is harming it,” the analysis said.
What about 2024? There is much public interest in Mr. Trump’s actions in the next presidential election.
“Nearly 4 in 10 voters, 37%, would like Trump to run for president again in 2024. That includes 79% of Trump voters and 71% of Republicans, as well as 27% of independents and 10% of Democrats,” the analysis noted.
The Fox News poll of 1,007 registered U.S. voters was conducted Dec. 6-9, with a 3% margin of error. More intriguing numbers in the Poll du Jour at column’s end.
LAST MINUTE SHOPPING
Those seeking Christmas or other holiday gifts for their favorite conservatives and Republicans can find some ideas at the Media Research Center’s online Christmas store, which offers items with noteworthy emblems, mottoes and images.
The conservative press watchdog has some pivotal sayings on wearables, mugs, magnet and stickers. Among those mottoes: “Proud to say Merry Christmas”; “CNN tested positive for fake news”; “Believe in America, not the media”; “Pro-God, Pro-Life, Pro-Gun”; and “I’m conservative, deal with it.”
Intrigued? Consult with MRC-store.com.
FIGHTING IN A TITLE MATCH
The press has weighed in plenty about The Wall Street Journal, which suggested in a recent op-ed that presumed-first lady Jill Biden should jettison the honorific “Dr.” in her formal title because she has a Ph.D. rather than a medical degree. Even Merriam-Webster — the dictionary — got in on the cause, pointing out that the Latin origins of the word “doctor” actually point to someone who is teacher.
Meanwhile, some headlines to consider in the last 24 hours:
“That’s ‘Dr.’ Jill Biden to you, sir. You got a problem with that?” (Vogue); “Dr. Jill Biden receives support after WSJ Op-Ed: This would never have been written about a man” (People); “Kamala Harris‘ husband slams WSJ op-ed urging Jill Biden to stop calling herself a doctor” (Newsweek); “Yes, there is a doctor in the house: Dr. Jill Biden” (The Baltimore Sun); and “Writer of Wall Street Journal’s Jill Biden op-ed vanishes from Northwestern University website” (The Daily Beast)
POLL DU JOUR
• 36% of registered U.S. voters agree that the presidential election “was stolen” from President Trump.
• 77% of Trump voters, 73% of Republican women, 68% of all Republicans, 64% of Republican men, 18% of Democratic men, 10% of all Democrats, 8% of Biden voters and 3% of Democratic women agree.
• 61% of conservatives, 26% of moderates, 10% of liberals also agree.
• 56% of evangelicals, 43% of rural White residents, 42% of Whites, 28% of Hispanics and 9% of Blacks also agree.
• 36% of those under 45 years of age, 36% of those over age 45, 35% of those over age 65 and 32% of those under age 35 also agree.
Source: A Fox New poll of 1,007 registered U.S. voters conducted Dec. 6-9.
• Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Texas reports more than 8,000 coronavirus cases, 111 deaths

DALLAS ( AP ) - Texas reported more than 8,000 new case of COVID-19 Sunday and another 111 deaths linked to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , as the pandemic continued to strain hospitals across the state .
State health officials reported 6,479 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,671 probable cases Sunday .
That brings the official totals to more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of the disease caused by the virus and 23,911 deaths .
The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven ’ t been tested and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show symptoms .
More than 9,200 Texans were hospitalized with COVID-19 Sunday and hospital systems are at to close to their full intensive care unit capacity in several parts of the state , according to the Texas Department of State Health Services .
The first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine are expected at Texas hospitals this week following emergency approval of the vaccine by the Federal Drug Administration on Friday .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks .
But for others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health problems , the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal .

DALLAS (AP) - Texas reported more than 8,000 new case of COVID-19 Sunday and another 111 deaths linked to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, as the pandemic continued to strain hospitals across the state.
State health officials reported 6,479 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,671 probable cases Sunday. That brings the official totals to more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of the disease caused by the virus and 23,911 deaths.
The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms.
More than 9,200 Texans were hospitalized with COVID-19 Sunday and hospital systems are at to close to their full intensive care unit capacity in several parts of the state, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine are expected at Texas hospitals this week following emergency approval of the vaccine by the Federal Drug Administration on Friday.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--New Mexico reports 1,459 new COVID-19 cases, 44 more deaths

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 1,459 new COVID-19 cases and 44 more deaths .
The latest numbers increase the state ’ s totals to 119,800 cases and 1,957 known deaths since the pandemic began .
On Saturday , the New Mexico Department of Health reported 1,803 new cases and 24 deaths as the coronavirus virus showed signs of slowing over the past two weeks .
New Mexico ranks 12th among U.S. states for the most new cases per capita over the past 14 days .
The number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
State officials on Friday announced a delay in the return to in-person learning after schools ’ winter break , in an effort to help mitigate what may be a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases and to minimize the risk of exposure in in-person learning environments during that time .
New Mexico public education officials said no in-person learning will be permitted during the weeks of Jan. 4 and Jan. 11 @

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 1,459 new COVID-19 cases and 44 more deaths.
The latest numbers increase the state’s totals to 119,800 cases and 1,957 known deaths since the pandemic began.
On Saturday, the New Mexico Department of Health reported 1,803 new cases and 24 deaths as the coronavirus virus showed signs of slowing over the past two weeks.
New Mexico ranks 12th among U.S. states for the most new cases per capita over the past 14 days.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
State officials on Friday announced a delay in the return to in-person learning after schools’ winter break, in an effort to help mitigate what may be a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases and to minimize the risk of exposure in in-person learning environments during that time.
New Mexico public education officials said no in-person learning will be permitted during the weeks of Jan. 4 and Jan. 11.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Trump legal team loses election challenges 59 out of 60 times

Maybe President Trump finally got tired of all the winning , because his legal team has been on a historic run of losing , going just 1-for-60 in court challenges to the way last month ’ s elections were run .
Friday ’ s loss in the Supreme Court , which saw the justices rebuff his demand to rewrite the results in four states , was one of the latest .
A day afterward , a federal judge in Wisconsin shot down an effort to challenge that state ’ s slate of electors .
And it ’ s not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substance of the rulings that stings for Mr. Trump , who has insisted mass fraud tainted the votes cast , and the vote-counting that followed .
Phrases like “ did not prove , ” and “ record does not support , ” and “ implausible conclusions , ” and “ lack of evidence ” populate the opinions and orders .
Judges say Mr. Trump and his team are wrong on the facts and the law .
“ This court has allowed plaintiff the chance to make his case and he has lost on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ludwig , the federal jurist who on Saturday dismantled the Trump team ’ s lawsuit challenging Wisconsin ’ s slate of electors .
Judge Ludwig was appointed to the bench by Mr. Trump himself .
So was Judge Steven Grimberg in Georgia , and Judge Stephanos Bibas on the federal appeals court in Philadelphia , each of whom authored opinions rejecting Trump challenges .
They ’ ve joined judges appointed by Presidents Clinton , Bush and Obama , and by Republican and Democratic governors in rebuffing Mr. Trump .
The universal rejection is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They can file these cases all they want , but they aren ’ t going anywhere , ” tweeted Marc E. Elias , an election lawyer who ’ s handled Democratic campaigns for years .
Mr. Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket , a website that is tracking the tsunami of post-election legal battles , and he calculated that Mr. Trump and his team have won just one of 60 cases .
Mr. Elias says that solo victory came in Pennsylvania , where a judge sided with the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s guidance that would have expanded the deadline for voters to “ cure ” misfiled mail-in ballots by three days .
As of Sunday afternoon , Mr. Elias said , there are no “ unruled upon lawsuits ” from the Trump team .
The only cases still pending are appeals of lower-court losses .
“ This is important , because as we go into tomorrow ’ s meeting of the Electoral College , Republicans have no excuses left about waiting for the judicial process , ” he wrote .
“ Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden won the election.
” The Trump legal team is not ready to concede , vowing to pursue its ongoing appeals and even file new challenges .
Mr. Trump , on Fox News this weekend , said his case has been made , and he couldn ’ t understand why the courts weren ’ t seeing it .
“ We ’ ve proven it , but no judge has had the courage , including the Supreme Court , I am so disappointed in them , ” he said .
“ No judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , has had the courage to allow it to be heard.
” But former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , a Trump supporter , said Sunday that the Trump legal team ’ s approach has been “ an absurdity , ” and he resoundingly rejected Mr. Trump ‘ s complaints about courage .
“ The reason the Supreme Court is not taking this is not because of a lack of courage .
It ’ s for the same reason that every court has thrown this out — it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of any type of legal theory that makes sense , ” he said on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” program .
The Supreme Court case , filed by Texas and joined by Mr. Trump , argued that Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin should have their pro-Biden results tossed out because they expanded mail-in balloting ahead of the election without approval of their state legislatures .
Texas said that violates the Constitution ’ s demand that legislatures set the rules for selecting presidential electors .
In a brief unsigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , saying Texas hadn ’ t “ demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections , ” so the case didn ’ t rise to the level of original jurisdiction at the high court .
Two members , Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas , said the court should have allowed the case to be filed — but didn ’ t agree with Texas that the four states ’ results should be tossed .
The apparent unanimous rejection of Mr. Trump ‘ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three members he appointed : Justices Neil M. Gorsuch , Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett .
Georgia ’ s Supreme Court dealt Mr. Trump another blow this weekend , shooting down a demand that the justices take a case immediately because a lower court wasn ’ t moving fast enough .
Indeed , many of the Trump losses were on procedural questions .
That left Trump supporters complaining that judges were hiding behind technicalities in order to avoid dealing with the substance of the president ’ s case that the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell pollsters they believe he did prevail in the election but mischief and malfeasance are denying him his due .
Richard L. Hasen , a law professor at the University of California , Irvine , said the profligate litigation of this election can be traced back to the 2000 Bush v. Gore battle , which he said set the stage for every presidential campaign to have an army of lawyers ready to go once the voting is done .
“ This is not normal for an election system , and it is putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote at ElectionLawBlog .
“ The problems won ’ t go away until we fundamentally rework how we conduct American elections .
”

Maybe President Trump finally got tired of all the winning, because his legal team has been on a historic run of losing, going just 1-for-60 in court challenges to the way last month’s elections were run.
Friday’s loss in the Supreme Court, which saw the justices rebuff his demand to rewrite the results in four states, was one of the latest. A day afterward, a federal judge in Wisconsin shot down an effort to challenge that state’s slate of electors.
And it’s not just the losses, it’s the substance of the rulings that stings for Mr. Trump, who has insisted mass fraud tainted the votes cast, and the vote-counting that followed.
Phrases like “did not prove,” and “record does not support,” and “implausible conclusions,” and “lack of evidence” populate the opinions and orders. Judges say Mr. Trump and his team are wrong on the facts and the law.
“This court has allowed plaintiff the chance to make his case and he has lost on the merits,” wrote Judge Brett Ludwig, the federal jurist who on Saturday dismantled the Trump team’s lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s slate of electors.
Judge Ludwig was appointed to the bench by Mr. Trump himself. So was Judge Steven Grimberg in Georgia, and Judge Stephanos Bibas on the federal appeals court in Philadelphia, each of whom authored opinions rejecting Trump challenges. They’ve joined judges appointed by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and by Republican and Democratic governors in rebuffing Mr. Trump.
The universal rejection is striking, albeit expected, election experts said.
“They can file these cases all they want, but they aren’t going anywhere,” tweeted Marc E. Elias, an election lawyer who’s handled Democratic campaigns for years.
Mr. Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket, a website that is tracking the tsunami of post-election legal battles, and he calculated that Mr. Trump and his team have won just one of 60 cases.
Mr. Elias says that solo victory came in Pennsylvania, where a judge sided with the Trump campaign and rejected the Democratic secretary of state’s guidance that would have expanded the deadline for voters to “cure” misfiled mail-in ballots by three days.
As of Sunday afternoon, Mr. Elias said, there are no “unruled upon lawsuits” from the Trump team. The only cases still pending are appeals of lower-court losses.
“This is important, because as we go into tomorrow’s meeting of the Electoral College, Republicans have no excuses left about waiting for the judicial process,” he wrote. “Every single case has been ruled on and Joe Biden won the election.”
The Trump legal team is not ready to concede, vowing to pursue its ongoing appeals and even file new challenges.
Mr. Trump, on Fox News this weekend, said his case has been made, and he couldn’t understand why the courts weren’t seeing it.
“We’ve proven it, but no judge has had the courage, including the Supreme Court, I am so disappointed in them,” he said. “No judge, including in the Supreme Court of the United States, has had the courage to allow it to be heard.”
But former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Trump supporter, said Sunday that the Trump legal team’s approach has been “an absurdity,” and he resoundingly rejected Mr. Trump’s complaints about courage.
“The reason the Supreme Court is not taking this is not because of a lack of courage. It’s for the same reason that every court has thrown this out — it’s a lack of evidence and a lack of any type of legal theory that makes sense,” he said on ABC’s “This Week” program.
The Supreme Court case, filed by Texas and joined by Mr. Trump, argued that Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin should have their pro-Biden results tossed out because they expanded mail-in balloting ahead of the election without approval of their state legislatures. Texas said that violates the Constitution’s demand that legislatures set the rules for selecting presidential electors.
In a brief unsigned order late Friday, the justices rejected that, saying Texas hadn’t “demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections,” so the case didn’t rise to the level of original jurisdiction at the high court.
Two members, Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas, said the court should have allowed the case to be filed — but didn’t agree with Texas that the four states’ results should be tossed.
The apparent unanimous rejection of Mr. Trump’s demands at the high court included the three members he appointed: Justices Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
Georgia’s Supreme Court dealt Mr. Trump another blow this weekend, shooting down a demand that the justices take a case immediately because a lower court wasn’t moving fast enough.
Indeed, many of the Trump losses were on procedural questions.
That left Trump supporters complaining that judges were hiding behind technicalities in order to avoid dealing with the substance of the president’s case that the election was stolen.
Trump supporters continue to tell pollsters they believe he did prevail in the election but mischief and malfeasance are denying him his due.
Richard L. Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, said the profligate litigation of this election can be traced back to the 2000 Bush v. Gore battle, which he said set the stage for every presidential campaign to have an army of lawyers ready to go once the voting is done.
“This is not normal for an election system, and it is putting our democracy under great stress,” he wrote at ElectionLawBlog. “The problems won’t go away until we fundamentally rework how we conduct American elections.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--The Rev. James L. Netters Sr., civil rights advocate, dies

MEMPHIS , Tenn. ( AP ) - The Rev .
James L. Netters Sr. , a civil rights advocate who was one of the first Black members of the Memphis City Council , has died .
He was 93 .
Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Memphis announced Netters ’ death on its website Sunday .
Netters served as the church ‘ s pastor for more than 60 years .
“ Our prayers are with the friends and family of Rev .
Dr. James Netters , ” the City Council said in a statement on Twitter .
“ He was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council members and his legacy will never be forgotten.
” The cause of death was not immediately known .
A message to the church was not returned Sunday evening .
Netters helped lead sit-ins , marches and other protests as he and the Rev .
Billy Kyles worked to integrate Memphis ‘ public buses in 1964 .
Kyles died in 2016 .
Netters was elected to the City Council in 1967 along with two other African Americans , Fred L. Davis and J.O .
Patterson .
Davis , who later became the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year at age 86 .
As a city councilman , Netters marched with the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. in support of a Memphis sanitation workers ’ strike in 1968 .
It was King ’ s final act as a civil rights leader .
He was assassinated on the balcony of Memphis ’ Lorraine Motel where he stayed .
“ Very sorry to hear of the passing of Rev .
Dr. James Netters , a giant in Memphis as a religious , elected and civic leader , ” Memphis Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was instrumental on the 1st city council in 1968 .
I always enjoyed listening to his sermons at Mt .
Vernon Baptist Church , or simply visiting with him .
”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Rev. James L. Netters Sr., a civil rights advocate who was one of the first Black members of the Memphis City Council, has died. He was 93.
Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Memphis announced Netters’ death on its website Sunday. Netters served as the church’s pastor for more than 60 years.
“Our prayers are with the friends and family of Rev. Dr. James Netters,” the City Council said in a statement on Twitter. “He was one of the first African American Memphis City Council members and his legacy will never be forgotten.”
The cause of death was not immediately known. A message to the church was not returned Sunday evening.
Netters helped lead sit-ins, marches and other protests as he and the Rev. Billy Kyles worked to integrate Memphis’ public buses in 1964. Kyles died in 2016.
Netters was elected to the City Council in 1967 along with two other African Americans, Fred L. Davis and J.O. Patterson. Davis, who later became the council’s first Black chairman, died earlier this year at age 86.
As a city councilman, Netters marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in support of a Memphis sanitation workers’ strike in 1968. It was King’s final act as a civil rights leader. He was assassinated on the balcony of Memphis’ Lorraine Motel where he stayed.
“Very sorry to hear of the passing of Rev. Dr. James Netters, a giant in Memphis as a religious, elected and civic leader,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said on Twitter. “He was instrumental on the 1st city council in 1968. I always enjoyed listening to his sermons at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, or simply visiting with him.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--White House, other top officials to get early vaccine access

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - Senior U.S. government officials , including some White House officials who work in close proximity to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , will be offered coronavirus vaccines as soon as this week , while its public distribution is limited to front-line health workers and people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities .
Doses of the newly approved vaccine from Pfizer will be made available to those who work in close quarters with the nation ’ s top leaders , two people familiar with the matter confirmed .
They said the move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the White House , which has already suffered from several outbreaks of the virus that infected Trump and other top officials , and other critical facilities .
It was not immediately clear how many officials would be offered the vaccine initially and whether Trump or Pence would get it .
The Trump administration is undertaking the vaccination program under federal continuity of government plans , officials said .
“ Senior officials across all three branches of government will receive vaccinations pursuant to continuity of government protocols established in executive policy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership.
” The two people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly .
The New York Times first reported the news .
The move to vaccinate top U.S. officials would be consistent with the rollout of rapid testing machines for the coronavirus , which were similarly controlled by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House complex and other critical facilities .
According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , there is not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had COVID-19 should also get the vaccine .
Pence has not come down with the virus , and his aides have been discussing when and how he should receive the vaccine as the administration looks to boost public confidence in the shot .
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart , meaning Trump administration officials would receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
The Trump administration ’ s vaccination plan could prove to be a boon for his successor , as aides to President-elect Joe Biden have been discussing when and how he should receive the vaccine and working to establish plans to boost virus safeguards in the West Wing to keep the 78-year-old Democrat healthy .
The White House vaccinations come as Trump and his aides have consistently flouted the COVID-19 guidelines issued by his own administration , including hosting large holiday parties with maskless attendees this December .
According to a Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed how many doses would be made available to them , adding it would be premature to speculate who might receive them .
The official was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report from Washington .

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that he was reversing an administration directive to vaccinate top government officials against COVID-19, while public distribution of the shot is limited to front-line health workers and people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Trump made the announcement hours after his administration confirmed that senior U.S. officials, including some White House aides who work in close proximity to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, would be offered coronavirus vaccines as soon as this week under federal continuity of government plans.
“People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary,” Trump said in a tweet. “I have asked that this adjustment be made. I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time.”
It was not immediately clear what the scale of the vaccination program was supposed to be, according to two people briefed on the matter, or what effect Trump’s tweet would have on the government’s efforts to protect top leadership.
News that White House staff would receive the vaccine early drew criticism on social media. Trump and his aides have consistently flouted the COVID-19 guidelines issued by his own administration, including hosting large holiday parties with maskless attendees this December.
Officials said earlier Sunday that doses of the newly approved vaccine from Pfizer would be made available to those who work in close quarters with the nation’s top leaders. They said the move was meant to prevent more COVID-19 spread in the White House and other critical facilities. Trump was hospitalized with the virus for three days in October.
“Senior officials across all three branches of government will receive vaccinations pursuant to continuity of government protocols established in executive policy,” National Security Council spokesperson John Ulyot had said. “The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership.”
The two people briefed on the matter spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The New York Times first reported that top U.S. officials would get early access to the vaccine.
The move to vaccinate top U.S. officials would be consistent with the rollout of rapid testing machines for the coronavirus, which were similarly controlled by the federal government with kits reserved to protect the White House complex and other critical facilities.
According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had COVID-19 should also get the vaccine.
Pence has not come down with the virus, and his aides have been discussing when and how he should receive the vaccine as the administration looks to boost public confidence in the shot.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart, meaning Trump administration officials would receive the final shot just weeks before leaving office.
Aides to President-elect Joe Biden have been discussing when and how he should receive the vaccine and have been working to establish plans to boost virus safeguards in the West Wing to keep the 78-year-old Democrat healthy.
According to a Capitol Hill official, lawmakers have not been informed how many doses would be made available to them, adding it would be premature to speculate who might receive them. The official was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
___
Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report from Washington.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Kelly Loeffler condemns photo with Chester Doles, white supremacist

ATLANTA — The campaign of Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is condemning a photo circulating on social media of her posing with a longtime white supremacist at a recent campaign event , with less than a month to go until the runoff elections that will determine the balance of the U.S. Senate .
Loeffler did not know who Chester Doles was when she took a picture with him , her campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said in a statement to The Associated Press on Sunday .
The picture was taken Friday at a campaign event in Dawsonville , Georgia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for , ” Lawson said .
Doles is a longtime white supremacist who spent decades in the Ku Klux Klan and the neo-Nazi National Alliance .
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Doles was sentenced to prison for the 1993 beating of a Black man in Maryland and again on weapons violations in Georgia .
Doles is also associated with the Hammerskins , a racist skinhead gang , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United the Right rally in Charlottesville , Virginia .
In response to a message from AP , Doles said Sunday he had “ publicly renounced racism on several occasions in the past couple of years.
” Doles added that he attended a “ redemption service , ” standing “ in front of an all-Black congregation and told my story and renounced all racism and asked for God ’ s forgiveness.
” Doles posted the picture of him and Loeffler to his account on VK , a Russian social networking site where he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia politicians , including Republican Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene , the paper reported .
Doles has attempted to insinuate himself into Republican politics over the past year , claiming to have renounced his past while maintaining ties with longtime friends in the white supremacist movement .
In 2019 , Doles started a new organization called American Patriots USA , a group supportive of President Donald Trump but deeply tied to the far-right militia movement .
Doles endorsed several longshot political candidates in the 2020 election , but also attempted to tie himself to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an event in September in Ringgold .
Both major parties and activist groups are plowing tens of millions of dollars into Georgia ahead of Jan. 5 , when David Perdue and Loeffler bid to hold off Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev .
Raphael Warnock , respectively .
Republicans need one victory to maintain their Senate majority .
Democrats need a Georgia sweep to force a 50-50 Senate and position Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tiebreaking vote .
A flurry of top-flight surrogates has underscored the stakes of the race .
President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
President-elect Joe Biden plans to visit Atlanta this week to campaign for Ossoff and Warnock .
Vice President Mike Pence was in the state last week and plans to return Thursday .

ATLANTA — The campaign of Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is condemning a photo circulating on social media of her posing with a longtime white supremacist at a recent campaign event, with less than a month to go until the runoff elections that will determine the balance of the U.S. Senate.
Loeffler did not know who Chester Doles was when she took a picture with him, her campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said in a statement to The Associated Press on Sunday. The picture was taken Friday at a campaign event in Dawsonville, Georgia.
“Kelly had no idea who that was, and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for,” Lawson said.
Doles is a longtime white supremacist who spent decades in the Ku Klux Klan and the neo-Nazi National Alliance. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Doles was sentenced to prison for the 1993 beating of a Black man in Maryland and again on weapons violations in Georgia.
Doles is also associated with the Hammerskins, a racist skinhead gang, with whom he marched in the 2017 United the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In response to a message from AP, Doles said Sunday he had “publicly renounced racism on several occasions in the past couple of years.” Doles added that he attended a “redemption service,” standing “in front of an all-Black congregation and told my story and renounced all racism and asked for God’s forgiveness.”
Doles posted the picture of him and Loeffler to his account on VK, a Russian social networking site where he has posted pictures of himself posing with other Georgia politicians, including Republican Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene, the paper reported.
Doles has attempted to insinuate himself into Republican politics over the past year, claiming to have renounced his past while maintaining ties with longtime friends in the white supremacist movement.
In 2019, Doles started a new organization called American Patriots USA, a group supportive of President Donald Trump but deeply tied to the far-right militia movement. Doles endorsed several longshot political candidates in the 2020 election, but also attempted to tie himself to Greene, who had Doles removed from an event in September in Ringgold.
Both major parties and activist groups are plowing tens of millions of dollars into Georgia ahead of Jan. 5, when David Perdue and Loeffler bid to hold off Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, respectively.
Republicans need one victory to maintain their Senate majority. Democrats need a Georgia sweep to force a 50-50 Senate and position Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tiebreaking vote.
A flurry of top-flight surrogates has underscored the stakes of the race. President Barack Obama headlined a recent virtual rally for Democrats. President-elect Joe Biden plans to visit Atlanta this week to campaign for Ossoff and Warnock. Vice President Mike Pence was in the state last week and plans to return Thursday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Trump threatens to veto defense spending bill again

The Senate on Friday overwhelmingly approved the National Defense Authorization Act following weeks of veto threats from President Trump over language to rename military bases that honor former Confederate leaders and lack of a provision to end legal protections for social media companies .
The $ 740.5 billion legislation was approved 84-13 and needed a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto , serving a major blow to Mr. Trump in his final weeks in office .
Despite the wave of congressional support for the bill , Mr. Trump again threatened to reject the legislation on Sunday , tweeting “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BILL IS CHINA !
.
I WILL VETO !
” His message quickly received pushback from the top Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee , Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island , who said in a statement : “ President Trump clearly hasn ’ t read the bill , nor does he understand what ’ s in it .
There are several bipartisan provisions in here that get tougher on China than the Trump Administration has ever been.
” “ This latest veto threat is further proof that he cares more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American people , ” Mr. Reed said .
“ Now Congress must come together on a bipartisan basis and override this senseless veto and provide for the common defense.
” Five Democrats and one independent voted against the bill — Sens .
Cory A , Booker of New Jersey , Ed Markey of Massachusetts , Jeff Merkley of Oregon , Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bernard Sanders of Vermont .
Thirteen Republicans voted against the bill that sets military spending levels , including Sens .
Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkansas , Ted Cruz of Texas , Josh Hawley of Missouri , John Kennedy of Louisiana , Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky .
The defense policy bill is historically passed with bipartisan support and is highly anticipated to be approved with a significant majority if Mr. Trump does issue a veto .
“ There isn ’ t much that happens around Capitol Hill with the kind of track record that the National Defense Authorization Act has , but there ’ s a reason this bill gets done every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s the most important bill we ’ ll do all year , ” Sen. James Inhofe , Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee , said following the bill ’ s passage .
“ It ’ s what the Constitution tells us we have to do .
We must protect freedom , democracy and peace , and support our troops , ” he said .
The final version of the defense spending bill includes a provision , sponsored by Ms. Warren , that requires the Pentagon to rename @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former leaders of the Confederacy .
The legislation also lacks language to repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act that protects social media companies from being sued by anyone who feels wronged by content someone else has posted — whether their complaint is legitimate or not .
Mr. Trump cited both outcomes as reasons to reject the must-pass legislation .
A handful of key Republicans have rejected the White House ’ s demand , saying Section 230 is not something that should be included in a defense policy bill .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current Congress winds down , the defense bill has become a tempting target for other pet projects .
The bill includes a number of attractive features for lawmakers , including a 3 % pay raise for troops , funding for new weapons systems , new policies to deter China and Russia , and increases in housing protections and standards for military families .
It rescinds Mr. Trump ‘ s emergency declaration to obtain funding for the Mexican border wall , puts at least a temporary hold on plans to draw down more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea , and orders a Government Accounting Office study of U.S. backing for Saudi Arabia in Yemen ’ s civil war .
Mr. Trump previously has threatened to veto the defense policy legislation .
But unlike this year , Republicans have quickly moved to strike a compromise with the president on his key criticisms .
The president has vetoed eight bills during his four years in office , and the 2021 defense bill marks the first time that Congress managed to assemble the two-thirds majority in each chamber needed to override him .

The Senate on Friday overwhelmingly approved the National Defense Authorization Act following weeks of veto threats from President Trump over language to rename military bases that honor former Confederate leaders and lack of a provision to end legal protections for social media companies.
The $740.5 billion legislation was approved 84-13 and needed a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto, serving a major blow to Mr. Trump in his final weeks in office.
Despite the wave of congressional support for the bill, Mr. Trump again threatened to reject the legislation on Sunday, tweeting “THE BIGGEST WINNER OF OUR NEW DEFENSE BILL IS CHINA!. I WILL VETO!”
His message quickly received pushback from the top Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who said in a statement: “President Trump clearly hasn’t read the bill, nor does he understand what’s in it. There are several bipartisan provisions in here that get tougher on China than the Trump Administration has ever been.”
“This latest veto threat is further proof that he cares more about himself than our troops and the safety of the American people,” Mr. Reed said. “Now Congress must come together on a bipartisan basis and override this senseless veto and provide for the common defense.”
Five Democrats and one independent voted against the bill — Sens. Cory A, Booker of New Jersey, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
Thirteen Republicans voted against the bill that sets military spending levels, including Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
The defense policy bill is historically passed with bipartisan support and is highly anticipated to be approved with a significant majority if Mr. Trump does issue a veto.
“There isn’t much that happens around Capitol Hill with the kind of track record that the National Defense Authorization Act has, but there’s a reason this bill gets done every single year for the last 59 years: It’s the most important bill we’ll do all year,” Sen. James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said following the bill’s passage.
“It’s what the Constitution tells us we have to do. We must protect freedom, democracy and peace, and support our troops,” he said.
The final version of the defense spending bill includes a provision, sponsored by Ms. Warren, that requires the Pentagon to rename nearly a dozen military bases that honor former leaders of the Confederacy.
The legislation also lacks language to repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act that protects social media companies from being sued by anyone who feels wronged by content someone else has posted — whether their complaint is legitimate or not.
Mr. Trump cited both outcomes as reasons to reject the must-pass legislation.
A handful of key Republicans have rejected the White House’s demand, saying Section 230 is not something that should be included in a defense policy bill. As one of the few must-pass measures as the current Congress winds down, the defense bill has become a tempting target for other pet projects.
The bill includes a number of attractive features for lawmakers, including a 3% pay raise for troops, funding for new weapons systems, new policies to deter China and Russia, and increases in housing protections and standards for military families.
It rescinds Mr. Trump’s emergency declaration to obtain funding for the Mexican border wall, puts at least a temporary hold on plans to draw down more troops in Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea, and orders a Government Accounting Office study of U.S. backing for Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s civil war.
Mr. Trump previously has threatened to veto the defense policy legislation. But unlike this year, Republicans have quickly moved to strike a compromise with the president on his key criticisms.
The president has vetoed eight bills during his four years in office, and the 2021 defense bill marks the first time that Congress managed to assemble the two-thirds majority in each chamber needed to override him.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com. • Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Iowa reports 1,239 virus cases and 1 new death Sunday

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) - Iowa reported 1,239 new COVID-19 cases and one more death linked to @ @ @ @ @ The state was reporting 256,248 cases of the virus and 3,213 deaths as of 10 @ @ @ @ @ rolling average of daily new cases in Iowa decreased over the past two weeks , @ @ @ @ @ per day on Nov. 28 to 1,324 new cases per day on Saturday .
Iowa @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized with the virus on Saturday , which was down from 820 on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ positivity rate was 15.2 % on Sunday .
Our of the state ’ s 99 @ @ @ @ @ 14-day positivity rate above 15 % .
Only two counties were reporting rates below 10 @ @

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa reported 1,239 new COVID-19 cases and one more death linked to the coronavirus on Sunday.
The state was reporting 256,248 cases of the virus and 3,213 deaths as of 10 a.m. Sunday.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Iowa decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,102.14 new cases per day on Nov. 28 to 1,324 new cases per day on Saturday.
Iowa officials said 749 people were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, which was down from 820 on Friday.
Iowa’s statewide 14-day positivity rate was 15.2% on Sunday. Our of the state’s 99 counties, 58 had a 14-day positivity rate above 15%. Only two counties were reporting rates below 10%.


washingtontimes--2020-12-14--Pakistan police arrest 3 militants, foiling possible attack

MULTAN , Pakistan ( AP ) - Pakistan ’ s counter-terrorism police on Monday raided a militant hideout in the @ @ @ @ @ arresting three suspects linked to past bomb attacks .
The men had also plotted to @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
According to the police statement , the suspects were involved in @ @ @ @ @ people and wounded 30 this year .
It said the arrested militants had a history @ @ @ @ @ Taliban but were now allegedly acting as mercenaries and receiving instructions from someone in neighboring @ @ @ @ @ scores of militant attacks in recent years .
The latest development comes a day after @ @ @ @ @ people near a police station in the city of Rawalpindi , where the Pakistani military @ @ @ @ @ offices of the country ’ s spy agencies are located .
Rawalpindi is located about @ @ @ @ @ ) south of the capital , Islamabad .

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan’s counter-terrorism police on Monday raided a militant hideout in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, arresting three suspects linked to past bomb attacks. The men had also plotted to target the Islamabad Stock Exchange, police said.
According to the police statement, the suspects were involved in four bombings that killed four people and wounded 30 this year. It said the arrested militants had a history of links with the Pakistani Taliban but were now allegedly acting as mercenaries and receiving instructions from someone in neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan has witnessed scores of militant attacks in recent years.
The latest development comes a day after a roadside bomb wounded 23 people near a police station in the city of Rawalpindi, where the Pakistani military’s headquarters and the offices of the country’s spy agencies are located.
Rawalpindi is located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of the capital, Islamabad.