freebeacon--2020-11-10--South Carolina Democrat Resigns After Devastating Election Results

South Carolina state senate minority leader Nikki Setzler ( D. ) announced Tuesday that he will step down from his role after Democrats lost three seats in the chamber last week .
Setzler , who has led Democrats in the South Carolina Senate since 2012 , won reelection to his seat last week but will not seek another term as minority leader .
Although Democratic strategists had hoped they could flip four Republican-held seats , Republicans expanded their lead .
Republicans now hold 30 of the 46 Senate seats .
Democratic caucus political adviser Antjuan Seawright told the Post and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to being a bipartisan consensus builder in the Senate and working on behalf of his constituents and the people of South Carolina . ''
`` Senator Setzler is also dedicated to fostering a new generation of leadership within the caucus , and will offer his continued counsel and guidance moving forward , '' Seawright said .
Republicans who ran for federal office outperformed national polling in last week 's election .
State races followed suit .
Republicans successfully defended every state house and chamber majority they held going into the election and flipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislature .
Republicans ' electoral success could create a long-lasting problem for Democrats , as Republican-led state governments across the country will now have the upper hand in redistricting following the 2020 census .

South Carolina state senate minority leader Nikki Setzler (D.) announced Tuesday that he will step down from his role after Democrats lost three seats in the chamber last week.
Setzler, who has led Democrats in the South Carolina Senate since 2012, won reelection to his seat last week but will not seek another term as minority leader. Although Democratic strategists had hoped they could flip four Republican-held seats, Republicans expanded their lead.
Republicans now hold 30 of the 46 Senate seats.
Democratic caucus political adviser Antjuan Seawright told the Post and Courier that Setzler will "remain committed to being a bipartisan consensus builder in the Senate and working on behalf of his constituents and the people of South Carolina."
"Senator Setzler is also dedicated to fostering a new generation of leadership within the caucus, and will offer his continued counsel and guidance moving forward," Seawright said.
Republicans who ran for federal office outperformed national polling in last week's election. State races followed suit. Republicans successfully defended every state house and chamber majority they held going into the election and flipped both chambers of New Hampshire's state legislature.
Republicans' electoral success could create a long-lasting problem for Democrats, as Republican-led state governments across the country will now have the upper hand in redistricting following the 2020 census.


freebeacon--2020-11-10--The Conservative Case for a Coup

The Conservative Case for a Coup

Editor 's Note : Biff Diddle is the self-described acting supreme editor and ombudsman of the Washington Free Beacon .
This column reflects his personal views and not those of the publication .
Unlike some news organizations , the Free Beacon values freedom of speech , diversity of thought , and open debate .
We 're not afraid to publish controversial opinions , and we never will be .
So suck on that .
Decadence is a helluva drug , and America is addicted .
That includes you , dear reader , and everyone you know .
Irredeemably possessed of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Smothered in selfie filters .
Hanging brain on conference calls .
Emotionally invested in `` elections '' and their `` results . ''
Who `` won '' this time ?
Who cares ?
It 's time for an intervention .
Most addicts need to hit rock bottom before they seek help .
Well , America suffered eight years under a failed president ( B. Hussein Obama ) and almost picked Hillary Clinton to succeed him .
If that is n't rock bottom , I do n't know what is .
Just look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel strong ?
Do n't get me started on Donald Trump .
The Western democracies have n't elected a real strongman since Margaret Thatcher , and Trump is no exception .
He epitomizes decadence , even if he sometimes gets it right on policy .
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are dead , but so is Jeffrey Epstein , and Hillary Clinton has yet to be indicted .
Some call that leadership .
I call it a disgrace .
Is Trump better than the libs ?
It 's a fair question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( I would n't know . )
I 'd rather focus on the fact that our country has been under assault from communists for the better part of a year , and I 'm not just talking about Joe Biden .
By refusing to take military action in response to the China plague , America has entered the `` let 's try fentanyl '' phase of our addiction to decadence .
There 's no cure for this addiction , only treatment .
The first step is admitting we have a problem , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop behaving so irresponsibly .
Holding an election in the middle of a plague ?
Voting by mail ?
Turning a blind eye to foreign meddling by renegade Swedes ?
It 's a cry for help .
The third step , obviously , is a military coup .
Yes , I 'm serious .
Do n't like it ?
Grow a pair .
Now is the worst possible time to undergo a regime change .
Trump is on the verge of curing the China virus , and we still have n't figured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's time for the non-Deep State elements of the military establishment to step in and seize power—temporarily , indefinitely , whatever .
Don't—and I ca n't stress this enough—get your panties in a bunch .
Just think of it as `` mandatory rehab , '' because at this point it 's our only option .
We 're too far gone to see the light .
Some of you are losing sleep at the thought of the Supreme Court deciding an election , when in fact the mere existence of a Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Same goes for Congress , the Department of Education , and so on .
Real authoritarianism has never been tried in America .
What is the downside to giving it a chance ?
It might very well be the case that a few ( intelligently implemented ) authoritarian reform measures—indefinite suspension of elections , hyper-militarization , Guantanamo for journalists , etc.—will usher in a golden age of political cohesion .
Take the ChiComs , for example .
The libs hate them ( in theory ) because their industrialization is `` destroying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably tired of apologizing for communist genocide .
Real Americans hate them for better reasons , but there 's no reason to think this great authoritarian moment in our country 's history ca n't also be a bipartisan one .
The agenda practically writes itself .
Jail the journos , obviously , and engineer a prisoner exchange for Chinese Uighurs .
Bomb the power plants and factories to combat climate change .
Start making stuff in America again .
Exert our dominion over the world again .
Is that too much to ask @

Editor's Note: Biff Diddle is the self-described acting supreme editor and ombudsman of the Washington Free Beacon. This column reflects his personal views and not those of the publication. Unlike some news organizations, the Free Beacon values freedom of speech, diversity of thought, and open debate. We're not afraid to publish controversial opinions, and we never will be. So suck on that.
Decadence is a helluva drug, and America is addicted. That includes you, dear reader, and everyone you know. Irredeemably possessed of self-infatuation. Pining for the perfect tweet. Smothered in selfie filters. Hanging brain on conference calls. Emotionally invested in "elections" and their "results." Who "won" this time? Who cares? It's time for an intervention.
Most addicts need to hit rock bottom before they seek help. Well, America suffered eight years under a failed president (B. Hussein Obama) and almost picked Hillary Clinton to succeed him. If that isn't rock bottom, I don't know what is. Just look at yourself, America. Do you feel strong?
The north end of Prospect Park has turned into a dance party, and every few minutes screams of joy just roll across the park, like a wave at a baseball game pic.twitter.com/ATifpgfuMg — Jodi Kantor (@jodikantor) November 7, 2020
Don't get me started on Donald Trump. The Western democracies haven't elected a real strongman since Margaret Thatcher, and Trump is no exception. He epitomizes decadence, even if he sometimes gets it right on policy. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are dead, but so is Jeffrey Epstein, and Hillary Clinton has yet to be indicted. Some call that leadership. I call it a disgrace.
Is Trump better than the libs? It's a fair question. Is gonorrhea better than syphilis? (I wouldn't know.) I'd rather focus on the fact that our country has been under assault from communists for the better part of a year, and I'm not just talking about Joe Biden. By refusing to take military action in response to the China plague, America has entered the "let's try fentanyl" phase of our addiction to decadence.
There's no cure for this addiction, only treatment. The first step is admitting we have a problem, and seeking help. Next, we need to stop behaving so irresponsibly. Holding an election in the middle of a plague? Voting by mail? Turning a blind eye to foreign meddling by renegade Swedes? It's a cry for help.
The third step, obviously, is a military coup. Yes, I'm serious. Don't like it? Grow a pair. Now is the worst possible time to undergo a regime change. Trump is on the verge of curing the China virus, and we still haven't figured out what the hell is going on. It's time for the non-Deep State elements of the military establishment to step in and seize power—temporarily, indefinitely, whatever.
Don't—and I can't stress this enough—get your panties in a bunch. Just think of it as "mandatory rehab," because at this point it's our only option. We're too far gone to see the light. Some of you are losing sleep at the thought of the Supreme Court deciding an election, when in fact the mere existence of a Supreme Court should keep you up at night. Same goes for Congress, the Department of Education, and so on.
Real authoritarianism has never been tried in America. What is the downside to giving it a chance? It might very well be the case that a few (intelligently implemented) authoritarian reform measures—indefinite suspension of elections, hyper-militarization, Guantanamo for journalists, etc.—will usher in a golden age of political cohesion.
Take the ChiComs, for example. The libs hate them (in theory) because their industrialization is "destroying the planet," and because they're probably tired of apologizing for communist genocide. Real Americans hate them for better reasons, but there's no reason to think this great authoritarian moment in our country's history can't also be a bipartisan one.
The agenda practically writes itself. Jail the journos, obviously, and engineer a prisoner exchange for Chinese Uighurs. Bomb the power plants and factories to combat climate change. Start making stuff in America again. Exert our dominion over the world again. Is that too much to ask?


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Supreme Court May Void Individual Mandate, But Unlikely to Topple Obamacare

The Supreme Court may strike down the Affordable Care Act 's individual mandate but appears poised to uphold most of the law against a constitutional challenge from a coalition of red states backed by the Trump administration .
A majority of justices were skeptical that a 2017 Republican tax bill endangered the entire statute .
While that law created doubts about the continued legality of the controversial mandate to buy health insurance , other popular provisions , such as coverage for preexisting conditions , do not appear to be in danger .
The High Court 's new composition seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday 's challenge .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh telegraphed that he thinks the bulk of the health care law should stand even if the individual mandate is struck down .
Justice Amy Coney Barrett raised doubts that one set of plaintiffs even had a right to be in court .
Those developments follow dire warnings from Senate Democrats that Barrett 's confirmation would endanger health care coverage for millions of Americans .
The Court 's apparent direction greatly simplifies the health care agenda for President-elect Joe Biden .
A decision striking down the ACA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drawing board on health care , while it faces the likely prospect of a GOP-controlled Senate .
Biden favors a plan that would make government-funded health care available alongside private plans .
The case arose in December 2017 when congressional Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act .
The law effectively zeroed out the individual mandate , setting the financial penalty for failing to purchase health insurance at zero dollars .
The Supreme Court said in 2012 that the ACA 's requirement to buy health insurance could be upheld as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of red states and a few individuals brought a fresh legal challenge .
They reasoned that because the mandate is no longer generating revenue , it can not be legitimated on tax grounds .
In a highly unusual move , the Trump Justice Department declined to defend Obamacare in court , so a group of blue states led by California intervened to do so .
The biggest issue in Tuesday 's case is the question of what happens if the mandate is unconstitutional .
The answer turns on a legal doctrine called `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for preserving as much of Congress 's work as possible when courts find particular parts of a statute unlawful .
Two conservative members of the Court , Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts , plainly indicated that they think the mandate can be severed from the ACA if it has been rendered unconstitutional by the tax law .
`` Looking at our severability precedents , it does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the Act in place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest , '' Kavanaugh said in a key exchange .
Roberts had even more pointed words for Texas solicitor general Kyle Hawkins , who argued for the red states .
The chief justice said the Court should n't step in to scuttle Obamacare when the Republican Congress itself did not repeal the law , even as it zeroed out the mandate .
`` I think , frankly , that they wanted the Court to do that , '' Roberts said .
`` But that 's not our job . ''
`` Congress left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it lowered the penalty to zero .
That seems to be compelling evidence on the question , '' he added .
Critically , however , the chief justice did not give away his thinking on the continued legality of the mandate .
He asked only about severability and whether the plaintiffs had a basis for being in court .
Donald Verrilli , the former solicitor general who defended the ACA in court for the Obama administration , appeared before the justices again Tuesday , this time on behalf of congressional Democrats .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the ACA and that the entire health insurance sector has operated for years in compliance with its requirements .
`` To assume that Congress put all of that at risk when it amended the law in 2017 is to attribute to Congress a recklessness that is both without foundation in reality and jurisprudentially inappropriate , '' Verrilli said .
As to the legality of the mandate itself , the red states say it can not be sustained as a tax if it does n't raise money for the government .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is a naked command to purchase health insurance , and , as such , it falls outside Congress 's enumerated powers , '' said Hawkins .
The liberal justices sparred with Republican lawyers on this point .
Justice Elena Kagan questioned how a toothless mandate could amount to unlawful strong-arming .
`` How does it make sense to say that what was not an unconstitutional command before has become an unconstitutional command now , given the far lesser degree of coercive force ? ''
Kagan asked .
Justice Samuel Alito later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a zero-dollar tax penalty in federal law , making the mandate suspect in its current form .
`` Are you aware of any provisions in the [ U.S. Code ] in which Congress has purported to use its taxing power to say you must do this , and we 're going to tax it and we 're going to set the tax at zero ? ''
he asked acting solicitor general Jeff Wall , who argued for the Trump administration .
Another issue is whether the plaintiffs even had a legal basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
In court papers , the blue states said that harm is a necessary prerequisite for a lawsuit , but a mandate penalty of zero dollars is n't harming anybody .
`` It is legally clear that absolutely nothing will happen to them if they choose to go without coverage , '' the blue states wrote of the individual plaintiffs in court papers .
Even if the individual plaintiffs do n't have standing , the red states say they do because the mandate effectively requires them to spend more on health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
19-840 California v. Texas , is expected in the spring or early summer .

The Supreme Court may strike down the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate but appears poised to uphold most of the law against a constitutional challenge from a coalition of red states backed by the Trump administration.
A majority of justices were skeptical that a 2017 Republican tax bill endangered the entire statute. While that law created doubts about the continued legality of the controversial mandate to buy health insurance, other popular provisions, such as coverage for preexisting conditions, do not appear to be in danger.
The High Court's new composition seemed to have little effect on the fate of Tuesday's challenge. Justice Brett Kavanaugh telegraphed that he thinks the bulk of the health care law should stand even if the individual mandate is struck down. Justice Amy Coney Barrett raised doubts that one set of plaintiffs even had a right to be in court. Those developments follow dire warnings from Senate Democrats that Barrett's confirmation would endanger health care coverage for millions of Americans.
The Court's apparent direction greatly simplifies the health care agenda for President-elect Joe Biden. A decision striking down the ACA would send the new administration back to the drawing board on health care, while it faces the likely prospect of a GOP-controlled Senate. Biden favors a plan that would make government-funded health care available alongside private plans.
The case arose in December 2017 when congressional Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The law effectively zeroed out the individual mandate, setting the financial penalty for failing to purchase health insurance at zero dollars. The Supreme Court said in 2012 that the ACA's requirement to buy health insurance could be upheld as a tax. In turn, a group of red states and a few individuals brought a fresh legal challenge. They reasoned that because the mandate is no longer generating revenue, it cannot be legitimated on tax grounds.
In a highly unusual move, the Trump Justice Department declined to defend Obamacare in court, so a group of blue states led by California intervened to do so.
The biggest issue in Tuesday's case is the question of what happens if the mandate is unconstitutional. The answer turns on a legal doctrine called "severability," or a general preference for preserving as much of Congress's work as possible when courts find particular parts of a statute unlawful. Two conservative members of the Court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts, plainly indicated that they think the mandate can be severed from the ACA if it has been rendered unconstitutional by the tax law.
"Looking at our severability precedents, it does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the Act in place, the provisions regarding preexisting conditions and the rest," Kavanaugh said in a key exchange.
Roberts had even more pointed words for Texas solicitor general Kyle Hawkins, who argued for the red states. The chief justice said the Court shouldn't step in to scuttle Obamacare when the Republican Congress itself did not repeal the law, even as it zeroed out the mandate.
"I think, frankly, that they wanted the Court to do that," Roberts said. "But that's not our job."
"Congress left the rest of the law intact when it lowered the penalty to zero. That seems to be compelling evidence on the question," he added.
Critically, however, the chief justice did not give away his thinking on the continued legality of the mandate. He asked only about severability and whether the plaintiffs had a basis for being in court.
Donald Verrilli, the former solicitor general who defended the ACA in court for the Obama administration, appeared before the justices again Tuesday, this time on behalf of congressional Democrats. He noted that millions of people are covered under the ACA and that the entire health insurance sector has operated for years in compliance with its requirements.
"To assume that Congress put all of that at risk when it amended the law in 2017 is to attribute to Congress a recklessness that is both without foundation in reality and jurisprudentially inappropriate," Verrilli said.
As to the legality of the mandate itself, the red states say it cannot be sustained as a tax if it doesn't raise money for the government.
"The mandate as it exists today is unconstitutional. It is a naked command to purchase health insurance, and, as such, it falls outside Congress's enumerated powers," said Hawkins.
The liberal justices sparred with Republican lawyers on this point. Justice Elena Kagan questioned how a toothless mandate could amount to unlawful strong-arming.
"How does it make sense to say that what was not an unconstitutional command before has become an unconstitutional command now, given the far lesser degree of coercive force?" Kagan asked.
Justice Samuel Alito later countered that there aren't other examples of a zero-dollar tax penalty in federal law, making the mandate suspect in its current form.
"Are you aware of any provisions in the [U.S. Code] in which Congress has purported to use its taxing power to say you must do this, and we're going to tax it and we're going to set the tax at zero?" he asked acting solicitor general Jeff Wall, who argued for the Trump administration.
Another issue is whether the plaintiffs even had a legal basis, called standing, for getting to court. In court papers, the blue states said that harm is a necessary prerequisite for a lawsuit, but a mandate penalty of zero dollars isn't harming anybody.
"It is legally clear that absolutely nothing will happen to them if they choose to go without coverage," the blue states wrote of the individual plaintiffs in court papers. Even if the individual plaintiffs don't have standing, the red states say they do because the mandate effectively requires them to spend more on health care.
A decision in the case, No. 19-840 California v. Texas, is expected in the spring or early summer.


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Taiwan Announces Military Exercises With U.S. Marines

Taiwan announced on Monday the arrival of U.S. Marines participating in joint exercises , marking the first public acknowledgment of military exercises with U.S. forces in over 40 years .
Amphibious joint exercises between U.S. Marine Raiders and the Taiwanese Marine Corps began in Taiwan this week and were described as `` routine '' by Taiwan ’ s Naval Command , the first admission of direct Taiwanese-American military cooperation since 1979 , according to Newsweek .
Taiwanese soldiers will receive a month of amphibious training under the U.S. Marines .
`` In order to maintain regional peace and stability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militaries of Taiwan and the United States are proceeding as usual , '' the Taiwanese Navy said in a statement .
Oriana Skylar Mastro , China expert at the American Enterprise Institute , described the announcement from Taiwan as rare .
`` There has always been an element of training to the U.S.-Taiwan relationship , but boots on the ground is rare , '' she said .
`` And publicizing it is unheard of . ''
Since the normalization of relations between Beijing and Washington in 1979 , neither the United States nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two countries .
The move comes during a time of concern over the prospect of a future invasion of Taiwan , as China escalates its public pressure campaign on the island country .
In response to escalation , the Trump administration has sent two senior diplomats to Taiwan in the past year and approved the sale of American rocket and missile systems to Taiwan .
Experts have expressed concern that efforts to secure Taiwan 's defense could be upended by a potential Biden administration .
Joe Biden and some of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lukewarm support for the Taiwanese cause .
In 2001 , Biden wrote in an op-ed that committing to Taiwan 's defense could `` draw us into a war across the Taiwan Strait . ''

Taiwan announced on Monday the arrival of U.S. Marines participating in joint exercises, marking the first public acknowledgment of military exercises with U.S. forces in over 40 years.
Amphibious joint exercises between U.S. Marine Raiders and the Taiwanese Marine Corps began in Taiwan this week and were described as "routine" by Taiwan’s Naval Command, the first admission of direct Taiwanese-American military cooperation since 1979, according to Newsweek. Taiwanese soldiers will receive a month of amphibious training under the U.S. Marines.
"In order to maintain regional peace and stability, routine security cooperation and exchanges between the militaries of Taiwan and the United States are proceeding as usual," the Taiwanese Navy said in a statement.
Oriana Skylar Mastro, China expert at the American Enterprise Institute, described the announcement from Taiwan as rare. "There has always been an element of training to the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, but boots on the ground is rare," she said. "And publicizing it is unheard of."
Since the normalization of relations between Beijing and Washington in 1979, neither the United States nor Taiwan have generally acknowledged joint military exercises between the two countries. The move comes during a time of concern over the prospect of a future invasion of Taiwan, as China escalates its public pressure campaign on the island country.
In response to escalation, the Trump administration has sent two senior diplomats to Taiwan in the past year and approved the sale of American rocket and missile systems to Taiwan.
Experts have expressed concern that efforts to secure Taiwan's defense could be upended by a potential Biden administration. Joe Biden and some of his key foreign policy advisers have a history of lukewarm support for the Taiwanese cause. In 2001, Biden wrote in an op-ed that committing to Taiwan's defense could "draw us into a war across the Taiwan Strait."


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Cunningham Fails to Continue Proud Tradition of Successful Dem Philanderers

North Carolina voters have decided not to elect another philandering Democrat to represent them in the United States Senate .
Cal Cunningham ( D. , N.C. ) failed in his effort to unseat incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) on Tuesday , after cheating on his wife during the campaign and refusing to rule out the possibility of additional mistresses coming forward .
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Tillis on Tuesday .
The Republican led by 1.7 percentage points with 97 percent of precincts reporting .
`` The voters have spoken and I respect their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement conceding the race .
As a result , the GOP will retain at least 49 seats in the U.S. Senate .
Control of the upper chamber , however , will ultimately be decided by two Georgia runoff elections scheduled for January .
Had he won , Cunningham would have joined an illustrious list of sex creeps who have found political success in the Democratic Party , including such prominent philanderers as Bill Clinton , Ted Kennedy , and former Sen. John Edwards , who previously held the title of North Carolina 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Cunningham watched the election returns with his wife and children .
Reports indicated that the candidate had been chucked out of the family home , where he 's had `` weird '' sex with his mistress , and was crashing at his sister 's place in Raleigh .
With most polls predicting a Cunningham victory , many observers had wondered whether Cunningham 's family would attend his swearing-in ceremony in Washington , D.C. , or whether the philandering Democrat would bring a date .
Apart from the affair , which was first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cunningham ran a boring campaign that was light on policy proposals and based almost entirely on the fact that he supported `` affordable health care '' and served as a lawyer in the Army Reserve , which is currently investigating his affair with the wife of an enlisted officer .
Per the advice of Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , all the Democratic candidate had to do was stay `` in a windowless basement raising money . ''
In other words , all Cunningham had to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats did n't have to nominate a white dude to challenge Tillis , but Schumer insisted .
Cunningham , who won the Democratic nomination thanks to early backing from the party establishment , was one of several white candidates the party establishment spent millions to support at the expense of qualified black candidates .
Cunningham 's primary opponent , former Boeing engineer Erica Smith , told supporters that `` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina . ''
She accused Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they would not endorse a candidate in the primary , only to break that promise by endorsing Cunningham , a move she denounced as `` unacceptable . ''

North Carolina voters have decided not to elect another philandering Democrat to represent them in the United States Senate. Cal Cunningham (D., N.C.) failed in his effort to unseat incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) on Tuesday, after cheating on his wife during the campaign and refusing to rule out the possibility of additional mistresses coming forward.
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Tillis on Tuesday. The Republican led by 1.7 percentage points with 97 percent of precincts reporting. "The voters have spoken and I respect their decision," Cunningham said in a statement conceding the race. As a result, the GOP will retain at least 49 seats in the U.S. Senate. Control of the upper chamber, however, will ultimately be decided by two Georgia runoff elections scheduled for January.
Had he won, Cunningham would have joined an illustrious list of sex creeps who have found political success in the Democratic Party, including such prominent philanderers as Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and former Sen. John Edwards, who previously held the title of North Carolina's horniest Democrat.
It's not known whether Cunningham watched the election returns with his wife and children. Reports indicated that the candidate had been chucked out of the family home, where he's had "weird" sex with his mistress, and was crashing at his sister's place in Raleigh. With most polls predicting a Cunningham victory, many observers had wondered whether Cunningham's family would attend his swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C., or whether the philandering Democrat would bring a date.
Apart from the affair, which was first reported by a Washington Free Beacon alumnus, Cunningham ran a boring campaign that was light on policy proposals and based almost entirely on the fact that he supported "affordable health care" and served as a lawyer in the Army Reserve, which is currently investigating his affair with the wife of an enlisted officer. Per the advice of Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), all the Democratic candidate had to do was stay "in a windowless basement raising money."
In other words, all Cunningham had to do was nothing, and he failed. Democrats didn't have to nominate a white dude to challenge Tillis, but Schumer insisted. Cunningham, who won the Democratic nomination thanks to early backing from the party establishment, was one of several white candidates the party establishment spent millions to support at the expense of qualified black candidates.
Cunningham's primary opponent, former Boeing engineer Erica Smith, told supporters that "Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina." She accused Democratic officials of promising her "unequivocally" that they would not endorse a candidate in the primary, only to break that promise by endorsing Cunningham, a move she denounced as "unacceptable."
Sorry, Cal!


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Inconvenient Truth: Joy Reid Claims FiveThirtyEight Website Named After Al Gore’s Loss

MSNBC host Joy Reid incorrectly claimed on Monday that the FiveThirtyEight analytics website was named after the number of votes that separated former vice president Al Gore from the presidency in 2000 .
`` Here 's the thing : the reason there 's a thing called @ FiveThirtyEight is because 538 was the margin in [ Florida ] when the Republican SCOTUS reversed the 2000 election during a recount , making Dubya the president , '' Reid tweeted .
`` That 's the kind of margin where races can flip .
That 's not what 's up now . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the number of electors in the Electoral College , and Gore lost to George W. Bush by 537 votes , not 538 .
Reid 's tweet followed Attorney General William Barr 's order Monday allowing federal prosecutors to investigate `` specific '' claims of voter fraud .
In a series of tweets , Reid said Republicans challenging the results of last week 's election are `` dangerous and irresponsible '' and said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's lead in some states is too large to indicate widespread voter fraud .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states by thousands of votes , but unprecedented rates of mail-in voting—and a plethora of reported errors with voting systems—led some Republicans , including the president , to fear potential voter fraud .
Campaign lawyers representing the president have so far filed around a dozen challenges to vote counts in the battleground states .
According to the lawsuits , election officials in Michigan coached voters on whom to vote for and wrongfully backdated ballots received after Election Day .
The campaign also filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania 's secretary of state and several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observing ballot counting .
Although Reid came under fire for homophobic and anti-Semitic posts on an old blog , MSNBC promoted her in July to host a weekday talk show called The ReidOut .
While covering the presidential election last week , Reid used a racial slur when referring to Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas , calling him `` Uncle Clarence . ''

MSNBC host Joy Reid incorrectly claimed on Monday that the FiveThirtyEight analytics website was named after the number of votes that separated former vice president Al Gore from the presidency in 2000.
"Here's the thing: the reason there's a thing called @FiveThirtyEight is because 538 was the margin in [Florida] when the Republican SCOTUS reversed the 2000 election during a recount, making Dubya the president," Reid tweeted. "That's the kind of margin where races can flip. That's not what's up now."
http://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1326000149550784513
FiveThirtyEight's name, however, comes from the number of electors in the Electoral College, and Gore lost to George W. Bush by 537 votes, not 538.
Reid's tweet followed Attorney General William Barr's order Monday allowing federal prosecutors to investigate "specific" claims of voter fraud. In a series of tweets, Reid said Republicans challenging the results of last week's election are "dangerous and irresponsible" and said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's lead in some states is too large to indicate widespread voter fraud.
Trump currently trails Biden in six key battleground states by thousands of votes, but unprecedented rates of mail-in voting—and a plethora of reported errors with voting systems—led some Republicans, including the president, to fear potential voter fraud.
Campaign lawyers representing the president have so far filed around a dozen challenges to vote counts in the battleground states. According to the lawsuits, election officials in Michigan coached voters on whom to vote for and wrongfully backdated ballots received after Election Day. The campaign also filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania's secretary of state and several counties for allegedly barring poll watchers from observing ballot counting.
Although Reid came under fire for homophobic and anti-Semitic posts on an old blog, MSNBC promoted her in July to host a weekday talk show called The ReidOut. While covering the presidential election last week, Reid used a racial slur when referring to Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, calling him "Uncle Clarence."


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Iran Considering Execution of Disabled Athlete Critical of Regime

Tehran has arrested—and potentially plans to execute—Iranian Paralympian Reza Tabrizi for his criticism of the country 's Islamist regime , the Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday .
Tabrizi , a silver-winning powerlifter in New Zealand 's 2011 Paralympics championship , wrote on Instagram that he did not understand why Iran has opened Mashad 's Imam Reza Shrine amid the coronavirus pandemic yet has refused to open the city 's gyms .
In the post , he called the decision `` hypocritical . ''
Soon after Tabrizi 's post , Iranian authorities picked up the athlete .
Video from an Iranian human-rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Tabrizi , who uses a wheelchair , struggled to walk towards the police car .
Iranian regime cleric Morteza Mustafazadeh led the charge to arrest Tabrizi for his post .
`` This guy had posted a threatening insult on his Instagram account and thought that in the country ruled by our religious beliefs he could do any damn thing that he wants , '' Mustafazadeh said .
`` Thanks be to God he is now behind bars . ''
He is now pressing the regime to execute the bodybuilder .
Tabrizi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the U.K. Telegraph .
`` I apologize to all my friends and fans and hereby state that the love of our religious saints runs in the blood of my family and if as a result of a moment of negligence I have hurt your feelings I do sincerely apologize and ask for your forgiveness , '' he said .
Tabrizi 's abduction and subsequent apology recall the case of Navid Afkari earlier this summer .
After rounds of torture and beatings from Iranian authorities , Afkari , an Olympic wrestler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had murdered a security guard during anti-regime protests .
Despite the Trump administration 's efforts to negotiate for Afkari 's release , the regime executed him in September .

Tehran has arrested—and potentially plans to execute—Iranian Paralympian Reza Tabrizi for his criticism of the country's Islamist regime, the Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.
Tabrizi, a silver-winning powerlifter in New Zealand's 2011 Paralympics championship, wrote on Instagram that he did not understand why Iran has opened Mashad's Imam Reza Shrine amid the coronavirus pandemic yet has refused to open the city's gyms. In the post, he called the decision "hypocritical."
Soon after Tabrizi's post, Iranian authorities picked up the athlete. Video from an Iranian human-rights advocate shows that authorities treated him roughly and that Tabrizi, who uses a wheelchair, struggled to walk towards the police car.
Iranian regime cleric Morteza Mustafazadeh led the charge to arrest Tabrizi for his post.
"This guy had posted a threatening insult on his Instagram account and thought that in the country ruled by our religious beliefs he could do any damn thing that he wants," Mustafazadeh said. "Thanks be to God he is now behind bars."
He is now pressing the regime to execute the bodybuilder.
Tabrizi has publicly apologized for posting his thoughts, according to the U.K. Telegraph.
"I apologize to all my friends and fans and hereby state that the love of our religious saints runs in the blood of my family and if as a result of a moment of negligence I have hurt your feelings I do sincerely apologize and ask for your forgiveness," he said.
Tabrizi's abduction and subsequent apology recall the case of Navid Afkari earlier this summer. After rounds of torture and beatings from Iranian authorities, Afkari, an Olympic wrestler, falsely confessed to allegations that he had murdered a security guard during anti-regime protests.
Despite the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate for Afkari's release, the regime executed him in September.


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Trump’s Election Lawsuits: A State-By-State Guide

President Donald Trump is gearing up for post-election lawfare after a host of media outlets called the presidential race for Joe Biden on Saturday .
The Washington Free Beacon will track Trump 's legal efforts state-by-state and update this story as new information becomes available .
Biden leads in critical battlegrounds like Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , and Pennsylvania , and it 's not clear how Trump might erase those margins by litigation .
An initial wave of lawsuits quickly fizzled last week as vote counters around the country tabulated results , though the campaign may ask for recounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that process .
Donald J. Trump for President v. Hobbs in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona : In Maricopa County , the Trump campaign sued the Arizona secretary of state and a handful of local election officials on Nov. 7 alleging that `` potentially thousands '' of votes were wrongly rejected by poll workers who failed to follow proper procedures .
Vote machines in Maricopa County will reject votes that include splotches , stray marks , or multiple marks in the same race .
The machine will display an alert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defects .
The lawsuit , which includes affidavits from observers and voters , claims that county poll workers overrode those error messages when they showed up on screen instead of instructing voters on how to cast their ballots correctly , thus ensuring those votes would n't count .
The plaintiffs want officials to identify any ballot cast in Maricopa County after an error message appeared .
Those ballots should be inspected by canvassing boards and counted provided they are legitimate , the plaintiffs say .
The voter and observer complaints attached to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mark ballots .
Viral internet claims assert that ballots filled out by sharpie ca n't be counted in Arizona .
Arizona attorney general Mark Brnovich ( R. ) looked into the matter and said he 's satisfied those concerns are false .
Biden is ahead of Trump by about 15,000 votes in Arizona .
In re : enforcement of election laws in the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia : Trump lawyers filed a lawsuit in deep-blue Chatham County on Nov. 4 after Republican election observers raised concerns that a poll worker comingled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
Mail-in votes were due at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in Georgia .
The Trump campaign asked a state court judge for an order requiring officials to segregate tardy ballots from all other votes .
At an emergency hearing , a top election official testified that he inspected each of the 50 contested ballots and confirmed they were received on time .
The matter was dismissed shortly thereafter .
`` The court finds that there is no evidence that the ballots referenced in the petition were received after 7:00 p.m. on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invalid , '' Superior Court judge James Bass wrote .
`` Additionally , there is no evidence that the Chatham County Board of Elections or the Chatham County Board of Registrars has failed to comply with the law . ''
Biden currently leads Trump by about 12,000 votes in Georgia .
Gabriel Sterling , a top elections administrator for the state , vigorously defended Georgia 's process in a Nov. 9 press conference .
`` We are going to find people who tried to illegally vote .
Is it 10,353 ?
Unlikely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for President v. Benson in the Michigan Court of Claims : The Trump team asked a state court in Michigan on Nov. 4 to stop the tabulation of absentee ballots across the state .
In an emergency filing , the campaign alleged that a GOP observer had been kept away from an absentee vote counting site in Oakland County and requested access to surveillance video of so-called ballot drop boxes .
They also submitted an affidavit from a Republican attorney who alleged she was told that disqualified ballots were being wrongfully `` cured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claims judge Cynthia Stephens tossed the cases for several reasons , two technical and one substantive .
First , she said the suit had come too late , since the absentee ballot counting was mostly finished by the time the dispute got to court .
Second , she said the campaign was suing the wrong person .
Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson is the defendant in the lawsuit , but Stephens said Benson has no power to order the relief the campaign requests .
Third , she said the filing lacked sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the details surrounding the observer 's removal from the canvassing site , nor did it connect the incident to a broader pattern of malfeasance .
Stephens also said the allegation regarding vote-curing amounted to hearsay and was n't admissible .
Trump lawyers are appealing the decision .
Biden leads Trump by about 150,000 votes in the state .
Stokke v. Cegavske in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada : As in other states , GOP lawyers in Nevada raised procedural concerns about observer access and scrutiny of absentee ballots in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nevada voters reside .
A lawsuit filed in federal court sought to immediately halt the use of an electronic signature-verification software in favor of a manual review of mail-in ballots .
The GOP plaintiffs said use of that software is not permitted under state law .
They also claimed the Nevada balloting was beset by `` irregularities , '' citing a woman who believes another person voted fraudulently in her place and a Republican observer who was asked to leave the Clark County canvassing center on election night .
U.S. District judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hearing on Nov. 6 .
Gordon noted that the dispute over Clark County 's verification software is being litigated at the Supreme Court of Nevada .
Though he seemed to think the software was compatible with Nevada 's election rules , he said the issue arises under state law and is best resolved in state court .
As to the other issues , the Nevada voter who feared fraud seemed to retreat from her claim by declining opportunities to submit an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot .
And election officials stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Clark County canvass , even if one was asked to leave .
The observer who was removed , Fox News commentator Chris Prudhome , violated the rules by using a camera in a part of the canvassing center where filming is not permitted , according to state lawyers .
`` The plaintiffs have not come to the court at this point with sufficient legal showing and sufficient evidentiary basis , '' Gordon said during Friday 's hearing .
`` We 've had answers for every allegation that 's been brought forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of Republican complaints at a Nov. 9 press conference .
The state Supreme Court asked Nevada Republicans and state officials to file legal papers on the signature-matching controversy by Nov. 9 .
Further action is forthcoming .
Tens of thousands of mail-in votes could be at stake .
Biden is ahead of Trump in Nevada by about 35,000 votes .
The deadline to finish the Nevada canvass is Nov. 16 .
Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Kathy Boockvar in the Supreme Court ; In re : canvassing observation in the Pennsylvania Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President v. Kathy Boockvar in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania : The Trump campaign is litigating a multi-front effort in the Keystone State .
First , the campaign is seeking to take over a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court involving the validity of mail-in ballots that arrived after Election Day .
The state Supreme Court said any mail-in ballot that arrived by Friday Nov. 6 should be counted .
The Trump campaign and Pennsylvania Republicans say the deadline set by the state legislature—8 p.m. on Election Day—ought to be the cutoff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the High Court provided that ballots arriving after Election Day should be kept separate from all other votes , as they are the subject of ongoing litigation .
The next step in that case is for the justices to decide whether the Trump campaign will serve as lead plaintiff .
It 's possible that the Court will never resolve the lawsuit , as late-arriving mail-in votes may not be decisive to the outcome in Pennsylvania , where Biden currently leads by almost 50,000 votes .
Second , the campaign fought first in state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules for observers in the Philadelphia canvassing center .
Events in Philadelphia have been at the center of conservative election fraud anxiety , as hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots from southeastern Pennsylvania flipped the state into the Biden column after Trump prevailed among Election Day voters .
Contrary to the president 's claims and the statements of his surrogates , Republican observers have been present continuously at the Philadelphia site .
Campaign lawyers say , however , that the configuration of the room and social distancing rules are preventing their vote watchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania appeals court sided with Trump on Nov. 5 , saying election law requires vote counters to give Trump 's watchers some `` observational leeway to ascertain sufficient details of the canvassing process . ''
The campaign made a detour to a federal judge several hours later , claiming Philadelphia officials were not complying with the order .
During an emergency hearing before U.S. District Court judge Paul Diamond , Trump lawyers admitted that Republican observers have been on hand in the canvassing center since the process began .
Diamond dismissed the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed both parties could have 60 observers present .
Back in state court , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced Monday afternoon that it will wade into the controversy and decide what degree of access observers must have under state election law .
Court officials are setting up an accelerated briefing schedule so the case can be decided quickly .
Third , the campaign sued Pennsylvania secretary of state Kathy Boockvar after she gave voters until Nov. 12 to confirm their identities if mail-in ballots were returned without proper proof of identification .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge said she would rule on Boockvar 's move later .
For now , any voter who returns ID information between Nov. 10 and Nov. 12 will have their vote set aside .
Pennsylvania Republicans are litigating several other controversies with which the president 's campaign is not involved .

President Donald Trump is gearing up for post-election lawfare after a host of media outlets called the presidential race for Joe Biden on Saturday.
The Washington Free Beacon will track Trump's legal efforts state-by-state and update this story as new information becomes available.
Biden leads in critical battlegrounds like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and it's not clear how Trump might erase those margins by litigation. An initial wave of lawsuits quickly fizzled last week as vote counters around the country tabulated results, though the campaign may ask for recounts and seek court orders establishing procedures for that process.
Arizona
Donald J. Trump for President v. Hobbs in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona:
In Maricopa County, the Trump campaign sued the Arizona secretary of state and a handful of local election officials on Nov. 7 alleging that "potentially thousands" of votes were wrongly rejected by poll workers who failed to follow proper procedures.
Vote machines in Maricopa County will reject votes that include splotches, stray marks, or multiple marks in the same race. The machine will display an alert and eject ballots if it detects such defects. The lawsuit, which includes affidavits from observers and voters, claims that county poll workers overrode those error messages when they showed up on screen instead of instructing voters on how to cast their ballots correctly, thus ensuring those votes wouldn't count.
The plaintiffs want officials to identify any ballot cast in Maricopa County after an error message appeared. Those ballots should be inspected by canvassing boards and counted provided they are legitimate, the plaintiffs say.
The voter and observer complaints attached to the lawsuit revolve around the use of sharpies to mark ballots. Viral internet claims assert that ballots filled out by sharpie can't be counted in Arizona. Arizona attorney general Mark Brnovich (R.) looked into the matter and said he's satisfied those concerns are false.
Biden is ahead of Trump by about 15,000 votes in Arizona.
Georgia
In re: enforcement of election laws in the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia:
Trump lawyers filed a lawsuit in deep-blue Chatham County on Nov. 4 after Republican election observers raised concerns that a poll worker comingled about 50 tardy mail-in ballots with legitimate votes. Mail-in votes were due at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in Georgia. The Trump campaign asked a state court judge for an order requiring officials to segregate tardy ballots from all other votes.
At an emergency hearing, a top election official testified that he inspected each of the 50 contested ballots and confirmed they were received on time. The matter was dismissed shortly thereafter.
"The court finds that there is no evidence that the ballots referenced in the petition were received after 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, thereby making those ballots invalid," Superior Court judge James Bass wrote. "Additionally, there is no evidence that the Chatham County Board of Elections or the Chatham County Board of Registrars has failed to comply with the law."
Biden currently leads Trump by about 12,000 votes in Georgia. Gabriel Sterling, a top elections administrator for the state, vigorously defended Georgia's process in a Nov. 9 press conference.
"We are going to find people who tried to illegally vote. Is it 10,353? Unlikely," Sterling said.
Michigan
Donald J. Trump for President Inc. v. Benson in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan; and Donald J. Trump for President Inc. v. Benson in the Michigan Court of Claims:
The Trump campaign is litigating two challenges in Michigan. The first is in federal court and mostly concerns the procedures for counting votes at a canvassing center in Detroit. The second is in state court and involves similar claims.
The federal complaint alleges that vote-counters failed to follow proper procedures or engaged in personal misconduct like "intimidating" Republican observers. It includes dozens of affidavits from Republican poll challengers who were on hand at the Detroit canvassing center.
One challenger called Andrew Miller said in an affidavit that he was repeatedly blocked from observing a ballot duplication process, in which vote-counters faithfully transcribe the marks on a ballot rejected by a machine onto a fresh ballot. Under Michigan law, this process must be conducted by a bipartisan team. Miller also said poll-workers failed to properly document his challenges.
Another, Kathleen Daavettila, is a pregnant women who voluntarily left the canvassing because the alleged hostility of vote-counters and Democratic observers made her fear for her safety.
The lawsuit asks for an order that delays certification of the results, grants Republicans access to surveillance video of ballot drop boxes, and directs Detroit vote-counters to exclude fraudulent votes, among other things.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Junker.
Immediately after the election, the Trump team also asked a state court in Michigan to stop the tabulation of absentee ballots across the state. In an emergency filing, the campaign alleged that a GOP observer had been kept away from an absentee vote counting site in Oakland County and requested access to surveillance video of so-called ballot drop boxes. They also submitted an affidavit from a Republican attorney who alleged she was told that disqualified ballots were being wrongfully "cured" by canvassers.
Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens tossed the cases for several reasons. Stephens said the suit had come too late, that the campaign was suing the wrong defendants, and that it lacked sufficient evidence for its claims. Trump lawyers are appealing the decision.
Biden leads Trump by about 150,000 votes in the state.
Update 11/11/20, 3:45 p.m: This section was updated to include the federal complaint.
Nevada
Stokke v. Cegavske in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada:
As in other states, GOP lawyers in Nevada raised procedural concerns about observer access and scrutiny of absentee ballots in Clark County, where about 70 percent of Nevada voters reside.
A lawsuit filed in federal court sought to immediately halt the use of an electronic signature-verification software in favor of a manual review of mail-in ballots. The GOP plaintiffs said use of that software is not permitted under state law. They also claimed the Nevada balloting was beset by "irregularities," citing a woman who believes another person voted fraudulently in her place and a Republican observer who was asked to leave the Clark County canvassing center on election night.
U.S. District judge Andrew Gordon denied the GOP request during a hearing on Nov. 6. Gordon noted that the dispute over Clark County's verification software is being litigated at the Supreme Court of Nevada. Though he seemed to think the software was compatible with Nevada's election rules, he said the issue arises under state law and is best resolved in state court.
As to the other issues, the Nevada voter who feared fraud seemed to retreat from her claim by declining opportunities to submit an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot. And election officials stressed that GOP observers were on hand continuously at the Clark County canvass, even if one was asked to leave. The observer who was removed, Fox News commentator Chris Prudhome, violated the rules by using a camera in a part of the canvassing center where filming is not permitted, according to state lawyers.
"The plaintiffs have not come to the court at this point with sufficient legal showing and sufficient evidentiary basis," Gordon said during Friday's hearing.
"We've had answers for every allegation that's been brought forward," Clark County registrar Joseph Gloria said of Republican complaints at a Nov. 9 press conference.
The state Supreme Court asked Nevada Republicans and state officials to file legal papers on the signature-matching controversy by Nov. 9. Further action is forthcoming. Tens of thousands of mail-in votes could be at stake.
Biden is ahead of Trump in Nevada by about 35,000 votes. The deadline to finish the Nevada canvass is Nov. 16.
Pennsylvania
Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Kathy Boockvar in the Supreme Court; Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Kathy Boockvar in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and In re: canvassing observation in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The Trump campaign is litigating a multi-front effort in the Keystone State.
First, the campaign is seeking to take over a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court involving the validity of mail-in ballots that arrived after Election Day. The state Supreme Court said any mail-in ballot that arrived by Friday Nov. 6 should be counted. The Trump campaign and Pennsylvania Republicans say the deadline set by the state legislature—8 p.m. on Election Day—ought to be the cutoff.
Election officials are keeping those ballots segregated while the legal battle rages. There are about 10,000 ballots at stake, which would not be decisive to the outcome in Pennsylvania given the size of Biden’s lead, so the justices may choose to skirt the case.
Another Trump lawsuit in federal court seeks to stop the certification of the election results in Pennsylvania. The suit alleges that state officials violated the Constitution by creating a two-tiered voting system: While in-person voting was transparent and verifiable, mail-in voting was "cloaked in darkness" because canvassers kept Republican observers at a distance or arbitrarily enforced rules governing mail-in ballots.
Much like the campaign’s Michigan lawsuit, the complaint here is that Republican observers were not able to scrutinize all aspects of the mail-in vote tabulating process in places such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and State College.
Trump lawyers have previously conceded in federal court that GOP observers were continuously on hand at the Philadelphia canvassing center. But the campaign objects that its poll-watchers were kept at a remove from the canvassers. As a result, they couldn’t see much and had no way of knowing if the rules were being observed, such as the requirement that mail-in ballots arrive in a second "secrecy" envelope.
They also say officials in deep-blue counties wrongfully gave voters a chance to "cure" their mail-in ballots if they were submitted with a deficiency. Voters in red counties were given no such chance, they argue, and state law does not allow individuals to correct mistakes on mail-in ballots once submitted.
The case has been fast-tracked and oral argument is set for Nov. 17 in Williamsport, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear a similar dispute involving observer access in Philadelphia. The Trump campaign obtained an emergency order from a lower court granting greater access for its observers on Nov. 5.
Finally, the campaign sued Pennsylvania secretary of state Kathy Boockvar after she gave voters until Nov. 12 to confirm their identities if mail-in ballots were returned without proper proof of identification. The original deadline was Nov. 9.
Pennsylvania Republicans are litigating several other controversies with which the president's campaign is not involved.
Update 11/12/20, 2:30 pm: This section has been updated to reflect ongoing developments in Pennsylvania.


freebeacon--2020-11-10--U.S. Signs Off on $22.4 Billion Weapons Sale to UAE

The Trump administration on Tuesday informed Congress that it intends to sell more than $ 22 billion in advanced weapons to the United Arab Emirates , part of the administration ’ s efforts to counter Iranian terror groups in the Middle East .
The $ 22.37 billion weapons deal has been in the pipeline for some time .
It includes 50 F-35 Lighting II aircraft worth around $ 10 billion , up to 18 MQ-9B drones worth nearly $ 3 billion , and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions systems worth $ 10 billion , according to the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our deepening relationship and the UAE ’ s need for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats from Iran , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement .
The deal follows the UAE ’ s decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel .
Relations between the United States , Israel , Saudi Arabia , the UAE , and Bahrain have increased significantly during the Trump administration , amid shared concerns about the Iranian regime .
`` The UAE ’ s historic agreement to normalize relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region ’ s strategic landscape , '' Pompeo said .
`` Our adversaries , especially those in Iran , know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success .
The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with U.S. partners in a manner fully consistent with America ’ s longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel ’ s Qualitative Military Edge . ''

The Trump administration on Tuesday informed Congress that it intends to sell more than $22 billion in advanced weapons to the United Arab Emirates, part of the administration’s efforts to counter Iranian terror groups in the Middle East.
The $22.37 billion weapons deal has been in the pipeline for some time. It includes 50 F-35 Lighting II aircraft worth around $10 billion, up to 18 MQ-9B drones worth nearly $3 billion, and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions systems worth $10 billion, according to the State Department.
"This is in recognition of our deepening relationship and the UAE’s need for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats from Iran," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
The deal follows the UAE’s decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. Relations between the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have increased significantly during the Trump administration, amid shared concerns about the Iranian regime.
"The UAE’s historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region’s strategic landscape," Pompeo said. "Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success. The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with U.S. partners in a manner fully consistent with America’s longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge."


freebeacon--2020-11-10--John Heilemann Really, Really Likes Nicolle Wallace

David Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports reporter for two years @ @ @ @ @ freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ @ @

NBC analyst John Heilemann appears quite fond of MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace, bestowing awkward greetings, over-the-top praise, and air kisses to her on live television.


freebeacon--2020-11-10--Trump Sanctions Iranian Smuggling Ring

Trump Sanctions Iranian Smuggling Ring

The Trump administration on Tuesday issued new sanctions on an Iranian smuggling operation that illicitly imported U.S. electronic devices and other materials into the Islamic Republic , according to the Treasury Department .
The new sanctions are part of a larger cache of economic penalties on Iran that the Trump administration intends to issue in the final months of its first term .
Former vice president Joe Biden , if he takes office , is expected to roll back most of these sanctions in a bid to entice the Iranians back to the negotiating table .
The smuggling ring was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications industry , which the United States and European Union have designated as being controlled by Tehran ’ s military .
`` The Iranian regime utilizes a global network of companies to advance its destabilizing military capabilities , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
`` The United States will continue to take action against those who help to support the regime ’ s militarization and proliferation efforts . ''
Some of the electrical components originated in the United States but were laundered through China , according to information provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-frequency Near Vertical Incidence Skywave antennas , which are routinely used for military communications .

The Trump administration on Tuesday issued new sanctions on an Iranian smuggling operation that illicitly imported U.S. electronic devices and other materials into the Islamic Republic, according to the Treasury Department.
The new sanctions are part of a larger cache of economic penalties on Iran that the Trump administration intends to issue in the final months of its first term. Former vice president Joe Biden, if he takes office, is expected to roll back most of these sanctions in a bid to entice the Iranians back to the negotiating table.
The smuggling ring was used by Iran to fuel its national communications industry, which the United States and European Union have designated as being controlled by Tehran’s military.
"The Iranian regime utilizes a global network of companies to advance its destabilizing military capabilities," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States will continue to take action against those who help to support the regime’s militarization and proliferation efforts."
Some of the electrical components originated in the United States but were laundered through China, according to information provided by the Treasury Department. This includes high-frequency Near Vertical Incidence Skywave antennas, which are routinely used for military communications.


freebeacon--2020-11-11--‘God Damn America’: Warnock’s Praise for Jeremiah Wright Gets Fresh Scrutiny

Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock ’ s longtime support for anti-Semitic , America-bashing pastor Rev .
Jeremiah Wright is drawing new scrutiny in the Georgia runoff election , as the candidate attempts to walk back his own prior criticism of Israel .
Warnock , the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , has for years been one of the most vocal defenders of Wright ’ s infamous 2003 `` God Damn America '' sermon , which compared U.S. leaders to al Qaeda and claimed HIV was invented by the government as a way to kill black people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ face negative ads that target his ties to Jeremiah Wright , '' Politico reported on Tuesday .
Warnock ’ s opponent , Republican senator Kelly Loeffler , also highlighted his support for Wright in a statement this week .
`` [ Warnock ] has a long history of anti-Israel extremism , '' Loeffler wrote on Twitter .
`` He defended Jeremiah Wright ’ s anti-Semitic comments . ''
The renewed focus on Wright comes as Warnock faces criticism this week for signing a statement denouncing Israel as an `` oppressive regime '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unarmed Palestinians like `` birds of prey , '' according to a letter and video unearthed by Jewish Insider .
Warnock 's views on Israel could become a central issue in the election .
Evangelical Christians , who tend to be highly supportive of Israel , make up 38 percent of the population in Georgia , the largest religious denomination in the state , according to the Pew Research Center .
Wright came to national attention in 2008 as the spiritual adviser and pastor to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama .
After Wright ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , Obama denounced and cut ties with him .
Warnock has been one of Wright ’ s most consistent public supporters .
In 2014 , he praised Wright ’ s `` God Damn America '' sermon in a speech at the Auburn Avenue Research Library .
`` You ought to go back and see if you can find and read , as I have , the entire sermon .
It was a very fine sermon .
And Jeremiah Wright was right when he said the attack on him was in a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Warnock said .
`` The message of Jeremiah Wright was that public policy has consequences . ''
In another speech in 2013 , Warnock called Wright ’ s sermon `` a very fine homily . ''
In his 2013 book , The Divided Mind of the Black Church , Warnock compared Wright ’ s insights to those of the biblical prophet Jeremiah .
In a sermon shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 , Wright accused the United States and Israel of engaging in `` state terrorism '' against Palestinians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` America ’ s chickens coming home to roost . ''
In his 2003 sermon , Wright said , `` We can not see how what we are doing is the same al Qaeda is doing under a different color flag . ''
The pastor also blamed the U.S. government for `` inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color . ''
`` The government gives [ black people ] the drugs , builds bigger prisons , passes a three-strike law , and then wants us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no , no , '' Wright said .
`` Not ‘ God bless America.
’ God damn America .
That 's in the Bible , for killing innocent people . ''
Obama rejected Wright ’ s remarks as a presidential candidate in 2008 , saying he was not present in the church during the controversial speeches .
`` There are no excuses .
They offended me .
They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced , '' Obama said .
In 2009 , Wright blamed his falling-out with Obama on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ain ’ t going to let him talk to me , '' Wright told the Daily Press of Newport News , Va. `` I told my baby daughter that he ’ ll talk to me in five years when he ’ s a lame duck , or in eight years when he ’ s out of office . ''
Warnock ’ s own comments have also come under scrutiny , particularly his statements on Israel .
In 2019 , Warnock signed an open letter denouncing Israel for its treatment of Palestinians , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter claimed Israel used tactics that `` seem to have been borrowed and perfected from other previous oppressive regimes '' and called the situation `` reminiscent of the military occupation of Namibia by apartheid South Africa . ''
A spokesman for Warnock appeared to walk back the statement , telling Jewish Insider that the pastor was primarily concerned about `` settlement activity '' but holds `` strong support for Israel and belief in its security . ''
In 2018 , Warnock claimed in a sermon that `` the government of Israel shoot [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brothers like birds of prey . ''
He also criticized the U.S. government for moving its embassy to Jerusalem and blamed the `` mealy-mouthed Evangelical preachers , who are responsible for the mess that we found ourselves in both there and here . ''
In a 2014 speech , Warnock also described Jesus as a `` Palestinian peasant , '' a claim that contradicts biblical and scholarly descriptions of Jesus as a Jewish man from Judea .
Rabbi Abraham Cooper , an official at the Simon Wiesenthal Center , said last year that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deny the Jewish people 's historical connection to Israel as a Jewish homeland .
`` For people who have no theological or historical rooting , the idea that Jesus was a Palestinian creates a new narrative for Palestinian history , which otherwise does not date back very far , '' Cooper told the Jerusalem Post .
`` If one can say that Jesus was Palestinian 2,000 years ago , then that means the Jews are occupying Palestinian land . ''
Warnock is headed into a runoff election against incumbent senator Loeffler after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote on Nov. 3 .
National political organizations are expected to pour record-breaking funds and resources into the highly contested race , which is one of two runoff elections in Georgia that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate in January .

Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock’s longtime support for anti-Semitic, America-bashing pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright is drawing new scrutiny in the Georgia runoff election, as the candidate attempts to walk back his own prior criticism of Israel.
Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, has for years been one of the most vocal defenders of Wright’s infamous 2003 "God Damn America" sermon, which compared U.S. leaders to al Qaeda and claimed HIV was invented by the government as a way to kill black people.
The Democratic candidate "is expected to face negative ads that target his ties to Jeremiah Wright," Politico reported on Tuesday. Warnock’s opponent, Republican senator Kelly Loeffler, also highlighted his support for Wright in a statement this week.
"[Warnock] has a long history of anti-Israel extremism," Loeffler wrote on Twitter. "He defended Jeremiah Wright’s anti-Semitic comments."
The renewed focus on Wright comes as Warnock faces criticism this week for signing a statement denouncing Israel as an "oppressive regime" and saying in a sermon that Israel shoots unarmed Palestinians like "birds of prey," according to a letter and video unearthed by Jewish Insider. Warnock's views on Israel could become a central issue in the election. Evangelical Christians, who tend to be highly supportive of Israel, make up 38 percent of the population in Georgia, the largest religious denomination in the state, according to the Pew Research Center.
Wright came to national attention in 2008 as the spiritual adviser and pastor to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. After Wright’s inflammatory sermons went public during the campaign, Obama denounced and cut ties with him.
Warnock has been one of Wright’s most consistent public supporters. In 2014, he praised Wright’s "God Damn America" sermon in a speech at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.
"You ought to go back and see if you can find and read, as I have, the entire sermon. It was a very fine sermon. And Jeremiah Wright was right when he said the attack on him was in a real sense an attack on the black church," Warnock said. "The message of Jeremiah Wright was that public policy has consequences."
In another speech in 2013, Warnock called Wright’s sermon "a very fine homily." In his 2013 book, The Divided Mind of the Black Church, Warnock compared Wright’s insights to those of the biblical prophet Jeremiah.
In a sermon shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, Wright accused the United States and Israel of engaging in "state terrorism" against Palestinians and claimed the attacks were the result of "America’s chickens coming home to roost."
In his 2003 sermon, Wright said, "We cannot see how what we are doing is the same al Qaeda is doing under a different color flag."
The pastor also blamed the U.S. government for "inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color."
"The government gives [black people] the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law, and then wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, no," Wright said. "Not ‘God bless America.’ God damn America. That's in the Bible, for killing innocent people."
Obama rejected Wright’s remarks as a presidential candidate in 2008, saying he was not present in the church during the controversial speeches.
"There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced," Obama said.
In 2009, Wright blamed his falling-out with Obama on "them Jews."
"Them Jews ain’t going to let him talk to me," Wright told the Daily Press of Newport News, Va. "I told my baby daughter that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office."
Warnock’s own comments have also come under scrutiny, particularly his statements on Israel.
In 2019, Warnock signed an open letter denouncing Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, the Jewish Insider reported last week. The letter claimed Israel used tactics that "seem to have been borrowed and perfected from other previous oppressive regimes" and called the situation "reminiscent of the military occupation of Namibia by apartheid South Africa."
A spokesman for Warnock appeared to walk back the statement, telling Jewish Insider that the pastor was primarily concerned about "settlement activity" but holds "strong support for Israel and belief in its security."
In 2018, Warnock claimed in a sermon that "the government of Israel shoot[s] down unarmed Palestinian sisters and brothers like birds of prey." He also criticized the U.S. government for moving its embassy to Jerusalem and blamed the "mealy-mouthed Evangelical preachers, who are responsible for the mess that we found ourselves in both there and here."
In a 2014 speech, Warnock also described Jesus as a "Palestinian peasant," a claim that contradicts biblical and scholarly descriptions of Jesus as a Jewish man from Judea.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, an official at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said last year that this allegation is often used to try to deny the Jewish people's historical connection to Israel as a Jewish homeland.
"For people who have no theological or historical rooting, the idea that Jesus was a Palestinian creates a new narrative for Palestinian history, which otherwise does not date back very far," Cooper told the Jerusalem Post. "If one can say that Jesus was Palestinian 2,000 years ago, then that means the Jews are occupying Palestinian land."
Warnock is headed into a runoff election against incumbent senator Loeffler after neither received more than 50 percent of the vote on Nov. 3. National political organizations are expected to pour record-breaking funds and resources into the highly contested race, which is one of two runoff elections in Georgia that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate in January.


freebeacon--2020-11-11--PINK SLIP: New Yorker Fires Jeffrey Toobin for Exposing Dick on Zoom Call

Jeffrey Toobin , the CNN legal analyst who took his dick out on a Zoom call with colleagues , was @ @ @ @ @ the New Yorker on Wednesday .
`` [ O ] ur investigation regarding Jeffrey Toobin @ @ @ @ @ a result , he is no longer affiliated with our company , '' Stan Duncan @ @ @ @ @ Condé Nast , the magazine 's parent company , wrote in a memo to staffers @ @ @ @ @ Beast .
Duncan explained that the decision was driven by the company 's desire to @ @ @ @ @ everyone feels respected and upholds our standards of conduct . ''
The New Yorker suspended @ @ @ @ @ be caught masturbating during a break in a Zoom conference call with his colleagues at @ @ @ @ @ employer , CNN , merely granted him `` time off , '' while sources suggested @ @ @ @ @ '' return to the network after the scandal blows over .

Jeffrey Toobin, the CNN legal analyst who took his dick out on a Zoom call with colleagues, was fired from his position at the New Yorker on Wednesday.
"[O]ur investigation regarding Jeffrey Toobin is complete, and as a result, he is no longer affiliated with our company," Stan Duncan, chief people officer for Condé Nast, the magazine's parent company, wrote in a memo to staffers, according to the Daily Beast.
Duncan explained that the decision was driven by the company's desire to foster "an environment where everyone feels respected and upholds our standards of conduct."
Toobin confirmed his termination on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JeffreyToobin/status/1326644658991140866
The New Yorker suspended Toobin after he appeared to be caught masturbating during a break in a Zoom conference call with his colleagues at the magazine. His other employer, CNN, merely granted him "time off," while sources suggested that Toobin would "probably" return to the network after the scandal blows over.


freebeacon--2020-11-11--Democrats Went Postal With Sabotage Claims

The doomsday predictions advanced by Democratic Party leaders that President Trump would `` sabotage '' the Postal Service have failed to materialize .
Democrats in many swing states used reforms at the USPS to justify extended mail-in ballot deadlines and other election changes .
But as ballots have trickled in since Election Day , evidence of disenfranchisement has remained thin .
Kevin Kosar , an American Enterprise Institute scholar and former Congressional Research Service official , said the service 's cost-cutting measures do not appear to have affected its ability to handle the largest mail-in voter turnout in history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Postal Service did a pretty good job , and we 've yet to see one significant story reported on how ballots were left behind and it had negative effects on the election , '' Kosar told the Washington Free Beacon .
Extensions to mail-in ballot deadlines also proved unnecessary , as no state 's results thus far will be overturned by the number of late-arriving ballots .
According to Jason Snead of the Honest Elections Project , this was part of a strategy by Democrats to count late votes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories of USPS ‘ sabotage ' to slow down mail-in ballots and disenfranchise huge numbers of mail-in voters , '' he said .
`` This fearmongering was used to justify an unprecedented legal onslaught by deep-pocketed progressive groups in battleground states like Pennsylvania , Michigan , Minnesota , Wisconsin , and North Carolina to force these states to count late , and legally invalid , ballots . ''
The lack of evidence of mass disenfranchisement now stands at odds with claims from Democratic Party leaders , who repeatedly warned that the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiring to sabotage the Postal Service in the months before the election .
In August , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) warned of `` the devastating effects of the President 's campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters . ''
Former president Barack Obama said President Trump was `` undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that 's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people do n't get sick . ''
Rep. Gerry Connolly ( D. , Va. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sabotage , '' and Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D. , N.Y. ) , who chairs the Government Oversight Committee , accused Trump of another attempt `` to prevent millions of Americans from having their votes counted . ''
Two House Democrats even asked the FBI to open a criminal investigation into Postmaster General DeJoy .
Such rhetoric bred distrust in voters , according to Kosar .
`` It 's irresponsible for any public figure with a significant audience to say things that are not true about election processes , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it only feeds anxiety and fears . ''
On Tuesday , Pennsylvania 's top elections official said that just 10,000 ballots were received after Election Day during the three-day extension period , too few to have an impact on the final result .
In North Carolina , results are still not final because of the state 's extended ballot deadline .
The director of the North Carolina board of elections said the state was considering `` a very small number of votes '' received in the period after Election Day .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return absentee ballots in person , instead of through the mail , after the courts rejected an attempt to extend the state 's ballot deadline .
All of those states were able to experience record turnout without significant logistical problems with vote-by-mail .
The Postal Service did not respond to requests for comment .
On October 29 , the agency issued a press release stating that it went to `` extraordinary measures to advance and expedite the delivery of the nation 's ballots '' and had processed and delivered 122 million blank and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics , rather than postal reform , undermined the nation 's `` democratic norms . ''
`` Voters across the nation had ample avenues to cast their ballots in a timely fashion , with weeks of absentee voting , early in-person , and safe Election Day voting opportunities , '' he said .
`` There was simply no reason to depart from democratic norms to try to rewrite election laws in courts mid-election and in fashions designed to skew elections for partisan gain . ''

The doomsday predictions advanced by Democratic Party leaders that President Trump would "sabotage" the Postal Service have failed to materialize.
Democrats in many swing states used reforms at the USPS to justify extended mail-in ballot deadlines and other election changes. But as ballots have trickled in since Election Day, evidence of disenfranchisement has remained thin.
Kevin Kosar, an American Enterprise Institute scholar and former Congressional Research Service official, said the service's cost-cutting measures do not appear to have affected its ability to handle the largest mail-in voter turnout in history.
"As far as we can tell, the Postal Service did a pretty good job, and we've yet to see one significant story reported on how ballots were left behind and it had negative effects on the election," Kosar told the Washington Free Beacon.
Extensions to mail-in ballot deadlines also proved unnecessary, as no state's results thus far will be overturned by the number of late-arriving ballots. According to Jason Snead of the Honest Elections Project, this was part of a strategy by Democrats to count late votes.
"For months, Americans were treated to conspiracy theories of USPS 'sabotage' to slow down mail-in ballots and disenfranchise huge numbers of mail-in voters," he said. "This fearmongering was used to justify an unprecedented legal onslaught by deep-pocketed progressive groups in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Carolina to force these states to count late, and legally invalid, ballots."
The lack of evidence of mass disenfranchisement now stands at odds with claims from Democratic Party leaders, who repeatedly warned that the Trump administration and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy were conspiring to sabotage the Postal Service in the months before the election.
In August, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) warned of "the devastating effects of the President's campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters." Former president Barack Obama said President Trump was "undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don't get sick." Rep. Gerry Connolly (D., Va.) called DeJoy's proposed reforms "sabotage," and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D., N.Y.), who chairs the Government Oversight Committee, accused Trump of another attempt "to prevent millions of Americans from having their votes counted." Two House Democrats even asked the FBI to open a criminal investigation into Postmaster General DeJoy. Such rhetoric bred distrust in voters, according to Kosar.
"It's irresponsible for any public figure with a significant audience to say things that are not true about election processes," he said. "It's just inherently irresponsible, and it only feeds anxiety and fears."
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania's top elections official said that just 10,000 ballots were received after Election Day during the three-day extension period, too few to have an impact on the final result. In North Carolina, results are still not final because of the state's extended ballot deadline. The director of the North Carolina board of elections said the state was considering "a very small number of votes" received in the period after Election Day. Officials in Michigan and Wisconsin urged voters to return absentee ballots in person, instead of through the mail, after the courts rejected an attempt to extend the state's ballot deadline. All of those states were able to experience record turnout without significant logistical problems with vote-by-mail.
The Postal Service did not respond to requests for comment. On October 29, the agency issued a press release stating that it went to "extraordinary measures to advance and expedite the delivery of the nation's ballots" and had processed and delivered 122 million blank and completed ballots. Snead said that scare tactics, rather than postal reform, undermined the nation's "democratic norms."
"Voters across the nation had ample avenues to cast their ballots in a timely fashion, with weeks of absentee voting, early in-person, and safe Election Day voting opportunities," he said. "There was simply no reason to depart from democratic norms to try to rewrite election laws in courts mid-election and in fashions designed to skew elections for partisan gain."


freebeacon--2020-11-11--New York Times TikTok Correspondent Taylor Lorenz Pens Glowing Profile of 9/11 Apologist

New York Times teen-culture correspondent Taylor Lorenz has been the subject of numerous media profiles , including more than one in the pages of the New York Times .
As it so happens , she also writes them about other people .
Lorenz , who was reportedly forced to apologize and issue a clarification to a Twitter account called `` 🔥 Burn 🔥 the 🔥 Witches 🔥 '' after passive-aggressively criticizing one of her Times colleagues , recently wrote a glowing profile of Hasan Piker , a prominent left-wing activist and internet user .
He has been described as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps due to a lack of research , the article does not mention one of Piker 's most notorious displays of left-wing activism .
During a livestream broadcast in 2019 , Piker attacked combat veteran Rep. Dan Crenshaw ( R. , Texas ) for letting `` some mujahideen , a brave f—ing soldier [ f— ] his eye hole with their d— '' and suggested that America deserved to be attacked by terrorists .
`` America deserved 9/11 , dude .
F— it , I 'm saying it , '' Piker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half-hearted apology , in which he lamented how his use of imprecise language had allowed his critics to `` morally grandstand . ''
Piker 's controversial comments did n't seem to bother Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , who recently took part in a live gaming event with the edgy activist .
Lorenz , for her part , describes Piker as `` a progressive political commentator known for his frenetic onscreen presence '' while documenting his nepotistic rise to media stardom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' founder Cenk Uygur .

New York Times teen-culture correspondent Taylor Lorenz has been the subject of numerous media profiles, including more than one in the pages of the New York Times. As it so happens, she also writes them about other people.
Lorenz, who was reportedly forced to apologize and issue a clarification to a Twitter account called "🔥 Burn 🔥 the 🔥 Witches 🔥" after passive-aggressively criticizing one of her Times colleagues, recently wrote a glowing profile of Hasan Piker, a prominent left-wing activist and internet user. He has been described as the "woke bae" of Facebook commentary.
Perhaps due to a lack of research, the article does not mention one of Piker's most notorious displays of left-wing activism. During a livestream broadcast in 2019, Piker attacked combat veteran Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas) for letting "some mujahideen, a brave f—ing soldier [f—] his eye hole with their d—" and suggested that America deserved to be attacked by terrorists.
"America deserved 9/11, dude. F— it, I'm saying it," Piker said. He was ultimately forced to issue a half-hearted apology, in which he lamented how his use of imprecise language had allowed his critics to "morally grandstand." Piker's controversial comments didn't seem to bother Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), who recently took part in a live gaming event with the edgy activist.
Lorenz, for her part, describes Piker as "a progressive political commentator known for his frenetic onscreen presence" while documenting his nepotistic rise to media stardom as the nephew of "Young Turks" founder Cenk Uygur.