skynewsus--2020-11-09--Biden: Wearing a mask can give us back a 'normal life'

There was nothing surprising about Joe Biden 's speech to the nation on coronavirus .
Yet it felt refreshing in its predictability .
You could almost hear America breathing a collective sigh of relief .
It was the country 's clearest message yet on wearing a face mask and it came from a small theatre in Wilmington , not the White House .
Joe Biden 's go-to venue for holding meetings and recording messages was surrounded by police , secret service agents and armoured SUVs .
Very different scenes for the people of Wilmington and a very different tone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Please , I implore you , wear a mask . ''
Joe Biden 's address to the nation was a plea .
The tone was dramatically different to Donald Trump who has repeatedly claimed the virus will disappear and politicised face masks very early on in the pandemic .
In doing so Mr Trump lost a powerful weapon in bringing the crisis under control and reopening the economy .
Mr Biden , on the other hand , put face coverings at the centre of a plea for unity .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it is a good way of pulling the country together , '' he said .
`` I want to be very clear .
The goal of mask wearing is not to make your life less comfortable or take something away from you .
`` It wo n't be forever but that 's how we get our nation back - back up to speed economically - so we can go back to celebrating birthdays and holidays together . ''
Joe Biden 's first Monday as president-elect was spent holding a virtual meeting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent a clear message he was wasting no time in getting to work - a clear message the transition of power is pressing ahead with or without Donald Trump 's consensus - and the pandemic is Joe Biden 's central focus .
While he welcomed the news that Pfizer 's vaccine is looking so encouraging , the president-elect warned there were still many tough months ahead .
A new sign on the door of a Wilmington pharmacy `` COVID-19 vaccine not yet available '' still somehow offers a light at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump junior was sceptical about the vaccine announcement tweeting : `` The timing of this is pretty amazing .
Nothing nefarious about the timing of this at all right ? ''
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has poured water on the claim that their news was in any way political - the data is said to only have become available now .
: : Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker While the country has been distracted by a contentious presidential election , the coronavirus crisis has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grim milestone of ten million confirmed cases .
Joe Biden wo n't formally enter the White House until 20 January and tens of thousands more Americans are expected to lose their lives to the virus before then .
While Donald Trump still shows no sign of acknowledging defeat in this election , Mr Biden is making it clear to the American public how he plans to steer the country through its worst crisis since World War Two .

There was nothing surprising about Joe Biden's speech to the nation on coronavirus. Yet it felt refreshing in its predictability. You could almost hear America breathing a collective sigh of relief.
It was the country's clearest message yet on wearing a face mask and it came from a small theatre in Wilmington, not the White House.
Joe Biden's go-to venue for holding meetings and recording messages was surrounded by police, secret service agents and armoured SUVs. Very different scenes for the people of Wilmington and a very different tone on handling the pandemic for the American people.
"Please, I implore you, wear a mask." Joe Biden's address to the nation was a plea.
The tone was dramatically different to Donald Trump who has repeatedly claimed the virus will disappear and politicised face masks very early on in the pandemic. In doing so Mr Trump lost a powerful weapon in bringing the crisis under control and reopening the economy.
Mr Biden, on the other hand, put face coverings at the centre of a plea for unity.
"A mask is not a political statement, but it is a good way of pulling the country together," he said.
"I want to be very clear. The goal of mask wearing is not to make your life less comfortable or take something away from you.
"It won't be forever but that's how we get our nation back - back up to speed economically - so we can go back to celebrating birthdays and holidays together."
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Joe Biden's first Monday as president-elect was spent holding a virtual meeting with his new coronavirus task force. It sent a clear message he was wasting no time in getting to work - a clear message the transition of power is pressing ahead with or without Donald Trump's consensus - and the pandemic is Joe Biden's central focus.
While he welcomed the news that Pfizer's vaccine is looking so encouraging, the president-elect warned there were still many tough months ahead. A new sign on the door of a Wilmington pharmacy "COVID-19 vaccine not yet available" still somehow offers a light at the end of a dark year for America.
Donald Trump junior was sceptical about the vaccine announcement tweeting: "The timing of this is pretty amazing. Nothing nefarious about the timing of this at all right?"
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has poured water on the claim that their news was in any way political - the data is said to only have become available now.
:: Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
While the country has been distracted by a contentious presidential election, the coronavirus crisis has broken new records and has now passed the grim milestone of ten million confirmed cases.
Joe Biden won't formally enter the White House until 20 January and tens of thousands more Americans are expected to lose their lives to the virus before then.
While Donald Trump still shows no sign of acknowledging defeat in this election, Mr Biden is making it clear to the American public how he plans to steer the country through its worst crisis since World War Two.


skynewsus--2020-11-09--Trump has lost the election but he is still president for 10 more weeks

Donald Trump might have lost the US election but he still has 10 more weeks in the top job .
Democrat Joe Biden claimed victory during the weekend and started work on the transition , but Mr Trump has yet to give any sign that he will concede the election and vacate the White House in January .
Instead , he is digging his heels in , firing out tweets on Monday alleging voter fraud in Georgia , Nevada , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , without offering evidence .
He has been given qualified support by the Attorney General William Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into `` substantial '' allegations of voting irregularities but urged them not to pursue `` fanciful or far fetched claims . ''
Spurred on by Mr Trump 's tweets and a bizarre news conference by his lawyer Rudy Giuliani outside a Philadelphia landscaping business , some Republicans have complained about problems with signatures , postmarks on postal ballots and the inability of their poll watchers to scrutinise the counts .
Mr Trump himself is backed by his sons Don Jr and Eric , both of whom have pushed for their father to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud .
Mr Trump 's daughter Ivanka has been more careful , however , saying on Twitter that `` every legally-cast vote should be counted '' .
On Monday , even Fox News was showing signs of having had enough .
The channel cut away from a press conference by White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany , who was making claims about illegal voting .
Fox News host Neil Cavuto explained : `` Unless she has more details to back that up , I ca n't in good countenance continue to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , the Trump campaign 's undermining of democracy has gone too far .
Maryland 's Republican Governor Larry Hogan said on Twitter that there was `` no defence '' for the claims and Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger called for an end to the spreading of `` debunked misinformation , '' adding : `` This is getting insane '' .
Meanwhile , President Trump , according to some , seems intent on settling old scores during his remaining weeks in the job - in between trips to the golf course .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` terminated '' defence secretary Mark Esper .
Mr Esper appeared to have been unaware of Mr Trump 's plans until White House chief of staff Mark Meadows called him minutes before the tweet , according to US defence officials quoted by Reuters .
He had opposed the president on a number of issues , including threats to use military forces to suppress protests during the summer following the police killing of George Floyd .
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said : `` The abrupt firing of Secretary Esper is disturbing evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his final days in office to sow chaos in our American democracy and around the world . ''
Adam Smith , the Democrat who leads the House Armed Services Committee , said Mr Trump 's decision was `` childish '' and `` reckless '' .
Paul Frymer , professor of politics at Princeton University , described the way Mr Esper was fired as `` typical of ( Trump 's ) whole presidency '' .
He added : `` He ca n't control his impulses or temper and he demands loyalty to him over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It is this demand that has previously put him on a collision course with defence establishment that has tried to avoid being seen as a political instrument of the Trump administration .
Mr Esper 's predecessor Jim Mattis quit in 2018 , later saying Mr Trump was the `` first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people - does not even pretend to try .
Instead he tries to divide us . ''
Some have speculated that Dr Anthony Fauci , the US infectious disease specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims , could be next on the `` termination '' list .
Dr Fauci , however , is not a political appointment , meaning Mr Trump can not fire him directly but could try to sideline him .
According to reports , Mr Trump also discussed firing FBI director Christopher Wray and CIA director Gina Haspel before the election because he believed they were not loyal to him .
Whatever happens , one thing is clear : Mr Trump is unlikely to spend the next 10 weeks graciously accepting the end of his @ @

Donald Trump might have lost the US election but he still has 10 more weeks in the top job.
Democrat Joe Biden claimed victory during the weekend and started work on the transition, but Mr Trump has yet to give any sign that he will concede the election and vacate the White House in January.
Instead, he is digging his heels in, firing out tweets on Monday alleging voter fraud in Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, without offering evidence.
He has been given qualified support by the Attorney General William Barr who has told federal prosecutors to look into "substantial" allegations of voting irregularities but urged them not to pursue "fanciful or far fetched claims."
Spurred on by Mr Trump's tweets and a bizarre news conference by his lawyer Rudy Giuliani outside a Philadelphia landscaping business, some Republicans have complained about problems with signatures, postmarks on postal ballots and the inability of their poll watchers to scrutinise the counts.
Mr Trump himself is backed by his sons Don Jr and Eric, both of whom have pushed for their father to hold firm and tweeted or re-tweeted claims of voter fraud.
Mr Trump's daughter Ivanka has been more careful, however, saying on Twitter that "every legally-cast vote should be counted".
On Monday, even Fox News was showing signs of having had enough.
The channel cut away from a press conference by White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who was making claims about illegal voting.
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Fox News host Neil Cavuto explained: "Unless she has more details to back that up, I can't in good countenance continue to show you this."
And for some Republicans, the Trump campaign's undermining of democracy has gone too far.
Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan said on Twitter that there was "no defence" for the claims and Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger called for an end to the spreading of "debunked misinformation," adding: "This is getting insane".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Trump supporters vow to carry on fight
Meanwhile, President Trump, according to some, seems intent on settling old scores during his remaining weeks in the job - in between trips to the golf course.
On Monday he announced on Twitter that he had "terminated" defence secretary Mark Esper.
Mr Esper appeared to have been unaware of Mr Trump's plans until White House chief of staff Mark Meadows called him minutes before the tweet, according to US defence officials quoted by Reuters.
He had opposed the president on a number of issues, including threats to use military forces to suppress protests during the summer following the police killing of George Floyd.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "The abrupt firing of Secretary Esper is disturbing evidence that President Trump is intent on using his final days in office to sow chaos in our American democracy and around the world."
Adam Smith, the Democrat who leads the House Armed Services Committee, said Mr Trump's decision was "childish" and "reckless".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:53 The most memorable moments of the US election
Paul Frymer, professor of politics at Princeton University, described the way Mr Esper was fired as "typical of (Trump's) whole presidency".
He added: "He can't control his impulses or temper and he demands loyalty to him over policy, constitution or anything else."
It is this demand that has previously put him on a collision course with defence establishment that has tried to avoid being seen as a political instrument of the Trump administration.
:: Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Esper's predecessor Jim Mattis quit in 2018, later saying Mr Trump was the "first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people - does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us."
Some have speculated that Dr Anthony Fauci, the US infectious disease specialist who has contradicted Mr Trump's coronavirus claims, could be next on the "termination" list.
Dr Fauci, however, is not a political appointment, meaning Mr Trump cannot fire him directly but could try to sideline him.
According to reports, Mr Trump also discussed firing FBI director Christopher Wray and CIA director Gina Haspel before the election because he believed they were not loyal to him.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Mr Trump is unlikely to spend the next 10 weeks graciously accepting the end of his term.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--US attorney general William Barr approves election fraud investigation

A smooth transition of power in the US is looking less likely with Donald Trump blocking co-operation with Joe Biden 's team and the US attorney general authorising investigations into allegations of electoral fraud .
The Electoral College is scheduled to formally confirm Mr Biden 's victory on 14 December with the Democrat being sworn into office in late January .
However , few Republicans have acknowledged the victory and some , including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell , have rallied behind Mr Trump 's efforts to fight the election results .
On Monday , Mr Barr authorised the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voter irregularities and election fraud , though no widespread instances of that type of trouble exist .
In a memo to US lawyers , obtained by The Associated Press , Mr Barr wrote that investigations `` may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that , if true , could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual state '' .
Election officials from both political parties have publicly stated that voting went well .
International observers also confirmed there were no serious irregularities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election disputes , including recounts and court contests over the results .
Legal challenges have been dismissed in battleground states like Georgia and Wisconsin .
On Monday night , the Justice Department 's top prosecutor for election crimes , Richard Pilger , said he would step down from that post in response to the attorney general 's memo , according to an email he sent to colleagues and obtained by the AP .
Biden campaign lawyer Bob Bauer said Mr Barr 's memorandum authorising investigations `` will only fuel the 'specious , speculative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professes to guard against '' .
Mr Biden pressed forward with plans to build his administration , assembling a team of experts to face the surging COVID-19 pandemic .
But the federal agency that needs to greenlight the beginnings of the transition of power held off on taking that step .
And the White House moved to crack down on those not deemed sufficiently loyal , such as Defence Secretary Mark Esper , as Mr Trump continued to refuse to concede the race .
Mr Trump remained out of sight at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defeated president would spend the coming days and weeks as he challenged the people 's verdict .
The former reality TV star is not expected to formally concede but is likely to grudgingly vacate the White House at the end of his term , according to several people around him .
The possibility of more campaign-style rallies are being discussed as Mr Trump tries to keep his supporters fired up despite his defeat .
It was possible they would feature his family and prominent supporters , but not the president himself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon chief , was expected by some aides to be the first of several firings by Mr Trump .
Others believed to now be vulnerable include FBI Director Christopher Wray , CIA head Gina Haspel and infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci .

A smooth transition of power in the US is looking less likely with Donald Trump blocking co-operation with Joe Biden's team and the US attorney general authorising investigations into allegations of electoral fraud.
The Electoral College is scheduled to formally confirm Mr Biden's victory on 14 December with the Democrat being sworn into office in late January.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:03 'This election is not over. Far from it'
However, few Republicans have acknowledged the victory and some, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, have rallied behind Mr Trump's efforts to fight the election results.
On Monday, Mr Barr authorised the Justice Department to investigate "substantial" allegations of voter irregularities and election fraud, though no widespread instances of that type of trouble exist.
In a memo to US lawyers, obtained by The Associated Press, Mr Barr wrote that investigations "may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual state".
Election officials from both political parties have publicly stated that voting went well. International observers also confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
States have until 8 December to resolve election disputes, including recounts and court contests over the results.
Legal challenges have been dismissed in battleground states like Georgia and Wisconsin.
On Monday night, the Justice Department's top prosecutor for election crimes, Richard Pilger, said he would step down from that post in response to the attorney general's memo, according to an email he sent to colleagues and obtained by the AP.
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Biden campaign lawyer Bob Bauer said Mr Barr's memorandum authorising investigations "will only fuel the 'specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims' he professes to guard against".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:54 Biden urges Americans to wear masks
Mr Biden pressed forward with plans to build his administration, assembling a team of experts to face the surging COVID-19 pandemic.
But the federal agency that needs to greenlight the beginnings of the transition of power held off on taking that step.
And the White House moved to crack down on those not deemed sufficiently loyal, such as Defence Secretary Mark Esper, as Mr Trump continued to refuse to concede the race.
Mr Trump remained out of sight at the White House, with conversations ongoing about how the defeated president would spend the coming days and weeks as he challenged the people's verdict.
Image: Joe Biden is due to be inaugurated in late January
The former reality TV star is not expected to formally concede but is likely to grudgingly vacate the White House at the end of his term, according to several people around him.
The possibility of more campaign-style rallies are being discussed as Mr Trump tries to keep his supporters fired up despite his defeat. It was possible they would feature his family and prominent supporters, but not the president himself.
The removal of Mr Esper, the Pentagon chief, was expected by some aides to be the first of several firings by Mr Trump.
Others believed to now be vulnerable include FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA head Gina Haspel and infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci.


skynewsus--2020-11-05--Can Trump stop Biden becoming president? Legal experts explain

Joe Biden is now president-elect , but Donald Trump insists he is fighting on , and claims the election is `` far from over '' .
The Republican alleged he was the victim of interference from `` phony polls '' along with `` big media , big money and big tech '' after his campaign launched a series of legal challenges in key states .
He has tweeted : `` I easily WIN the Presidency of the United States with LEGAL VOTES CAST .
The OBSERVERS were not allowed , in any way , shape , or form , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepted during this period must be determined to be ILLEGAL VOTES .
US Supreme Court should decide ! ''
Each of the states where Mr Trump has launched legal action have been either won by Joe Biden or are being narrowly led by him .
Here , Sky News looks at the Trump campaign 's legal challenges and asks experts if they are likely to succeed .
Which states has Donald Trump launched legal action in ?
The Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to require Chatham County , which includes the city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots to ensure they are not counted .
However , a Superior Court judge rejected the lawsuit last week after county officials testified that the ballots had arrived on time .
The court found no evidence the ballots had been received after the deadline at 7pm on election day .
The Trump campaign asked for emergency relief to stop the counting of `` improper votes '' in Democrat-leaning Clark County , home to Las Vegas , and said it was filing a federal lawsuit .
It said it had evidence that `` thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer live in the state or are dead .
The Trump campaign also said people have taken other voters ' mail-in ballot papers and voted falsely under their names , with others sending `` up to 18 ballots '' .
In a news conference , Republican officials introduced Jill Stokey , a voter who claimed she had been turned away from casting her vote because someone had already voted in her name .
Nevada election officials later said Ms Stokey had in fact been turned away because she had already voted once .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding no evidence Clark County did anything unlawful , and the state is projected to be won by Joe Biden with 97 % of the votes counted .
At least five lawsuits have been filed in Pennsylvania , the deciding state that managed to push Mr Biden over the line to take the presidency .
• Ballot counting to be stopped .
This was dismissed by a federal judge • Republican `` poll watchers '' to be allowed closer observation of the counting process .
A state judge ruled in the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have appealed the decision to the state 's Supreme Court .
The case is ongoing , although is unlikely to affect the result • State officials to impose an earlier date for voters to provide proof of identity if it was not on their initial ballots .
This case is also ongoing • Montgomery County to stop counting mail-in ballots , alleging 600 votes were not placed in secrecy envelopes .
Although this is ongoing , data shows the county had overwhelmingly voted for Mr Biden • Intervention over whether ballots received after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Supreme Court of the United States ( SCOTUS ) could take this case , but some legal experts say any ruling would be unlikely to change the outcome of the election Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said the campaign would request an immediate recount of the vote in Wisconsin .
He cited `` reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results '' .
Wisconsin is projected to be won by Mr Biden , although the race is close enough so far that Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recount once canvassing has been completed .
The Trump campaign has lost a lawsuit to halt vote-counting in Michigan .
The courts also rejected a suit calling for a halt to the vote certification process in Detroit .
Joe Biden is projected to win the state with 99 % of votes counted .
Sky News and NBC News have not yet declared a winner in this state , as it is too close to call , but Mr Biden is leading narrowly .
The Trump campaign has filed a lawsuit alleging ballots were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` splotches '' and `` stray marks '' .
Election officials say these claims are false , and even without a victory in this state Mr Biden would still have won the election .
What have the experts said ?
Lawrence Douglas , law professor and author of Will He Go ?
Trump And The Looming Election Meltdown In 2020 Professor Douglas told Sky News : `` The lawsuits seem frivolous without any real chance of materially affecting the outcome of the election .
`` The only thing they can do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - which might be Trump 's aim in the first place . ''
Professor Robert Tsai , law professor at the American University Washington College of Law He said : `` From my examination of the lawsuits so far , they look like a bit of a desperation ploy .
`` The margins are not particularly close anywhere except Nevada and as those counts are still trickling in , it looks like they 're going Biden 's way .
`` If you look at the substance of the lawsuits that have been filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws that there has perhaps been inappropriate or insufficient access to polling stations - but these have been thrown out pretty consistently so far .
`` I do n't see thousands of votes changing or being thrown out from what I 've seen . ''
Professor Levinson said the Trump campaign was `` throwing theories at a wall to see if anything sticks for long enough to muck up the waters '' .
She added : `` There is no consistent strategy there . ''
Edward Foley , specialist in election law at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the cases might have merit but only affected a small number of ballots and procedural issues .
He added : `` But merit in that sense is very different from having the kind of consequence that Bush v.Gore did in 2000 . ''
Ms Laham told Sky News : `` Every state has its own requirements for the conduct of the election in that state , and the Trump campaign must prove that the election is not being conducted in accordance with the state requirements .
`` If the campaign has sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has a chance of being successful on the merits . ''
David Weinstein , former assistant US attorney for the southern district of Florida Mr Weinstein told Sky News : `` They all have a long shot to get anywhere here . ''
He added : `` As far as recounts go , it 's not even close in any of these states . ''

Joe Biden is now president-elect, but Donald Trump insists he is fighting on, and claims the election is "far from over".
The Republican alleged he was the victim of interference from "phony polls" along with "big media, big money and big tech" after his campaign launched a series of legal challenges in key states.
He tweeted: "I easily WIN the Presidency of the United States with LEGAL VOTES CAST. The OBSERVERS were not allowed, in any way, shape, or form, to do their job and therefore, votes accepted during this period must be determined to be ILLEGAL VOTES. US Supreme Court should decide!"
Each of the states where Mr Trump has launched legal action have either been won by Mr Biden or are being narrowly led by him.
Since 9 November, the Trump campaign and other Republicans have filed new cases every day.
Here, Sky News looks at the Trump campaign's legal challenges and asks experts if they are likely to succeed.
Which states has Donald Trump launched legal action in?
Georgia
Mr Biden is leading by 14,057 votes in Georgia, which has prompted a recount, by hand. City officials have endeavoured to finish the count by 20 November.
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The Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to require Chatham County, which includes the city of Savannah, to separate and secure late-arriving ballots to ensure they are not counted.
They were challenging 57 absentee ballots.
However, a Superior Court judge rejected the lawsuit last week after county officials testified that the ballots had arrived on time.
The court found no evidence the ballots had been received after the deadline of 7pm on election day.
But the Trump campaign is now claiming four dead people's names were used to vote and Republicans in Georgia have released the obituaries of those people, but have not provided evidence their names were used.
Nevada
The Trump campaign asked for emergency relief to stop the counting of "improper votes" in Democrat-leaning Clark County, home to Las Vegas, and said it was filing a federal lawsuit.
It said it had evidence that "thousands of people" cast ballots who no longer live in the state or are dead.
Image: Election officials count ballots in Wisconsin
The Trump campaign also said people have taken other voters' mail-in ballot papers and voted falsely under their names, with others sending "up to 18 ballots".
In a news conference, Republican officials introduced Jill Stokey, a voter who claimed she had been turned away from casting her vote because someone had already voted in her name.
Nevada election officials later said Ms Stokey had in fact been turned away because she had already voted once.
The lawsuit has since been rejected, finding no evidence Clark County did anything unlawful, and the state is projected to be won by Joe Biden with 97% of the votes counted.
Pennsylvania
At least five lawsuits have been filed in Pennsylvania, the deciding state that managed to push Mr Biden over the line to take the presidency.
The suits called for:
Ballot counting to be stopped. This was dismissed by a federal judge
Republican "poll watchers" to be allowed closer observation of the counting process. A state judge ruled in the Trump campaign's favour, although Philadelphia election officials have appealed the decision to the state's Supreme Court. The case is ongoing, although is unlikely to affect the result
State officials to impose an earlier date for voters to provide proof of identity if it was not on their initial ballots. This case is also ongoing
Montgomery County to stop counting mail-in ballots, alleging 600 votes were not placed in secrecy envelopes. Although this is ongoing, data shows the county had overwhelmingly voted for Mr Biden
Intervention over whether ballots received after 8pm on election day should count. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) could take this case, but some legal experts say any ruling would be unlikely to change the outcome of the election. The state has been ordered to keep those ballots separate, but counting was not blocked.
Wisconsin
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said the campaign would request an immediate recount of the vote in Wisconsin.
He cited "reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results".
Wisconsin was narrowly won by Mr Biden, but a recount could still happen after the 17 November deadline for officials to review votes passes.
There was a recount in Wisconsin in 2016 but it only changed about a hundred votes.
Michigan
The Trump campaign lost a lawsuit to halt vote-counting in Michigan two days after the election.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 8:55 Trump says election is 'major fraud'
The courts also rejected a suit calling for a halt to the vote certification process in Detroit.
Joe Biden won Michigan by 2% but two legal challenges have been filed in the state, one on 11 November in federal court and another in state court, with both claiming to include specific, detailed allegations of alleged fraud and misconduct by poll workers at the TCF Center in Detroit.
One person making the claims is a former assistant attorney general of Michigan and another is a TCF Center poll worker.
Arizona
Mr Biden narrowly won the traditionally Republican state by 11,434 votes.
The Trump campaign has filed a lawsuit alleging poll workers allowed voters to cast defective ballots which should have been fixed on the spot.
This appears to be based on poll workers allegedly overriding electronic alerts of "overvotes" on submitted ballots, and also with alleged problems with voters using permanent markers to fill in blanks on paper ballots.
Election officials say these claims are false, and even without a victory in this state Mr Biden would still have won the election.
Image: People queuing to vote in Lansing, Michigan
What have the experts said?
Lawrence Douglas, law professor and author of Will He Go? Trump And The Looming Election Meltdown In 2020
Professor Douglas told Sky News: "The lawsuits seem frivolous without any real chance of materially affecting the outcome of the election.
"The only thing they can do is delay matters and further muddy the waters - which might be Trump's aim in the first place."
Professor Robert Tsai, law professor at the American University Washington College of Law
He said: "From my examination of the lawsuits so far, they look like a bit of a desperation ploy.
"The margins are not particularly close anywhere except Nevada and as those counts are still trickling in, it looks like they're going Biden's way.
"If you look at the substance of the lawsuits that have been filed, they are mostly alleging under state laws that there has perhaps been inappropriate or insufficient access to polling stations - but these have been thrown out pretty consistently so far.
"I don't see thousands of votes changing or being thrown out from what I've seen."
Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles
Professor Levinson said the Trump campaign was "throwing theories at a wall to see if anything sticks for long enough to muck up the waters".
She added: "There is no consistent strategy there."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 US lawyer says Trump legal action 'shaky'
Edward Foley, specialist in election law at the Moritz College of Law
Mr Foley said the cases might have merit but only affected a small number of ballots and procedural issues.
He added: "But merit in that sense is very different from having the kind of consequence that Bush v.Gore did in 2000."
Carol Laham, partner in Wiley Rein LLP's nationally-recognised Election Law & Government Ethics Practice
Ms Laham told Sky News: "Every state has its own requirements for the conduct of the election in that state, and the Trump campaign must prove that the election is not being conducted in accordance with the state requirements.
"If the campaign has sufficient evidence to prove the violation alleged then it has a chance of being successful on the merits."
David Weinstein, former assistant US attorney for the southern district of Florida
Mr Weinstein told Sky News: "They all have a long shot to get anywhere here."
He added: "As far as recounts go, it's not even close in any of these states."


skynewsus--2020-11-10--Antimalarial drug touted by Trump 'doesn't work' as COVID-19 treatment, study finds

Hydroxychloroquine does not benefit adults hospitalised with COVID-19 , a new study by a major US research centre has found .
The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) study sought to test whether the malaria and arthritis drug - which has long been touted by US President Donald Trump - works to treat coronavirus .
Between April and June , researchers randomly and equally divided shots of hydroxychloroquine and of a placebo to 479 coronavirus patients in 34 hospitals .
Participants , who included 212 women as well as 290 Hispanic and Black people , were aged 57 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK and around world Health outcomes were assessed two weeks after their first dose .
This assessment found roughly 32 % of the hydroxychloroquine group was able to return to normal lives compared with 29 % of placebo participants .
Just fewer than 48 % of people from the former pool were discharged from hospital 28 days after starting treatment and only one per cent fewer in the latter group were released by the same date .
Lead researcher of the ORCHID trial , Dr Wesley Self , concluded there were no major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hydroxychloroquine is not effective for the treatment of COVID-19 was consistent across patient subgroups and for all evaluated outcomes , including clinical status , mortality , organ failures , duration of oxygen use , and hospital length of stay , '' the emergency medicine physician said .
He also noted that the finding was consistent with similar trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil .
Another lead researcher , Dr Samuel Brown , said that while he had `` hoped that hydroxychloroquine would help , '' the results were still an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While several studies have yielded different results on whether the drug works as a prevention or treatment for COVID-19 , the NIH study has declared the strongest findings yet on its ineffectiveness .
In May , Mr Trump revealed he had been taking it to stave off the infection .
After catching the virus months later , he said it was also an ingredient in his `` cocktail of treatment '' .
America 's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci earlier highlighted clinical studies concluding the drug is not proven to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioned by the World Health Organisation and the NIH .
The Food and Drug Administration initially approved emergency use of the drug for coronavirus treatment but revoked the move in June , saying its unproven benefits `` do not outweigh the known and potential risks '' , including reports of heart complications .

Hydroxychloroquine does not benefit adults hospitalised with COVID-19, a new study by a major US research centre has found.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sought to test whether the malaria and arthritis drug - which has long been touted by US President Donald Trump - works to treat coronavirus.
Between April and June, researchers randomly and equally divided shots of hydroxychloroquine and of a placebo to 479 coronavirus patients in 34 hospitals.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:37 Trump: 'I took hydroxy, Z-Pak and zinc'
Participants, who included 212 women as well as 290 Hispanic and Black people, were aged 57 on average.
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around world
Health outcomes were assessed two weeks after their first dose.
This assessment found roughly 32% of the hydroxychloroquine group was able to return to normal lives compared with 29% of placebo participants.
Just fewer than 48% of people from the former pool were discharged from hospital 28 days after starting treatment and only one per cent fewer in the latter group were released by the same date.
In each group, 25 people died.
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Lead researcher of the ORCHID trial, Dr Wesley Self, concluded there were no major differences among samples.
"The finding that hydroxychloroquine is not effective for the treatment of COVID-19 was consistent across patient subgroups and for all evaluated outcomes, including clinical status, mortality, organ failures, duration of oxygen use, and hospital length of stay," the emergency medicine physician said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:46 Bolsonaro takes hydroxychloroquine pill
He also noted that the finding was consistent with similar trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil.
Another lead researcher, Dr Samuel Brown, said that while he had "hoped that hydroxychloroquine would help," the results were still an important step towards finding treatments that do work.
While several studies have yielded different results on whether the drug works as a prevention or treatment for COVID-19, the NIH study has declared the strongest findings yet on its ineffectiveness.
In May, Mr Trump revealed he had been taking it to stave off the infection. After catching the virus months later, he said it was also an ingredient in his "cocktail of treatment".
America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci earlier highlighted clinical studies concluding the drug is not proven to successfully treat the virus - including research commissioned by the World Health Organisation and the NIH.
The Food and Drug Administration initially approved emergency use of the drug for coronavirus treatment but revoked the move in June, saying its unproven benefits "do not outweigh the known and potential risks", including reports of heart complications.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--Trump's tweets 'systematically divert media away from harmful topics'

Donald Trump 's prolific tweeting masks a strategic use of the social media platform to divert the media from covering topics that are potentially harmful to him , according to new research .
Behavioural scientists at the universities of Western Australia and Bristol have published a peer-reviewed paper into how the US president 's messages on Twitter impact news coverage .
The research follows Mr Trump 's failure to be re-elected , something that he has responded to by repeatedly claiming on Twitter , without offering any evidence , that he has been the victim of electoral fraud .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully managed to suppress negative media coverage , including of the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election , by tweeting about other topics .
Since first announcing his candidacy for the White House in 2015 , Mr Trump has published more than 30,000 tweets which have been scrutinised by many academics in numerous independent studies .
There is anecdotal evidence that his tweets have distracted news organisations from stories which could have negatively impacted the president 's reputation .
One example given by the researchers notes `` when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late 2016 , Trump 's tweets focused on the controversy surrounding the 'Hamilton ' Broadway play , whose cast pleaded for a diverse America at the end of a performance '' .
As a result of these tweets , news media focused far more on the Hamilton controversy than on the Trump University settlement - anecdotally .
But the researchers wanted a scientific method to analyse whether this was the case .
: : Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker To find a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's tweets successfully depressed news coverage of scientific stories , the researchers focused on coverage of the Mueller investigation by the New York Times and ABC News .
They selected a set of keywords that would play to Mr Trump 's preferred topics , such as `` jobs '' , `` China '' , and `` immigration '' and saw if tweets on those topics became more common following reports on the Mueller investigation .
They then measured whether these tweets in turn resulted in less coverage of the Mueller inquiry as media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new tweets , including fact-checking them .
According to the researchers , their analysis `` presents empirical evidence that is consistent with the hypothesis that President Trump 's tweets systematically divert attention away from a topic that is potentially harmful to him , which in turn appears to suppress media coverage of that topic '' .
However , they add : `` It remains unclear whether the president is aware of his strategic deployment of Twitter or acts on the basis of intuition . ''
The research was published in the journal Nature @ @

Donald Trump's prolific tweeting masks a strategic use of the social media platform to divert the media from covering topics that are potentially harmful to him, according to new research.
Behavioural scientists at the universities of Western Australia and Bristol have published a peer-reviewed paper into how the US president's messages on Twitter affect news coverage.
The research follows Mr Trump's failure to be re-elected, something that he has responded to by repeatedly claiming on Twitter, without offering any evidence, that he has been the victim of electoral fraud.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:17 President-elect Joe Biden vows to unify America
The university analysis demonstrates the president has successfully managed to suppress negative media coverage, including of the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election, by tweeting about other topics.
Since first announcing his candidacy for the White House in 2015, Mr Trump has published more than 30,000 tweets which have been scrutinised by many academics in numerous independent studies.
There is anecdotal evidence that his tweets have distracted news organisations from stories which could have negatively impacted the president's reputation.
One example given by the researchers notes "when the $25m Trump University settlement became public in late 2016, Trump's tweets focused on the controversy surrounding the Hamilton Broadway play, whose cast pleaded for a diverse America at the end of a performance".
As a result of these tweets, news media focused far more on the Hamilton controversy than on the Trump University settlement - anecdotally. But the researchers wanted a scientific method to analyse whether this was the case.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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To find a scientific way to examine whether Mr Trump's tweets successfully depressed news coverage of scientific stories, the researchers focused on coverage of the Mueller investigation by the New York Times and ABC News.
They selected a set of keywords that would play to Mr Trump's preferred topics, such as "jobs", "China", and "immigration" and saw if tweets on those topics became more common following reports on the Mueller investigation.
They then measured whether these tweets in turn resulted in less coverage of the Mueller inquiry as media organisations rushed in to report on the new tweets, including fact-checking them.
According to the researchers, their analysis "presents empirical evidence that is consistent with the hypothesis that President Trump's tweets systematically divert attention away from a topic that is potentially harmful to him, which in turn appears to suppress media coverage of that topic".
However, they add: "It remains unclear whether the president is aware of his strategic deployment of Twitter or acts on the basis of intuition."
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--McDonald's to debut vegan options from 2021

McDonald 's will debut its line of plant-based meat alternatives - the McPlant - in 2021 .
The burger chain has teamed up with Beyond Meat to create a patty , the Los Angeles-based company has said .
`` Beyond Meat and McDonald 's co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform , '' a Beyond Meat spokesperson said in an email .
Their shares dropped by 8 % once McDonald 's announced its latest venture - but picked up again by 4 % after the plant-based meat company announced its role in co-creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier reported market-beating profit and revenue for the third quarter - has declined to comment on which supplier it is using for its faux meat products .
Nor did it provide further details .
Beyond Meat was the frontrunner for a veggie product contract as it had conducted tests for the `` P.L.T . ''
burger at 100 restaurants in Ontario , Canada .
`` Plant-based products are an ongoing consumer trend .
It 's not a matter of if McDonald 's will get into plant-based , it 's a matter of when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Kempczinski said .
McDonald 's competition - other brands including Burger King , White Castle and Dunkin ' Brands Group Inc - also offer vegan alternatives .
This move from McDonald 's is expected to place the plant-based meat movement at the forefront in mainstream American society .
The chain says under its new line it could offer burgers , chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches - which it expects to test in some stores from 2021 .

McDonald's will debut its line of plant-based meat alternatives - the McPlant - in 2021.
The burger chain has teamed up with Beyond Meat to create a patty, the Los Angeles-based company has said.
"Beyond Meat and McDonald's co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform," a Beyond Meat spokesperson said in an email.
Image: McDonald's trialled the P.L.T. burger in September 2019 across some Canadian stores
Their shares dropped by 8% once McDonald's announced its latest venture - but picked up again by 4% after the plant-based meat company announced its role in co-creating the patty.
McDonald's - which earlier reported market-beating profit and revenue for the third quarter - has declined to comment on which supplier it is using for its faux meat products.
Nor did it provide further details.
Beyond Meat was the frontrunner for a veggie product contract as it had conducted tests for the "P.L.T." burger at 100 restaurants in Ontario, Canada.
"Plant-based products are an ongoing consumer trend. It's not a matter of if McDonald's will get into plant-based, it's a matter of when," McDonald's chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski said.
McDonald's competition - other brands including Burger King, White Castle and Dunkin' Brands Group Inc - also offer vegan alternatives.
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Image: LA-based company Beyond Meat say they teamed up with McDonald's to co-create the new line's vegan patty
This move from McDonald's is expected to place the plant-based meat movement at the forefront in mainstream American society.
The chain says under its new line it could offer burgers, chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches - which it expects to test in some stores from 2021.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--'Mr President, I look forward to speaking with you': Trump's refusal to concede an 'embarrassment',

'Mr President, I look forward to speaking with you': Trump's refusal to concede an 'embarrassment', Biden says

President-elect Joe Biden has said Donald Trump 's refusal to concede is an `` embarrassment '' , and told his supporters : `` Nothing 's going to stop us . ''
Asked if he had a message for Donald Trump , Mr Biden said : `` Mr President , I look forward to speaking with you . ''
He added : `` I think it 's an embarrassment , the only thing ... how can I say this tactfully ...
I think it will not help the president 's legacy . ''
He said `` nothing is going to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power on 20 January 2021 , despite President Donald Trump 's refusal to concede the race for the White House .
Mr Biden said that his transition is `` well under way '' and that he is reviewing potential cabinet picks and other positions .
He referenced telephone calls with six world leaders , including Boris Johnson , saying the response had been `` very fulsome and energetic '' .
`` I 'm confident we will be able to put America back in a place of respect it had before , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Democratic rival from receiving the intelligence briefings traditionally shared with incoming presidents .
But Mr Biden downplayed the impact of the Republican resistance , which he said `` does not change the dynamic at all in what we 're able to do '' .
In the major speech Mr Biden set out his ambitions for US healthcare , saying the Affordable Care Act is a `` matter of life and death '' , and reiterating his commitment to protecting the legislation .
Mr Biden was joined by vice president-elect Kamala Harris for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Trump administration 's lawsuit to overturn the act , and his plan to expand access to quality , affordable healthcare .
She said Mr Biden `` won the election decisively '' , and that `` every vote for Joe Biden was a statement that health care in America should be a right , not a privilege '' .
Mr Biden said the Trump Administration 's efforts to repeal the 10-year-old law , popularly known as Obamacare , would `` rip '' healthcare away `` in the middle of the worst pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people who have pre-existing conditions without coverage .
Nevertheless he promised a `` dramatic expansion '' of healthcare provision and said his team is `` fleshing out the details '' on a plan to provide universal and cheaper care `` as soon as humanly possible '' .
`` I will protect your healthcare like I protect my own kids , my own family , '' he said .
Earlier , the Supreme Court indicated it was likely to leave in place the bulk of the act , including key protections for pre-existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect tens of millions of Americans .
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared in two hours of arguments to be unwilling to strike down the entire law - a long-held Republican goal that has repeatedly failed in Congress and the courts .
: : Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Speaker A week after the 2020 election , the justices heard arguments by telephone in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in the court 's third major case over the act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration want the whole law to be struck down .
The case represents the latest Republican legal attack on the 2010 law , which was the signature domestic policy achievement of Democratic former president Barack Obama , under whom Mr Biden served as vice president .
The Supreme Court fended off legal challenges to it in 2012 and 2015 .
It has a 6-3 conservative majority after the Republican-led Senate last month confirmed Mr Trump 's third appointee , Amy Coney Barrett .
We 've become used to Donald Trump 's lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election it 's still hard to believe America 's president is refusing to accept the result .
For the first time we 've now had an insight into his successor 's response ... `` It 's an embarrassment '' .
A pretty damning indictment of Donald Trump 's undignified reaction to losing the election .
When questioned over this lack of co-operation in the transition of power Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded : `` There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration '' .
It was n't clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump and his team are deluded enough to think they can somehow remain in the White House for another four years .
Yet Donald Trump still shows no signs of conceding and with that comes significant challenges for President-Elect Joe Biden .
By not triggering the official transition process , he is unable to access millions of dollars in federal funding and classified intelligence reports .
You would expect a new president to be across this sensitive information before reaching the Oval Office and national security is at stake .
Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be nice to have it but we can manage without it .
You would also expect the Biden transition team to be working from a federal building in Washington - instead , he 's still operating out of a small theatre in his hometown of Wilmington , Delaware .
The optics are nothing short of extraordinary .
Nevertheless , while the White House appears to be in denial and disarray , Joe Biden 's tone was calm and confident .
The transition of power is pressing ahead with or without Donald @ @ @ @

President-elect Joe Biden has said Donald Trump's refusal to concede is an "embarrassment", and told his supporters: "Nothing's going to stop us."
Asked if he had a message for Donald Trump, Mr Biden said: "Mr President, I look forward to speaking with you."
He added: "I think it's an embarrassment, the only thing... how can I say this tactfully... I think it will not help the president's legacy."
He said "nothing is going to stop" his administration moving forward and assuming power on 20 January 2021, despite President Donald Trump's refusal to concede the race for the White House.
Mr Biden said that his transition is "well under way" and that he is reviewing potential cabinet picks and other positions.
He referenced telephone calls with six world leaders, including Boris Johnson, saying the response had been "very fulsome and energetic".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:07 'Joe Biden won the election decisively'
"I'm confident we will be able to put America back in a place of respect it had before," he added.
Mr Trump has reportedly blocked his Democratic rival from receiving the intelligence briefings traditionally shared with incoming presidents.
But Mr Biden downplayed the impact of the Republican resistance, which he said "does not change the dynamic at all in what we're able to do".
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In the major speech Mr Biden set out his ambitions for US healthcare, saying the Affordable Care Act is a "matter of life and death", and reiterating his commitment to protecting the legislation.
Mr Biden was joined by vice president-elect Kamala Harris for the talk in Wilmington, Delaware, on the Trump administration's lawsuit to overturn the act, and his plan to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare.
She said Mr Biden "won the election decisively", and that "every vote for Joe Biden was a statement that health care in America should be a right, not a privilege".
Mr Biden said the Trump Administration's efforts to repeal the 10-year-old law, popularly known as Obamacare, would "rip" healthcare away "in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century", leaving millions of people who have pre-existing conditions without coverage.
Nevertheless he promised a "dramatic expansion" of healthcare provision and said his team is "fleshing out the details" on a plan to provide universal and cheaper care "as soon as humanly possible".
"I will protect your healthcare like I protect my own kids, my own family," he said.
Earlier, the Supreme Court indicated it was likely to leave in place the bulk of the act, including key protections for pre-existing health conditions and subsidised insurance premiums that affect tens of millions of Americans.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared in two hours of arguments to be unwilling to strike down the entire law - a long-held Republican goal that has repeatedly failed in Congress and the courts.
:: Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Speaker
A week after the 2020 election, the justices heard arguments by telephone in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in the court's third major case over the act.
Republican attorneys general in 18 states and the administration want the whole law to be struck down.
The case represents the latest Republican legal attack on the 2010 law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of Democratic former president Barack Obama, under whom Mr Biden served as vice president.
The Supreme Court fended off legal challenges to it in 2012 and 2015.
It has a 6-3 conservative majority after the Republican-led Senate last month confirmed Mr Trump's third appointee, Amy Coney Barrett.
Analysis: A damning indictment
By Sally Lockwood, news correspondent, in Delaware
We've become used to Donald Trump's lack of convention but a week on from the election it's still hard to believe America's president is refusing to accept the result.
For the first time we've now had an insight into his successor's response... "It's an embarrassment".
A pretty damning indictment of Donald Trump's undignified reaction to losing the election.
When questioned over this lack of co-operation in the transition of power Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded: "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration". It wasn't clear if this was a joke or if Donald Trump and his team are deluded enough to think they can somehow remain in the White House for another four years.
Yet Donald Trump still shows no signs of conceding and with that comes significant challenges for President-Elect Joe Biden. By not triggering the official transition process, he is unable to access millions of dollars in federal funding and classified intelligence reports.
You would expect a new president to be across this sensitive information before reaching the Oval Office and national security is at stake. Biden's response to this lack of resource - it would be nice to have it but we can manage without it.
You would also expect the Biden transition team to be working from a federal building in Washington - instead, he's still operating out of a small theatre in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
The optics are nothing short of extraordinary.
Nevertheless, while the White House appears to be in denial and disarray, Joe Biden's tone was calm and confident.
The transition of power is pressing ahead with or without Donald Trump's consensus.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--How much trouble can Trump cause before Biden takes charge?

As ever , Donald Trump 's Twitter feed told a tale : `` WE WILL WIN ! ''
he tweeted , four days after HE HAD LOST .
If that was n't a stark reflection of the distance still to travel , his secretary of state told a news conference around the same time : `` There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration . ''
Inside the White House , something surely has to give .
Publicly , there is no guarantee but privately , there is some guidance that it 's a matter of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humouring him for this little bit of time ? ''
a Republican Party official told The Washington Post .
`` Those lawsuits will fail , then he 'll tweet some more about how the election was stolen , and then he 'll leave . ''
So far , so reassuring .
But the question is what trouble can President Trump cause between now and a Joe Biden inauguration on 20 January ?
There might never be a concession from the current president but , in practical terms , that 's not a necessity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process - how soon and how smoothly it takes place .
However , it has n't even started .
Something called the General Services Administration ( GSA ) is in charge of the handover of cash and keys to federal buildings and agencies .
The GSA enables a transition of government and the process begins only when its administrator decides an election is won .
However , the current administrator Emily Murphy , who is a Trump appointee , is signing nothing .
The stalling has also deprived Joe Biden of access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say is compromising national security .
They have floated the prospect of unspecified legal action if access is n't improved to the machinery of government .
Decision time for Mr Trump might come when his legal action is exhausted .
Republican challenges have had no success so far and election officials stress that any change they make in the numbers would not change the election result .
While a handful of Republican voices have called for the president to fall on his sword , the more influential voices have not .
Republican Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is `` 100 % within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities '' .
The difficulty he and other Republicans face is the huge support that Mr Trump has brought to the party .
His influence matters moving forward , particularly with regard to two hugely important senate `` run-off '' contests in Georgia .
If Democrats defeat Republicans in both January contests , they will take control of the Senate ( with the addition of a vice-president 's casting vote ) and it would have a huge bearing on Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass legislation .
: : Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Speaker Republicans see the need to keep Mr Trump and his followers inside the tent through the Georgia campaign and beyond .
While there may be many who have tired of Mr Trump , they see the hold he has on the party 's voter base and will calculate the extent to which their best interests are protected by indulging his .
The question is how long that can last .
The president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days without scheduling any event with media access .
There are , however , glimpses of a lame duck unleashed .
With two days of his defeat , President Trump fired his defence secretary Mark Esper , by Twitter , and there is growing speculation the heads of the FBI and CIA will be next .

As ever, Donald Trump's Twitter feed told a tale: "WE WILL WIN!" he tweeted, four days after HE HAD LOST.
If that wasn't a stark reflection of the distance still to travel, his secretary of state told a news conference around the same time: "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration."
Inside the White House, something surely has to give. Publicly, there is no guarantee but privately, there is some guidance that it's a matter of time.
"What is the downside for humouring him for this little bit of time?" a Republican Party official told The Washington Post.
"Those lawsuits will fail, then he'll tweet some more about how the election was stolen, and then he'll leave."
So far, so reassuring. But the question is what trouble can President Trump cause between now and a Joe Biden inauguration on 20 January?
There might never be a concession from the current president but, in practical terms, that's not a necessity.
What does matter is the transition process - how soon and how smoothly it takes place.
However, it hasn't even started.
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Something called the General Services Administration (GSA) is in charge of the handover of cash and keys to federal buildings and agencies.
The GSA enables a transition of government and the process begins only when its administrator decides an election is won. However, the current administrator Emily Murphy, who is a Trump appointee, is signing nothing.
The stalling has also deprived Joe Biden of access to intelligence briefings - something his Democrat colleagues say is compromising national security. They have floated the prospect of unspecified legal action if access isn't improved to the machinery of government.
Decision time for Mr Trump might come when his legal action is exhausted. Republican challenges have had no success so far and election officials stress that any change they make in the numbers would not change the election result.
Practical obstructions are matched politically.
While a handful of Republican voices have called for the president to fall on his sword, the more influential voices have not.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Donald Trump is "100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities".
The difficulty he and other Republicans face is the huge support that Mr Trump has brought to the party.
His influence matters moving forward, particularly with regard to two hugely important Senate "run-off" contests in Georgia.
If Democrats defeat Republicans in both January contests, they will take control of the Senate (with the addition of a vice-president's casting vote) and it would have a huge bearing on Mr Biden's presidency and its power to pass legislation.
:: Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Speaker
Republicans see the need to keep Mr Trump and his followers inside the tent through the Georgia campaign and beyond.
While there may be many who have tired of Mr Trump, they see the hold he has on the party's voter base and will calculate the extent to which their best interests are protected by indulging his.
The question is how long that can last.
The president has been untypically camera shy, going several days without scheduling any event with media access.
There are, however, glimpses of a lame duck unleashed. Within two days of his defeat, President Trump fired his defence secretary Mark Esper, by Twitter, and there is growing speculation the heads of the FBI and CIA will be next.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--Pompeo says 'there will be smooth transition to our second Trump administration'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said `` there will be a smooth transition to our second Trump administration '' - despite the president having lost the election to Joe Biden .
The remarks reflected the existing administration 's ongoing refusal to accept the result of the 3 November vote .
The Electoral College is due to formally confirm Mr Biden 's victory on 14 December , with the president-elect being sworn into office in late January .
But Mr Pompeo indicated the White House was continuing its efforts to block co-operation with the Democrat 's team .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second Trump administration , '' he said .
Breaking into a smile , he continued : `` Right .
We 're ready .
The world is watching what 's taking place .
`` We 're going to count all the votes .
When the process is complete , there 'll be electors selected .
There 's a process .
The constitution lays it out pretty clearly . ''
However , he went on to seemingly acknowledge the possibility of the next US leader not being Donald Trump .
`` The world should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure that the State Department is functional today and successful with the president who is in office on January 20th , a minute after noon , is also successful , '' he said .
He then appeared to indirectly admit that Mr Trump had lost , saying : `` I went through a transition ...
I 've been on the other side of this . ''
Mr Pompeo has been a member of the president 's team since the transition from the Obama presidency in 2017 , following Mr Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there had been widespread voter fraud or whether Mr Biden 's significant leads in key states including Pennsylvania and Michigan were going to be overturned , Mr Pompeo declined to answer the question directly .
Meanwhile , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was emphasising Mr Biden 's margin of victory in the popular vote at a news conference on the new administration 's health plans , saying he `` won the election decisively , with more votes than have ever been cast in American history '' .
`` Each and every vote for Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand the Affordable Care Act - not to tear it away in the midst of a global pandemic , '' she said .
Few Republicans have acknowledged the victory and some , including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell , have rallied behind efforts to fight the election results .
Attorney general William Barr authorised the Justice Department to investigate `` substantial '' allegations of voter irregularities and election fraud on Monday , though no widespread instances of that type of trouble exist .
In a memo to US lawyers , obtained by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations `` may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that , if true , could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual state '' .
Election officials from both political parties have publicly stated that voting went well .
International observers also confirmed there were no serious irregularities .
It has been reported that Mr Trump 's aides and White House officials are privately aware that his legal challenges to the election result have little chance of success and that the Republican has lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to publicly accept the defeat before the president has done so .

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said "there will be a smooth transition to our second Trump administration" - despite the president having lost the election to Joe Biden.
The remarks reflected the existing administration's ongoing refusal to accept the result of the 3 November vote.
The Electoral College is due to formally confirm Mr Biden's victory on 14 December, with the president-elect being sworn into office in late January.
Image: Donald Trump with Mike Pompeo in April
But Mr Pompeo indicated the White House was continuing its efforts to block co-operation with the Democrat's team.
"There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration," he said.
Breaking into a smile, he continued: "Right. We're ready. The world is watching what's taking place.
"We're going to count all the votes. When the process is complete, there'll be electors selected. There's a process. The constitution lays it out pretty clearly."
However, he went on to seemingly acknowledge the possibility of the next US leader not being Donald Trump.
"The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is functional today and successful with the president who is in office on January 20th, a minute after noon, is also successful," he said.
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He then appeared to indirectly admit that Mr Trump had lost, saying: "I went through a transition... I've been on the other side of this."
Mr Pompeo has been a member of the president's team since the transition from the Obama presidency in 2017, following Mr Trump's election win.
Asked if he believed there had been widespread voter fraud or whether Mr Biden's significant leads in key states including Pennsylvania and Michigan were going to be overturned, Mr Pompeo declined to answer the question directly.
Meanwhile, vice president-elect Kamala Harris was emphasising Mr Biden's margin of victory in the popular vote at a news conference on the new administration's health plans, saying he "won the election decisively, with more votes than have ever been cast in American history".
"Each and every vote for Joe Biden was a vote to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act - not to tear it away in the midst of a global pandemic," she said.
Few Republicans have acknowledged the victory and some, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, have rallied behind efforts to fight the election results.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:54 President-elect Joe Biden has promised his top priority is coronavirus
Attorney general William Barr authorised the Justice Department to investigate "substantial" allegations of voter irregularities and election fraud on Monday, though no widespread instances of that type of trouble exist.
In a memo to US lawyers, obtained by The Associated Press, Mr Barr wrote that investigations "may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual state".
Election officials from both political parties have publicly stated that voting went well. International observers also confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
It has been reported that Mr Trump's aides and White House officials are privately aware that his legal challenges to the election result have little chance of success and that the Republican has lost to Mr Biden, but do not want to publicly accept the defeat before the president has done so.


skynewsus--2020-11-10--Trump's refusal to concede an 'embarrassment', Biden says


skynewsus--2020-11-11--Toilet terror: Police hunt Pittsburgh portable loo bomber

Police in Pittsburgh are investigating a spate of explosions at portable toilets in the area .
Two toilets have been attacked in the past week , with the most recent being on Tuesday morning in the city 's North Side .
Police said the explosion happened overnight and a construction worker arrived at work to find the toilet destroyed .
When police arrived at the scene later in the morning , they found `` evidence of an explosive device '' having gone off .
There were no injuries .
Public safety assistant spokesperson Maurice Matthews told KDKA : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one was injured . ''
Last week another blown-up toilet was found in Lawrenceville , where a 4am explosion sent pieces of the toilet onto the pavement in front of a nearby house .
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , the homeowner said the blast caused `` a loud boom '' and broke a window at her home .
The portable toilet had been across the street where another home is being built .
Police have not named any suspects and are still investigating to decide whether the attacks are linked .

Police in Pittsburgh are investigating a spate of explosions at portable toilets in the area.
Two toilets have been attacked in the past week, with the most recent being on Tuesday morning in the city's North Side.
Police said the explosion happened overnight and a construction worker arrived at work to find the toilet destroyed.
When police arrived at the scene later in the morning, they found "evidence of an explosive device" having gone off.
There were no injuries.
Public safety assistant spokesperson Maurice Matthews told KDKA: "We got pretty blessed and pretty lucky that no one was injured."
Last week another blown-up toilet was found in Lawrenceville, where a 4am explosion sent pieces of the toilet onto the pavement in front of a nearby house.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the homeowner said the blast caused "a loud boom" and broke a window at her home.
The portable toilet had been across the street where another home is being built.
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Police have not named any suspects and are still investigating to decide whether the attacks are linked.


skynewsus--2020-11-11--PM brands Trump 'the previous president' after 'refreshing' chat with Biden

Boris Johnson has branded Donald Trump the `` previous president '' and hailed his `` refreshing '' conversation with successor Joe Biden .
Mr Trump is continuing to claim he won last week 's US presidential election and has made multiple unsubstantiated claims of fraud .
But the prime minister consigned Mr Trump 's presidency to the history books on Wednesday , as he told MPs of his `` excellent '' phone call with Mr Biden .
Mr Johnson said he agreed with the US president-elect that their two countries should `` once again '' co-operate on various global issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Johnson told the House of Commons : `` One of the many merits of the excellent conversation I had yesterday with president-elect Joe Biden was that we were strongly agreed on the need for once again the UK and the US to stand together to stick up for our values around the world .
`` To stick up for human rights and stick up for global free trade , to stick up for NATO , and to work together in the fight against climate change .
`` It was refreshing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that conversation and I look forward to many more . ''
Mr Johnson added he was `` delighted '' that Mr Biden and his incoming vice-president , Kamala Harris , shared `` many areas '' of `` common cause '' - including next year 's climate change summit in Glasgow .
`` I had and have a good relationship with the previous president - I do not resile from that , '' the prime minister said .
`` It is the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm delighted to find the many areas in which the incoming Biden/Harris administration is able to make common cause with us .
`` In particular , it was extremely exciting to talk to president-elect Biden about what he wants to do with the COP26 summit next year , in which the UK is leading the world in driving down carbon emissions and tackling climate change . ''
Speaking later during a visit to a Tesco distribution centre in southeast London , the PM said it was a `` return to the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
`` Sticking up for democracy around the world , human rights , free trade , NATO - Joe Biden is a very strong believer in the transatlantic alliance and indeed the special relationship - and above all climate change , '' Mr Johnson said .
The PM held a 25-minute phone call with Mr Biden on Tuesday .
Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker They talked about the importance of implementing Brexit in such a way that upholds the Good Friday Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president-elect that would be the case .
The Internal Market Bill - the government 's controversial Brexit legislation that ministers have admitted will allow them to break international law - was not understood to have been raised specifically in the call .
Mr Biden has previously warned against the Good Friday Agreement becoming a `` casualty '' of Brexit .
Downing Street on Wednesday said that Mr Johnson had n't raised the case of Harry Dunn during the call with Mr Biden .
But the prime minister 's spokesman added : `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 'll be having further discussions in the coming months .
`` We continue to press for justice . ''

Boris Johnson has branded Donald Trump the "previous president" and hailed his "refreshing" conversation with successor Joe Biden.
Mr Trump is continuing to claim he won last week's US presidential election and has made multiple unsubstantiated claims of fraud.
But the prime minister consigned Mr Trump's presidency to the history books on Wednesday, as he told MPs of his "excellent" phone call with Mr Biden.
Image: The PM held a 25-minute call with Joe Biden on Tuesday. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Number 10
Mr Johnson said he agreed with the US president-elect that their two countries should "once again" co-operate on various global issues.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons: "One of the many merits of the excellent conversation I had yesterday with president-elect Joe Biden was that we were strongly agreed on the need for once again the UK and the US to stand together to stick up for our values around the world.
"To stick up for human rights and stick up for global free trade, to stick up for NATO, and to work together in the fight against climate change.
"It was refreshing, if I may say, to have that conversation and I look forward to many more."
Mr Johnson added he was "delighted" that Mr Biden and his incoming vice-president, Kamala Harris, shared "many areas" of "common cause" - including next year's climate change summit in Glasgow.
"I had and have a good relationship with the previous president - I do not resile from that," the prime minister said.
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Image: Boris Johnson said he would 'not resile' from his good relationship with Donald Trump
"It is the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with the White House.
"But I'm delighted to find the many areas in which the incoming Biden/Harris administration is able to make common cause with us.
"In particular, it was extremely exciting to talk to president-elect Biden about what he wants to do with the COP26 summit next year, in which the UK is leading the world in driving down carbon emissions and tackling climate change."
Speaking later during a visit to a Tesco distribution centre in southeast London, the PM said it was a "return to the kind of business we are used to doing together".
"Sticking up for democracy around the world, human rights, free trade, NATO - Joe Biden is a very strong believer in the transatlantic alliance and indeed the special relationship - and above all climate change," Mr Johnson said.
The PM held a 25-minute phone call with Mr Biden on Tuesday.
Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
They talked about the importance of implementing Brexit in such a way that upholds the Good Friday Agreement, with the prime minister assuring the president-elect that would be the case.
The Internal Market Bill - the government's controversial Brexit legislation that ministers have admitted will allow them to break international law - was not understood to have been raised specifically in the call.
Mr Biden has previously warned against the Good Friday Agreement becoming a "casualty" of Brexit.
Downing Street on Wednesday said that Mr Johnson hadn't raised the case of Harry Dunn during the call with Mr Biden.
But the prime minister's spokesman added: "It wasn't discussed last night but sure we'll be having further discussions in the coming months.
"We continue to press for justice."