talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-21--Trump Takes Another L: Michigan GOPers Say No To Election Steal

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump sought to leverage the power of the Oval Office on Friday in an extraordinary attempt to block President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory , but his pleas to Michigan lawmakers to overturn the will of their constituents appeared to have left them unswayed .
Trump summoned a delegation of the battleground state ’ s Republican leadership , including the Senate majority leader and House speaker , in an apparent extension of his efforts to persuade judges and election officials to set aside Biden ’ s 154,000-vote margin of victory and grant Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came amid mounting criticism that Trump ’ s futile efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election could do long-lasting damage to democratic traditions .
Trump ’ s efforts extended to other states that Biden carried as well , amounting to an unprecedented attempt by a sitting president to maintain his grasp on power , or in failure , to delegitimize his opponent ’ s victory in the eyes of his army of supporters .
Rick Hasen , an election law expert and professor who has been meticulously chronicling the 2020 race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioting ” in the streets if an effort was made to set aside the vote in Michigan , calling it tantamount to an attempted coup .
“ We should worry because this is profoundly antidemocratic and is delegitimizing the victory of Joe Biden in a free and fair election , ” Hasen wrote on his blog .
“ It is profoundly depressing we still have to discuss this .
But it is extremely unlikely to lead to any different result for president.
” In a joint statement after the White House meeting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Speaker Lee Chatfield said allegations of fraud should be investigated but indicated they were unmoved by Trump ’ s claims thus far .
“ We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan and as legislative leaders , we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan ’ s electors , just as we have said throughout this election , ” they said .
“ The candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they used the meeting with Trump to press him for more pandemic aid money for their state .
The president on Friday again falsely claimed victory , declaring as an aside during a White House announcement on drug pricing , “ I won , by the way , but you know , we ’ ll find that out.
” Trump ’ s roughly hourlong meeting with the Michigan legislators came days after he personally called two local canvassing board officials who had refused to certify the results in Wayne County , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that overwhelmingly favored Biden .
The two GOP officials eventually agreed to certify the results .
But following Trump ’ s call , they said they had second thoughts .
The Board of State Canvassers is to meet Monday to certify the statewide outcome and it was unclear whether Republican members of that panel would similarly balk .
Some Trump allies have expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors , as the president and his attorneys have pushed baseless allegations of fraud that have been repeatedly rejected in courtrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in mind that Trump invited the Michigan legislators .
He was also said to be considering extending a similar invitation to lawmakers from Pennsylvania .
“ The president could be calling Republican legislators and others to the White House to try and squeeze them , ” tweeted former Trump national security adviser John Bolton .
“ Republicans at all levels — state , county , election boards , legislatures — must resist this political pressure.
” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that the meeting with Michigan officials was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump “ routinely meets with lawmakers from across the country.
” But such meetings are in fact rare , particularly as Trump has maintained a low profile since the election .
As he departed Detroit for Washington on Friday morning , Shirkey was swarmed by activists bearing signs that read “ Respect the Vote ” and “ Protect Democracy.
” Chatfield tweeted before the meeting with Trump : “ No matter the party , when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States , of course you take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that.
” Trump ’ s effort to set aside the Michigan vote was sure to fail .
Experts on Michigan election law said the Board of State Canvassers ’ authority was limited in scope .
“ Their duties are to receive the canvass and certify the canvass , that ’ s it , ” said John Pirich , a former assistant attorney general who teaches at Michigan State University College of Law .
“ They have absolutely no power to investigate allegations , theories or any half-brained kind of arguments that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be called on to select electors if Trump succeeded in persuading the board not to certify the results .
Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer could seek a court order forcing board members to certify the election and could remove those who refused , said Steve Liedel , another election attorney .
Trump ’ s play for Michigan was among a series of last-ditch tactics in battleground states that his team is using to challenge his defeat .
They also have suggested in a legal challenge that Pennsylvania set aside the popular vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delay certifying vote tallies .
There have been multiple lawsuits in battleground states that have failed so far to reverse any votes .
In two Democratic-leaning counties in Wisconsin that are recounting votes , Trump ’ s campaign sought to discard tens of thousands of absentee ballots that it alleged should not have been counted .
The objections were twice denied by the three-member Dane County Board of Canvassers on bipartisan votes .
Trump was expected to make the same objections in Milwaukee County ahead of a court challenge once the recount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Todd Whitman called Trump ’ s efforts “ the actions of a third-world dictator .
It is not who we are as Americans , and we do not want the public coming away from this thinking this is the norm .
There is no basis for trying to overturn this.
” The increasingly desperate and erratic moves by Trump and his allies have no reasonable chance of changing the outcome of the 2020 election , in which Biden has now received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history and has clinched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
Some Republicans have embraced Trump ’ s faulty narrative and are helping him spread it .
In Georgia , where a hand audit found Biden had still won , Gov .
Brian Kemp said a court order made it so he had to certify the results .
But he suggested Trump demand a recount and wanted answers to the alleged “ irregularities.
” In Minnesota , a state Biden won handily , some GOP officials are now raising concerns over “ data abnormalities.
” Biden legal adviser Bob Bauer said Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s an abuse of office , ” he said .
“ It ’ s an open attempt to intimidate election officials , it ’ s absolutely appalling .
… It ’ s also pathetic.
” Eggert reported from Lansing .
Associated Press writers John Flesher in Detroit , Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston , Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta , Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump sought to leverage the power of the Oval Office on Friday in an extraordinary attempt to block President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, but his pleas to Michigan lawmakers to overturn the will of their constituents appeared to have left them unswayed.
Trump summoned a delegation of the battleground state’s Republican leadership, including the Senate majority leader and House speaker, in an apparent extension of his efforts to persuade judges and election officials to set aside Biden’s 154,000-vote margin of victory and grant Trump the state’s electors. It came amid mounting criticism that Trump’s futile efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election could do long-lasting damage to democratic traditions.
Trump’s efforts extended to other states that Biden carried as well, amounting to an unprecedented attempt by a sitting president to maintain his grasp on power, or in failure, to delegitimize his opponent’s victory in the eyes of his army of supporters.
Rick Hasen, an election law expert and professor who has been meticulously chronicling the 2020 race, wrote that there would be “rioting” in the streets if an effort was made to set aside the vote in Michigan, calling it tantamount to an attempted coup.
“We should worry because this is profoundly antidemocratic and is delegitimizing the victory of Joe Biden in a free and fair election,” Hasen wrote on his blog. “It is profoundly depressing we still have to discuss this. But it is extremely unlikely to lead to any different result for president.”
In a joint statement after the White House meeting, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield said allegations of fraud should be investigated but indicated they were unmoved by Trump’s claims thus far. “We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan and as legislative leaders, we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors, just as we have said throughout this election,” they said.
“The candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan’s electoral votes,” they added, saying they used the meeting with Trump to press him for more pandemic aid money for their state.
The president on Friday again falsely claimed victory, declaring as an aside during a White House announcement on drug pricing, “I won, by the way, but you know, we’ll find that out.”
Trump’s roughly hourlong meeting with the Michigan legislators came days after he personally called two local canvassing board officials who had refused to certify the results in Wayne County, Michigan’s most populous county and one that overwhelmingly favored Biden. The two GOP officials eventually agreed to certify the results. But following Trump’s call, they said they had second thoughts.
The Board of State Canvassers is to meet Monday to certify the statewide outcome and it was unclear whether Republican members of that panel would similarly balk.
Some Trump allies have expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors, as the president and his attorneys have pushed baseless allegations of fraud that have been repeatedly rejected in courtrooms across the country. It was with that in mind that Trump invited the Michigan legislators. He was also said to be considering extending a similar invitation to lawmakers from Pennsylvania.
“The president could be calling Republican legislators and others to the White House to try and squeeze them,” tweeted former Trump national security adviser John Bolton. “Republicans at all levels — state, county, election boards, legislatures — must resist this political pressure.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that the meeting with Michigan officials was “not an advocacy meeting” and insisted Trump “routinely meets with lawmakers from across the country.” But such meetings are in fact rare, particularly as Trump has maintained a low profile since the election.
As he departed Detroit for Washington on Friday morning, Shirkey was swarmed by activists bearing signs that read “Respect the Vote” and “Protect Democracy.”
Chatfield tweeted before the meeting with Trump: “No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it. I won’t apologize for that.”
Trump’s effort to set aside the Michigan vote was sure to fail. Experts on Michigan election law said the Board of State Canvassers’ authority was limited in scope.
“Their duties are to receive the canvass and certify the canvass, that’s it,” said John Pirich, a former assistant attorney general who teaches at Michigan State University College of Law. “They have absolutely no power to investigate allegations, theories or any half-brained kind of arguments that are being thrown around.”
The Michigan Legislature would be called on to select electors if Trump succeeded in persuading the board not to certify the results.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could seek a court order forcing board members to certify the election and could remove those who refused, said Steve Liedel, another election attorney.
Trump’s play for Michigan was among a series of last-ditch tactics in battleground states that his team is using to challenge his defeat. They also have suggested in a legal challenge that Pennsylvania set aside the popular vote there and pressured county officials in Arizona to delay certifying vote tallies. There have been multiple lawsuits in battleground states that have failed so far to reverse any votes.
In two Democratic-leaning counties in Wisconsin that are recounting votes, Trump’s campaign sought to discard tens of thousands of absentee ballots that it alleged should not have been counted.
The objections were twice denied by the three-member Dane County Board of Canvassers on bipartisan votes. Trump was expected to make the same objections in Milwaukee County ahead of a court challenge once the recount concludes.
Former Bush administration official Christine Todd Whitman called Trump’s efforts “the actions of a third-world dictator. It is not who we are as Americans, and we do not want the public coming away from this thinking this is the norm. There is no basis for trying to overturn this.”
The increasingly desperate and erratic moves by Trump and his allies have no reasonable chance of changing the outcome of the 2020 election, in which Biden has now received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history and has clinched the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.
Some Republicans have embraced Trump’s faulty narrative and are helping him spread it. In Georgia, where a hand audit found Biden had still won, Gov. Brian Kemp said a court order made it so he had to certify the results. But he suggested Trump demand a recount and wanted answers to the alleged “irregularities.”
In Minnesota, a state Biden won handily, some GOP officials are now raising concerns over “data abnormalities.”
Biden legal adviser Bob Bauer said Trump’s efforts were harmful to democracy.
“It’s an abuse of office,” he said. “It’s an open attempt to intimidate election officials, it’s absolutely appalling. … It’s also pathetic.”
___
Eggert reported from Lansing. Associated Press writers John Flesher in Detroit, Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston, Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta, Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--Trump Losses Keep Piling Up As Judge Smacks Down Campaign Lawsuit In PA

Pennsylvania officials can certify election results that currently show Democrat Joe Biden winning the state by more than 80,000 votes , a federal judge ruled Saturday , dealing President Donald Trump ’ s campaign another blow in its effort to invalidate the election .
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport , Pennsylvania , turned down the request for an injunction by President Donald Trump ’ s campaign , spoiling the incumbent ’ s hopes of somehow overturning the results of the presidential contest .
In his ruling , Brann said the Trump campaign presented “ strained legal arguments without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence.
” “ In the United States of America , this can not justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter , let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state , ” the opinion said .
“ Our people , laws , and institutions demand more.
” Trump had argued that the U.S. Constitution ’ s guarantee of equal protection under the law was violated when Pennsylvania counties took different approaches to notifying voters before the election about technical problems with their submitted mail-in ballots .
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign sued had argued Trump had previously raised similar claims and lost .
They told Brann the remedy the Trump campaign sought , to throw out millions of votes over alleged isolated issues , was far too extreme , particularly after most of them have been tallied .
“ There is no justification on any level for the radical disenfranchisement they seek , ” Boockvar ’ s lawyers wrote in a brief filed Thursday .
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro , a Democrat , tweeted shortly after Brann ’ s ruling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The state ’ s 20 electoral votes would not have been enough on their own to hand Trump a second term .
Counties must certify their results to Boockvar by Monday , after which she will make her own certification .
Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf will notify the winning candidate ’ s electors they should appear to vote in the Capitol on Dec. 14 .

Pennsylvania officials can certify election results that currently show Democrat Joe Biden winning the state by more than 80,000 votes, a federal judge ruled Saturday, dealing President Donald Trump’s campaign another blow in its effort to invalidate the election.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, turned down the request for an injunction by President Donald Trump’s campaign, spoiling the incumbent’s hopes of somehow overturning the results of the presidential contest.
In his ruling, Brann said the Trump campaign presented “strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations … unsupported by evidence.”
“In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state,” the opinion said. “Our people, laws, and institutions demand more.”
Trump had argued that the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law was violated when Pennsylvania counties took different approaches to notifying voters before the election about technical problems with their submitted mail-in ballots.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and the seven Biden-majority counties that the campaign sued had argued Trump had previously raised similar claims and lost.
They told Brann the remedy the Trump campaign sought, to throw out millions of votes over alleged isolated issues, was far too extreme, particularly after most of them have been tallied.
“There is no justification on any level for the radical disenfranchisement they seek,” Boockvar’s lawyers wrote in a brief filed Thursday.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, tweeted shortly after Brann’s ruling, saying “Another one bites the dust.”
The state’s 20 electoral votes would not have been enough on their own to hand Trump a second term. Counties must certify their results to Boockvar by Monday, after which she will make her own certification.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf will notify the winning candidate’s electors they should appear to vote in the Capitol on Dec. 14.
____
Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-21--Wisconsin Election Officials Accuse Trump Observers Of Jamming Up Recount

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) — Election officials in Wisconsin ’ s largest county accused observers for President Donald Trump on Saturday of seeking to obstruct a recount of the presidential results , in some instances by objecting to every ballot tabulators pulled to count .
Trump requested the recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties , both heavily liberal , in hopes of undoing Democrat Joe Biden ’ s victory by about 20,600 votes .
With no precedent for a recount reversing such a large margin , Trump ’ s strategy is widely seen as aimed at an eventual court challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to undo his election loss .
A steady stream of Republican complaints in Milwaukee was putting the recount far behind schedule , county clerk George Christenson said .
He said many Trump observers were breaking rules by constantly interrupting vote counters with questions and comments .
“ That ’ s unacceptable , ” he said .
He said some of the Trump observers “ clearly don ’ t know what they are doing.
” Tim Posnanski , a county election commissioner , told his fellow commissioners there appeared to be two Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting ballots , violating rules that call for one observer from each campaign per table .
Posnanski said some Trump representatives seemed to be posing as independents .
At one recount table , a Trump observer objected to every ballot that tabulators pulled from a bag simply because they were folded , election officials told the panel .
Posnanski called it “ prima facie evidence of bad faith by the Trump campaign.
” He added later : “ I want to know what is going on and why there continues to be obstruction.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commission members on behalf of the Trump campaign , denied his side was acting in bad faith .
“ I want to get to the point of dialing everything down … and not yelling at each other , ” Voiland said .
At least one Trump observer was escorted out of the building by sheriff ’ s deputies Saturday after pushing an election official who had lifted her coat from an observer chair .
Another Trump observer was removed Friday for not wearing a face mask properly as required .
Trump paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state law , for the partial recount that began Friday and must conclude by Dec. 1 .
His team is seeking to disqualify ballots where election clerks filled in missing address information on the certification envelope where the ballot is inserted , even though the practice has long been accepted in Wisconsin .
The campaign also alleges thousands of absentee ballots don ’ t have proper written paperwork , and that some absentee voters improperly declared themselves “ indefinitely confined , ” a status that allows them to receive a ballot without photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There have been at least 31 recounts in statewide elections in the U.S. since the most famous one in Florida ’ s presidential election in 2000 .
The recounts changed the outcome of three races .
All three were decided by hundreds of votes , not thousands .

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Election officials in Wisconsin’s largest county accused observers for President Donald Trump on Saturday of seeking to obstruct a recount of the presidential results, in some instances by objecting to every ballot tabulators pulled to count.
Trump requested the recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties, both heavily liberal, in hopes of undoing Democrat Joe Biden’s victory by about 20,600 votes. With no precedent for a recount reversing such a large margin, Trump’s strategy is widely seen as aimed at an eventual court challenge, part of a push in key states to undo his election loss.
A steady stream of Republican complaints in Milwaukee was putting the recount far behind schedule, county clerk George Christenson said. He said many Trump observers were breaking rules by constantly interrupting vote counters with questions and comments.
“That’s unacceptable,” he said. He said some of the Trump observers “clearly don’t know what they are doing.”
Tim Posnanski, a county election commissioner, told his fellow commissioners there appeared to be two Trump representatives at some tables where tabulators were counting ballots, violating rules that call for one observer from each campaign per table. Posnanski said some Trump representatives seemed to be posing as independents.
At one recount table, a Trump observer objected to every ballot that tabulators pulled from a bag simply because they were folded, election officials told the panel.
Posnanski called it “prima facie evidence of bad faith by the Trump campaign.” He added later: “I want to know what is going on and why there continues to be obstruction.”
Joe Voiland, a lawyer speaking to commission members on behalf of the Trump campaign, denied his side was acting in bad faith.
“I want to get to the point of dialing everything down … and not yelling at each other,” Voiland said.
At least one Trump observer was escorted out of the building by sheriff’s deputies Saturday after pushing an election official who had lifted her coat from an observer chair. Another Trump observer was removed Friday for not wearing a face mask properly as required.
Trump paid $3 million, as required by state law, for the partial recount that began Friday and must conclude by Dec. 1.
His team is seeking to disqualify ballots where election clerks filled in missing address information on the certification envelope where the ballot is inserted, even though the practice has long been accepted in Wisconsin.
The campaign also alleges thousands of absentee ballots don’t have proper written paperwork, and that some absentee voters improperly declared themselves “indefinitely confined,” a status that allows them to receive a ballot without photo ID. Those challenges were being rejected.
There have been at least 31 recounts in statewide elections in the U.S. since the most famous one in Florida’s presidential election in 2000. The recounts changed the outcome of three races. All three were decided by hundreds of votes, not thousands.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-21--No Take Backs! Blackburn Spox Says GOPer Didn’t Mean To Call Biden President-Elect

The list is so short that these days it counts as news when a Republican lawmaker calls Joe Biden , the decisive winner of the 2020 election , President-elect .
So it was Friday night when Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) referred to President-elect Biden in an interview with ABC News .
But Blackburn campaign spokesperson , Abigail Sigler , told the Tennessean that the senator didn ’ t mean it .
A Republican senator walking back a statement of simple fact shows President Trump ’ s enduring dominance over the party as he wages an ineffectual but damaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defeat .
In an interview with ABC News Friday , Blackburn said she hadn ’ t spoken with Biden since his victory , referring to him as the President-elect .
“ We did have the vice president come to the floor , the vice president-elect , come to the floor this week to cast a vote .
I was presiding at the time .
Didn ’ t get to speak with her , ” Blackburn added , referring to Kamala Harris .
Even as she acknowledged Biden and Harris as the rightful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t conclusive .
“ We will work through this process .
Now is the time for the Trump campaign , if they have their information that they need to present in court , now is the time they need to be taking that evidence to court.
” “ Right now it is important that we settle this .
I think if every legal vote is counted Donald Trump would get four more years , ” Blackburn added , using a loaded term Republicans have latched onto in an attempt to delegitimize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blackburn ’ s Republican colleagues , only Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) and Ben Sasse ( R-NE ) have explicitly called Biden president-elect .

The list is so short that these days it counts as news when a Republican lawmaker calls Joe Biden, the decisive winner of the 2020 election, President-elect.
So it was Friday night when Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) referred to President-elect Biden in an interview with ABC News.
But Blackburn campaign spokesperson, Abigail Sigler, told the Tennessean that the senator didn’t mean it.
“She simply misspoke — it’s nothing more,” Sigler told the paper.
A Republican senator walking back a statement of simple fact shows President Trump’s enduring dominance over the party as he wages an ineffectual but damaging effort to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
In an interview with ABC News Friday, Blackburn said she hadn’t spoken with Biden since his victory, referring to him as the President-elect.
“We did have the vice president come to the floor, the vice president-elect, come to the floor this week to cast a vote. I was presiding at the time. Didn’t get to speak with her,” Blackburn added, referring to Kamala Harris.
"I have not spoken with the president-elect. We did have… the vice president-elect come to the floor this week to cast a vote." Tennessee Sen. @MarshaBlackburn joins @ABCNewsLive to discuss the 2020 presidential election. https://t.co/kdxmfLUSX7 pic.twitter.com/ZQnONMdC3i — ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) November 21, 2020
Even as she acknowledged Biden and Harris as the rightful winners, Blackburn repeatedly suggested the results weren’t conclusive.
“We will work through this process. Now is the time for the Trump campaign, if they have their information that they need to present in court, now is the time they need to be taking that evidence to court.”
“Right now it is important that we settle this. I think if every legal vote is counted Donald Trump would get four more years,” Blackburn added, using a loaded term Republicans have latched onto in an attempt to delegitimize votes from predominantly minority communities.
Among Blackburn’s Republican colleagues, only Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) have explicitly called Biden president-elect.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--A Few More Hill GOPers Push Trump To Accept Reality As More Legal Battles Fall Flat

A handful of Republicans have joined a small contingent of conservative lawmakers over the weekend in accepting the reality that President Trump ’ s presidency is ending in January .
The sitting president still refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and his flailing attempts to legally challenge the election results have not picked up steam .
On Saturday night , the Trump campaign was dealt another blow in its effort to delegitimize the election process when a federal judge rebuked its challenge to Pennsylvania ’ s election results projecting that Biden won the battleground state .
Trumpworld has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which means that there is virtually no chance of stopping Biden ’ s return to the White House .
During an interview on ABC News on Sunday morning , incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain said that he ’ s seeing “ encouraging signs ” with statements by Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) and Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) acknowledging that Biden is President-elect .
Here are the Hill Republicans who ’ ve slowly come around to accepting the reality that Trump refuses to : After federal judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flimsy effort to block the certification of votes in Pennsylvania on Saturday , Toomey signaled in a statement that Trump ’ s legal team has hit a dead end in its hope of overturning the electoral result in the state .
Toomey also congratulated Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris as he outright acknowledged that the former VP is now the President-elect .
Cheney demanded that Trump respect “ the sanctity of our electoral process ” if he can not prove his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in a statement issued Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law , ” Cheney said .
“ The President and his lawyers have made claims of criminality and widespread fraud , which they allege could impact election results .
If they have genuine evidence of this , they are obligated to present it immediately in court and to the American people.
” Cheney then appeared to suggest that Trump throw in the towel rather than continue on with legal challenges that have been anything but successful .
“ If the President can not prove these claims or demonstrate that they would change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his oath to preserve , protect and defend the Constitution of the United States by respecting the sanctity of our electoral process , ” Cheney said .
Upton , who characterized the Michigan Republicans ’ attempt to pass legislation to overturn the swing state ’ s election results a “ dead end , ” dismissed Trump ’ s pressure campaign in an attempt to persuade Michigan legislators to hand him an election victory .
“ You know what ?
The voters have spoken , ” Upton said .
“ No one has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse .
All 83 counties have certified their own election results .
Those will be officially tabulated or should be tomorrow.
” After a clip aired of Trump lawyer Sidney Powell demanding that results in all swing states to “ be overturned and the legislatures should make sure that the electors are selected for Trump ” — which Powell called for by bringing up an unfounded conspiracy alleging that a voting software flipped millions of votes — Upton reiterated that “ the voters spoke.
” “ And here again in Michigan it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s 154,000 votes , ” Upton said .
“ You have to let those votes stand .
People know the process.
” Although Cornyn has yet to outright acknowledge that Biden is President-elect , he tweeted that Biden should receive intelligence briefings amid Trump ’ s efforts to stall the President-elect ’ s formal transition .
General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy , a Trump appointee who has the sole authority to green light Biden ’ s formal transition , has not signed an “ ascertainment ” that would allow Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the President-elect ’ s inauguration in January .
Cornyn suggested that VP-elect Harris should use her position on the Senate Intelligence committee to her advantage in the meantime so that she can help Biden ’ s transition amid Trump ’ s stonewalling .
However , classified information is shared during Senate Intelligence briefings .
Cramer demanded that it ’ s time for the Trump administration to begin cooperating with Biden ’ s transition team , despite how he vehemently defended Trump ’ s attempts to legally challenge the President-elect ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ Meet the Press.
” Although he denied the notion that Trump has hit a dead end on his legal options , and has not come around to acknowledging that Biden is the President-elect , Cramer argued that it ’ s in the best interest of the country for Biden ’ s formal transition process to begin .
“ It ’ s past time to start a transition , to at least cooperate with a transition , ” Cramer said .
“ I ’ d rather have a president that has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden end up winning this , but in the meantime , he ’ s just exercising his legal options.
” Cramer also refuted concerns that Trump ’ s refusal to concede undermines democracy .
“ I don ’ t know why we are so easily offended by a president that is carrying out all his legal options in court , ” Cramer said .
“ Everyone ought to calm down a little bit , I don ’ t see this as an attack on our democracy .
”

A handful of Republicans have joined a small contingent of conservative lawmakers over the weekend in accepting the reality that President Trump’s presidency is ending in January. The sitting president still refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and his flailing attempts to legally challenge the election results have not picked up steam.
On Saturday night, the Trump campaign was dealt another blow in its effort to delegitimize the election process when a federal judge rebuked its challenge to Pennsylvania’s election results projecting that Biden won the battleground state. Trumpworld has now lost dozens of rulings in several states, which means that there is virtually no chance of stopping Biden’s return to the White House.
During an interview on ABC News on Sunday morning, incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain said that he’s seeing “encouraging signs” with statements by Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) acknowledging that Biden is President-elect.
Here are the Hill Republicans who’ve slowly come around to accepting the reality that Trump refuses to:
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)
After federal judge smacked down the Trump campaign’s flimsy effort to block the certification of votes in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Toomey signaled in a statement that Trump’s legal team has hit a dead end in its hope of overturning the electoral result in the state.
Toomey also congratulated Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris as he outright acknowledged that the former VP is now the President-elect.
Read my statement on today’s Pennsylvania federal court decision, and congratulating President-Elect Biden: https://t.co/tCCXWxIUoR pic.twitter.com/MaxfHCtK1x — Senator Pat Toomey (@SenToomey) November 22, 2020
House Republican Conference chair Liz Cheney (R-WY)
Cheney demanded that Trump respect “the sanctity of our electoral process” if he cannot prove his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in a statement issued Saturday.
“America is governed by the rule of law,” Cheney said. “The President and his lawyers have made claims of criminality and widespread fraud, which they allege could impact election results. If they have genuine evidence of this, they are obligated to present it immediately in court and to the American people.”
Cheney then appeared to suggest that Trump throw in the towel rather than continue on with legal challenges that have been anything but successful.
“If the President cannot prove these claims or demonstrate that they would change the election result, he should fulfill his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States by respecting the sanctity of our electoral process,” Cheney said.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
Upton, who characterized the Michigan Republicans’ attempt to pass legislation to overturn the swing state’s election results a “dead end,” dismissed Trump’s pressure campaign in an attempt to persuade Michigan legislators to hand him an election victory.
“You know what? The voters have spoken,” Upton said. “No one has come up with any evidence of fraud or abuse. All 83 counties have certified their own election results. Those will be officially tabulated or should be tomorrow.”
After a clip aired of Trump lawyer Sidney Powell demanding that results in all swing states to “be overturned and the legislatures should make sure that the electors are selected for Trump” — which Powell called for by bringing up an unfounded conspiracy alleging that a voting software flipped millions of votes — Upton reiterated that “the voters spoke.”
“And here again in Michigan it’s not a razor thin margin, it’s 154,000 votes,” Upton said. “You have to let those votes stand. People know the process.”
Republican Congressman Fred Upton tells Trump that "it's over." "You know, the voters spoke. And here again, in Michigan, it’s not a razor-thin margin. It’s 154,000 votes. You got to let those votes stand." pic.twitter.com/0CPYy0LoBK — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 22, 2020
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Although Cornyn has yet to outright acknowledge that Biden is President-elect, he tweeted that Biden should receive intelligence briefings amid Trump’s efforts to stall the President-elect’s formal transition.
General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy, a Trump appointee who has the sole authority to green light Biden’s formal transition, has not signed an “ascertainment” that would allow Biden’s team to contact federal agencies ahead of the President-elect’s inauguration in January.
Cornyn suggested that VP-elect Harris should use her position on the Senate Intelligence committee to her advantage in the meantime so that she can help Biden’s transition amid Trump’s stonewalling. However, classified information is shared during Senate Intelligence briefings.
I agree briefings should occur. Just a note: Senator Harris is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and has been present during classified briefings post Nov. 3rd. https://t.co/QGebAPcUKs — Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) November 22, 2020
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Cramer demanded that it’s time for the Trump administration to begin cooperating with Biden’s transition team, despite how he vehemently defended Trump’s attempts to legally challenge the President-elect’s legitimate election victory, during an interview on “Meet the Press.”
Although he denied the notion that Trump has hit a dead end on his legal options, and has not come around to acknowledging that Biden is the President-elect, Cramer argued that it’s in the best interest of the country for Biden’s formal transition process to begin.
“It’s past time to start a transition, to at least cooperate with a transition,” Cramer said. “I’d rather have a president that has more than one day to prepare should Joe Biden end up winning this, but in the meantime, he’s just exercising his legal options.”
Cramer also refuted concerns that Trump’s refusal to concede undermines democracy.
“I don’t know why we are so easily offended by a president that is carrying out all his legal options in court,” Cramer said. “Everyone ought to calm down a little bit, I don’t see this as an attack on our democracy.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--WH Vaccine Czar Predicts Herd Immunity From COVID Vaccine By May. Fauci Thinks Not.

White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Moncef Slaoui , chief adviser of Operation Warp Speed , offered conflicting takes on Sunday regarding herd immunity as a result of COVID-19 vaccines .
Herd immunity has been pushed by Dr. Scott Atlas , Trump ’ s favorite COVID-19 adviser who opposes lockdowns and often espouses Trump rosy view on the pandemic that has killed more than 250,000 Americans thus far .
Last week , President-elect Joe Biden rebuked Trump on Wednesday for standing in the way of his formal transition , especially because the sitting president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine during the Biden administration “ behind by weeks or months.
” Earlier this year , Trump pressured administration health officials to release a COVID-19 vaccine so that he could have bragging rights ahead of the presidential election earlier this month .
COVID-19 vaccines have yet to be released , although talk of a vaccine distribution in the next several months has heightened upon Pfizer ’ s and Moderna ’ s recent announcements that their COVID-19 vaccines have preliminarily shown nearly 95 % efficacy in trials .
In September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there has been “ absolutely no interference ” amid concerns of political meddling as Trump pushed for a pre-election COVID-19 vaccine , adding that he would resign if at any time that became an issue or if he felt pressure from FDA regulators to push a half-baked vaccine out before it had been adequately tested .
On Sunday , Slaoui was asked on CNN when the first vaccination in the country will happen .
“ I would expect maybe on day two after approval , on the 11th or on the 12th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people will be immunized across the United States , across all states , in all the areas where the state departments of health will have told us where to deliver the vaccine , ” Slaoui said .
Pressed on how many Americans need to be immunized before normalcy returns , Slaoui replied that given the nearly 95 % efficacy from COVID-19 vaccine trials thus far , it would take “ 95 percent , 70 percent or so of the population being immunized ” to “ allow for true herd immunity to take place.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ likely to happen somewhere in the month of May or something like that ” based on Operation Warp Speed ’ s plans .
“ I really hope and look forward to seeing that the level of negative perception of the vaccine decreases and people ’ s acceptance increase , ” Slaoui said .
“ That ’ s going to be critical to help us .
Most people need to be immunized before we can go back to a normal life.
” Fauci , who the White House has launched efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t feed into Trump ’ s happy tune of downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic , refuted Slaoui ’ s optimistic projection for herd immunity as a result of a vaccine .
During an interview on CNN , Fauci was asked about Slaoui saying that herd immunity in the country could be achieved in May when the vaccine is distributed .
“ You know , I don ’ t think so , ” Fauci said , before adding that he “ totally agrees ” with Slaoui .
“ But there are a couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine program , a highly efficacious vaccine , and we ’ re there .
We have two of them that have a 95 % efficacy.
” Fauci added that the “ other part of the equation ” is how many people get vaccinated .
“ So if you have a highly efficacious vaccine and only a relatively small 40-50 % of the people get vaccinated , you ’ re not going to get the herd immunity you need , ” Fauci said .
“ What we do need is we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser of Operation Warp Speed, offered conflicting takes on Sunday regarding herd immunity as a result of COVID-19 vaccines.
Herd immunity has been pushed by Dr. Scott Atlas, Trump’s favorite COVID-19 adviser who opposes lockdowns and often espouses Trump rosy view on the pandemic that has killed more than 250,000 Americans thus far.
Last week, President-elect Joe Biden rebuked Trump on Wednesday for standing in the way of his formal transition, especially because the sitting president’s refusal to concede will put the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine during the Biden administration “behind by weeks or months.”
Earlier this year, Trump pressured administration health officials to release a COVID-19 vaccine so that he could have bragging rights ahead of the presidential election earlier this month. COVID-19 vaccines have yet to be released, although talk of a vaccine distribution in the next several months has heightened upon Pfizer’s and Moderna’s recent announcements that their COVID-19 vaccines have preliminarily shown nearly 95% efficacy in trials.
In September, Slaoui told Science in an interview that there has been “absolutely no interference” amid concerns of political meddling as Trump pushed for a pre-election COVID-19 vaccine, adding that he would resign if at any time that became an issue or if he felt pressure from FDA regulators to push a half-baked vaccine out before it had been adequately tested.
On Sunday, Slaoui was asked on CNN when the first vaccination in the country will happen.
“I would expect maybe on day two after approval, on the 11th or on the 12th of December, hopefully, the first people will be immunized across the United States, across all states, in all the areas where the state departments of health will have told us where to deliver the vaccine,” Slaoui said.
Pressed on how many Americans need to be immunized before normalcy returns, Slaoui replied that given the nearly 95% efficacy from COVID-19 vaccine trials thus far, it would take “95 percent, 70 percent or so of the population being immunized” to “allow for true herd immunity to take place.”
Slaoui claimed that such a scenario is “likely to happen somewhere in the month of May or something like that” based on Operation Warp Speed’s plans.
“I really hope and look forward to seeing that the level of negative perception of the vaccine decreases and people’s acceptance increase,” Slaoui said. “That’s going to be critical to help us. Most people need to be immunized before we can go back to a normal life.”
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser to Operation Warp Speed, says he anticipates that thanks to vaccines, life in the US could return to normal around May pic.twitter.com/PpSDGYzpSb — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2020
Fauci, who the White House has launched efforts to discredit as his public statements often don’t feed into Trump’s happy tune of downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic, refuted Slaoui’s optimistic projection for herd immunity as a result of a vaccine.
During an interview on CNN, Fauci was asked about Slaoui saying that herd immunity in the country could be achieved in May when the vaccine is distributed.
“You know, I don’t think so,” Fauci said, before adding that he “totally agrees” with Slaoui. “But there are a couple of things that go into the effectiveness of a vaccine program, a highly efficacious vaccine, and we’re there. We have two of them that have a 95% efficacy.”
Fauci added that the “other part of the equation” is how many people get vaccinated.
“So if you have a highly efficacious vaccine and only a relatively small 40-50% of the people get vaccinated, you’re not going to get the herd immunity you need,” Fauci said. “What we do need is we need to get as many people as possible vaccinated.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--‘National Embarrassment’: Christie Blasts Trump’s Legal Team As Election Challenges Fizzle

Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie ( R ) blasted President Trump ’ s legal team on Sunday for being “ a national embarrassment ” as it boosts the sitting president ’ s refusal to concede by waging bogus claims of widespread election fraud .
Trump ’ s legal battles in his efforts to delegitimize the election process have continued falling flat .
During an appearance on ABC News , Christie repeated his suggestion that Trump finally needs to concede .
After ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos mentioned that Trump ’ s legal team has lost 34 court cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) for calling on the president the day before to accept reality and recognize Biden won , Christie agreed that Trump ’ s tantrum must finally end .
“ The President has had an opportunity to access the courts , and I said to you , you know George , starting at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning , if you ’ ve got the evidence of fraud , present it , ” Christie said .
“ Sidney Powell accusing governor ( Republican Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwilling to go on TV and defend and lay out the evidence that she supposedly has , ” Christie said .
“ This is outrageous conduct by any lawyer and notice George , they won ’ t do it inside the courtroom .
They allege fraud outside the courtroom but when they go inside the courtroom they don ’ t plead fraud and they don ’ t argue fraud.
” Hogan , a critic of Trump who has spoken out against the President ’ s refusal to concede , offered a similar take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if he still thinks Trump will do the right thing and concede the race , Hogan said that he is confidence that Biden will be sworn in , but he ’ s “ not sure I could say that I ’ m confident that the president ’ s going to do the right thing.
” “ Look , I thought the pressuring of the legislators to try to somehow change the outcome with electors was completely outrageous , ” Hogan said .
“ And , quite frankly , I mean , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , and we were the most respected country with respect to elections .
And now we ’ re beginning to look like we ’ re a banana republic.
” Hogan said it ’ s time for fellow Republicans who ’ ve not spoken out against Trump ’ s refusal to concede to “ stop the nonsense ” because “ it just gets more bizarre every single day.
” “ And , frankly , I ’ m embarrassed that more people in the party aren ’ t speaking up , ” Hogan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hogan ’ s latest remarks in a tweet posted hours after the Maryland governor ’ s appearance on CNN .
Hogan was quick to fire back at the sitting president .

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) blasted President Trump’s legal team on Sunday for being “a national embarrassment” as it boosts the sitting president’s refusal to concede by waging bogus claims of widespread election fraud. Trump’s legal battles in his efforts to delegitimize the election process have continued falling flat.
During an appearance on ABC News, Christie repeated his suggestion that Trump finally needs to concede.
After ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos mentioned that Trump’s legal team has lost 34 court cases, and that sitting president attacked Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) for calling on the president the day before to accept reality and recognize Biden won, Christie agreed that Trump’s tantrum must finally end.
“The President has had an opportunity to access the courts, and I said to you, you know George, starting at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, if you’ve got the evidence of fraud, present it,” Christie said.
Christie blasted Trump’s legal team for being a “national embarrassment.”
“Sidney Powell accusing governor (Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp) of a crime on television, yet being unwilling to go on TV and defend and lay out the evidence that she supposedly has,” Christie said. “This is outrageous conduct by any lawyer and notice George, they won’t do it inside the courtroom. They allege fraud outside the courtroom but when they go inside the courtroom they don’t plead fraud and they don’t argue fraud.”
“Yes,” Chris Christie tells @GStephanopoulos when asked if it’s time for President Trump to stop challenging the 2020 election results, adding that the president’s legal team has been a “national embarrassment.” https://t.co/9HKDetYpa5 pic.twitter.com/zuGivUyqYo — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 22, 2020
Hogan, a critic of Trump who has spoken out against the President’s refusal to concede, offered a similar take during an interview on CNN.
When asked if he still thinks Trump will do the right thing and concede the race, Hogan said that he is confidence that Biden will be sworn in, but he’s “not sure I could say that I’m confident that the president’s going to do the right thing.”
“Look, I thought the pressuring of the legislators to try to somehow change the outcome with electors was completely outrageous,” Hogan said. “And, quite frankly, I mean, we used to go supervise elections around the world, and we were the most respected country with respect to elections. And now we’re beginning to look like we’re a banana republic.”
Hogan said it’s time for fellow Republicans who’ve not spoken out against Trump’s refusal to concede to “stop the nonsense” because “it just gets more bizarre every single day.”
“And, frankly, I’m embarrassed that more people in the party aren’t speaking up,” Hogan said.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, says he is "embarrassed that more people in the party aren't speaking up" regarding President Trumps' refusal to concede https://t.co/jw5Aybp5N5 #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/wFNFsPP7bJ — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) November 22, 2020
Trump appeared to take offense at Hogan’s latest remarks in a tweet posted hours after the Maryland governor’s appearance on CNN.
Hogan was quick to fire back at the sitting president.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--Biden’s Team Signals POTUS-Elect Will Push Forward With Cabinet Picks This Week

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain and transition team senior adviser Jen Psaki on Sunday alerted the public to keep its eyes peeled for an announcement this week from Biden on his cabinet picks amid President Trump ’ s refusal to concede , which has held up the President-elect ’ s formal transition process .
Last week , a Biden transition official confirmed to TPM that the President-elect has a new “ confirmations team ” dedicated to the Cabinet appointment process .
Biden staffers plan to break from tradition by publicly announcing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them before the Senate .
Biden also told reporters on Thursday that he ’ s chosen who will lead the Treasury Department .
The Associated Press reported that Biden ’ s Treasury pick , and his nominee for secretary of state , may be announced before Thanksgiving .
Additionally , the President-elect tapped several alumni of his presidential campaign last week to take on senior positions as soon as he enters the White House in January .
On Sunday , Klain and Psaki signaled that we ’ re just days away from knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s cabinet upon his return to the White House in January : When asked during an interview on ABC News whether we can expect an attorney general , State Department or Treasury pick from Biden this week , Klain confirmed that the President-elect will announce cabinet appointments on Tuesday .
“ Meeting the pace — beating , in fact — the pace that was set by the Obama/Biden transition , beating the pace set by the Trump transition , ” Klain said .
“ So you ’ re going to see the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , was tight-lipped on details .
“ But if you want to know what cabinet agencies they are , who ’ s going to be in those cabinet agencies , you ’ ll have to wait for the President-Elect to say that himself on Tuesday , ” Klain said .
During an interview on CNN , Psaki was asked whether Biden ’ s cabinet will have more progressive Democrats compared to the original Obama cabinet .
Psaki , who served as the White House communications director in the Obama administration , first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris were elected “ by a coalition of people across the country , ” which include progressive and moderate Democrats as well as Republicans .
“ And their cabinet and the team will look like America so that means diversity of idealology and becomes and wants a range of views of people at the table , ” Psaki said .
Psaki then said that Biden will announce some cabinet picks this week .
“ I would encourage people to wait who he sees and announces and nominates in the weeks to come , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there will be some this week and more in the weeks following , but he want to have a diversity of people at the table because he fully understands that is how he is going to move an agenda forward.
” When asked whether she can confirm the first cabinet announcement will come Tuesday , Psaki reiterated that it will come this week .
“ You know , Thanksgiving is on Thursday and I can assure you that President-Elect Biden will be with his family on that day as we all will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will come this week .
I think more in the weeks to come .
”

President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain and transition team senior adviser Jen Psaki on Sunday alerted the public to keep its eyes peeled for an announcement this week from Biden on his cabinet picks amid President Trump’s refusal to concede, which has held up the President-elect’s formal transition process.
Last week, a Biden transition official confirmed to TPM that the President-elect has a new “confirmations team” dedicated to the Cabinet appointment process. Biden staffers plan to break from tradition by publicly announcing the President-elect’s nominees before officially putting them before the Senate.
Biden also told reporters on Thursday that he’s chosen who will lead the Treasury Department. The Associated Press reported that Biden’s Treasury pick, and his nominee for secretary of state, may be announced before Thanksgiving.
Additionally, the President-elect tapped several alumni of his presidential campaign last week to take on senior positions as soon as he enters the White House in January.
On Sunday, Klain and Psaki signaled that we’re just days away from knowing who will be part of Biden’s cabinet upon his return to the White House in January:
Incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain
When asked during an interview on ABC News whether we can expect an attorney general, State Department or Treasury pick from Biden this week, Klain confirmed that the President-elect will announce cabinet appointments on Tuesday.
“Meeting the pace — beating, in fact — the pace that was set by the Obama/Biden transition, beating the pace set by the Trump transition,” Klain said. “So you’re going to see the first cabinet picks this Tuesday.”
Klain, however, was tight-lipped on details.
“But if you want to know what cabinet agencies they are, who’s going to be in those cabinet agencies, you’ll have to wait for the President-Elect to say that himself on Tuesday,” Klain said.
JUST IN: “You’re going to see the first of the president-elect’s cabinet appointments on Tuesday of this week,” Biden’s chief of staff Ron Klain tells @GStephanopoulos, adding that specifics will be shared by Biden himself on Tuesday. https://t.co/2CRbN7I9hM pic.twitter.com/gqfQLkQajy — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 22, 2020
Jen Psaki, Biden transition team senior adviser
During an interview on CNN, Psaki was asked whether Biden’s cabinet will have more progressive Democrats compared to the original Obama cabinet.
Psaki, who served as the White House communications director in the Obama administration, first pointed out that Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris were elected “by a coalition of people across the country,” which include progressive and moderate Democrats as well as Republicans.
“And their cabinet and the team will look like America so that means diversity of idealology and becomes and wants a range of views of people at the table,” Psaki said.
Psaki then said that Biden will announce some cabinet picks this week.
“I would encourage people to wait who he sees and announces and nominates in the weeks to come,” Psaki said. “Of course, there will be some this week and more in the weeks following, but he want to have a diversity of people at the table because he fully understands that is how he is going to move an agenda forward.”
When asked whether she can confirm the first cabinet announcement will come Tuesday, Psaki reiterated that it will come this week.
“You know, Thanksgiving is on Thursday and I can assure you that President-Elect Biden will be with his family on that day as we all will be,” Psaki said. “It will come this week. I think more in the weeks to come.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-22--Loeffler Quarantines After Inconclusive COVID-19 Tests And Indoor Campaign Events

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) is quarantining following inconclusive COVID-19 test results on Saturday evening , a day after she campaigned with Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) ahead of the battleground state ’ s Senate runoff elections in January .
On Sunday , Loeffler campaign spokesperson Stephen Lawson said that Loeffler was cleared for campaigning after rapid test results were negative for COVID-19 .
However , Loeffler ’ s PCR test on Friday were positive for COVID-19 , which came after she attended public events that day , according to Lawson .
Lawson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning , and her results were “ inconclusive.
” “ Senator Loeffler took two COVID tests on Friday morning .
Her rapid test results were negative and she was cleared to attend Friday ’ s events , ” Lawson said in a statement on Sunday .
“ She was informed later in the evening after public events on Friday that her PCR test came back positive , but she was retested Saturday morning after conferring with medical officials and those results came back inconclusive on Saturday evening.
” According to Lawson , Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those with whom she had sustained direct contact ” while she awaits further test results .
Loeffler has no symptoms and will continue complying with CDC guidelines by quarantining “ until retesting is conclusive.
” In a campaign update later Sunday , Lawson said that Loeffler ’ s previously inconclusive PCR results were retested overnight and the results came back negative .
Loeffler will continue quarantining “ out of an abundance of caution.
” “ She will continue to self-isolate and be retested again to hopefully receive consecutive negative test results , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those results as they are made available .
She will continue to confer with medical experts and follow CDC guidelines.
” In addition to her campaign event appearance with Pence and Perdue in Georgia on Friday , Loeffler has hosted several rallies in recent weeks to largely maskless crowds indoors .
Loeffler , however , has worn masks while greeting attendees .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) is quarantining following inconclusive COVID-19 test results on Saturday evening, a day after she campaigned with Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) ahead of the battleground state’s Senate runoff elections in January.
On Sunday, Loeffler campaign spokesperson Stephen Lawson said that Loeffler was cleared for campaigning after rapid test results were negative for COVID-19. However, Loeffler’s PCR test on Friday were positive for COVID-19, which came after she attended public events that day, according to Lawson.
Lawson said that Loeffler was retested on Saturday morning, and her results were “inconclusive.”
“Senator Loeffler took two COVID tests on Friday morning. Her rapid test results were negative and she was cleared to attend Friday’s events,” Lawson said in a statement on Sunday. “She was informed later in the evening after public events on Friday that her PCR test came back positive, but she was retested Saturday morning after conferring with medical officials and those results came back inconclusive on Saturday evening.”
According to Lawson, Loeffler adhered to CDC guidelines by notifying “those with whom she had sustained direct contact” while she awaits further test results.
Loeffler has no symptoms and will continue complying with CDC guidelines by quarantining “until retesting is conclusive.”
In a campaign update later Sunday, Lawson said that Loeffler’s previously inconclusive PCR results were retested overnight and the results came back negative. Loeffler will continue quarantining “out of an abundance of caution.”
“She will continue to self-isolate and be retested again to hopefully receive consecutive negative test results,” Lawson said. “We will share those results as they are made available. She will continue to confer with medical experts and follow CDC guidelines.”
In addition to her campaign event appearance with Pence and Perdue in Georgia on Friday, Loeffler has hosted several rallies in recent weeks to largely maskless crowds indoors. Loeffler, however, has worn masks while greeting attendees.
Last month, two of Loeffler’s staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Loeffler tested negative for COVID-19 following her staffers’ diagnosis.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--Biden To Tap His Former National Security Adviser As Secretary Of State

President-elect Joe Biden will reportedly nominate Tony Blinken , who served as Deputy Secretary of State and as Biden ’ s former national security adviser during the Obama years , to be his secretary of state .
The New York Times and Bloomberg reported on Blinken ’ s appointment on Sunday .
Additionally , Jake Sullivan , who was also the former vice president ’ s national security adviser , and Linda Thomas-Greenfield , another Obama administration alum who worked at the State Department , will reportedly be tapped as the President-elect ’ s national security adviser and ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden strategy team dedicated to getting the President-elect ’ s appointees confirmed did not immediately respond to request for comment .
Ron Klain , Biden ’ s new White House chief of staff , told ABC News that the President-elect would be announcing his Cabinet nominees on Tuesday , though Klain declined to say which Cabinet spots specifically .
“ If you want to know what cabinet agencies they are , who ’ s going to be in those Cabinet agencies , you ’ ll have to wait for the President-Elect to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden aide said .
News of the President-elect ’ s planned nominations highlight how the Biden team continues to move forward as President Donald Trump and his administration refuse to acknowledge the incumbent ’ s decisive electoral defeat , choosing to stonewall Biden ’ s transition process instead .

President-elect Joe Biden’s team announced that the former vice president will nominate Tony Blinken, who served as Deputy Secretary of State and as Biden’s ex-national security adviser during the Obama years, to be his secretary of state.
The Biden team also announced former Deputy CIA Director Avril Haines as the president-elect’s pick for Director of National Intelligence. If confirmed, Haines would be the first woman to hold the position. In another barrier-breaker, the President-elect has chosen Alejandro Mayorkas to be his Secretary of Homeland Security, which would make him the first Latino to head the department.
Additionally, Jake Sullivan, who was also the former vice president’s national security adviser, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, another Obama administration alum who worked at the State Department, will be tapped as the President-elect’s national security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations, respectively.
The Biden strategy team dedicated to getting the President-elect’s appointees confirmed did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Ron Klain, Biden’s new White House chief of staff, told ABC News that the President-elect would be announcing his Cabinet nominees on Tuesday, though Klain declined to say which Cabinet spots specifically.
“If you want to know what cabinet agencies they are, who’s going to be in those Cabinet agencies, you’ll have to wait for the President-Elect to say that himself on Tuesday,” the Biden aide said.
News of the President-elect’s planned nominations highlight how the Biden team continues to move forward as President Donald Trump and his administration refuse to acknowledge the incumbent’s decisive electoral defeat, choosing to stonewall Biden’s transition process instead.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--GSA Chief Issues Defensive Letter When Green Lighting Biden’s Formal Transition Process

General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy issued a pissy letter as she finally informed President-elect Joe Biden that she is ready to green light his formal transition process , according to a letter obtained by CNN Monday evening .
Murphy ’ s letter to Biden comes weeks after the President-elect ’ s projected victory and President Trump ’ s refusal to concede .
The lack of Murphy ’ s ascertainment acknowledging that Biden is President-elect had restricted the President-elect ’ s transition team from contacting current administration agency officials and receiving millions in government funding that an incoming administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murphy denied that she had been pressured by the White House to stonewall the President-elect ’ s formal transition .
Murphy hit back at the notion that her decision to let Biden ’ s formal transition proceed was made “ out of fear or favoritism.
” “ Please know that I came to my decision independently , based on the law and available facts , ” Murphy said .
“ I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing of my decision .
To be clear , I did not receive any direction to delay my determination.
” The GSA chief also appeared to blame ascertainment rules for supposedly being vague and outdated .
“ GSA does not dictate the outcome of legal disputes and recounts , nor does it determine whether such proceedings are reasonable or justified , ” Murphy said .
“ These are issues that the Constitution , federal laws , and state laws leave to the election certification process and decisions by courts of competent jurisdiction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process .
I strongly urge Congress to consider amendments to the Act.
” Shortly after CNN reported Murphy ’ s letter to Biden , Trump contradicted the GSA chief ’ s denial of facing pressure from the White House to proceed with Biden ’ s formal transition in a Monday evening tweet .
The sitting president claimed that he “ recommended ” to Murphy that she issue an ascertainment .
Trump also vowed to continue his legal battles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out ) .
In response to the GSA chief ’ s ascertainment of Biden ’ s formal transition , Biden-Harris transition executive director Yohannes Abraham praised the long-awaited move in a Monday evening statement .
“ Today ’ s decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation , including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track , ” Abraham said .
“ This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies.
” Abraham added that transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the days ahead to “ discuss the pandemic response , have a full accounting of our national security interests , and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration ’ s efforts to hollow out government agencies.
” Murphy ’ s decision to let her guard down on Biden ’ s formal transition process comes on the heels of battleground states Michigan and Georgia certifying its presidential results , which further solidified the President-elect ’ s victory .
Earlier Monday , three members of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
On Saturday night , the Trump campaign was dealt another blow in its effort to delegitimize the election process when a federal judge rebuked its challenge to Pennsylvania ’ s election results projecting that Biden won the battleground state .
Trumpworld has now lost dozens of rulings in several states as the sitting president ’ s legal team has failed to provide any evidence of widespread voter fraud .

General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy issued a pissy letter as she finally informed President-elect Joe Biden that she is ready to green light his formal transition process, according to a letter obtained by CNN Monday evening.
Murphy’s letter to Biden comes weeks after the President-elect’s projected victory and President Trump’s refusal to concede. The lack of Murphy’s ascertainment acknowledging that Biden is President-elect had restricted the President-elect’s transition team from contacting current administration agency officials and receiving millions in government funding that an incoming administration is entitled to.
In her letter, Murphy denied that she had been pressured by the White House to stonewall the President-elect’s formal transition. Murphy hit back at the notion that her decision to let Biden’s formal transition proceed was made “out of fear or favoritism.”
“Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts,” Murphy said. “I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA — with regard to the substance or timing of my decision. To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination.”
The GSA chief also appeared to blame ascertainment rules for supposedly being vague and outdated.
“GSA does not dictate the outcome of legal disputes and recounts, nor does it determine whether such proceedings are reasonable or justified,” Murphy said. “These are issues that the Constitution, federal laws, and state laws leave to the election certification process and decisions by courts of competent jurisdiction. I do not think that an agency charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process. I strongly urge Congress to consider amendments to the Act.”
Shortly after CNN reported Murphy’s letter to Biden, Trump contradicted the GSA chief’s denial of facing pressure from the White House to proceed with Biden’s formal transition in a Monday evening tweet. The sitting president claimed that he “recommended” to Murphy that she issue an ascertainment.
Trump also vowed to continue his legal battles challenging election results (which have fizzled out).
…fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020
In response to the GSA chief’s ascertainment of Biden’s formal transition, Biden-Harris transition executive director Yohannes Abraham praised the long-awaited move in a Monday evening statement.
“Today’s decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track,” Abraham said. “This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies.”
Abraham added that transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials in the days ahead to “discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies.”
Murphy’s decision to let her guard down on Biden’s formal transition process comes on the heels of battleground states Michigan and Georgia certifying its presidential results, which further solidified the President-elect’s victory.
Earlier Monday, three members of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted in favor of certifying Biden’s victory in the state.
On Saturday night, the Trump campaign was dealt another blow in its effort to delegitimize the election process when a federal judge rebuked its challenge to Pennsylvania’s election results projecting that Biden won the battleground state. Trumpworld has now lost dozens of rulings in several states as the sitting president’s legal team has failed to provide any evidence of widespread voter fraud.
Read Murphy’s letter to Biden below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--Feinstein Won’t Seek Top Role On Judiciary Committee Next Year

Sen. Diane Feinstein ( D-CA ) , the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee for four years , announced Monday that she “ will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress.
” In a statement issued Monday evening , Feinstein noted her position of ranking member of the Judiciary Committee since 2017 , her previous position as chairman and vice chairman on the Senate Intelligence Committee , and chairman of the Senate Rules Committee .
Feinstein said that she will continue serving as a member of all of those committees next year and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I look forward to continuing to serve as a senior Democrat on the Judiciary , Intelligence , Appropriations and Rules committees as we work with the Biden administration on priorities like gun safety , immigration reform and addressing inequities in criminal justice , ” Feinstein said .
“ I will continue to do my utmost to bring about positive change in the coming years.
” In her statement , Feinstein also indicated that she plans to focus on “ two crucial issues ” specific to her state in the 117th Congress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two existential threats – wildfire and drought – that are only getting worse with climate change , ” Feinstein said .
“ In the next Congress , I plan to increase my attention on those two crucial issues.
” Feinstein added that she believes that defeating COVID-19 , combating climate change and protecting access to health care are “ critical national priorities that require even more concentration.
” Last month , Feinstein came under fire from Democrats for praising Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings for Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett .
Feinstein told Graham that the Barrett hearings were “ one of the best set of hearings that I ’ ve participated in ” and thanked him for his “ fairness .
”

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee for four years, announced Monday that she “will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress.”
In a statement issued Monday evening, Feinstein noted her position of ranking member of the Judiciary Committee since 2017, her previous position as chairman and vice chairman on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.
Feinstein said that she will continue serving as a member of all of those committees next year and will remain on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I look forward to continuing to serve as a senior Democrat on the Judiciary, Intelligence, Appropriations and Rules committees as we work with the Biden administration on priorities like gun safety, immigration reform and addressing inequities in criminal justice,” Feinstein said. “I will continue to do my utmost to bring about positive change in the coming years.”
In her statement, Feinstein also indicated that she plans to focus on “two crucial issues” specific to her state in the 117th Congress.
“California is a huge state confronting two existential threats – wildfire and drought – that are only getting worse with climate change,” Feinstein said. “In the next Congress, I plan to increase my attention on those two crucial issues.”
Feinstein added that she believes that defeating COVID-19, combating climate change and protecting access to health care are “critical national priorities that require even more concentration.”
Last month, Feinstein came under fire from Democrats for praising Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, for his performance during the rushed confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Feinstein told Graham that the Barrett hearings were “one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in” and thanked him for his “fairness.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--Secret Service Agents Are Being Asked To Relocate Ahead Of Trump’s Inevitable Return To FL

Secret Service agents in President Trump ’ s detail are being asked whether they ’ d like to relocate to Palm Beach , Florida — where Mar-a-Lago is located — as Trump ’ s flailing legal attempts to challenge the election results fizzle out , according to ABC News on Monday .
ABC News also reported that the Secret Service ’ s Miami field office also has inquired about physical reinforcements to Mar-a-Largo .
The request of Secret Service agents to relocate to Florida and the potential Mar-a-Lago reinforcement are seen as unofficial moves amid Trump ’ s refusal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime New Yorker , Trump changed his residency to Florida last year and voted by mail in the Sunshine State in late October .
A secret service spokesperson told ABC News : “ For operational security reasons , the Secret Service does not discuss specifically or in general terms the means , methods or resources we utilize to carry out our protective mission.
” According to ABC News , renovations are underway at living quarters at Mar-a-Lago where Trump and first lady Melania Trump are expected to occupy upon Biden ’ s inauguration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump — who will be required to spend at least six months per calendar year in Florida to maintain his residence status — is expected to split his post-presidency time at his golf club in Bedminster , New Jersey , and in New York , although his plans after the White House aren ’ t set in stone .

Secret Service agents in President Trump’s detail are being asked whether they’d like to relocate to Palm Beach, Florida — where Mar-a-Lago is located — as Trump’s flailing legal attempts to challenge the election results fizzle out, according to ABC News on Monday.
ABC News also reported that the Secret Service’s Miami field office also has inquired about physical reinforcements to Mar-a-Largo.
The request of Secret Service agents to relocate to Florida and the potential Mar-a-Lago reinforcement are seen as unofficial moves amid Trump’s refusal to concede to Biden.
After being a longtime New Yorker, Trump changed his residency to Florida last year and voted by mail in the Sunshine State in late October.
A secret service spokesperson told ABC News: “For operational security reasons, the Secret Service does not discuss specifically or in general terms the means, methods or resources we utilize to carry out our protective mission.”
According to ABC News, renovations are underway at living quarters at Mar-a-Lago where Trump and first lady Melania Trump are expected to occupy upon Biden’s inauguration in January.
ABC News noted that Trump — who will be required to spend at least six months per calendar year in Florida to maintain his residence status — is expected to split his post-presidency time at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and in New York, although his plans after the White House aren’t set in stone.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--Controversial Academic Named To Census Panel In Waning Days Of Trump

Thomas Brunell — a controversial redistricting researcher who was floated and then withdrawn from consideration to lead the Census Bureau earlier in the Trump administration — has been named to an advisory committee for the census , according to a person familiar with the appointment .
The installation of Brunell — who published a book in 2008 called “ Redistricting and Representation : Why Competitive Elections Are Bad for America ” — ratifies concerns that the census is being politicized even in the waning days of the Trump administration .
The committee Brunell is being named to , the Census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice a year usually and gives recommendations for how the Census Bureau should carry out its key functions .
Brunell ’ s term on the committee will last until November 2023 .
When word got out Brunell was being considered in 2017 to lead the Bureau , his apparent lack of relevant statistical or government experience drew criticisms from census stakeholders , including the civil rights community .
Brunell ’ s expertise has been used in Republicans redistricting efforts , according to 2017 Politico story about his name being floated for the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of measures like sampling that the Census Bureau has looked into to improve its enumeration of hard-to-count communities .
Brunell is currently a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Dallas .
Brunell did not respond to TPM ’ s inquiry about the appointment , nor did the Census Bureau .

Thomas Brunell — a controversial redistricting researcher who was floated and then withdrawn from consideration to lead the Census Bureau earlier in the Trump administration — has been named to an advisory committee for the census, according to a person familiar with the appointment.
The installation of Brunell — who published a book in 2008 called “Redistricting and Representation: Why Competitive Elections Are Bad for America” — ratifies concerns that the census is being politicized even in the waning days of the Trump administration.
The committee Brunell is being named to, the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, meets once or twice a year usually and gives recommendations for how the Census Bureau should carry out its key functions. Brunell’s term on the committee will last until November 2023.
When word got out Brunell was being considered in 2017 to lead the Bureau, his apparent lack of relevant statistical or government experience drew criticisms from census stakeholders, including the civil rights community.
Brunell’s expertise has been used in Republicans redistricting efforts, according to 2017 Politico story about his name being floated for the director job. He’s also been critical of measures like sampling that the Census Bureau has looked into to improve its enumeration of hard-to-count communities.
Brunell is currently a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Dallas.
The Bureau confirmed Brunell’s appointment in a statement Wednesday that called him a “well-recognized scholar in electoral studies, legislative redistricting, and the usage of census data.”
Additionally, the statement announced that that William Clark, an associate dean at the Pennsylvania State University Graduate School, had been named to the panel.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--MI GOPers Decide Against Playing Along With Trump’s Faux Coup After All

The long , painful death of President Trump ’ s bid to steal the election is getting closer to final breathes , with another key state certifying his defeat on Monday .
Three members of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted in favor of certifying President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in the state .
The fourth member abstained from the vote .
After a county board in Michigan briefly deadlocked on its own certification last week , speculation swelled around the possibility that the Republican members of the state canvassing board would refuse to vote in favor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next steps of the formal process of Biden being awarded Michigan ’ s presidential electoral votes and would have given Trump more time to spread disinformation about the integrity of his defeat .
The Republican state board member who abstained from the vote , Norman Shinkle , appeared likely to vote against certification going into Monday ’ s meeting .
The inclinations of the other GOP canvasser , vice chair Aaron Van Langevelde , weren ’ t known .
But early on in Monday ’ s proceedings , Van Langevelde hinted he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certification , as he noted the the board ’ s “ duty ” to certify based on the results before it was “ very clear.
” Nonetheless , Van Langevelde said he wanted to hear from the public commenters who had lined up to weigh in on the question before he voted on the motion to certify .
His questions of those witnesses — which included local clerks as well as former state-level election officials and board members — appeared designed to make the point that the canvassing board did not have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this point .
“ We ’ re not a court here , we don ’ t have judicial power , or we don ’ t have the authority to conduct a trial here on whether or not election fraud occurred , ” he said He pushed back directly on Republican officials and lawyers who testified that the board could hold off certifying so that “ irregularities ” could be investigated .
Shinkle , however , seemed more open to the idea that something could be gained by delaying the vote .
He floated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election as he questioned local officials from the largely black cities that the Trump allies have targeted with its allegations .
As multiple witnesses pointed out , state law does not allow for any audits prior to certification .
Recount requests also can not be filed until after certification .
Van Langevelde ’ s refusal to delay the certification is a major blow to the pressure campaign Trumpworld has put on state and local officials in the hope of staving off a formal validation of Biden ’ s win .
After Republicans on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is home to Detroit — waffled on certifying the results there , Trump called one of those canvassers himself , the Detroit Free Press reported .
She and the other Republican then filed affidavits to try to “ rescind ” their certification votes .
On Friday , Trump hosted the top Republicans in Michigan ’ s statehouse in what appeared to be another attempt to arm twist officials in the hope they could find a way to give him the state ’ s electors .
After the meeting , the legislators put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no intention of subverting the votes of the people in their state .
They said that they had used the meeting to press for federal assistance with the state ’ s COVID-19 response .
Things aren ’ t going much better elsewhere in the country for Trump .
Georgia certified its results over the weekend and is now heading into a recount that will affirm Biden ’ s Peach State win for a third time .
A top election official said on a press call Monday that a request by Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its coming recount would not be feasible or compatible with state law .
The campaign ’ s legal team ’ s attempt to use a federal lawsuit to block certification of the Pennsylvania results has been ham-handed at best .
The campaign ’ s appeal of a federal judge ’ s Saturday order dismissing the case make confusing and contradicting requests of what it ’ s seeking from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit .

The long, painful death of President Trump’s bid to steal the election is getting closer to final breathes, with another key state certifying his defeat on Monday.
Three members of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted in favor of certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state. The fourth member abstained from the vote.
After a county board in Michigan briefly deadlocked on its own certification last week, speculation swelled around the possibility that the Republican members of the state canvassing board would refuse to vote in favor of certification. Doing so would have delayed the next steps of the formal process of Biden being awarded Michigan’s presidential electoral votes and would have given Trump more time to spread disinformation about the integrity of his defeat.
The Republican state board member who abstained from the vote, Norman Shinkle, appeared likely to vote against certification going into Monday’s meeting. The inclinations of the other GOP canvasser, vice chair Aaron Van Langevelde, weren’t known.
But early on in Monday’s proceedings, Van Langevelde hinted he was likely to vote in favor of certification, as he noted the the board’s “duty” to certify based on the results before it was “very clear.”
Nonetheless, Van Langevelde said he wanted to hear from the public commenters who had lined up to weigh in on the question before he voted on the motion to certify.
His questions of those witnesses — which included local clerks as well as former state-level election officials and board members — appeared designed to make the point that the canvassing board did not have the authority to do anything but certify at this point.
“We’re not a court here, we don’t have judicial power, or we don’t have the authority to conduct a trial here on whether or not election fraud occurred,” he said
He pushed back directly on Republican officials and lawyers who testified that the board could hold off certifying so that “irregularities” could be investigated.
Shinkle, however, seemed more open to the idea that something could be gained by delaying the vote. He floated conspiracy theories about the administration of the election as he questioned local officials from the largely black cities that the Trump allies have targeted with its allegations.
As multiple witnesses pointed out, state law does not allow for any audits prior to certification. Recount requests also cannot be filed until after certification.
Van Langevelde’s refusal to delay the certification is a major blow to the pressure campaign Trumpworld has put on state and local officials in the hope of staving off a formal validation of Biden’s win.
After Republicans on the canvassing board for Wayne County — which is home to Detroit — waffled on certifying the results there, Trump called one of those canvassers himself, the Detroit Free Press reported. She and the other Republican then filed affidavits to try to “rescind” their certification votes.
On Friday, Trump hosted the top Republicans in Michigan’s statehouse in what appeared to be another attempt to arm twist officials in the hope they could find a way to give him the state’s electors.
After the meeting, the legislators put out a statement making clear they had no intention of subverting the votes of the people in their state. They said that they had used the meeting to press for federal assistance with the state’s COVID-19 response.
Things aren’t going much better elsewhere in the country for Trump. Georgia certified its results over the weekend and is now heading into a recount that will affirm Biden’s Peach State win for a third time. A top election official said on a press call Monday that a request by Trump’s allies that the state review signature matching in its coming recount would not be feasible or compatible with state law.
The campaign’s legal team’s attempt to use a federal lawsuit to block certification of the Pennsylvania results has been ham-handed at best. The campaign’s appeal of a federal judge’s Saturday order dismissing the case make confusing and contradicting requests of what it’s seeking from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-23--Biden To Nominate Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen For Treasury Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as his Secretary of the Treasury , @ @ @ @ @ first reported Monday afternoon .
CNBC and other news outlets quickly confirmed the news .
@ @ @ @ @ , Yellen would be another “ first ” in a major Cabinet role : No @ @ @ @ @ of Treasury secretary before .
Last week , Biden told reporters that he believed his @ @ @ @ @ by “ all elements of the Democratic Party , ” including both moderates and progressives @ @ @ @ @ as the Federal Reserve chair , Yellen served as the institution ’ s vice-chair and @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton ’ s economic advisory council .

President-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as his Secretary of the Treasury, according the Wall Street Journal first reported Monday afternoon. CNBC and other news outlets quickly confirmed the news.
Like several other Biden appointees, Yellen would be another “first” in a major Cabinet role: No woman has held the position of Treasury secretary before.
Last week, Biden told reporters that he believed his Treasury pick would be accepted by “all elements of the Democratic Party,” including both moderates and progressives.
Prior to her tenure as the Federal Reserve chair, Yellen served as the institution’s vice-chair and the chair of former President Bill Clinton’s economic advisory council.