buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Trump’s Legal Team Was Asked About A Witness Who Reportedly Recanted His Election Fraud Story. Then

Trump’s Legal Team Was Asked About A Witness Who Reportedly Recanted His Election Fraud Story. Then There Was A Lot Of Silence.

WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump ’ s campaign continues its wild attempts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory through a series of tenuous lawsuits , it was confronted on a call with the media on Tuesday with reports that one of its witnesses who had alleged ballot tampering had recanted his story .
What followed was several seconds of silence .
Then the campaign offered without evidence that perhaps the witness had been doxed — and that he wasn ’ t a big part of the case anyway .
The response is in line with the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs that the election was fairly decided while clinging to often flimsy or nonexistent evidence of voter fraud in support of the claim that the president did not lose .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
Three members of Trump ’ s campaign who are leading efforts to challenge election results in Michigan — which Biden won by roughly 146,000 votes — held a call with reporters on Tuesday night to announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to oversee ballots in the state .
But at the conclusion of the call , a reporter with the New York Post asked the campaign about its reliance on an affidavit from a United States Postal Service worker who has since recanted his story , according to the Washington Post and the House Oversight Committee .
Richard Hopkins , the USPS employee , had told Project Veritas , an incredibly dubious organization that has frequently edited misleading videos and statements to benefit conservatives , that he had overheard the postmaster in Erie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to backdate any ballots that came in after Election Day as if they had been received on time to be counted .
Hopkins was not named in the initial Project Veritas video and his image was blurred , but the site later revealed his identity with his permission , the organization said .
On Monday , however , the Erie postmaster , Robert Weisenbach , posted on Facebook that Hopkins ’ allegations were “ 100 % false ” and “ made by an employee that was recently disciplined multiple times.
” And on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins had told the USPS ’ s Office of Inspector General that his story was not true and that he had signed a new affidavit recanting his earlier story .
The House Oversight Committee also tweeted Tuesday that the inspector general 's office had informed committee members that Hopkins had signed the sworn affidavit that his earlier story was not true .
Republicans had already run with Hopkins ’ statement .
Donald Trump Jr. , the president 's son , has tweeted repeatedly about his allegations .
Sen. Lindsey Graham has asked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Trump ’ s campaign included some of Hopkins ’ now-rescinded testimony in a court filing on Monday asking the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to delay the state from certifying its election results .
Asked Tuesday night whether it had any comment on Hopkins rescinding his claims , the campaign initially had no answer , leaving the line silent for multiple seconds .
Tim Murtaugh , a spokesperson for the Trump campaign , then spoke up , telling reporters that he found it “ notable ” that most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ claims in the first place .
“ The fact that he is newsworthy now is questionable , ” he said .
Murtaugh then went on to say that Hopkins had “ named names ” in his original claims to Project Veritas and that he had “ described explicitly what he experienced , ” ignoring that now the postal worker has reportedly said it never happened .
If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what kind of pressure he is under since he made those public statements , ” Murtaugh said , noting that some of the campaign ’ s own attorneys were doxed on Twitter on Tuesday .
A member of Trump ’ s campaign legal team then chimed in that Hopkins ’ allegations had only made up “ one paragraph ” of more than 240 in the Monday filing .

WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump’s campaign continues its wild attempts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory through a series of tenuous lawsuits, it was confronted on a call with the media on Tuesday with reports that one of its witnesses who had alleged ballot tampering had recanted his story.
What followed was several seconds of silence.
Then the campaign offered without evidence that perhaps the witness had been doxed — and that he wasn’t a big part of the case anyway.
The response is in line with the Trump team’s broader strategy of rejecting signs that the election was fairly decided while clinging to often flimsy or nonexistent evidence of voter fraud in support of the claim that the president did not lose.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.
Three members of Trump’s campaign who are leading efforts to challenge election results in Michigan — which Biden won by roughly 146,000 votes — held a call with reporters on Tuesday night to announce an as-yet-unfiled lawsuit challenging their observers’ access to oversee ballots in the state. But at the conclusion of the call, a reporter with the New York Post asked the campaign about its reliance on an affidavit from a United States Postal Service worker who has since recanted his story, according to the Washington Post and the House Oversight Committee.
Richard Hopkins, the USPS employee, had told Project Veritas, an incredibly dubious organization that has frequently edited misleading videos and statements to benefit conservatives, that he had overheard the postmaster in Erie, Pennsylvania, tell a postal supervisor to backdate any ballots that came in after Election Day as if they had been received on time to be counted. Hopkins was not named in the initial Project Veritas video and his image was blurred, but the site later revealed his identity with his permission, the organization said.
On Monday, however, the Erie postmaster, Robert Weisenbach, posted on Facebook that Hopkins’ allegations were “100% false” and “made by an employee that was recently disciplined multiple times.” And on Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that Hopkins had told the USPS’s Office of Inspector General that his story was not true and that he had signed a new affidavit recanting his earlier story. The House Oversight Committee also tweeted Tuesday that the inspector general's office had informed committee members that Hopkins had signed the sworn affidavit that his earlier story was not true. After the Post story was published, Hopkins posted a video denying that he'd recanted his story.
Republicans had already run with Hopkins’ statement. Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, has tweeted repeatedly about his allegations. Sen. Lindsey Graham has asked the Justice Department to investigate his claims. And Trump’s campaign included some of Hopkins’ now-rescinded testimony in a court filing on Monday asking the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to delay the state from certifying its election results.
Asked Tuesday night whether it had any comment on Hopkins rescinding his claims, the campaign initially had no answer, leaving the line silent for multiple seconds.
Tim Murtaugh, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, then spoke up, telling reporters that he found it “notable” that most news outlets had not run with Hopkins’ claims in the first place. “The fact that he is newsworthy now is questionable,” he said.
Murtaugh then went on to say that Hopkins had “named names” in his original claims to Project Veritas and that he had “described explicitly what he experienced,” ignoring that now the postal worker has reportedly said it never happened.
If you have a news tip, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.
“We do not know what kind of pressure he is under since he made those public statements,” Murtaugh said, noting that some of the campaign’s own attorneys were doxed on Twitter on Tuesday.
A member of Trump’s campaign legal team then chimed in that Hopkins’ allegations had only made up “one paragraph” of more than 240 in the Monday filing.


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--Democratic Senate Candidates Outraised Republicans Across The Country. Then Republicans Won.

WASHINGTON — The first blow came in Kentucky , where Amy McGrath , a retired Marine taking on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , raked in more than $ 88 million in donations .
Mere minutes after the polls closed in the state , McConnell was called as the winner .
Despite the fact that McGrath raised more than $ 30 million more than McConnell , it wasn ’ t even close : McConnell won by more than 20 points .
Similar results have played out in nearly every Senate race where Democrats had hoped to be competitive , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats took hope in the lead-up to Election Day in the fact that liberal challengers were outraising Senate Republicans in almost every race — and often leading in the polls , too .
They spent months flooding the airwaves across not just Kentucky , where McGrath was always more of a long shot , but in North Carolina , Georgia , South Carolina , Maine , Iowa , and Arizona .
In the days before the election , Democrats became the favorite to take over .
But by the time election week was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that money and all that energy , the Democratic Party has come up all but empty .
The party does still have a shot at winning back control of the Senate , but it ’ s an increasingly small one : Democrats will need to win two races in Georgia , both of which are slated for runoffs on Jan. 5 .
While President-elect Joe Biden is currently leading in the state as votes are still being counted , both Democratic Senate candidates are running behind their Republican opponents .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina Senate race for Republican Sen. Thom Tillis , who came out on top in the single most expensive Senate race in the history of the United States .
It was another painful blow for Democrats : Cal Cunningham broke state records , raising $ 28.3 million in the third quarter , more than double what he raised in the second , and — despite a public scandal when it was revealed he ’ d had an affair — was leading in the polls as Election Day approached .
It didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is headed back to Washington .
Democrats did pick up a Senate seat in Arizona , where former astronaut Mark Kelly ousted Sen. Martha McSally , and Democrat John Hickenlooper came out on top in Colorado .
But Democratic Sen. Doug Jones lost his seat in Alabama , meaning that several hundreds of millions of dollars later , Democrats have netted just one Senate seat .
In South Carolina , Sen. Lindsey Graham cruised to reelection Tuesday , triumphing over Democrat Jaime Harrison , who had shattered fundraising records , bringing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of the campaign , more than any Senate candidate in US history .
Graham took to begging for money on cable news .
`` They 're killing me , moneywise , '' he pleaded on Fox News .
Graham appears to have won by 10 points , according to the latest totals .
In Montana , Democrat Steve Bullock put up similar numbers , raising $ 28.6 million in the same time period , while in Iowa , Democrat Theresa Greenfield raised $ 26.7 million from July to October .
Both lost @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON — The first blow came in Kentucky, where Amy McGrath, a retired Marine taking on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, raked in more than $88 million in donations. Mere minutes after the polls closed in the state, McConnell was called as the winner.
Despite the fact that McGrath raised more than $30 million more than McConnell, it wasn’t even close: McConnell won by more than 20 points.
Similar results have played out in nearly every Senate race where Democrats had hoped to be competitive, as vote-counting has stretched beyond election night. Democrats took hope in the lead-up to Election Day in the fact that liberal challengers were outraising Senate Republicans in almost every race — and often leading in the polls, too. They spent months flooding the airwaves across not just Kentucky, where McGrath was always more of a long shot, but in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Maine, Iowa, and Arizona. In the days before the election, Democrats became the favorite to take over.
But by the time election week was over, it was clear that despite all that money and all that energy, the Democratic Party has come up all but empty. The party does still have a shot at winning back control of the Senate, but it’s an increasingly small one: Democrats will need to win two races in Georgia, both of which are slated for runoffs on Jan. 5. While President-elect Joe Biden is currently leading in the state as votes are still being counted, both Democratic Senate candidates are running behind their Republican opponents.
On Tuesday, Decision Desk HQ officially called the North Carolina Senate race for Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who came out on top in the single most expensive Senate race in the history of the United States.
It was another painful blow for Democrats: Cal Cunningham broke state records, raising $28.3 million in the third quarter, more than double what he raised in the second, and — despite a public scandal when it was revealed he’d had an affair — was leading in the polls as Election Day approached.
It didn’t matter. Now Tillis, too, is headed back to Washington.
Democrats did pick up a Senate seat in Arizona, where former astronaut Mark Kelly ousted Sen. Martha McSally, and Democrat John Hickenlooper came out on top in Colorado. But Democratic Sen. Doug Jones lost his seat in Alabama, meaning that several hundreds of millions of dollars later, Democrats have netted just one Senate seat.
In South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham cruised to reelection Tuesday, triumphing over Democrat Jaime Harrison, who had shattered fundraising records, bringing in $57 million in the last full quarter of the campaign, more than any Senate candidate in US history. Graham took to begging for money on cable news. "They're killing me, moneywise," he pleaded on Fox News. Graham appears to have won by 10 points, according to the latest totals.
In Montana, Democrat Steve Bullock put up similar numbers, raising $28.6 million in the same time period, while in Iowa, Democrat Theresa Greenfield raised $26.7 million from July to October. Both lost their races Tuesday.


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--The Republican Lawsuit To Overturn Obamacare Seems Doomed At The Supreme Court

A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the Supreme Court as arguments are heard about the Affordable Care Act on Nov. 10 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appears likely to uphold the Affordable Care Act after Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh bluntly criticized the logic underpinning a Republican lawsuit against it Tuesday during oral arguments .
Roberts and Kavanaugh seemed to clearly side with the court ’ s liberal wing of Sonia Sotomayor , Elena Kagan , and Stephen Breyer in rejecting the idea that the ACA should be declared unconstitutional as a whole .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expressed skepticism .
Kavanaugh said there is “ fairly clear ” precedent that even if Republicans prevail on more narrow points , the overall law should be left intact .
Roberts , who wrote the 2012 opinion upholding Obamacare , said some members of Congress may have hoped the courts would repeal the law but “ that ’ s not our job.
” BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
Republican states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump White House , argued that Congress unintentionally made the ACA unconstitutional in 2017 when it made changes to the law .
Repealing the ACA , also widely known as Obamacare , would strip 20 million people of health insurance and end the ban on discriminating against people with preexisting conditions .
The lawsuit had been winding its way through the court for years and is the first major case being heard since Republicans took a solid 6–3 majority on the court .
But even new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioning their argument that the court should disregard the will of Congress .
The Republican lawsuit rested on the novel theory that if one clause of the ACA is unconstitutional then the entire 900-page law must be thrown out as well .
In 2017 , Republicans in Congress announced that they would “ repeal ” the individual mandate penalty for people who can afford to buy health insurance but choose not to .
They did not strike the mandate from the books but instead set the penalty at $ 0 .
Texas argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior Supreme Court ruling from 2012 found that the government did not have the power to compel people to buy insurance but did have the power to tax people who choose not to .
Texas argued a penalty of $ 0 is no longer a tax , and thus is no longer constitutional under Congress ’ s taxation powers .
On its own , this question has no real-world implications .
But Texas argued that the mandate is an essential part of the ACA , and if it is thrown out , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Supreme Court justices did not take a positive view of that theory .
“ I think it ’ s hard for you to argue that Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate were struck down , when the same Congress that lowered the penalty to $ 0 did not even try to repeal the rest of the act , ” said Roberts .
“ I think , frankly , that they wanted the court to do that , but that ’ s not our job.
” Republican lawyers seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the idea that the individual mandate itself is now unconstitutional .
But justices pushed back against the notion that the entire law should then be tossed out .
“ It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place , ” said Kavanaugh .
Kagan warned that adopting the philosophy proposed by Republicans would open the door to broad pieces of legislation getting thrown out because one single element is overturned .
“ Isn ’ t that something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about ?
And isn ’ t it something that really cuts against all of our doctrine ?
” she said .
Lawyers from Texas and the White House argued that this lawsuit is based on a particular set of circumstances and is not likely to affect other cases .
The Republican case rests on arguments by the Obama administration that the individual mandate was essential to the viability of the overall bill .
At the time , the Obama administration believed a mandate was necessary so that people would not only wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance .
It turned out , they were wrong .
Subsidies ended up incentivizing people to join the markets and the mandate was widely seen as ineffective and unnecessary when it was repealed .
The Obamacare markets have not collapsed since then .
If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
But Republican lawyers argued the original interpretation of the mandate as essential should still stand because it was never repealed .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have intended to throw out provisions like preexisting condition protections , but argued that the court should look at the original text of the law , not “ playing the game ” of guessing what Congress intended in 2017 .
Even conservative justices expressed skepticism at this .
Barrett said it would be “ odd ” for the court to assume that Congress intentionally made a law unconstitutional .
Justice Samuel Alito asked how the court could justify declaring the individual mandate as essential when it hasn ’ t even been in effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early days of the ACA “ there was strong reason to believe that the individual mandate was like a part in an airplane that was essential to keep the plane flying … but now the part has been taken out and the plane has not crashed.
” The substance of the lawsuit may become moot because the Supreme Court is also weighing whether or not the Republican states have standing to launch the lawsuit to begin with .
Democratic lawyers questioned what injury is being suffered by the states since the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows them to sue .
Texas solicitor general Kyle Hawkins argued that the states suffer an injury because mandating people to sign up for health care will encourage them to do so , even if there is no penalty .
He said this will cause more people to sign up for Medicaid and increase costs to the states .
Hawkins also argued the mandate puts administrative costs on the state as an employer , which constitutes “ a pocketbook injury ” because “ those forms don ’ t produce themselves.
” Sotomayor questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when there was a tax penalty would do so because of the direction of the individual mandate when there is no penalty .
“ At some point it seems common sense would say to me , ‘ huh ?
’ ” Kagan also criticized the Republican arguments on standing , telling acting US Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall “ you ’ re coming in here with a theory which , to my mind , threatens to kind of explode standing doctrine .
”

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appears likely to uphold the Affordable Care Act after Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh bluntly criticized the logic underpinning a Republican lawsuit against it Tuesday during oral arguments.
Roberts and Kavanaugh seemed to clearly side with the court’s liberal wing of Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Stephen Breyer in rejecting the idea that the ACA should be declared unconstitutional as a whole. Other conservative justices were less direct but also expressed skepticism.
Kavanaugh said there is “fairly clear” precedent that even if Republicans prevail on more narrow points, the overall law should be left intact. Roberts, who wrote the 2012 opinion upholding Obamacare, said some members of Congress may have hoped the courts would repeal the law but “that’s not our job.”
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.
Republican states, led by Texas and joined by the Trump White House, argued that Congress unintentionally made the ACA unconstitutional in 2017 when it made changes to the law. Repealing the ACA, also widely known as Obamacare, would strip 20 million people of health insurance and end the ban on discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.
The lawsuit had been winding its way through the court for years and is the first major case being heard since Republicans took a solid 6–3 majority on the court. But even new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett gave Republican lawyers a rough ride, questioning their argument that the court should disregard the will of Congress.
The Republican lawsuit rested on the novel theory that if one clause of the ACA is unconstitutional then the entire 900-page law must be thrown out as well.
In 2017, Republicans in Congress announced that they would “repeal” the individual mandate penalty for people who can afford to buy health insurance but choose not to. They did not strike the mandate from the books but instead set the penalty at $0.
Texas argued this made the mandate unconstitutional. A prior Supreme Court ruling from 2012 found that the government did not have the power to compel people to buy insurance but did have the power to tax people who choose not to. Texas argued a penalty of $0 is no longer a tax, and thus is no longer constitutional under Congress’s taxation powers.
On its own, this question has no real-world implications. But Texas argued that the mandate is an essential part of the ACA, and if it is thrown out, then the entire law must be torn down.
Supreme Court justices did not take a positive view of that theory.
“I think it’s hard for you to argue that Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate were struck down, when the same Congress that lowered the penalty to $0 did not even try to repeal the rest of the act,” said Roberts. “I think, frankly, that they wanted the court to do that, but that’s not our job.”
Republican lawyers seemed to have possibly won some justices over to the idea that the individual mandate itself is now unconstitutional. But justices pushed back against the notion that the entire law should then be tossed out.
“It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place,” said Kavanaugh.
Kagan warned that adopting the philosophy proposed by Republicans would open the door to broad pieces of legislation getting thrown out because one single element is overturned. “Isn’t that something that the United States should be very worried about? And isn’t it something that really cuts against all of our doctrine?” she said.
Lawyers from Texas and the White House argued that this lawsuit is based on a particular set of circumstances and is not likely to affect other cases. The Republican case rests on arguments by the Obama administration that the individual mandate was essential to the viability of the overall bill. At the time, the Obama administration believed a mandate was necessary so that people would not only wait until they were sick to buy health insurance.
It turned out, they were wrong. Subsidies ended up incentivizing people to join the markets and the mandate was widely seen as ineffective and unnecessary when it was repealed. The Obamacare markets have not collapsed since then.
If you have a news tip, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.
But Republican lawyers argued the original interpretation of the mandate as essential should still stand because it was never repealed. They conceded that Congress in 2017 may not have intended to throw out provisions like preexisting condition protections, but argued that the court should look at the original text of the law, not “playing the game” of guessing what Congress intended in 2017.
Even conservative justices expressed skepticism at this. Barrett said it would be “odd” for the court to assume that Congress intentionally made a law unconstitutional.
Justice Samuel Alito asked how the court could justify declaring the individual mandate as essential when it hasn’t even been in effect for two years. He said in the early days of the ACA “there was strong reason to believe that the individual mandate was like a part in an airplane that was essential to keep the plane flying … but now the part has been taken out and the plane has not crashed.”
The substance of the lawsuit may become moot because the Supreme Court is also weighing whether or not the Republican states have standing to launch the lawsuit to begin with. Democratic lawyers questioned what injury is being suffered by the states since the individual mandate was set to $0 that allows them to sue.
Texas solicitor general Kyle Hawkins argued that the states suffer an injury because mandating people to sign up for health care will encourage them to do so, even if there is no penalty. He said this will cause more people to sign up for Medicaid and increase costs to the states. Hawkins also argued the mandate puts administrative costs on the state as an employer, which constitutes “a pocketbook injury” because “those forms don’t produce themselves.”
Sotomayor questioned whether anyone who did not buy insurance when there was a tax penalty would do so because of the direction of the individual mandate when there is no penalty. “At some point it seems common sense would say to me, ‘huh?’”
Kagan also criticized the Republican arguments on standing, telling acting US Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall “you’re coming in here with a theory which, to my mind, threatens to kind of explode standing doctrine.”


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--"I'm Not Scared Anymore": Young Latinas Showed Up To A Trump Rally To Celebrate Biden's Win

“ Get the fuck away from me , ” the young Latina woman seethed through her mask , her blue eyes narrowing while — just inches away from her face — the Trump supporter ’ s eyes bulged .
“ Touch me again , I fucking dare you , ” he spat back , inching closer toward the young woman and other teens and college students she was with and hoisting up his Blue Lives Matter flag above their heads .
Quickly , another man , a Latino Biden supporter , jumped over and inserted his own body between them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variations of the scene repeated itself on the street corner in front of Maricopa County ’ s elections office Saturday afternoon , as voters , some sporting red hats and some carrying guns , clashed with a group of young Latinos out to celebrate Biden ’ s victory .
The cacophony sounded like a condensed version of America ’ s contentious past four years , as if someone had bottled them up , shook it , and then popped the top : “ You don ’ t belong here !
Go back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re saying America was never great — seems like a pretty fucking great place the way it is.
” “ You lost !
Get over it !
Stop being so ignorant !
” “ You smell like fucking tamales , like used toilet paper , you piece of shit .
Walk out with your fucking Mexican ass .
You ain ’ t American here.
” “ My parents are from Texas , and I was born here in Phoenix .
My culture is Mexicano.
” “ Black people had the lowest unemployment rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people suffering from ?
” “ Take off your mask !
I can ’ t hear you .
That ’ s what they want to happen : They want to control us !
” For more than two hours , the tense , and at times vitriolic , confrontations took over the barren , cactus-spotted corner of Lincoln Street and Third Street , shortly after the media declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election .
They capture the messy , exhausting , and often hostile reality of a country that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mistrust and bigotry .
And while many are breathing a sigh of relief over what they see as America lurching itself out of a dark era , the discord that defined the Trump presidency is not so easily left behind .
That same day , versions of this fight played out at voter fraud Stop the Steal rallies in Michigan , Wisconsin , California , Utah , Idaho , and Oregon .
A woman in a headscarf was punched in the jaw in Sacramento ; a Mercedes carrying a Trump flag knocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police made several arrests , and photographers captured searing images of Americans confronting each other , their faces nearly touching .
Jackie Valencia , a sophomore at Mesa Community College , never imagined she ’ d be throwing herself into such a volatile situation .
The 19-year-old has spent the last four years living carefully , fearfully , and keeping her mouth shut .
Although she and her four sisters were born in Mesa , Arizona , their father is a landscaper from Mexico , and their mother , an El Salvadorian nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her immigration status in January .
But when Valencia woke up Saturday morning and found out Biden had won , it was like her world had exhaled .
After watching people joyfully spill onto the streets of Los Angeles , New York , and Philadelphia , she decided she wanted that , too .
She grabbed her Biden–Harris flag , her sisters , Daisy , 17 , Isabel , 18 , and Emily , 21 , and their scruffy terrier , Canela , whom they bring everywhere with them , and headed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past Maricopa County ’ s elections office , where a massive crowd of hundreds of Trump supporters — some from states across the country — had converged in the parking lot , their MAGA and American flags rippling over a sea of pickup trucks .
Since the day after the election , the drab building had been a last stand for the president ’ s base as election officials inside counted ballots that slowly shrunk Biden ’ s lead in Arizona .
Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk , conspiracy theorist Alex Jones , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting as a QAnon viking , and Boris Epshteyn , a Republican strategist who had been advising Trump ’ s 2020 campaign , screamed into megaphones .
They railed about a corrupt coup to snatch the election away from Trump by several potential means : from election officials maliciously forcing voters to use Sharpies to Fox News traitorously declaring Arizona in the Biden column .
Across the street from that rally , the sisters noticed another lone car with a Biden banner fluttering out the window .
Jackie waved down the driver and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and soon the group of six young Latinas was dancing and chanting on the sidewalk .
But their celebration annoyed a group of Trump rallygoers , who crossed the street to confront them .
For the first time in four years , the young women said , they didn ’ t care what anybody thought .
So they got louder .
And things got ugly .
A thin man carrying a Blue Lives Matter flag was the first to cross the street .
The man , who did not provide his name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the young celebrants .
“ This is for Americans , ” he yelled .
“ We are Americans , ” they yelled back .
One of them , it ’ s not clear who , added : “ Te vas a la verga , ” which is Spanish for “ go fuck yourself.
” Their loud exchange drew more people from the other side , and within about 20 minutes , the small group of teens and college students were face-to-face with maskless conservatives .
They were all yelling , back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories , the ability to be Mexican and still be an American , and the reality that they were no longer living in Trump ’ s world .
“ Dude , we ’ re in the middle of a pandemic and you ’ re not even wearing a mask !
Step back away from me , ” yelled Itzel , 20 , the most outspoken of the group .
“ The whole reaction to COVID was made so we could have mass mail-in ballots to steal the election , ” the man retorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died after contracting COVID .
The man did not provide his name .
“ How did we steal the election !
?
You ’ re a sore loser !
” the young women shot back , in unison .
“ Stop being so ignorant !
” It was heated , but they did not feel threatened .
The man continued to push at them , asking how they would solve racism with Biden in charge .
“ All the craziness you caused over the last four years is now yours , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just going to disappear .
We will work gradually to get there but— ” Jackie replied .
“ Give me an example of something that is racist , ” he interrupted .
“ George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Trayvon Martin , they all got killed for no reason… ” Itzel and Jackie yelled back .
“ Breonna Taylor ’ s boyfriend was shooting at the cops , ” he said , eliciting screams of outrage from the girls .
“ And what about the fact that George Floyd swallowed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an overdose !
” Then the situation became much more serious .
The Valencia sisters looked around .
About 10 more people had crossed the street .
Armed men in Hawaiian shirts , the uniform of the so-called boogaloo boys , stood by and watched while other younger white men in red hats walked around the periphery .
Several women in glittery MAGA beanies had arrived , along with Philip “ CatboyKami ” Hedley , an Australian neo-Nazi streamer , and Tim Gionet , another white supremacist troll known as “ Baked Alaska.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing off against an array of the extremist parts of Trump ’ s complicated movement .
Daisy clutched Canela , who was shaking , while Jackie held onto her Biden flag .
The police stood by and watched but did not intervene , as the tensions ratcheted up .
“ This is scary , ” said Daisy Valencia , her eyes wide , as Itzel yelled at Hedley for gleefully shouting racial slurs while Gionet filmed , inflaming her reaction .
Recalling the confrontation later , Daisy has trouble putting into words the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that moment , but her older sister Isabel jumped in .
Yes , it was “ unnerving , ” she said .
“ But I know we are doing this for a greater cause because our parents are immigrants .
Our mom is super hardworking .
She came here with nothing but the clothes on her back , and I just know I am doing this for the greater good .
I don ’ t care now.
” As the chaotic , loud circle swelled and closed in around them , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a powder keg about to explode , ” as one of the armed , tactical gear–covered Trump supporters put it .
Watching what was happening , the large man , who identified as an Oath Keeper , declined to give his name , came to stand by Daisy , Emily , and Itzel , and informed them that he and his companion would act as security .
Oath Keepers are a large , loosely organized extremist anti-government group made up of veterans who often show up at protests to stand by law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s not all of our perspective , ” the Oath Keeper told them after Itzel sparred with Hedley .
“ There are bad apples in every group .
We are here to make sure it doesn ’ t get violent , ” he added .
“ A lot of us are supporters of Trump , but the Biden supporters that are here have just as much right to free speech as anybody else.
” And so it went — hostility and moments of connection .
Two women who said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported Trump came over to apologize for what the girls endured , explaining that they , too , had seen friends and family members deported because of the president ’ s immigration policies .
Other armed men tried to pull the confrontational instigators back across the street .
A burly , bearded “ Chicano Biker for Trump ” grabbed a bullhorn and asked if anyone would have a conversation with him .
There was a prayer circle .
Several Trump supporters escorted a younger Biden supporter to her car after she asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He just spreads so much hate , ” Jackie explained at one point to several Trump supporters .
“ I ’ m sorry , but what he says about Mexicans , that ’ s really personal to me .
I have family over there , that they just bring drugs and all that stuff .
...
I don ’ t feel good about supporting someone who would say that about my people.
” “ That ’ s understandable , ” one man in a Reagan–Bush shirt said .
“ I agree.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump supporters had moved back to their own waning rally .
The small Biden contingent had thickened slightly over the past few hours .
The air was growing colder as the sun set , and though they were drained , the young women stayed , chanting “ No more years !
” into the darkness , taking photos , dancing , and trying to hold onto a new , large American flag that someone had brought and was now flapping in the strong wind .
“ We were scared to come , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t shoot us .
Let ’ s go , ’ ” Jackie said .
“ And she ’ s right .
I ’ m not scared anymore.
” Twenty-four hours later , the streets outside Maricopa County ’ s election center were deserted , its once-teeming parking lot quiet and completely empty .
But then another 24 hours later , with votes still being counted in Arizona and the race in that state not yet called , 50 or so Trump supporters met back up at the election center .
To pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cha Cha Slide.
” ●

“Get the fuck away from me,” the young Latina woman seethed through her mask, her blue eyes narrowing while — just inches away from her face — the Trump supporter’s eyes bulged.
“Touch me again, I fucking dare you,” he spat back, inching closer toward the young woman and other teens and college students she was with and hoisting up his Blue Lives Matter flag above their heads.
Quickly, another man, a Latino Biden supporter, jumped over and inserted his own body between them as a shield. Around them, variations of the scene repeated itself on the street corner in front of Maricopa County’s elections office Saturday afternoon, as voters, some sporting red hats and some carrying guns, clashed with a group of young Latinos out to celebrate Biden’s victory. The cacophony sounded like a condensed version of America’s contentious past four years, as if someone had bottled them up, shook it, and then popped the top:
“You don’t belong here! Go back to your country!”
“You’re a racist! Get educated!”
“You’re saying America was never great — seems like a pretty fucking great place the way it is.”
“You lost! Get over it! Stop being so ignorant!”
“You smell like fucking tamales, like used toilet paper, you piece of shit. Walk out with your fucking Mexican ass. You ain’t American here.”
“My parents are from Texas, and I was born here in Phoenix. My culture is Mexicano.”
“Black people had the lowest unemployment rate ever under Trump. What are Black people suffering from?”
“Take off your mask! I can’t hear you. That’s what they want to happen: They want to control us!”
“Racist fascist!”
“You stole this election!”
“Why are you disrespecting a young woman? You’re a full-grown, 50-year-old man!”


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--Senate Republican Leaders Are Questioning Whether Joe Biden Even Won The Election

WASHINGTON — High-ranking Senate Republicans irresponsibly and baselessly cast doubt on the election results and did not acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden as the rightful winner of the race during a brief press conference Tuesday morning .
The comments came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was elected as leader of the caucus again Tuesday and as President Donald Trump continues to refuse to concede the election to Biden , alleging , without evidence , that the election was stolen from him .
Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , who was also reelected Tuesday to Republican Senate leadership , falsely said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in fact have been victorious ; Blunt also lauded the success of Republican Senate candidates in that same election .
“ What we saw in this last campaign was that candidates really matter , but what you ’ re for also really matters .
I think that ’ s one of the reasons that virtually every predictor of what was going to happen in the election was wrong , ” Blunt said .
“ The president wasn ’ t defeated by huge numbers .
In fact , he may not have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie .
The president was defeated , as Biden secured the necessary 270 electoral votes needed to win the election .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
When McConnell took questions , one reporter asked , “ What does it say about America that heads of state around the world have congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President–elect [ Kamala ] Harris and Republican leadership has still neglected to do so ?
Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” McConnell did not answer the second question — whether he and other Republicans fear the president — but said , “ What it says about America is that until the Electoral College votes , anyone who 's running for office can exhaust concerns about counting in any court of appropriate jurisdiction .
It ’ s not unusual .
It should not be alarming.
” He continued , “ At some point here , we ’ ll find out finally who was certified in each of these states and the Electoral College will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sworn in on Jan. 20 .
No reason for alarm.
” But it is absolutely unusual — and for many people definitely alarming — that most Republicans have thus far refused to accept election results .
Though the Electoral College doesn ’ t officially vote until Dec. 14 , it is highly unusual to refuse clear results .
In every recent election , the losing presidential candidate has conceded the race and called for national unity behind the president-elect within days ( with the exception of the 2000 race , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Republican senators , including Mitt Romney , Ben Sasse , Susan Collins , and Lisa Murkowski , have even referred to Biden as the president-elect .
Later in the press conference on Tuesday , McConnell was asked whether he believes transition funds should be released for Biden even as Trump tries to make legal challenges to the election , and the Senate majority leader again cast doubt on the former vice president ’ s rightful win .
( A Trump appointee , Emily Murphy , who runs the General Services Administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to Biden . )
“ I don ’ t think anything that ’ s occurred so far interrupts an ordinary process of moving through the various steps that I indicated and allowing , if there is a new administration , it to work through the transition , ” McConnell said .
“ All of these steps will be taken at the appropriate time.
” If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president on Monday , saying , `` In the United States of America , all legal ballots must be counted .
Any illegal ballots must not be counted .
The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns .
… President Trump is 100 % within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options . ''

WASHINGTON — High-ranking Senate Republicans irresponsibly and baselessly cast doubt on the election results and did not acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden as the rightful winner of the race during a brief press conference Tuesday morning.
The comments came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was elected as leader of the caucus again Tuesday and as President Donald Trump continues to refuse to concede the election to Biden, alleging, without evidence, that the election was stolen from him.
Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who was also reelected Tuesday to Republican Senate leadership, falsely said at the press conference that Biden may not in fact have been victorious; Blunt also lauded the success of Republican Senate candidates in that same election.
“What we saw in this last campaign was that candidates really matter, but what you’re for also really matters. I think that’s one of the reasons that virtually every predictor of what was going to happen in the election was wrong,” Blunt said. “The president wasn’t defeated by huge numbers. In fact, he may not have been defeated at all.”
That is a lie. The president was defeated, as Biden secured the necessary 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.
When McConnell took questions, one reporter asked, “What does it say about America that heads of state around the world have congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President–elect [Kamala] Harris and Republican leadership has still neglected to do so? Are you all afraid of President Trump?”
McConnell did not answer the second question — whether he and other Republicans fear the president — but said, “What it says about America is that until the Electoral College votes, anyone who's running for office can exhaust concerns about counting in any court of appropriate jurisdiction. It’s not unusual. It should not be alarming.”
He continued, “At some point here, we’ll find out finally who was certified in each of these states and the Electoral College will determine a winner and that person will be sworn in on Jan. 20. No reason for alarm.”
But it is absolutely unusual — and for many people definitely alarming — that most Republicans have thus far refused to accept election results. Though the Electoral College doesn’t officially vote until Dec. 14, it is highly unusual to refuse clear results. In every recent election, the losing presidential candidate has conceded the race and called for national unity behind the president-elect within days (with the exception of the 2000 race, which was substantially closer).
Only a handful of Republican senators, including Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, have even referred to Biden as the president-elect.
Later in the press conference on Tuesday, McConnell was asked whether he believes transition funds should be released for Biden even as Trump tries to make legal challenges to the election, and the Senate majority leader again cast doubt on the former vice president’s rightful win. (A Trump appointee, Emily Murphy, who runs the General Services Administration, has so far refused to release transition funds to Biden.)
“I don’t think anything that’s occurred so far interrupts an ordinary process of moving through the various steps that I indicated and allowing, if there is a new administration, it to work through the transition,” McConnell said. “All of these steps will be taken at the appropriate time.”
If you have a news tip, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.
McConnell made similar comments in support of the president on Monday, saying, "In the United States of America, all legal ballots must be counted. Any illegal ballots must not be counted. The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns. … President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options."


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--VR Furries Are Now Running Around The Four Seasons Total Landscaping

Four Seasons Total Landscaping , the Philadelphia business smack dab between a crematorium and a sex shop , is in @ @ @ @ @ soul of America .
It also happens to be the place where former New York @ @ @ @ @ supporters of President Donald Trump 's failed reelection campaign addressed the press after media outlets @ @ @ @ @ Democratic opponent Joe Biden .
Now , it exists in VR — complete with weathered @ @ @ @ @ 2020 podium .
And rejoicing furries .

Four Seasons Total Landscaping, the Philadelphia business smack dab between a crematorium and a sex shop, is in many ways the heart and soul of America.
It also happens to be the place where former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and other supporters of President Donald Trump's failed reelection campaign addressed the press after media outlets called the race for his Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
Now, it exists in VR — complete with weathered detailing and a last-minute Trump 2020 podium. And rejoicing furries.


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--Ben Carson Has The Coronavirus After Attending An Election Night Party At The White House

The second White House coronavirus cluster is growing with Ben Carson , the secretary of housing and urban development , testing positive for COVID-19 Monday .
“ Secretary Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus , '' said Deputy Chief of Staff Coalter Baker .
`` He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery . ''
Despite being a medical doctor and former neurosurgeon , as well as sitting on the White House coronavirus task force , Carson has actively flouted health warnings to wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , attending multiple Trump campaign events and a maskless party at the White House on the night of the presidential election , which was won by Joe Biden .
Carson 's diagnosis comes just three days after White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive .
At least six Trump aides and officials have now tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days , the second wave of infection to hit the White House after the president , first lady , and more than 30 others were infected a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Garden to announce Amy Coney Barrett as a nominee to the Supreme Court .
When the president became sick , after actively flouting health regulations , he had access to a number of treatments not available to everyday citizens , including Regeneron ’ s REGN-COV2 , an antibody cocktail that only a handful of people had previously trialled .
Trump ally and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie , who also got sick at the White House super spreader event and was hospitalized , received the same VIP treatment and got REGN-COV2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medications Carson has received .
Carson appeared regularly without a mask at several preelection Trump campaign events , including a rally in Michigan on Oct. 30 and an indoor political fundraiser in Virginia on Oct. 19 , flouting local rules which insisted on masks being worn at indoor public events .
The third wave of the coronavirus is currently sweeping the country , with US cases nearing 10 million , hospitalizations hitting record numbers , and 237,000 Americans already killed by the virus .

The second White House coronavirus cluster is growing with Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development, testing positive for COVID-19 Monday.
“Secretary Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus," said Deputy Chief of Staff Coalter Baker. "He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery."
Despite being a medical doctor and former neurosurgeon, as well as sitting on the White House coronavirus task force, Carson has actively flouted health warnings to wear a mask and socially distance to stop the spread of the virus, attending multiple Trump campaign events and a maskless party at the White House on the night of the presidential election, which was won by Joe Biden.
Carson's diagnosis comes just three days after White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive.
At least six Trump aides and officials have now tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days, the second wave of infection to hit the White House after the president, first lady, and more than 30 others were infected a month ago following a superspreader event in the Rose Garden to announce Amy Coney Barrett as a nominee to the Supreme Court.
When the president became sick, after actively flouting health regulations, he had access to a number of treatments not available to everyday citizens, including Regeneron’s REGN-COV2, an antibody cocktail that only a handful of people had previously trialled. Trump ally and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who also got sick at the White House super spreader event and was hospitalized, received the same VIP treatment and got REGN-COV2. It is unclear which therapeutics or medications Carson has received.
Carson appeared regularly without a mask at several preelection Trump campaign events, including a rally in Michigan on Oct. 30 and an indoor political fundraiser in Virginia on Oct. 19, flouting local rules which insisted on masks being worn at indoor public events.
The third wave of the coronavirus is currently sweeping the country, with US cases nearing 10 million, hospitalizations hitting record numbers, and 237,000 Americans already killed by the virus.


buzzfeed--2020-11-10--We Won't Know Who Won The Georgia Senate Races Until January

WASHINGTON — Two Senate races in Georgia will go to runoff elections on Jan. 5 , delaying the results of which party has won control of the US Senate until next year .
Democrat Raphael Warnock will face incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in the runoff election , as no candidate will pass the necessary 50 % threshold needed to win , Decision Desk HQ determined on election night .
Two days later , DDHQ also projected that Georgia 's other Senate race , between Republican Sen. David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff , will also head to a January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where all candidates , regardless of party , run in what ’ s known as a jungle primary .
If no candidate receives a majority , the top two candidates go on to a runoff , even if both are members of the same party .
For months , Loeffler has been locked in a tight race with Warnock as well as fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins .
The battle between the two conservatives was one of the most contentious intraparty fights of this cycle , as the pair fought to prove their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Both were ardent defenders of the president during his impeachment hearings and trial .
According to FiveThirtyEight , Collins has voted in line with Trump 97.7 % of the time over the last four years , while Loeffler has voted with him 100 % of the time during her 11 months in the Senate .
Loeffler was appointed to the seat late last year by Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp after former senator Johnny Isakson retired due to health problems .
Collins conceded to Loeffler on Tuesday night , writing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and endorsement .
I look forward to all Republicans coming together .
Raphael Warnock would be a disaster for Georgia and America . ''
The special election isn ’ t the only Senate race unfolding in Georgia , as Perdue works to fend off Ossoff in a tight race .
Perdue had a slight lead over the Democrat but did not clear 50 % .
The two elections will determine control of the Senate , as Democrats need to pick up three seats in order to flip the chamber and the runoff could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two more months .
Democrats have netted just one seat and the only other outstanding Senate race is in Alaska , where Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan leads and is favored to win reelection .
Loeffler is the wealthiest member of Congress .
Her husband , Jeffrey Sprecher , is the chair and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , which owns the New York Stock Exchange .
Earlier this year , the couple came under scrutiny for selling off about $ 3 million in equities right before a market drop-off due to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia .
He has tapped into support for the Black Lives Matter movement as he faced off against Matt Lieberman , son of former senator Joe Lieberman , who was polling in the single digits and faced calls to drop out in order for Democrats to consolidate support for Warnock .
Warnock supports abortion rights and LGBTQ rights , and he has argued that the state is ready to take a Democratic turn .
“ This is a ‘ new South , ’ ” he told Yahoo News on Tuesday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s forward-looking .
It ’ s inclusive .
And it ’ s ready to flip blue.
” If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
Loeffler was recently endorsed by Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene , a fellow Georgia Republican who has openly embraced the QAnon mass delusion and who won her House election in the state earlier on Tuesday .
`` What impressed me with Kelly is I found out that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I believe , '' Greene said during a livestream last month , according to Politico .
`` And I found out that she 's actually the most conservative Republican in the race . ''

WASHINGTON — Two Senate races in Georgia will go to runoff elections on Jan. 5, delaying the results of which party has won control of the US Senate until next year.
Democrat Raphael Warnock will face incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in the runoff election, as no candidate will pass the necessary 50% threshold needed to win, Decision Desk HQ determined on election night. Two days later, DDHQ also projected that Georgia's other Senate race, between Republican Sen. David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff, will also head to a January runoff.
Georgia has a unique system where all candidates, regardless of party, run in what’s known as a jungle primary. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two candidates go on to a runoff, even if both are members of the same party.
For months, Loeffler has been locked in a tight race with Warnock as well as fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins. The battle between the two conservatives was one of the most contentious intraparty fights of this cycle, as the pair fought to prove their loyalties to President Donald Trump throughout the campaign. Both were ardent defenders of the president during his impeachment hearings and trial. According to FiveThirtyEight, Collins has voted in line with Trump 97.7% of the time over the last four years, while Loeffler has voted with him 100% of the time during her 11 months in the Senate.


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--People Are Sharing The Sex Books That Basically Changed Everything For Them

`` I read this until tears welled up in my eyes and then I put it down for a time @ @ @ @ @ how much I had been taught by society and past partners about my own ( @ @ @ @ @ and how that affects my ability to function . ''
—ashleighp4ce2cb1ef Get it from Amazon @ @ @ @ @ for $ 17.47 , or find it at a local bookstore .

That's why we asked the BuzzFeed Community about the sex ed books that were most impactful to them. Here are several of their top recommendations!


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--18 Tumblr Posts About Intrusive Thoughts That Made Me Feel Seen As Someone With OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental condition characterized by distressing , recurring thoughts ( obsessions ) and the need to perform @ @ @ @ @ .
These posts are n't necessarily representative of everyone 's experiences with OCD , nor @ @ @ @ @ but hopefully they CAN make you feel a little less alone .

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental condition characterized by distressing, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These posts aren't necessarily representative of everyone's experiences with OCD, nor can they diagnose you, but hopefully they CAN make you feel a little less alone.


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--A Mega-Viral TikTok Claims Guys Get Boners When They Poop, So We Got To The Bottom Of It

`` It 's not typical , but it can happen , '' Dr. Berman explained .
`` It could be @ @ @ @ @ contraction during vasalva , which means the guy contracts his pelvic floor or kegel muscles @ @ @ @ @ .
However , there is no physiological explanation for erections and defecation to happen simultaneously @ @ @ @ @ hemorrhoids and vascular engorgement and trapping of blood in the penis , but it 's @ @ @ @ @ happen spontaneously during defacation . ''

"It's not typical, but it can happen," Dr. Berman explained. "It could be caused by increased pelvic floor contraction during vasalva, which means the guy contracts his pelvic floor or kegel muscles that could cause an erection. However, there is no physiological explanation for erections and defecation to happen simultaneously. Straining down can cause hemorrhoids and vascular engorgement and trapping of blood in the penis, but it's not typical for erections to happen spontaneously during defacation."


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--The Republican Lawsuit To Overturn Obamacare Seems Doomed At The Supreme Court


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Ukrainians Say Trump’s Defeat Means Their “Nightmare” Is Over

On Nov. 9 , 2016 , Daria Kaleniuk , executive director of the Kyiv-based Anti-Corruption Action Center , an influential organization that has shaped Ukraine ’ s reform efforts , described news of Donald Trump ’ s shock election victory as waking up in a “ terrible nightmare.
” For her and many other Ukrainians , the prospect of an American president who glorified Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested Crimea , the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by the Kremlin in 2014 , belonged to Moscow was terrifying .
While Trump never recognized Russia ’ s land grab , Kaleniuk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nightmarish state for much of his presidency as their country was dragged into the crossfire of Washington political battles , including the monthslong impeachment saga and the efforts of the president ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to dig up dirt about Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine .
Along the way , they also watched as the highly respected US ambassador to Kyiv , Marie Yovanovitch , was recalled and Washington ’ s point person for the ongoing Ukrainian–Russian war , Kurt Volker , resigned , weakening Washington ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But speaking to BuzzFeed News on Monday , four years later and two days after Trump lost reelection to Biden , a staunch supporter of Ukraine , Kaleniuk said it felt like she was finally “ waking up ” from the nightmare .
Since it was announced that Biden had defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States , Ukrainians hoping to see Washington–Kyiv relations restored to their pre-Trump state have reveled in the news that there will soon be an American president who supports them rather than calling their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of terrible people.
” Biden has visited the Eastern European country six times , vowed to back its democratic ambitions , and said he views Russia as a major security threat .
“ For Ukraine , a new American leader brings great opportunities , ” Svitlana Zalishchuk , a reform activist and former Ukrainian lawmaker who has worked closely with US officials in the past , wrote on Facebook in a post that included a selfie with President-elect Biden from one of his past visits to Kyiv .
Oleksandr Danylyuk , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Defense Council who found himself caught up in efforts last year by Giuliani and Trump-appointed officials to get the country to open political investigations into the Bidens in exchange for the release of critical military aid worth some $ 400 million , called the victory a “ big relief.
” “ For Ukraine overall , it is a better outcome , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ Finally we could get a clear strategy for Ukraine and for Russia [ and a ] more logical and stable model for our cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more relieved than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , although you wouldn ’ t know from his public statements .
Since finding himself at the center of Trump ’ s impeachment , which stemmed from a phone call in May 2019 , Zelensky has tried desperately to remain out of the US election discourse .
He has rarely commented on US–Ukraine relations and has been careful not to say anything publicly that could be interpreted as him taking a side in the presidential race .
But behind the scenes , government officials close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretly rooting for Biden and was delighted when he won .
The Ukrainian president could not be reached for comment on Monday after he tested positive for the coronavirus and went into self-isolation .
But in a tweet on Saturday that hinted at his preference , Zelensky was one of the first foreign leaders to congratulate Biden and Vice President–elect Kamala Harris ; he said he was “ optimistic about the future of the strategic partnership with the United States.
” The two countries , Zelensky continued , “ have always collaborated on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fight against corruption .
Our friendship becomes only stronger !
”

On Nov. 9, 2016, Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Kyiv-based Anti-Corruption Action Center, an influential organization that has shaped Ukraine’s reform efforts, described news of Donald Trump’s shock election victory as waking up in a “terrible nightmare.”
For her and many other Ukrainians, the prospect of an American president who glorified Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by the Kremlin in 2014, belonged to Moscow was terrifying.
While Trump never recognized Russia’s land grab, Kaleniuk and many other Ukrainians existed in that nightmarish state for much of his presidency as their country was dragged into the crossfire of Washington political battles, including the monthslong impeachment saga and the efforts of the president’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to dig up dirt about Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine.
Along the way, they also watched as the highly respected US ambassador to Kyiv, Marie Yovanovitch, was recalled and Washington’s point person for the ongoing Ukrainian–Russian war, Kurt Volker, resigned, weakening Washington’s influence in Ukraine and the region.
But speaking to BuzzFeed News on Monday, four years later and two days after Trump lost reelection to Biden, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, Kaleniuk said it felt like she was finally “waking up” from the nightmare.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Since it was announced that Biden had defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Ukrainians hoping to see Washington–Kyiv relations restored to their pre-Trump state have reveled in the news that there will soon be an American president who supports them rather than calling their country “corrupt” and “full of terrible people.” Biden has visited the Eastern European country six times, vowed to back its democratic ambitions, and said he views Russia as a major security threat.
“For Ukraine, a new American leader brings great opportunities,” Svitlana Zalishchuk, a reform activist and former Ukrainian lawmaker who has worked closely with US officials in the past, wrote on Facebook in a post that included a selfie with President-elect Biden from one of his past visits to Kyiv.
Oleksandr Danylyuk, the former chief of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council who found himself caught up in efforts last year by Giuliani and Trump-appointed officials to get the country to open political investigations into the Bidens in exchange for the release of critical military aid worth some $400 million, called the victory a “big relief.”
“For Ukraine overall, it is a better outcome,” he told BuzzFeed News. “Finally we could get a clear strategy for Ukraine and for Russia [and a] more logical and stable model for our cooperation with the US.”
Perhaps no one is more relieved than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although you wouldn’t know from his public statements.
Since finding himself at the center of Trump’s impeachment, which stemmed from a phone call in May 2019, Zelensky has tried desperately to remain out of the US election discourse. He has rarely commented on US–Ukraine relations and has been careful not to say anything publicly that could be interpreted as him taking a side in the presidential race.
But behind the scenes, government officials close to Zelensky told BuzzFeed News he was secretly rooting for Biden and was delighted when he won.
The Ukrainian president could not be reached for comment on Monday after he tested positive for the coronavirus and went into self-isolation. But in a tweet on Saturday that hinted at his preference, Zelensky was one of the first foreign leaders to congratulate Biden and Vice President–elect Kamala Harris; he said he was “optimistic about the future of the strategic partnership with the United States.”
The two countries, Zelensky continued, “have always collaborated on security, trade, investment, democracy, fight against corruption. Our friendship becomes only stronger!”


buzzfeed--2020-11-12--24 Things People Wish They'd Learned About Sex A Whole Lot Sooner

`` Sex can be so amazing when both parties are respected and taken into account .
Sex can also be @ @ @ @ @ or disrespected .
Sex can be incredibly empowering and it can be the complete opposite @ @ @ @ @ and mind .
There 's no 'right way ' to have sex .
You 're @ @ @ @ @ something you do n't want to try , you 're not 'easy ' or ' @ @ @ @ @ 're experimental . ''

8. "Orgasms do not equal love or even consent."
"Sometimes, our nerves just respond, and it means absolutely nothing besides having functioning nerves. So no, that orgasm in itself is not a sign that the person who you had it with is The Right One For You. Nor is it a sign that you actually wanted it, after all, even if you said no, and it doesn't negate your no."
—ista


buzzfeed--2020-11-12--A Woman Has Blown Up On TikTok After Openly Talking About Women's Hair Loss

`` I started my TikTok and Instagram account to ensure no other woman feels alone in their hair loss .
@ @ @ @ @ community of strong hair loss warriors on my page !
They encourage me daily , @ @ @ @ @ Every person , at some point in their life , struggles with self-confidence .
It @ @ @ @ @ .
You aren ’ t alone in your hair loss .
Take baby steps towards @ @ @ @ @ will help you feel beautiful . ''

"I started my TikTok and Instagram account to ensure no other woman feels alone in their hair loss. I’ve loved the community of strong hair loss warriors on my page! They encourage me daily," Jennifer stated. "Every person, at some point in their life, struggles with self-confidence. It’s not just you. You aren’t alone in your hair loss. Take baby steps towards self-acceptance. Make whatever choice will help you feel beautiful."


buzzfeed--2020-11-12--People Are Sharing Things They Learned Way Too Late In Life And It'll Make You Shake Your Head In Di

People Are Sharing Things They Learned Way Too Late In Life And It'll Make You Shake Your Head In Disbelief

Phew !
I hope you all leave this post feeling a little more accomplished ... Now tell us something you @ @ @ @ @ life !

Phew! I hope you all leave this post feeling a little more accomplished...Now tell us something you learned way too late in life!


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Can You Pass A Middle School Sex Ed Test?

The penis is made up of two parts : the _____ and the ______ .

BuzzFeed Bring Me
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buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Mike Pompeo Loves To Preach About Peaceful Transitions Of Power — When It’s Happening In Other Count

Mike Pompeo Loves To Preach About Peaceful Transitions Of Power — When It’s Happening In Other Countries

“ The world is watching what ’ s taking place .
We ’ re going to count all the votes , ” he added , in what appeared to be a reference to President Donald Trump ’ s baseless voter fraud claims .
“ There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration , ” Pompeo said with a smirk from the State Department podium , where , since being appointed in April 2018 , he has praised foreign leaders who have gracefully accepted election defeats and condemned those who have not .
But on Tuesday , Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own country ’ s presidential vote and suggested President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory could be reversed through the courts , despite elections officials representing both Democrats and Republicans in nearly all states saying there has been zero evidence of voter fraud or other irregularities found .
Just Monday , the United States ’ top diplomat praised Myanmar for conducting free and fair elections , saying they “ mark an important step in the country ’ s democratic transition.
” In October alone , he or a State Department spokesperson delivered similar pro-democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seychelles .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has on dozens of occasions delivered public comments urging free and fair elections and peaceful transitions of power in countries around the world .
.
@ SecPompeo : `` There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration . ''
Full video here : https : //t.co/6Rou91HQxv In the week since Election Day , Trump has refused to concede and has pushed bogus claims of fraud to cast doubt on Biden ’ s victory .
He has also reportedly ordered staff not to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and briefings typically offered by the outgoing administration to the incoming one ’ s transition team .
The remarks from Pompeo , one of Trump ’ s most loyal cronies , sparked immediate criticism from former and current US diplomats , some of whom said his words undermined efforts to promote democracy abroad and opened a door for foreign adversaries to criticize American hypocrisy .
“ This is incredibly reckless , dangerous , and damaging to US security , ” tweeted Samantha Power , the former US ambassador to the United Nations under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a European post told BuzzFeed News on the condition of anonymity , for fear of retribution , that Pompeo ’ s remarks traveled instantly through the ranks of foreign service officers whom the diplomat described as being “ furious.
” The diplomat suggested their jobs would be made harder and their words would carry less weight after Pompeo ’ s comments .
“ It ’ s a sideshow in a sense , but yet another degraded norm that could be a problem in the future [ for the US ] , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a silver lining , the US diplomat added , it is that “ I don ’ t think any of our interlocutors take almost anything from this administration seriously anymore.
” If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
Pompeo ’ s suggestion that the US election was yet to be decided came as global leaders sent congratulatory messages to Biden , whose 279 electoral votes , even with Georgia and Arizona yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call the race in his favor .
It also came as the secretary prepared what could be his last big foreign trip before Biden takes office Jan. 20 .
Beginning Wednesday , Pompeo will visit France , Turkey , Georgia , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates .
A big question after his comments is how will he be greeted by officials in those nations .
An EU diplomat from a country that has already congratulated Biden on his election victory told BuzzFeed News , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not authorized to speak to reporters , that the mood when Pompeo visits will likely be `` tense . ''
“ We will keep up appearances , of course … but we will be glad when he leaves , ” the diplomat said , referring both to Pompeo departing from their country and his post .

In the week since Election Day, Trump has refused to concede and has pushed bogus claims of fraud to cast doubt on Biden’s victory. He has also reportedly ordered staff not to comply with Biden’s requests for resources and briefings typically offered by the outgoing administration to the incoming one’s transition team.
The remarks from Pompeo, one of Trump’s most loyal cronies, sparked immediate criticism from former and current US diplomats, some of whom said his words undermined efforts to promote democracy abroad and opened a door for foreign adversaries to criticize American hypocrisy.
“This is incredibly reckless, dangerous, and damaging to US security,” tweeted Samantha Power, the former US ambassador to the United Nations under Barack Obama.
A current US diplomat in a European post told BuzzFeed News on the condition of anonymity, for fear of retribution, that Pompeo’s remarks traveled instantly through the ranks of foreign service officers whom the diplomat described as being “furious.”
The diplomat suggested their jobs would be made harder and their words would carry less weight after Pompeo’s comments.
“It’s a sideshow in a sense, but yet another degraded norm that could be a problem in the future [for the US],” said the diplomat.
If there is a silver lining, the US diplomat added, it is that “I don’t think any of our interlocutors take almost anything from this administration seriously anymore.”
If you have a news tip, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.
Pompeo’s suggestion that the US election was yet to be decided came as global leaders sent congratulatory messages to Biden, whose 279 electoral votes, even with Georgia and Arizona yet to determine a winner, were enough to call the race in his favor.
It also came as the secretary prepared what could be his last big foreign trip before Biden takes office Jan. 20. Beginning Friday, Pompeo will visit France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
A big question after his comments is how will he be greeted by officials in those nations.
An EU diplomat from a country that has already congratulated Biden on his election victory told BuzzFeed News, on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters, that the mood when Pompeo visits will likely be "tense."
“We will keep up appearances, of course … but we will be glad when he leaves,” the diplomat said, referring both to Pompeo departing from their country and his post.


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Steve Kornacki's Tie Was Being Held Together By Staples During Election Week, And It's Such A 2020 M

Steve Kornacki's Tie Was Being Held Together By Staples During Election Week, And It's Such A 2020 Mood

If you 're anything like me , a certain Steve Kornacki was most definitely helping you maintain some kind of @ @ @ @ @ .
Whether you were following this `` chartthrob '' on MSNBC , where — fueled @ @ @ @ @ love of statistics — he covered the election for FIVE DAYS ...

If you're anything like me, a certain Steve Kornacki was most definitely helping you maintain some kind of sanity during this chaotic time. Whether you were following this "chartthrob" on MSNBC, where — fueled by Diet Coke and the love of statistics — he covered the election for FIVE DAYS...


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Trump Was Expected To Lose Votes In Places Where More People Died Of COVID-19. He Didn’t.

Joe Biden ’ s campaign bet on the idea that the 2020 election would hinge on President Donald Trump ’ s response to a pandemic that has killed nearly 240,000 Americans and ravaged the nation ’ s economy .
In the months leading up to the election , in virtual campaign events , TV ads , and debates , Biden made COVID-19 central to his message , contrasting Trump ’ s mishandling and denial with his own acknowledgment of the losses Americans were suffering .
Biden won a decisive majority of the popular vote and the Electoral College — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 would clearly swing votes his way doesn ’ t seem to be true , according to a BuzzFeed News analysis of county-level results .
How hard the pandemic hit locally did n't obviously hurt Trump .
By Election Day , around 1,000 Americans a day were dying of COVID-19 while the national unemployment rate stood at 6.9 % .
To examine how the virus ’ s death toll and the economic crash influenced the election , BuzzFeed News looked at cumulative COVID-19 death rates by county and the surge in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyzing how these factors influenced whether voters swung away from Trump between the 2016 and 2020 elections , based on vote counts reported by Decision Desk HQ .
Together , COVID-19 deaths and unemployment had surprisingly little influence over the swings that happened at the county level .
If anything , Trump did better in counties where more people have died of COVID-19 .
Biden ’ s campaign wasn ’ t alone in expecting COVID-19 deaths to hurt Trump .
On the Friday before the election , a team led by political scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study suggesting that each doubling of COVID-19 fatalities at the county level would make voters about 0.14 % less likely to vote for Trump .
At the state level , the researchers estimated that a doubling of COVID-19 deaths would dent Trump ’ s support by 0.37 % .
Those might sound like small margins , but Warshaw and his colleagues pointed out that they could be enough to swing key states , concluding : “ We find that COVID-19 has led to substantial damage for President Trump.
” After the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell whether his team ’ s conclusion needed to be revised .
“ I don ’ t have any more perspective as of yet , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ When there 's final data on county-level voting patterns , we 'll certainly assess them.
” It will likely take months of careful research to understand exactly what made voters decide whom to vote for in 2020 .
“ Ascertaining the effect of the pandemic will take a lot more research than a few descriptive observations , ” warned Gary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University .
While it ’ s possible that experts will find that COVID-19 did play a role in how people voted , it 's clear that the simple narrative that Trump would be punished in places hit especially hard by the pandemic doesn ’ t stand up .
Some of the factors involved in swings at the local level may be specific to particular places .
Biden ’ s surprisingly poor showing in Miami-Dade County in Florida , for instance , may have been driven in part by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats as “ socialists ” — an alarming description for the county ’ s large population of voters whose families fled the socialist regime in Cuba .
And many counties with the highest COVID-19 death rates swung toward Trump .
Black-majority counties in rural Georgia , for example , have been devastated by COVID-19 .
These communities have also had to contend with barriers to voting , including a lack of accessible polling places and the closures of rural hospitals .
“ How do you make the space and time to cast a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are creeping into your life ? ''
said Aklima Khondoker , Georgia state director for the advocacy group All Voting Is Local .
In these hard-hit counties , the vote swung slightly to Trump .
Voters in the Georgia counties that shifted heavily to Biden and carried him to clinch a majority of votes across the state were mostly in the cities of Atlanta and Savannah , plus their suburbs , which had lower rates of COVID-19 deaths .
In the Rio Grande Valley of Texas , a region where Democrats had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 death rates have also been very high .
But these border counties actually swung strongly toward Trump since 2016 .
Texas Democrats focused on turnout in the suburbs rather than investing more resources in the Rio Grande Valley .
Trump ’ s message that Democrats would push unnecessary lockdowns that would hurt the economy may have resonated with voters more strongly than they had anticipated .
Some experts were not surprised by these trends .
“ Casualties mobilize people to vote , ” Michael Koch , a political scientist at Texas A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wars affect election turnouts , told BuzzFeed News , suggesting that is what drove the historic number of votes cast in the 2020 election .
But whether voters swing behind or punish an incumbent in a crisis is a complex equation , he said .
Trump spent much of his campaign arguing that if Biden won , he would “ lock down ” the country , and blaming Democratic governors for their states ’ restrictions and economic slowdowns .
Attitudes to the pandemic response seemed to harden along existing partisan lines , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Republicans backing his push for states to reopen their economies .
“ We are seeing motivated reasoning here , ” Koch said .
“ Voters start with the conclusion they want and work their way backwards to the evidence they choose to support that conclusion.
” Given this partisan split , a huge challenge for Biden will be to mobilize the nation behind the message that rebuilding the economy and controlling the virus are not opposing goals .
“ I think Biden missed the opportunity to explain that the economy is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to work is a goal , but that this requires controlling the virus , ” Carlos del Rio , a specialist in infectious diseases and global health at Emory University in Atlanta , told BuzzFeed News .
“ It is not either/or .
It is both together.
” ●

Biden’s campaign wasn’t alone in expecting COVID-19 deaths to hurt Trump.
On the Friday before the election, a team led by political scientist Christopher Warshaw of George Washington University published a study suggesting that each doubling of COVID-19 fatalities at the county level would make voters about 0.14% less likely to vote for Trump. At the state level, the researchers estimated that a doubling of COVID-19 deaths would dent Trump’s support by 0.37%.
Those might sound like small margins, but Warshaw and his colleagues pointed out that they could be enough to swing key states, concluding: “We find that COVID-19 has led to substantial damage for President Trump.”
After the election, Warshaw said it was too early to tell whether his team’s conclusion needed to be revised. “I don’t have any more perspective as of yet,” he told BuzzFeed News. “When there's final data on county-level voting patterns, we'll certainly assess them.”
It will likely take months of careful research to understand exactly what made voters decide whom to vote for in 2020. “Ascertaining the effect of the pandemic will take a lot more research than a few descriptive observations,” warned Gary King, who heads the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University.
While it’s possible that experts will find that COVID-19 did play a role in how people voted, it's clear that the simple narrative that Trump would be punished in places hit especially hard by the pandemic doesn’t stand up.
Some of the factors involved in swings at the local level may be specific to particular places. Biden’s surprisingly poor showing in Miami-Dade County in Florida, for instance, may have been driven in part by the Trump campaign’s portrayal of Democrats as “socialists” — an alarming description for the county’s large population of voters whose families fled the socialist regime in Cuba.
And many counties with the highest COVID-19 death rates swung toward Trump.
Black-majority counties in rural Georgia, for example, have been devastated by COVID-19. These communities have also had to contend with barriers to voting, including a lack of accessible polling places and the closures of rural hospitals. “How do you make the space and time to cast a ballot with all of these competing issues that are creeping into your life?" said Aklima Khondoker, Georgia state director for the advocacy group All Voting Is Local.
In these hard-hit counties, the vote swung slightly to Trump. Voters in the Georgia counties that shifted heavily to Biden and carried him to clinch a majority of votes across the state were mostly in the cities of Atlanta and Savannah, plus their suburbs, which had lower rates of COVID-19 deaths.
In the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a region where Democrats had hoped to win big among Latinos, COVID-19 death rates have also been very high. But these border counties actually swung strongly toward Trump since 2016. Texas Democrats focused on turnout in the suburbs rather than investing more resources in the Rio Grande Valley. Trump’s message that Democrats would push unnecessary lockdowns that would hurt the economy may have resonated with voters more strongly than they had anticipated.


buzzfeed--2020-11-11--Our Great Big Postelection Emotional Hangover

I learned that the election had finally been called for Joe Biden when I was still in bed on Saturday morning .
I ’ d slept in , drifting in and out of strange dreams .
Around 11:30 the street outside my window erupted with cheers , and I knew .
I tore myself out of the tangle of my duvet , jammed a pair of contacts into my eyes , and ran downstairs while I was still pulling my jeans on , blearily calling out to my roommates , “ That ’ s it ?
This is it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out onto our stoop with a bottle of champagne and toasted each other and our neighbors with jam jars that sparkled in the sun .
It was an unbelievably beautiful day , 70 degrees in November in New York City .
Somebody started blasting Bruce Springsteen .
A group of teenagers passed by us holding each other ’ s hands and skipping .
One older woman wandered alone into the street , tossed her head back , and yelled , “ WE ’ RE FREEEEEEEE !
” My heart cracked open .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last time that day , I felt it : that rush of relief and euphoria and petty , delicious schadenfreude that compelled hundreds of thousands of people across the country to take to the streets this weekend in celebration .
Trump lost .
Our “ long national nightmare is over.
” It ’ s not really , of course .
As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put it in the New York Times , “ we aren ’ t in a free fall to hell anymore .
But whether we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lingering question.
” For one glorious , unseasonably warm Saturday , however , the organizers and activists who ’ d worked tirelessly to eke out a Biden–Harris victory could indulge in a brief and much-deserved break .
Some cranky people on Twitter made sure to shame others for daring to enjoy themselves when we ’ re still mid-pandemic , when there ’ s still an overwhelming amount of local , national , and international work to be done regarding climate change , the rise of white supremacy , and a whole host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vanish with Trump .
But even the cranks should allow themselves their own break ; making space for joy is essential to the work of building a better world .
As much as I believe in a revolution with frequent dance parties , though , I couldn ’ t quite bring myself to join seemingly everybody I knew in Brooklyn who flocked to Grand Army Plaza for an epic block party on Saturday .
I didn ’ t begrudge them their happiness , but I did envy them for it .
My own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced on our stoop had already soured in my stomach by the time I excused myself to go back inside , feeling tired and disoriented and a little bit ill.
I ’ ve felt tired and disoriented and a little bit ill to various degrees since March , when I may or may not have had COVID .
The anxiety and depression I ’ d worked so hard to manage over years of medication and therapy are now the worst they ’ ve ever been .
It ’ s become impossible for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with my body or my brain at any given time , where pre-2020 I feel like I could have at least made a decent guess : Are you PMSing ?
Hungover ?
Are you achy and sniffly with a regular cold , or is it allergies , or could it be COVID ( a new infection or the long-term effects of the old one ) ?
During that horrible limbo between the election on Tuesday and the call on Saturday , I was plagued by mysterious aches and pains .
Stomach acid burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was hard to parse what was mental , what was physical , what was both , what were the results of my own silly little choices , and what was completely beyond my control .
( And I am definitely not alone in this . )
One of my least favorite things about anxiety is how extensively I punish myself for it .
Curled up on the couch , watching videos of the raucous celebrations going on without me a few blocks away , everybody else ’ s happiness gave me major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling bad — the start of a classic anxiety/depression spiral that real ones know are nearly impossible to claw yourself out of .
Perhaps a part of me didn ’ t quite trust that we ’ ll eventually really be free of President Trump , who still has plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc before Biden ’ s inauguration , though Republican members of the electoral college told BuzzFeed News they do n't think he and other GOP leaders will get away with undermining Biden 's victory .
( High-ranking Senate Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baselessly cast doubt on the election results '' on Tuesday , as my colleague Addy Baird reported , while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed on the same day — maybe jokingly ?
— that there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump term . )
Perhaps I was having a typical depressive episode that would have swallowed me up despite whatever enormously consequential things were going on in the world around me .

I learned that the election had finally been called for Joe Biden when I was still in bed on Saturday morning. I’d slept in, drifting in and out of strange dreams. Around 11:30 the street outside my window erupted with cheers, and I knew. I tore myself out of the tangle of my duvet, jammed a pair of contacts into my eyes, and ran downstairs while I was still pulling my jeans on, blearily calling out to my roommates, “That’s it? This is it?”
This was it. We went out onto our stoop with a bottle of champagne and toasted each other and our neighbors with jam jars that sparkled in the sun. It was an unbelievably beautiful day, 70 degrees in November in New York City. Somebody started blasting Bruce Springsteen. A group of teenagers passed by us holding each other’s hands and skipping. One older woman wandered alone into the street, tossed her head back, and yelled, “WE’RE FREEEEEEEE!”
My heart cracked open. For the first and what was pretty much the last time that day, I felt it: that rush of relief and euphoria and petty, delicious schadenfreude that compelled hundreds of thousands of people across the country to take to the streets this weekend in celebration. Trump lost. Our “long national nightmare is over.”
It’s not really, of course. As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put it in the New York Times, “we aren’t in a free fall to hell anymore. But whether we’re going to pick ourselves up or not is the lingering question.” For one glorious, unseasonably warm Saturday, however, the organizers and activists who’d worked tirelessly to eke out a Biden–Harris victory could indulge in a brief and much-deserved break. Some cranky people on Twitter made sure to shame others for daring to enjoy themselves when we’re still mid-pandemic, when there’s still an overwhelming amount of local, national, and international work to be done regarding climate change, the rise of white supremacy, and a whole host of other ginormous problems that will not simply vanish with Trump. But even the cranks should allow themselves their own break; making space for joy is essential to the work of building a better world.
As much as I believe in a revolution with frequent dance parties, though, I couldn’t quite bring myself to join seemingly everybody I knew in Brooklyn who flocked to Grand Army Plaza for an epic block party on Saturday. I didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but I did envy them for it. My own brief spark of glee I’d experienced on our stoop had already soured in my stomach by the time I excused myself to go back inside, feeling tired and disoriented and a little bit ill.
I’ve felt tired and disoriented and a little bit ill to various degrees since March, when I may or may not have had COVID. The anxiety and depression I’d worked so hard to manage over years of medication and therapy are now the worst they’ve ever been. It’s become impossible for me to tease out what might be wrong with my body or my brain at any given time, where pre-2020 I feel like I could have at least made a decent guess: Are you PMSing? Hungover? Are you achy and sniffly with a regular cold, or is it allergies, or could it be COVID (a new infection or the long-term effects of the old one)? During that horrible limbo between the election on Tuesday and the call on Saturday, I was plagued by mysterious aches and pains. Stomach acid burned in the back of my throat. It was hard to parse what was mental, what was physical, what was both, what were the results of my own silly little choices, and what was completely beyond my control. (And I am definitely not alone in this.)
One of my least favorite things about anxiety is how extensively I punish myself for it. Curled up on the couch, watching videos of the raucous celebrations going on without me a few blocks away, everybody else’s happiness gave me major historical FOMO. I felt bad for feeling bad — the start of a classic anxiety/depression spiral that real ones know are nearly impossible to claw yourself out of.
Perhaps a part of me didn’t quite trust that we’ll eventually really be free of President Trump, who still has plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc before Biden’s inauguration, though Republican members of the electoral college told BuzzFeed News they don't think he and other GOP leaders will get away with undermining Biden's victory. (High-ranking Senate Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, "irresponsibly and baselessly cast doubt on the election results" on Tuesday, as my colleague Addy Baird reported, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed on the same day — maybe jokingly? — that there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump term.) Perhaps I was having a typical depressive episode that would have swallowed me up despite whatever enormously consequential things were going on in the world around me.