vox--2020-11-07--Joe Biden in victory speech: “Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end”

President-elect Joe Biden used his acceptance speech as the 2020 election winner to unite a divided nation and rally the country to solve problems at home and abroad .
“ I will govern as an American president , ” Biden said to the crowd assembled in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ I will work as hard for those who didn ’ t vote for me as those who did .
Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now.
” He continued : “ This is the United States of America .
There has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do when we have done it together.
” The address stood in stark contrast to the general message of President Donald Trump , who uses most of his speeches to try to drive a wedge between his base and the rest of the country while finding opportunities to congratulate himself .
Biden ’ s victory speech made sure to thank his supporters , campaign staff , and family for his win , and to laud his running mate , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , the first woman elected to the vice presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not possible in the United States .
It ’ s long overdue , ” Biden said of Harris ’ s historic first .
“ And we are reminded tonight of those who fought so hard for so many years to make this happen .
Once again , America has bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice.
” Finally , Biden appealed to all Americans to help make his presidency a success .
It remains a big question whether Biden can deliver on his promise to unite the divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , it seems his intention is genuine .
Folks , the people of this nation have spoken .
They have delivered us a clear victory .
A convincing victory .
A victory for we , the people .
We won with the most votes ever cast on a presidential ticket in the history of the nation : 74 million .
Well , I must admit it surprised me .
Tonight , we are seeing all over this nation , all cities and all parts of the country , indeed across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hope , renewed faith in tomorrow to bring a better day .
And I ’ m humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me .
I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide , but unify .
Who doesn ’ t see red states and blue states , only sees the United States .
I work with all my heart with the confidence of the whole people to win the confidence of all of you .
And for that is what I believe America is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is what our administration will be all about .
I sought this office to restore the soul of America , to rebuild the backbone of this nation , the middle class , and to make America respected around the world again .
And to unite us here at home .
It is the honor of my lifetime that so many millions of Americans have voted for that vision .
Now the work of making that vision is real .
Folks , as I said many times before , I ’ m Jill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be here without her love and tireless support .
And my son Hunter and my daughter and all our grandchildren and their spouses and all our family .
They are my heart .
Jill is a military mom , an educator .
She dedicated her life to education .
Teaching is not just what she does , it ’ s who she is .
For American educators , it is a great day for y ’ all .
You ’ re going to have one of your own in the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great First Lady .
I am so proud of her .
I will have the honor — you just heard from Kamala Harris , who will make history as the first woman , the first black woman , the first woman from South Asian descent , the first immigrant ever elected to this country .
Don ’ t tell me it is not possible in the United States .
It ’ s long overdue .
And we are reminded tonight of those who fought so hard for so many years to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice .
Kamala , Doug , like it or not , you ’ re family .
You have become an honorary Biden .
There is no way out .
For all of you who volunteered and worked the polls in this pandemic , local elected officials , you deserve a special thanks from the entire nation .
And to my campaign team and all the volunteers and all who gave so much of themselves to make this moment possible , I owe you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All those who supported us , I am proud of the campaign we built and ran .
I am proud of the coalition we put together : Democrats , Republicans , independents , progressives , moderates , conservative , young , old , rural , suburban , gay , straight , transgender , Native American .
I mean it : Especially in those moments when the campaign was at its slowest , the African American community stood up again for me .
You all had my back , and I will have yours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to represent this campaign , to make it look like America .
We have done that .
For all those of you who voted for President Trump , I understand the disappointment tonight .
I lost a couple times myself .
Now , let ’ s give each other a chance .
It is time to put away the harsh rhetoric , lower the temperature , see each other again , listen to each other again , and to make progress , we have to stop treating our opponents as an enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are Americans — they are Americans .
The Bible tells us to everything there is a season , a time to build , a time to reap and a time to sow and a time to heal .
This is the time to heal in America .
Now this campaign is over , what is the will of the people ?
What is our mandate ?
I believe it is this — America has called upon us to marshal the forces of decency , the forces of fairness , to marshal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the great battles of our time .
The battle to control the virus .
The battle to build prosperity .
The battle to secure your family ’ s health care .
The battle to achieve racial justice and root out systemic racism in this country .
And the battle to save our planet by getting climate under control .
The battle to restore decency , defend democracy , and give everyone in this country a fair shot .
That is all they are asking for , a fair shot .
Folks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
We can not repair the economy or relish life ’ s most precious moments hugging our grandchildren , birthdays , graduations , all the moments that matter most to us , until we get it under control .
On Monday , I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will restore it on January 20 , 2021 .
That plan will be constructed out of compassion , empathy , and concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or any commitment to turn around this pandemic .
Folks , I am a proud Democrat .
But I will govern as an American president .
I will work as hard for those who didn ’ t vote for me as those who did .
Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now .
Refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not some mysterious force beyond our control ; it is a decision , a choice we make .
If we decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cooperate .
I believe this is part of the mandate given to us from the American people .
They want us to cooperate in their interests .
That is the choice I will make .
I will call on Congress — Democrats and Republicans alike — to make that choice with me .
The American story is about a — about slow , yet widening the opportunities in America .
Too many dreams have been deferred for too — deferred for too long .
No matter their race , faith , identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always been shaped by inflection points , by moments in time where we made our decisions about who we are and what we want to be .
Lincoln in 1860 coming to save the union .
FDR in 1932 promising a beleaguered country a new deal .
JFK in 1960 pledging a new frontier .
And 12 years ago , when Barack Obama made history , he told us “ Yes , we can.
” Folks , we stand at an inflection point .
We have the opportunity to beat despair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do it .
I long talked about the battle for the soul of America .
We must restore the soul of America .
Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses .
It ’ s time for our better angels to prevail .
Tonight , the whole world is watching America .
And I believe at our best , America is a beacon for the globe .
We will lead not only by the example of our power , but by the power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and many heard me — heard me say we can define America in one word : Possibility .
That in America everyone should be given an opportunity to go as far as their dream and God-given ability will take them .
You see , I believe in the possibility of this country .
We are always looking ahead , ahead to an America that is freer and more just , that treats jobs with dignity and respect , an America that cures diseases like cancer and Alzheimers , an America that never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America that never gives up , never gives in .
This is a great nation .
It has always been a bad bet to bet against America .
This is the United States of America .
There has never been anything we have not been able to do when we have done it together .
Folks , in the last stages of the campaign , I began thinking about a hymn that means a lot to me and my family that captures the faith that sustains me and which I believe sustains America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfort and solemn to the Americans who lost a loved one to this terrible virus this year .
Our hearts go out to each and every one of you .
Hopefully this hymn gives you solemn .
It goes like this : And he will raise you up on eagle ’ s wings , and make you a sign like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand .
Together on eagle ’ s wings we embark on the work God called upon us to do with full hearts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in each other , with love of country , a thirst for justice .
Let it be the nation that we know we can be , a nation united , a nation strengthened , a nation healed .
The United States of America , ladies and gentlemen , there has never been anything we have tried and not been able to do .
Remember , as our grandpop said when we walked out of our home , he said “ Joe , keep the faith.
” Our grandmother when she was alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith.
” May God bless America , and may God protect our troops .
Thank you .
Thank you .
Thank you .

President-elect Joe Biden used his acceptance speech as the 2020 election winner to unite a divided nation and rally the country to solve problems at home and abroad.
“I will govern as an American president,” Biden said to the crowd assembled in Wilmington, Delaware. “I will work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me as those who did. Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now.”
He continued: “This is the United States of America. There has never been anything we have not been able to do when we have done it together.”
The address stood in stark contrast to the general message of President Donald Trump, who uses most of his speeches to try to drive a wedge between his base and the rest of the country while finding opportunities to congratulate himself.
Biden’s victory speech made sure to thank his supporters, campaign staff, and family for his win, and to laud his running mate, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman elected to the vice presidency.
Related Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman to become vice president
“Don’t tell me it is not possible in the United States. It’s long overdue,” Biden said of Harris’s historic first. “And we are reminded tonight of those who fought so hard for so many years to make this happen. Once again, America has bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice.”
Finally, Biden appealed to all Americans to help make his presidency a success.
A big question remains: whether Biden can deliver on his promise to unite the divided states of America. For the moment, though, it seems his intention is genuine.
Read a rush transcript of Biden’s victory speech below.
Folks, the people of this nation have spoken. They have delivered us a clear victory. A convincing victory. A victory for we, the people.
We won with the most votes ever cast on a presidential ticket in the history of the nation: 74 million. Well, I must admit it surprised me. Tonight, we are seeing all over this nation, all cities and all parts of the country, indeed across the world, an outpouring of joy, of hope, renewed faith in tomorrow to bring a better day.
And I’m humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.
I work with all my heart with the confidence of the whole people to win the confidence of all of you.
And for that is what I believe America is about. It is about people. And that is what our administration will be all about. I sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class, and to make America respected around the world again. And to unite us here at home.
It is the honor of my lifetime that so many millions of Americans have voted for that vision. Now the work of making that vision is real.
Folks, as I said many times before, I’m Jill’s husband. And I would not be here without her love and tireless support. And my son Hunter and my daughter and all our grandchildren and their spouses and all our family. They are my heart. Jill is a military mom, an educator. She dedicated her life to education. Teaching is not just what she does, it’s who she is.
For American educators, it is a great day for y’all. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House. And Jill is going to make a great first lady. I am so proud of her.
I will have the honor — you just heard from Kamala Harris, who will make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, the first woman from South Asian descent, the first immigrant ever elected to this country.
Don’t tell me it is not possible in the United States. It’s long overdue. And we are reminded tonight of those who fought so hard for so many years to make this happen. Once again, America has bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice. Kamala, Doug, like it or not, you’re family. You have become an honorary Biden. There is no way out.
For all of you who volunteered and worked the polls in this pandemic, local elected officials, you deserve a special thanks from the entire nation. And to my campaign team and all the volunteers and all who gave so much of themselves to make this moment possible, I owe you everything — I owe you everything.
All those who supported us, I am proud of the campaign we built and ran. I am proud of the coalition we put together: Democrats, Republicans, independents, progressives, moderates, conservative, young, old, rural, suburban, gay, straight, transgender, Native American.
I mean it: Especially in those moments when the campaign was at its slowest, the African American community stood up again for me. You all had my back, and I will have yours.
I said at the outset I wanted to represent this campaign, to make it look like America. We have done that. For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I lost a couple times myself. Now, let’s give each other a chance.
It is time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again, and to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as an enemy. They are not our enemies: They are Americans — they are Americans.
The Bible tells us, to everything there is a season, a time to build, a time to reap and a time to sow and a time to heal. This is the time to heal in America.
Now this campaign is over, what is the will of the people? What is our mandate?
I believe it is this — America has called upon us to marshal the forces of decency, the forces of fairness, to marshal the forces of science and forces of hope in the great battles of our time. The battle to control the virus. The battle to build prosperity. The battle to secure your family’s health care. The battle to achieve racial justice and root out systemic racism in this country. And the battle to save our planet by getting climate under control.
The battle to restore decency, defend democracy, and give everyone in this country a fair shot. That is all they are asking for, a fair shot.
Folks, our work begins with getting Covid under control. We cannot repair the economy or relish life’s most precious moments, hugging our grandchildren, birthdays, graduations, all the moments that matter most to us, until we get it under control.
On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will restore it on January 20, 2021. That plan will be constructed out of compassion, empathy, and concern. I will spare no effort, none, or any commitment to turn around this pandemic.
Folks, I am a proud Democrat. But I will govern as an American president. I will work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me as those who did. Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now. Refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not some mysterious force beyond our control; it is a decision, a choice we make.
If we decide not to cooperate, we can decide to cooperate. I believe this is part of the mandate given to us from the American people. They want us to cooperate in their interests. That is the choice I will make. I will call on Congress — Democrats and Republicans alike — to make that choice with me.
The American story is about a — about slow, yet widening the opportunities in America. Too many dreams have been deferred for too — deferred for too long. No matter their race, faith, identity, or disability.
Folks, America has always been shaped by inflection points, by moments in time where we made our decisions about who we are and what we want to be. Lincoln in 1860 coming to save the union. FDR in 1932 promising a beleaguered country a new deal. JFK in 1960 pledging a new frontier. And 12 years ago, when Barack Obama made history, he told us, “Yes, we can.”
Folks, we stand at an inflection point. We have the opportunity to beat despair, to build prosperity and purpose. We can do it. I long talked about the battle for the soul of America. We must restore the soul of America. Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses. It’s time for our better angels to prevail.
Tonight, the whole world is watching America. And I believe at our best, America is a beacon for the globe. We will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.
I have always believed, and many heard me — heard me say we can define America in one word: Possibility. That in America everyone should be given an opportunity to go as far as their dream and God-given ability will take them. You see, I believe in the possibility of this country.
We are always looking ahead, ahead to an America that is freer and more just, that treats jobs with dignity and respect, an America that cures diseases like cancer and Alzheimers, an America that never leaves anyone behind. Ahead to an America that never gives up, never gives in.
This is a great nation. It has always been a bad bet to bet against America. This is the United States of America. There has never been anything we have not been able to do when we have done it together.
Folks, in the last stages of the campaign, I began thinking about a hymn that means a lot to me and my family, that captures the faith that sustains me, and which I believe sustains America. And I hope it can provide comfort and solemn to the Americans who lost a loved one to this terrible virus this year. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you.
Hopefully this hymn gives you solemn. It goes like this: And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings, and make you a sign like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand.
Together on eagle’s wings we embark on the work God called upon us to do with full hearts and steady hands, with faith in America and in each other, with love of country, a thirst for justice. Let it be the nation that we know we can be, a nation united, a nation strengthened, a nation healed.
The United States of America, ladies and gentlemen, there has never been anything we have tried and not been able to do. Remember, as our grandpop said when we walked out of our home, he said, “Joe, keep the faith.” Our grandmother, when she was alive, said, “No, spread the faith.”
May God bless America, and may God protect our troops.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


vox--2020-11-07--Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sent a strong message with her all-white suit

It was a striking message , sent before she said a word — the color was the one worn by suffragists as they fought for the right to vote .
Salutes to those women have been popularized by Democratic women in recent years — at this year ’ s State of the Union address , many lawmakers wore white in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment , which gave women the right to vote .
Many women lawmakers wore white during the 2017 and 2019 State of the Union speeches as well .
As Vox ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement was not an inclusive one ; Harris herself likely would have been excluded from the famous Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 that helped pave the path to the vote for women .
While it was founded on the work on nonwhite women , North notes , “ in the drive to get states to ratify the 19th Amendment , white advocates wanted the support of Southern white women — and their husbands and fathers — and were willing to sacrifice Black Americans ’ voting rights in order to get it.
” Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ultimately successful in gaining the vote for themselves .
Legally protected enfranchisement for Black women didn ’ t come until decades later — but to secure it , women of color created their own groups .
And in those groups , they were able to , North writes , “ work simultaneously against sexism and racism — pushing for federal anti-lynching legislation , for example.
” In many ways , Harris is the embodiment of the dreams and hard work of many of these women , white and nonwhite — not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman of color , but because she was able to take the stage thanks to the work of so many women , including modern women activists who have given their time and effort to register and motivate voters .
And while experts are still studying the electorate to understand who voted for whom , early exit polls suggest that women — particularly women of color — helped power Biden and Harris ’ s victory , whereas it appears Trump won among men .
Harris honored those women in her speech , thanking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century.
” “ One hundred years ago was the 19th Amendment , ” Harris said .
“ Fifty-five years ago was the Voting Rights Act .
And now in 2020 , with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continue to fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard.
” It was thanks to those women , Harris said , that the United States can now begin “ to see what can be unburdened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them she wore white — and maybe even why she paired her suit with a pussy-bow blouse — to honor those who sacrificed and suffered to make her present possible .

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris began her acceptance speech with a strong statement: a white suit.
It was a striking message, sent before she said a word — the color was the one worn by suffragists as they fought for the right to vote.
Salutes to those women have been popularized by Democratic women in recent years — at this year’s State of the Union address, many lawmakers wore white in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
Many women lawmakers wore white during the 2017 and 2019 State of the Union speeches as well.
As Vox’s Anna North has explained, the suffragist movement was not an inclusive one; Harris herself likely would have been excluded from the famous Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 that helped pave the path to the vote for women. While it was founded on the work on nonwhite women, North notes, “in the drive to get states to ratify the 19th Amendment, white advocates wanted the support of Southern white women — and their husbands and fathers — and were willing to sacrifice Black Americans’ voting rights in order to get it.”
Related Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman to become vice president
Those white suffragists made that sacrifice, and were ultimately successful in gaining the vote for themselves. Legally protected enfranchisement for Black women didn’t come until decades later — but to secure it, women of color created their own groups. And in those groups, they were able to, North writes, “work simultaneously against sexism and racism — pushing for federal anti-lynching legislation, for example.”
In many ways, Harris is the embodiment of the dreams and hard work of many of these women, white and nonwhite — not just because she is a woman, or a woman of color, but because she was able to take the stage thanks to the work of so many women, including modern activists who have given their time and effort to register and motivate voters.
And while experts are still studying the electorate to understand who voted for whom, early exit polls suggest that women — particularly women of color — helped power Biden and Harris’s victory, whereas it appears Trump won among men.
Harris honored those women in her speech, thanking “all the women who have worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century.”
“One hundred years ago was the 19th Amendment,” Harris said. “Fifty-five years ago was the Voting Rights Act. And now in 2020, with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continue to fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard.”
It was thanks to those women, Harris said, that the United States can now begin “to see what can be, unburdened by what has been.” It was for them she wore white — and maybe even why she paired her suit with a pussy-bow blouse — to honor those who sacrificed and suffered to make her present possible.


vox--2020-11-07--Kamala Harris: “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.”

Kamala Harris : “ I may be the first woman to hold this office .
But I won ’ t be the last.
” Share All sharing options for : Kamala Harris : “ I may be the first woman to hold this office .
But I won ’ t be the last.
” Kamala Harris just made history in her speech as the first woman to be elected vice president of the United States .
“ America ’ s democracy is not guaranteed .
It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it , ” Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit and a ( possibly pointed ) pussy-bow blouse , Harris thanked all the poll workers and elected officials who worked on this week ’ s long election , saying , “ You have protected the integrity of our democracy.
” Harris , who is also the first Black person and first South Asian elected vice president , spoke of the women who have “ paved the way for this moment tonight , ” sparing particular attention for “ the Black women who are too often overlooked , but so often prove they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She added that she wanted to prove to all children watching that America “ is a country of possibilities.
” For that reason , she declared , “ I may be the first woman to hold this office .
But I won ’ t be the last.
” Read a rough transcript of the full speech below .
Good evening .
Thank you .
Thank you .
Good evening .
[ Cheers and applause ] So Congressman John Lewis , before his passing , wrote , “ Democracy is not a state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant was America ’ s democracy is not guaranteed .
It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it .
To guard it and never take it for granted .
And protecting our democracy takes struggle .
It takes sacrifice .
But there is joy in it .
And there is progress , because we the people have the power to build a better future .
And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election , with the very soul of America at stake , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new day for America .
Through — your campaign staff and volunteers , this extraordinary team , thank you for bringing more people than ever before into the democratic process .
And for making this victory possible , to the poll workers and election officials across our country who have worked tirelessly to make sure every vote is counted , our nation owes you a debt of gratitude .
You have protected the integrity of our democracy .
And to the American people who make up our beautiful country , thank you for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your voices heard .
And I know times have been challenging , especially the last several months .
The grief , sorrow , and pain .
The worries and the struggles .
But we have also witnessed your courage , your resilience , and the generosity of your spirit .
For four years , you marched and organized for equality and justice , for our lives , and for our planet .
And then , you voted .
And you delivered a clear message .
You chose hope and unity , decency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America .
And Joe is a healer , a uniter , a tested and steady hand .
A person whose own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose that will help us as a nation reclaim our own sense of purpose .
And a man with a big heart who loves with abandon .
It is his love for Jill , who will be an incredible first lady — It is his love for Hunter , Ashley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
And while I first knew Joe as vice president , I really got to know him as the father who loved Beau .
My dear friend , who we remember here today .
And to my husband Doug — And our children and my sister and our whole family , I love y ’ all more than I can ever express .
We are so grateful to Joe and Jill for welcoming our family into theirs on this incredible journey .
And to the woman most responsible for my presence here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always in our hearts .
When she came here from India at the age of 19 , she did not quite imagine this moment , but she believes so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible .
So I am thinking about her and the generations of women , black women — Asian , white , Latina , Native American women who surround our nation — who throughout our nation ’ s history have paved the way for this moment tonight .
Women who fought and sacrificed so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
Including the black women who are too often overlooked , but so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy .
All the women who have worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century .
100 years ago was the 19th amendment .
55 years ago was the voting rights act .
And now in 2020 , with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continue to fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard .
Tonight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determination , and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been .
And I stand on their shoulders .
And what a testament it is to Joe ’ s character that he has the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his vice president .
While I may be the first woman in this office , I will not be the last .
Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children of our country , regardless of your gender , our country has sent you a clear message , dream with ambition .
Lead with conviction .
See yourselves in a way that others may not , simply because they have never seen it before .
But know that we will applaud you every step of the way .
And to the American people , no matter who you voted for , I will strive to be a vice president , like Joe was to president Obama — loyal , honest , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you and your family .
Because now is when the real work begins .
The hard work .
The necessary work .
The good work .
The essential work to save lives and beat this epidemic .
To rebuild our economy so it works for working people .
To root out systemic racism in our social justice system and society .
To combat the climate crisis .
To unite our country and heal the soul of our nation .
And the road ahead will not be easy , but America is ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have elected a president who represents the best in us .
A leader the world will respect and our children will look up to .
A commander-in-chief who will respect our troops and keep our country safe , as a president for all Americans .
And it is now my great honor to introduce the president-elect of the United States of America , Joe Biden !

Kamala Harris: “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.”
Share All sharing options for: Kamala Harris: “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.”
Kamala Harris just made history in her speech as the first woman to be elected vice president of the United States.
“America’s democracy is not guaranteed. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it,” Harris declared. Dressed in a suffragist white suit and a (possibly pointedly chosen) pussy-bow blouse, Harris thanked all the poll workers and elected officials who worked on this week’s long election, saying, “You have protected the integrity of our democracy.”
Related Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman to become vice president
Harris, who is also the first Black person and first South Asian elected vice president, spoke of the women who have “paved the way for this moment tonight,” sparing particular attention for “the Black women who are too often overlooked, but so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy.” She added that she wanted to prove to all children watching that America “is a country of possibilities.” For that reason, she declared, “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.”
Read a rough transcript of the full speech below.
Good evening. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. [Cheers and applause]
So Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote, “Democracy is not a state, it is an act.” What he meant was America’s democracy is not guaranteed. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.
To guard it and never take it for granted. And protecting our democracy takes struggle. It takes sacrifice. But there is joy in it. And there is progress, because we the people have the power to build a better future.
And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, with the very soul of America at stake, and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America.
Through — your campaign staff and volunteers, this extraordinary team, thank you for bringing more people than ever before into the democratic process.
And for making this victory possible, to the poll workers and election officials across our country who have worked tirelessly to make sure every vote is counted, our nation owes you a debt of gratitude.
You have protected the integrity of our democracy. And to the American people who make up our beautiful country, thank you for turning out in record numbers to make your voices heard.
And I know times have been challenging, especially the last several months. The grief, sorrow, and pain. The worries and the struggles. But we have also witnessed your courage, your resilience, and the generosity of your spirit. For four years, you marched and organized for equality and justice, for our lives, and for our planet. And then, you voted.
And you delivered a clear message. You chose hope and unity, decency, science, and yes, truth.
You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America. And Joe is a healer, a uniter, a tested and steady hand. A person whose own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose that will help us as a nation reclaim our own sense of purpose. And a man with a big heart who loves with abandon. It is his love for Jill, who will be an incredible first lady —
It is his love for Hunter, Ashley, and his grandchildren and the entire Biden family. And while I first knew Joe as vice president, I really got to know him as the father who loved Beau. My dear friend, who we remember here today. And to my husband Doug — And our children and my sister and our whole family, I love y’all more than I can ever express.
We are so grateful to Joe and Jill for welcoming our family into theirs on this incredible journey.
And to the woman most responsible for my presence here today, my mother, who is always in our hearts. When she came here from India at the age of 19, she did not quite imagine this moment, but she believes so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible. So I am thinking about her and the generations of women, Black women — Asian, white, Latina, Native American women who surround our nation — who throughout our nation’s history have paved the way for this moment tonight. Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality and liberty and justice for all.
Including the Black women who are too often overlooked, but so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy. All the women who have worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century. 100 years ago was the 19th Amendment. 55 years ago was the Voting Rights Act. And now in 2020, with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continue to fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard. Tonight I reflect on their struggle, their determination, and the strength of their vision to see what can be, unburdened by what has been. And I stand on their shoulders.
And what a testament it is to Joe’s character that he has the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his vice president. While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.
Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message; dream with ambition. Lead with conviction.
See yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they have never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way.
And to the American people, no matter who you voted for, I will strive to be a vice president like Joe was to president Obama — loyal, honest, and prepared. Waking up every day thinking of you and your family. Because now is when the real work begins. The hard work. The necessary work. The good work. The essential work to save lives and beat this epidemic. To rebuild our economy so it works for working people. To root out systemic racism in our social justice system and society. To combat the climate crisis. To unite our country and heal the soul of our nation.
And the road ahead will not be easy, but America is ready. And so are Joe and I.
We have elected a president who represents the best in us. A leader the world will respect and our children will look up to. A commander-in-chief who will respect our troops and keep our country safe, as a president for all Americans.
And it is now my great honor to introduce the president-elect of the United States of America, Joe Biden!


vox--2020-11-07--Silicon Valley leaders celebrate the Biden win — and send a message to Trump

Silicon Valley is celebrating the election of Joe Biden as the next president — and sending the message that they see this race as done , no matter what Donald Trump might say .
Tech ’ s highest-profile figures and richest people offered their first reactions on Saturday in the aftermath of the Associated Press and the major news networks calling the race for Biden .
Biden ’ s relationship with the tech industry will be closely watched — and could grow tense if his administration aggressively polices misconduct by Big Tech companies .
But it is all smiles for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of the messaging from tech industry luminaries was that the race between Biden and Trump was over .
Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that widespread voter fraud and other irregularities should call the outcome into question , and his first statement on the results made it clear he has no plans to concede the race .
Business leaders reportedly have been talking with one another about sending a collective message that corporate America does not agree with the president .
Jeff Bezos , the CEO of Amazon and the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship with Trump , mostly revolving around Bezos ’ s ownership of the Washington Post .
On Saturday , Bezos — who did not endorse a presidential candidate — said he saw Biden ’ s election as a sign that “ unity , empathy , and decency are not characteristics of a bygone era.
” “ By voting in record numbers , the American people proved again that our democracy is strong , ” he wrote on Instagram .
The next-wealthiest person in the world , Microsoft founder Bill Gates , also sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gates prides himself on staying out of the partisan fray , but he has been a sharp critic of Trump ’ s coronavirus response .
Sheryl Sandberg , the No .
2 at Facebook who has become an icon for many women in leadership , has long had a personal close relationship with Kamala Harris , the new vice president-elect .
Sandberg was sure to portray the election as finished — “ The votes are in , ” she said — but also zeroed in on the history made by Harris .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , our next vice president will be a Black and South Asian American woman who is the daughter of immigrants , ” Sandberg wrote .
“ There are times when America takes a big step toward creating a government that reflects the diverse country we are .
Today is one of those days .
I ’ m thinking with joy about young people across the country watching the news today and thinking , ‘ Maybe I can lead this nation too.
’ ” As of Saturday afternoon , Sandberg ’ s boss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh in .
Perhaps more than any other figure in Silicon Valley , Zuckerberg has had to walk a very fine line in the Trump era as he strived to both root out misinformation while also maintaining the platform ’ s neutrality .
Figuring out the Biden era will be a whole other challenge for Facebook ’ s CEO .

Silicon Valley is celebrating the election of Joe Biden as the next president — and sending the message that they see this race as done, no matter what Donald Trump might say.
Tech’s highest-profile figures and richest people offered their first reactions on Saturday in the aftermath of the Associated Press and the major news networks calling the race for Biden. Biden’s relationship with the tech industry will be closely watched — and could grow tense if his administration aggressively polices misconduct by Big Tech companies. But it is all smiles for now.
Implicit or explicit in a lot of the messaging from tech industry luminaries was that the race between Biden and Trump was over. Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that widespread voter fraud and other irregularities should call the outcome into question, and his first statement on the results made it clear he has no plans to concede the race. Business leaders reportedly have been talking with one another about sending a collective message that corporate America does not agree with the president.
Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and the world’s richest person, has had a fiery relationship with Trump, mostly revolving around Bezos’s ownership of the Washington Post. On Saturday, Bezos — who did not endorse a presidential candidate — said he saw Biden’s election as a sign that “unity, empathy, and decency are not characteristics of a bygone era.”
“By voting in record numbers, the American people proved again that our democracy is strong,” he wrote on Instagram.
The next-wealthiest person in the world, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, also sent the signal that the race has concluded. Gates prides himself on staying out of the partisan fray, but he has been a sharp critic of Trump’s coronavirus response.
I look forward to working with the new administration and leaders on both sides in Congress on getting the surging pandemic under control, engaging partners around the world on issues like poverty and climate change, and addressing issues of inequality and opportunity at home. — Bill Gates (@BillGates) November 7, 2020
Sheryl Sandberg, the No. 2 at Facebook who has become an icon for many women in leadership, has long had a personal close relationship with Kamala Harris, the new vice president-elect. Sandberg was sure to portray the election as finished — “The votes are in,” she said — but also zeroed in on the history made by Harris.
“For the first time in 231 years, our next vice president will be a Black and South Asian American woman who is the daughter of immigrants,” Sandberg wrote. “There are times when America takes a big step toward creating a government that reflects the diverse country we are. Today is one of those days. I’m thinking with joy about young people across the country watching the news today and thinking, ‘Maybe I can lead this nation too.’”
As of Saturday afternoon, Sandberg’s boss, Mark Zuckerberg, had yet to weigh in. Perhaps more than any other figure in Silicon Valley, Zuckerberg has had to walk a very fine line in the Trump era as he strived to both root out misinformation while also maintaining the platform’s neutrality. Figuring out the Biden era will be a whole other challenge for Facebook’s CEO.


vox--2020-11-07--Trump is attempting a coup in plain sight

Vox answers your biggest questions about the 2020 US presidential election , which could be one of the most consequential of our lifetimes .
A few years ago , there was a boom of articles called “ If it happened there , ” imagining how the American press would cover this-or-that story if it happened in another country .
How would we cover the government shutdown if it happened in another country ?
The Ferguson protests ?
The Oregon militia siege ?
George Floyd ’ s murder ?
Mike Bloomberg ?
Slate ’ s Joshua Keating popularized the form , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed it .
The intent was to use the tropes of foreign coverage to create a sense of what the literary critic Darko Suvin called “ cognitive estrangement ” — severing us from the familiarity and overconfidence that can dull our awareness of extraordinary events .
And so you ’ d get ledes like , “ the pleasant autumn weather disguises a government teetering on the brink .
Because , at midnight Monday night , the government of this intensely proud and nationalistic people will shut down , a drastic sign of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slight sense of parody lent the whole enterprise a sense of unreality .
America isn ’ t a banana republic .
It wasn ’ t happening there .
It was happening here , and that made all the difference .
In order to even see the danger , to recognize the depth of tensions or the possibilities of fracture , we had to control for American exceptionalism , for the implicit belief that we were the United States of America , and we were different .
If the past four years — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven anything , it ’ s that we are not as different as we believed , not as kissed by providence as we hoped .
Perhaps we are not different at all .
We need to cover it as if it happening here , because it is .
Donald Trump is trying to discredit an election he is losing Joe Biden has won the presidency .
But the current president of the United States , Donald Trump , is attempting a coup in plain sight .
“ I WON THIS ELECTION , BY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning .
This came after he demanded that states cease counting votes when the total began to turn against him , after his press secretary shocked Fox News anchors by arguing that legally cast votes should be thrown out .
The Trump ’ s administration ’ s current strategy is to go to court to try and get votes for Biden ruled illegitimate , and that strategy explicitly resists on Trump ’ s appointees honoring a debt the administration , at least , believes they owe .
One of his legal advisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the United States Supreme Court — of which the President has nominated three justices — to step in and do something .
And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through.
” If that fails , and it will , Mark Levin , one of the nation ’ s most popular conservative radio hosts , is explicitly calling on Republican legislatures to reject the election results and seat Donald Trump as president anyway .
After Twitter tagged the tweet as contested , Trump ’ s press secretary weighed in furiously on Levin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not work — that it is being carried out farcically , erratically , ineffectively — does not mean it is not happening , or that it will not have consequences .
Millions will believe Trump , will see the election as stolen .
The Trump family ’ s Twitter feeds , and those of associated outlets and allies , are filled with allegations of fraud , and lies about the process ( reporter Isaac Saul has been doing yeoman ’ s work tracking these arguments , and his thread is worth reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a confusing , but immersive , alternative reality in which the election has been stolen from Trump , and weak-kneed Republicans are letting the thieves escape .
This is , to borrow Hungarian sociologist Bálint Magyar ’ s framework , “ an autocratic attempt.
” That ’ s the stage in the transition toward autocracy in which the would-be autocrat is trying to sever his power from electoral check .
If he ’ s successful , autocratic breakthrough follows , and then autocratic consolidation occurs .
In this case , the would-be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he will not entirely fail , either .
What Trump is trying to form is something akin to an autocracy-in-exile , an alternative America in which he is the rightful leader , and he — and the public he claims to represent — has been robbed of power by corrupt elites .
“ Democracy works only when losers recognize that they have lost , ” writes political scientist Henry Farrell .
That will not happen here .
The corruption of the GOP will outlive Trump ’ s presidency Members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to make the acceptance of their conspiracies a litmus test for ambitious Republicans .
And it is working .
To read elected Republicans today — with a few notable exceptions , like Sen. Mitt Romney — is to read a careful , cowardly double-speak .
Politician after politician is signaling , as Vice President Mike Pence did , solidarity with the president , while not quite endorsing his conspiracies .
Of course every legal vote should be counted .
Of course allegations of fraud should be addressed .
But that is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is demanding the votes against him be ruled illegal — and they know it .
What we are not seeing , in any way , is a wholesale rejection on the right of Trump ’ s effort to delegitimize the election .
And thus there is no reason to believe Trump will not retain his hold over much of the party , and much of its base , going forward .
Even if Trump is rejected in this election , the Republican Party that protected and enabled him will not be .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from anything but massive , consecutive landslide defeats , and their dominance over the decennial redistricting process has given them a handicap in the House , too .
That divergence almost saved Trump : though the presidential election will not be close in terms of the popular vote , the margins in the key Electoral College states were narrow , and the would-be autocrat was almost returned to office .
How much more damage could he have done to American institutions and elections with another four years ?
It could have happened here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s the grim kicker : The conditions that made Trump and this Republican Party possible are set to worsen .
Republicans retained control of enough statehouses to drive the next redistricting effort , too , and their 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court will unleash their map-drawers more fully .
The elections analyst G. Elliott Morris estimates that the gap between the popular vote and the tipping point-state in the Electoral College will be 4-5 points , and the GOP ’ s control of the redistricting process could push it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that America ’ s institutions did not wholly fail in the Trump era is not the same thing as saying they succeeded .
They did not , and in particular , the Republican Party did not .
It has failed dangerously , spectacularly .
It has made clear that would-be autocrats have a path to power in the United States , and if they can walk far enough down that path , an entire political party will support them , and protect them .
And it has been insulated from public fury by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , and that lets partisan actors set election rules and draw district lines — and despite losing the presidency , the GOP still holds the power to tilt that system further in its direction in the coming years .
What happens when the next would-be autocrat tries this strategy — and what if they are smoother , more strategic , more capable , than this one ?
This is not a story happening elsewhere .
It is a story happening here , now .

A few years ago, there was a boom of articles called “If it happened there,” imagining how the American press would cover this or that story if it happened in another country. How would we cover the government shutdown if it happened in another country? The Ferguson protests? The Oregon militia siege? George Floyd’s killing? Mike Bloomberg?
Slate’s Joshua Keating popularized the form, but other outlets, including Vox, have deployed it. The intent was to use the tropes of foreign coverage to create a sense of what the literary critic Darko Suvin called “cognitive estrangement”: severing us from the familiarity and overconfidence that can dull our awareness of extraordinary events. And so you’d get leads like, “the pleasant autumn weather disguises a government teetering on the brink. Because, at midnight Monday night, the government of this intensely proud and nationalistic people will shut down, a drastic sign of political dysfunction in this moribund republic.”
But the slight air of parody lent the whole enterprise a sense of unreality. America isn’t a banana republic. It wasn’t happening there. It was happening here, and that made all the difference. In order to even see the danger, to recognize the depth of tensions or the possibilities of fracture, we had to control for American exceptionalism, for the implicit belief that we were the United States of America, and we were different.
If the past four years — and the past four days — have proven anything, it’s that we are not as different as we believed, not as kissed by providence as we hoped. Perhaps we are not different at all. We need to cover it as if it happening here, because it is.
Donald Trump is trying to discredit an election he is losing
Joe Biden has won the presidency. But the current president of the United States, Donald Trump, is attempting a coup in plain sight. “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” he tweeted on Saturday morning. This came after he demanded that states cease counting votes when the total began to turn against him, after his press secretary shocked Fox News anchors by arguing that legally cast votes should be thrown out.
I think the important part of this video isn't the flagrantly illiberal theory the Trump administration is selling, but the fact that the Fox News anchors aren't buying. https://t.co/zauokaYnji — Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) November 5, 2020
The Trump administration’s current strategy is to go to court to try and get votes for Biden ruled illegitimate, and that strategy explicitly rests on Trump’s appointees honoring a debt the administration, at least, believes they owe. One of his legal advisers said, “We’re waiting for the United States Supreme Court — of which the President has nominated three justices — to step in and do something. And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through.”
If that fails, and it will, Mark Levin, one of the nation’s most popular conservative radio hosts, is explicitly calling on Republican legislatures to reject the election results and seat Donald Trump as president anyway. After Twitter tagged the tweet as contested, Trump’s press secretary weighed in furiously on Levin’s behalf.
That this coup probably will not work — that it is being carried out farcically, erratically, ineffectively — does not mean it is not happening, or that it will not have consequences. Millions will believe Trump, will see the election as stolen. The Trump family’s Twitter feeds, and those of associated outlets and allies, are filled with allegations of fraud and lies about the process (reporter Isaac Saul has been doing yeoman’s work tracking these arguments, and his thread is worth reading). It’s the construction of a confusing, but immersive, alternative reality in which the election has been stolen from Trump and weak-kneed Republicans are letting the thieves escape.
This is, to borrow Hungarian sociologist Bálint Magyar’s framework, “an autocratic attempt.” That’s the stage in the transition toward autocracy in which the would-be autocrat is trying to sever his power from electoral check. If he’s successful, autocratic breakthrough follows, and then autocratic consolidation occurs. In this case, the would-be autocrat stands little chance of being successful. But he will not entirely fail, either. What Trump is trying to form is something akin to an autocracy-in-exile, an alternative America in which he is the rightful leader, and he — and the public he claims to represent — has been robbed of power by corrupt elites.
“Democracy works only when losers recognize that they have lost,” writes political scientist Henry Farrell. That will not happen here.
The corruption of the GOP will outlive Trump’s presidency
Members of the Trump family are explicitly, repeatedly, trying to make the acceptance of their conspiracies a litmus test for ambitious Republicans. And it is working. To read elected Republicans today — with a few notable exceptions, like Sen. Mitt Romney — is to read a careful, cowardly double-speak. Politician after politician is signaling, as Vice President Mike Pence did, solidarity with the president, while not quite endorsing his conspiracies. Of course every legal vote should be counted. Of course allegations of fraud should be addressed. But that is not what the president is demanding — he is demanding the votes against him be ruled illegal — and they know it.
The media do not get to determine who the president is. The people do. When all lawful votes have been counted, recounts finished, and allegations of fraud addressed, we will know who the winner is — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) November 7, 2020
I Stand With President @realDonaldTrump. We must count every LEGAL vote. — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 6, 2020
What we are not seeing, in any way, is a wholesale rejection on the right of Trump’s effort to delegitimize the election. And thus there is no reason to believe Trump will not retain his hold over much of the party, and much of its base, going forward.
Far from over. Republicans will not back down from this battle. — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) November 6, 2020
Even if Trump is rejected in this election, the Republican Party that protected and enabled him will not be. Their geographic advantage in the Senate insulates them from anything but massive, consecutive landslide defeats, and their dominance over the decennial redistricting process has given them a handicap in the House, too.
That divergence almost saved Trump: Though the presidential election will not be close in terms of the popular vote, the margins in the key Electoral College states were narrow, and the would-be autocrat was almost returned to office. How much more damage could he have done to American institutions and elections with another four years? It could have happened here, and it truly almost did.
Here’s the grim kicker: The conditions that made Trump and this Republican Party possible are set to worsen. Republicans retained control of enough statehouses to drive the next redistricting effort, too, and their 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court will unleash their map-drawers more fully. The elections analyst G. Elliott Morris estimates that the gap between the popular vote margin and the tipping point state in the Electoral College will be 4 to 5 percentage points, and that the GOP’s control of the redistricting process could push it to 6 to 7 points next time.
To say that America’s institutions did not wholly fail in the Trump era is not the same thing as saying they succeeded. They did not, and in particular, the Republican Party did not. It has failed dangerously, spectacularly. It has made clear that would-be autocrats have a path to power in the United States, and if they can walk far enough down that path, an entire political party will support them, and protect them. And it has been insulated from public fury by a political system that values land over people, and that lets partisan actors set election rules and draw district lines — and despite losing the presidency, the GOP still holds the power to tilt that system further in its direction in the coming years.
What happens when the next would-be autocrat tries this strategy — and what if they are smoother, more strategic, more capable than this one?
This is not a story happening elsewhere. It is a story happening here, now.


vox--2020-11-07--World leaders react to Biden’s win as Americans take to the streets in celebration

World leaders react to Biden ’ s win as Americans take to the streets in celebration Share All sharing options for : World leaders react to Biden ’ s win as Americans take to the streets in celebration President-elect Joe Biden ’ s win in the US presidential race was greeted by a wave of global congratulations , and celebrations closer to home on Saturday .
In the hours after the race was called by several news outlets , world leaders sent out tweets of support , with many allies promising to work closely with the next president .
Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called the US and Canada “ close friends , partners , and allies ” with a “ relationship that ’ s unique on the world stage , ” and said , “ I ’ m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both.
” One of President Trump ’ s closest European friends , United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson , also sent out congratulations to Biden and Harris , noting he hoped to collaborate on climate change — an area Trump has clashed with his European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a pressing issue for a United Kingdom set to soon finalize its exit from the European Union .
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel , who often disagreed with Trump on issues like US support for NATO , also chimed in with congratulations .
“ The Americans have appointed their President .
Congratulations @ JoeBiden and @ KamalaHarris !
We have a lot to do to meet today ’ s challenges .
Let ’ s act together !
” Macron tweeted in French .
The congratulations are notable in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he does not plan to concede , meaning these messages can be seen not just as congratulations , but as the US ’ s key allies quickly vocalizing their support for the president-elect ’ s legitimacy .
After media outlets called the election for Biden , Trump was defiant , spreading false conspiracy theories and lies about the vote count , as well as promising legal action attempting to overturn the election .
Merkel and Trump in particular had frequent battles over the last four years , with Trump reportedly telling her she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s relationship with many European leaders hasn ’ t been helped by his tendency to cozy up to far-right leaders in Poland and Hungary .
Many have also been cheered by Biden ’ s promise to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords , which the US officially pulled out of just this week under Trump ’ s direction .
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo touched on that agreement in a tweet .
“ Welcome back America !
” she wrote Saturday .
Ironically , one of the first international leaders to show support for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelensky — Trump ’ s attempts to coerce the Ukrainian president into investigating Biden played a central role in the saga of Trump ’ s impeachment last December .
A number of other leaders outside of Europe also offered their well-wishes , including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who developed a relatively close relationship with Trump .
Modi also acknowledged the momentousness of Harris ’ s historic vice presidential win — she will be the first woman , Black American , and Asian American to fill that role — and highlighted her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large crowds gathered in many major US cities , including in Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York , and the area surrounding the White House in Washington , DC , to celebrate Biden ’ s win .
Biden had an overwhelming amount of support from across the country , breaking all voting records , as Vox ’ s Anna North has explained : With more than 75 million votes so far , Biden broke the record previously set by President Barack Obama , who received about 69.5 million votes to win in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at more than 50 percent of the popular vote , with President Trump taking 48 percent .
Trump has now also broken Obama ’ s record , having passed the 70 million mark .
The 2020 election is on pace for a record turnout , with at least 159.8 million Americans voting , according to NBC .
That ’ s the highest turnout rate among eligible voters since 1900 And that was reflected throughout the US .
In Philadelphia , a woman told CNN , “ I ’ m so happy .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In Washington , DC , a crowd gathered near the White House praised the work of Georgia activists for Biden ’ s win , at one point chanting out the name of voting rights activist and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
“ This is a day I ’ ve been waiting for for four years , ” 73-year-old Carla Yates Bremer told the Washington Post .
And in New York City , actor Alan Mingo told the Guardian , “ Seeing this euphoria , this jubilation , it ’ s incredible @ @

World leaders react to Biden’s win as Americans take to the streets in celebration
Share All sharing options for: World leaders react to Biden’s win as Americans take to the streets in celebration
President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the US presidential race was greeted by a wave of global congratulations, and celebrations closer to home on Saturday.
In the hours after the race was called by several news outlets, world leaders sent out tweets of support, with many allies promising to work closely with the next president.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for instance, called the US and Canada “close friends, partners, and allies” with a “relationship that’s unique on the world stage,” and said, “I’m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both.”
Congratulations, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Our two countries are close friends, partners, and allies. We share a relationship that’s unique on the world stage. I’m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 7, 2020
One of President Trump’s closest European friends, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also sent out congratulations to Biden and Harris, noting he hoped to collaborate on climate change — an area Trump has clashed with his European counterparts on — as well as trade, a pressing issue for a United Kingdom set to soon finalize its exit from the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who often disagreed with Trump on issues like US support for NATO, also chimed in with congratulations.
“The Americans have appointed their President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris ! We have a lot to do to meet today’s challenges. Let’s act together!” Macron tweeted in French.
Les Américains ont désigné leur Président. Félicitations @JoeBiden et @KamalaHarris ! Nous avons beaucoup à faire pour relever les défis d’aujourd’hui. Agissons ensemble ! — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 7, 2020
The congratulations are notable in that they came shortly after Trump announced he does not plan to concede, meaning these messages can be seen not just as congratulations, but as the US’s key allies quickly vocalizing their support for the president-elect’s legitimacy. After media outlets called the election for Biden, Trump was defiant, spreading false conspiracy theories and lies about the vote count, as well as promising legal action attempting to overturn the election.
Merkel and Trump in particular had frequent battles over the last four years, with Trump reportedly telling her she was “stupid.” And Trump’s relationship with many European leaders hasn’t been helped by his tendency to cozy up to far-right leaders in Poland and Hungary. Many have also been cheered by Biden’s promise to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords, which the US officially pulled out of just this week under Trump’s direction.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo touched on that agreement in a tweet. “Welcome back America!” she wrote Saturday.
Welcome back America! Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris for their election! While we are about to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, this victory symbolizes our need to act together more than ever, in view of climate emergency. #Election2020 — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) November 7, 2020
Ironically, one of the first international leaders to show support for Biden’s win was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — Trump’s attempts to coerce the Ukrainian president into investigating Biden played a central role in the saga of Trump’s impeachment last December.
Congratulations to @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris! #Ukraine is optimistic about the future of the strategic partnership with the #UnitedStates. and have always collaborated on security, trade, investment, democracy, fight against corruption. Our friendship becomes only stronger! — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 7, 2020
A number of other leaders outside of Europe also offered their well-wishes, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who developed a relatively close relationship with Trump. Modi also acknowledged the momentousness of Harris’s historic vice presidential win — she will be the first woman, Black American, and Asian American to fill that role — and highlighted her Indian heritage.
Congratulations @JoeBiden on your spectacular victory! As the VP, your contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations was critical and invaluable. I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights. pic.twitter.com/yAOCEcs9bN — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020
Heartiest congratulations @KamalaHarris! Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020
South Korean president Moon Jae-in also tweeted congrats for Biden and Harris.
Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Our alliance is strong and the bond between our two countries is rock-solid. I very much look forward to working with you for our shared values. — 문재인 (@moonriver365) November 8, 2020
Celebrations erupted back home in US cities
Closer to home, large crowds gathered in many major US cities, including in Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York, and the area surrounding the White House in Washington, DC, to celebrate Biden’s win.
Biden had an overwhelming amount of support from across the country, breaking all voting records, as Vox’s Anna North has explained:
With more than 75 million votes so far, Biden broke the record previously set by President Barack Obama, who received about 69.5 million votes to win in 2008. The 75 million number puts Biden at more than 50 percent of the popular vote, with President Trump taking 48 percent. Trump has now also broken Obama’s record, having passed the 70 million mark. The 2020 election is on pace for a record turnout, with at least 159.8 million Americans voting, according to NBC. That’s the highest turnout rate among eligible voters since 1900
And that was reflected throughout the US.
In Philadelphia, a woman told CNN, “I’m so happy. I don’t know what to do.”
In Washington, DC, a crowd gathered near the White House praised the work of Georgia activists for Biden’s win, at one point chanting out the name of voting rights activist and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
“This is a day I’ve been waiting for for four years,” 73-year-old Carla Yates Bremer told the Washington Post.
And in New York City, actor Alan Mingo told the Guardian, “Seeing this euphoria, this jubilation, it’s incredible.”


vox--2020-11-07--Democrats capture Georgia US House seat held by Republicans since 1995

Republicans have held Georgia ’ s Seventh Congressional District , which stretches over Atlanta ’ s northern suburbs , for a quarter-century .
That will change when the new Congress is sworn in this January , however .
Carolyn Bourdeaux , a Democrat , defeated Republican Rich McCormick , who was running to replace retiring Republican Rep .
Rob Woodall .
Bourdeaux , who also ran for the seat and narrowly lost in 2018 , benefited not just from the lack of an incumbent , but also from the district ’ s changing demographics and an emerging shift toward Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seventh District has historically been quite conservative — Woodall , the outgoing representative , once led the Republican Study Committee , a caucus for conservative Republicans — it is no longer dominated by white Southerners who typically support the GOP .
Indeed , according to the Lily , the Seventh District “ is now a majority-minority district with 25 percent of its population born outside the United States.
” Stacey Abrams , an African American Democrat who ran for Georgia governor in 2018 , won the district during her ultimately unsuccessful statewide race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused much of her campaign on white women voters — a demographic that has trended toward Democrats since President Donald Trump ’ s victory in 2016 .
Women from traditionally conservative demographic groups played a significant role in the 2018 wave election that placed a Democratic majority in charge of the House of Representatives .
As Vox ’ s Dylan Scott wrote shortly after that election , “ Democratic pollster Celinda Lake showed me polling that had married men voting 51 percent Republican and 48 percent Democrat , but their wives voted 54 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a notable marital break from prior elections.
” As it turns out , these two shifts — the district ’ s increasing diversity and the overall trend among many women voters — were enough to elect Bourdeaux in a district that Republicans used to be able to take for granted .

Republicans have held Georgia’s Seventh Congressional District, which stretches over Atlanta’s northern suburbs, for a quarter-century. That will change when the new Congress is sworn in this January, however. Carolyn Bourdeaux, a Democrat, defeated Republican Rich McCormick, who was running to replace retiring Republican Rep. Rob Woodall.
Bourdeaux, who also ran for the seat and narrowly lost in 2018, benefited not just from the lack of an incumbent, but also from the district’s changing demographics and an emerging shift toward Democrats among white suburban women.
Though the Seventh District has historically been quite conservative — Woodall, the outgoing representative, once led the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative Republicans — it is no longer dominated by white Southerners who typically support the GOP.
Indeed, according to the Lily, the Seventh District “is now a majority-minority district with 25 percent of its population born outside the United States.” Stacey Abrams, an African American Democrat who ran for Georgia governor in 2018, won the district during her ultimately unsuccessful statewide race.
Bourdeaux, who is white, focused much of her campaign on white women voters — a demographic that has trended toward Democrats since President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016.
Related 2020 House election live results
Women from traditionally conservative demographic groups played a significant role in the 2018 wave election that placed a Democratic majority in charge of the House of Representatives. As Vox’s Dylan Scott wrote shortly after that election, “Democratic pollster Celinda Lake showed me polling that had married men voting 51 percent Republican and 48 percent Democrat, but their wives voted 54 percent Democrat and just 44 Republican, a notable marital break from prior elections.”
As it turns out, these two shifts — the district’s increasing diversity and the overall trend among many women voters — were enough to elect Bourdeaux in a district that Republicans used to be able to take for granted.


vox--2020-11-07--The US broke voting records in a pandemic

A record-breaking 160 million Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election , despite the Covid-19 pandemic ’ s continued spread @ @ @ @ @ across the country talked to Vox about their motivations to vote in this high-stakes election @ @ @ @ @ in hours-long lines , navigating misinformation on social media , safety at the polls , @ @ @ @ @ vote early , to vote on Election Day , to mail in or drop off @ @ @ @ @ video above to see what it was like to vote this year in the US @ @ @ @ @ the election , including results , analysis , and news , check out Vox ’ @ @ @ @ @ : https : //www.vox.com/2020-presidential-election You can find this video and all of Vox ’ s @ @ @ @ @ if you ’ re looking for all of our 2020 election videos , you can @ @ @ @ @ playlist here .

A record-breaking 160 million Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election, despite the Covid-19 pandemic’s continued spread across the country.
Voters across the country talked to Vox about their motivations to vote in this high-stakes election despite the challenges: waits in hours-long lines, navigating misinformation on social media, safety at the polls, and their decisions whether to vote early, to vote on Election Day, to mail in or drop off their ballots.
Watch the video above to see what it was like to vote this year in the US.
For more information about the election, including results, analysis, and news, check out Vox’s hub for election-related content: https://www.vox.com/2020-presidential-election
You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. And if you’re looking for all of our 2020 election videos, you can find them all in our playlist here.


vox--2020-11-07--Joe Biden reacts to his presidential victory: “It’s time for America to unite and to heal”

President-elect Joe Biden called for unity in a statement reacting to his election victory on Saturday .
“ With the campaign over , it ’ s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and to come together as a nation , ” he said .
“ It ’ s time for America to unite and to heal.
” Biden emphasized , too , that a record number of Americans — more than 145 million votes have been counted so far — have voted in this election despite the many challenges that people currently face due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honored and humbled by the trust that the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris , ” Biden wrote .
Harris , in a call with Biden , celebrated the win Saturday , saying , “ We did it , Joe — you ’ re going to be the next president of the United States !
” Decision Desk projected that Biden would win the election on Friday morning , after he took the lead in Pennsylvania .
On Saturday , multiple outlets including the Associated Press , CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also called the election for Biden .
As of Saturday afternoon , Biden has 279 electoral votes to President Donald Trump ’ s 214 electoral votes , according to Decision Desk .
Thus far , Biden has already won the most votes of any presidential candidate ever : As Vox ’ s Anna North reported , Biden has secured just over 75 million votes at this point , breaking a record previously set by former President Barack Obama when he accrued 69.5 million votes in 2008 .
This upcoming January , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and vice president .
Elected during a pandemic that ’ s had devastating economic and public health fallout , they ’ ll be in charge of addressing its effects among many other issues .
Biden ’ s Saturday statement differed significantly in tone from Trump ’ s response to the election being called .
The president did not concede the race , and instead refused to accept Biden ’ s victory .
Trump also promised to continue contesting electoral outcomes in court .
“ The simple fact is this election is far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccurately .
Biden is expected to deliver a more extensive victory speech on Saturday evening .
“ We are the United States of America .
And there ’ s nothing we can ’ t do if we do it together , ” Biden said in his Saturday statement .

President-elect Joe Biden called for unity in a statement reacting to his election victory on Saturday.
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and to come together as a nation,” he said. “It’s time for America to unite and to heal.”
Biden emphasized, too, that a record number of Americans — more than 145 million votes have been counted so far — have voted in this election despite the many challenges that people currently face due to the ongoing pandemic. “I am honored and humbled by the trust that the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris,” Biden wrote.
Harris, in a call with Biden, celebrated the win Saturday, saying, “We did it, Joe — you’re going to be the next president of the United States!”
Decision Desk projected that Biden would win the election on Friday morning, after he took the lead in Pennsylvania. On Saturday, multiple outlets including the Associated Press, CNN, NBC News, ABC and Fox, also called the election for Biden. As of Saturday afternoon, Biden has 279 electoral votes to President Donald Trump’s 214 electoral votes, according to Decision Desk.
Thus far, Biden has already won the most votes of any presidential candidate ever: As Vox’s Anna North reported, Biden has secured just over 75 million votes at this point, breaking a record previously set by former President Barack Obama when he accrued 69.5 million votes in 2008.
This upcoming January, Biden and Harris will be sworn in as president and vice president. Elected during a pandemic that’s had devastating economic and public health fallout, they’ll be in charge of addressing its effects among many other issues.
Biden’s Saturday statement differed significantly in tone from Trump’s response to the election being called. The president did not concede the race, and instead refused to accept Biden’s victory. Trump also promised to continue contesting electoral outcomes in court. “The simple fact is this election is far from over,” Trump said, inaccurately.
Biden is expected to deliver a more extensive victory speech on Saturday evening. “We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do if we do it together,” Biden said in his Saturday statement.


vox--2020-11-07--Trump has rejected media calls of a Joe Biden victory

President Donald Trump responded to several news outlets calling the 2020 election for President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday with an inaccurate and desperate-seeming statement , claiming that his campaign will start “ prosecuting our case ” in court come Monday — in what would effectively be an attempt to overrule the will of the American people .
“ We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner , and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him : they don ’ t want the truth to be exposed , ” the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has not been certified as the winner in any states , let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts.
” All states will certify their results in the weeks to come ; and the projections made by Decision Desk and others who call elections were made based on current counts , which are not expected to significantly change between now and when that certification occurs later in November .
The statement also falsely claimed that election observers were not allowed to observe the vote count in several states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases these observers disturbed the count ; others can be seen watching counters on livestreams .
The president ’ s words aren ’ t surprising , as he ’ d suggested ahead of the election that he would not accept its results .
And , true to form , he has not .
In many ways , the official statement is a more formal version of the baseless allegations of voter fraud the president made in a series of tweets Saturday morning , in which he appeared to desperately grasp at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
In those tweets , Trump lied about votes being “ illegally received ” in Pennsylvania “ and certain other states.
” Despite the fact , of course , that all states have counted only ballots submitted according to their guidelines .
Some states , like Pennsylvania , allowed mail-in ballots received after Election Day — but with a postmark from Election Day , or earlier — to be counted .
There ’ s nothing illegal about this , however ; in fact , states are legally obligated to count ballots that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump also lied on Twitter about election observers not being allowed in counting rooms in “ numerous states.
” As noted above , this is false .
The tweets were flagged by Twitter as “ disputed ” and potentially “ misleading.
” Overall , there is no evidence of voter fraud or tampering with vote counting .
As Vox ’ s Aaron Rupar explained , the Trump campaign is making wild allegations of impropriety now and hoping to find evidence for them later : Their strategy is to make allegations first and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This state of affairs was thrown into stark relief late Friday morning during a Fox News interview with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel .
During it , Fox News hosts appeared to be out of patience with her evidence-free insinuations that the election was somehow stolen from Trump .
“ We just haven ’ t seen it .
It hasn ’ t been presented .
There ’ s all kinds of stuff flying on the internet , but when we look into it , it doesn ’ t pan out , ” anchor Bret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to explain how her technical gripes about election observers in Michigan could possibly affect the result in a state Biden appears poised to win by well over 100,000 votes .
Trump took these falsehoods to a new level Saturday , concluding his morning tweets with a incorrect statement that he actually won the election , writing “ I WON THIS ELECTION , BY A LOT !
” It ’ s concerning that the president of the United States is just outright lying about an election he lost , and that he has refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has lost .
Perhaps even worse is that several high level Republican lawmakers have joined in on spreading doubt about the accuracy of the election results .
Sens .
Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) and Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , along with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , all appeared on Fox News to repeat the false assertion that Trump won the election .
What lawsuits come Monday remain to be seen .
But it is clear that Trump expects the courts to save him .
However , as Vox ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a strategy that is likely to bear fruit .
And whether he concedes or not , Biden will be sworn in as the next president of the United States in January .

President Donald Trump responded to several news outlets calling the 2020 election for President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday with an inaccurate and desperate-seeming statement, claiming that his campaign will start “prosecuting our case” in court come Monday — in what would effectively be an attempt to overrule the will of the American people.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed,” the president said in his statement. “Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner in any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts.”
All states will certify their results in the weeks to come; and the projections made by Decision Desk and others who call elections were made based on current counts, which are not expected to significantly change between now and when that certification occurs later in November.
The statement also falsely claimed that election observers were not allowed to observe the vote count in several states. Not only were they, but in some cases these observers disturbed the count; others can be seen watching counters on livestreams.
INBOX: Statement from President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/LJxbbdQBJu — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) November 7, 2020
The president’s words aren’t surprising, as he’d suggested ahead of the election that he would not accept its results. And, true to form, he has not.
In many ways, the official statement is a more formal version of the baseless allegations of voter fraud the president made in a series of tweets Saturday morning, in which he appeared to desperately grasp at any whimsical conspiracy theory necessary to keep power.
Related How reality caught up with the reality TV president
In those tweets, Trump lied about votes being “illegally received” in Pennsylvania “and certain other states.” Despite the fact, of course, that all states have counted only ballots submitted according to their guidelines. Some states, like Pennsylvania, allowed mail-in ballots received after Election Day — but with a postmark from Election Day, or earlier — to be counted. There’s nothing illegal about this, however; in fact, states are legally obligated to count ballots that are submitted in accordance with election law.
Trump also lied on Twitter about election observers not being allowed in counting rooms in “numerous states.” As noted above, this is false.
The tweets were flagged by Twitter as “disputed” and potentially “misleading.”
....This would ALSO change the Election result in numerous States, including Pennsylvania, which everyone thought was easily won on Election Night, only to see a massive lead disappear, without anyone being allowed to OBSERVE, for long intervals of time, what the happened... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
....Bad things took place during those hours where LEGAL TRANSPARENCY was viciously & crudely not allowed. Tractors blocked doors & windows were covered with thick cardboard so that observers could not see into the count rooms. BAD THINGS HAPPENED INSIDE. BIG CHANGES TOOK PLACE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
Overall, there is no evidence of voter fraud or tampering with vote counting. As Vox’s Aaron Rupar explained, the Trump campaign is making wild allegations of impropriety now and hoping to find evidence for them later:
Their strategy is to make allegations first and hopefully find evidence for them later. This state of affairs was thrown into stark relief late Friday morning during a Fox News interview with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. During it, Fox News hosts appeared to be out of patience with her evidence-free insinuations that the election was somehow stolen from Trump. “We just haven’t seen it. It hasn’t been presented. There’s all kinds of stuff flying on the internet, but when we look into it, it doesn’t pan out,” anchor Bret Baier told McDaniel, as she failed to explain how her technical gripes about election observers in Michigan could possibly affect the result in a state Biden appears poised to win by well over 100,000 votes.
Trump took these falsehoods to a new level Saturday, concluding his morning tweets with a incorrect statement that he actually won the election, writing “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!”
I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
It’s concerning that the president of the United States is just outright lying about an election he lost, and that he has refused to concede now that it is clear he has lost. Perhaps even worse is that several high level Republican lawmakers have joined in on spreading doubt about the accuracy of the election results. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), along with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, all appeared on Fox News to repeat the false assertion that Trump won the election.
What lawsuits come Monday remain to be seen. But it is clear that Trump expects the courts to save him. However, as Vox’s Ian Millhiser has explained, that’s not a strategy that is likely to bear fruit. And whether he concedes or not, Biden will be sworn in as the next president of the United States in January.