msnbc--2020-11-12--Republicans are weaponizing their unpopularity against Americans who voted them out

After Ohio delivered a .01 percent increase in votes for President Donald Trump compared to the 2016 election , former Gov .
John Kasich said that Democrats would have won “ if they ’ d have been more clear in rejecting the hard left.
” '' The Democrats have to make it clear to the far-left that they almost cost him this election , '' Kasich told CNN in the hours after the election results were announced .
This sentiment was echoed in a strategy call for high-ranking Democrats , including Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pelosi and others agreed , was clear : If they did n't rein in the far left , their fragile majority would be doomed in the next election.
” Progressives pulled off one of the largest electoral victories in recent American history .
So why are they taking cues from the losing party about winning ?
It didn ’ t take long for rising stars on the Democratic left to clap back .
`` Progressive policies do not hurt candidates , '' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York tweeted .
And as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The New York Times , “ Every single candidate that co-sponsored Medicare for All in a swing district kept their seat.
” A memo drafted by Rep. Rashida Tlaib , D-Mich. , and the progressive wing of the party echoed the same sentiment : “ There is no denying Republicans levied salient rhetorical attacks against Democrats , but these will continue to happen as they do every cycle .
We can not let Republican narratives drive our party away from Democrats ’ core base of support : young people , Black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movements who are the present and future of the party.
” Those who endorsed the most progressive policies on the climate crisis also performed well at the ballot box .
Brian Kahn , an editor at Gizmodo ’ s climate vertical Earther , did an analysis and found that almost every co-sponsor of the Green New Deal won re-election .
Of the 93 sponsors who were running , only one lost .
Not to mention that one of the original sponsors of the Green New Deal became the vice president-elect .
But while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise for their bold claims , they also received backlash , especially from self-identified centrists who are taking cues from Republicans like Kasich and saying that the Democratic agenda should be watered down to attract conservative support .
We know that progressive policies are far more popular with the general electorate than conservative ones .
What ’ s so unsettling is not even the fallacy of the message , but the audacity of the messenger .
The Republican party is so unpopular that their leader is the only president in history to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unsurprising given that the GOP has never been so brittle , with top Republican operatives ( many currently serving in office ) as well as top military advisers and commanders defecting from their own leadership .
The Republican Party is not only weak , it ’ s astronomically divided .
And now the top Republican leaders are weaponizing their unpopularity to reject the will of the American people by refusing to concede the election they lost , enabling a commander in chief who has packed the courts , his Justice Department and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Removing these senior officials — in effect decapitating the nation ’ s national security bureaucracy — would be without parallel by an outgoing president who has just lost re-election , ” The New York Times reported .
If this low-key coup d ’ etat weren ’ t happening in America ’ s backyard , our own foreign policy analysts wouldn ’ t hesitate to call it what it is .
If we were witnessing a populist leader firing the head of the military 72 hours after refusing to acknowledge the results of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to institute sycophants , we wouldn ’ t be calling it “ unprecedented , ” we ’ d be calling it an “ autocratic attempt , ” a term the New Yorker writer Masha Gessen credits to the Hungarian sociologist Bálint Magyar .
“ Trump is trying to use his vertical of vassalage to thwart the electoral system , ” Gessen writes .
“ If he succeeds , his autocratic breakthrough will be complete.
” In her analysis , Gessen specifically warns about the peril of President-elect Joe Biden listening to or appeasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his party , but as a lasting threat to democracy .
`` If , upon his Inauguration , a President Biden acts as though our national nightmare is over — if he attempts to build bridges and fetishizes bipartisanship in order to pass some watered-down legislation , rather than , say , even acknowledging the necessary and probably impossible task of unpacking the federal judiciary — then the autocratic attempt can return , and it will be stronger.
” What are centrists Democrats arguing about ?
How to sound more like Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party get hijacked by one of the most authoritarian-leaning leaders in modern history really going to be the model for the party who narrowly saved us from it ?
It feels certifiably ridiculous that it needs to be said , but perhaps the people in the party willing to overturn the results of a democratic election shouldn ’ t be the blueprint progressives use to find their identity during this constitutional crisis .
Democrats taking advice about how to govern from Republicans feels like a fish taking advice from a rock about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to hear a chirp about “ unity ” and “ healing ” from the enablers of a president whose sophisticated Covid-19 response plan was to let people in blue states die of it and then blame them for it .
Democratic firebrands like Ocasio-Cortez are not a threat to the Democratic Party , they are its only hope .
Forces of nature like Stacey Abrams and the legion of Black and diverse organizers didn ’ t turn Georgia blue by appeasing Republicans , they did it by defying them .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to remember who the hell they are .
They were the quintessential and original party of the working class .
They defend the economic interests and share the values of the average voter .
They have consistently won the popular vote of every election in the last two decades .
Now they have to start acting like it .
The Democrats have the chance at a great success story if they stop letting Republicans put an asterisk next to it .
If they want to continue to win , Democrats need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They need to realize that they have been the popular kids all along .

After Ohio delivered a .01 percent increase in votes for President Donald Trump compared to the 2016 election, former Gov. John Kasich said that Democrats would have won “if they’d have been more clear in rejecting the hard left.”
We know that progressive policies are far more popular with the general electorate than conservative ones.
"The Democrats have to make it clear to the far-left that they almost cost him this election," Kasich told CNN in the hours after the election results were announced.
This sentiment was echoed in a strategy call for high-ranking Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday, as Politico reported: “The message, Pelosi and others agreed, was clear: If they didn't rein in the far left, their fragile majority would be doomed in the next election.”
Progressives pulled off one of the largest electoral victories in recent American history. So why are they taking cues from the losing party about winning?
It didn’t take long for rising stars on the Democratic left to clap back. "Progressive policies do not hurt candidates," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York tweeted. And as she pointed out in a recent interview with The New York Times, “Every single candidate that co-sponsored Medicare for All in a swing district kept their seat.”
A memo drafted by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and the progressive wing of the party echoed the same sentiment:
“There is no denying Republicans levied salient rhetorical attacks against Democrats, but these will continue to happen as they do every cycle. We cannot let Republican narratives drive our party away from Democrats’ core base of support: young people, Black, brown, working class, and social movements who are the present and future of the party.”
Those who endorsed the most progressive policies on the climate crisis also performed well at the ballot box. Brian Kahn, an editor at Gizmodo’s climate vertical Earther, did an analysis and found that almost every co-sponsor of the Green New Deal won re-election. Of the 93 sponsors who were running, only one lost. Not to mention that one of the original sponsors of the Green New Deal became the vice president-elect.
It feels certifiably ridiculous that it needs to be said, but perhaps the people in the party willing to overturn the results of a democratic election shouldn’t be the blueprint progressives use to find their identity during this constitutional crisis.
But while Ocasio-Cortez and her more progressive colleagues received praise for their bold claims, they also received backlash, especially from self-identified centrists who are taking cues from Republicans like Kasich and saying that the Democratic agenda should be watered down to attract conservative support.
We know that progressive policies are far more popular with the general electorate than conservative ones. What’s so unsettling is not even the fallacy of the message, but the audacity of the messenger.
The Republican party is so unpopular that their leader is the only president in history to have lost the popular vote twice, which is unsurprising given that the GOP has never been so brittle, with top Republican operatives (many currently serving in office) as well as top military advisers and commanders defecting from their own leadership. The Republican Party is not only weak, it’s astronomically divided.
And now the top Republican leaders are weaponizing their unpopularity to reject the will of the American people by refusing to concede the election they lost, enabling a commander in chief who has packed the courts, his Justice Department and now the military with loyalists. “Removing these senior officials — in effect decapitating the nation’s national security bureaucracy — would be without parallel by an outgoing president who has just lost re-election,” The New York Times reported.
If this low-key coup d’etat weren’t happening in America’s backyard, our own foreign policy analysts wouldn’t hesitate to call it what it is. If we were witnessing a populist leader firing the head of the military 72 hours after refusing to acknowledge the results of an election, and reshuffling branches of government to institute sycophants, we wouldn’t be calling it “unprecedented,” we’d be calling it an “autocratic attempt,” a term the New Yorker writer Masha Gessen credits to the Hungarian sociologist Bálint Magyar.
“Trump is trying to use his vertical of vassalage to thwart the electoral system,” Gessen writes. “If he succeeds, his autocratic breakthrough will be complete.” In her analysis, Gessen specifically warns about the peril of President-elect Joe Biden listening to or appeasing Republicans, not just as a danger to his party, but as a lasting threat to democracy.
"If, upon his Inauguration, a President Biden acts as though our national nightmare is over — if he attempts to build bridges and fetishizes bipartisanship in order to pass some watered-down legislation, rather than, say, even acknowledging the necessary and probably impossible task of unpacking the federal judiciary — then the autocratic attempt can return, and it will be stronger.”
Meanwhile, what are centrists Democrats arguing about? How to sound more like Republicans. Are the people who let their party get hijacked by one of the most authoritarian-leaning leaders in modern history really going to be the model for the party who narrowly saved us from it? It feels certifiably ridiculous that it needs to be said, but perhaps the people in the party willing to overturn the results of a democratic election shouldn’t be the blueprint progressives use to find their identity during this constitutional crisis. Democrats taking advice about how to govern from Republicans feels like a fish taking advice from a rock about how to swim.
Instead of focusing on what Republicans want, Democrats need to remember who the hell they are.
I also do not want to hear a chirp about “unity” and “healing” from the enablers of a president whose sophisticated Covid-19 response plan was to let people in blue states die of it and then blame them for it. Democratic firebrands like Ocasio-Cortez are not a threat to the Democratic Party, they are its only hope. Forces of nature like Stacey Abrams and the legion of Black and diverse organizers didn’t turn Georgia blue by appeasing Republicans, they did it by defying them.
Instead of focusing on what Republicans want, Democrats need to remember who the hell they are. They were the quintessential and original party of the working class. They defend the economic interests and share the values of the average voter. They have consistently won the popular vote of every election in the last two decades. Now they have to start acting like it.
The Democrats have the chance at a great success story if they stop letting Republicans put an asterisk next to it. If they want to continue to win, Democrats need to stop trying to make Republicans like them. They need to realize that they have been the popular kids all along.


msnbc--2020-11-13--U.S. cybersecurity runs afoul of Trump, GOP's disinformation campaign

U.S. in 'dangerous situation ' with virus , says doctor

Ali Velshi reports on the forced resignation of the assistant director of cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the expectation of more firings as the agency is actively debunking conspiracy theories presented by Donald Trump and anti-democracy Republicans.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--U.S. Covid response can be smarter than a shutdown: Biden task force member

U.S. Covid response can be smarter than a shutdown: Biden task force member
Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of President-elect Joe Biden's coronavirus task force, explains that the U.S. has learned enough lessons about the spread of the novel coronavirus that a blunt "lockdown" is not necessary when a more nuanced response can be applied like a dimmer switch.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--In 2016, Republicans called Democrats 'sore losers' after election

Following the results of the 2016 election, Republicans called Democrats sore losers over their response to the election. Hillary Clinton said publicly in 2016 the Democrats must accept the election outcome. Joe Scarborough weighs in on 2016 and 2020.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Joe Biden wins Arizona according to NBC News projection

Nearly one week after Election Day, NBC News can project that President-elect Joe Biden will win Arizona adding to his Electoral College Victory over Trump. NBC News Political Reporter Vaughn Hillyard joins us from Scottsdale.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Ron Klain: ‘The transition is moving ahead’

Ron Klain joins Lawrence O’Donnell for his first interview as Joe Biden’s Chief of Staff to discuss progress in the presidential transition process and why it’s “encouraging” to see GOP push for Biden to receive intelligence briefs.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Dr. Vin Gupta explains which masks best protect from Covid-19

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-11-13--Obama blasts Republicans refusing to accept Biden's win over Trump

Trump is silent on Covid-19 and conceding to Joe Biden as Barack Obama blasts Republicans who refused to acknowledge publicly that Joe Biden will be the next U.S. president.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Cops keep buying absurd things while Democrats run from 'defund the police'

As a kid , I was an avid consumer of comic books and Saturday morning cartoons , which led me to believe that crimes big enough to require a superhero ’ s intervention — armed bank robberies ; hostage situations ; potential poisoning of the water supply — were pretty commonplace in any big city .
As I grew up , of course , I learned that this was not the case .
And as an adult , I wish police departments across the country would reach that same conclusion .
It ’ s become clear that even after months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and calls for police department budgets to be scaled back , the cops aren ’ t listening .
And they probably never will , as long as they remain convinced that big-ticket `` tacticool '' items are absolutely necessary , and that the government that oversee them won ’ t take serious action to rein them in .
Jada Williams , a reporter with the local ABC news station covering Tallahassee , Florida , tweeted on Thursday morning that the Tallahassee police department was asking the city commission for funds to purchase new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s normal enough , especially since the officers were reportedly using their own personal guns as backup weapons .
Less normal was the department ’ s request to purchase a new armored vehicle called “ the Rook.
” If you think it looks like a bulletproof bulldozer , you ’ re not alone .
During the city council hearing , Williams reported , police chief Lawrence Revell held up a picture of a Bobcat bulldozer and said just that .
According to its manufacturer , Power Ring , these bad boys start at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s if you just want the armored deployment platform , which looks like a two-person shed with holes to shoot through .
Depending on which of the many KitchenAid-like attachments you want to add on , which include a grapple claw and a battering ram , the price can go as high as $ 560,000 .
Considering Leon County , home of Tallahassee , reportedly has one of the highest crime rates in Florida , it seems fairly logical to think , “ Oh , yeah , that contraption sounds necessary.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Leon from Florida ’ s Department of Law Enforcement , it ’ s hard to pick out incidents where the Rook would have made much of a difference for the 438-person police force .
This isn ’ t to pick on Tallahassee specifically — there are several of these things spread around the state , including in Gainesville and Ocala .
But the operations it ’ s been deployed for so far include punching a hole in a wall to deploy tear gas and punching a hole in a wall to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they could to talk to officers .
There are definitely some dangerous situations that police have to be involved in , like when someone purchases an assault rifle and fires an AK-47 at officers trying to apprehend them .
But instead of encouraging Congress to get these dangerous weapons off the street , police departments come to their municipalities begging for funds to buy things like the Rook or its more traditional peer , the Bearcat .
Since 1997 , over $ 7.4 billion worth of equipment has been transferred from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , which only pay for the cost of shipping , in what ’ s known as the 1033 program .
Among the weapons your average police department may have on hand these days are flash-bangs , armored cars with .35-caliber ammunition , and MRAPs .
This is despite the fact that there are not many recorded cases of improvised explosive devices being laid out for cops in the U.S. that would make an MRAP a wise purchase .
There ’ s actually little evidence that these things are worth the cost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually encourage police officers to act more recklessly .
It ’ s been a debate for over half a decade now , revived more recently after images of armored vehicles built for wars confronting protestors in Ferguson , Missouri were beamed around the world in 2014 .
A 2018 research paper from Princeton political scientist Jonathan Mummolo concluded that police departments that are armed to the teeth with military-style gear are more frequently deployed in Black neighborhoods , but show no correlating reduction in violent crime or the number of officers that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty .
Ironically , Mummolo found that the weaponry did lower locals ’ trust of the police and made them less willing to fund cops ’ initiatives .
It all goes back to the “ mindset ” problem that Washington Post columnist Radley Balko brought up to NPR ’ s Terry Gross this summer .
“ When you 're driving this massive sort of hulking vehicle through your town , it makes police officers sort of feel like soldiers or an occupying force , ” Balko said .
“ And for the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the police look like an occupying force .
And it creates a lot of tension and I think unnecessary animosity between police and the people they 're supposed to be serving.
” Regardless of how they ’ ve been used so far , it ’ s hard to separate these military-grade acquisitions , especially in Florida , from policies like Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis ’ new proposal in response to the protests sparked by the Minneapolis police ’ s killing of George Floyd in late May .
The draft bill would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut law enforcement budgets and expands the state ’ s “ stand your ground ” law to allow citizens to potentially shoot protestors who engage in “ criminal mischief.
” This summer ’ s protests led to a renewed call for police work to radically change in America .
But despite this momentum , Democrats are running scared .
Even in major Democratic strongholds like New York City , they ’ re running from the powerful police unions that are more than willing to target any elected official who would dare reduce their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity.
” And they ’ re running from Republicans who ’ ve weaponized the “ defund the police ” slogan .
Moderates have already blamed the slogan for the party ’ s loss in several House races this year , and Democrats ' failure thus far to capture the Senate .
“ Jaime Harrison started to plateau when 'defund the police ' showed up with a caption on TV , ran across his head , ” House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. , said on “ Meet the Press ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unseat South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham wound up with him losing by about 10 points .
“ That stuff hurt Jaime , ” Clyburn added .
Likewise , in an internal conference call , Rep. Abigail Spanberger , D-Va. , vented that she nearly lost her race because of attacks from her opponent saying she wants to defund the police .
But , much like the tag “ socialist , ” those labels are going to be tossed around no matter what a given Democratic candidate actually supports .
Democrats also need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bloomberg City Lab , that the anti-police brutality protests this summer may have actually galvanized the turnout among Black that was needed for President-elect Joe Biden 's win .
And while police abolition may not be every Democrat ’ s end-goal , attempts to shield themselves from the stigma of “ defund the police ” blunts their suggested intermediate steps , rendering them less effective .
`` We can restructure the police forces , restructure , reimagine policing , '' Clyburn said back in June .
`` That is what we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you ’ re a member of a police force , you know you have a political shield against repercussions and a basic guarantee that civilian governments won ’ t slash your budgets and the firepower of a small former Eastern bloc country at your disposal .
What would you make of any efforts to roll back your prerogatives ?
Police definitely don ’ t have to worry about any of that in Tallahassee .
Yes , the department has had three police shootings this year since March , but their budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 59 million , same as the year before .
Plus , they get their Rook .
The city council passed the motion to buy one for the force unanimously .

As a kid, I was an avid consumer of comic books and Saturday morning cartoons, which led me to believe that crimes big enough to require a superhero’s intervention — armed bank robberies, hostage situations, potential poisoning of the water supply — were pretty commonplace in any big city.
As I grew up, of course, I learned that this was not the case. And as an adult, I wish police departments across the country would reach that same conclusion. It’s become clear that even after months of protests this summer against police brutality and calls for police department budgets to be scaled back, the cops aren’t listening. And they probably never will, as long as they remain convinced that big-ticket "tacticool" items are absolutely necessary, and that the governments that oversee them won’t take serious action to rein them in.
Jada Williams, a reporter with the local ABC news station in Tallahassee, Florida, tweeted on Thursday morning that the Tallahassee police department was asking the city commission for funds to purchase new handguns for its officers. That’s normal enough, especially since the officers were reportedly using their personal guns as backup weapons. Less normal was the department’s request to purchase a new armored vehicle called “the Rook.”
HAPPENING NOW: @TallyPD is asking for new handguns plus approval of a new vehicle called The Rook. Here’s what the one Apache’s County uses looks like. pic.twitter.com/8yCs5W9X4r — Jada E. Williams (@JadaEWilliams) November 10, 2020
If you think it looks like a bulletproof bulldozer, you’re not alone. During the city council hearing, Williams reported, police Chief Lawrence Revell held up a picture of a Bobcat bulldozer and said just that. According to its manufacturer, Power Ring, these bad boys start at about $329,000, plus shipping. But that’s if you just want the armored deployment platform, which looks like a two-person shed with holes to shoot through. Depending on which of the many KitchenAid-like attachments you want to add on, which include a grapple claw and a battering ram, the price can go as high as $560,000.
Considering Leon County, home of Tallahassee, reportedly has one of the highest crime rates in Florida, it seems fairly logical to think, “Oh, yeah, that contraption sounds necessary.” But looking at 2019 crime statistics for Leon from Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement, it’s hard to pick out incidents where the Rook would have made much of a difference for the 438-person police force.
Depending on which of the many KitchenAid-like attachments you want to add on, which include a grapple claw and a battering ram, the price can go as high as $560,000.
This isn’t to pick on Tallahassee specifically — there are several of these things spread around the state, including in Gainesville and Ocala. But the operations it’s been deployed for so far include punching a hole in a wall to deploy tear gas and punching a hole in a wall to give a phone to a person barricaded inside so they could to talk to officers.
There are definitely some dangerous situations that police have to be involved in, like when someone purchases an assault rifle and fires an AK-47 at officers trying to apprehend them. But instead of encouraging Congress to get these dangerous weapons off the street, police departments come to their municipalities begging for funds to buy things like the Rook or its more traditional peer, the Bearcat.
Since 1997, over $7.4 billion worth of equipment has been transferred from the Department of Defense to local law enforcement agencies, which only pay for the cost of shipping, in what’s known as the 1033 program. It's part of a trend towards militarization that's taken place in police departments large and small. Among the weapons your average precinct may have on hand these days are flash-bangs, armored cars with .35-caliber ammunition, and MRAPs. This is despite the fact that there are not many recorded cases of improvised explosive devices being laid out for cops in the U.S. that would make an MRAP a wise investment.
There’s actually little evidence that these things are worth the cost to maintain them — and the equipment may actually encourage police officers to act more recklessly. It’s been a debate for over half a decade now, revived more recently after images of armored vehicles built for wars confronting protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, were beamed around the world in 2014.
Democrats' attempts to shield themselves from the stigma of “defund the police” blunts their suggested intermediate steps, rendering them less effective.
A 2018 research paper from Princeton political scientist Jonathan Mummolo concluded that police departments that are armed to the teeth with military-style gear are more frequently deployed in Black neighborhoods, but show no correlating reduction in violent crime or the number of officers that are attacked or killed in the line of duty. Ironically, Mummolo found that the weaponry did lower locals’ trust of the police and made them less willing to fund cops’ initiatives.
It all goes back to the “mindset” problem that Washington Post columnist Radley Balko brought up to NPR’s Terry Gross this summer. “When you're driving this massive sort of hulking vehicle through your town, it makes police officers sort of feel like soldiers or an occupying force,” Balko said. “And for the people, you know, in the community, the police look like an occupying force. And it creates a lot of tension and I think unnecessary animosity between police and the people they're supposed to be serving.”
Regardless of how they’ve been used so far, it’s hard to separate these military-grade acquisitions, especially in Florida, from policies like Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new proposal in response to the protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police in late May. The draft bill would cut state funds from local governments that cut law enforcement budgets and expands the state’s “stand your ground” law to allow citizens to potentially shoot protestors who engage in “criminal mischief.”
A demonstrator holds her hands up while she kneels in front of the Police at the Anaheim City Hall on June 1, 2020 in Calif. Apu Gomes / AFP - Getty Images file
This summer’s protests led to a renewed call for police work to radically change in America. But despite this momentum, Democrats are running scared. Even in major Democratic strongholds like New York City, they’re running from the powerful police unions that are more than willing to target any elected official who would dare reduce their budgets or strip them of “qualified immunity.” And they’re running from Republicans who’ve weaponized the “defund the police” slogan. Moderates have already blamed the slogan for the party’s loss in several House races this year, and Democrats' failure thus far to capture the Senate.
“Jaime Harrison started to plateau when 'defund the police' showed up with a caption on TV, ran across his head,” House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said on “Meet the Press” on Sunday. Harrison’s attempt to unseat Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina wound up with him losing by about 10 points. “That stuff hurt Jaime,” Clyburn added.
Likewise, in an internal conference call, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., vented that she nearly lost her race because of attacks from her opponent saying she wants to defund the police. But, much like the tag “socialist,” those labels are going to be tossed around no matter what a given Democratic candidate actually supports.
Democrats also need to take into account that, as argued in Bloomberg City Lab, the anti-police brutality protests this summer may have actually galvanized the turnout among Black voters that was needed for President-elect Joe Biden's win. And while police abolition may not be every Democrat’s end goal, attempts to shield themselves from the stigma of “defund the police” blunts their suggested intermediate steps, rendering them less effective.
"We can restructure the police forces, restructure, reimagine policing," Clyburn said in June. "That is what we are going to do.”
Sure. Now, if you’re a member of a police force, you know you have a political shield against repercussions and a basic guarantee that civilian governments won’t slash your budgets and the firepower of a small former Eastern bloc country at your disposal. What would you make of any efforts to roll back your prerogatives?
Police in Tallahassee definitely don’t have to worry about any of that. Yes, the department has had three police shootings since March, but their budget for fiscal year 2021 is still roughly $59 million, same as the year before. Plus, they get their Rook. The city council passed the motion to buy one for the force unanimously.


msnbc--2020-11-13--I served through two presidential transitions. What Trump's doing is dangerous.

Nearly three years after Sept. 11 , 2001 , a bipartisan group of experts issued the definitive report on how America was left vulnerable to such massive terrorist attacks inside its borders .
One of the contributing factors , the report noted , was likely the delayed process of transition from Democratic President Bill Clinton to the Republican administration of George W. Bush following the election 's legal dispute over less than 600 votes in Florida .
The 9/11 Commission Report emphasized the importance of an organized transition not only in power and personnel — but also in knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it recommended that future administrations `` minimize national security risks '' by providing `` as soon as possible after election day ... a classified compartmented list that catalogues specific operational threats to national security ; major military and covert operations ; and pending decisions on the use of force . ''
This classified document should aim not merely to provide notice of ongoing national security matters to an incoming team , but also to invite `` the president-elect to inquire and learn more '' through engagement with the outgoing team .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama , sought to ensure an orderly and efficient transition of both power and knowledge involving national security affairs beginning within days of the national election .
President Donald Trump is now shattering this safeguard .
Having served through the last two presidential transitions , I ca n't overstate just how careless this is — particularly in the midst of a pandemic that is killing over 1,000 people in the United States every day .
Infused with the lessons of 9/11 , Bush began focusing on his transition in mid-2007 , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor .
At the time , I was serving as special assistant to the president and senior director on the National Security Council and briefed him regularly .
Bush repeatedly pushed those of us in positions of public trust to ensure that what we handed off to a new chief executive was anchored in a multiyear framework to reduce the risk that an immediate crisis would imperil a new administration , regardless of political party .
In particular , we worked for over a year to ensure that the difficult , ongoing war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path , secured by two international agreements with the government of Iraq to guide force dispositions in the early years of a new presidency .
Through engagement with Sen. John McCain 's and Obama 's campaign staffs — and later with President-elect Obama 's transition team after the election — a new administration entered the White House with full knowledge of and insight into what it was inheriting .
This helped Obama conduct a swift strategic review and then roll out his own Iraq policy after only five weeks in office .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama similarly instructed everyone working under him to extend the same courtesy and preparation that he had received from the Bush team .
I was then serving as Obama 's special envoy , helping to oversee the complex campaign against the Islamic State , which brought together coalitions of countries from around the world and fighting groups on the ground .
We prepared detailed briefings about the state of the campaign for Trump 's transition team with decisions he might confront in his early weeks .
One of those decisions was how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Raqqa , Syria , where we believed it was planning major terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies .
By the end of 2016 , the Syrian force we had been supporting , nearly 60,000 fighters under an umbrella known as the Syrian Democratic Forces , was poised about 20 miles north of the city and awaiting a decision from Washington .
That decision was difficult , because to take a city the size of Raqqa required directly arming the Kurdish component of the force , something that to date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objections from Turkey .
We worked for months to develop alternative options with Turkey for seizing Raqqa , but all of them required the infusion of thousands of U.S. ground combat troops into Syria , something that both Obama and Trump said they would not do .
That left one option , and with the battle ready to launch , we sought to engage the incoming administration to discuss the issue .
But there was nobody to engage .
Even when Trump 's transition teams arrived in Washington , they were often shifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the incoming president .
Two days before the inauguration , Obama convened his senior advisers to discuss whether he should simply go ahead and make the decision himself .
I was prepared to recommend that he do so rather than pass it off to what seemed to be a disorganized new team , which even in a best-case scenario would take months to review the situation , only to arrive , I believed , in the same place .
The stakes were high .
Our campaign had been designed to launch operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mosul and Raqqa , around the same time , forcing the enemy to defend on two fronts .
Mosul was underway , and the threats from Raqqa were continuing to increase even as the Islamic State strengthened its defense positions week after week .
Moments before we sat down with Obama , Trump 's incoming national security adviser asked that we hold on the Raqqa decision .
The new administration wanted to take a fresh look at the issue , after having never seriously considered it over the 11-week transition period .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took office , all to arrive at the same decision point : arm the Kurds or send in thousands of U.S. troops .
In May , Trump chose the former — and only realistic — option .
The battle began shortly thereafter and lasted six months .
It was costly , with nearly 1,000 casualties from the Syrian Democratic Forces .
Having visited Raqqa multiple times during and after the battle , I 'm convinced it would have been less so had we been able to move during the transition period or immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like `` opposite world '' compared to four years ago .
President-elect Joe Biden has established experienced teams to engage with key federal departments and agencies .
But Trump will not permit them to speak with anyone in his administration or receive classified information or even have office space in Washington .
This includes a denial of access to public health institutions and the experts combatting the Covid-19 pandemic , even as our country approaches another grim milestone , with close to 250,000 dead in America .
Information about military deployments , threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorists to state adversaries are being kept from the president-elect and his senior team .
Such blockages are petty , for sure , but they also exhibit once again a reckless disregard for the health and safety of the American people .
For even if Trump wants to pursue fruitless court challenges , there is no valid reason to deny Biden 's transition team the same level of access his own team was afforded — as specifically recommended in the 9/11 Commission Report .
By refusing to do this , Trump is undermining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties in the wake of one of our country 's darkest days .
And in doing so , he increases the risks of another one .

Nearly three years after Sept. 11, 2001, a bipartisan group of experts issued the definitive report on how America was left vulnerable to such massive terrorist attacks inside its borders. One of the contributing factors, the report noted, was likely the delayed process of transition from Democratic President Bill Clinton to the Republican administration of George W. Bush following the election's legal dispute over less than 600 votes in Florida.
The 9/11 Commission Report emphasized the importance of an organized transition not only in power and personnel — but also in knowledge of pending threats and decisions.
The 9/11 Commission Report emphasized the importance of an organized transition not only in power and personnel — but also in knowledge of pending threats and decisions. Specifically, it recommended that future administrations "minimize national security risks" by providing "as soon as possible after election day ... a classified compartmented list that catalogues specific operational threats to national security; major military and covert operations; and pending decisions on the use of force." This classified document should aim not merely to provide notice of ongoing national security matters to an incoming team, but also to invite "the president-elect to inquire and learn more" through engagement with the outgoing team.
Since then, Bush and his successor, President Barack Obama, sought to ensure an orderly and efficient transition of both power and knowledge involving national security affairs beginning within days of the national election. President Donald Trump is now shattering this safeguard. Having served through the last two presidential transitions, I can't overstate just how careless this is — particularly in the midst of a pandemic that is killing over 1,000 people in the United States every day.
Infused with the lessons of 9/11, Bush began focusing on his transition in mid-2007, over a year before the election of his successor. At the time, I was serving as special assistant to the president and senior director on the National Security Council and briefed him regularly. Bush repeatedly pushed those of us in positions of public trust to ensure that what we handed off to a new chief executive was anchored in a multiyear framework to reduce the risk that an immediate crisis would imperil a new administration, regardless of political party.
In particular, we worked for over a year to ensure that the difficult, ongoing war in Iraq was on a more sustainable path, secured by two international agreements with the government of Iraq to guide force dispositions in the early years of a new presidency. Through engagement with Sen. John McCain's and Obama's campaign staffs — and later with President-elect Obama's transition team after the election — a new administration entered the White House with full knowledge of and insight into what it was inheriting. This helped Obama conduct a swift strategic review and then roll out his own Iraq policy after only five weeks in office.
When Trump was elected in November 2016, Obama similarly instructed everyone working under him to extend the same courtesy and preparation that he had received from the Bush team. I was then serving as Obama's special envoy, helping to oversee the complex campaign against the Islamic State, which brought together coalitions of countries from around the world and fighting groups on the ground. We prepared detailed briefings about the state of the campaign for Trump's transition team with decisions he might confront in his early weeks.
When Trump was elected in November 2016, Obama similarly instructed everyone working under him to extend the same courtesy and preparation.
One of those decisions was how to eject the Islamic State from its capital in Raqqa, Syria, where we believed it was planning major terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies. By the end of 2016, the Syrian force we had been supporting, nearly 60,000 fighters under an umbrella known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, was poised about 20 miles north of the city and awaiting a decision from Washington. That decision was difficult, because to take a city the size of Raqqa required directly arming the Kurdish component of the force, something that to date President Obama had not done because of objections from Turkey.
We worked for months to develop alternative options with Turkey for seizing Raqqa, but all of them required the infusion of thousands of U.S. ground combat troops into Syria, something that both Obama and Trump said they would not do. That left one option, and with the battle ready to launch, we sought to engage the incoming administration to discuss the issue. But there was nobody to engage. Even when Trump's transition teams arrived in Washington, they were often shifting casts of characters, with little connection to the incoming president.
Two days before the inauguration, Obama convened his senior advisers to discuss whether he should simply go ahead and make the decision himself. I was prepared to recommend that he do so rather than pass it off to what seemed to be a disorganized new team, which even in a best-case scenario would take months to review the situation, only to arrive, I believed, in the same place.
The stakes were high. Our campaign had been designed to launch operations against the two Islamic State strongholds, Mosul and Raqqa, around the same time, forcing the enemy to defend on two fronts. Mosul was underway, and the threats from Raqqa were continuing to increase even as the Islamic State strengthened its defense positions week after week.
Moments before we sat down with Obama, Trump's incoming team asked that we hold on the Raqqa decision. The new administration wanted to take a fresh look at the issue, after having never seriously considered it over the 11-week transition period.
The result was a lengthy review after Trump took office, all to arrive at the same decision point: arm the Kurds or send in thousands of U.S. troops. In May, Trump chose the former — and only realistic — option. The battle began shortly thereafter and lasted six months. It was costly, with nearly 1,000 casualties from the Syrian Democratic Forces. Having visited Raqqa multiple times during and after the battle, I'm convinced it would have been less so had we been able to move during the transition period or immediately afterward.
What's happening now is like "opposite world" compared to four years ago. President-elect Joe Biden has established experienced teams to engage with key federal departments and agencies. But Trump will not permit them to speak with anyone in his administration or receive classified information or even have office space in Washington. This includes a denial of access to public health institutions and the experts combatting the Covid-19 pandemic, even as our country approaches another grim milestone, with close to 250,000 dead in America. Information about military deployments, threat assessments and intelligence on hostile actors from terrorists to state adversaries are being kept from the president-elect and his senior team.
Such blockages are petty, for sure, but they also exhibit once again a reckless disregard for the health and safety of the American people. For even if Trump wants to pursue fruitless court challenges, there is no valid reason to deny Biden's transition team the same level of access his own team was afforded — as specifically recommended in the 9/11 Commission Report.
By refusing to do this, Trump is undermining a precedent set by presidents of both parties in the wake of one of our country's darkest days. And in doing so, he increases the risks of another one.


msnbc--2020-11-12--For Trump, one last fundraising scam before leaving office

Donald Trump has an unusually ugly record when it comes to separating those he perceives as fools from their money .
After all , the outgoing Republican president ran a fraudulent charitable foundation , and created a fraudulent `` university '' which was designed to do little more than rip off its `` students . ''
The Republican never fully abandoned these practices after arriving in the White House .
Indeed , this Reuters report yesterday suggested Trump is trying to pull off one last fundraising scam before leaving office .
It 's effectively a scam wrapped in a scam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its followers that there 's an election conspiracy -- indeed , the campaign has sent dozens of messages along these lines to donors in recent days -- which it then follows by encouraging supporters to help combat the made-up conspiracy by sending the president 's political operation some money .
But those who grab their wallets probably wo n't realize that their money may not go toward election lawsuits at all , despite Team Trump 's deceptive pitch .
From the Reuters report : For example , if you were inclined to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and decided to send his operation $ 1,000 to help support his `` Official Election Defense Fund , '' $ 600 of your contribution would go toward Trump 's new political action committee , called `` Save America . ''
The Republican National Committee would get the other $ 400 .
How much would go toward the so-called `` recount account '' ?
Not one penny , unless you contributed several thousand dollars .
Paul S. Ryan , the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause , told the Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and switch . ''
Dana Milbank added : In other words , the president and his allies are n't just lying to their supporters about the election results ; they 're also playing a highly sketchy game with those who 've made the mistake of trusting Trump with their own money .
Making matters just a little worse , it creates a perverse set of incentives : Trump could honor his own country 's democracy enough to respect this year 's election results , but the moment he acknowledges his defeat , prospective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contribute to the `` Official Election Defense Fund '' or pump money into the `` recount account . ''
The longer the president keeps the anti-election charade going , the more opportunities he 'll have to bring in more cash .
In an unfortunate way , it 's a fitting end to a difficult 2020 for conservative donors .
This was the year several prominent figures on the right -- the NRA , Steve Bannon , et al .
-- were accused of misusing funds raised by unsuspecting contributors .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayes wrote , `` Much of movement conservatism is a con and the base are the marks . ''
The observation was true at the time , but it 's even more important now .
The Washington Post 's Paul Waldman recently added , `` Conservative operatives ... have always viewed the right 's rank-and-file with utter contempt , as little more than a collection of fools to be taken advantage of . ''
It 's something Republican donors probably ought to keep in mind the next time they receive a hysterical appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Fund . ''

Donald Trump has an unusually ugly record when it comes to separating those he perceives as fools from their money. After all, the outgoing Republican president ran a fraudulent charitable foundation, and created a fraudulent "university" which was designed to do little more than rip off its "students."
The Republican never fully abandoned these practices after arriving in the White House. Indeed, this Reuters report yesterday suggested Trump is trying to pull off one last fundraising scam before leaving office.
As President Donald Trump seeks to discredit last week's election with baseless claims of voter fraud, his team has bombarded his supporters with requests for money to help pay for legal challenges to the results: "The Left will try to STEAL this election!" reads one text. But any small-dollar donations from Trump's grassroots donors won't be going to legal expenses at all, according to a Reuters review of the legal language in the solicitations.
It's effectively a scam wrapped in a scam. Team Trump starts by falsely telling its followers that there's an election conspiracy -- indeed, the campaign has sent dozens of messages along these lines to donors in recent days -- which it then follows by encouraging supporters to help combat the made-up conspiracy by sending the president's political operation some money.
But those who grab their wallets probably won't realize that their money may not go toward election lawsuits at all, despite Team Trump's deceptive pitch. From the Reuters report:
A donor would have to give more than $8,000 before any money goes to the "recount account" established to finance election challenges, including recounts and lawsuits over alleged improprieties, the fundraising disclosures show. The emailed solicitations send supporters to an "Official Election Defense Fund" website that asks them to sign up for recurring donations to "protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day." The fine print makes clear most of the money will go to other priorities.
For example, if you were inclined to believe the president's ridiculous election conspiracy theories and decided to send his operation $1,000 to help support his "Official Election Defense Fund," $600 of your contribution would go toward Trump's new political action committee, called "Save America." The Republican National Committee would get the other $400.
How much would go toward the so-called "recount account"? Not one penny, unless you contributed several thousand dollars.
Paul S. Ryan, the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, told the Washington Post, "It's a straight-up bait and switch." Dana Milbank added:
[The money from small donors] will be used to extend Trump's influence over the RNC during the Biden presidency and to build up his leadership PAC, which amounts to a "slush fund" for Trump's personal use. "There is no limit to how much Donald Trump can pay himself or any member of his family under 'Save America,'" Ryan notes.
In other words, the president and his allies aren't just lying to their supporters about the election results; they're also playing a highly sketchy game with those who've made the mistake of trusting Trump with their own money.
Making matters just a little worse, it creates a perverse set of incentives: Trump could honor his own country's democracy enough to respect this year's election results, but the moment he acknowledges his defeat, prospective donors will no longer feel the need to contribute to the "Official Election Defense Fund" or pump money into the "recount account."
The longer the president keeps the anti-election charade going, the more opportunities he'll have to bring in more cash.
In an unfortunate way, it's a fitting end to a difficult 2020 for conservative donors. This was the year several prominent figures on the right -- the NRA, Steve Bannon, et al. -- were accused of misusing funds raised by unsuspecting contributors.
It was seven years ago when MSNBC's Chris Hayes wrote, "Much of movement conservatism is a con and the base are the marks." The observation was true at the time, but it's even more important now.
The Washington Post's Paul Waldman recently added, "Conservative operatives ... have always viewed the right's rank-and-file with utter contempt, as little more than a collection of fools to be taken advantage of."
It's something Republican donors probably ought to keep in mind the next time they receive a hysterical appeal about Donald Trump's "Official Election Defense Fund."


msnbc--2020-11-13--Cuomo on vaccine criticism: Americans ‘trust the drug company more than’ Trump

Bernie : Charles Koch should undo his damage by using his money for ‘ justice ’

Moments after President Trump criticized New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for weariness of a Covid-19 vaccine, Cuomo responded in an interview with Katy Tur, saying Americans trust drug companies but are cautious of a vaccine for the virus being rushed for political gain.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Chris Hayes explains how the GOP is already setting ‘booby traps’ for Biden

Chris Hayes explains how the GOP is already setting ‘booby traps’ for Biden
“This is how they're salting the field. This is the booby trap they're leaving behind. The first of many,” Chris Hayes says of Republicans putting Judy Shelton on the Federal Reserve.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Laurence Tribe explains how Trump probably can’t pardon himself

Public financial disclosure should not be new to Thomas: Fmr. ethics officer on new report on gifts 07:43


msnbc--2020-11-13--NBC News projects Joe Biden is apparent winner in Georgia, Trump wins North Carolina

NBC News has projected that Joe Biden is the apparent winner in Georgia in the 2020 presidential race. President Trump is also projected to win North Carolina.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Although Trump hinted at a Biden win, it was ‘nowhere near a concession’, AP’s Jonathan Lemire says

Although Trump hinted at a Biden win, it was ‘nowhere near a concession’, AP’s Jonathan Lemire says
Associated Press White House reporter Jonathan Lemire reacts to the president’s first remarks after losing the 2020 election, where Trump discussed the new Pfizer vaccine and the state of the coronavirus pandemicNov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Jason Johnson: ‘Donald Trump has never really wanted this job. Donald Trump just wanted to win’

Jason Johnson: ‘Donald Trump has never really wanted this job. Donald Trump just wanted to win’
Journalism professor at Morgan State University Jason Johnson speaks about Trump’s future plans after losing re-election and reacts to the president’s first public remarks in 8 daysNov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-13--Ari breaks down Justice Alito’s politically-charged speech on Covid, LGBTQ rights


msnbc--2020-11-13--Biden needs to help Black Americans. Here's three policies to get him started.

Since the inception of this nation , the Black vote has been denied , systematically suppressed , then dismissed , taken for granted — and suppressed some more .
The 2020 election cycle proved this hasn ’ t changed as much as we want to believe , as we saw deceptive schemes taking place across the country that were specifically designed to disenfranchise Black voters .
As the most loyal voting block and the one that literally saved our democracy during such a critical moment , we must receive a return on our investment in a Biden-Harris administration .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Right Act , as well as increasing broadband access in our communities and expanding the Affordable Care Act .
During his evening address last Saturday , Biden stated : “ Especially those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb , the African American community stood up again for me .
You ’ ve always had my back and I will have yours.
” He is absolutely correct about that first part .
Despite these measures and despite tremendously long lines at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay and discount record numbers of mail-in ballots , Black voters delivered President-elect Joe Biden a victory .
It was Black voters in South Carolina who delivered a victory for Biden in the primaries , and once again Black voters came through in the general election in cities like Philadelphia , Atlanta and Detroit and in many suburbs to push Biden across the finish line .
We did so because we knew just how crucial this election was for everything from civil rights and voting rights to police reform and racial equality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Democratic Party , and our concerns must take priority in the new administration .
Whether it ’ s criminal justice reform , restoring voting rights , access to quality health care , ending the digital divide , educational equality or more , tackling these challenges should be at the top of the list .
My colleagues and I at the National Action Network have worked for decades to combat police brutality and advocate for systemic changes .
In June , there was a glimmer of hope when the House passed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the bill unfortunately stalled in the Senate .
The act , which includes a call to end qualified immunity for officers , ban chokeholds and no knock warrants , and requires officers to wear body cameras , faced intense opposition from Republican leadership including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and President Donald Trump himself .
Democratic control of the Senate is crucial if this legislation is to become law , but who sits in the Oval Office is extremely important as well .
A Justice Department under a Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reform as well .
In 2013 , the Supreme Court virtually gutted the Voting Rights Act when it struck down Section 5 of the act , which required jurisdictions to receive federal approval before making any changes to their election laws .
This effectively opened the floodgates to various voter suppression tactics in different states like the elimination of some voting locations , strict voter ID laws , an end to early voting periods and more .
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act , named after the esteemed congressman and civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act covers all 50 states and creates a targeted process for reviewing voting changes , especially those that have been used to discriminate against voters in the past .
It helps ensure the right to vote as a fundamental principle for all Americans .
Despite the significant setbacks , Black voters still showed up or mailed in their ballots and did their part to elect Biden as our next president ; now it ’ s time to protect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top administration .
Our nation is still paralyzed by a pandemic that has been exacerbated by the recklessness and incompetence of the Trump administration .
As Biden takes on the immense task of combatting the virus , he should also commit to increasing broadband access in underserved communities as well as access to quality health care .
One in 3 Black , Latino and Native American students lack a broadband connection , according to an analysis published by Reuters .
If our children have to learn virtually , we must provide them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because these are also the same communities that have suffered the most from Covid-19 , protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act so that millions have health insurance must take precedence with the incoming administration .
At the moment , every indication is that it will , but we must make sure to hold our leaders to account .
A Biden-Harris administration will undoubtedly face intense opposition from the other side on the above policies , but it is imperative that it remains steadfast in advocating for reform in order to not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory , but for the betterment of society itself .
Such actions will of course help Black communities in Americas , as we are primarily affected and burdened the most by many of the inequalities in our nation .
However , we also look forward to the new administration directly targeting racial justice and social justice issues in 2021 .
After all , it wasn ’ t the disaffected Trump voters , the `` Never Trumpers , '' or the former Republicans-turned-Democrats who pushed Biden to the White House .
It was overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every roadblock strategically placed before them .
Now it ’ s time to take a bulldozer to those roadblocks .

Since the inception of this nation, the Black vote has been denied, systematically suppressed, then dismissed, taken for granted — and suppressed some more.
The 2020 election cycle proved this hasn’t changed as much as we want to believe, as we saw deceptive schemes taking place across the country that were specifically designed to disenfranchise Black voters.
It was overwhelmingly Black voters who persevered in spite of every roadblock strategically placed before them.
As the most loyal voting block and the one that literally saved our democracy during such a critical moment, we must receive a return on our investment in a Biden-Harris administration. A starting point would be passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Right Act, as well as increasing broadband access in our communities and expanding the Affordable Care Act.
During his evening address last Saturday, Biden stated: “Especially those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb, the African American community stood up again for me. You’ve always had my back and I will have yours.”
He is absolutely correct about that first part. Despite these measures and despite tremendously long lines at voting locations, and despite attempts to delay and discount record numbers of mail-in ballots, Black voters delivered President-elect Joe Biden a victory. It was Black voters in South Carolina who delivered a victory for Biden in the primaries, and once again Black voters came through in the general election in cities like Philadelphia, Atlanta and Detroit and in many suburbs to push Biden across the finish line.
We did so because we knew just how crucial this election was for everything from civil rights and voting rights to police reform and racial equality. The Black community has been the backbone of the Democratic Party, and our concerns must take priority in the new administration. Whether it’s criminal justice reform, restoring voting rights, access to quality health care, ending the digital divide, educational equality or more, tackling these challenges should be at the top of the list.
My colleagues and I at the National Action Network have worked for decades to combat police brutality and advocate for systemic changes. In June, there was a glimmer of hope when the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, but the bill unfortunately stalled in the Senate. The act, which includes a call to end qualified immunity for officers, ban chokeholds and no knock warrants, and requires officers to wear body cameras, faced intense opposition from Republican leadership including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and President Donald Trump himself.
Democratic control of the Senate is crucial if this legislation is to become law, but who sits in the Oval Office is extremely important as well. A Justice Department under a Biden presidency can begin to take appropriate measures for reform as well.
In 2013, the Supreme Court virtually gutted the Voting Rights Act when it struck down Section 5 of the act.
In 2013, the Supreme Court virtually gutted the Voting Rights Act when it struck down Section 5 of the act, which required jurisdictions to receive federal approval before making any changes to their election laws. This effectively opened the floodgates to various voter suppression tactics in different states like the elimination of some voting locations, strict voter ID laws, an end to early voting periods and more.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, named after the esteemed congressman and civil rights champion, is designed to restore full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act covers all 50 states and creates a targeted process for reviewing voting changes, especially those that have been used to discriminate against voters in the past. It helps ensure the right to vote as a fundamental principle for all Americans. Despite the significant setbacks, Black voters still showed up or mailed in their ballots and did their part to elect Biden as our next president; now it’s time to protect and expand that right to vote from the top administration.
One in 3 Black, Latino and Native American students lack a broadband connection, according to an analysis published by Reuters.
Our nation is still paralyzed by a pandemic that has been exacerbated by the recklessness and incompetence of the Trump administration. As Biden takes on the immense task of combatting the virus, he should also commit to increasing broadband access in underserved communities as well as access to quality health care. One in 3 Black, Latino and Native American students lack a broadband connection, according to an analysis published by Reuters. If our children have to learn virtually, we must provide them with the proper tools to do so. Because these are also the same communities that have suffered the most from Covid-19, protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act so that millions have health insurance must take precedence with the incoming administration. At the moment, every indication is that it will, but we must make sure to hold our leaders to account.
A Biden-Harris administration will undoubtedly face intense opposition from the other side on the above policies, but it is imperative that it remains steadfast in advocating for reform in order to not only support the communities that brought them to victory, but for the betterment of society itself.
Such actions will of course help Black communities in Americas, as we are primarily affected and burdened the most by many of the inequalities in our nation. However, we also look forward to the new administration directly targeting racial justice and social justice issues in 2021.
After all, it wasn’t the disaffected Trump voters, the "Never Trumpers," or the former Republicans-turned-Democrats who pushed Biden to the White House. It was overwhelmingly Black voters who persevered in spite of every roadblock strategically placed before them. Now it’s time to take a bulldozer to those roadblocks.


msnbc--2020-11-13--Alabama's new senator struggles with the basics of WWII

Tommy Tuberville was a unique kind of U.S. Senate candidate .
The Alabama Republican and former college football coach settled on a specific kind of strategy Americans generally do n't see among those seeking statewide office : say very little , do very little , and expect to win by maintaining a relatively low public profile .
During the GOP primaries , for example , Tuberville refused to debate former Attorney General Jeff Sessions .
During the general election , he also refused to debate Sen. Doug Jones ( D ) .
After struggling to discuss what the Voting Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retreat even further from microphones .
In mid-October , the Alabama Media Group 's Kyle Whitmire noted , `` With three weeks left before the election , Tuberville 's campaign strategy is to say as little as possible .
No debates .
No interviews .
No nothing .
Tuberville is in hiding . ''
The columnist added , `` [ I ] f a campaign wo n't let its candidate speak openly because he ca n't do so without saying dumb things that hurt his chances of winning the election , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's in the United States Senate ? ''
None of this seemed to matter too much to voters in Alabama -- Tuberville won in a landslide -- which freed the senator-elect to start speaking up a little more as he gets ready to start his career as a federal lawmaker .
Consider his comments to the Alabama Daily News ' Todd Stacy yesterday : It 's true that Tuberville 's father fought in France during World War II , but if the senator-elect thinks the war was about `` freeing Europe of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read a book or two about the conflict .
Asked about his willingness to work with the upcoming Biden White House , Tuberville added : '' I think it still is still up in the air who 's going to be the president ... .
So , you know , the media has got to stand down on all of this because they 're creating so much havoc .
I remember in 2000 Al Gore was president , United States , president elect , for 30 days – 30 days – and after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court and the Supreme Court says , no , George Bush is going to be the president .
That 's the problem we 'll get into when we do a lot of guessing , and that 's all it is right now . ''
None of this makes any sense .
The `` media '' is n't creating havoc by telling the public who won the election ; no one is `` guessing '' about the vote totals ' Al Gore was never identified as president-elect for 30 days ; and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2000 , but it did n't label George W. Bush the president .
As for his expectations for next year , the senator-elect added , `` You know , our government wasn ’ t set up for one group to have all three of branches of government .
It wasn ’ t set up that way , our three branches , the House , the Senate and executive . ''
The three branches of government are the legislative , the judiciary , and the executive .
This does shed some light on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his successful election victory .

Tommy Tuberville was a unique kind of U.S. Senate candidate. The Alabama Republican and former college football coach settled on a specific kind of strategy Americans generally don't see among those seeking statewide office: say very little, do very little, and expect to win by maintaining a relatively low public profile.
During the GOP primaries, for example, Tuberville refused to debate former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. During the general election, he also refused to debate Sen. Doug Jones (D). After struggling to discuss what the Voting Rights Act is, the retired coach seemed to retreat even further from microphones.
In mid-October, the Alabama Media Group's Kyle Whitmire noted, "With three weeks left before the election, Tuberville's campaign strategy is to say as little as possible. No debates. No interviews. No nothing. Tuberville is in hiding." The columnist added, "[I]f a campaign won't let its candidate speak openly because he can't do so without saying dumb things that hurt his chances of winning the election, what the heck is going to happen when he's in the United States Senate?"
None of this seemed to matter too much to voters in Alabama -- Tuberville won in a landslide -- which freed the senator-elect to start speaking up a little more as he gets ready to start his career as a federal lawmaker. Consider his comments to the Alabama Daily News' Todd Stacy yesterday:
"I tell people, my dad fought 76 years ago in Europe to free Europe of socialism. Today, you look at this election, we have half this country that made some kind of movement, now they might not believe in it 100 percent, but they made some kind of movement toward socialism. So we're fighting it right here on our own soil."
It's true that Tuberville's father fought in France during World War II, but if the senator-elect thinks the war was about "freeing Europe of socialism," he probably ought to read a book or two about the conflict.
Asked about his willingness to work with the upcoming Biden White House, Tuberville added:
"I think it still is still up in the air who's going to be the president.... So, you know, the media has got to stand down on all of this because they're creating so much havoc. I remember in 2000 Al Gore was president, United States, president elect, for 30 days – 30 days – and after 30 days, it got to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court says, no, George Bush is going to be the president. That's the problem we'll get into when we do a lot of guessing, and that's all it is right now."
None of this makes any sense. The "media" isn't creating havoc by telling the public who won the election; no one is "guessing" about the vote totals' Al Gore was never identified as president-elect for 30 days; and the Supreme Court stopped a vote-count in Florida in 2000, but it didn't label George W. Bush the president.
As for his expectations for next year, the senator-elect added, "You know, our government wasn’t set up for one group to have all three of branches of government. It wasn’t set up that way, our three branches, the House, the Senate and executive."
The three branches of government are the legislative, the judiciary, and the executive.
This does shed some light on why Tuberville avoided debates and interviews ahead of his successful election victory.


msnbc--2020-11-13--'Self-pardon' no protection for Trump from cases awaiting his presidency's end

'Self-pardon' no protection for Trump from cases awaiting his presidency's end
Joyce Vance, former U.S. attorney, talks about Donald Trump's legal and criminal vulnerability once he's out of office, including to cases known to be under way by New York Attorney General Latisha James and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance.Nov. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--No public sign Trump’s ready to concede

No public sign Trump’s ready to concede

Breonna Taylor protests did n't reach some corners of Congress , new Congresswoman finds


msnbc--2020-11-14--'Exhausted': Tsunami of Covid-19 cases pushes health workers to the breaking point

Ed Yong, science writer for the Atlantic, talks about how the latest, and growing, surge in Covid-19 patients is not only filling up available hospital beds but is straining the health care workers that are needed to actually treat the patients, to the point of debilitating burnout.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Yamiche Alcindor: Trump’s legal problems mount as supporters stay loyal

PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor says even as Donald Trump faces growing legal concerns upon his exit from the White House, Republicans are still “handcuffed” to his politics. She tells Lawrence O’Donnell that Donald Trump’s base and the power they hold is the reason why many Republicans have not yet publicly criticized his actions.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Supreme Court Justice speech or Fox News audition? You be the judge.

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msnbc--2020-11-14--Activists work to ensure Biden, Harris held accountable after buoyed by Black support

Trymaine Lee previews his latest episode of “Into America” where he speaks with Brittany Smalls, Pennsylvania’s coordinator for Black Votes Matter, about how the Black community will ensure the incoming Biden administration will be held accountable after riding a strong wave of Black voter support to victory in the presidential election.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Rep. Thompson: If necessary, Secret Service will remove Trump

10 % of Secret Service officers sidelined by COVID : ‘ These are the things they did not sign up @ @

Donald Trump not conceding that he lost the 2020 presidential election to President-Elect Joe Biden ‘imposes a cost’ on America legal expert Joshua A. Geltzer says. Rep. Bennie Thompson adds, ‘The Secret Service guards the White House and the sitting president. If the sitting president is Joe Biden then Trump is a trespasser.’ ‘I just don't see any realistic path for President Trump to actually manage to stay in office at this point,’ government affairs expert Rosa Brooks tells Tiffany Cross.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Thousands of Trump supporters march in protest of election results

Thousands of President Trump's supporters descended on Washington, D.C., to march in protest against the results of the presidential election after Joe Biden was projected President-elect. Many supporters carried signs claiming the election was stolen and chanted support for President Trump.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--10% of Secret Service officers sidelined by COVID: ‘These are the things they did not sign up for’

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-11-14--NIH Director: ‘Can we stop fighting about masks and agree this is the way to save lives?’

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins tells Ali Velshi that if all goes according to plan, the whole country can expect to receive a coronavirus vaccine in the spring. In the meantime, he urges everyone to do their part and “double down on the other public health measures we know about,” such as hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a mask.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Activists want Biden admin. to reunite migrant families in U.S.

Activists want Biden admin. to reunite migrant families in U.S.
President-Elect Joe Biden vows to reunite migrant families separated by the Trump administration, but will these families remain in the U.S.? MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff joins Tiffany Cross to discuss.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Parler's turning out to be a false refuge for far-right media users

Even before President Donald Trump ’ s election loss , Trumpist conservatives made a show of joining Parler , an app often described as a type of conservative alternative to Twitter .
This charge has been led by Dan Bongino , a Secret Service agent turned Fox News analyst turned mega podcast and social media star .
Where Twitter and Facebook had become too censorious , Parler advertises itself as a bonafide `` free speech '' platform without the inconvenience of verification or fact-checkers to provide friction between misleading posts and pure dopamine .
Post-election , Parler and Rumble , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative to YouTube favored by right-wing media users , have shot to the top of the app stores in the Apple and Android ecosystems .
As Platformer ’ s Casey Newton noted , Facebook and Twitter , in seeming to do the bidding of Trump ’ s enemies ( truth ?
The media ?
Sanity ? )
, are now the “ hated incumbent.
” I admit to being a little Parler-curious .
This mostly stems from an urgent empirical question based on my strong belief that we can not rebuild a consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook and Twitter , contrived outrage cycles feed polarization and misinformation ; both sides take advantage of this cognitive trick , but conservatives , in particular , know how effective it can be to bait liberals into responding with liberal pieties by acting with malevolent mischievousness .
( Think of Ben Shapiro ’ s Cheshire cat grin . )
This has been a tried-and-true tactic of the information wars ever since the conservative movement decided it needed to cast knowledge-seekers themselves as an enemy .
It ’ s incredibly efficient as a mechanism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not set up to deal with an entire political machine that has no interest in agreeing to a basic set of rules about how civil society should work , and that ’ s one reason why conservative messaging , even unfathomably insane ones , seem to diffuse across the internet so quickly .
Enemies exist on Twitter and Facebook .
But so does contact with reality , which is one reason conservatives have been so angry at the content-moderation policies : They added friction , and friction is irritating , especially when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to air .
Liberals benefit from friction .
In their immediate panic of the 2016 election , half of Hillary Clinton voters believed that Russia had tampered with the vote count — a count that , by about 80,000 votes in three states , swung the Electoral College to Trump .
As detailed in the resulting lengthy investigation , Russian players did get into administrative software for election offices in a few states and collected electronic poll book data , but they did not penetrate any voting systems or influence the actual tallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on wishful thinking ; many white progressives could not imagine an America that had room for both Trump and outgoing President Barack Obama .
Reality , more or less , dislodged that belief .
After the 2020 election , some polls suggest that as many as 70 percent of Republicans don ’ t think that the election results can be trusted .
This is because in contested elections , people tend to trust the legitimacy of the process only when their side wins .
But ours wasn ’ t a contested election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of a pandemic , it ran incredibly smoothly .
We know , though , that the president exerted a gravitational force on his party and that his efforts to cast doubt on the election ’ s integrity before it even happened opened a permission structure for members of his party to enter a very narrow mind space , where any evidence and logic no longer apply .
If conservatives decamp to Parler entirely , the virulence of this misinformation will not wane .
A number of people believe it might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around to amplify it , but the closed echo chamber could help crystalize these beliefs quickly .
I worry about this a lot .
We have experienced the decay of democratic legitimacy at an exponential rate , and hardened mistrust of the voting process itself will be lethal and harmful .
But Parler may turn out to be , in the end , a false refuge .
First — sorry , folks — Parler does censor .
It removes users , regularly .
It does not actually seem to tolerate hate speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller platform , it might even be more efficient in finding and exorcising it than the social giants .
Oh , and the founders really , really don ’ t like trolling .
This includes the sort of trolling that feeds the outrage cycles on Twitter , the trolling that includes scatology and expletives and “ unrelated comments.
” Also , dog poop .
Parler doesn ’ t like dog poop .
The point is , Parler does not actually face what it has set itself up to welcome — furious , beleaguered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an online community that grants them some esteem and will fill a narrative void in their life .
On Wednesday , Bongino , of all people , had to knock down what might have been Parler ’ s first piece of conservative-on-conservative viral misinformation : a screenshot of a Fox News chyron alleging that George Soros was actually the owner of Parler .
“ Friends , ” Bongino wrote on Twitter ( ! )
, “ This is a photoshopped image .
THIS IS NOT REAL .
There are people who are desperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BS hoping you ’ ll buy it .
I OWN PARLER .
This is the 4th or 5th time I ’ ve had to fight back against this stuff.
” Sorry , Dan .
It won ’ t be the last .

Even before President Donald Trump’s election loss, Trumpist conservatives made a show of joining Parler, an app often described as a type of conservative alternative to Twitter. This charge has been led by Dan Bongino, a Secret Service agent turned Fox News analyst turned mega podcast and social media star.
The media is not set up to deal with an entire political machine that has no interest in agreeing to a basic set of rules.
Where Twitter and Facebook had become too censorious, Parler advertises itself as a bonafide "free speech" platform without the inconvenience of verification or fact-checkers to provide friction between misleading posts and pure dopamine.
Post-election, Parler and Rumble, a site that bills itself as an alternative to YouTube favored by right-wing media users, have shot to the top of the app stores in the Apple and Android ecosystems. As Platformer’s Casey Newton noted, Facebook and Twitter, in seeming to do the bidding of Trump’s enemies (truth? The media? Sanity?), are now the “hated incumbent.”
I admit to being a little Parler-curious. This mostly stems from an urgent empirical question based on my strong belief that we cannot rebuild a consensus around anything until we depolarize. On Facebook and Twitter, contrived outrage cycles feed polarization and misinformation; both sides take advantage of this cognitive trick, but conservatives, in particular, know how effective it can be to bait liberals into responding with liberal pieties by acting with malevolent mischievousness. (Think of Ben Shapiro’s Cheshire cat grin.)
This has been a tried-and-true tactic of the information wars ever since the conservative movement decided it needed to cast knowledge-seekers themselves as an enemy. It’s incredibly efficient as a mechanism for in-group solidarity. The media is not set up to deal with an entire political machine that has no interest in agreeing to a basic set of rules about how civil society should work, and that’s one reason why conservative messaging, even unfathomably insane ones, seem to diffuse across the internet so quickly.
Enemies exist on Twitter and Facebook. But so does contact with reality, which is one reason conservatives have been so angry at the content-moderation policies: They added friction, and friction is irritating, especially when you’re amped up and have grievances to air.
Enemies exist on Twitter and Facebook. But so does contact with reality.
Liberals benefit from friction. In their immediate panic of the 2016 election, half of Hillary Clinton voters believed that Russia had tampered with the vote count — a count that, by about 80,000 votes in three states, swung the Electoral College to Trump. As detailed in the resulting lengthy investigation, Russian players did get into administrative software for election offices in a few states and collected electronic poll book data, but they did not penetrate any voting systems or influence the actual tallies. Still, this false belief was based on wishful thinking; many white progressives could not imagine an America that had room for both Trump and outgoing President Barack Obama. Reality, more or less, dislodged that belief.
After the 2020 election, some polls suggest that as many as 70 percent of Republicans don’t think that the election results can be trusted. This is because in contested elections, people tend to trust the legitimacy of the process only when their side wins. But ours wasn’t a contested election. In fact, for being in the middle of a pandemic, it ran incredibly smoothly. We know, though, that the president exerted a gravitational force on his party and that his efforts to cast doubt on the election’s integrity before it even happened opened a permission structure for members of his party to enter a very narrow mind space, where any evidence and logic no longer apply.
If conservatives decamp to Parler entirely, the virulence of this misinformation will not wane. A number of people believe it might not grow because there will be no media around to amplify it, but the closed echo chamber could help crystalize these beliefs quickly. I worry about this a lot. We have experienced the decay of democratic legitimacy at an exponential rate, and hardened mistrust of the voting process itself will be lethal and harmful.
We have experienced the decay of democratic legitimacy at an exponential rate, and hardened mistrust of the voting process itself will be lethal and harmful.
But Parler may turn out to be, in the end, a false refuge. First — sorry, folks — Parler does censor. It removes users, regularly. It does not actually seem to tolerate hate speech, and because it’s a much smaller platform, it might even be more efficient in finding and exorcising it than the social giants. Oh, and the founders really, really don’t like trolling. This includes the sort of trolling that feeds the outrage cycles on Twitter, the trolling that includes scatology and expletives and “unrelated comments.” Also, dog poop. Parler doesn’t like dog poop.
The point is, Parler does not actually face what it has set itself up to welcome — furious, beleaguered, anxious conservatives who want to find an online community that grants them some esteem and will fill a narrative void in their life.
There's a strange disinformation campaign afoot that's meant to either convince people that George Soros owns Parler or that Fox falsely reported he does, all using a badly photoshopped Fox screenshot. Dan Bongino is not thrilled. pic.twitter.com/KuzXB5yN83 — Will Sommer (@willsommer) November 11, 2020
On Wednesday, Bongino, of all people, had to knock down what might have been Parler’s first piece of conservative-on-conservative viral misinformation: a screenshot of a Fox News chyron alleging that George Soros was actually the owner of Parler. “Friends,” Bongino wrote on Twitter (!), “This is a photoshopped image. THIS IS NOT REAL. There are people who are desperate to take down Parler who are spreading BS hoping you’ll buy it. I OWN PARLER. This is the 4th or 5th time I’ve had to fight back against this stuff.”
Sorry, Dan. It won’t be the last.


msnbc--2020-11-15--The Biden-Harris immigration fight ahead: ‘It is their responsibility to deliver for immigrant and L

The Biden-Harris immigration fight ahead: ‘It is their responsibility to deliver for immigrant and Latino communities across the country’

The incoming Biden-Harris administration faces an uphill battle in reversing four years of the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies, something that can take months if not years to complete, all while attempting to implement their own policies. MSNBC’S “American Voices" host Alicia Menendez is joined by NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff and Lorella Praeli, Latino outreach director for Clinton's 2016 campaign, to discuss what could work and what’s in the works when it comes to true immigration reform.Nov. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-14--Biden transition team doctor asks for end to COVID partisanship

President-Elect Joe Biden transition team member, Dr. Celine Gounder, says ‘we are at war’ with COVID-19. Ending partisanship related to the coronavirus pandemic is discussed by Dr. Gounder in conversation with Tiffany Cross.Nov. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-15--Senate control hinges on two critical Georgia runoff elections

NBC News' Sahil Kapur takes an in-depth look at the upcoming runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the Senate.Nov. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-15--Facebook critic Roger McNamee on the tech giant’s role in spreading disinformation

Roger McNamee, an early investor in Facebook who is now a fierce critic, speaks with Maria Teresa Kumar about how the social media giant is addressing criticism of its role in threatening American democracy and elections. When asked whether he would consider working within the Biden administration, he replied: “I would love to help.”Nov. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Ga. Sec. of State says Lindsey Graham suggested he find a way to toss legal ballots

New : One of the first vaccine recipients on signs of Covid-19 vaccine in 2021

Ga. Sec. of State says Lindsey Graham suggested he find a way to toss legal ballots
On Monday, Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told the Washington Post he has come under increasing pressure from Republicans—including Sen. Lindsey Graham—to throw away legal ballots.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--'More people may die if we don't coordinate': Biden stresses importance of transition process

'More people may die if we don't coordinate': Biden stresses importance of transition process
President-elect Joe Biden warned that "more people may die" if the Trump administration did not coordinate with his transition team for information on coronavirus response efforts.Nov. 16, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--Laurie Garrett: The public is not getting that we need to social distance

Laurie Garrett: The public is not getting that we need to social distance
Foreign Policy magazine columnist Laurie Garrett expresses her shock at the way many people, including our president, are completely ignoring the harsh reality of the pandemic that has already killed nearly 250,000 AmericansNov. 16, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--David Plouffe calls Trump delaying transition ‘the most reckless and irresponsible thing he’s ever d

David Plouffe calls Trump delaying transition ‘the most reckless and irresponsible thing he’s ever done’

Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe says we are paying the price for Donald Trump’s ego with his refusal to concede, which is hindering the government’s response to coronavirusNov. 16, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--‘Trump still owns the GOP’: Incoming GOP House Freshmen adopt Trump’s lying ways

As Joy says, ‘Trump still owns the GOP.’ Even with the president on his way out, incoming Republican House Freshmen have been emboldened by his lying ways.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--‘Don’t accidentally kill someone’: Ore. Gov. begs public to keep Thanksgiving small

“I’m asking Oregonians to make additional sacrifices on top of the sacrifices they have made all year,” says Gov. Kate Brown discussing Thanksgiving celebrations amid the pandemic. “Keep it small. Don’t accidentally kill someone.”Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Trump’s response to the pandemic: ‘Frankly, he hasn’t been any help’

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Trump’s response to the pandemic: ‘Frankly, he hasn’t been any help’
On President Trump’s mishandling of the pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says Trump hasn’t been any help and he looks forward to working with President-Elect Joe Biden.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Joy Reid: 'Trump is going for the biggest lie of all, that he won the election'

Joy Reid: 'Trump is going for the biggest lie of all, that he won the election'
With President Trump still refusing to concede in the presidential election that he lost, Joy says he’s going for ‘the biggest lie of all.’Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--National security adviser O’Brien promises peaceful transition of power

One of President Trump’s top national security officials, Robert O’Brien, acknowledged the likelihood of a Biden-Harris victory, and says there will be a “a very professional transition.”Nov. 16, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--Ben Rhodes explains that the U.S. is the most vulnerable during a transition

Ben Rhodes explains that the U.S. is the most vulnerable during a transition
Former deputy national security advisor to President Obama Ben Rhodes speaks to Nicolle Wallace about America’s unique weaknesses during a transition of power, and says he fears that if Trump does not cooperate, the country could be vulnerable to an attackNov. 16, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-16--Vaccine chief says slowing of processes that 'save peoples' lives' is worrying amid transition delay

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief advisor for "Operation Warp Speed," elaborates on comments he made to the Financial Times warning against disruption to vaccine development and distribution amid the transition delay. He tells Andrea Mitchell that "Our focus is to make sure we save people's lives. Anything that may slow that process or create any disruption is something that worries us appropriately."Nov. 16, 2020