msnbc--2020-12-11--Aliens may be out there. I'm glad they haven't met us yet.

A retired Israeli general made headlines by sharing with the world what he said has been a closely guarded secret .
According to 87-year-old professor Haim Eshed , there really is life among the stars — and it thinks most of humanity is n't ready to meet it yet .
And , quite frankly , I ca n't say that I blame it , whatever `` it '' is , for being skeptical of us right now .
Eshed is n't just some random crank .
He 's the former head of the Israeli Defense Ministry 's space directorate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nebula .
So when Eshed told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot that a `` Galactic Federation '' has secretly made contact with Earth , it 's no wonder the story caught our attention in a tractor beam .
( Especially his claim that President Donald Trump had to be talked out of blabbing about the aliens too soon . )
The story went viral soon after The Jerusalem Post published clips from the interview in English .
Broadly speaking , there 's a chance Eshed is correct .
Not about the part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a joint Terran-alien exploration base on Mars .
But possibly about the part where , as the famous Drake Equation shows , the odds are good that there 's some kind of extraterrestrial life out there .
Humans are definitely on the lookout : China has spent more than $ 180 million on the world 's first radio observatory with a core mission of looking for signs of alien life .
As it stands , though , I 'm very glad that nobody else in the galaxy has to deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because , my friends , I have to say it — we are a mess .
Eshed 's `` Galactic Federation '' quickly drew the obvious comparisons to `` Star Trek 's '' United Federation of Planets .
The first contact between the people of Earth and an alien race in the `` Star Trek '' canon was depicted in the aptly named movie `` Star Trek : First Contact . ''
In the film , because humans had already gone through our apocalypse — a series of nuclear wars near the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally open to putting aside its problems for something better .
It 's a nice sentiment , baked in from the beginning of the franchise .
One day , `` Star Trek '' creator Gene Roddenberry promises in his vision , there will be no need for money and no poverty , and peace will be the default political status .
My favorite of the successor series , `` Star Trek : Deep Space Nine , '' actively questioned whether that sort of utopia could exist and whether humanity could ever evolve to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that exploration in its two-part episode `` Past Tense , '' which first aired in 1995 .
Thanks to a classic bit of time-travel mumbo jumbo , the season-three episode was mostly set in the characters ' pasts .
It was a little distressing to realize on a recent rewatch that the crew had traveled back to 2024 — a nearer future than I was expecting when I 'd pressed play .
And while the U.S. may not have implemented the `` sanctuary zones '' the show depicts , cordoning off major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep them out of sight , Earth 's problems have n't exactly improved since the series ' original airdate .
It 's one of the most overtly political episodes of `` Star Trek , '' and it avoids some of the clunky heavy-handedness of earlier series ' attempts to weave in political allegories .
Dr. Julian Bashir , played by Alexander Siddig , acts as the audience surrogate , venting his outrage at the conditions he finds 21st-century Americans living in .
Bashir 's ignorance of the time mirrors the privilege that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having never faced down some of the stigmas and despair depicted on-screen .
Bashir finds himself unable to process why mental health issues he 's spotted among the degenerate , which could be treated with medicine available at the time , are not addressed .
`` It 's not that they do n't give a damn , '' Bashir 's commanding officer , Cmdr .
Benjamin Sisko ( played by Avery Brooks ) , tells him .
`` They 've just given up .
The social problems they face seem too enormous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it at the time , too , with some rejecting the idea that things could really be as bad as depicted .
`` People are still even writing that we only presented 'one side ' in 'Past Tense ' and that we should have presented 'both sides ' and not just the 'liberal ' point of view — and I 'm still trying to think what that means , '' episode co-writer Ira Steven Behr told Star Trek Monthly magazine in 1996 .
When they finally make it back to the 24th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How could they have let things get so bad ? ''
Sisko responds : `` That 's a good question .
I wish I had an answer . ''
Four years from when the episode would take place , here in 2020 , I find myself asking the same question .
The world is in the middle of a pandemic that has spread unchecked in the United States because of government inaction .
More than 8 million people are newly impoverished thanks to federal aid 's drying up .
Food insecurity and chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of people shoplifting basic foods like bread and pasta , The Washington Post reported Thursday .
Meanwhile , Eshed said , the aliens were waiting for us to `` develop and reach a stage where we will understand , in general , what space and spaceships are '' before making themselves known .
As it turns out , two of the richest men on Earth , Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk , are in the middle of a race to privatize space .
And in the process , they will reportedly avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent on their projects , using a tax break meant to help poor communities .
The Galactic Federation probably does n't exist .
But if it did , I somehow doubt it would want us as members just yet .

A retired Israeli general made headlines by sharing with the world what he said has been a closely guarded secret. According to 87-year-old professor Haim Eshed, there really is life among the stars — and it thinks most of humanity isn't ready to meet it yet. And, quite frankly, I can't say that I blame it, whatever "it" is, for being skeptical of us right now.
Eshed isn't just some random crank. He's the former head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's space directorate, which means he knows his way around a nebula. So when Eshed told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot that a "Galactic Federation" has secretly made contact with Earth, it's no wonder the story caught our attention in a tractor beam. (Especially his claim that President Donald Trump had to be talked out of blabbing about the aliens too soon.) The story went viral soon after The Jerusalem Post published clips from the interview in English.
Broadly speaking, there's a chance Eshed is correct. Not about the part where he claims that we've apparently set up a joint Terran-alien exploration base on Mars. But possibly about the part where, as the famous Drake Equation shows, the odds are good that there's some kind of extraterrestrial life out there. Humans are definitely on the lookout: China has spent more than $180 million on the world's first radio observatory with a core mission of looking for signs of alien life.
As it stands, though, I'm very glad that nobody else in the galaxy has to deal with humanity. Not yet, anyway. Because, my friends, I have to say it — we are a mess.
Eshed's "Galactic Federation" quickly drew the obvious comparisons to "Star Trek's" United Federation of Planets. The first contact between the people of Earth and an alien race in the "Star Trek" canon was depicted in the aptly named movie "Star Trek: First Contact." In the film, because humans had already gone through our apocalypse — a series of nuclear wars near the start of the 21st century — humanity was finally open to putting aside its problems for something better.
I'm very glad that nobody else in the galaxy has to deal with humanity. Not yet, anyway.
It's a nice sentiment, baked in from the beginning of the franchise. One day, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry promises in his vision, there will be no need for money and no poverty, and peace will be the default political status. My favorite of the successor series, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," actively questioned whether that sort of utopia could exist and whether humanity could ever evolve to that point.
The show went deep on that exploration in its two-part episode "Past Tense," which first aired in 1995. Thanks to a classic bit of time-travel mumbo jumbo, the season-three episode was mostly set in the characters' pasts. It was a little distressing to realize on a recent rewatch that the crew had traveled back to 2024 — a nearer future than I was expecting when I'd pressed play.
And while the U.S. may not have implemented the "sanctuary zones" the show depicts, cordoning off major cities' homeless and unemployed populations to keep them out of sight, Earth's problems haven't exactly improved since the series' original airdate.
It's one of the most overtly political episodes of "Star Trek," and it avoids some of the clunky heavy-handedness of earlier series' attempts to weave in political allegories. Dr. Julian Bashir, played by Alexander Siddig, acts as the audience surrogate, venting his outrage at the conditions he finds 21st-century Americans living in. Bashir's ignorance of the time mirrors the privilege that the writers could rightly assume many viewers had, having never faced down some of the stigmas and despair depicted on-screen. Bashir finds himself unable to process why mental health issues he's spotted among the degenerate, which could be treated with medicine available at the time, are not addressed.
"It's not that they don't give a damn," Bashir's commanding officer, Cmdr. Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks), tells him. "They've just given up. The social problems they face seem too enormous to deal with."
Viewers grappled with it at the time, too, with some rejecting the idea that things could really be as bad as depicted. "People are still even writing that we only presented 'one side' in 'Past Tense' and that we should have presented 'both sides' and not just the 'liberal' point of view — and I'm still trying to think what that means," episode co-writer Ira Steven Behr told Star Trek Monthly magazine in 1996.
When they finally make it back to the 24th century, Bashir asks Sisko, "How could they have let things get so bad?" Sisko responds: "That's a good question. I wish I had an answer."
Four years from when the episode would take place, here in 2020, I find myself asking the same question. The world is in the middle of a pandemic that has spread unchecked in the United States because of government inaction. More than 8 million people are newly impoverished thanks to federal aid's drying up. Food insecurity and chronic hunger are spiking, as is the rate of people shoplifting basic foods like bread and pasta, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Meanwhile, Eshed said, the aliens were waiting for us to "develop and reach a stage where we will understand, in general, what space and spaceships are" before making themselves known. As it turns out, two of the richest men on Earth, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, are in the middle of a race to privatize space. And in the process, they will reportedly avoid paying taxes on the millions of dollars spent on their projects, using a tax break meant to help poor communities.
The Galactic Federation probably doesn't exist. But if it did, I somehow doubt it would want us as members just yet.


msnbc--2020-12-11--Chris Krebs shows how deformed Trump's Republican politics have become

As President Donald Trump continues his vain attempt to overturn his election defeat , Republicans who refuse to go along are being hit with a coordinated campaign of intimidation , retaliation and threats .
That 's what fired Trump appointee Chris Krebs alleged in his recent lawsuit .
In the suit filed against the Trump campaign , Krebs argues that the attacks are part of an intentional plan to bully any Republicans who question Trump 's claims that the election was rigged or who resist his campaign to nullify the election .
In the end , Krebs may not win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning about the danger of political violence and how it 's already deforming Republican politics .
As Trump keeps pushing efforts to overturn the election , he and his allies have only escalated their rhetoric .
On Wednesday , Trump tweeted , `` We will soon be learning about the word 'courage ' , and saving our Country . ''
It 's not clear whether the tweet is meant to incite violence — but if the goal is intimidation , it may be succeeding .
Only a handful of Republican officials have pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Republican attorneys general of 17 states are backing Texas ' long-shot bid to have the Supreme Court nullify the election results in Wisconsin , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Georgia .
Another 106 Republican members of the House of Representatives signed onto an amicus brief backing Texas ' attempt to overturn the election .
If other members of the GOP are appalled by the president 's attempt at mass disenfranchisement , most of them are n't saying so .
Krebs thinks he knows why .
Until recently , Krebs was the director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting him in charge of ensuring the security of the election and countering cyberattacks and disinformation .
After the vote , he and other officials vouched for the safety and integrity of the process , issuing a statement declaring that the vote `` was the most secure in American history '' and that , contrary to the false rumors then circulating , there was `` no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
Upset that Krebs challenged his narrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet , making him an immediate target of TrumpWorld .
During an appearance on Newsmax , Trump ally Joseph diGenova singled out Krebs and called for him to be `` drawn and quartered '' and `` taken out at dawn and shot . ''
In his case against the Trump campaign , Newsmax and diGenova , Krebs alleges defamation , intentional infliction of emotional distress , aiding and abetting , and civil conspiracy .
As a result of diGenova 's threat , Krebs argues in the suit , `` an angry mob immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death threats and harassment , which continue to this day . ''
But , Krebs notes , his is n't an isolated case .
He alleges that Trump and his media allies have launched a concerted campaign `` to discredit and defame dissenting Republicans by labeling them as 'traitors , ' 'cowards , ' 'liars , ' or similar terms to retaliate against them directly , and to chill others from speaking out . ''
Krebs contends that the threats are central to the campaign to deter Republicans from breaking with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hawked conspiracy theories , and essentially claimed a vast criminal conspiracy . ''
That dynamic has played out around the country .
In Pennsylvania , Trump and his allies have attacked Republicans as `` cowards '' and `` traitors . ''
In Arizona , Trump alleged that Gov .
Doug Ducey had `` betrayed the people of Arizona '' because he followed the law and certified the state 's election results .
In Georgia , Trump attacked the governor and labeled Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger an `` enemy of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump 's demands that the Georgia election results be thrown out so that he could be declared the winner in the state . ''
But the most dramatic aspect of Krebs ' lawsuit is his allegation that Trump is actively and intentionally fomenting violence .
`` Throughout his term as president , '' Krebs alleges , `` Trump has often refused to condemn violence by his supporters or has equivocated on the subject .
This , among other of Trump 's conduct , has led many of his supporters to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acts of violence . ''
During the run-up to the election , the lawsuit says , `` this toxicity reached its zenith . ''
Krebs cites the arrests of 13 members of a paramilitary group who are accused of having plotted to kidnap and murder Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a frequent target of Trump 's ire .
Since the election , he writes , `` threats upon election officials have risen to unprecedented levels . ''
Across the country , The New York Times reported , `` election officials and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telephone calls and letters brimming with menace and threats of violence , the result of their service in a presidential election in which the defeated candidate 's most ardent followers have refused to accept the results . ''
It may be working .
In Pennsylvania , the majority leader of the state Senate described the pressure to sign a letter rejecting the state 's election results .
`` If I would say to you , ' I do n't want to do it , ' '' said Sen. Kim Ward , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Which brings us back to the Newsmax interview in which diGenova singled out Krebs and called for his execution .
Krebs ' lawsuit describes the evolving ecosystem of the right-wing media .
The relationship among Trump 's campaign , Newsmax and diGenova , Krebs writes , is `` symbiotic . ''
Newsmax `` disseminates and amplifies '' Trump 's claims of election fraud and the threats of allies like diGenova , the suit continues , `` which pleases viewers , prompts endorsements from Trump , increases ratings , supports the political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps raise more money from duped supporters . ''
But it 's also dangerous .
Krebs ' suit contends that Trump and his allies `` hoped to promote and encourage unlawful threats toward , and actual violence upon , '' Republicans like him `` for speaking truth and performing his constitutional duties without regard to 'party loyalty . '
'' In great detail , Krebs ' lawsuit lays out the reaction of social media users on the right-wing site Parler after he was labeled a `` traitor . ''
Some examples , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , included a user who said he had `` put himself in the line of fire !
We know now that he did lie when he said there had been no cyber interference with the election .
Under this evidence alone he should be tried for treason and shot as a trader . ''
`` Why waste a bullet , just smash his head in with rock , '' another user said .
`` If we make an example of one of these traitors then we might get rid of all the rats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' a third intoned .
Around two dozen such messages were included in the filing .
All of this took a predictable toll .
The lawsuit said the `` unrelenting fear '' that Krebs experienced after learning of diGenova 's threats `` has been staggering . ''
His fears were shared by his family , `` including his 10-year-old , who piercingly asked : 'Daddy 's going to get executed ? '
'' Krebs notes — and I agree — that it 's a question no parent should ever hear or have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haunting warning of what happens to a political party when blind loyalty replaces principle and when conformity is enforced by intimidation and even threats of violence .

As President Donald Trump continues his vain attempt to overturn his election defeat, Republicans who refuse to go along are being hit with a coordinated campaign of intimidation, retaliation and threats. That's what fired Trump appointee Chris Krebs alleged in his recent lawsuit.
The relationship of Trump’s campaign, Newsmax, and diGenova, Krebs writes, is “symbiotic.”
In the suit filed against the Trump campaign, Krebs argues that the attacks are part of an intentional plan to bully any Republicans who question Trump's claims that the election was rigged or who resist his campaign to nullify the election.
In the end, Krebs may not win. But his lawsuit is a graphic warning about the danger of political violence and how it's already deforming Republican politics.
As Trump keeps pushing efforts to overturn the election, he and his allies have only escalated their rhetoric. On Wednesday, Trump tweeted, "We will soon be learning about the word 'courage', and saving our Country."
We will soon be learning about the word “courage”, and saving our Country. I received hundreds of thousands of legal votes more, in all of the Swing States, than did my opponent. ALL Data taken after the vote says that it was impossible for me to lose, unless FIXED! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2020
It's not clear whether the tweet is meant to incite violence — but if the goal is intimidation, it may be succeeding. Only a handful of Republican officials have pushed back against Trump's baseless charges. The Republican attorneys general of 17 states are backing Texas' long-shot bid to have the Supreme Court nullify the election results in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Another 106 Republican members of the House of Representatives signed onto an amicus brief backing Texas' attempt to overturn the election.
If other members of the GOP are appalled by the president's attempt at mass disenfranchisement, most of them aren't saying so. Krebs thinks he knows why.
Until recently, Krebs was the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, putting him in charge of ensuring the security of the election and countering cyberattacks and disinformation.
After the vote, he and other officials vouched for the safety and integrity of the process, issuing a statement declaring that the vote "was the most secure in American history" and that, contrary to the false rumors then circulating, there was "no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."
Upset that Krebs challenged his narrative of fraud, Trump fired him via tweet, making him an immediate target of TrumpWorld. During an appearance on Newsmax, Trump ally Joseph diGenova singled out Krebs and called for him to be "drawn and quartered" and "taken out at dawn and shot."
In his case against the Trump campaign, Newsmax and diGenova, Krebs alleges defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy.
As a result of diGenova's threat, Krebs argues in the suit, "an angry mob immediately bombarded" him "with a barrage of death threats and harassment, which continue to this day."
But, Krebs notes, his isn't an isolated case. He alleges that Trump and his media allies have launched a concerted campaign "to discredit and defame dissenting Republicans by labeling them as 'traitors,' 'cowards,' 'liars,' or similar terms to retaliate against them directly, and to chill others from speaking out."
Krebs contends that the threats are central to the campaign to deter Republicans from breaking with Trump, even as he "stoked fear, hawked conspiracy theories, and essentially claimed a vast criminal conspiracy."
If other members of the GOP are appalled by the president’s attempt at mass disenfranchisement, most of them aren’t saying so.
That dynamic has played out around the country. In Pennsylvania, Trump and his allies have attacked Republicans as "cowards" and "traitors." In Arizona, Trump alleged that Gov. Doug Ducey had "betrayed the people of Arizona" because he followed the law and certified the state's election results. In Georgia, Trump attacked the governor and labeled Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger an "enemy of the people" because he hadn't "bowed to Trump's demands that the Georgia election results be thrown out so that he could be declared the winner in the state."
But the most dramatic aspect of Krebs' lawsuit is his allegation that Trump is actively and intentionally fomenting violence.
"Throughout his term as president," Krebs alleges, "Trump has often refused to condemn violence by his supporters or has equivocated on the subject. This, among other of Trump's conduct, has led many of his supporters to believe that they have his tacit support to commit acts of violence."
During the run-up to the election, the lawsuit says, "this toxicity reached its zenith." Krebs cites the arrests of 13 members of a paramilitary group who are accused of having plotted to kidnap and murder Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a frequent target of Trump's ire. Since the election, he writes, "threats upon election officials have risen to unprecedented levels."
Across the country, The New York Times reported, "election officials and their staff have been bombarded ... with emails, telephone calls and letters brimming with menace and threats of violence, the result of their service in a presidential election in which the defeated candidate's most ardent followers have refused to accept the results."
It may be working. In Pennsylvania, the majority leader of the state Senate described the pressure to sign a letter rejecting the state's election results. "If I would say to you, 'I don't want to do it,'" said Sen. Kim Ward, "I'd get my house bombed tonight."
Which brings us back to the Newsmax interview in which diGenova singled out Krebs and called for his execution. Krebs' lawsuit describes the evolving ecosystem of the right-wing media. The relationship among Trump's campaign, Newsmax and diGenova, Krebs writes, is "symbiotic."
Newsmax "disseminates and amplifies" Trump's claims of election fraud and the threats of allies like diGenova, the suit continues, "which pleases viewers, prompts endorsements from Trump, increases ratings, supports the political goals of the defendant campaign, and helps raise more money from duped supporters."
But it's also dangerous. Krebs' suit contends that Trump and his allies "hoped to promote and encourage unlawful threats toward, and actual violence upon," Republicans like him "for speaking truth and performing his constitutional duties without regard to 'party loyalty.'"
In great detail, Krebs' lawsuit lays out the reaction of social media users on the right-wing site Parler after he was labeled a "traitor." Some examples, from comments posted on or around Dec. 1, included a user who said he had "put himself in the line of fire! We know now that he did lie when he said there had been no cyber interference with the election. Under this evidence alone he should be tried for treason and shot as a trader."
"Why waste a bullet, just smash his head in with rock," another user said. "If we make an example of one of these traitors then we might get rid of all the rats that are still hiding in the darkness," a third intoned. Around two dozen such messages were included in the filing.
All of this took a predictable toll. The lawsuit said the "unrelenting fear" that Krebs experienced after learning of diGenova's threats "has been staggering." His fears were shared by his family, "including his 10-year-old, who piercingly asked: 'Daddy's going to get executed?'"
Krebs notes — and I agree — that it's a question no parent should ever hear or have to answer. But it's a haunting warning of what happens to a political party when blind loyalty replaces principle and when conformity is enforced by intimidation and even threats of violence.


msnbc--2020-12-12--Supreme Court rejects Texas effort to overturn election in blow to Trump legal blitz to stop Biden

Schiff on seating GOP reps who joined Trump stunt : ‘ We don ’ t want to become them ’

Supreme Court rejects Texas effort to overturn election in blow to Trump legal blitz to stop Biden
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday said it would not consider a lawsuit filed by Texas that sought to overturn Joe Biden's election victory in four battleground states.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Chris Hayes: GOP held a ‘loaded gun to American democracy’ with Texas lawsuit

“They are holding a loaded gun to American democracy with this lawsuit. Just because the safety is on now, does not mean it will not fire the next time,” says Chris Hayes on the lawsuit to overturn the election that was rejected by the Supreme Court.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--See Dr. Fauci explain why U.S. vaccine is coming now

While the U.S. is on track to approve its first coronavirus vaccine, Dr. Anthony Fauci joins MSNBC's Ari Melber in a special interview to discuss the Covid-19 vaccine, to dispel related myths and skepticism and to explain why he and Biden will likely take it publicly. Fauci also recounts his discussions with the incoming Biden administration concerning the pandemic.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Dr. Fauci pushes back on bankers trying to jump line for Covid-19 vaccine

Dr. Fauci responds to reports about Wall Street bankers lobbying for priority access to the coronavirus vaccine, making it clear the vaccine "needs to be equitably distributed and shared." Fauci expands on these concerns that certain groups will make the vaccine largely inaccessible in this excerpt from his interview with MSNBC's Ari Melber.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--Biden urges Congress to pass Covid relief: 'We have to get this done'

Biden urges Congress to pass Covid relief: 'We have to get this done'
President-elect Joe Biden called on Congress to pass coronavirus relief for Americans as he held an event to introduce new nominees for his administration, warning of the economic crisis and pandemic impacting the country.Dec. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--‘Hallelujah’: Elderly Americans eagerly await vaccine distribution

Older Americans living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities will be among the first in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as they’ve been hit hardest by the pandemic – many living in isolation and losing friends and loved ones at an alarming rate. Anne Thompson talks to residents at an assisted living facility in New Jersey.Dec. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--Global Virome Project Board Chair: There's no reason to ever have a pandemic again

‘They better get out a really big check book’: Dominion case rips open Fox News to more lawsuits from Smartmatic, Ray Epps, and more 06:28


msnbc--2020-12-11--Mark Leibovich on stimulus talks: Trump ‘could create the political will… in the Republican party by

Mark Leibovich on stimulus talks: Trump ‘could create the political will… in the Republican party by just saying something’
Chief national correspondent for New York Times Magazine Mark Leibovich and editor-at-large for The 19th Errin Haines discuss how Congress could break for the holidays without securing a single dollar of stimulus for struggling Americans, and the hurdles Joe Biden will face to get anything done when he takes officeDec. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--After SCOTUS bid, one last act for anti-democracy Republicans to try to install Trump

After SCOTUS bid, one last act for anti-democracy Republicans to try to install Trump
Rep. Jamie Raskin describes the last step in the election process before inauguration in which Republicans in Congress will have a chance to object to the counting of electors on January 6th. That scheme, however, if it is deployed, is still unlikely to overturn Donald Trump's losing bid for reelection.Dec. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--Head of vets group criticizes Biden's pick for head of VA

Paul Rieckhoff of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says President-elect Biden's pick of longtime Obama aide Denis McDonough for secretary of Veterans Affairs is not the right fit for the position.Dec. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-11--An Israeli general said aliens are real but avoiding humanity. That checks out.


msnbc--2020-12-11--Chris Krebs' lawsuit is a graphic warning against Trump's political violence


msnbc--2020-12-12--FDA approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in U.S.

Jon Meacham : We can agree on the purpose of America

FDA approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in U.S.
NBC News Correspondent Ellison Barber joins Ali Velshi from outside the Pfizer manufacturing plant in Michigan where trucks are expected to be loading up and transporting the Covid-19 vaccine within 24 hours.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--WSJ: Trump eyes special counsel to probe election, Hunter Biden

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


msnbc--2020-12-12--'Lincoln told you no': Texas GOP rebuked for secession talk

After the Supreme Court rejected the Trump-backed lawsuit from the atty. general of Texas to overturn the vote in four states Biden won, the chair of the Lonestar State's Republican Party hinted at secession. Susan Page discusses.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Schiff on seating GOP reps who joined Trump stunt: ‘We don’t want to become them’

“I don’t think—when the President of the United States and some of my Republican colleagues are trying to burn the house down around us—that we want to set a new fire,” says Rep. Adam Schiff on excluding GOP House members who went along with Trump plot to overturn the election.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Trump, GOP unlikely to give up election grievance fundraising regardless of losses

Trump, GOP unlikely to give up election grievance fundraising regardless of losses
Rachel Maddow notes that even as the post-election losses pile up for Donald Trump after his actual election loss, he and his supporters are not likely to give up on what has turned out to be a very lucrative money-making scheme: complaining about the election.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--FDA authorizes coronavirus vaccine after due scientific diligence

Dr. David Kessler, former FDA commissioner and current co-chair of Joe Biden's Covid-19 advisory board, talks with Rachel Maddow about the scientific rigor that went into the FDA's authorization of emergency use of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to ensure it wasn't rushed by politics.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--'We can't let this seem normal': election attorney laments anti-democracy Trump followers

'We can't let this seem normal': election attorney laments anti-democracy Trump followers
Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket and a veteran Democratic voting rights attorney who has played a key role in fighting Donald Trump's bogus election challenges, talks with Rachel Maddow about how troubling it is that Republicans were so ready to discard democracy and fall in step behind Trump.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Shirley Sherrod on Tom Vilsack nomination to Agriculture: ‘It’s time for them to show us they hear u

Shirley Sherrod on Tom Vilsack nomination to Agriculture: ‘It’s time for them to show us they hear us’

Shirley Sherrod was wrongly fired by Tom Vilsack during his last run of the USDA during the Obama Administration amidst a wrongful right wing smear campaign. On President-Elect Biden nominating him, Sherrod says that she accepted Vilsack’s apology and that "It's time for them to show us they hear us and they want to do better by us at the USDA."Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--The Supreme Court victory for Muslim Americans shows the dark side of the Obama administration

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision Thursday that ruled in favor of three Muslim men who charged the FBI with placing them on the no-fly list when they refused to spy on fellow Muslims .
The news stands out in an administration that has ushered in a surge in Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Muslim policies over the past four years .
But it also reminded us that anti-Muslim government policies didn ’ t just happen under President Donald Trump .
Regardless of the political power in charge , policies predicated on anti-Muslim bigotry that wrongly target Muslim Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Trump took office .
Still , the facts of the Supreme Court case read like an over-the-top Hollywood action movie , with U.S. law enforcement interrogating a stereotyped antagonist .
The events as detailed were so heavy-handed that you wouldn ’ t want to believe they 're real .
But it was very real for the three plaintiffs , Muhammad Tanvir and Jameel Algibhah of New York and Connecticut resident Naveed Shinwari .
Between 2007 and 2012 , each man was approached separately by the FBI and pressured to secretly provide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI said it suspected of being involved in terrorist activity .
When the men declined , the FBI placed them on the national no-fly list .
In order to be removed from the list , the plaintiffs charged , the men were told they would have to act as informants in their own communities .
It ’ s true that Trump made demonizing Muslims one of the staples of his 2016 presidential campaign , from comments like `` Islam hates us '' to calling for a `` total and complete shutdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And true to his word , one of his first actions as president was to order the Muslim ban , barring people from several majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S .
But while the Trump administration opposed the plaintiffs ’ efforts to seek justice in this case , the violations detailed in Thursday 's Supreme Case ruling were committed under the Obama administration .
I ’ m not equating President Barack Obama with Trump .
But it was not until late into his second term that Obama embraced the Muslim community through efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House — I was among that group — and defending our community against bigotry .
And it was under Obama that the Countering Violent Extremism program was created in 2011 , which “ in practice focused almost exclusively on American-Muslim communities , ” as the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other organization pointed out in their amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court .
The CVE program has been cited as furthering the dangerous negative stereotype that all Muslims are inherently dangerous .
In 2013 , when the plaintiffs filed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision and removed them from the no-fly list , stating there was “ no reason ” why any of them could not fly .
But by that time , being on the no-fly list had not just been an inconvenience for the three men ; it legitimately ruined important events in their lives .
Imagine how people who make important decisions in a person ’ s life — such as potential employers or people on school admissions boards — react when they learn that someone ’ s on that list .
It marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to themselves and to others .
Tanvir not only lost his job , but he could not visit his ailing mother in Pakistan because of being on the no-fly list .
Shinwari , a legal permanent resident who had come to America at age 14 from Afghanistan , lost his job as a manufacturing contractor because he was unable to travel , a requirement of his role .
The three plaintiffs also understandably asserted that their reputations had been badly damaged as a result of being on the FBI no-fly list .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas , found that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , these plaintiffs could seek monetary damages against the federal government for pressuring them to violate their religious beliefs by spying on other Muslims .
Muslim American organizations applauded the decision , with CAIR attorney Justin Sadowsky stating , “ By holding individual officers liable for violating Americans ’ civil rights , including American Muslims like the plaintiff … the government will take those rights seriously.
” But it was the statement by another Muslim American civil rights group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bigger picture so well : “ For decades now , government surveillance and anti-Muslim policies have been an unavoidable fact of life for American Muslims.
” But while Trump ’ s anti-Muslim bent has been vile , and has ruined plenty of innocent lives in this country , even Obama ’ s CVE didn ’ t come close to the jaw-dropping , widespread Muslim surveillance initiated in one of the most liberal cities in America : New York City .
From 2003 to when he left office in 2013 , then-Mayor Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYPD officers spying on Muslims in New York City while we worked , prayed , dined , went to school and socialized .
It created a vast network of informants that , as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against New York City noted , sowed fear in the community that any new Muslim American you met might actually be an undercover agent sent to spy on you .
After 10 years of this unconstitutional spying program by the NYPD , how many leads did it generate ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did was immeasurable , from further stigmatizing the Muslim community to hindering efforts by Muslim organizations to raise funds for charitable work — because Muslims feared donating could put them on a government list .
The U.S. Supreme Court made the right decision this week .
But don ’ t think for a second that anti-Muslim policies are only a Trump thing , or that we ’ ve moved past them as a nation .

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision Thursday that ruled in favor of three Muslim men who charged the FBI with placing them on the no-fly list when they refused to spy on fellow Muslims. The news stands out in an administration that has ushered in a surge in Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Muslim policies over the past four years.
Policies predicated on anti-Muslim bigotry that wrongly target Muslim Americans had been more or less normalized well before Trump took office.
But it also reminded us that anti-Muslim government policies didn’t just happen under President Donald Trump. Regardless of the political power in charge, policies predicated on anti-Muslim bigotry that wrongly target Muslim Americans had been more or less normalized well before Trump took office.
Still, the facts of the Supreme Court case read like an over-the-top Hollywood action movie, with U.S. law enforcement interrogating a stereotyped antagonist. The events as detailed were so heavy-handed that you wouldn’t want to believe they're real. But it was very real for the three plaintiffs, Muhammad Tanvir and Jameel Algibhah of New York and Connecticut resident Naveed Shinwari.
Between 2007 and 2012, each man was approached separately by the FBI and pressured to secretly provide the bureau with information on fellow Muslims whom the FBI said it suspected of being involved in terrorist activity. When the men declined, the FBI placed them on the national no-fly list. In order to be removed from the list, the plaintiffs charged, the men were told they would have to act as informants in their own communities.
It’s true that Trump made demonizing Muslims one of the staples of his 2016 presidential campaign, from comments like "Islam hates us" to calling for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." And true to his word, one of his first actions as president was to order the Muslim ban, barring people from several majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
Being on the no-fly list had not just been an inconvenience for the three men; it legitimately ruined important events in their lives.
But while the Trump administration opposed the plaintiffs’ efforts to seek justice in this case, the violations detailed in Thursday's Supreme Case ruling were committed under the Obama administration.
I’m not equating President Barack Obama with Trump. But it was not until late into his second term that Obama embraced the Muslim community through efforts like meeting with various Muslim leaders at the White House — I was among that group — and defending our community against bigotry.
And it was under Obama that the Countering Violent Extremism program was created in 2011, which “in practice focused almost exclusively on American-Muslim communities,” as the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other organization pointed out in their amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court. The CVE program has been cited as furthering the dangerous negative stereotype that all Muslims are inherently dangerous.
In 2013, when the plaintiffs filed their federal lawsuit, the government reversed its decision and removed them from the no-fly list, stating there was “no reason” why any of them could not fly. But by that time, being on the no-fly list had not just been an inconvenience for the three men; it legitimately ruined important events in their lives. Imagine how people who make important decisions in a person’s life — such as potential employers or people on school admissions boards — react when they learn that someone’s on that list. It marks a person as dangerous, a potential threat to themselves and to others.
Tanvir not only lost his job, but he could not visit his ailing mother in Pakistan because of being on the no-fly list. Shinwari, a legal permanent resident who had come to America at age 14 from Afghanistan, lost his job as a manufacturing contractor because he was unable to travel, a requirement of his role. The three plaintiffs also understandably asserted that their reputations had been badly damaged as a result of being on the FBI no-fly list.
After 10 years of this unconstitutional spying program by the NYPD, how many leads did it generate? Zero.
The unanimous Supreme Court decision, written by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, found that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, these plaintiffs could seek monetary damages against the federal government for pressuring them to violate their religious beliefs by spying on other Muslims.
Muslim American organizations applauded the decision, with CAIR attorney Justin Sadowsky stating, “By holding individual officers liable for violating Americans’ civil rights, including American Muslims like the plaintiff … the government will take those rights seriously.” But it was the statement by another Muslim American civil rights group, Muslim Advocates, that summed up the bigger picture so well: “For decades now, government surveillance and anti-Muslim policies have been an unavoidable fact of life for American Muslims.”
But while Trump’s anti-Muslim bent has been vile, and has ruined plenty of innocent lives in this country, even Obama’s CVE didn’t come close to the jaw-dropping, widespread Muslim surveillance initiated in one of the most liberal cities in America: New York City. From 2003 to when he left office in 2013, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a program that saw undercover NYPD officers spying on Muslims in New York City while we worked, prayed, dined, went to school and socialized.
It created a vast network of informants that, as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against New York City noted, sowed fear in the community that any new Muslim American you met might actually be an undercover agent sent to spy on you.
After 10 years of this unconstitutional spying program by the NYPD, how many leads did it generate? Zero. But the amount of damage it did was immeasurable, from further stigmatizing the Muslim community to hindering efforts by Muslim organizations to raise funds for charitable work — because Muslims feared donating could put them on a government list.
The U.S. Supreme Court made the right decision this week. But don’t think for a second that anti-Muslim policies are only a Trump thing, or that we’ve moved past them as a nation.


msnbc--2020-12-12--Pfizer preparing to ship Covid vaccine to 145 sites across 50 states

Roger McNamee on disinformation ’ s spread : Everyone is ‘ isolated in their own Truman Show ’

NBC’s Ellison Barber reports from Portage, Mich., outside of a Pfizer plant where the company is preparing to ship the Covid-19 vaccine to 145 sites across all 50 states Monday morning.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Representatives Pressley, Tlaib, Omar on dire need to pass COVID economic relief

Representatives Pressley, Tlaib, Omar on dire need to pass COVID economic relief
COVID-19 economic relief in the form of direct payments to hurting Americans are championed by Representatives Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, in conversation with Tiffany Cross.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Former World Bank President on how healthcare inequality may impact vaccine distribution

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, former World Bank President and co-founder of Partners in Health, discusses how healthcare disparities in the United States and abroad may impede the equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccine and why it’s crucial for the economy to be investing in public health.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Trump supporters protest election results at the National Mall, march to Supreme Court

Trump supporters protest election results at the National Mall, march to Supreme Court
Trump supporters gathered at the National Mall in Washington to protest the election results followed by a march to the Supreme Court, NBC’s Amanda Golden reports.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Federal executions called ‘behavior from federal government not seen in decades’

The Donald Trump administration will see three more federal executions take place before Trump leaves office, after two recent executions which many found to be a shocking precedent for a lame duck president. Reporter Wesley Lowery joins Tiffany Cross to discuss.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Roger McNamee on disinformation’s spread: Everyone is ‘isolated in their own Truman Show’

Roger McNamee on disinformation’s spread: Everyone is ‘isolated in their own Truman Show’
Since the election, conspiracy theorists and congressional enablers have pushed baseless lies in order to subvert democracy. ‘Zucked’ author and early Facebook investor Roger McNamee and NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny explain the “dangerous feedback loop between the President and what he calls his digital soldiers” spreading disinformation on the internet.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--The Cross Connection’s Tiffany Cross on her history and vision for dynamic new show

The Cross Connection’s Tiffany Cross on her history and vision for dynamic new show
MSNBC’s new politics show ‘The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross’ gets a special introduction as Cross shares her history and vision for her dynamic program.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--Rep. Maxine Waters on Coronavirus relief: Sen. McConnell is “absolutely blocking everything”

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) joined Jason Johnson to discuss where Congress stands on a Coronavirus relief bill, as millions of Americans are set to lose benefits at the end of the month. Rep. Waters also commented on the 126 Republicans who backed a failed Texas lawsuit to overturn the election, and the pressure surrounding California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pick to fill Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ Senate seat.Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--‘We are in a war right now’

‘We are in a war right now’

According to a recent report, one out of eight ICUs in the United States are at or near capacity. This comes as over 16 million COVID cases have officially been reported in the U.S. Arizona emergency medicine physician Dr. Cleavon Gilman joins MSNBC’s host of “American Voices” Alicia Menendez to discuss the pandemic and how he was reportedly fired from his job at an area hospital for speaking out about the crisis.Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-12--Joy Reid and more celebrate debut of MSNBC's  'The Cross Connection' with Tiffany Cross

Joy Reid and more celebrate debut of MSNBC's 'The Cross Connection' with Tiffany Cross
MSNBC’s 'The Cross Connection' with Tiffany Cross is celebrated by Joy Reid and more luminaries and friends, as Cross debuts her new politics show, airing at 10 am ET every Saturday morning.Dec. 12, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--Country legend Charley Pride dead from Covid complications at 86

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


msnbc--2020-12-13--Break Dancing, or “breaking” to debut at 2024 Paris Olympics

A “breaking” mentor and coach talks about the sport making its debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and what that big stage will mean for its future. “We have to remember that this dance started out in the Bronx, it’s a gift from Black culture to the world, and we want to make sure as it becomes an Olympic sport that we embrace its roots and its traditions,” Antonio Castillo, the chair of the “Competitive Breakin’ League,” told Jason Johnson.Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--‘There’s finally a beginning to the end:' Michigan residents watch Covid vaccine roll out of Pfizer

‘There’s finally a beginning to the end:' Michigan residents watch Covid vaccine roll out of Pfizer plant

Julian Castro : ‘ You ’ re going have people kicked to the curb , homeless…Congress needs to do its @ @

A small group of Michigan residents watched as the first Covid-19 vaccine shipped from the Pfizer plant in Portage. More than 500,000 doses were sent out across 50 states, and another two million doses will be shipped by the end of the week.Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--Georgia Senate candidate Ossoff shames Senate GOP for not passing ‘direct economic relief’

We are in an 'era of global boiling' as nearly half of all Americans are under heat advisories 06:17


msnbc--2020-12-13--Multiple arrested, hospitalized following clashes after pro-Trump rally

'To the right of this government, is only a wall' Impact of new judicial law in Israel 05:32


msnbc--2020-12-13--Doctors in rural Texas facing challenges as Covid cases explode

Texas is one of the fastest-growing coronavirus hot spots in the nation, and rural areas are facing major challenges in obtaining the resources needed to keep the virus under control. Dr. Ivan Melendez, the Hidalgo County Health Authority, and Dr. J.P. Schwartz, the Presidio County Health Authority, tell Ali Velshi about how they have been managing. Dr. Melendez says the pandemic has brought medical professionals “down to our knees.”Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-13--White House security confirms it’s looking into potential hack affecting U.S. Treasury Department


msnbc--2020-12-13--Mayor of Chicago and experts discuss COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans


msnbc--2020-12-13--Jonathan Capehart thanks his family plus his NBC News family for 'The Sunday Show' launch

Jonathan Capehart thanks his family plus his NBC News family for 'The Sunday Show' launch
MSNBC’s launch of 'The Sunday Show' ends with host Jonathan Capehart thanking his family, and his NBC News family, as he recounts the story of launching his new program, which started as a childhood dream.Dec. 13, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Electoral College set to vote to make Biden's 2020 victory official

Mika Brzezinski : Dr. Biden never gave up on her career and dreams

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it 08:18


msnbc--2020-12-14--Mika: Dr. Biden never gave up on her career and dreams

A new WSJ opinion column called on incoming first lady Dr. Jill Biden to drop the 'Dr.' from her name and also referred to her as 'kiddo.' The Morning Joe panel discusses the column, and Mika Brzezinski says the paper owes Dr. Biden an apology.Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Senate moves toward compromise on coronavirus relief


msnbc--2020-12-14--Michigan Attorney General on GOP efforts to overturn President Trump’s electoral defeat

As the Electoral College is set to certify Joe Biden’s win, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks to Maria Teresa Kumar about the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the Texas lawsuit that attempted to overturn the election in four swing states, including Michigan. Attorney General Nessel also addressed people making threats towards state officials: “we are looking for you and we will find you.”Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Answering your questions about COVID and the vaccine

NBC News Medical Contributor Dr. Vin Gupta answers MSNBC viewers’ top questions about the coronavirus and the vaccine, including concerns about allergies, pregnancy, “long haulers,” what happens if you get vaccinated while having COVID, how the rollout will work based on individual careers and more.Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Want to keep the Electoral College? Then get rid of political parties.

The Electoral College votes Monday , officially giving President-elect Joe Biden the votes needed to be sworn in on Jan. 20 .
Since President Donald Trump won the election in 2016 , there 's been a renewed interest in possibly getting rid of the Electoral College and deciding presidential elections based solely on the popular vote .
I have an alternative proposition : We can keep the Electoral College — but only if the U.S. gets rid of political parties .
We ca n't have both .
The arguments for ditching the Electoral College are plentiful and well-trodden at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five elections , the winners of the national popular vote lost the presidency , a subversion of the majority of the country 's votes .
The Electoral College focuses the quadrennial contest on just a handful of swing states .
It disenfranchises rural liberals and conservative urbanites in national elections .
In response , several rebuttals have cropped up against tossing the system in the dumpster .
Seymour Spilerman , a professor emeritus of social sciences at Columbia University , used the 2000 election as an example of when , contrary to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things in what was a close race nationwide .
By keeping the focus on a handful of ballots in Florida , he wrote in The Washington Post , the U.S. dodged a recount in 51 different jurisdictions `` requiring tabulation of the 101 million votes cast in the country , along with a consideration of the rejects , with their hanging chads , questionable signatures and issues of voter identity . ''
Richard Lempert , a professor emeritus of law and sociology at the University of Michigan , also argued that the Electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' trying to meddle with the presidential race .
In a 2016 blog post for the Brookings Institution , he laid out a hypothetical in which `` a partisan , passionate , and not completely ethical election official in , say , Maryland or Mississippi '' could play with the margin of victory in a national popular vote .
These `` passionate partisans would have reason to stuff the ballot boxes for their favored candidate while illegally misreporting or suppressing votes they do not want to count , '' he argued .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place for a reason , as archaic as it may be .
So let 's take that at face value and instead ask , `` What went wrong ? ''
A look at Alexander Hamilton 's original arguments for supporting the system in Federalist No .
68 offers a clue .
In Hamilton 's view , having the general population vote for the president would make demagoguery too easy for candidates .
You also could n't trust a body that already exists to pick a president — its members would be too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A fixed institution would also leave a presidential hopeful willing to offer up a quid pro quo for its member 's votes .
The theory was that having a group whose members are chosen by the people to meet up in their own states , vote and then disband would provide the best protection against intrigue .
But , as with the rest of the Constitution , the framers did n't consider what might happen once political parties joined the fray .
The Electoral College that Hamilton describes , in which `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing the station filled by characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue , '' has basically never operated as designed .
Instead , presidential candidates have been chosen to run on the general ballot in almost every election at party conventions , free to pander directly to their bases in the run-up .
Electors remain on the ballot — but voters on Election Day are voting for electors from either the Democratic or the Republican parties , who have promised to vote for their chosen candidates .
As the National Conference of State Legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the political party for their party loyalty , and many are party leaders , and thus not likely to vote other than for their party 's candidate . ''
And the Supreme Court just this year affirmed that as totally fine , ruling that `` faithless electors '' ca n't go rogue and cast their votes for someone else .
So instead of being a group of people `` most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station , and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation , and to a judicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were proper to govern their choice , '' who the electors themselves are is almost pointless .
( Did you know , for example , that both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton will be electors for New York this year ? )
Why go through this pantomime every four years ?
The damage that parties have done to the system may be set to get worse .
In theory , the Electoral College 's casting its ballots is what finally breaks the spell on the Republicans who 've backed Trump 's inane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overturn the election results .
Given how over half of the House GOP caucus signed their names to this utterly undemocratic effort , that 's not guaranteed — especially since Congress has one more job to do as far as the 2020 election is concerned .
Hamilton thought that at times there might be as many as five candidates who fail to get a majority , thus sending the choice to the House for a final pick .
Trump has been urging GOP members of Congress to turn what has become a pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes transmitted from the states — into another sideshow , rejecting the slates of electors that were chosen and denying Biden a majority .
That would then let the House 's delegations , in which Republicans have a slight majority , make their pick .
It 's not going to happen — but the fact that we even have to think about it is worrying .
If electors were truly free to choose the person most fit for office , regardless of party , there might be something to the concept .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber stamp meant only to apportion out the vote into variables that are then plugged into an arcane algebra for parties to exploit , the system will remain broken .
So pick one : the Electoral College or political parties — you ca n't have both and a functioning democracy .

The Electoral College votes Monday, officially giving President-elect Joe Biden the votes needed to be sworn in on Jan. 20. Since President Donald Trump won the election in 2016, there's been a renewed interest in possibly getting rid of the Electoral College and deciding presidential elections based solely on the popular vote. I have an alternative proposition: We can keep the Electoral College — but only if the U.S. gets rid of political parties. We can't have both.
In two of the last five elections, the winners of the national popular vote lost the presidency.
The arguments for ditching the Electoral College are plentiful and well-trodden at this point. In two of the last five elections, the winners of the national popular vote lost the presidency, a subversion of the majority of the country's votes. The Electoral College focuses the quadrennial contest on just a handful of swing states. It disenfranchises rural liberals and conservative urbanites in national elections.
In response, several rebuttals have cropped up against tossing the system in the dumpster. Seymour Spilerman, a professor emeritus of social sciences at Columbia University, used the 2000 election as an example of when, contrary to the conventional wisdom, the Electoral College improved things in what was a close race nationwide. By keeping the focus on a handful of ballots in Florida, he wrote in The Washington Post, the U.S. dodged a recount in 51 different jurisdictions "requiring tabulation of the 101 million votes cast in the country, along with a consideration of the rejects, with their hanging chads, questionable signatures and issues of voter identity."
Richard Lempert, a professor emeritus of law and sociology at the University of Michigan, also argued that the Electoral College helps cut down on election officials' trying to meddle with the presidential race. In a 2016 blog post for the Brookings Institution, he laid out a hypothetical in which "a partisan, passionate, and not completely ethical election official in, say, Maryland or Mississippi" could play with the margin of victory in a national popular vote. These "passionate partisans would have reason to stuff the ballot boxes for their favored candidate while illegally misreporting or suppressing votes they do not want to count," he argued.
Both cases say the Electoral College was put in place for a reason, as archaic as it may be. So let's take that at face value and instead ask, "What went wrong?" A look at Alexander Hamilton's original arguments for supporting the system in Federalist No. 68 offers a clue.
we have been parading around the propped up corpse of the electoral college every four years for basically the entire run of the country, it's almost never worked like Hamilton described in Federalist 68 pic.twitter.com/yKNBSdu5Xx — Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) November 3, 2020
In Hamilton's view, having the general population vote for the president would make demagoguery too easy for candidates. You also couldn't trust a body that already exists to pick a president — its members would be too easy to target for corruption and bribery. A fixed institution would also leave a presidential hopeful willing to offer up a quid pro quo for its member's votes.
The theory was that having a group whose members are chosen by the people to meet up in their own states, vote and then disband would provide the best protection against intrigue. But, as with the rest of the Constitution, the framers didn't consider what might happen once political parties joined the fray.
we have been parading around the propped up corpse of the electoral college every four years for basically the entire run of the country, it
The Electoral College that Hamilton describes, in which "there will be a constant probability of seeing the station filled by characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue," has basically never operated as designed. Instead, presidential candidates have been chosen to run on the general ballot in almost every election at party conventions, free to pander directly to their bases in the run-up.
Electors remain on the ballot — but voters on Election Day are voting for electors from either the Democratic or the Republican parties, who have promised to vote for their chosen candidates. As the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, "Electors generally are selected by the political party for their party loyalty, and many are party leaders, and thus not likely to vote other than for their party's candidate." And the Supreme Court just this year affirmed that as totally fine, ruling that "faithless electors" can't go rogue and cast their votes for someone else.
So instead of being a group of people "most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice," who the electors themselves are is almost pointless. (Did you know, for example, that both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton will be electors for New York this year?) Why go through this pantomime every four years?
The damage that parties have done to the system may be set to get worse. In theory, the Electoral College's casting its ballots is what finally breaks the spell on the Republicans who've backed Trump's inane, dangerous and ultimately quixotic quest to overturn the election results. Given how over half of the House GOP caucus signed their names to this utterly undemocratic effort, that's not guaranteed — especially since Congress has one more job to do as far as the 2020 election is concerned.
Hamilton thought that at times there might be as many as five candidates who fail to get a majority, thus sending the choice to the House for a final pick. Trump has been urging GOP members of Congress to turn what has become a pro forma event — Congress' certifying the votes transmitted from the states — into another sideshow, rejecting the slates of electors that were chosen and denying Biden a majority. That would then let the House's delegations, in which Republicans have a slight majority, make their pick. It's not going to happen — but the fact that we even have to think about it is worrying.
If electors were truly free to choose the person most fit for office, regardless of party, there might be something to the concept. As it stands, though, as a rubber stamp meant only to apportion out the vote into variables that are then plugged into an arcane algebra for parties to exploit, the system will remain broken. So pick one: the Electoral College or political parties — you can't have both and a functioning democracy.


msnbc--2020-12-15--Biden addresses loved ones of 300,000 Americans who have died of Covid-19

“Today our nation passed a grim milestone: 300,000 deaths,” says President-elect Joe Biden. “My heart goes out to each of you in this dark winter of pandemic, about to spend the holidays and the new year with a black hole in your hearts without the ones you loved at your side.”Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Attorney General Barr to step down on Dec. 23, President Trump announces in tweet

Attorney General Barr to step down on Dec. 23, President Trump announces in tweet
President Donald Trump said in a tweet that Attorney General William Barr is resigning. Trump said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen would become Acting AG after Barr's departure.Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Biden officially reaches 270 electoral votes to become President-elect

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.


msnbc--2020-12-15--‘I believe in science’: NYC Nurse first to get vaccinated for covid-19 in United States

New York City ICU nurse Sandra Lindsay was the first person to get the covid-19 vaccine after FDA authorization in the United States. On The ReidOut, she says “As a nurse, my practice is guided by the science. I believe in science ... I hope that me taking the vaccine today is an inspiration to you."Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--Abrams: McConnell wants to burn it all down—and Loeffler, Perdue hold the matches

“Mitch McConnell has a vested interest in not only burning the house down, but blocking the firefighters from coming to save us,” says Stacey Abrams. “And unfortunately, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue are happy standing next to him holding the matches.”Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Steve Schmidt: Trump ‘has been fired by the American people’

Co-founder of the Lincoln Project Steve Schmidt calls today, when the Electoral College meets, a happy day because it cements Joe Biden’s victory. But he also warns that democracy has been "poisoned" by Donald Trump and the GOP.Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--Jon Meacham: Trump is the ‘most fundamentally transactional president we have ever had’

Jon Meacham: Trump is the ‘most fundamentally transactional president we have ever had’
Jon Meacham, Rogers Chair at Vanderbilt University, analyzes Attorney General Bill Barr’s departure from the DOJ and explains what it shows about Trump and his presidencyDec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-14--If you thought Trump was the most dangerous threat to our democracy, you were wrong

The Electoral College casts its votes Monday , but just days earlier , more than half of House Republicans signed on to a Texas lawsuit asking the Supreme Court for an emergency order to invalidate the ballots of millions of voters in four battleground states , despite having zero evidence of voter fraud .
The Supreme Court — including all three of President Donald Trump ’ s appointees — rejected the case .
But one wonders whether it would have been more useful for the court to have heard the case , expose the baseless claims for the public to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m sure I won ’ t find many takers on that idea , but there is a much larger matter at play right now than whether or not Trump ’ s tactics worked .
They may not have worked in the actual courts , but that might not matter as much as we want it to .
A poll out Dec. 10 indicated that 77 percent of Republicans believe there was fraud in this election .
And while most of the talk of fraud comes from Trump himself — he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all around us .
And the momentum is fueled by fringe fiction , not facts .
Months ago , I warned that congressional candidates who hold dangerous fringe views could potentially get elected .
And they did .
And I thought that was going to be our biggest problem moving forward — candidates whipping up conspiracies to divide voters and get elected .
I failed at the time to recognize that the dangers are far greater .
Since Nov. 3 , elected members of the GOP and their constituents — not whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fringe groups ” — have pushed actual lies , setting their highly selective outrage on anyone not in favor of overturning the election , i.e .
the people who voted President-elect Joe Biden in and Trump out .
It ’ s one thing if Biden ’ s victory had been like Trump ’ s — an electoral college win even though more people voted for his opponent .
But 7 million more people voted for Biden than for Trump and of more than 50 cases filed , not one court — not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single instance of voter fraud .
No multiple voting , no dead people voting .
Just people not voting for Trump .
To these conspiracy theorists and congressional enablers , it doesn ’ t matter that there ’ s no evidence of voter fraud and that count after recount has shown Trump to be the loser each time .
The fringe conspiracists want what Trump wants : to subvert democracy .
They continue to fight for a president who himself will apparently fight for anything as long as it benefits him .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hysterical .
But not in a funny way .
Trump continues to test our norms , the Constitution and our freedoms under his manipulative , fact-free but still substantial weight .
He is , after all , still the president of the United States .
He empowers these fringe thinkers and they support his every perverted and unjust idea .
It ’ s a dangerous relationship that is damaging our foundations .
And the most dangerous part is that this phenomenon goes beyond Trump .
He ’ s helped ignite his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlast his presidency .
I don ’ t know whether the fringe found Trump or Trump found the fringe , but this stuff is real .
From the ridiculous but increasingly dangerous # StoptheSteal movement that is encouraging Americans to take the so-called “ stolen election ” into their own hands , whatever that means , to the consistent undermining of the coronavirus , Trump and his enablers have brought the fringe into the middle of the most important issues this nation faces .

The Electoral College casts its votes Monday, but just days earlier, more than half of House Republicans signed on to a Texas lawsuit asking the Supreme Court for an emergency order to invalidate the ballots of millions of voters in four battleground states, despite having zero evidence of voter fraud.
There is a much larger matter at play right now than whether or not Trump’s tactics worked.
The Supreme Court — including all three of President Donald Trump’s appointees — rejected the case. But one wonders whether it would have been more useful for the court to have heard the case, expose the baseless claims for the public to see, and then decided against it.
I’m sure I won’t find many takers on that idea, but there is a much larger matter at play right now than whether or not Trump’s tactics worked. They may not have worked in the actual courts, but that might not matter as much as we want it to. A poll out Dec. 10 indicated that 77 percent of Republicans believe there was fraud in this election. And while most of the talk of fraud comes from Trump himself — he’s the spark — the fuel is all around us. And the momentum is fueled by fringe fiction, not facts.
Months ago, I warned that congressional candidates who hold dangerous fringe views could potentially get elected. And they did. And I thought that was going to be our biggest problem moving forward — candidates whipping up conspiracies to divide voters and get elected.
I failed at the time to recognize that the dangers are far greater. Since Nov. 3, elected members of the GOP and their constituents — not whom you’d ordinarily think of as “fringe groups” — have pushed actual lies, setting their highly selective outrage on anyone not in favor of overturning the election, i.e. the people who voted President-elect Joe Biden in and Trump out.
It’s one thing if Biden’s victory had been like Trump’s — an electoral college win even though more people voted for his opponent. But 7 million more people voted for Biden than for Trump and of more than 50 cases filed, not one court — not a single one — has found a single instance of voter fraud. No multiple voting, no dead people voting. Just people not voting for Trump.
A poll out on Dec. 10 indicated that 77 percent of Republicans believe there was fraud in this election.
To these conspiracy theorists and congressional enablers, it doesn’t matter that there’s no evidence of voter fraud and that count after recount has shown Trump to be the loser each time. The fringe conspiracists want what Trump wants: to subvert democracy. They continue to fight for a president who himself will apparently fight for anything as long as it benefits him.
This behavior is historical. Actually, it’s hysterical. But not in a funny way.
Trump continues to test our norms, the Constitution and our freedoms under his manipulative, fact-free but still substantial weight. He is, after all, still the president of the United States. He empowers these fringe thinkers and they support his every perverted and unjust idea. It’s a dangerous relationship that is damaging our foundations. And the most dangerous part is that this phenomenon goes beyond Trump. He’s helped ignite his base, which we will soon see outlast his presidency.
I don’t know whether the fringe found Trump or Trump found the fringe, but this stuff is real. From the ridiculous but increasingly dangerous #StoptheSteal movement that is encouraging Americans to take the so-called “stolen election” into their own hands, whatever that means, to the consistent undermining of the coronavirus, Trump and his enablers have brought the fringe into the middle of the most important issues this nation faces.


msnbc--2020-12-14--Moscow's latest cyberattack may not concern Trump — but it should concern everyone else

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be taking a cyberattack joy ride through federal government agencies , and once again President Donald Trump shows no intention of applying the brakes .
Putin knows that president-elect Joe Biden will take the Kremlin ’ s hacking , malware , denial of service attacks and election interference seriously .
So the Russian president has just weeks remaining to muscle his way through the firewalls and security infrastructure of key U.S. agencies to pilfer , posture and provoke .
And if a new attack revealed this weekend is any indication , we could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Putin as soon as the president-elect takes office .
Evidence of Putin ’ s latest digital rampage was revealed on Dec. 13 .
According to The Washington Post sources , Russian external security service known as the SVR is believed to be behind a series of wide-ranging attacks , monthslong attacks across multiple government agencies , from Department of the Treasury to the Department of Commerce .
Disturbingly , the Russians also broke into a top cybersecurity firm , FireEye , and stole hacking tools the firm uses to test clients ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is even more armed and more dangerous than previously thought .
According to Washington Post sources , the scale of the Russian espionage operation is so vast that the National Security Council may have been spied on , as well .
A leading cyber expert , Dmitri Alperovitch , advised The Associated Press that the hack could “ turn into one of the most impactful espionage campaigns on record.
” As reported , this cyber-espionage campaign dates back for months and appears to be the work of the hacking group known as Cozy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group hacked the White House and the State Department during the Obama administration and is linked to attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine research .
This SVR unit also hacked the Democratic National Committee in 2015 in an attack separate from a similar Democratic National Committee intrusion by Russia ’ s military intelligence agency , the GRU .
That GRU attack on the DNC was an attempt to aid Trump ’ s election campaign , and it resulted in then-special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s indictment of a dozen named GRU officers .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the precise methods and timing of the GRU hacks , was likely an extreme embarrassment for Putin .
More recently , Putin ’ s angst must have been elevated when U.S. Cyber Command and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) shut down Russia ’ s attempts to support Trump ’ s re-election by interfering with our voting systems .
Here ’ s why all of us should care about where this new type of warfare may be headed .
The Russians were likely able to pull off this massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a network management system called SolarWinds .
SolarWinds is used by more than 300,000 organizations across the world .
These clients include all five branches of the U.S. military , the Pentagon , State Department , Justice Department , NASA , the executive office of the president and the National Security Agency , the world ’ s top electronic spy agency , according to the firm ’ s website .
SolarWinds is also used by the top 10 U.S. telecommunications companies .
That means the ripple effects will doubtless spread much farther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key leader in America ’ s quiet fight against this emerging threat is no longer at the helm .
Trump wasn ’ t happy when Chris Krebs , the head of CISA , pronounced the 2020 election secure .
As a result , Trump fired Krebs .
So , a critical leadership spot is vacant while we are at war .
With news breaking of Russia ’ s latest efforts , Krebs sent a series of tweets Sunday night meant as a vote of confidence in the members of his team still on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CISA ’ s leadership vacancy is problematic .
But there ’ s an even more important leader who is present , but seemingly unwilling to act .
The real question is not whether our agencies can handle this , but whether we have any confidence that Trump will do or say anything , by way of sanctions , retaliatory actions , or warnings , that might pause Putin ’ s trashing of our cyberdefenses .
Based on his track record with Russia , there ’ s no reason to believe Trump will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are still about 40 days left in the Trump administration .
That means that Putin ’ s free license to loot will expire soon .
In these waning days , we should expect even more attacks and compromises of key computer systems .
Congress should do all that it can to demand answers and insist on a response from the White House .
Perhaps this new hacking assault is last-minute shopping from Putin and his secret services .
But it could also represent something bigger and more concerning .
Our adversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Biden , signaling he intends to ensure Biden will be fighting viruses — on multiple fronts — the minute as soon as he steps into the Oval Office .

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be taking a cyberattack joy ride through federal government agencies, and once again President Donald Trump shows no intention of applying the brakes. Putin knows that president-elect Joe Biden will take the Kremlin’s hacking, malware, denial of service attacks and election interference seriously. So the Russian president has just weeks remaining to muscle his way through the firewalls and security infrastructure of key U.S. agencies to pilfer, posture and provoke. And if a new attack revealed this weekend is any indication, we could be looking at a cyber showdown between Biden and Putin as soon as the president-elect takes office.
If a new attack revealed this weekend is any indication, we could be looking at a cyber showdown between Biden and Putin as soon as the president-elect takes office.
Evidence of Putin’s latest digital rampage was revealed on Dec. 13. According to The Washington Post sources, Russian external security service known as the SVR is believed to be behind a series of wide-ranging attacks, monthslong attacks across multiple government agencies, from Department of the Treasury to the Department of Commerce. Disturbingly, the Russians also broke into a top cybersecurity firm, FireEye, and stole hacking tools the firm uses to test clients’ computer defenses. That means the SVR is even more armed and more dangerous than previously thought.
According to Washington Post sources, the scale of the Russian espionage operation is so vast that the National Security Council may have been spied on, as well. A leading cyber expert, Dmitri Alperovitch, advised The Associated Press that the hack could “turn into one of the most impactful espionage campaigns on record.”
As reported, this cyber-espionage campaign dates back for months and appears to be the work of the hacking group known as Cozy Bear or APT29. This same Russian group hacked the White House and the State Department during the Obama administration and is linked to attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine research. This SVR unit also hacked the Democratic National Committee in 2015 in an attack separate from a similar Democratic National Committee intrusion by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
That GRU attack on the DNC was an attempt to aid Trump’s election campaign, and it resulted in then-special counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment of a dozen named GRU officers. Those indictments, which included extremely detailed discoveries of the precise methods and timing of the GRU hacks, was likely an extreme embarrassment for Putin. More recently, Putin’s angst must have been elevated when U.S. Cyber Command and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) shut down Russia’s attempts to support Trump’s re-election by interfering with our voting systems.
Here’s why all of us should care about where this new type of warfare may be headed. The Russians were likely able to pull off this massive attack because they got inside the server of a network management system called SolarWinds. SolarWinds is used by more than 300,000 organizations across the world. These clients include all five branches of the U.S. military, the Pentagon, State Department, Justice Department, NASA, the executive office of the president and the National Security Agency, the world’s top electronic spy agency, according to the firm’s website.
SolarWinds is also used by the top 10 U.S. telecommunications companies. That means the ripple effects will doubtless spread much farther than the government.
Second, a key leader in America’s quiet fight against this emerging threat is no longer at the helm. Trump wasn’t happy when Chris Krebs, the head of CISA, pronounced the 2020 election secure. As a result, Trump fired Krebs. So, a critical leadership spot is vacant while we are at war. With news breaking of Russia’s latest efforts, Krebs sent a series of tweets Sunday night meant as a vote of confidence in the members of his team still on the job.
As news breaks about what looks to be a pretty large-scale hack, I have the utmost confidence in the @CISAgov team and other Federal partners. I'm sorry I'm not there with them, but they know how to do this. This thing is still early, I suspect. Let's let the pros work it. — Chris Krebs (@C_C_Krebs) December 13, 2020
Despite Krebs’ reassurances, CISA’s leadership vacancy is problematic. But there’s an even more important leader who is present, but seemingly unwilling to act. The real question is not whether our agencies can handle this, but whether we have any confidence that Trump will do or say anything, by way of sanctions, retaliatory actions, or warnings, that might pause Putin’s trashing of our cyberdefenses. Based on his track record with Russia, there’s no reason to believe Trump will do anything of the kind.
Third, there are still about 40 days left in the Trump administration. That means that Putin’s free license to loot will expire soon. In these waning days, we should expect even more attacks and compromises of key computer systems. Congress should do all that it can to demand answers and insist on a response from the White House.
Perhaps this new hacking assault is last-minute shopping from Putin and his secret services. But it could also represent something bigger and more concerning. Our adversary may be throwing down the cyber gauntlet to Biden, signaling he intends to ensure Biden will be fighting viruses — on multiple fronts — the minute as soon as he steps into the Oval Office.


msnbc--2020-12-14--The Electoral College is not necessarily the problem in our voting system


msnbc--2020-12-14--WATCH: Health care worker is first to receive Covid vaccine in New York

The first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine administered in New York was given to a health care worker on a livestream with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Immediately after receiving the vaccine, the nurse from Northwell Health said she was "feeling well."Dec. 14, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--Biden's win confirmed, vaccinations begin, AG Barr to step down

Nurse describes what it was like to get the Covid vaccine

On Monday, the Electoral College made Joe Biden's win formal, the first coronavirus vaccinations began in the United States, and President Trump announced his AG Bill Barr would be stepping down before January. The panel recaps.Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--Barr ends shameful tenure that began with a big public lie about the Mueller investigation

Barr ends shameful tenure that began with a big public lie about the Mueller investigation
On the announcement that Attorney General Bill Barr will leave office before Christmas, Rachel Maddow looks at some of the lowlights of his tenure with the Trump administration, beginning with a big, public lie about content of the Mueller investigation.Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--'The dam broke tonight': Biden chief of staff sees GOP politicians accepting Biden's win

Ron Klain, chief of staff to President-elect Joe Biden, sounds a hopeful note about the Biden administration working with Republicans, citing the state Republican elected officials who stood up to pressure from Donald Trump to overturn the election, and a new round of acceptance by national Republicans now that state electors have voted.Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--Fmr. federal prosecutor: Barr's the worst AG in my lifetime

With Trump's ever-loyal Attorney General Bill Barr on the way out, MSNBC Legal Analyst Cynthia Alksne reacts to the tenure of one of Trump's most loyal Cabinet members.Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--It's over: Watch MAGA elector confronted by certified vote on live TV

With the Electoral College officially certifying Joe Biden’s win of the election, MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Wisconsin Republican official Bill Feehan, who are respectively a Biden and a Trump elector, to debate the vote. The duo ultimately clashed over the vote, and Feehan still refuses to recognize Joe Biden as the president-elect even after the Electoral College voted.Dec. 15, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-15--Laurie Garrett: Even with a vaccine, wear a mask and keep social distance

Laurie Garrett: Even with a vaccine, wear a mask and keep social distance
Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering global pandemics, tells Lawrence O'Donnell that if people stop following Covid-19 health guidelines, “We are going to see a horrible explosion in cases and deaths long before the vaccine reaches mass distribution.”Dec. 15, 2020