msnbc--2020-11-18--Trump's stall tactics have worked brilliantly in court. Until now.

For all his bluster , President Donald Trump 's No .
1 preferred legal tactic for the last four years has been markedly passive : At its core , the move is to delay at any and all cost .
Trump has faced a litany of lawsuits throughout his term , many of them related to his personal affairs and their effect on his governance .
But this time , the calendar is working against him .
His most reliable tactic is failing him when he needs it most .
This is admittedly a bit of a mea culpa : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was distressed by Trump 's clear messaging that he 'd challenge the election results and potentially draw the whole mess before the Supreme Court .
But that 's not exactly what we 've seen in the last two weeks .
While Trump has threatened litigation as easily as breathing over the course of his career , he has rarely followed through .
Instead , he 's more often the defendant in cases in which he or one of his companies is a party .
By now , his lawyers have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Buy more time for the president to figure out some other way to weasel out of whatever the plaintiff alleges he 's done this time .
And it has n't just worked — it has worked a lot .
Trump has been subpoenaed for his company 's finances in a Manhattan criminal investigation into potential insurance and bank fraud ; he has been implicated in a campaign finance scheme to cover up his extramarital fling with a porn actress ; he has fought tooth and nail against attempts by Democrats — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clause of the Constitution — to get a peek under the hood of his businesses .
And in all of these instances , he has managed to run out the clock .
The Supreme Court ruled in July that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance was within his rights to ask for Trump 's financial records , tossing his claims of `` absolute immunity '' from state criminal cases while president straight in the trash .
The president 's legal team in response simply filed new motions to stay the decision , now arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was issued in bad faith .
When a district judge rejected that claim , his lawyers appealed .
They lost the appeal , too , and now the case seems to be heading to the Supreme Court — again .
Meanwhile , aside from what they 've read in The New York Times , Democratic lawmakers still have seen neither hide nor hair of Trump 's tax returns .
The Supreme Court offered more or less a draw between the executive and legislative branches .
The justices ruled in July that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress could ask him for went too far , but they also said Congress had overreached in its subpoenas .
Congressional Democrats have also been blocked from seeing the innards of some of special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into links between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia .
That case is pending before the Supreme Court , but House Democrats moved Tuesday to postpone arguments , currently scheduled for Dec. 2 , seeing it as a moot point in light of President-elect Joe Biden 's win .
In some of the cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including those over whether administration officials have to turn over evidence in an impeachment case and — improbably — whether he can be sued for defamation for speaking out against author E. Jean Carroll , he has brought the full force of the Justice Department into play .
Federal lawyers have argued that he was acting as a government employee when he denied Carroll 's rape allegation and claimed that she was looking to make money by lying .
A judge rejected that argument , but while the case is still moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sidelined discovery in the suit until after the election .
Compare that string of what technically count as wins to the unmitigated disaster that has been Trump 's attempt to go on offense in court against the election results .
The weekend saw a series of losses for the campaign in state and federal courts , even as it has rolled back some of its arguments .
The campaign abandoned its case in Arizona on Friday .
The conservative group True the Vote abruptly dropped its cases in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pennsylvania 's Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign 's claim that election officials violated the law by keeping voting officials and observers separated .
Unlike when he has been able to lean on the Justice Department , his legal team is n't exactly made up of A-listers .
In one case filed in Pennsylvania , most of the lawyers working the suit have quit .
A federal judge did n't look kindly on an attempt from the lawyer recruited to take over — who Reuters reporter Jan Wolfe noted is better known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to postpone arguments for another day .
The same lawyer had also previously said on his radio show that the campaign 's lawsuits `` will not work . ''
Rudy Giuliani , Trump 's personal lawyer , is officially in charge of this clownery .
He showed up for Tuesday 's hearing in federal court in Pennsylvania , at which he made a last-minute request to be considered by the bench as part of the legal team .
( He 's not admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania , but what are technicalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Giuliani , who reportedly is asking for $ 20,000 per day for his prowess ? )
Once granted permission to speak , Giuliani alleged before a federal judge that there had been `` widespread national voter fraud '' and that observers had n't been allowed to watch vote counting — which , again , the state Supreme Court had just rejected .
He went on to suggest that 680,000 mail-in ballots from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh be thrown out entirely .
`` As far as we 're concerned , your honor , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Giuliani said , unconvincingly .
It 's all part and parcel of the slapdash nature of this legal effort , which has been chasing any and every potential lead in an effort to overturn votes in swing states with no real overarching argument .
How unserious is this mummers ' play ?
Ted Olson and David Boies , who argued on opposite sides of Bush v. Gore before the Supreme Court in 2000 , co-wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post saying this year 's election is nothing like the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reap three potential advantages from his delays in spite of the crushing courtroom failures .
One is that they allow him and his campaign to keep fundraising and paying off campaign debts .
The second is that they give his allies cover to keep denying that Biden will be the next president — so long as at least one court case is still ongoing , it 's not really a lie to say the election is disputed .
The third is that , in theory , they have bought Trump time to rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him from being evicted from the White House in January .
Unfortunately for him , the cavalry does n't appear to be coming just yet .
His supporters may believe his claim that the election was rigged , but they are n't taking to the streets .
The past weekend 's attempt to marshal his forces resulted in only a few thousand people showing up .
States will begin certifying election results soon — Georgia does so Friday .
The Electoral College will meet Dec. 14 to cast its votes , locking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is n't going to be able to drag his feet in court to come up with a win .

For all his bluster, President Donald Trump's No. 1 preferred legal tactic for the last four years has been markedly passive: At its core, the move is to delay at any and all cost. Trump has faced a litany of lawsuits throughout his term, many of them related to his personal affairs and their effect on his governance. But this time, the calendar is working against him. His most reliable tactic is failing him when he needs it most.
While Trump has threatened litigation as easily as breathing over the course of his career, he has rarely followed through.
This is admittedly a bit of a mea culpa: In the weeks ahead of Election Day, I was distressed by Trump's clear messaging that he'd challenge the election results and potentially draw the whole mess before the Supreme Court. But that's not exactly what we've seen in the last two weeks.
While Trump has threatened litigation as easily as breathing over the course of his career, he has rarely followed through. Instead, he's more often the defendant in cases in which he or one of his companies is a party. By now, his lawyers have a pretty good playbook: Stall the proceedings. Buy more time for the president to figure out some other way to weasel out of whatever the plaintiff alleges he's done this time.
And it hasn't just worked — it has worked a lot.
Trump has been subpoenaed for his company's finances in a Manhattan criminal investigation into potential insurance and bank fraud; he has been implicated in a campaign finance scheme to cover up his extramarital fling with a porn actress; he has fought tooth and nail against attempts by Democrats — who claim he's been violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution — to get a peek under the hood of his businesses. And in all of these instances, he has managed to run out the clock.
The Supreme Court ruled in July that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance was within his rights to ask for Trump's financial records, tossing his claims of "absolute immunity" from state criminal cases while president straight in the trash. The president's legal team in response simply filed new motions to stay the decision, now arguing that Vance's subpoena was overly broad and was issued in bad faith. When a district judge rejected that claim, his lawyers appealed. They lost the appeal, too, and now the case seems to be heading to the Supreme Court — again.
Meanwhile, aside from what they've read in The New York Times, Democratic lawmakers still have seen neither hide nor hair of Trump's tax returns. The Supreme Court offered more or less a draw between the executive and legislative branches. The justices ruled in July that the president's proposed restrictions on what documents Congress could ask him for went too far, but they also said Congress had overreached in its subpoenas.
Trump's supporters may believe his claim that the election was rigged, but they aren't taking to the streets.
Congressional Democrats have also been blocked from seeing the innards of some of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into links between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. That case is pending before the Supreme Court, but House Democrats moved Tuesday to postpone arguments, currently scheduled for Dec. 2, seeing it as a moot point in light of President-elect Joe Biden's win.
In some of the cases that Trump has been forced to fight, including those over whether administration officials have to turn over evidence in an impeachment case and — improbably — whether he can be sued for defamation for speaking out against author E. Jean Carroll, he has brought the full force of the Justice Department into play. Federal lawyers have argued that he was acting as a government employee when he denied Carroll's rape allegation and claimed that she was looking to make money by lying. A judge rejected that argument, but while the case is still moving forward, the Justice Department's intervention sidelined discovery in the suit until after the election.
Compare that string of what technically count as wins to the unmitigated disaster that has been Trump's attempt to go on offense in court against the election results. The weekend saw a series of losses for the campaign in state and federal courts, even as it has rolled back some of its arguments. The campaign abandoned its case in Arizona on Friday. The conservative group True the Vote abruptly dropped its cases in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on Monday. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign's claim that election officials violated the law by keeping voting officials and observers separated.
Unlike when he has been able to lean on the Justice Department, his legal team isn't exactly made up of A-listers. In one case filed in Pennsylvania, most of the lawyers working the suit have quit. A federal judge didn't look kindly on an attempt from the lawyer recruited to take over — who Reuters reporter Jan Wolfe noted is better known for talk radio than election law — to postpone arguments for another day. The same lawyer had also previously said on his radio show that the campaign's lawsuits "will not work."
To recap:
- 3 more Trump lawyers asked to quit
- Judge allowed 2 of the 3 to drop out
- Trump added a lawyer better know for a local radio show than election law
- New guy tried to postpone tmrw’s hearing
- Judge denied in a terse order that threw low-key shade https://t.co/EGqg8qRfj7 — Jan Wolfe (@JanNWolfe) November 17, 2020
Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, is officially in charge of this clownery. He showed up for Tuesday's hearing in federal court in Pennsylvania, at which he made a last-minute request to be considered by the bench as part of the legal team. (He's not admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, but what are technicalities such as these to a legal force like Giuliani, who reportedly is asking for $20,000 per day for his prowess?)
Once granted permission to speak, Giuliani alleged before a federal judge that there had been "widespread national voter fraud" and that observers hadn't been allowed to watch vote counting — which, again, the state Supreme Court had just rejected. He went on to suggest that 680,000 mail-in ballots from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh be thrown out entirely. "As far as we're concerned, your honor, those ballots could have been for Mickey Mouse," Giuliani said, unconvincingly.
Giuliani says they're not asking to throw out all the votes, just around 680,000 from Pittsburgh and Philly. He acknowledges it's a "draconian" remedy. "As far as we’re concerned, your honor, those ballots could have been for Mickey Mouse." — Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) November 17, 2020
It's all part and parcel of the slapdash nature of this legal effort, which has been chasing any and every potential lead in an effort to overturn votes in swing states with no real overarching argument. How unserious is this mummers' play? Ted Olson and David Boies, who argued on opposite sides of Bush v. Gore before the Supreme Court in 2000, co-wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post saying this year's election is nothing like the one 20 years ago.
Trump stands to reap three potential advantages from his delays in spite of the crushing courtroom failures. One is that they allow him and his campaign to keep fundraising and paying off campaign debts. The second is that they give his allies cover to keep denying that Biden will be the next president — so long as at least one court case is still ongoing, it's not really a lie to say the election is disputed.
The third is that, in theory, they have bought Trump time to rally the public in his defense and prevent him from being evicted from the White House in January. Unfortunately for him, the cavalry doesn't appear to be coming just yet. His supporters may believe his claim that the election was rigged, but they aren't taking to the streets. The past weekend's attempt to marshal his forces resulted in only a few thousand people showing up.
States will begin certifying election results soon — Georgia does so Friday. The Electoral College will meet Dec. 14 to cast its votes, locking in Biden's victory. For once, Trump isn't going to be able to drag his feet in court to come up with a win.


msnbc--2020-11-18--Dr. Mario Ramirez warns of patient overload at hospitals as Covid cases surge

Oklahoma doctor : Wear a mask or 'we wo n't be able to care for you when you come to @ @ @ @ @ '

Former HHS Pandemic and Emerging Threats Coordinator Dr. Mario Ramirez stressed the importance of staying safe as Covid-19 cases surge across the U.S. Ramirez focused on hospital patient overload and said, “Things will get worse over the next six weeks,” and “There may be a chance that we can’t help you.”Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Chuck Todd: Trump's efforts to overturn election results could 'crack the foundation of our democrac

Chuck Todd: Trump's efforts to overturn election results could 'crack the foundation of our democracy'
President Trump continues efforts to overturn election results in states like Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin. “Folks, this is not what a healthy democracy looks like. This is what a banana republic looks like," says Chuck Todd.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Ex-Pres. Trump on trial? Why it’s not Biden's call

Many people are wondering if ex-president Trump and his allies could face legal problems once Biden is inaugurated, despite people close to Biden asserting the President-Elect hopes to avoid divisive investigations into Trump. In his latest special report, MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber highlights why that framing is problematic when the Justice Department is meant to operate independently and turn on facts, not on who is coming into office. Melber emphasizes Biden himself has said he will leave any decision to prosecute Trump and his allies up to an independent DOJ .Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Michael Steele: We cannot wait for Donald Trump to stop ‘acting like a petulant child’

Michael Steele: We cannot wait for Donald Trump to stop ‘acting like a petulant child’
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele believes that the Trump administration needs to accept that Joe Biden has won the presidency and start working with Biden’s transition team, because people’s ‘lives are at stake’Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--John Brennan says Trump's behavior is 'what we’ve seen in many authoritarian countries'

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


msnbc--2020-11-18--Trump campaign to file petition for recount in two Wisconsin counties

Trump campaign to file petition for recount in two Wisconsin counties
NBC's Shaquille Brewster reports from Madison, Wisconsin as the Trump campaign confirms they will be filing a petition for a recount in two counties.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Georgia officials spar with Sen. Lindsey Graham

A top staffer for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Tuesday that he was on the line when Sen. Lindsey Graham asked his boss whether he had the power to reject certain absentee ballots. NBC's Josh Lederman reports.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Steve Schmidt calls efforts to cast doubt on the election a ‘breaking of faith with American democra

Steve Schmidt calls efforts to cast doubt on the election a ‘breaking of faith with American democracy’
Co-founder of the Lincoln Project Steve Schmidt says Trump not accepting the results of the election is his worst action yet, and says it’s tragic to watch Republicans go along with itNov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Susan Rice: 'This is most irresponsible leadership during a transition' ever seen

Former National Security Adviser Amb. Susan Rice joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the stalled transition, and the national security risks that accompany. She slams the Trump administration's behavior during the delay, saying that "they are proceeding in a fashion that is reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible" and calling the president's actions the "most irresponsible leadership during a transition I think any of us have seen in our lifetimes if not in the history of the republic."Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--NJ mother talks need for relief package: People like me ‘are about to lose everything’

Millions of American families are facing an uncertain future as we head into this holiday season. Federal Covid aid is set to expire or run out at the end of the year. Joining Katy Tur to discuss is Nellie Riether. She's a New Jersey mother of two, and has been out of work since April.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Indiana doctor 'worried' about non-Covid patients as hospitals reach full capacity

Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center emergency physician Dr. Stephen Sample, said the state's rise in Covid-19 cases is “way worse” than a few months ago. Dr. Sample shared his concern for non-coronavirus patients as hospitals continue to fill up.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Mr. President-elect, America owes the Black community some money

In this moment of national reflection and reckoning with the vile vestiges of white supremacy in America , and on the heels of the most racist administration in a generation , President-elect Joe Biden has a rare opportunity to fortify his legacy on race , one that goes further than political appointments or the kind of liberal , lift-all-boats policy that has instead lowered the flood lines of racial progress .
Right now , there ’ s an opportunity for real healing .
And a good place to start is with reparations .
Malcolm X once said of healing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches , there 's no progress .
If you pull it all the way out , that 's not progress .
Progress is healing the wound that the blow made .
And they have n't even pulled the knife out , much less heal the wound .
They wo n't even admit the knife is there.
” These words offer some useful guidelines for the incoming administration .
Because following a year in which Black people have suffered from a trio of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic fallout that ’ s followed , the social and economic vulnerability of Black America has been brought into stark relief .
In other words , the opportunity lies in the fact that people have actually started to admit the metaphorical knife of systemic racism is there .
The next steps toward healing are more crucial than ever .
During a pre-election town hall in October , Biden referred to parts of the 1994 Crime Bill — which remains one of the most devastating pieces of legislation ever heaped on the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake.
” In the next breath , he defended the legislation more broadly , saying it was implemented wrongly on the local level and had wide support from the Congressional Black Caucus .
That ’ s been the go-to historical anachronism : that policy hostile to Black people has simply been some sort of legislative byproduct , rather than wounds inflicted without regard at best , and intentionally at worst .
But despite the mealy apology , it was a moment that in some ways sought to not just square history , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden has taken pride in being vice president to Barack Obama , our first Black president , as well as in selecting Kamala Harris as a running mate , who — barring the world collapsing — will become our first Black and female vice president .
The roots of the centuries-wide disparities between Black people and white Americans , in health and wealth , stretch far back to the founding of this country and its favored sins , slavery and racism .
There is a clear and indisputable link between disproportionate Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have made Black communities ripe for suffering .
But it may be the economic suffering from the pandemic that lingers longest .
Because the pre-existing conditions that have devastated Black bodies and Black bank accounts are one and the same .
I wrote about the roots of the racial wealth gap in the New York Times ’ s award-winning 1619 project , where I described the racial wealth gap as “ perhaps the most glaring legacy of American slavery and the violent economic dispossession that followed.
” I detailed how Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States population but hold less than 3 percent of the nation ’ s total wealth .
I talked about how white Americans have seven times the wealth of Black Americans on average and pointed out how the median family wealth for white people is $ 171,000 , compared with just $ 17,600 for Black people .
Among the more shocking statistics that I found was that 19 percent of Black households have zero or negative net worth .
Just 9 percent of white families are that poor .
Now add Covid-related losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatens to haunt generations of Black families yet born .
As the crisis drags on , Black people continue to be most likely to lose their jobs and/or their lives due to Covid-19 .
Biden ’ s campaign pitch to Black America was centered on addressing systemic inequality and injustice .
Since then , he has consciously embraced his role in helping to equalize what has forever been the highest political bastion of inequality : the White House .
In more recent days , he has tapped hundreds of policy experts to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many African American policy leaders , to form one of the most diverse agency review teams in history .
He ’ s promised a Cabinet that will “ look like America , ” and has appeared intentional in trying to stow his own racial baggage .
But all this won ’ t be enough .
Not when the very communities that helped push the Biden-Harris ticket over the finish line on Election Day are home to some of the most long-suffering people in America , including Philadelphia , the poorest big city in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the racial and economic divides are as stark and as troubling as you ’ ll see .
The disparate economic and health outcomes in Black communities across the country hinge to decades and decades of racist housing , education and employment policies that have yet to be fully undone .
“ For decades , Black people have shown up time and time again for a country that consistently tells us that our lives don ’ t matter , ” Mary Hooks , a founding member of Black Lives Matter Atlanta , told USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you , we need this administration to be bold and unapologetic about paying that debt through enacting policy changes.
” “ We need reparations for the descendants of Africans both here and abroad , period , ” Hooks said .
The call for reparations has grown louder in recent years , specifically from the Black American descendants of enslaved people who ’ ve demanded the economic recuperation for all that has been stolen and denied Black Americans and our ancestors .
They ’ ve rightly pointed out just how ruinous hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarceration and slavery by too many other names to count has been for Black Americans .
Each step along the way , the government has been complicit in the social and economic oppression of Black people , so it ’ s only right that the government play a central role in their liberation .
Congress held hearings on H.R .
40 in 2019 , a bill to study reparations and the economic impact of slavery first introduced by Rep. John Conyers , D-Mich. , in 1989 , and then in every Congress that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ r-word ” became a central issue .
During those early debates , each Democratic candidate was expected to declare their position on reparations .
Yet , since then , the issue of reparations , let alone H.R .
40 ’ s humble call to study the issue , has all but disappeared from the lips of politicians , including Biden 's .
And while Biden thanked Black folks for having his back during his victory speech and promised to have theirs in return , the best way to do it is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 and begin the process of trying to repair America ’ s deepest and most lasting injury .
Biden is in position to undo what he himself referred to as the “ mistakes ” of his and America ’ s past , for his legacy and our nation ’ s .
It 's time for America to go beyond recognizing the knife that ’ s in the back of Black America , to remove it and begin the long process of salving our wounds .

In this moment of national reflection and reckoning with the vile vestiges of white supremacy in America, and on the heels of the most racist administration in a generation, President-elect Joe Biden has a rare opportunity to fortify his legacy on race, one that goes further than political appointments or the kind of liberal, lift-all-boats policy that has instead lowered the flood lines of racial progress.
The roots of the centuries-wide disparities between Black people and white people stretch back to the founding of this country.
Right now, there’s an opportunity for real healing. And a good place to start is with reparations.
Malcolm X once said of healing and progress: “If you stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out, that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven't even pulled the knife out, much less heal the wound. They won't even admit the knife is there.”
These words offer some useful guidelines for the incoming administration. Because following a year in which Black people have suffered from a trio of plagues including police brutality, Covid-19 and the economic fallout that’s followed, the social and economic vulnerability of Black America has been brought into stark relief. In other words, the opportunity lies in the fact that people have actually started to admit the metaphorical knife of systemic racism is there. The next steps toward healing are more crucial than ever.
During a pre-election town hall in October, Biden referred to parts of the 1994 Crime Bill — which remains one of the most devastating pieces of legislation ever heaped on the back of Black America — as a “mistake.”
In the next breath, he defended the legislation more broadly, saying it was implemented wrongly on the local level and had wide support from the Congressional Black Caucus. That’s been the go-to historical anachronism: that policy hostile to Black people has simply been some sort of legislative byproduct, rather than wounds inflicted without regard at best, and intentionally at worst.
But despite the mealy apology, it was a moment that in some ways sought to not just square history, but also Biden’s legacy on race. Biden has taken pride in being vice president to Barack Obama, our first Black president, as well as in selecting Kamala Harris as a running mate, who — barring the world collapsing — will become our first Black and female vice president.
The pre-existing conditions that have devastated Black bodies and Black bank accounts are one and the same.
The roots of the centuries-wide disparities between Black people and white Americans, in health and wealth, stretch far back to the founding of this country and its favored sins, slavery and racism. There is a clear and indisputable link between disproportionate Covid-19 death rates and the historic structural inequalities that have made Black communities ripe for suffering. But it may be the economic suffering from the pandemic that lingers longest. Because the pre-existing conditions that have devastated Black bodies and Black bank accounts are one and the same.
I wrote about the roots of the racial wealth gap in the New York Times’s award-winning 1619 project, where I described the racial wealth gap as “perhaps the most glaring legacy of American slavery and the violent economic dispossession that followed.”
I detailed how Black people make up nearly 13 percent of the United States population but hold less than 3 percent of the nation’s total wealth. I talked about how white Americans have seven times the wealth of Black Americans on average and pointed out how the median family wealth for white people is $171,000, compared with just $17,600 for Black people. Among the more shocking statistics that I found was that 19 percent of Black households have zero or negative net worth. Just 9 percent of white families are that poor.
Now add Covid-related losses, and what has been a nightmare threatens to haunt generations of Black families yet born. As the crisis drags on, Black people continue to be most likely to lose their jobs and/or their lives due to Covid-19.
19 percent of Black households have zero or negative net worth. Just 9 percent of white families are that poor.
Biden’s campaign pitch to Black America was centered on addressing systemic inequality and injustice. Since then, he has consciously embraced his role in helping to equalize what has forever been the highest political bastion of inequality: the White House.
In more recent days, he has tapped hundreds of policy experts to be part of his transition team, including many African American policy leaders, to form one of the most diverse agency review teams in history. He’s promised a Cabinet that will “look like America,” and has appeared intentional in trying to stow his own racial baggage.
But all this won’t be enough. Not when the very communities that helped push the Biden-Harris ticket over the finish line on Election Day are home to some of the most long-suffering people in America, including Philadelphia, the poorest big city in the country. Or Milwaukee, where the racial and economic divides are as stark and as troubling as you’ll see. The disparate economic and health outcomes in Black communities across the country hinge to decades and decades of racist housing, education and employment policies that have yet to be fully undone.
“For decades, Black people have shown up time and time again for a country that consistently tells us that our lives don’t matter,” Mary Hooks, a founding member of Black Lives Matter Atlanta, told USA Today recently. “Beyond a cheap thank you, we need this administration to be bold and unapologetic about paying that debt through enacting policy changes.”
“We need reparations for the descendants of Africans both here and abroad, period,” Hooks said.
The call for reparations has grown louder in recent years, specifically from the Black American descendants of enslaved people who’ve demanded the economic recuperation for all that has been stolen and denied Black Americans and our ancestors. They’ve rightly pointed out just how ruinous hundreds of years of enslavement, exploitation, mass incarceration and slavery by too many other names to count has been for Black Americans. Each step along the way, the government has been complicit in the social and economic oppression of Black people, so it’s only right that the government play a central role in their liberation.
Congress held hearings on H.R. 40 in 2019, a bill to study reparations and the economic impact of slavery first introduced by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., in 1989, and then in every Congress that followed. During the primaries, the “r-word” became a central issue. During those early debates, each Democratic candidate was expected to declare their position on reparations.
Yet, since then, the issue of reparations, let alone H.R. 40’s humble call to study the issue, has all but disappeared from the lips of politicians, including Biden's. And while Biden thanked Black folks for having his back during his victory speech and promised to have theirs in return, the best way to do it is to push for the passage of H.R. 40 and begin the process of trying to repair America’s deepest and most lasting injury.
Biden is in position to undo what he himself referred to as the “mistakes” of his and America’s past, for his legacy and our nation’s. It's time for America to go beyond recognizing the knife that’s in the back of Black America, to remove it and begin the long process of salving our wounds.


msnbc--2020-11-19--Joe: It is time for GOP to start moving forward

Vaccines are promising but public must be safe for now : doctor

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows brushed off questions Wednesday about Trump's allegations of voter fraud, and the Morning Joe panel discusses why it's time for Republicans to let the country move forward with the incoming administration.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Trump Covid-19 adviser urges people to gather with elderly on Thanksgiving despite risks

“This is a bad idea. 1,800 Americans died today. If we all get together for Thanksgiving we can get it up to 3,600. I don’t know if that is Scott Atlas’ goal—it feels like it honestly. But people should not get inside in big family gatherings on Thanksgiving,” says Chris Hayes.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--‘Unfair’: Fmr. GSA admin. responds to delay in Biden transition

“I heard HHS Secretary Azar say he wasn’t going to turn over the Biden transition team on coronavirus until Emily Murphy ascertained. My reaction to that was that is really unfair. Do it. And don’t make her be the one to let you do it. Show some courage,” says David Barram, the GSA administrator during Bush’s 2000 transition.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Weissmann: Citizen Trump should be prosecuted for obstructing Special Counsel Mueller

Andrew Weissmann, former lead prosecutor for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, talks about why it's important that Donald Trump, as a citizen after he leaves office, face accountability for crimes he may have committed before he was elected as well as potential crimes while in office, like obstructing the special counsel's investigation.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Stewing over Biden win, Trump MIA as U.S. Covid deaths top 250,000

The president is missing in action as the Covid-19 pandemic rages out of control in multiple states and his team is blocking critical information to the incoming Biden administration.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Maddow: Trump leaves U.S. vulnerable with decapitation of cybersecurity agency

Rachel Maddow remarks on the number of areas where CISA helps ensure the security of vital U.S. interests and how Donald Trump's firing of all of the top people at that agency exposes the U.S. to greater risk for outside malign actors.Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Samantha Power: ‘Putin was denied’ interfering in the 2020 election

Samantha Power, the former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, joins Lawrence O’Donnell to explain how foreign actors like Vladimir Putin were unable to “delegitimate the democratic process” through foreign interference in the 2020 election and why fired Trump admin. official Christopher Krebs “did such important work keeping the election straight.”Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Redlener: Wrong to close schools but not bars over Covid-19 surge

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


msnbc--2020-11-19--Officials follow Trump's lead dodging reporter questions


msnbc--2020-11-19--Trump campaign spends $3 million on recount in two Wisconsin counties

Biden won Wisconsin by more than 20k votes, but the Trump campaign has requested – and paid for – a recount in Wisconsin’s Milwaukee and Dane Counties. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says if the Trump campaign follows the recount with a legal challenge, it would fail. “We’ve seen the Trump campaign’s success in court post-election, and they keep losing case after case. And the reason is because their claims have no merit.”Nov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--There's no such thing as a 'good' Afghanistan policy

It looks like President Donald Trump has had enough of Afghanistan .
After days of news reports hinting at it , acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced Tuesday that the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will drop by about half by the last days of Trump 's term , to about 2,500 , the lowest it has been since the war began in 2001 .
National security adviser Robert O'Brien added that it 's Trump 's hope that all the remaining forces stationed in Afghanistan will be home by May .
President-elect Joe Biden 's administration will therefore be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts Trump has ordered or follow through on his last-minute withdrawal , with all the risks that entails ?
After almost 20 years with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan , the choices U.S. leaders have range between bad and worse .
The only real difference is which side you think is which .
Biden has expressed a preference for staying in Afghanistan with a smaller , counterterrorism-focused footprint , the same stance he had as vice president during President Barack Obama 's review of the war in 2009 .
But almost 12 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in place as an expensive antiterrorist unit ?
The budget request for U.S. forces in Afghanistan for fiscal year 2021 was $ 14 billion , the lowest in a decade , down from $ 17 billion for fiscal year 2020 .
But those funds get added onto an existing price tag of $ 778 billion in U.S. military expenditures since the start to September 2019 .
The arguments for staying are focused on the need for U.S. military muscle to prevent a total takeover of the country by the Taliban — or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
But that only further punts on answering the so-far unanswerable question : `` When is the job done ? ''
As it stands , the country is still in a stalemate .
The Taliban ca n't take over the big cities and other places with higher populations ; the Afghan military ca n't keep the peace in rural areas .
Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have accordingly stalled .
On the flip side , a withdrawal from an unstable Afghanistan could invite accusations that the U.S. is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates whom we 've spent a generation promising we 'd protect .
Gunmen killed 19 people in an attack on Kabul University on Nov. 2 .
ISIS 's Afghan offshoot claimed credit for the attack , highlighting the insecurity the country would continue to face after the last U.S. service member departs .
Meanwhile , Trump 's drawdown is occurring even as the terms of the U.S.-Taliban deal brokered in February remain unfulfilled — the Taliban was supposed to break its ties with Al Qaeda and ISIS before the 8,600 troops in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
The safety guarantees that were core to the initial reasoning for invading and overthrowing the Taliban still have n't been fulfilled .
For the last decade and a half , we 've tried to split the difference between going and staying , unable to commit to either .
The Obama administration 's review led to a surge in troops that saw a peak of over 100,000 before they were drawn down again .
Not much has changed since then .
Obama 's early pledges to end the endless wars ended with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. forces still fighting the Taliban .
Trump campaigned on ending America 's overseas follies , too .
For all his yelling and his current rush for the exit , Trump ended up escalating the air campaign in Afghanistan , dropping more bombs on the country in 2018 than any year since 2011 .
That in turn resulted in an increase in civilian casualties — the U.N. mission in Afghanistan reported in 2019 that `` pro-government forces , '' which includes the U.S. , had killed more Afghan civilians in the third quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` anti-government forces . ''
Trump , in a deviation for him , defended deciding to stay in Afghanistan as his listening to his advisers .
`` We 're there because virtually every expert that I have and speak to say if we do n't go there , they 're going to be fighting over here , '' he said in a 2018 Washington Post interview .
`` And I 've heard it over and over again . ''
And yet in the two debates between Biden and Trump this fall , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a war left idling in neutral , always ready for either a new acceleration or a tap on the brakes .
Hopefully , whatever happens , and however Biden 's team feels , we can have an actual national debate .
Congress should be involved in the decision-making after having been AWOL for years — and so should we , the American people .
If we leave Afghanistan , are we willing to accept the idea of being less safe and leaving its civilians in harm 's way ?
If we stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost and the deaths of the very civilians we 're trying to protect in the name of their safety and ours ?
It 's not an easy choice .
Neither option is a good one .
But we 're finally at a place where we ca n't hedge anymore : Are we in or out ?

It looks like President Donald Trump has had enough of Afghanistan. After days of news reports hinting at it, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced Tuesday that the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will drop by about half by the last days of Trump's term, to about 2,500, the lowest it has been since the war began in 2001.
National security adviser Robert O'Brien added that it's Trump's hope that all the remaining forces stationed in Afghanistan will be home by May. President-elect Joe Biden's administration will therefore be left with a decision: restore the cuts Trump has ordered or follow through on his last-minute withdrawal, with all the risks that entails?
After almost 20 years with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, the choices U.S. leaders have range between bad and worse. The only real difference is which side you think is which.
Biden has expressed a preference for staying in Afghanistan with a smaller, counterterrorism-focused footprint, the same stance he had as vice president during President Barack Obama's review of the war in 2009. But almost 12 years later, does it make sense to remain in place as an expensive antiterrorist unit? The budget request for U.S. forces in Afghanistan for fiscal year 2021 was $14 billion, the lowest in a decade, down from $17 billion for fiscal year 2020. But those funds get added onto an existing price tag of $778 billion in U.S. military expenditures since the start to September 2019.
After almost 20 years with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, the choices U.S. leaders have range between bad and worse.
The arguments for staying are focused on the need for U.S. military muscle to prevent a total takeover of the country by the Taliban — or, worse, the Islamic State militant group. But that only further punts on answering the so-far unanswerable question: "When is the job done?" As it stands, the country is still in a stalemate. The Taliban can't take over the big cities and other places with higher populations; the Afghan military can't keep the peace in rural areas. Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have accordingly stalled.
On the flip side, a withdrawal from an unstable Afghanistan could invite accusations that the U.S. is abandoning the women, minorities and pro-democracy advocates whom we've spent a generation promising we'd protect. Gunmen killed 19 people in an attack on Kabul University on Nov. 2. ISIS's Afghan offshoot claimed credit for the attack, highlighting the insecurity the country would continue to face after the last U.S. service member departs.
Meanwhile, Trump's drawdown is occurring even as the terms of the U.S.-Taliban deal brokered in February remain unfulfilled — the Taliban was supposed to break its ties with Al Qaeda and ISIS before the 8,600 troops in place in June were to begin leaving the country. The safety guarantees that were core to the initial reasoning for invading and overthrowing the Taliban still haven't been fulfilled.
For the last decade and a half, we've tried to split the difference between going and staying, unable to commit to either. The Obama administration's review led to a surge in troops that saw a peak of over 100,000 before they were drawn down again. Not much has changed since then. Obama's early pledges to end the endless wars ended with his leaving office after two terms with U.S. forces still fighting the Taliban.
Trump campaigned on ending America's overseas follies, too. For all his yelling and his current rush for the exit, Trump ended up escalating the air campaign in Afghanistan, dropping more bombs on the country in 2018 than any year since 2011. That in turn resulted in an increase in civilian casualties — the U.N. mission in Afghanistan reported in 2019 that "pro-government forces," which includes the U.S., had killed more Afghan civilians in the third quarter of 2019 than the Taliban and other "anti-government forces."
It's a war left idling in neutral, always ready for either a new acceleration or a tap on the brakes.
Trump, in a deviation for him, defended deciding to stay in Afghanistan as his listening to his advisers. "We're there because virtually every expert that I have and speak to say if we don't go there, they're going to be fighting over here," he said in a 2018 Washington Post interview. "And I've heard it over and over again."
And yet in the two debates between Biden and Trump this fall, there was zero mention of Afghanistan. It's a war left idling in neutral, always ready for either a new acceleration or a tap on the brakes. Hopefully, whatever happens, and however Biden's team feels, we can have an actual national debate. Congress should be involved in the decision-making after having been AWOL for years — and so should we, the American people. If we leave Afghanistan, are we willing to accept the idea of being less safe and leaving its civilians in harm's way? If we stay, are we willing to accept the cost and the deaths of the very civilians we're trying to protect in the name of their safety and ours?
It's not an easy choice. Neither option is a good one. But we're finally at a place where we can't hedge anymore: Are we in or out?


msnbc--2020-11-20--Maddow: We feared Susan's Covid would kill her. Your risks could hurt those you love most.

Dr. Vin Gupta on how to travel safely , but only if you must

Maddow: We feared Susan's Covid would kill her. Your risks could hurt those you love most.
Rachel Maddow reveals that the reason for her ongoing quarantine is that her partner, Susan, tested positive for Covid-19 and is still recovering from severe symptoms, and implores viewers to consider their loved ones when they calculate their own Covid-19 risk.Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-20--Obama: Hard to bring country together while Trump continues to 'fan division'

Following the release of his new book, “A Promised Land,” President Barack Obama speaks with Jonathan Capehart for a candid conversation about a disturbing moment on the day of his first inauguration and whether it changes the way Democrats will unite the country in their new chapter. Watch the exclusive cable interview with President Obama, tonight at 10PM Eastern, on MSNBC.Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-20--Hillary Clinton probably doesn't want to be U.N. ambassador. She should do it anyway.

President-elect Joe Biden has started naming some of his White House staff , most notably Ron Klain as his chief of staff .
But he has n't yet publicly named any members of his Cabinet , so , of course , Washington 's rumor mills are grinding furiously .
One name has stuck with me after I read it in a Nov. 12 article from The Washington Post : Hillary Rodham Clinton .
Yes , really .
`` One intriguing name being discussed privately is former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chatter who spoke on the condition of anonymity , '' The Post reported .
`` The thinking behind the move was that it would be a way for Biden to highlight the importance of that position in his administration and that placing her there would raise the prestige of the U.N. itself at a time when global cooperation , and the U.S. role on the world stage , has ebbed . ''
That all sounds ideal to someone like me , who got his start in this industry writing about how the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Clinton has international name recognition , yes , but her outsize presence would n't necessarily bigfoot the rest of Biden 's foreign policy team .
What does she have to gain from steamrolling others trying to execute the president 's policies ?
It 's not like she 's going to be running for higher office — and she was well-known as a team player during her time in President Barack Obama 's Cabinet .
As a former secretary of state , she 's respected in world capitals , and unlike the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly empowered by her boss .
When it comes to contentious negotiations , she would n't be one to challenge frivolously .
She spent the latter half of her time as secretary going toe to toe with Sergei Lavrov , Russia 's longtime foreign minister , over Syria and other sticky issues .
She could also bring heft to the topic areas ignored during the Trump years , like climate change initiatives , women 's rights and LGBTQ issues .
All well worth her time , if you ask me .
That still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to do it ?
Would it be a demotion for a former senior Cabinet member who came within a few thousand votes of becoming president ?
Former national security adviser Susan Rice seems to think so : Rice served as U.N. ambassador under Clinton during Obama 's first term .
( She 's in the running to become Biden 's secretary of state herself , according to some media speculation . )
But I think she 's looking at this opportunity too narrowly for someone like Clinton , who has so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now .
I also think it discounts the symbolism that would surround Clinton 's acceptance of the job , highlighting her dedication to government service in the name of rebuilding the country post-Trump .
Then there 's the question of legacy .
Clinton did n't carve out much for herself the way other historic secretaries have .
( Some of Obama 's bigger foreign policy wins , including the Iran nuclear deal and thawing diplomatic relations with Cuba , happened in his second term , under John Kerry . )
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to suggest that Clinton was a better ambassador than a secretary — so why not give it another go as one of the highest-placed ambassadors in the U.S. government ?
She would certainly have clout under Biden .
Under both Bill Clinton and Obama , the ambassadorship was a full-ranking Cabinet position .
George W. Bush and Donald Trump both downgraded it to be more subservient to the secretary of state , but it 's likely that Biden will bump the job back up again .
No matter where it falls in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job has certain political quirks .
The ambassador is isolated from the day-to-day jockeying for position of Washington , which means he or she is both held at arm 's length from the inner circle surrounding the president and free to build up their own power bases in New York City .
Nikki Haley , Trump 's first U.N. ambassador , managed to do just that — to the apparent chagrin of then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson .
But even here , Clinton would seem to be an ideal candidate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Blinken .
Blinken is one of Biden 's closest allies , but he and Clinton also go way back .
He helped write foreign policy speeches for President Bill Clinton , and his wife , Evan Ryan , worked on Hillary Clinton 's East Wing staff and later as a scheduler during her run for the Senate in 2000 .
( Hillary even attended their wedding . )
It just seems like the kind of relationship that brings a lot of trust along with it .
Rather than just go with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a few U.N. hands to make sure I was n't totally misreading the situation .
Akshaya Kumar , the director of crisis advocacy at Human Rights Watch , told me that she could see Clinton as an effective counter to Chinese influence at the U.N .
In the last four years , China has burrowed deep into the infrastructure of various multilateral agencies , taking advantage of the vacuum that America 's domestic distractions have created .
The next U.S. ambassador will need to convince countries that the U.S. , not China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their corner .
`` That requires someone really savvy about the geopolitics , but someone also able to punch above the weight of that position , '' Kumar , who was formerly Human Right Watch 's deputy U.N. director , told me .
`` It might take unprecedented muscle to heal '' the Trump administration 's stance toward the U.N. , she added .
Richard Gowan , U.N. director at the International Crisis Group , is n't so sure that someone at Clinton 's level is necessary to repair the Trumpian damage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend her days involved with the grind of very difficult Security Council diplomacy with the Chinese or Russians over Syria ? ''
Gowan wondered .
`` The real problem with USUN is getting the basics of diplomacy in New York back on track , '' he said , noting the poor coordination between Washington and New York under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump 's current U.N. ambassador , Kelly Craft .
`` It 's really nice to speculate on Clinton restoring U.S. credibility of the U.N. , but restoring credibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backroom , grinding work , on Security Council affairs , human rights and other things Trump has completely ignored . ''
So let 's say Clinton is n't actually into the gig .
Whom does that leave ?
Politico kicked out a few names , including those of Wendy Sherman , a former undersecretary of state for political affairs , and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
Sherman , who led the negotiations with Iran and other world powers that would become the 2015 nuclear deal , would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose name has also been floated to lead Veteran 's Affairs , would be a very different choice , skewing more toward the Haley model of a younger politician on the ascendancy .
Two other names I 've heard floated that make some sense : those of Rep. Karen Bass of California and Susan Rice herself .
Personally , I see Rice as even more of a long shot than Clinton , having done the job once before .
And after having lost out on being Biden 's secretary of state in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like a poor consolation prize .
Bass is interesting , though , as she has plenty of experience dealing with the U.N.. She 's currently chair of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa , Global Health , Global Human Rights and International Organizations , which has jurisdiction in Congress over U.N. issues .
Bass is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus ; last year , she joined a CBC delegation to the U.N. for meetings around World AIDS Day and the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mix to serve the rest of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ' term in the Senate .
All that having been said , I get that I may be in the minority here .
Lord knows Clinton does n't need to spend more time explaining herself to Republican senators .
But honestly , I 'm just glad to have the brain space to think about the U.N. again .
And if Clinton can get other people to start thinking about global policy and priorities while pushing the U.S. back into the mix with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the opportunity .
You know , if she 's even asked .

President-elect Joe Biden has started naming some of his White House staff, most notably Ron Klain as his chief of staff. But he hasn't yet publicly named any members of his Cabinet, so, of course, Washington's rumor mills are grinding furiously.
One name has stuck with me after I read it in a Nov. 12 article from The Washington Post: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Yes, really.
"One intriguing name being discussed privately is former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, according to the person familiar with the chatter who spoke on the condition of anonymity," The Post reported. "The thinking behind the move was that it would be a way for Biden to highlight the importance of that position in his administration and that placing her there would raise the prestige of the U.N. itself at a time when global cooperation, and the U.S. role on the world stage, has ebbed."
That all sounds ideal to someone like me, who got his start in this industry writing about how the U.N. was paralyzed by the Syrian civil war. Clinton has international name recognition, yes, but her outsize presence wouldn't necessarily bigfoot the rest of Biden's foreign policy team. What does she have to gain from steamrolling others trying to execute the president's policies? It's not like she's going to be running for higher office — and she was well-known as a team player during her time in President Barack Obama's Cabinet.
As a former secretary of state, she's respected in world capitals, and unlike the role's current occupant, she would be clearly empowered by her boss. When it comes to contentious negotiations, she wouldn't be one to challenge frivolously. She spent the latter half of her time as secretary going toe to toe with Sergei Lavrov, Russia's longtime foreign minister, over Syria and other sticky issues.
She could also bring heft to the topic areas ignored during the Trump years, like climate change initiatives, women's rights and LGBTQ issues. All well worth her time, if you ask me.
That still raises the question: Would Clinton actually want to do it? Would it be a demotion for a former senior Cabinet member who came within a few thousand votes of becoming president? Former national security adviser Susan Rice seems to think so:
This is ridiculous and an insult to @HillaryClinton. Stop. Please. https://t.co/i1J0IwE0ot — Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) November 13, 2020
Ouch.
Rice served as U.N. ambassador under Clinton during Obama's first term. (She's in the running to become Biden's secretary of state herself, according to some media speculation.) But I think she's looking at this opportunity too narrowly for someone like Clinton, who has so many ideas and no way to implement them right now. I also think it discounts the symbolism that would surround Clinton's acceptance of the job, highlighting her dedication to government service in the name of rebuilding the country post-Trump.
Then there's the question of legacy. Clinton didn't carve out much for herself the way other historic secretaries have. (Some of Obama's bigger foreign policy wins, including the Iran nuclear deal and thawing diplomatic relations with Cuba, happened in his second term, under John Kerry.) The New Yorker's John Cassidy went as far as to suggest that Clinton was a better ambassador than a secretary — so why not give it another go as one of the highest-placed ambassadors in the U.S. government?
She would certainly have clout under Biden. Under both Bill Clinton and Obama, the ambassadorship was a full-ranking Cabinet position. George W. Bush and Donald Trump both downgraded it to be more subservient to the secretary of state, but it's likely that Biden will bump the job back up again.
Then there's the question of legacy. Clinton didn't carve out much for herself the way other historic secretaries have.
No matter where it falls in the chain of command, though, the job has certain political quirks. The ambassador is isolated from the day-to-day jockeying for position of Washington, which means he or she is both held at arm's length from the inner circle surrounding the president and free to build up their own power bases in New York City. Nikki Haley, Trump's first U.N. ambassador, managed to do just that — to the apparent chagrin of then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
But even here, Clinton would seem to be an ideal candidate. The current front-runner for secretary of state is Anthony Blinken. Blinken is one of Biden's closest allies, but he and Clinton also go way back. He helped write foreign policy speeches for President Bill Clinton, and his wife, Evan Ryan, worked on Hillary Clinton's East Wing staff and later as a scheduler during her run for the Senate in 2000. (Hillary even attended their wedding.) It just seems like the kind of relationship that brings a lot of trust along with it.
Rather than just go with my gut, though, I reached out to a few U.N. hands to make sure I wasn't totally misreading the situation. Akshaya Kumar, the director of crisis advocacy at Human Rights Watch, told me that she could see Clinton as an effective counter to Chinese influence at the U.N.
In the last four years, China has burrowed deep into the infrastructure of various multilateral agencies, taking advantage of the vacuum that America's domestic distractions have created. The next U.S. ambassador will need to convince countries that the U.S., not China, is the ally they want in their corner. "That requires someone really savvy about the geopolitics, but someone also able to punch above the weight of that position," Kumar, who was formerly Human Right Watch's deputy U.N. director, told me. "It might take unprecedented muscle to heal" the Trump administration's stance toward the U.N., she added.
Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the International Crisis Group, isn't so sure that someone at Clinton's level is necessary to repair the Trumpian damage, though. "Does she really want to spend her days involved with the grind of very difficult Security Council diplomacy with the Chinese or Russians over Syria?" Gowan wondered.
"The real problem with USUN is getting the basics of diplomacy in New York back on track," he said, noting the poor coordination between Washington and New York under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump's current U.N. ambassador, Kelly Craft. "It's really nice to speculate on Clinton restoring U.S. credibility of the U.N., but restoring credibility is going to be much more about backroom, grinding work, on Security Council affairs, human rights and other things Trump has completely ignored."
So let's say Clinton isn't actually into the gig. Whom does that leave? Politico kicked out a few names, including those of Wendy Sherman, a former undersecretary of state for political affairs, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Sherman, who led the negotiations with Iran and other world powers that would become the 2015 nuclear deal, would be a particularly strong choice. Mayor Pete, whose name has also been floated to lead Veteran's Affairs, would be a very different choice, skewing more toward the Haley model of a younger politician on the ascendancy.
Two other names I've heard floated that make some sense: those of Rep. Karen Bass of California and Susan Rice herself. Personally, I see Rice as even more of a long shot than Clinton, having done the job once before. And after having lost out on being Biden's secretary of state in this scenario, serving under Blinken might feel like a poor consolation prize.
Bass is interesting, though, as she has plenty of experience dealing with the U.N.. She's currently chair of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, which has jurisdiction in Congress over U.N. issues. Bass is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; last year, she joined a CBC delegation to the U.N. for meetings around World AIDS Day and the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. But Bass is also reported to be in the mix to serve the rest of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' term in the Senate.
All that having been said, I get that I may be in the minority here. Lord knows Clinton doesn't need to spend more time explaining herself to Republican senators. But honestly, I'm just glad to have the brain space to think about the U.N. again. And if Clinton can get other people to start thinking about global policy and priorities while pushing the U.S. back into the mix with other great powers, she should absolutely take the opportunity. You know, if she's even asked.


msnbc--2020-11-19--Trump just made Chris Krebs a martyr for America's democratic integrity

The modern world ’ s new battleground is cybersecurity — within that combat theater , people fight mightily against adversaries that pose no less a threat , and perhaps even more of a danger , to our foundational freedoms .
Chris Krebs was a kind of general on that field of battle — the head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) ; or at least he was , until the evening of Nov. 17 .
It is not an exaggeration to assert that Krebs ’ leadership and strategy directly defended our democracy by protecting our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrity of the results .
Krebs did this while under both friendly and foreign fire , some of which emanated straight from the White House .
But unlike U.S. service members defending American democracy abroad , Krebs will not be eligible for a medal .
Instead , Krebs was canned .
In two late-night tweets Nov. 17 , President Donald Trump , with only 10 weeks remaining in his term , accused Krebs of issuing a “ highly inaccurate ” statement maintaining that President-elect Joe Biden ’ s projected victory had been free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to falsely assert , in a statement that caused Twitter to attach a warning caveat , that there was evidence of “ massive improprieties and fraud.
” Trump was likely referring in his tweets to a joint statement Thursday from CISA , the Election Assistance Commission and entities that represent the chief election officer in every state .
That statement included the following language : “ There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised.
” The statement went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the most secure in American history.
” Krebs was fired because he had the audacity to publicly challenge Trump ’ s fantastical fabrications about the election .
Soon after word of Krebs ’ termination became public , his deputy Matthew Travis resigned from CISA as well , reportedly under White House pressure .
To be clear , Krebs wasn ’ t fired for making inaccurate statements .
He was jettisoned for doing his job .
Buried in all the media attention over Trump ’ s refusal to accept defeat is the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyberwar against foreign agents attempting to influence election outcomes .
Krebs , a former policy director at Microsoft , has been the face of our country ’ s efforts to secure the 2020 presidential election .
Krebs not only coordinated cybersecurity with election officials in every state , but he also convinced some of America ’ s most talented hackers to work for CISA .
CISA ’ s partnership with the U.S. Cyber Command and its head , Gen. Paul Nakasone , created a formidable alliance against meddling counterparts in the Russian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American strategy , led by Krebs , was masterful .
`` I think what you 're seeing more than anything is 3.5 years of collaboration , '' Krebs modestly explained , `` The 50 states are working together , sharing information , '' Krebs said .
`` From where we came in 2016 to where we are , we have a much better game plan . ''
While the more public part of the plan was impressive , the secret and stealthy side may someday become the plot of a Hollywood spy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Security Agency and the military 's U.S. Cyber Command , went further than Krebs , suggesting in a statement that secret operations stopped foreign interference .
`` I 'm confident the actions we 've taken against adversaries over the past several weeks and months have ensured they 're not going to interfere in our elections , '' Nakasone said , referring to cyber strikes carried out against the computer infrastructure associated with Russian and Iranian government hackers .
This successful counteroffensive against Russia ’ s pro-Trump efforts did not sit well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ termination may have also been an attempt to slow CISA ’ s efforts going forward .
Trump and his minions , at home and abroad , need the kind of propaganda machine that only the cyber world can provide .
Hacking , propaganda and phony accounts are all part of promoting the kind of chaos and distrust that both Trump and our foreign adversaries seem to want right now .
CISA , meanwhile , is part of the larger U.S. team that detects and defeats such efforts .
Even Trump-allied GOP senators who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed dismay at Krebs ' firing .
“ I 'm proud of the work we did at CISA , '' Krebs told NBC News on Tuesday night after his firing .
`` I 'm proud of the teammates I had at CISA .
We did it right . ''
Krebs and his team did do it right .
We should be proud of them .
And the president — and those who support him — should be ashamed .
Maybe , some day , Krebs will get a medal , but that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cares far more about our country than he does about himself .

The modern world’s new battleground is cybersecurity — within that combat theater, people fight mightily against adversaries that pose no less a threat, and perhaps even more of a danger, to our foundational freedoms.
Chris Krebs was a kind of general on that field of battle — the head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); or at least he was, until the evening of Nov. 17. It is not an exaggeration to assert that Krebs’ leadership and strategy directly defended our democracy by protecting our polling places and processes and maintaining the integrity of the results.
Krebs did this while under both friendly and foreign fire, some of which emanated straight from the White House. But unlike U.S. service members defending American democracy abroad, Krebs will not be eligible for a medal.
The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud - including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, “glitches” in the voting machines which changed... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2020
Instead, Krebs was canned. In two late-night tweets Nov. 17, President Donald Trump, with only 10 weeks remaining in his term, accused Krebs of issuing a “highly inaccurate” statement maintaining that President-elect Joe Biden’s projected victory had been free and secure and fair. Trump went on to falsely assert, in a statement that caused Twitter to attach a warning caveat, that there was evidence of “massive improprieties and fraud.”
Trump was likely referring in his tweets to a joint statement Thursday from CISA, the Election Assistance Commission and entities that represent the chief election officer in every state. That statement included the following language: “There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” The statement went on to call the Nov. 3 election “the most secure in American history.”
Krebs was fired because he had the audacity to publicly challenge Trump’s fantastical fabrications about the election. Soon after word of Krebs’ termination became public, his deputy Matthew Travis resigned from CISA as well, reportedly under White House pressure.
Krebs was fired because he had the audacity to publicly challenge Trump’s fantastical fabrications about the election.
To be clear, Krebs wasn’t fired for making inaccurate statements. He was jettisoned for doing his job. Buried in all the media attention over Trump’s refusal to accept defeat is the story of a resounding American victory in the cyberwar against foreign agents attempting to influence election outcomes.
Krebs, a former policy director at Microsoft, has been the face of our country’s efforts to secure the 2020 presidential election. Krebs not only coordinated cybersecurity with election officials in every state, but he also convinced some of America’s most talented hackers to work for CISA. CISA’s partnership with the U.S. Cyber Command and its head, Gen. Paul Nakasone, created a formidable alliance against meddling counterparts in the Russian and Iranian governments.
The public side of the American strategy, led by Krebs, was masterful. "I think what you're seeing more than anything is 3.5 years of collaboration," Krebs modestly explained, "The 50 states are working together, sharing information," Krebs said. "From where we came in 2016 to where we are, we have a much better game plan."
While the more public part of the plan was impressive, the secret and stealthy side may someday become the plot of a Hollywood spy thriller. Nakasone, who leads both the National Security Agency and the military's U.S. Cyber Command, went further than Krebs, suggesting in a statement that secret operations stopped foreign interference. "I'm confident the actions we've taken against adversaries over the past several weeks and months have ensured they're not going to interfere in our elections," Nakasone said, referring to cyber strikes carried out against the computer infrastructure associated with Russian and Iranian government hackers.
This successful counteroffensive against Russia’s pro-Trump efforts did not sit well with Trump. But Krebs’ Twitter termination may have also been an attempt to slow CISA’s efforts going forward. Trump and his minions, at home and abroad, need the kind of propaganda machine that only the cyber world can provide. Hacking, propaganda and phony accounts are all part of promoting the kind of chaos and distrust that both Trump and our foreign adversaries seem to want right now. CISA, meanwhile, is part of the larger U.S. team that detects and defeats such efforts. Even Trump-allied GOP senators who understand the critical work of CISA have expressed dismay at Krebs' firing.
This successful counteroffensive against Russia’s pro-Trump efforts did not sit well with Trump.
“I'm proud of the work we did at CISA," Krebs told NBC News on Tuesday night after his firing. "I'm proud of the teammates I had at CISA. We did it right." Krebs and his team did do it right. We should be proud of them. And the president — and those who support him — should be ashamed. Maybe, some day, Krebs will get a medal, but that will have to come from a president who cares far more about our country than he does about himself.


msnbc--2020-11-19--Trump wants out of Afghanistan entirely. Joe Biden has a choice to make.


msnbc--2020-11-20--Joe: It's time to let the next commander-in-chief get ready

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


msnbc--2020-11-20--Trump lawyer Giuliani lies and sweats through chaotic presser


msnbc--2020-11-20--Pfizer to apply for emergency use for its Covid-19 vaccine

Pfizer to apply for emergency use for its Covid-19 vaccine
Pfizer announced it will submit an application to the Food and Drug Administration Friday for an emergency use authorization for its experimental Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Scott Gottlieb joins Morning Joe to discuss.Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-20--Dr. Vin Gupta on how to travel safely, but only if you must

Dr. Vin Gupta on how to travel safely, but only if you must
MSNBC Medical Contributor Dr. Vin Gupta says you should avoid travel, but if you absolutely must - here's what you need to protect yourself from Covid-19.Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-20--‘Cowardly’: Chris Hayes on how Trump’s silent enablers are complicit in coup attempt

Chris Hayes asks, “So, Republican politicians—Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz—are you okay with this? Are you okay with holding an American election, and then just ignoring and overturning the results?”Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-20--Georgia completes recount, reaffirms Biden’s victory

Georgia’s Secretary of State has announced that the state has completed its statewide audit of paper ballots and has reaffirmed Biden’s victory in the state.Nov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Jason Johnson: We’re lucky that the ‘autocrat in the Oval Office was too incompetent to pull off thi

Jason Johnson: We’re lucky that the ‘autocrat in the Oval Office was too incompetent to pull off this coup’
Morgan State University journalism professor Jason Johnson blasts Trump’s election lawsuits and warns that our system needs reform, because without a few key people, Trump could have ruined our democracyNov. 19, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-19--Michigan SOS: ‘No legal mechanism’ for MI republicans to rescind their certification of votes

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


msnbc--2020-11-20--Neal Katyal: All of Trump’s criminal immunity expires in about 60 days

How do you govern when half the country is trapped in a disinformation bubble ?

Neal Katyal: All of Trump’s criminal immunity expires in about 60 days
Former U.S. acting solicitor general Neal Katyal explains the charges President Trump might face after he leaves office and the reason why his current legal efforts are incriminating him even moreNov. 20, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-21--Donald Trump Jr. tests positive for covid-19

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


msnbc--2020-11-20--Voting rights still aren't a guarantee for Georgia

As the 2020 election season draws to a merciful close , all eyes remain on Georgia .
The state voted Democratic in the presidential election — for the first time since 1992 — with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger officially certifying the vote for President-elect Joe Biden on Friday .
Now , control of the U.S. Senate depends on a pair of runoff elections on Jan. 5 .
No single factor adequately explains the rise of the new “ blue Georgia , ” but the role of Black voters there , especially in the younger generations , stands out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has the potential to cement the changes there for decades to come .
And given the history of suppression of the Black vote in Georgia , the emergence of this key demographic is nothing short of remarkable .
Ever since African Americans first secured the right to vote in Georgia , white supremacists have worked to take it away from them .
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries , white Georgians crafted an elaborate series of new rules and regulations to block Black voting , including a cumulative and costly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test , ” and property qualifications .
( Poor whites who might have been barred by these restrictions had their voting rights restored through the so-called grandfather clause . )
Most significantly , Georgia made the Democratic Party ’ s primary — the only primary that mattered at all in the one-party “ Solid South ” — a purely whites-only affair .
By the end of World War II , however , much of the official structure of disfranchisement had been dismantled , due to rulings by federal courts and changes in state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression unraveled , white supremacists resorted to extralegal programs of intimidation and violence to block Black voting .
In 1946 , Gov .
Gene Talmadge was asked how they might keep African Americans away from the polls .
The demagogic Democrat picked up a scrap of paper and wrote a single word on it : “ Pistols.
” The governor ’ s supporters took him seriously , singling out Black voters for violent retribution .
In Taylor County , a Black veteran who dared to vote in the now-open Democratic primary was dragged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by four white men .
Afterward , they nailed a sign up at a local Black church : “ The First N -- -- - to Vote Will Never Vote Again.
” In Walton County , midway between Atlanta and Athens , a white mob gunned down two Black couples in an open field ; one body was riddled with 180 bullets .
“ This thing ’ s got to be done to keep Mister N -- -- - in his place , ” a local coldly explained .
“ Since the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t been any holding him.
” Black Georgians , however , refused to stay in the “ place ” white supremacists assigned for them , and continued to press for full voting rights , prompting predictable responses from segregationists .
In “ Terrible Terrell ” County , in the southwestern section of the state , Sheriff Zeke Mathews and a dozen armed men barged into a voter-registration meeting at a Black church in July 1962 .
Smoking a cigar , the sheriff told the congregation that the white community was “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
We want our colored people to go on living like they have for the past 100 years.
” When Black activists persisted with their plans , that same church and another involved in the voting drive were firebombed that September .
White terrorists fired shots into the homes of Black leaders and dynamited others , too .
As the campaigns to suppress the Black vote grew uglier , the federal government finally stepped in .
First , it secured justice for past offenses with lawsuits against Mathews and other law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidate Black voters .
Then it worked to prevent further disfranchisement through the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
The landmark legislation wrought a revolution in voting rights across the South .
In Georgia , the percentage of eligible Black voters who were registered to vote more than doubled from 1965 to 1988 , closing the gap between African American and white registration rates to the point where the two were nearly identical .
While it helped boost Black registration across the South , the Voting Rights Act also worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly .
A key element of the law required that states with a history of voter suppression — such as Georgia — had to obtain “ pre-clearance ” from the Department of Justice before making any changes to their election procedures .
Over five decades , the vigilance of the federal government blocked 177 proposed changes in Georgia , ranging from redistricting to restricting the schedule for elections .
The Supreme Court ’ s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder , however , eviscerated the Voting Rights Act , ending the pre-clearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns of voter suppression .
Georgia ’ s secretary of state at the time , Brian Kemp , a Republican , purged an estimated 1.4 million voters from the rolls from 2010 to 2018 , with nearly 670,000 removed from the rolls in 2017 alone .
A year later , Kemp blocked registration efforts from 53,000 state residents , 70 percent of them Black .
At the same time , his office closed 214 polling sites across Georgia , predominantly in poorer counties with sizable African American populations .
As he wrapped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , Kemp ran for governor himself .
He won , but by the narrowest margin in nearly 50 years — roughly 55,000 votes .
As this new wave of voter suppression sweeps across Georgia , Black Georgians are once again fighting back .
This time , notably , they ’ re not fighting the Democratic Party that produced Gene Talmadge and Zeke Mathews ; they ’ re leading it .
The chair of the state party is African American , as are the party ’ s leaders in the incoming session of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most notably , Kemp ’ s opponent in the 2018 race , Stacey Abrams , was the first African American to win the Democratic Party ’ s nomination for governor there .
After her narrow loss in that race , Abrams has been working tirelessly to combat the new campaigns of voter suppression in Georgia and elsewhere through her organization Fair Fight .
The work she and countless other Black activists have done in the state have given the Rev .
Raphael Warnock the best shot yet to become the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abrams challenge Kemp again in 2022 , the best chance for her to become the state ’ s first African American governor as well .
Still , President Donald Trump continues to insist that the election has been stolen from him , that people ’ s hard-won votes were fraudulent , and that he had the opportunity and the right to overturn the results .
It ’ s a thinly veiled echo of the racial ugliness that has underpinned voting legislation in Georgia and in most states .
Georgia ’ s Black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state blue in an extremely crucial election .
But the energy being poured into erasing this Democratic victory — and their democratic victory —are proof that the fight for equal voting rights in this country is long from over and won .

As the 2020 election season draws to a merciful close, all eyes remain on Georgia. The state voted Democratic in the presidential election — for the first time since 1992 — with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger officially certifying the vote for President-elect Joe Biden on Friday. Now, control of the U.S. Senate depends on a pair of runoff elections on Jan. 5.
Ever since African Americans first secured the right to vote in Georgia, white supremacists have worked to take it away from them.
No single factor adequately explains the rise of the new “blue Georgia,” but the role of Black voters there, especially in the younger generations, stands out as a fundamentally important development, one that has the potential to cement the changes there for decades to come. And given the history of suppression of the Black vote in Georgia, the emergence of this key demographic is nothing short of remarkable.
Ever since African Americans first secured the right to vote in Georgia, white supremacists have worked to take it away from them.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, white Georgians crafted an elaborate series of new rules and regulations to block Black voting, including a cumulative and costly poll tax, an impossible-to-answer “literacy test,” and property qualifications. (Poor whites who might have been barred by these restrictions had their voting rights restored through the so-called grandfather clause.) Most significantly, Georgia made the Democratic Party’s primary — the only primary that mattered at all in the one-party “Solid South” — a purely whites-only affair.
By the end of World War II, however, much of the official structure of disfranchisement had been dismantled, due to rulings by federal courts and changes in state laws. As their legal schemes of suppression unraveled, white supremacists resorted to extralegal programs of intimidation and violence to block Black voting. In 1946, Gov. Gene Talmadge was asked how they might keep African Americans away from the polls. The demagogic Democrat picked up a scrap of paper and wrote a single word on it: “Pistols.”
In Taylor County, a Black veteran who dared to vote in the now-open Democratic Primary was dragged from his home and shot to death by four white men.
The governor’s supporters took him seriously, singling out Black voters for violent retribution. In Taylor County, a Black veteran who dared to vote in the now-open Democratic primary was dragged from his home and shot to death by four white men. Afterward, they nailed a sign up at a local Black church: “The First N----- to Vote Will Never Vote Again.” In Walton County, midway between Atlanta and Athens, a white mob gunned down two Black couples in an open field; one body was riddled with 180 bullets. “This thing’s got to be done to keep Mister N----- in his place,” a local coldly explained. “Since the state said he could vote, there ain’t been any holding him.”
Black Georgians, however, refused to stay in the “place” white supremacists assigned for them, and continued to press for full voting rights, prompting predictable responses from segregationists.
In “Terrible Terrell” County, in the southwestern section of the state, Sheriff Zeke Mathews and a dozen armed men barged into a voter-registration meeting at a Black church in July 1962. Smoking a cigar, the sheriff told the congregation that the white community was “a little fed up with this voter registration business. We want our colored people to go on living like they have for the past 100 years.” When Black activists persisted with their plans, that same church and another involved in the voting drive were firebombed that September. White terrorists fired shots into the homes of Black leaders and dynamited others, too.
As the campaigns to suppress the Black vote grew uglier, the federal government finally stepped in. First, it secured justice for past offenses with lawsuits against Mathews and other law enforcement officials who had used their positions to intimidate Black voters. Then it worked to prevent further disfranchisement through the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The landmark legislation wrought a revolution in voting rights across the South. In Georgia, the percentage of eligible Black voters who were registered to vote more than doubled from 1965 to 1988, closing the gap between African American and white registration rates to the point where the two were nearly identical.
While it helped boost Black registration across the South, the Voting Rights Act also worked to ensure that Black votes were counted fairly. A key element of the law required that states with a history of voter suppression — such as Georgia — had to obtain “pre-clearance” from the Department of Justice before making any changes to their election procedures. Over five decades, the vigilance of the federal government blocked 177 proposed changes in Georgia, ranging from redistricting to restricting the schedule for elections.
The Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, however, eviscerated the Voting Rights Act, ending the pre-clearance requirement and opening the door for renewed campaigns of voter suppression.
As this new wave of voter suppression sweeps across Georgia, Black Georgians are once again fighting back.
Georgia’s secretary of state at the time, Brian Kemp, a Republican, purged an estimated 1.4 million voters from the rolls from 2010 to 2018, with nearly 670,000 removed from the rolls in 2017 alone. A year later, Kemp blocked registration efforts from 53,000 state residents, 70 percent of them Black. At the same time, his office closed 214 polling sites across Georgia, predominantly in poorer counties with sizable African American populations. As he wrapped up this massive campaign of voter suppression in 2018, Kemp ran for governor himself. He won, but by the narrowest margin in nearly 50 years — roughly 55,000 votes.
As this new wave of voter suppression sweeps across Georgia, Black Georgians are once again fighting back. This time, notably, they’re not fighting the Democratic Party that produced Gene Talmadge and Zeke Mathews; they’re leading it. The chair of the state party is African American, as are the party’s leaders in the incoming session of the General Assembly and state Senate.
Most notably, Kemp’s opponent in the 2018 race, Stacey Abrams, was the first African American to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor there. After her narrow loss in that race, Abrams has been working tirelessly to combat the new campaigns of voter suppression in Georgia and elsewhere through her organization Fair Fight. The work she and countless other Black activists have done in the state have given the Rev. Raphael Warnock the best shot yet to become the state’s first African American senator and, should Abrams challenge Kemp again in 2022, the best chance for her to become the state’s first African American governor as well.
Still, President Donald Trump continues to insist that the election has been stolen from him, that people’s hard-won votes were fraudulent, and that he had the opportunity and the right to overturn the results. It’s a thinly veiled echo of the racial ugliness that has underpinned voting legislation in Georgia and in most states. Georgia’s Black voters have overcome improbable odds to turn their state blue in an extremely crucial election. But the energy being poured into erasing this Democratic victory — and their democratic victory —are proof that the fight for equal voting rights in this country is long from over and won.


msnbc--2020-11-20--Why Biden should want Hillary Clinton — yes, really — in his first Cabinet