msnbc--2020-11-16--Trump could be planning an extremist media empire. That should terrify you.

Just as much of the country prepares to breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of saying goodbye to a Trump White House , two recent reports about President Donald Trump point to the probability that dangerous extremist groups linked to his presidency will persist well beyond his tenure .
On Thursday , we learned from Axios that the president told friends that if and when he leaves office , he wants to start a digital media company to `` clobber Fox News '' and undermine the conservative-friendly network , according to sources .
A source went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel that would stream online because it would be `` cheaper and quicker to start '' than a cable television network .
Before that news , there were also reports that the president would announce his intention to run again in 2024 as soon as President-elect Biden is certified as the 2020 winner .
Taken separately , each of those revelations raises a red flag about a protracted future for the likes of the Boogaloo Bois , the Proud Boys , QAnon and a growing number of violent `` militias . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portend that our season of extremism is far from over .
Clearly , the Trump brand of GOP politics is somewhat attractive to many Americans — the president garnered more than 73 million votes in this election — and therefore some element must factor into future strategies for it to be successful .
Democrats only narrowly held their majority in the House by the slimmest margin in decades .
But I 'm not a political strategist — I 'm a national security analyst .
My concern is far less about partisan ideologies than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourages a subset of Trump adherents to believe fantasies about cannibalistic pedophiles running the world and to act out violently as part of a contorted crusade .
Those among Trump 's base who align with extremist , hate-based groups like the Proud Boys and violent `` militias '' seem to be part of a cult of personality rather than any kind of political belief system .
Their actions appear designed more to preserve Trump as guru than to sustain a system of values .
Throughout history , entities and empires failed when protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principles and processes .
The upside of extremism anchored in personality over process is that typically , when the personality fades away , so does the extremist element of his or her following .
That 's why cults eventually collapse and why dictators are deposed : because , in part at least , the only thing they stand for is themselves .
But what if the personality persists beyond the power imbued by some official designation like a presidential term ?
What if the personality finds a way to hold and even expand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who might present more reasonable alternatives ?
If Trump launches a media platform , he 'll do it while many of his followers , encouraged by him , are rejecting their `` go to '' right-wing cable network , Fox News , ostensibly for not being `` Trump enough . ''
A Trump outlet , designed to become a digital extremist echo chamber , would amplify false stories and dangerous voices , all unchecked by any semblance of journalistic guardrails .
Trump could exploit the fact that many of his followers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly identifying false and threatening content , are fleeing spaces like Twitter in favor of largely unregulated , foreign influence-friendly and propaganda-tolerant platforms like Parler .
Without the balance provided by daily mainstream media vetting , Trump and his most dangerous extremists could joyride together on a wild journey that might end only in a tragic and violent crash .
A dedicated extremist media platform , combined with a kind of perpetual presidential candidacy , would also serve to stifle any senior GOP voices who might try to siphon Trump followers toward their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
That means that more reasonable voices in the GOP would have far less influence , less potential to restore order and less hope of mitigating extremist violence if Trump spends the next four years owning his party 's front-runner position .
Moreover , President-elect Biden 's efforts to stem the alarming spread of Covid-19 could be severely hampered when Trump continues to deride measures to protect the population .
No one wants to see even partial shutdowns in America .
But what if the surging numbers of Covid-19 cases necessitate it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuades his followers to ignore such measures ?
As Trump said in last week 's Rose Garden news conference , `` This administration will not go to a lockdown . ''
A coordinated coupling of a Trump-centric media outlet with a protracted campaign for the presidency would pose the threat of even more violent extremism and perilously false narratives .
In an interview with CBS News that aired Sunday , former President Barack Obama made an observation about our nation : `` We are still deeply divided , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's presented in the media that those voters consume , it carries a lot of weight .
...
It 's very hard for a democracy to function if we are operating on just a completely different set of facts . ''
Obama is right .
And our bitter divisions , already dangerously extreme , will become even more so the longer Trump maintains his stranglehold on the hearts and minds of so many of our fellow Americans .

Just as much of the country prepares to breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of saying goodbye to a Trump White House, two recent reports about President Donald Trump point to the probability that dangerous extremist groups linked to his presidency will persist well beyond his tenure.
Those among Trump's base who align with extremist, hate-based groups like the Proud Boys and violent "militias" seem to be part of a cult of personality rather than any kind of political belief system.
On Thursday, we learned from Axios that the president told friends that if and when he leaves office, he wants to start a digital media company to "clobber Fox News" and undermine the conservative-friendly network, according to sources. A source went on to explain that Trump is considering a digital channel that would stream online because it would be "cheaper and quicker to start" than a cable television network. Before that news, there were also reports that the president would announce his intention to run again in 2024 as soon as President-elect Biden is certified as the 2020 winner.
Taken separately, each of those revelations raises a red flag about a protracted future for the likes of the Boogaloo Bois, the Proud Boys, QAnon and a growing number of violent "militias." And viewed together, the president's plans portend that our season of extremism is far from over.
Clearly, the Trump brand of GOP politics is somewhat attractive to many Americans — the president garnered more than 73 million votes in this election — and therefore some element must factor into future strategies for it to be successful. Democrats only narrowly held their majority in the House by the slimmest margin in decades.
But I'm not a political strategist — I'm a national security analyst. My concern is far less about partisan ideologies than about the dangerous cult of personality that encourages a subset of Trump adherents to believe fantasies about cannibalistic pedophiles running the world and to act out violently as part of a contorted crusade.
Throughout history, entities and empires failed when protecting a person became more important than preserving principles and processes.
Those among Trump's base who align with extremist, hate-based groups like the Proud Boys and violent "militias" seem to be part of a cult of personality rather than any kind of political belief system. Their actions appear designed more to preserve Trump as guru than to sustain a system of values. Throughout history, entities and empires failed when protecting a person became more important than preserving principles and processes.
The upside of extremism anchored in personality over process is that typically, when the personality fades away, so does the extremist element of his or her following. That's why cults eventually collapse and why dictators are deposed: because, in part at least, the only thing they stand for is themselves. But what if the personality persists beyond the power imbued by some official designation like a presidential term? What if the personality finds a way to hold and even expand his or her influence while simultaneously suppressing those who might present more reasonable alternatives?
If Trump launches a media platform, he'll do it while many of his followers, encouraged by him, are rejecting their "go to" right-wing cable network, Fox News, ostensibly for not being "Trump enough." A Trump outlet, designed to become a digital extremist echo chamber, would amplify false stories and dangerous voices, all unchecked by any semblance of journalistic guardrails. Trump could exploit the fact that many of his followers, concerned that mainstream social media platforms are increasingly identifying false and threatening content, are fleeing spaces like Twitter in favor of largely unregulated, foreign influence-friendly and propaganda-tolerant platforms like Parler.
Without the balance provided by daily mainstream media vetting, Trump and his most dangerous extremists could joyride together on a wild journey that might end only in a tragic and violent crash.
A dedicated extremist media platform, combined with a kind of perpetual presidential candidacy, would also serve to stifle any senior GOP voices who might try to siphon Trump followers toward their own potential 2024 runs for the White House. That means that more reasonable voices in the GOP would have far less influence, less potential to restore order and less hope of mitigating extremist violence if Trump spends the next four years owning his party's front-runner position.
Moreover, President-elect Biden's efforts to stem the alarming spread of Covid-19 could be severely hampered when Trump continues to deride measures to protect the population. No one wants to see even partial shutdowns in America. But what if the surging numbers of Covid-19 cases necessitate it in some places but a former president persuades his followers to ignore such measures? As Trump said in last week's Rose Garden news conference, "This administration will not go to a lockdown."
A coordinated coupling of a Trump-centric media outlet with a protracted campaign for the presidency would pose the threat of even more violent extremism and perilously false narratives. In an interview with CBS News that aired Sunday, former President Barack Obama made an observation about our nation: "We are still deeply divided," he said. "The power of that alternative worldview that's presented in the media that those voters consume, it carries a lot of weight. ... It's very hard for a democracy to function if we are operating on just a completely different set of facts."
Obama is right. And our bitter divisions, already dangerously extreme, will become even more so the longer Trump maintains his stranglehold on the hearts and minds of so many of our fellow Americans.


msnbc--2020-11-16--Biden's refugee plan is what America needs to heal from Trump

President-elect Joe Biden 's promise to reopen the U.S. to the world 's tired , poor , huddled masses is something of a perfect intersection of his coming presidency and the past four years of President Donald Trump 's .
Nine weeks before the clock starts on his term , Biden has a lot of major decisions and largely thankless work ahead of him .
Much of the early months in office will be dedicated not necessarily to his own vision but to trying to reverse Trump 's most damaging policies .
Massively increasing the number of refugees allowed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of doing exactly that — marking an end to the U.S. government 's hostility to immigrants under Trump and showing the world our renewed place in the global community .
It also happens to be the right thing to do and entirely fitting with Biden 's beliefs .
`` The United States has long stood as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and the oppressed , a leader of resettling refugees in our humanitarian response , '' he said in remarks recorded for the Jesuit Refugee Service 's 40th anniversary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will reclaim that proud legacy for our country , '' he continued .
`` The Biden-Harris administration will restore America 's historic role in protecting the vulnerable and defending the rights of refugees everywhere and raising our annual refugee admission target to 125,000 . ''
It 's a rate that Biden ran on , contrasting himself with the president , who tried to turn the increase into one of his most blatantly racist attack lines during the 2020 campaign .
`` They pledged a 700 percent increase in refugees !
700 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said at a rally in Duluth on Sept. 30 .
`` Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp ! ''
he 'd said earlier that month in Bemidji .
Warning his almost entirely white audience in a state whose largest city , Minneapolis , has the most concentrated Somali American population in the United States is less of a dog whistle than an air horn .
But unlike most of his bile , the 700 percent increase is accurate .
Not because Biden would be setting the refugee resettlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that would be the ceiling of 232,000 refugees set in 1980 , in part thanks to Soviet Jews and Vietnamese , Cambodian and Laotian refugees arriving in large numbers , prompting the formalization of the U.S. refugee program .
No , the sharp spike will be in response to a desperately needed correction .
Under the watchful gaze of Stephen Miller , the primary architect of Trump 's anti-immigration policies , the cap has been slashed and suffocated until it hit its current all-time low .
Only 15,000 refugees are permitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That in itself is a reduction of 3,000 from the already historically low ceiling from the previous year .
Only 11,000 actually were resettled , thanks , in part , to a moratorium set into place because of the coronavirus pandemic .
And where Trump 's or Miller 's direct orders were n't a factor , officials at the Department of Homeland Security took the initiative to reduce the number of immigrants on their own .
Unlike refugee status , which is applied for overseas , asylum has to be requested once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southern border were told in 2018 that instead of using unofficial border crossings and claiming asylum when on U.S. soil , they should enter legally at ports of entry .
But a report last month from the department 's inspector general confirmed that when she was secretary , Kirstjen Nielsen approved a plan that would turn away hundreds of potential asylum-seekers daily , refusing to process even people who were already in the U.S. , as the law requires .
The formal line to enter the U.S. has grown by leaps and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 120,000 refugees who have already been vetted and cleared for possible resettlement are languishing .
The number of people who have n't had the opportunity to even join the queue is longer .
But while Biden has tools at his disposal to overturn some of Trump 's restrictions in the opening days of his term , others will be harder to eliminate .
As attorney general , Jeff Sessions issued a memo in 2018 that declared that `` personal crimes , '' like domestic abuse and the threat of gang violence , did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump administration has been working to galvanize that rule as a new regulation , which is even now making its way through the rule-making process .
It could be finalized before January , forcing the Biden administration to go through the monthslong process to rescind it .
Biden would also have to contend with how to fairly shrink the refugee backlog — which is just one of the ways that Trump has hampered legal immigration — during a pandemic .
Most of the changes he could seek would require a boost in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of funds for resettlement , working with a Congress that may still have a Republican-controlled Senate .
That reality has dampened hopes for a legislative overhaul of the country 's immigration laws .
And some of Trump 's policies are intricately linked , especially those funneling admissions from Central and South America .
`` Detangling everything Trump did at the southern border may be Biden 's biggest headache on immigration , '' Sarah Pierce , a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute , told USA Today .
The Refugee Act of 1980 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nationality Act of 1965 , which finally tore down the racist quota laws that the U.S. used for decades to restrict immigration from browner parts of the world in Asia and Africa , as well as Southern and Eastern Europeans .
The years through 2016 have shown that the maximum numbers of refugees welcomed into the country wax and wane as attitudes in the U.S. shifted .
But part of the transformation the U.S. needs to recover from the Trump era requires a renewed commitment to making amends for a history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrant heritage more fully than ever .
The time to make those changes is now , no matter how hard they may seem .
Now is the time to offer hope to the 67,000 immigrants and asylum-seekers whom Trump has forced under his `` Remain in Mexico '' policy to wait on the Mexican side of the border while their cases are being completed in the U.S .
It 's time for the 25,000 of them living in squalor in shantytowns , fending for themselves , to know that they have n't clung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves or their children in vain .
It 's the time to uphold our commitment to the Iraqis who have risked their lives to fight American wars .
The U.S. provides identifying information to the Iraqi authorities for hundreds of Iraqis who have acted as translators and in other roles in coordination with the U.S .
The Washington Post reported Thursday that many of them fear that their information is in the hands of Iranian-backed militias , putting their lives in heightened danger .
A carve-out in Trump 's refugee ceiling allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. to be resettled per year .
Even so , the International Refugee Assistance Project told The Post , only 161 were resettled in the last fiscal year .
The backlog includes over 100,000 Iraqi applicants , the group added .
It 's time for the Rohingya to find a safe haven after their forced removal from their homes .
The mostly Muslim ethnic group has been the subject of a coordinated expulsion campaign by Myanmar .
Hundreds of thousands fled the Myanmar army 's systemic burning of their villages and mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed into refugee camps in Cox 's Bazar , Bangladesh .
Even in the face of ongoing ethnic cleansing , the Trump administration has limited the number of Rohingya it has admitted , leaving dozens of children wondering when — or whether — their parents would be able to join them .
Presidential transitions are a time of imagining , even more than presidential campaigns .
With the whirlwind of the hustings having finally ended , the new administration is a void , a cipher , open to be defined however a viewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's refusal to concede , the space between the end of his administration and the beginning of Biden 's is being filled with a rush of projections and plans and fears .
America used to be a place — the place — where oppressed people wanted to make the costly , often perilous journey to build new homes and lives .
They were ground down by tyrannical governments , religious persecution , capitalist pillaging of their resources and all other manner of ills , and the U.S. offered a reprieve .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognition .
Their imagined America is one that seeps into the gaps of this transition period , offering a guideline for what we can become .
As the Biden administration does the work of building this country into a place where the laws equally apply to everyone , where health care is a given , where we halt the warming of the planet , we need to make space for the people who 've dreamed of a place where all that and more is possible .

President-elect Joe Biden's promise to reopen the U.S. to the world's tired, poor, huddled masses is something of a perfect intersection of his coming presidency and the past four years of President Donald Trump's.
Nine weeks before the clock starts on his term, Biden has a lot of major decisions and largely thankless work ahead of him.
Nine weeks before the clock starts on his term, Biden has a lot of major decisions and largely thankless work ahead of him. Much of the early months in office will be dedicated not necessarily to his own vision but to trying to reverse Trump's most damaging policies. Massively increasing the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. has the benefit, then, of doing exactly that — marking an end to the U.S. government's hostility to immigrants under Trump and showing the world our renewed place in the global community. It also happens to be the right thing to do and entirely fitting with Biden's beliefs.
"The United States has long stood as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and the oppressed, a leader of resettling refugees in our humanitarian response," he said in remarks recorded for the Jesuit Refugee Service's 40th anniversary.
"I promise, as president, I will reclaim that proud legacy for our country," he continued. "The Biden-Harris administration will restore America's historic role in protecting the vulnerable and defending the rights of refugees everywhere and raising our annual refugee admission target to 125,000."
It's a rate that Biden ran on, contrasting himself with the president, who tried to turn the increase into one of his most blatantly racist attack lines during the 2020 campaign.
"They pledged a 700 percent increase in refugees! 700 percent! Congratulations, Minnesota! Congratulations!" Trump said at a rally in Duluth on Sept. 30. "Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp!" he'd said earlier that month in Bemidji.
120,000 refugees who have already been vetted and cleared for possible resettlement are languishing.
Warning his almost entirely white audience in a state whose largest city, Minneapolis, has the most concentrated Somali American population in the United States is less of a dog whistle than an air horn. But unlike most of his bile, the 700 percent increase is accurate. Not because Biden would be setting the refugee resettlement cap at its highest in recent history — that would be the ceiling of 232,000 refugees set in 1980, in part thanks to Soviet Jews and Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees arriving in large numbers, prompting the formalization of the U.S. refugee program.
No, the sharp spike will be in response to a desperately needed correction. Under the watchful gaze of Stephen Miller, the primary architect of Trump's anti-immigration policies, the cap has been slashed and suffocated until it hit its current all-time low. Only 15,000 refugees are permitted to enter the U.S. in fiscal year 2021. That in itself is a reduction of 3,000 from the already historically low ceiling from the previous year. Only 11,000 actually were resettled, thanks, in part, to a moratorium set into place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And where Trump's or Miller's direct orders weren't a factor, officials at the Department of Homeland Security took the initiative to reduce the number of immigrants on their own. Unlike refugee status, which is applied for overseas, asylum has to be requested once you are in the U.S. Asylum-seekers at the southern border were told in 2018 that instead of using unofficial border crossings and claiming asylum when on U.S. soil, they should enter legally at ports of entry. But a report last month from the department's inspector general confirmed that when she was secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen approved a plan that would turn away hundreds of potential asylum-seekers daily, refusing to process even people who were already in the U.S., as the law requires.
The formal line to enter the U.S. has grown by leaps and bounds in the last four years — 120,000 refugees who have already been vetted and cleared for possible resettlement are languishing. The number of people who haven't had the opportunity to even join the queue is longer. But while Biden has tools at his disposal to overturn some of Trump's restrictions in the opening days of his term, others will be harder to eliminate.
Part of the transformation the U.S. needs to recover from the Trump era requires a renewed commitment to making amends for a history of American exclusion and embracing the country's immigrant heritage more fully than ever.
As attorney general, Jeff Sessions issued a memo in 2018 that declared that "personal crimes," like domestic abuse and the threat of gang violence, didn't qualify migrants for asylum protections. The Trump administration has been working to galvanize that rule as a new regulation, which is even now making its way through the rule-making process. It could be finalized before January, forcing the Biden administration to go through the monthslong process to rescind it.
Biden would also have to contend with how to fairly shrink the refugee backlog — which is just one of the ways that Trump has hampered legal immigration — during a pandemic. Most of the changes he could seek would require a boost in funding to offices that have been choked of funds for resettlement, working with a Congress that may still have a Republican-controlled Senate. That reality has dampened hopes for a legislative overhaul of the country's immigration laws.
And some of Trump's policies are intricately linked, especially those funneling admissions from Central and South America. "Detangling everything Trump did at the southern border may be Biden's biggest headache on immigration," Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told USA Today.
The Refugee Act of 1980 was built on top of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which finally tore down the racist quota laws that the U.S. used for decades to restrict immigration from browner parts of the world in Asia and Africa, as well as Southern and Eastern Europeans.
The years through 2016 have shown that the maximum numbers of refugees welcomed into the country wax and wane as attitudes in the U.S. shifted. But part of the transformation the U.S. needs to recover from the Trump era requires a renewed commitment to making amends for a history of American exclusion and embracing the country's immigrant heritage more fully than ever. The time to make those changes is now, no matter how hard they may seem.
Now is the time to offer hope to the 67,000 immigrants and asylum-seekers whom Trump has forced under his "Remain in Mexico" policy to wait on the Mexican side of the border while their cases are being completed in the U.S. It's time for the 25,000 of them living in squalor in shantytowns, fending for themselves, to know that they haven't clung to the belief in a better life for themselves or their children in vain.
It's the time to uphold our commitment to the Iraqis who have risked their lives to fight American wars. The U.S. provides identifying information to the Iraqi authorities for hundreds of Iraqis who have acted as translators and in other roles in coordination with the U.S. The Washington Post reported Thursday that many of them fear that their information is in the hands of Iranian-backed militias, putting their lives in heightened danger.
A carve-out in Trump's refugee ceiling allows for 4,000 Iraqis who have worked with the U.S. to be resettled per year. Even so, the International Refugee Assistance Project told The Post, only 161 were resettled in the last fiscal year. The backlog includes over 100,000 Iraqi applicants, the group added.
It's time for the Rohingya to find a safe haven after their forced removal from their homes. The mostly Muslim ethnic group has been the subject of a coordinated expulsion campaign by Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands fled the Myanmar army's systemic burning of their villages and mass murder. Over 850,000 refugees are still packed into refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Even in the face of ongoing ethnic cleansing, the Trump administration has limited the number of Rohingya it has admitted, leaving dozens of children wondering when — or whether — their parents would be able to join them.
Presidential transitions are a time of imagining, even more than presidential campaigns. With the whirlwind of the hustings having finally ended, the new administration is a void, a cipher, open to be defined however a viewer wants to see it. Even with Trump's refusal to concede, the space between the end of his administration and the beginning of Biden's is being filled with a rush of projections and plans and fears.
America used to be a place — the place — where oppressed people wanted to make the costly, often perilous journey to build new homes and lives. They were ground down by tyrannical governments, religious persecution, capitalist pillaging of their resources and all other manner of ills, and the U.S. offered a reprieve. That has been tarnished beyond the point of recognition. Their imagined America is one that seeps into the gaps of this transition period, offering a guideline for what we can become. As the Biden administration does the work of building this country into a place where the laws equally apply to everyone, where health care is a given, where we halt the warming of the planet, we need to make space for the people who've dreamed of a place where all that and more is possible.


msnbc--2020-11-16--Cops keep buying absurd things while Democrats run from 'defund the police'

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

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


msnbc--2020-11-17--Biden ramps up pressure on Trump to engage in transition

Georgia secretary of state says he 's come under pressure from GOP

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


msnbc--2020-11-17--As lawyers flee, Trump's floundering legal quest falls to familiar hands

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


msnbc--2020-11-17--Obama to sit down with Jonathan Capehart for exclusive interview

Following the release of his new book, President Barack Obama will sit down with The Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart for an exclusive interview, which will be aired on MSNBC Thursday at 10 PM ET.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Bob Woodward: Trump testing how far people will go along with him

Bob Woodward: Trump testing how far people will go along with him
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bob Woodward tells Lawrence O'Donnell that Donald Trump is testing the waters to see how far Republicans and White House aides will support his refusal to concede.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Trump Covid-19 adviser tells Americans to ‘rise up’ against safety measures

Chris Hayes: “Atlas is actively rooting on the virus, trying to extract a political penalty from people who are doing the best they can under abominable circumstances.”Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Lawrence: Trump's GSA head is an ‘enemy of the voters’

Lawrence: Trump's GSA head is an ‘enemy of the voters’
Lawrence O’Donnell explains how Emily Murphy is violating her oath of office as Trump’s appointed head of the General Services Administration by failing to sign the legal documents that begin the presidential transition process.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Graham denies pressuring GA official to throw out legal votes


msnbc--2020-11-16--Lying about crowd sizes, Team Trump ends how it began

In the aftermath of Election Day 2016 , we saw some memorable things : a presidential victor who earned 306 electoral votes , Donald Trump lying about electoral fraud , Trump accused of engaging in unscrupulous financial schemes , and Team Trump lying about crowd sizes .
In the aftermath of Election Day 2020 , we are once again seeing a presidential victor who earned 306 electoral votes , Donald Trump lying about electoral fraud , Trump accused of engaging in unscrupulous financial schemes , and Team Trump lying about crowd sizes .
At issue were demonstrations in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump followers marching to show their support for the outgoing president .
By most accounts , there were `` tens of thousands '' of Trump fans on hand for the gatherings , though for the president and his team , that reality was n't quite good enough .
And so , nearly four years after Trump and then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer offered bizarre claims about the underwhelming crowd who attended the Republican 's inauguration , the president claimed over the weekend that `` hundreds of thousands '' of supporters showed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the heck of it , to `` more than one million . ''
It 's hard not to appreciate the symmetry .
It 's as if Team Trump were trying to create matching bookends for its term .
As for the demonstrations themselves -- the point of which were n't altogether clear -- the outgoing president seemed proud of the showing , overlooking the fact that the crowds included `` white nationalists , conspiracy theorists and far-right activists . ''
The Washington Post 's report on the demonstrations added , `` Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boys , an extremist group known for their black-and-yellow garb and endorsements of violence .
Some wore flak jackets and helmets .
'Stand Back , Stand By , ' read several of their shirts , referencing the president 's directive to them during a September debate . ''

In the aftermath of Election Day 2016, we saw some memorable things: a presidential victor who earned 306 electoral votes, Donald Trump lying about electoral fraud, Trump accused of engaging in unscrupulous financial schemes, and Team Trump lying about crowd sizes.
In the aftermath of Election Day 2020, we are once again seeing a presidential victor who earned 306 electoral votes, Donald Trump lying about electoral fraud, Trump accused of engaging in unscrupulous financial schemes, and Team Trump lying about crowd sizes.
On a day when the president's supporters touted a vast array of falsehoods, his spokeswoman, Kayleigh McEnany, offered perhaps the most ludicrous. "More than one MILLION marchers for President [Donald Trump] descend on the swamp in support," she tweeted, vastly exaggerating the crowd size.
At issue were demonstrations in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, with die-hard Trump followers marching to show their support for the outgoing president. By most accounts, there were "tens of thousands" of Trump fans on hand for the gatherings, though for the president and his team, that reality wasn't quite good enough.
And so, nearly four years after Trump and then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer offered bizarre claims about the underwhelming crowd who attended the Republican's inauguration, the president claimed over the weekend that "hundreds of thousands" of supporters showed up, which Kayleigh McEnany inflated, just for the heck of it, to "more than one million."
It's hard not to appreciate the symmetry. It's as if Team Trump were trying to create matching bookends for its term.
As for the demonstrations themselves -- the point of which weren't altogether clear -- the outgoing president seemed proud of the showing, overlooking the fact that the crowds included "white nationalists, conspiracy theorists and far-right activists."
The Washington Post's report on the demonstrations added, "Among the rallygoers were members of the Proud Boys, an extremist group known for their black-and-yellow garb and endorsements of violence. Some wore flak jackets and helmets. 'Stand Back, Stand By,' read several of their shirts, referencing the president's directive to them during a September debate."


msnbc--2020-11-18--Trump fires DHS Cybersecurity chief who debunked voter fraud claims

'Five stories of hope ' : Inside 'The Other History of the DC Universe , '

President Trump has fired Chris Krebs, the director of CISA, over Krebs' statements debunking various myths about 2020 election voter fraud that were advanced by President Trump and his allies.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Election Law Analyst on Trump lawsuits: This isn't a 'coherent legal strategy'

It's only Tuesday, and it has already been a VERY tough week for Trump Campaign lawyers. University of Virginia Law Lecturer and MSNBC Election Law Analyst, Matt Sanderson joins Katy Tur to discuss.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Mark Salter says Donald Trump’s ‘fragile psyche takes nourishment from our distress’

Former advisor to Senator John McCain, Mark Salter, warns that Trump will try to “burn it all down” before he leaves office, and calls on Republicans to not turn their backs on our country’s principlesNov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--In wake of Trump loss, GOP senator ensnared in voting scandal

New bombshell allegations against Sen. Lindsey Graham assert he pushed to have legally cast ballots thrown out during a phone call with Georgia’s Republican secretary of state. MSNBC’s Ari Melber discusses the breaking story with Judiciary Committee member Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who asserts Graham “may have crossed the line into illegality” in an effort to “rip away” Biden’s victory.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Acting Defense Secretary Miller announces troop reduction in Iraq and Afghanistan

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced that there would be a reduction in American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan by this January. NBC's Courtney Kube has details.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Biden announces new additions to White House team

President-elect Joe Biden announced new additions to his White House team to help provide "diverse perspectives." NBC's Geoff Bennett reports on who was chosen and how this impacts the transition process.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Julián Castro on food lines in Texas: ‘We’ve seen food insecurity more than double in the past year’

As The GOP continues to stall on the House passed HEROES Act, Americans are struggling with the ongoing pandemic. Regarding food lines in Texas, Julián Castro says the Texas legislature and governor are failing to use the state’s rainy day fund and notes that food insecurity has more than doubled in the past year.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Kara Swisher calls social media platforms ‘an almost perfect system for propaganda’

Co-host of the “Pivot” podcast Kara Swisher and brand and marketing expert Donny Deutsch discuss the role of social media in the spread of disinformation and whether tech companies should be doing more to minimize itNov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Dr. Lipi Roy and Dr. Murtaza Akhter answer MSNBC viewer questions on the COVID-19 vaccine

NBC's Sam Brock joins Chris Jansing to share the latest reporting on the initial timeline for who will get a vaccine first when it becomes available. Dr. Lipi Roy, an internal medicine physician, and Dr. Murtaza Akhter, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, also join Chris Jansing to answer MSNBC viewer questions about the coronavirus vaccine.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--‘We're not asking for a handout, we're just asking for some help’: Tom Colicchio on aid for restaura

‘We're not asking for a handout, we're just asking for some help’: Tom Colicchio on aid for restaurants
We know small businesses need help right now, especially in the restaurant industry. Founder of Crafted Hospitality and the head judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Tom Colicchio joins Stephanie Ruhle to explain if there’s a more targeted way to help them.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Scott Galloway: ‘We need to protect people, not companies’

Over the past months, we’ve seen big businesses thriving as many small businesses collapse. NYU professor and best-selling author Scott Galloway joins Stephanie Ruhle to discuss why small businesses have become “the poodles looking for a handout” instead of the lone wolves of the global economy.Nov. 17, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-17--Lindsey Graham is clearly lost in the sauce

For many Americans stuck in this weird post-election holding pattern , the days are running together .
But while it ’ s easier than ever to lose track of time , someone needs to remind Sen. Lindsay Graham , R-S.C. , that the election is over — and he won .
He doesn ’ t need to keep acting like President Donald Trump has any power over him anymore .
Trump ’ s campaign is still doing everything it can to manufacture fraud in Arizona , Pennsylvania , and Georgia , searching for something — anything — to prove Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s favor .
In each of those states , Biden ’ s lead is in the thousands and projected to be insurmountable , a moot point given the relative weakness of the cases Trump lawyers have brought to various state and federal courts .
But Graham has still allegedly decided to wade into the mess .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger claimed in an explosive interview with the Washington Post on Monday that Graham asked “ whether Raffensperger had the power to toss all mail ballots in counties found to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would include discarding valid ballots whose signatures did match their corresponding voters , potentially disenfranchising thousands of Georgians based on the thinnest logical thread possible .
Raffensperger , who was endorsed by Trump in 2018 , doesn ’ t have that power and he told The Post that he was stunned that a fellow Republican would make the suggestion .
Raffensperger repeated those claims to the Wall Street Journal as well , noting that “ he had staffers with him on that call ” as witnesses .
Graham told the Journal on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand how signatures were verified and that the Georgia official had done so well .
“ I 'm surprised to hear he characterized it that way , ” Graham said of Raffensperger ’ s statements .
He also said on Tuesday that he 'd been in touch with officials in Arizona and Nevada to learn more about how they verified mail-in ballots .
The question that I have , though , is why on Earth is Graham even getting involved in this ?
The prevailing theory while watching his transformation from party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been that it was mostly a show , an act to shore up his position ahead of the 2020 elections .
He successfully averted a challenge from the right in the South Carolina primaries , and despite polls showing a tight race , beat his Democratic opponent , Jaime Harrison , by about ten points on Election Day .
Mission accomplished for Mr. Graham .
Meanwhile , Trump ’ s legal cases are being shredded in court daily and the president ’ s attempts to rally his base has so far been more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Million MAGA March ” only drew a few thousand people to the nation ’ s capital , the faithful seemingly unpersuaded to make the journey despite Trump ’ s promised drive-by appearance .
Even the president ’ s own staff doesn ’ t really seem to see any way that that claims of election fraud will change the outcome of the race .
( One aide told NBC News that it ’ s likely Trump will eventually “ say something like , ‘ We can ’ t trust the results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” ) There ’ s no way Graham benefits from playing Trump ’ s number one fool .
It doesn ’ t track that more Republicans will turn out to vote in Georgia ’ s runoff Senate elections in January if they ’ re convinced the whole thing is rigged .
And there ’ s no way to remove Graham from his perch again until 2026 ’ s election cycle .
If he thinks that not backing Trump ’ s claims hurts his chances at re-election that far down the road , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to stick his neck out at this point .
He could just sit there and eat his food .
The only remaining option is that after four years of sucking up to Trump to retain his seat , this is the real Lindsay now .
My dude is lost in the sauce and this conspiratorial mien that was once an act has become his actual persona .

For many Americans stuck in this weird post-election holding pattern, the days are running together. But while it’s easier than ever to lose track of time, someone needs to remind Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., that the election is over — and he won. He doesn’t need to keep acting like President Donald Trump has any power over him anymore.
Trump’s campaign is still doing everything it can to manufacture fraud in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, searching for something — anything — to prove Democrats tipped the scales in President-elect Joe Biden’s favor. In each of those states, Biden’s lead is in the thousands and projected to be insurmountable, a moot point given the relative weakness of the cases Trump lawyers have brought to various state and federal courts.
But Graham has still allegedly decided to wade into the mess. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger claimed in an explosive interview with the Washington Post on Monday that Graham asked “whether Raffensperger had the power to toss all mail ballots in counties found to have higher rates of nonmatching signatures.”
That would include discarding valid ballots whose signatures did match their corresponding voters, potentially disenfranchising thousands of Georgians based on the thinnest logical thread possible. Raffensperger, who was endorsed by Trump in 2018, doesn’t have that power and he told The Post that he was stunned that a fellow Republican would make the suggestion.
There’s still no need for him to stick his neck out at this point. He could just sit there and eat his food.
Raffensperger repeated those claims to the Wall Street Journal as well, noting that “he had staffers with him on that call” as witnesses. Graham told the Journal on Monday evening that he’d simply wanted to understand how signatures were verified and that the Georgia official had done so well.
“I'm surprised to hear he characterized it that way,” Graham said of Raffensperger’s statements. He also said on Tuesday that he'd been in touch with officials in Arizona and Nevada to learn more about how they verified mail-in ballots.
The question that I have, though, is why on Earth is Graham even getting involved in this? The prevailing theory while watching his transformation from party maverick to number one Trump fan has been that it was mostly a show, an act to shore up his position ahead of the 2020 elections. He successfully averted a challenge from the right in the South Carolina primaries, and despite polls showing a tight race, beat his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, by about ten points on Election Day. Mission accomplished for Mr. Graham.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal cases are being shredded in court daily and the president’s attempts to rally his base has so far been more light than heat. This weekend’s “Million MAGA March” only drew a few thousand people to the nation’s capital, the faithful seemingly unpersuaded to make the journey despite Trump’s promised drive-by appearance. Even the president’s own staff doesn’t really seem to see any way that that claims of election fraud will change the outcome of the race. (One aide told NBC News that it’s likely Trump will eventually “say something like, ‘We can’t trust the results, but I’m not contesting them.’”)
There’s no way Graham benefits from playing Trump’s number one fool. It doesn’t track that more Republicans will turn out to vote in Georgia’s runoff Senate elections in January if they’re convinced the whole thing is rigged. And there’s no way to remove Graham from his perch again until 2026’s election cycle. If he thinks that not backing Trump’s claims hurts his chances at re-election that far down the road, there’s still no need for him to stick his neck out at this point. He could just sit there and eat his food.
The only remaining option is that after four years of sucking up to Trump to retain his seat, this is the real Lindsay now. My dude is lost in the sauce and this conspiratorial mien that was once an act has become his actual persona.


msnbc--2020-11-17--Dear Candace Owens: The manliest men in history wore dresses, too

The presidential election might be over , but Trump surrogates aren ’ t done playing the man card to energize their base .
After attacking President-elect Joe Biden for the size of his mask and implying that protecting others made him less of a man , they ’ ve moved on to being provoked by another piece of cloth : a dress .
After pop icon Harry Styles posed on the cover of Vogue wearing a ball gown , conservative radio host and Trump endorser Erick Erickson tweeted : “ Biden gets elected by promising a return to normal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ men in dresses.
” Just to prove that women can also perpetuate patriarchy despite being disproportionately harmed by it , right-wing extremist Candace Owens followed up by tweeting that “ there is no society that can survive without strong men , ” and that we need to “ bring back manly men.
” The truth is that throughout history , men have always sported so-called dresses .
And not that it matters , but most of them would be considered “ manly men ” under Owens ’ own extremely rigid definition of manhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims to be an expert .
Shockingly , men don ’ t come out of utero sporting a nifty pair of trousers or cargo shorts .
In fact , pants made their first appearance when humans started riding horses about 3,000 years ago .
Owens might find it noteworthy that that ’ s also why high heels were invented , and why men wore them first .
But since pants really seem important to people like Owens , let ’ s talk about the several men — unequivocally touted as historical models of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To clear up this confusion , and to avoid this unfortunate misunderstanding about the fact that men have been rocking a diversity of clothing for centuries , I ’ ve made a nonexhaustive list of men who aren ’ t known for wearing the pants , well , anywhere .
Let ’ s start with a classic “ manly man.
” That ’ s right , the Kings of Kings , Jesus Christ .
According to historians , he wore a thin one-piece knee-length cloth tunic ( called a chitōn ) , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
But because of his focus on income redistribution and helping the poor ( another concept known for making Owens gasp ) , it make sense that he wouldn ’ t dress like the wealthier men of his time , who wore fuller length tunics .
If Owens wants to live in a fantasy world in which men have always and exclusively worn pants , I wouldn ’ t recommend she visit anyone in ancient Greece or Rome , where tunics were a hit with men .
Speaking of ancient Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lasting male archetypes of strength and stamina in Greek mythology was also technically a dude in a skirt .
Known for going from zero to hero , the son of Zeus ( another guy who was known for not being afraid to wear a dress ) wasn ’ t just notorious for conquering monsters like Cacus and defeating the Titans , but also for doing it all without ever relying on pants .
In most depictions of the demigod , he is portrayed wearing a very-not-vegan-friendly lion 's pelt , and in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the superhero , he rocks a sporty rust-orange skirt .
Could Owens argue that Hercules , the ultimate symbol of strength and courage is any less of a man because of what he wears ?
“ No chance , no way.
” ( If you don ’ t get that reference , you ’ re far too young to be reading this article . )
Often referred to as one of the best-dressed sovereigns of all time , Henry VIII did not try and hide his shopping addiction or his love for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book “ Henry VIII : The King and His Court ” by Alison Weir , he spent more than $ 10,500 ( today ’ s equivalent of around $ 3 million according to the author ) a year on clothes every year .
For comparison , that ’ s a tad more than the $ 70,000 President Donald Trump reportedly spent on his hair .
Weir writes that James Worsley , who was the equivalent of King Henry VIII ’ s stylist , said that the king ’ s closet was packed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cloth of gold and velvet , coats , jackets and doublets , glaudkyns ( surcoats ) , bases , girdles , belts , furs and sables , powdered ermines , cloths of gold of divers colors , velvets , satins , damasks , sarcanets and linen cloths.
” He also said that in 1547 , his inventory included not one , but 41 gowns .
Henry VIII also had 25 pairs of hose , 23 pairs of girdles and “ several bonnets.
” The man was a legend .
In one of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men wearing dresses , Owens mentions Lord of the Rings as one of her favorite movies in a response to actor Elijah Wood ’ s chiming in about what masculinity means to him .
Which is rib-tickling because the movie is basically about a bunch of guys fighting in dresses or skirts .
Owens ’ s reply features a gif of Gandalf , one of the most senior wizards in the trilogy , the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring .
While his enormous hat and scepter may have been the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d be remiss not to mention his dark grey cloak , which Owens may be very disappointed to learn does not have separate holes for each leg .
With all eyes on the Supreme Court in the weeks leading up to the election , you would think it would be obvious that the outfit judges wear to court is called a robe , which literally translates to “ dress ” in French .
Of course , one could argue that male and female judges wear the same robe , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
We don ’ t blink twice when judges show up to court in the same outfit .
So , why do we have a public meltdown when Styles shows up on a Vogue cover in the same outfit as Ariana Grande ?

The presidential election might be over, but Trump surrogates aren’t done playing the man card to energize their base. After attacking President-elect Joe Biden for the size of his mask and implying that protecting others made him less of a man, they’ve moved on to being provoked by another piece of cloth: a dress.
Shockingly, men don’t come out of utero sporting a nifty pair of trousers or cargo shorts.
After pop icon Harry Styles posed on the cover of Vogue wearing a ball gown, conservative radio host and Trump endorser Erick Erickson tweeted: “Biden gets elected by promising a return to normal. Then the left goes all in on men in dresses.”
Biden gets elected by promising a return to normal. Then the left goes all in on men in dresses. — Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 16, 2020
Just to prove that women can also perpetuate patriarchy despite being disproportionately harmed by it, right-wing extremist Candace Owens followed up by tweeting that “there is no society that can survive without strong men,” and that we need to “bring back manly men.”
There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.
It is an outright attack.
Bring back manly men. https://t.co/sY4IJF7VkK — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) November 14, 2020
The truth is that throughout history, men have always sported so-called dresses. And not that it matters, but most of them would be considered “manly men” under Owens’ own extremely rigid definition of manhood, a topic on which she curiously claims to be an expert.
Shockingly, men don’t come out of utero sporting a nifty pair of trousers or cargo shorts. In fact, pants made their first appearance when humans started riding horses about 3,000 years ago. Owens might find it noteworthy that that’s also why high heels were invented, and why men wore them first. But since pants really seem important to people like Owens, let’s talk about the several men — unequivocally touted as historical models of manliness — who never wore pants.
To clear up this confusion, and to avoid this unfortunate misunderstanding about the fact that men have been rocking a diversity of clothing for centuries, I’ve made a nonexhaustive list of men who aren’t known for wearing the pants, well, anywhere.
1. Jesus
Vintage lithograph of Jesus holding a lamb, 1930s. GraphicaArtis / Getty Images
Let’s start with a classic “manly man.” That’s right, the Kings of Kings, Jesus Christ. According to historians, he wore a thin one-piece knee-length cloth tunic (called a chitōn), was a common undergarment for most men at the time. But because of his focus on income redistribution and helping the poor (another concept known for making Owens gasp), it make sense that he wouldn’t dress like the wealthier men of his time, who wore fuller length tunics. If Owens wants to live in a fantasy world in which men have always and exclusively worn pants, I wouldn’t recommend she visit anyone in ancient Greece or Rome, where tunics were a hit with men.
2. Hercules
The Greek hero and demigod Hercules. Kean Collection / Getty Images
Speaking of ancient Greece, one of the most magnetic and lasting male archetypes of strength and stamina in Greek mythology was also technically a dude in a skirt. Known for going from zero to hero, the son of Zeus (another guy who was known for not being afraid to wear a dress) wasn’t just notorious for conquering monsters like Cacus and defeating the Titans, but also for doing it all without ever relying on pants.
In most depictions of the demigod, he is portrayed wearing a very-not-vegan-friendly lion's pelt, and in both Marvel's and Disney’s portrayals of the superhero, he rocks a sporty rust-orange skirt. Could Owens argue that Hercules, the ultimate symbol of strength and courage is any less of a man because of what he wears? “No chance, no way.” (If you don’t get that reference, you’re far too young to be reading this article.)
3. King Henry VIII
Portrait of King Henry VIII, 1537-47, oil on canvas. VCG Wilson / Corbis via Getty Images
Often referred to as one of the best-dressed sovereigns of all time, Henry VIII did not try and hide his shopping addiction or his love for colorful velvet gowns. According to the book “Henry VIII: The King and His Court” by Alison Weir, he spent more than $10,500 (today’s equivalent of around $3 million according to the author) a year on clothes every year.
For comparison, that’s a tad more than the $70,000 President Donald Trump reportedly spent on his hair. Weir writes that James Worsley, who was the equivalent of King Henry VIII’s stylist, said that the king’s closet was packed with everything from “mantles, gowns of cloth of gold and velvet, coats, jackets and doublets, glaudkyns (surcoats), bases, girdles, belts, furs and sables, powdered ermines, cloths of gold of divers colors, velvets, satins, damasks, sarcanets and linen cloths.” He also said that in 1547, his inventory included not one, but 41 gowns. Henry VIII also had 25 pairs of hose, 23 pairs of girdles and “several bonnets.” The man was a legend.
4. Gandalf
Ian McKellen as Gandalf in "The Hobbit." James Fisher / Warner Bros. / Courtesy of Everrett Collection
In one of her threads about how petrified she is of men wearing dresses, Owens mentions Lord of the Rings as one of her favorite movies in a response to actor Elijah Wood’s chiming in about what masculinity means to him. Which is rib-tickling because the movie is basically about a bunch of guys fighting in dresses or skirts.
Owens’s reply features a gif of Gandalf, one of the most senior wizards in the trilogy, the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring. While his enormous hat and scepter may have been the most iconic parts of his Oscar-winning outfit, I’d be remiss not to mention his dark grey cloak, which Owens may be very disappointed to learn does not have separate holes for each leg.
5. Every Supreme Court judge, ever
Justices of the Supreme Court. Ken Heinen / U.S. Supreme Court via Getty Images
With all eyes on the Supreme Court in the weeks leading up to the election, you would think it would be obvious that the outfit judges wear to court is called a robe, which literally translates to “dress” in French. Of course, one could argue that male and female judges wear the same robe, and I would argue that that is precisely the point. We don’t blink twice when judges show up to court in the same outfit. So, why do we have a public meltdown when Styles shows up on a Vogue cover in the same outfit as Ariana Grande?


msnbc--2020-10-26--Trump is tired of hearing BIPOC complain about their loved ones dying from coronavirus

“ I say we 're learning to live with it .
We have no choice.
” With these words , President Donald Trump has shown himself to be the Marie Antoinette of our times , and the pandemic is his own garish Versailles .
The rot enveloping him , literally infecting himself and his closest aides , has only been made worse by his own words and action .
Trump has made it incredibly clear that he simply doesn ’ t care about the millions of Americans who are infected , the hundreds of thousands who have died , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of his complete indifference in the face of the greatest public health crisis of several lifetimes .
For members of Black , Indigenous and people of color , or BIPOC , communities , this notion of having no choice hits right in the gut .
Black and LatinX people are dying of Covid-19 at higher rates in this country .
Those who are not dying are almost guaranteed to lose years off of their life expectancy .
In short , their lives are cut short no matter what because of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to address it .
This is apparent when you enter the doors of any clinic like mine in the United States , where millions of patients receive Covid-19 testing and more than half of the positive cases are racial and ethnic minorities ; in some parts of the country as many as 80 percent of Covid-19-related deaths are in Black or brown communities .
These include patients like Elena , a young Latina grocery store worker who was worried she might have Covid-19 , but was desperate to hear otherwise .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
She was scared she had the virus , she told me in Spanish .
She wears her mask religiously and washes her hands all the time ; she does exactly as she is told , but she also has to work .
She told me stories about customers who refused to wear a mask or who ask her to get close to them to pick something up .
Her household size has doubled in the last months as family members lost jobs to the unrelenting pandemic and were forced into economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overtime hours , supports their expenses on a day-to-day basis .
Elena came in to my clinic when she started to develop a cough and ran a light fever .
After ordering Elena ’ s test and asking her to stay isolated , knowing that her family might go hungry if she can ’ t work , Trump ’ s words are even more insulting .
The economic , health , and mental devastation simply doesn ’ t appear to mean anything to our president .
“ They ’ re getting tired of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
... That ’ s all they cover : ‘ Covid , covid , pandemic .
Covid , covid , covid.
” These are more words from the leader of our nation , as we watch embers turn to active rolling flames across the country .
We ’ ve seen 80,000 new cases in a 24-hour period .
Alfred , an African American bus driver in Washington , D.C. , called my clinic asking for medical advice .
He is close to retirement and he loves driving his route , helping people stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distracted drivers .
But he had an urgent question : He was worried that one of his passengers might have had Covid-19 , and he wanted to find a way to get tested .
After discussing testing options and appointment times , he asked about the cost of the test , and sounded surprised when I emphasized that the test is free .
His response — “ Nothing is really free , doc ” — rang true on some painful levels .
Alfred buried a close friend of his two months prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire blocks of his neighborhood affected by this silent virus that never announced its arrival but becomes a permanent resident once it ’ s arrived .
African Americans , according to the Covid Tracking Project , are dying at 2.3 times the rate of white people in the country .
They are not tired of the pandemic ; they are dying from it .
LatinX and African Americans are not the only communities affected directly by the president ’ s indifference and lack of strategic direction ; his constant references to the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” has led to an alarming trend among Asian Americans , including higher death rates and barriers to receiving care : Thirty-eight percent of the 123 Covid-19 deaths reported by the San Francisco Department of Public Health are Asian American residents , the highest of any ethnicity .
Health literacy is also a critical problem where there is little to no information available in native languages to give people advice on safety tips , testing and other critical health services during the pandemic .
At the same time , many Asian Americans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate crimes and concern over stigma from the president ’ s words .
Native Americans and Indigenous peoples likewise show alarming trends .
In 23 states , the cumulative incidence of Covid-19 was 3.5 times more frequent among Indigenous people than among non-Hispanic white people .
Even more troubling is data that illustrates that there is frequent practice of racial misclassification where Indigenous peoples are forced to pick between white , Black , Hispanic or “ other ” which essentially erases the ability to track outcomes and effectively erases and discounts the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from months of studies and case reports on millions of Americans affected by Covid-19 , these are the common themes emerging that are specifically problematic for BIPOC communities : • Access to health care , including affordable testing , is still a problem ; many BIPOC people live in areas with lower numbers of primary care physicians , which requires that people travel farther to get care or resort to expensive options such as emergency rooms and hospitals .
• Information about Covid-19 testing is not reaching BIPOC communities .
Language and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care overall .
• The health care workforce does not look like the communities we serve ; all minorities with the exception of Asian Americans , are underrepresented in the medical workforce , resulting in implicit unconscious racial bias .
• Resources for contact tracing and isolation/quarantine support are virtually nonexistent in BIPOC communities , resulting in a compounding effect where positivity rates are higher due to logistical household challenges such as an inability for people to maintain safe distance to prevent the spread of the virus .
• Our reporting infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacks accountability measures for accurate racial and ethnic groups , which leads to a skewed understanding of the extent of the pandemic as well as a lack of downstream resources that are often reserved for subpopulations based on data .
While Trump is certainly not to blame for the existence of the coronavirus , it feels necessary to point out that he shows no signs of understanding what “ living with ” the virus actually means .
His response of expressing fatigue at continually hearing about the virus shows how little responsibility he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially among our minority communities , that have been forever altered because of his lack of leadership .

“I say we're learning to live with it. We have no choice.” With these words, President Donald Trump has shown himself to be the Marie Antoinette of our times, and the pandemic is his own garish Versailles. The rot enveloping him, literally infecting himself and his closest aides, has only been made worse by his own words and action.
Trump has made it incredibly clear that he simply doesn’t care about the millions of Americans who are infected, the hundreds of thousands who have died, as well as those who will die as a result of his complete indifference in the face of the greatest public health crisis of several lifetimes. For members of Black, Indigenous and people of color, or BIPOC, communities, this notion of having no choice hits right in the gut.
In some parts of the country as many as 80 percent of Covid-19-related deaths are in Black or brown communities.
Black and LatinX people are dying of Covid-19 at higher rates in this country. Those who are not dying are almost guaranteed to lose years off of their life expectancy. In short, their lives are cut short no matter what because of Covid-19, aided by an administration that has failed to address it.
This is apparent when you enter the doors of any clinic like mine in the United States, where millions of patients receive Covid-19 testing and more than half of the positive cases are racial and ethnic minorities; in some parts of the country as many as 80 percent of Covid-19-related deaths are in Black or brown communities.
These include patients like Elena, a young Latina grocery store worker who was worried she might have Covid-19, but was desperate to hear otherwise. (For privacy reasons names have been changed.) She was scared she had the virus, she told me in Spanish. She wears her mask religiously and washes her hands all the time; she does exactly as she is told, but she also has to work.
She told me stories about customers who refused to wear a mask or who ask her to get close to them to pick something up. Her household size has doubled in the last months as family members lost jobs to the unrelenting pandemic and were forced into economic insecurity. Her job, along with overtime hours, supports their expenses on a day-to-day basis. Elena came in to my clinic when she started to develop a cough and ran a light fever. After ordering Elena’s test and asking her to stay isolated, knowing that her family might go hungry if she can’t work, Trump’s words are even more insulting. The economic, health, and mental devastation simply doesn’t appear to mean anything to our president.
“They’re getting tired of the pandemic — aren’t they? ... That’s all they cover: ‘Covid, covid, pandemic. Covid, covid, covid.” These are more words from the leader of our nation, as we watch embers turn to active rolling flames across the country. We’ve seen 80,000 new cases in a 24-hour period. Alfred, an African American bus driver in Washington, D.C., called my clinic asking for medical advice. He is close to retirement and he loves driving his route, helping people stay safe while navigating traffic lanes filled with distracted drivers. But he had an urgent question: He was worried that one of his passengers might have had Covid-19, and he wanted to find a way to get tested. After discussing testing options and appointment times, he asked about the cost of the test, and sounded surprised when I emphasized that the test is free.
In 23 states, the cumulative incidence of Covid-19 was 3.5 times more frequent among Indigenous people than among non-Hispanic white people.
His response — “Nothing is really free, doc” — rang true on some painful levels. Alfred buried a close friend of his two months prior to our call, and he has seen entire blocks of his neighborhood affected by this silent virus that never announced its arrival but becomes a permanent resident once it’s arrived. African Americans, according to the Covid Tracking Project, are dying at 2.3 times the rate of white people in the country. They are not tired of the pandemic; they are dying from it.
LatinX and African Americans are not the only communities affected directly by the president’s indifference and lack of strategic direction; his constant references to the “China virus” or “Kung flu” has led to an alarming trend among Asian Americans, including higher death rates and barriers to receiving care: Thirty-eight percent of the 123 Covid-19 deaths reported by the San Francisco Department of Public Health are Asian American residents, the highest of any ethnicity. Health literacy is also a critical problem where there is little to no information available in native languages to give people advice on safety tips, testing and other critical health services during the pandemic. At the same time, many Asian Americans are also dealing with growing incidents of anti-Asian hate crimes and concern over stigma from the president’s words.
Native Americans and Indigenous peoples likewise show alarming trends. In 23 states, the cumulative incidence of Covid-19 was 3.5 times more frequent among Indigenous people than among non-Hispanic white people. Even more troubling is data that illustrates that there is frequent practice of racial misclassification where Indigenous peoples are forced to pick between white, Black, Hispanic or “other” which essentially erases the ability to track outcomes and effectively erases and discounts the entire Indigenous experience.
As we gather more data from months of studies and case reports on millions of Americans affected by Covid-19, these are the common themes emerging that are specifically problematic for BIPOC communities:
Access to health care, including affordable testing, is still a problem; many BIPOC people live in areas with lower numbers of primary care physicians, which requires that people travel farther to get care or resort to expensive options such as emergency rooms and hospitals.
Information about Covid-19 testing is not reaching BIPOC communities. Language and literacy barriers still reflect major flaws in health care overall.
The health care workforce does not look like the communities we serve; all minorities with the exception of Asian Americans, are underrepresented in the medical workforce, resulting in implicit unconscious racial bias.
Resources for contact tracing and isolation/quarantine support are virtually nonexistent in BIPOC communities, resulting in a compounding effect where positivity rates are higher due to logistical household challenges such as an inability for people to maintain safe distance to prevent the spread of the virus.
Our reporting infrastructure is biased, as well, and lacks accountability measures for accurate racial and ethnic groups, which leads to a skewed understanding of the extent of the pandemic as well as a lack of downstream resources that are often reserved for subpopulations based on data.
While Trump is certainly not to blame for the existence of the coronavirus, it feels necessary to point out that he shows no signs of understanding what “living with” the virus actually means. His response of expressing fatigue at continually hearing about the virus shows how little responsibility he is taking for the millions of lives, especially among our minority communities, that have been forever altered because of his lack of leadership.


msnbc--2020-11-18--Pfizer to seek Covid-19 vaccine approval 'within days'

Sen. Klobuchar on ouster of cyber official : ‘ He should never have been fired .
’

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


msnbc--2020-11-18--Michigan set to move ahead on certifying vote; Republicans in largest county end delay

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


msnbc--2020-11-18--Graham faces questions for reaching out to GA election official


msnbc--2020-11-18--Lawrence: ‘Another day, another Trump vengeance firing’

Donald Trump fired his top cybersecurity official, Christopher Krebs, via tweet. Lawrence O’Donnell explains why we should thank Christopher Krebs for doing the right thing.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Ari Melber: Trump's 'dumpster fire' legal strategy flailing under Giuliani

For the first time in 28 years, Rudy Giuliani has gone into court to argue a case - this time on behalf of Pres. Trump, pushing his allegations of widespread voter fraud. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber breaks down his false claims and highlights how Trump’s new lawyer has contradicted Giuliani, asserting Biden won the election.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Sen. Klobuchar on ouster of cyber official: ‘He should never have been fired.’

Sen. Klobuchar on ouster of cyber official: ‘He should never have been fired.’
Sen. Amy Klobuchar reacts to the breaking news that President Trump fired our nation’s top cyber security expert via tweet. Sen. Klobuchar stresses Chris Krebs’ job went well beyond election security as Trump is really putting the nation at risk for his personal grievance against the man who said this was the most secure U.S. election ever.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Trump breaks promise to never share troop deployment plans

Candidate Trump said he would never share with the 'enemy,' but Trump just announced big plans for U.S. forces. MSNBC's Brian Williams has details.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--‘Fantasy world’: Lawyer who argued against Rudy Giuliani recaps absurdity in court

"The Trump campaign came in, through Mr. Giuliani, asserting a fantasy world,” says Mark Aronchick. “I sat there dumbfounded because the story presented by Mr. Giuliani bore no relationship to the actual complaint in the case.”Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Remember when Ted Cruz promised we would stop caring about Covid-19 after the election?

Republicans like Ted Cruz couldn’t fathom that the steps some leaders were taking to stop Covid-19 were driven by serious concerns. Instead they suggested that it was all some elaborate conspiracy to kneecap Trump—and would go away after the election.Nov. 18, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-18--Coronavirus vaccine roll-out plan hindered by Trump stonewalling Biden transition

Dr. Rick Bright, former federal vaccine expert who resigned in protest from the Trump administration and now serves on President-elect Joe Biden's Covid-19 task force talks about the complexities of distributing the coronavirus vaccine and the need for the Biden administration to get up to speed on resources and planning as soon as possible.Nov. 18, 2020