msnbc--2020-11-09--Trump lost the 2020 election. What if that was part of his scheme all along?

This weekend was the collective mental equivalent of a deep , drawn out exhale as it became clear that President Donald Trump had come up short in his quest for a second term .
Already the deep dives into how he became the first one-term president since 1992 are piling up , as we begin to look forward to a day when he ’ s no longer taking up space in our brains .
Because , let ’ s be honest , it was a lot of effort to keep one eye on his various improprieties , from the buffoonish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and callous official acts .
Trump is almost cartoonish in his villainy .
His lies and plots — a list is almost impossible to fully catalogue — are embarrassingly transparent at times .
If you look back on Trump ’ s rap sheet , his most effective schemes have had an element of failure built into the plan .
Sometimes these failures have , in fact , been the preferred outcome .
And as he continues to rail against President-Elect Joe Biden ’ s victory , it ’ s not lost on me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require him to ever actually walk away as a winner .
It ’ s an art that he ’ s spent his entire adult life perfecting .
The New York Times , in a Herculean bit of reporting , pieced together several of Trump ’ s various machinations of enriching himself .
The first , and most damning , tracked how he maintained the illusion of a mighty empire on the surface , allowing him to continue to borrow prodigious amounts of money and grow his real estate empire .
Under the hood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast amounts of money every year , both through actual losses and potentially creative bookkeeping that seems designed to reap millions of dollars in tax write-offs .
His own failure is cooked into the ploy , harnessed to increase his wealth .
This con serves as an archetype for most of his other schemes , where he poises himself to benefit as much as possible from failures .
By that same dint , the entire Trump presidency has reportedly been an exercise in brand management gone awry , a rare case where Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts , he wasn ’ t prepared for actually succeeding in his longshot run when he launched it in 2015 .
His eventual loss , he and other campaign staffers believed , would leave him free to ride the momentum into a new wave of business opportunities , according to Michael Wolff in his book “ Fire and Fury : Inside The Trump White House.
” Typically for Trump ’ s M.O .
and general personality , the appearance of things matters more than the underlying facts when he ’ s busy shaping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look like a good potential president , absorb the adulation of the people he realized would cheer when he said things like “ Drain the Swamp , ” and then bounce back to Mar-a-Lago to enjoy it all .
As for his famously fragile ego , he had that covered , too .
“ This is bigger than I ever dreamed of , ” Wolff says Trump told the late Fox News founder Roger Ailes a week before the election , “ I don ’ t think about losing , because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve totally won.
” The plan , of course , backfired when it worked too well .
The thunderbolt of winning reportedly initially frightened Trump , but that faded as he settled into the trappings of the office .
Four years later , Trump has gotten used to the idea of being in charge of the country , even as he ’ s never really understood what that entails .
And so he ’ s attempted to do whatever he can to make sure he can stay in power , especially with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a civilian again .
Twice in his re-election bid , technically launched soon after he took office , Trump attempted to put his finger on the electoral scale .
In the first , the plot that ended up prompting the House of Representatives to impeach him , there was the top-level scheme — getting Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter , prosecuted in Ukraine , which was never guaranteed success — and then the underlying goal , damaging Joe Biden politically , which didn ’ t require it .
It didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelensky never actually ordered his prosecutor-general to file charges against the natural gas company where Hunter Biden worked , or against Joe or Hunter Biden themselves , let alone actually convict them .
Trump didn ’ t even need an actual investigation into the Biden family — it wasn ’ t necessary .
No , Trump extorted Ukraine , illegally holding back $ 250 million worth of military aid , because he knew the announcement of an investigation was the important part .
That ’ s what gets headlines , makes chyrons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what he could use to bludgeon Biden with throughout 2020 .
It would be no failure if the case simply vanished a few weeks after it was announced — anything after that point would have been a welcome bonus .
If he hadn ’ t gotten caught , thanks to a whistleblower ’ s account of his suspicions to Congress , it may have even worked — Zelensky was reportedly days away from making the claim in a CNN interview when the whole thing was exposed .
“ Ukrainian president announces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son ” is a headline that few news outlets would have blinked at initially running without evidence of Trump ’ s hand in it .
By the time the reporting showing it was all a con had been done , it ’ d be too late .
The second of his attempts to sway the election has lacked the subtlety of the first .
It ’ s been obvious for months that Trump ’ s attacks on mail-in ballots — falsely claiming that they were rife with fraud — were aimed at discrediting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were likely to favor Biden .
It ’ s a theme he ’ s kept up since election night , tweeting several times that he ’ d won the election and going on a rambling rant at the White House press room ’ s podium on Thursday evening .
Thankfully for the floundering legal effort that ’ s been slapped together to prove that point in court , the Trump campaign doesn ’ t need to win the cases being filed — not yet .
He doesn ’ t even need the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump just needs to stall , and he needs to tell his supporters that his many enemies are working against him yet again .
If Trump ’ s been obvious , his advisers have been downright transparent about the end goal : getting the Supreme Court to toss out hundreds of thousands of legitimate votes in Pennsylvania and elsewhere .
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnaney said it on Fox News on the night of Nov. 4 , when asked whether ballots put into the mailbox and postmarked on Election Day that arrive by Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we believe every vote on Election Day should be counted .
But it ’ s those that arrive after the Election Day that we are fighting.
” Harmeet Dhillon , co-chair of the new group Lawyers for Trump , said it on Lou Dobbs ’ Fox Business show on Thursday night : “ Meanwhile , we ’ re waiting for the United States Supreme Court , of which the president has nominated three justices , to step in and do something .
And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Trump voters in Pennsylvania to send in their absentee ballots after the deadline , in an effort to boost his lagging prospects there and offer the votes up as proof of the voter fraud it has claimed without evidence has occurred there .
But even with a 2 -1 conservative to liberal balance on the Supreme Court , there ’ s not much promise that a case will come before them that gets a majority of the justices to throw the election his way .
Which is why it ’ s almost more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s been the real victim here to his supporters .
They need to believe that the only way he could lose is via betrayal , trickery from the Deep State , or a Democratic plot against him .
With the support of outside groups coordinated by Trump allies , that lie is taking root and drawing out protesters as seen in Michigan and Arizona .
It ’ s a lie that ’ s been embraced by Trump ’ s top political allies — like Ohio ’ s Rep. Jim Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich , Senator Lindsey Graham , and Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel .
All of them have continued to push the election fraud claims , even as privately his top legal minds agreed as early as Friday that there were no legal routes that could swing the election .
That hasn ’ t stopped the campaign from fundraising for this boondoggle of a court battle — the fine print of their appeals showed that at least half of the money raised will go toward retiring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one who ’ s managed to avoid paying any of his own money during this race .
In fact , he ’ s netted at least $ 2.5 million directly from American taxpayers during his time in office .
Not a bad bit of grift .
As of right now , there are two outcomes that can result from this current gambit , absent a Supreme Court intervention .
In one scenario , his supporters rally around him and through a combination of bullying , protests , and violence keep things chaotic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again come January , as Barton Gelman described in his chilling piece for The Atlantic .
Or things never quite break Trump ’ s way , the courts decide to let the votes stand , Biden becomes the 46th president .
Trump never really concedes and , should he avoid prosecution , he gets to become a kingmaker in the Republican party , with a role in vetting his potential successor in 2024 .
Maybe he launches the Trump-branded media outlet that Jared Kushner has reportedly been shopping around .
Or he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again himself , aiming for two non-consecutive terms .
Either way , a power unlike anything he had before occupying the White House would be his , unmarred by the responsibility that comes with actually being president .
New York Magazine ’ s Olivia Nuzzi reported that the latter was at this point a preference for Trump , according to a friend of the president : “ A lot of what Trump says is the opposite of what he means .
That ’ s true of all of us , to some extent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But when Trump said he didn ’ t mind losing to Biden , even though he famously hates losers of any ilk , his friend believed him .
“ He doesn ’ t believe losing is shameful — quitting is bad .
Losing isn ’ t , ” this person said .
As of Sunday night , Trump has yet to even offer the idea that such a thing has occurred let alone a concession .
In fact , during his appearance on Thursday night , the president never actually said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variation thereof about the election .
Which , given his approach in 2016 , makes sense .
Why label yourself a loser when , as he said then , “ it isn ’ t losing .
We ’ ve totally won .
”

This weekend was the collective mental equivalent of a deep, drawn out exhale as it became clear that President Donald Trump had come up short in his quest for a second term. Already the deep dives into how he became the first one-term president since 1992 are piling up, as we begin to look forward to a day when he’s no longer taking up space in our brains.
Typically for Trump’s M.O. and general personality, the appearance of things matters more than the underlying facts.
Because, let’s be honest, it was a lot of effort to keep one eye on his various improprieties, from the buffoonish and simple personal failings to the cruel and callous official acts. Trump is almost cartoonish in his villainy. His lies and plots — a list is almost impossible to fully catalogue — are embarrassingly transparent at times.
If you look back on Trump’s rap sheet, his most effective schemes have had an element of failure built into the plan. Sometimes these failures have, in fact, been the preferred outcome. And as he continues to rail against President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory, it’s not lost on me that his current strategy doesn’t require him to ever actually walk away as a winner.
It’s an art that he’s spent his entire adult life perfecting. The New York Times, in a Herculean bit of reporting, pieced together several of Trump’s various machinations of enriching himself. The first, and most damning, tracked how he maintained the illusion of a mighty empire on the surface, allowing him to continue to borrow prodigious amounts of money and grow his real estate empire. Under the hood, his federal taxes showed him losing vast amounts of money every year, both through actual losses and potentially creative bookkeeping that seems designed to reap millions of dollars in tax write-offs. His own failure is cooked into the ploy, harnessed to increase his wealth. This con serves as an archetype for most of his other schemes, where he poises himself to benefit as much as possible from failures.
By that same dint, the entire Trump presidency has reportedly been an exercise in brand management gone awry, a rare case where Trump outperformed his own limitations. By several accounts, he wasn’t prepared for actually succeeding in his longshot run when he launched it in 2015. His eventual loss, he and other campaign staffers believed, would leave him free to ride the momentum into a new wave of business opportunities, according to Michael Wolff in his book “Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House.”
Four years later, Trump has gotten used to the idea of being in charge of the country, even as he’s never really understood what that entails.
Typically for Trump’s M.O. and general personality, the appearance of things matters more than the underlying facts when he’s busy shaping the narrative around himself. Trump wanted to look like a good potential president, absorb the adulation of the people he realized would cheer when he said things like “Drain the Swamp,” and then bounce back to Mar-a-Lago to enjoy it all. As for his famously fragile ego, he had that covered, too.
“This is bigger than I ever dreamed of,” Wolff says Trump told the late Fox News founder Roger Ailes a week before the election, “I don’t think about losing, because it isn’t losing. We’ve totally won.”
The plan, of course, backfired when it worked too well. The thunderbolt of winning reportedly initially frightened Trump, but that faded as he settled into the trappings of the office. Four years later, Trump has gotten used to the idea of being in charge of the country, even as he’s never really understood what that entails. And so he’s attempted to do whatever he can to make sure he can stay in power, especially with the threat of criminal charges looming should he become a civilian again.
Twice in his re-election bid, technically launched soon after he took office, Trump attempted to put his finger on the electoral scale. In the first, the plot that ended up prompting the House of Representatives to impeach him, there was the top-level scheme — getting Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, prosecuted in Ukraine, which was never guaranteed success — and then the underlying goal, damaging Joe Biden politically, which didn’t require it.
It didn’t matter if Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky never actually ordered his prosecutor-general to file charges against the natural gas company where Hunter Biden worked, or against Joe or Hunter Biden themselves, let alone actually convict them. Trump didn’t even need an actual investigation into the Biden family — it wasn’t necessary.
No, Trump extorted Ukraine, illegally holding back $250 million worth of military aid, because he knew the announcement of an investigation was the important part. That’s what gets headlines, makes chyrons, sticks in peoples’ heads. That’s what he could use to bludgeon Biden with throughout 2020. It would be no failure if the case simply vanished a few weeks after it was announced — anything after that point would have been a welcome bonus.
If he hadn’t gotten caught, thanks to a whistleblower’s account of his suspicions to Congress, it may have even worked — Zelensky was reportedly days away from making the claim in a CNN interview when the whole thing was exposed. “Ukrainian president announces corruption investigation targeting Joe Biden’s son” is a headline that few news outlets would have blinked at initially running without evidence of Trump’s hand in it. By the time the reporting showing it was all a con had been done, it’d be too late.
The second of his attempts to sway the election has lacked the subtlety of the first. It’s been obvious for months that Trump’s attacks on mail-in ballots — falsely claiming that they were rife with fraud — were aimed at discrediting them ahead of the election, when they were likely to favor Biden. It’s a theme he’s kept up since election night, tweeting several times that he’d won the election and going on a rambling rant at the White House press room’s podium on Thursday evening.
Thankfully for the floundering legal effort that’s been slapped together to prove that point in court, the Trump campaign doesn’t need to win the cases being filed — not yet. He doesn’t even need the states to confirm him the winner. Trump just needs to stall, and he needs to tell his supporters that his many enemies are working against him yet again.
If Trump’s been obvious, his advisers have been downright transparent about the end goal: getting the Supreme Court to toss out hundreds of thousands of legitimate votes in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnaney said it on Fox News on the night of Nov. 4, when asked whether ballots put into the mailbox and postmarked on Election Day that arrive by Nov. 6 should be tossed: “No, we believe every vote on Election Day should be counted. But it’s those that arrive after the Election Day that we are fighting.”
Kayleigh McEnany says if Trump loses PA they will go to the supreme court to get ballots mailed before or on election day thrown out pic.twitter.com/rNWA959Nwr — nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) November 5, 2020
Harmeet Dhillon, co-chair of the new group Lawyers for Trump, said it on Lou Dobbs’ Fox Business show on Thursday night: “Meanwhile, we’re waiting for the United States Supreme Court, of which the president has nominated three justices, to step in and do something. And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick it up.”
Trump campaign legal adviser: "We're waiting for the United States Supreme Court - of which the President has nominated three justices - to step in and do something. And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through" pic.twitter.com/Z4bfBqsks5 — Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) November 5, 2020
His campaign reportedly asked pro-Trump voters in Pennsylvania to send in their absentee ballots after the deadline, in an effort to boost his lagging prospects there and offer the votes up as proof of the voter fraud it has claimed without evidence has occurred there. But even with a 2 -1 conservative to liberal balance on the Supreme Court, there’s not much promise that a case will come before them that gets a majority of the justices to throw the election his way. Which is why it’s almost more important for Trump to sell the idea that he’s been the real victim here to his supporters.
They need to believe that the only way he could lose is via betrayal, trickery from the Deep State, or a Democratic plot against him. With the support of outside groups coordinated by Trump allies, that lie is taking root and drawing out protesters as seen in Michigan and Arizona. It’s a lie that’s been embraced by Trump’s top political allies — like Ohio’s Rep. Jim Jordan, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel. All of them have continued to push the election fraud claims, even as privately his top legal minds agreed as early as Friday that there were no legal routes that could swing the election.
“If Republicans don’t challenge and change the U.S. election system, there will never be another Republican president elected again. President Trump should not concede.”
This is the man SC elected over @harrisonjaime. Just disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/9LqRr7MK8C — Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) November 8, 2020
That hasn’t stopped the campaign from fundraising for this boondoggle of a court battle — the fine print of their appeals showed that at least half of the money raised will go toward retiring the campaign debts of a supposed billionaire, one who’s managed to avoid paying any of his own money during this race. In fact, he’s netted at least $2.5 million directly from American taxpayers during his time in office. Not a bad bit of grift.
As of right now, there are two outcomes that can result from this current gambit, absent a Supreme Court intervention. In one scenario, his supporters rally around him and through a combination of bullying, protests, and violence keep things chaotic in the hopes of being sworn-in as president again come January, as Barton Gelman described in his chilling piece for The Atlantic.
Or things never quite break Trump’s way, the courts decide to let the votes stand, Biden becomes the 46th president. Trump never really concedes and, should he avoid prosecution, he gets to become a kingmaker in the Republican party, with a role in vetting his potential successor in 2024. Maybe he launches the Trump-branded media outlet that Jared Kushner has reportedly been shopping around. Or he could go the Grover Cleveland route and run again himself, aiming for two non-consecutive terms. Either way, a power unlike anything he had before occupying the White House would be his, unmarred by the responsibility that comes with actually being president.
New York Magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi reported that the latter was at this point a preference for Trump, according to a friend of the president:
“A lot of what Trump says is the opposite of what he means. That’s true of all of us, to some extent,” the president’s friend said. But when Trump said he didn’t mind losing to Biden, even though he famously hates losers of any ilk, his friend believed him. “He doesn’t believe losing is shameful — quitting is bad. Losing isn’t,” this person said.
As of Sunday night, Trump has yet to even offer the idea that such a thing has occurred let alone a concession. In fact, during his appearance on Thursday night, the president never actually said the word “loss” or any variation thereof about the election. Which, given his approach in 2016, makes sense. Why label yourself a loser when, as he said then, “it isn’t losing. We’ve totally won.”


msnbc--2020-11-09--Why now is the time to bring the country together

Joe : Now is the time to bring the country together

Why now is the time to bring the country together
The panel discusses Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election and why now -- given Trump got more than 70 million votes -- isn't the time for Democrats to gloat but to work together with Republicans in uniting the country.Nov. 9, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-08--NY AG Tish James: Investigations into Trump Org. will continue

The Trump Organization will continue to be investigated, regardless of the presidential election, New York Attorney General Tish James explains.Nov. 8, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--Covid-19 vaccine 90 percent effective in first analysis, Pfizer says

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


msnbc--2020-11-09--Rattner: The market optimistic about Biden presidency


msnbc--2020-11-08--Women of color leaders on historic import of VP-Elect Harris

Kamala Harris as America’s vice president-elect is celebrated as a win for all, as she will be the first woman, first person of color, and first child of immigrants to become the vice president of the United States. Ari Melber and a panel of women of color leaders discuss.Nov. 8, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-08--Significance of VP-Elect Harris as trailblazer analyzed

Kamala Harris becoming vice president has special meaning for many because the former U.S. senator is a trailblazer Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, explains.Nov. 8, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-08--Lawyers say a Trump concession speech could help heal America

Lawyers say a Trump concession speech could help heal America
Donald Trump not making a concession speech is impeding America’s healing after a divisive election many say. Ari Melber is joined by a panel of legal experts to discuss.Nov. 8, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--How to use counterintelligence tricks to deal with Trump-loving relatives

In his speech on Saturday night , President-elect Joe Biden exhorted us to “ let the grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now.
” As a premise , Biden added , “ I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide , but to unify.
” For those lofty goals to become reality , they will have to move from the abstract to the personal .
That means each of us must figure out how to overcome four years of a kind of “ cold war ” that ’ s played out among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so focused on the election outcome that we ’ ve neglected putting as much thought into the election aftermath .
I ’ m not referring to preparing for the possibility of violence , or a president who refuses to leave , or endless court battles over mail-in ballots .
There ’ s been plenty of talk about those worst-case scenarios .
The topic of this column is considered by some to be even more unpleasant than those potentialities : I ’ m talking about how to approach a post-election dialogue with the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survive a Thanksgiving dinner discussion or contemplate how our country survives and thrives beyond our present polarization , we ’ re going to have to talk to one another again for the good of our families , and the security of our communities and our nation — no matter who won the election .
A career spent working and leading counterintelligence operations , and ultimately becoming the nation ’ s top spy catcher , taught me a few things about how to recruit a staunch adversary .
I ’ m sharing these insights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the intelligence community when determining someone ’ s need for sensitive access , you have a “ need to know.
” From national security and safety , to intra-family relationships to church congregations , we ’ ve been torn asunder by persistent and pervasive polarization .
While the FBI director tells us that the top violent domestic threat is from white nationalist extremist groups espousing white supremacy , the attorney general claims antifa and Black Lives Matter represent a “ highly organized ” and “ new form of guerrilla warfare.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not likely to vanish now that we 've elected Biden as the next president .
In fact , manifestations of this great divide may multiply after the election as the losing side perceives that hope is lost , the process has failed them , and matters need to be taken into their own hands .
“ Unfortunately , I don ’ t think national healing is as easy as changing the president , ” said Jaime Saal , a psychotherapist at the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine in Rochester Hills , Michigan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ start thinking now about how we de-escalate after a painfully close election by engaging people in discussions we previously saw little value in attempting .
In the counterintelligence world , unlike the criminal enforcement arena , indictment or conviction is not always the prime objective ; not even close .
In fact , when it comes to neutralizing a foreign intelligence officer , something called “ recruitment-in-place ” ( RIP ) is the paramount goal and could even become the pinnacle of a successful counterspy ’ s career .
These endeavors frequently fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a beautiful thing .
Any recruitment of a foreign intelligence officer is a clear win for team America .
It means that we cultivate a relationship with someone who has spent their entire lives believing we are an evil enemy intent on destroying them , and we convince them to see our side of things for whatever reasons motivate them .
Some recruitments result in defection or a brief term of cooperation .
Defectors eventually exhaust their capacity to share actionable intelligence — they run out of ways to help us because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side .
That ’ s great , but it ’ s not the ultimate scenario .
A successful RIP takes this one giant step further , because a RIP agrees to remain in his or her current role while continuing to reap the benefits of working with us .
I ’ m not suggesting that a Republican is supposed to defect from their party nor that a Democrat should abandon their positions .
In fact , I ’ m proposing that a truly healthy two-party system must have adherents who maintain their respective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other side , and dare I say , even communicate in mutually beneficial ways .
If a counterintelligence agent can persuade a nemesis to betray his motherland , then surely Americans can figure out how to get one another to at least see their side of things .
So how do the intelligence professionals engage their recruitment targets ?
And , what would this look like when applied on a personal level to our political differences ?
Here are three of the core components : 1 .
Most people are not purely evil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ s true .
Even when counterintelligence officers go up against a spy from an adversarial nation whose goal is to undermine everything we stand for , we remind ourselves that this one person can ’ t possibly love absolutely everything about their leader , their peer group , or the agency for which they work .
They may have kids , pets , hobbies , a favorite ice cream , movie or book — just like we do .
They go through tough times , wrestle with personal demons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones , get sick , and hate traffic jams just like anyone else .
This doesn ’ t mean their president , prime minister or king isn ’ t a cruel tyrannical dictator ; or that their government isn ’ t hellbent on destroying us .
Nor does it mean that these people don ’ t have dangerous ideas .
It just means that until Democrats stop seeing Republicans , and Republicans cease seeing Democrats , as evil incarnate , we ’ re never going to hear one another let alone speak with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be met where they are If “ all politics is local , ” then all intelligence recruitments are personal .
A counterintelligence professional isn ’ t just asking their target to work for America ; in a very real sense they 're asking the person to work for them .
That means trust and credibility must be established before anyone can agree to take the giant step toward seeing the validity of the other side .
That kind of trust comes first from listening , then from identifying the other guy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many cases , this may mean taking baby steps toward simply letting them know that you ’ re there and you 're available .
This works in the spy game , and it can work in countering our personal political divides .
3 .
Humans are naturally attracted to the same universal concepts The notions of fairness , dignity and respect transcend cultures and nations .
The challenge is to present the features of your ideology in a way that highlights those innately appealing to your components .
Convincing a Communist Party member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone to reach their potential might be easily demonstrated by the fact that a Black man raised by a single mother became our president .
Maybe Republicans can assert that President Donald Trump finally injected fairness into a previously imbalanced trade relationship with China .
Perhaps Democrats might state that the policies of President Barack Obama brought dignity to the LGBTQ community .
When it comes to dialoguing with whoever we think is on the “ dark side , ” the universal concepts behind the issues are important .
I hold no false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our communities and our nation are deep and painful .
But I ’ m betting on the belief that our democracy , and our people , are bigger and better than that which divides us .
Spy catchers know that our nation is bigger and better than any adversary — we just need to help the person from the other side see that for themself .

In his speech on Saturday night, President-elect Joe Biden exhorted us to “let the grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now.” As a premise, Biden added, “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify.”
Trust and credibility must be established before anyone can agree to take the giant step toward seeing the validity of the other side.
For those lofty goals to become reality, they will have to move from the abstract to the personal. That means each of us must figure out how to overcome four years of a kind of “cold war” that’s played out among Americans.
Many of us have been so focused on the election outcome that we’ve neglected putting as much thought into the election aftermath. I’m not referring to preparing for the possibility of violence, or a president who refuses to leave, or endless court battles over mail-in ballots. There’s been plenty of talk about those worst-case scenarios. The topic of this column is considered by some to be even more unpleasant than those potentialities: I’m talking about how to approach a post-election dialogue with the other side. Whether we need to simply survive a Thanksgiving dinner discussion or contemplate how our country survives and thrives beyond our present polarization, we’re going to have to talk to one another again for the good of our families, and the security of our communities and our nation — no matter who won the election.
A career spent working and leading counterintelligence operations, and ultimately becoming the nation’s top spy catcher, taught me a few things about how to recruit a staunch adversary. I’m sharing these insights with you because, as we say in the intelligence community when determining someone’s need for sensitive access, you have a “need to know.”
From national security and safety, to intra-family relationships to church congregations, we’ve been torn asunder by persistent and pervasive polarization. While the FBI director tells us that the top violent domestic threat is from white nationalist extremist groups espousing white supremacy, the attorney general claims antifa and Black Lives Matter represent a “highly organized” and “new form of guerrilla warfare.”
From national security and safety, to intra-family relationships, to church congregations, we’ve been torn asunder by persistent and pervasive polarization.
The issues that divide us are deep and not likely to vanish now that we've elected Biden as the next president. In fact, manifestations of this great divide may multiply after the election as the losing side perceives that hope is lost, the process has failed them, and matters need to be taken into their own hands.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think national healing is as easy as changing the president,” said Jaime Saal, a psychotherapist at the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine in Rochester Hills, Michigan. That’s why we need to start thinking now about how we de-escalate after a painfully close election by engaging people in discussions we previously saw little value in attempting.
In the counterintelligence world, unlike the criminal enforcement arena, indictment or conviction is not always the prime objective; not even close. In fact, when it comes to neutralizing a foreign intelligence officer, something called “recruitment-in-place” (RIP) is the paramount goal and could even become the pinnacle of a successful counterspy’s career.
These endeavors frequently fail — but when one works, it is a beautiful thing. Any recruitment of a foreign intelligence officer is a clear win for team America. It means that we cultivate a relationship with someone who has spent their entire lives believing we are an evil enemy intent on destroying them, and we convince them to see our side of things for whatever reasons motivate them.
Some recruitments result in defection or a brief term of cooperation. Defectors eventually exhaust their capacity to share actionable intelligence — they run out of ways to help us because they’ve walked away from their side. That’s great, but it’s not the ultimate scenario. A successful RIP takes this one giant step further, because a RIP agrees to remain in his or her current role while continuing to reap the benefits of working with us.
A truly healthy two-party system must have adherents who maintain their respective ideologies but who also can understand the other side.
I’m not suggesting that a Republican is supposed to defect from their party nor that a Democrat should abandon their positions. In fact, I’m proposing that a truly healthy two-party system must have adherents who maintain their respective ideologies but who also can understand the other side, and dare I say, even communicate in mutually beneficial ways. If a counterintelligence agent can persuade a nemesis to betray his motherland, then surely Americans can figure out how to get one another to at least see their side of things. So how do the intelligence professionals engage their recruitment targets? And, what would this look like when applied on a personal level to our political differences? Here are three of the core components:
1. Most people are not purely evil
I know this is a tough one, but it’s true. Even when counterintelligence officers go up against a spy from an adversarial nation whose goal is to undermine everything we stand for, we remind ourselves that this one person can’t possibly love absolutely everything about their leader, their peer group, or the agency for which they work. They may have kids, pets, hobbies, a favorite ice cream, movie or book — just like we do. They go through tough times, wrestle with personal demons, fall in love, lose loved ones, get sick, and hate traffic jams just like anyone else. This doesn’t mean their president, prime minister or king isn’t a cruel tyrannical dictator; or that their government isn’t hellbent on destroying us. Nor does it mean that these people don’t have dangerous ideas. It just means that until Democrats stop seeing Republicans, and Republicans cease seeing Democrats, as evil incarnate, we’re never going to hear one another let alone speak with one another.
2. People must be met where they are
If “all politics is local,” then all intelligence recruitments are personal. A counterintelligence professional isn’t just asking their target to work for America; in a very real sense they're asking the person to work for them. That means trust and credibility must be established before anyone can agree to take the giant step toward seeing the validity of the other side. That kind of trust comes first from listening, then from identifying the other guy’s needs, desires and fears. In many cases, this may mean taking baby steps toward simply letting them know that you’re there and you're available. This works in the spy game, and it can work in countering our personal political divides.
3. Humans are naturally attracted to the same universal concepts
The notions of fairness, dignity and respect transcend cultures and nations. The challenge is to present the features of your ideology in a way that highlights those innately appealing to your components. Convincing a Communist Party member that America offers the greatest chance for everyone to reach their potential might be easily demonstrated by the fact that a Black man raised by a single mother became our president. Maybe Republicans can assert that President Donald Trump finally injected fairness into a previously imbalanced trade relationship with China. Perhaps Democrats might state that the policies of President Barack Obama brought dignity to the LGBTQ community. When it comes to dialoguing with whoever we think is on the “dark side,” the universal concepts behind the issues are important.
I hold no false illusions. The fissures in our families, our communities and our nation are deep and painful. But I’m betting on the belief that our democracy, and our people, are bigger and better than that which divides us. Spy catchers know that our nation is bigger and better than any adversary — we just need to help the person from the other side see that for themself.


msnbc--2020-11-09--Fox News cuts away from McEnany's baseless claims of voter fraud

As Trump loses WH , Robert De Niro shares relief and the hope for accountability

Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto cut away from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany as she spoke at a press conference on behalf of President Trump, making claims, without evidence, that illegal votes had been cast in the presidential election.Nov. 9, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--How Biden could still succeed with a Republican senate majority

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


msnbc--2020-11-10--Joy Reid: America can breathe again, it's time to 'bind up the nation's wounds'

Joy Reid: America can breathe again, it's time to 'bind up the nation's wounds'
Joy outlines what the United States accomplished with its vote for Joe Biden and what challenges the upcoming administration faces, namely the pandemic and a divided country.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--Trump fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper

Monica Alba reports, "there will likely be more of this action to come."Nov. 9, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--Secy. Ben Carson tests positive for coronavirus

Top Appropriations Dem on GOP default threat: 'They have to govern. They are in the majority' 04:48


msnbc--2020-11-09--Lawyers cannot locate parents of 666 separated migrant children

Lawyers working to reunite families under the Trump administration’s child separation policy, cannot find the parents of some 666 migrant children separated from their parents at the border. That number is higher than previously reported by the government. NBC News’ Jacob Soboroff explains where these children may be.Nov. 9, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Ben Rhodes on GOP not recognizing Biden’s win: ‘We’ve seen this movie before’

Ben Rhodes recalls how Mitch McConnell treated President Barack Obama during his 8 years as president and how they’re treating an incoming Biden Administration: "The reality is Mitch McConnell never acted like Barack Obama was a legitimate president even though he won overwhelmingly twice. We've seen this movie. But it's a dangerous dynamic here."Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--An ode to Four Seasons Total Landscaping

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msnbc--2020-11-09--McCaffrey: 'No logical sense' for Trump to fire Mark Esper

McCaffrey: 'No logical sense' for Trump to fire Mark Esper
Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey says "we ought to be apprehensive about what's going on," after President Trump fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper.Nov. 9, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Governor's pitch to aid Trump appears to benefit her own campaign fund

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
— South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem has enthusiastically taken up President Donald Trump 's efforts to contest the results of the presidential election , asking for online donations to “ help us bring it home for the president , ” but it appears the donations are set to flow into her own reelection account .
The Republican governor , a close Trump ally , launched a fundraising campaign soon after the election was called for Biden on Saturday .
The website soliciting donations has “ Kristi Noem for Governor ” in large letters at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the message is all about Trump , saying that he “ needs our support while the far-left Dems declare a victory for Biden before all the votes are counted.
” It urges donors to `` Please help us bring it home for the president !
” The site allows contributors to check the amount of their donation and includes a box to cover a processing “ so 100 % of my donation goes to Kristi for Governor.
” Noem did not respond to a request for comment on how the money raised would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Steve Kirby , said he had no comment on how the funds would be used .
It 's unlikely that much , if any , of the money will end up going to Trump , said Paul S. Ryan , the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause , a campaign finance watchdog .
Ryan , a campaign finance lawyer , pointed out that the governor can give a maximum of $ 2,800 to Trump ’ s campaign under federal law .
If she wanted more to flow to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s own donation site .
“ In all likelihood , she is keeping this money that she is raising , ” Ryan said .
“ If she were actually interested in raising money for Donald Trump ’ s own legal efforts , she would use a joint-fundraising committee.
” Federal election law makes it difficult for state campaign committees like Noem 's to donate to federal campaigns because it would have to ensure the donations it receives meet federal contribution limits .
Ryan compared Noem 's solicitation to Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though billed as raising money for his legal fight , notes that half of contributions will go to pay off general election campaign debt .
“ He ’ s setting the example at the top of the party , at the top of the ticket , ” Ryan said .
“ It doesn ’ t surprise me to see Noem doing something similar.
” Noem has emerged as a conservative star during Trump 's campaign , with her travels to presidential proving grounds like New Hampshire and Iowa fueling speculation that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national attention has helped her fill up a campaign war chest , amassing more donations in the two weeks leading up to Election Day than she did in the first five months of the year .
She has raised more than $ 1 million in contributions to her gubernatorial campaign in the last six months .
The Republican governor has increasingly seized on national hot-button issues .
Last week , she furthered Trump ’ s allegations of widespread voter fraud by tweeting that election systems were “ rigged , ” even as votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such fraud has yet emerged .
Trump has made an aggressive pitch to donors to help finance lawsuits and encouraged supporters to rally against accepting the results of the election .
Noem has made it clear she will take up Trump 's fight .
In a Sunday appearance on ABC News , she said , “ When you break the process on which we elect our leaders , you will break America forever .
So this is n't just about this election , this is about every election in the future .
@

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has enthusiastically taken up President Donald Trump's efforts to contest the results of the presidential election, asking for online donations to “help us bring it home for the president,” but it appears the donations are set to flow into her own reelection account.
The Republican governor, a close Trump ally, launched a fundraising campaign soon after the election was called for Biden on Saturday. The website soliciting donations has “Kristi Noem for Governor” in large letters at the top, but below that, the message is all about Trump, saying that he “needs our support while the far-left Dems declare a victory for Biden before all the votes are counted.” It urges donors to "Please help us bring it home for the president!”
The site allows contributors to check the amount of their donation and includes a box to cover a processing “so 100% of my donation goes to Kristi for Governor.”
Noem did not respond to a request for comment on how the money raised would be used. Her campaign committee chairman, Steve Kirby, said he had no comment on how the funds would be used.
It's unlikely that much, if any, of the money will end up going to Trump, said Paul S. Ryan, the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, a campaign finance watchdog. Ryan, a campaign finance lawyer, pointed out that the governor can give a maximum of $2,800 to Trump’s campaign under federal law. If she wanted more to flow to Trump, she could have directed donors to the president’s own donation site.
“In all likelihood, she is keeping this money that she is raising,” Ryan said. “If she were actually interested in raising money for Donald Trump’s own legal efforts, she would use a joint-fundraising committee.”
Federal election law makes it difficult for state campaign committees like Noem's to donate to federal campaigns because it would have to ensure the donations it receives meet federal contribution limits.
Ryan compared Noem's solicitation to Trump's current fundraising push. Trump's solicitation, though billed as raising money for his legal fight, notes that half of contributions will go to pay off general election campaign debt.
“He’s setting the example at the top of the party, at the top of the ticket,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t surprise me to see Noem doing something similar.”
Noem has emerged as a conservative star during Trump's campaign, with her travels to presidential proving grounds like New Hampshire and Iowa fueling speculation that she is eyeing a 2024 run.
The national attention has helped her fill up a campaign war chest, amassing more donations in the two weeks leading up to Election Day than she did in the first five months of the year. She has raised more than $1 million in contributions to her gubernatorial campaign in the last six months.
The Republican governor has increasingly seized on national hot-button issues. Last week, she furthered Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud by tweeting that election systems were “rigged,” even as votes were still being tallied. No evidence of such fraud has yet emerged.
Trump has made an aggressive pitch to donors to help finance lawsuits and encouraged supporters to rally against accepting the results of the election.
Noem has made it clear she will take up Trump's fight. In a Sunday appearance on ABC News, she said, “When you break the process on which we elect our leaders, you will break America forever. So this isn't just about this election, this is about every election in the future.”


msnbc--2020-11-10--Search continues for man last seen near Wawa in Longwood, Florida two weeks ago

A family in Florida is still desperately trying to find 39-year-old Kurt Hartman nearly two weeks after he disappeared from the Longwood , Florida area in October .
Kurt , who was living in North Carolina , had quit his job as an electrical assistant in August and moved down to Florida for a fresh start , according to his brother Jeremy Hartman .
“ He ’ d been through a lot and just needed a change .
A fresh start , ” Jeremy told Dateline .
“ He stayed with us for a few weeks and with our parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know anyone here yet .
We just don ’ t know where he could be.
” Jeremy , who lives in Winter Park , Florida , last saw his brother in September and said Kurt had been staying at various Airbnbs since then .
A week after Jeremey spoke to Kurt on the phone , Kurt went missing .
According to Lt. Edwin Santos with the Winter Park Police Department , Kurt was last seen near a retention pond behind a Wawa convenience store at the intersection of Highway 434 and Ronald Reagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman who lived nearby called Longwood Police to report a suspicious person standing near the pond .
Longwood Police responded and spoke briefly to Kurt who told them he was out just enjoying the day .
Jeremy told Dateline that he later spoke to the neighbor who told him she watched Kurt the rest of the evening as he hung around the pond.When she checked the next morning , he was gone .
A couple of days later , on October 28 , 2020 , Kurt ’ s truck was found abandoned on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his brother ’ s belongings , including his tools , some clothing and a suitcase were found locked inside .
“ His things were there in his truck , which was locked , but he was nowhere to be found , ” Jeremy said .
“ It ’ s just odd and makes no sense that he would just wander off without anything.
” Jeremy told Dateline he filed a missing persons report on October 28 with the Winter Park Police Department , who then launched an investigation .
But more questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell phone and wallet were found about four miles away from his truck , on a stretch of Highway 17-92 , and turned in to State Highway Patrol by an unknown individual .
Following the initial investigation , Lt. Santos told Dateline that detectives don ’ t believe foul play is involved in Kurt ’ s disappearance , but encourages the public to send any relevant tips to the police department .
Kurt ’ s family are still concerned for his safety and continue to search for him .
Jeremy told Dateline they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen and the stretch of highway where his belongings were found .
“ Something just doesn ’ t feel right , ” Jeremy said .
“ We just want to know where he is and want to know that he ’ s safe.
” They have also set up a `` Kurt Hartman Search '' page on Facebook to share news about their search and hope to receive information that will lead to Kurt .
“ Social media has really been the most effective way of getting the information out and sharing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know he ’ s out there… We just hope someone who ’ s seen him will message us or call the police .
Anything helps.
” Kurt is 5 ’ 10 ” tall , weighs approximately 165-170 pounds , and doesn ’ t have any tattoos .
He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt , brown long pants , and sneakers .
Anyone who might have information about Kurt ’ s whereabouts is asked to call the Winter Park Police Department at 800-423-TIPS ( 8477 ) or 407-599-3367 .

Update:
On November 10, 2020, Kurt Hartman was found alive by a Florida State Police officer south of downtown Orlando, according to his family's post on the "Kurt Hartman Search" Facebook page.
"He is safe and his mental and physical health are currently being evaluated," the post stated. "Thank you all for your prayers and help getting the word out! Our family is truly grateful."
Earlier story:
A family in Florida is still desperately trying to find 39-year-old Kurt Hartman nearly two weeks after he disappeared from the Longwood, Florida area in October.
Kurt Hartman Kurt Hartman Search Facebook Page
Kurt, who was living in North Carolina, had quit his job as an electrical assistant in August and moved down to Florida for a fresh start, according to his brother Jeremy Hartman.
“He’d been through a lot and just needed a change. A fresh start,” Jeremy told Dateline. “He stayed with us for a few weeks and with our parents. But he didn’t really know anyone here yet. We just don’t know where he could be.”
Jeremy, who lives in Winter Park, Florida, last saw his brother in September and said Kurt had been staying at various Airbnbs since then.
A week after Jeremey spoke to Kurt on the phone, Kurt went missing.
According to Lt. Edwin Santos with the Winter Park Police Department, Kurt was last seen near a retention pond behind a Wawa convenience store at the intersection of Highway 434 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Longwood, Florida. A woman who lived nearby called Longwood Police to report a suspicious person standing near the pond. Longwood Police responded and spoke briefly to Kurt who told them he was out just enjoying the day.
Jeremy told Dateline that he later spoke to the neighbor who told him she watched Kurt the rest of the evening as he hung around the pond.When she checked the next morning, he was gone.
Kurt Hartman Kurt Hartman Search Facebook Page
A couple of days later, on October 28, 2020, Kurt’s truck was found abandoned on the south end of Sanford. Jeremy said his brother’s belongings, including his tools, some clothing and a suitcase were found locked inside.
“His things were there in his truck, which was locked, but he was nowhere to be found,” Jeremy said. “It’s just odd and makes no sense that he would just wander off without anything.”
Jeremy told Dateline he filed a missing persons report on October 28 with the Winter Park Police Department, who then launched an investigation.
But more questions than answers surfaced when Kurt’s cell phone and wallet were found about four miles away from his truck, on a stretch of Highway 17-92, and turned in to State Highway Patrol by an unknown individual.
Following the initial investigation, Lt. Santos told Dateline that detectives don’t believe foul play is involved in Kurt’s disappearance, but encourages the public to send any relevant tips to the police department.
Kurt’s family are still concerned for his safety and continue to search for him. Jeremy told Dateline they have searched the area he was last seen and the stretch of highway where his belongings were found.
“Something just doesn’t feel right,” Jeremy said. “We just want to know where he is and want to know that he’s safe.”
They have also set up a "Kurt Hartman Search" page on Facebook to share news about their search and hope to receive information that will lead to Kurt.
“Social media has really been the most effective way of getting the information out and sharing his photo,” Jeremy said. “We know he’s out there… We just hope someone who’s seen him will message us or call the police. Anything helps.”
Kurt is 5’10” tall, weighs approximately 165-170 pounds, and doesn’t have any tattoos. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, brown long pants, and sneakers.
Anyone who might have information about Kurt’s whereabouts is asked to call the Winter Park Police Department at 800-423-TIPS (8477) or 407-599-3367.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Alex Trebek's final 'Jeopardy!' episodes begin with touching tribute

“ Jeopardy !
” paid tribute to Alex Trebek and his decadeslong run as host on the famed trivia show Monday as his final episodes began to air the day after his death .
“ Jeopardy !
” executive producer Mike Richards opened the show acknowledging the “ enormous loss ” of Trebek , who died at the age of 80 Sunday after a battle with pancreatic cancer .
Trebek had hosted the game show since 1984 and was contracted to continue until 2022 .
Richards stood in front of the show ’ s set and addressed viewers with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its usual time slot .
`` He loved this show and everything it stood for .
In fact , he filmed his final episodes less than two weeks ago , ” Richards said .
“ He will forever be an inspiration for his constant desire to learn , his kindness and for his love of his family.
” The show will air Trebek ’ s final 35 episodes through Christmas Day , because , “ that ’ s what he wanted , ” the producer added .
“ On behalf of everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you for everything Alex , ” Richards said .
Trebek was a beloved figure in pop culture known for his calm , gentle and witty demeanor in telling contestants they had answered incorrectly .
He won six daytime Emmy Awards and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2011 .
It was a shock to “ Jeopardy !
” fans last year when Trebek announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
The host periodically provided health updates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show ’ s social media , offering hope on the status of his condition .
But Trebek offered a more candid , grim reality on the state of his disease during a New York Times interview in July .
He told the newspaper that if his course of treatment at the time did n't work , he planned on stopping treatment altogether .
`` Yesterday morning my wife came to me and said , ‘ How are you feeling ?
’ And I said , ‘ I feel like I want to die.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the Times .
“ There comes a time where you have to make a decision as to whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life , or whether you want to just ease yourself into the next level .
It doesn ’ t bother me in the least.
” Trebek was eulogized Sunday by dozens after news of his death broke , from notable celebrities to world leaders .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trebek , born in Ontario , `` an icon . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world , instilling in so many of us a love for trivia , '' Trudeau said Sunday on Twitter .
`` My deepest condolences to his family , friends , and all who are mourning this tremendous loss . ''

"Jeopardy!" paid tribute to Alex Trebek and his decadeslong run as host on the famed trivia show Monday as his final episodes began to air the day after his death.
"Jeopardy!" executive producer Mike Richards opened the show acknowledging the "enormous loss" of Trebek, who died Sunday at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Trebek had hosted the game show since 1984 and was contracted to continue until 2022.
Richards stood in front of the show's set and addressed viewers with a touching tribute before the taped episode aired at its usual time slot.
"He loved this show and everything it stood for. In fact, he filmed his final episodes less than two weeks ago," Richards said. "He will forever be an inspiration for his constant desire to learn, his kindness and for his love of his family."
The show will air Trebek's final 35 episodes through Christmas Day because "that's what he wanted," Richards added.
"On behalf of everyone here at 'Jeopardy!' thank you for everything, Alex," Richards said.
Trebek was a beloved figure in pop culture known for his calm, gentle and witty demeanor in telling contestants they had answered incorrectly. He won six daytime Emmy Awards and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2011.
It was a shock to "Jeopardy!" fans last year when Trebek announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He periodically provided health updates in taped videos posted to the show's social media accounts, offering hope on his condition.
But Trebek offered a more candid, grim reality on the state of his disease during a New York Times interview in July. He told the newspaper that if his course of treatment at the time didn't work, he planned to stop treatment altogether.
"Yesterday morning my wife came to me and said, 'How are you feeling?' And I said, 'I feel like I want to die.' It was that bad," he told The Times. "There comes a time where you have to make a decision as to whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life, or whether you want to just ease yourself into the next level. It doesn't bother me in the least."
Trebek was eulogized Sunday by dozens after news of his death broke, from celebrities to world leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trebek, who was born in Ontario, "an icon."
"Almost every night for more than three decades, Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world, instilling in so many of us a love for trivia," Trudeau said Sunday on Twitter. "My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss."


msnbc--2020-11-10--FDA authorizes Covid-19 antibody treatment for emergency use

The Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly 's Covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment , called bamlanivimab .
The FDA action specifies that the therapy is meant for adults and children over age 12 with mild to moderate illness but who have high risks of getting much worse and needing hospitalization .
That includes people with underlying health conditions , such as diabetes , sickle cell disease , chronic kidney disease or obesity , or anyone over age 65 .
The move vastly expands doctors ' ability to use Eli Lilly 's monoclonal antibody treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying the drug in clinical trials .
Eli Lilly applied for emergency use authorization in early October after the company said research suggested that the therapy could help keep Covid-19 patients from progressing to where they would need to be hospitalized .
Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak The action `` provides health care professionals on the frontline of this pandemic with another potential tool in treating Covid-19 patients , '' Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni , acting director of the FDA 's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is similar to one of the treatments President Donald Trump received when he was hospitalized with Covid-19 .
However , the FDA has stipulated that this emergency use authorization does not apply to patients who are in the hospital or who need help breathing .
Regulators said such patients may , indeed , do worse if they are hospitalized in need of high-flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation .
Monoclonal antibodies are made in a lab to mimic the body 's natural antibodies .
The antibodies act by recognizing specific pathogens — in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes Covid-19 — and harnessing the immune system to fight them off .
The FDA said the decision was based on interim analysis from a phase 2 clinical trial in 465 adults with mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms .
The research suggested that the drug was no better than a placebo in helping patients clear the virus from their bodies ; however , it did reduce the likelihood that patients would later need to be hospitalized .
Bamlanivimab is given through an IV in a single dose .
In safety studies of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a severe allergic reaction in one person who needed an emergency medication called epinephrine to stop the reaction .
The FDA said other possible side effects of bamlanivimab include nausea , diarrhea , dizziness , headache , itching and vomiting .
Eli Lilly has already begun manufacturing the drug , and it said it could have as many as 1 million doses available by the end of the year .

The Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly's Covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment, called bamlanivimab.
The FDA action specifies that the therapy is meant for adults and children over age 12 with mild to moderate illness but who have high risks of getting much worse and needing hospitalization. That includes people with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, sickle cell disease, chronic kidney disease or obesity, or anyone over age 65.
Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
The move vastly expands doctors' ability to use Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody treatment. Previously, physicians were limited to trying the drug in clinical trials.
Eli Lilly applied for emergency use authorization in early October after the company said research suggested that the therapy could help keep Covid-19 patients from progressing to where they would need to be hospitalized.
Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
The action "provides health care professionals on the frontline of this pandemic with another potential tool in treating Covid-19 patients," Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
Bamlanivimab is similar to one of the treatments President Donald Trump received when he was hospitalized with Covid-19. However, the FDA has stipulated that this emergency use authorization does not apply to patients who are in the hospital or who need help breathing. Regulators said such patients may, indeed, do worse if they are hospitalized in need of high-flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation.
Monoclonal antibodies are made in a lab to mimic the body's natural antibodies. The antibodies act by recognizing specific pathogens — in this case, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 — and harnessing the immune system to fight them off.
The FDA said the decision was based on interim analysis from a phase 2 clinical trial in 465 adults with mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms. The research suggested that the drug was no better than a placebo in helping patients clear the virus from their bodies; however, it did reduce the likelihood that patients would later need to be hospitalized.
Bamlanivimab is given through an IV in a single dose. In safety studies of about 800 people, the drug led to a severe allergic reaction in one person who needed an emergency medication called epinephrine to stop the reaction.
The FDA said other possible side effects of bamlanivimab include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, itching and vomiting.
Eli Lilly has already begun manufacturing the drug, and it said it could have as many as 1 million doses available by the end of the year.
Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.


msnbc--2020-11-09--Even with a vaccine, U.S. economy faces long path toward recovery

The stock market surged on Monday after promising news that Pfizer ’ s Covid-19 vaccine proved 90 percent effective in late-stage trials , signaling that some relief is on the horizon for the country ’ s pandemic-stricken economy .
But as investors sell off tech stocks for investments in beleaguered leisure or hospitality companies , market strategists and analysts warn that the economy still faces a long path toward recovery .
“ The news is encouraging , but it ’ s important to have a little bit of humility , ” said Ryan Sweet , a senior director of economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think markets are looking a year ahead from now if [ the vaccine ] is widely distributed , the economy will be healing more quickly.
” Despite news of a promising vaccine , the U.S. is still on track for a slow and grueling economic recovery , economists said .
Moody ’ s still forecasts that the country will not fully recover the 22 million jobs lost to the pandemic until 2024 .
The economy is still on course to contract by about 2.9 percent this year , according to estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 million consumers are facing a financial cliff in December when federal pandemic unemployment benefits expire .
“ What we ’ re seeing [ in Monday 's stock market rally ] is a hope that a vaccine will return life to normal enough to favor those industries that have been heavily sold off , ” said Paul Christopher , head of global market strategy with the Wells Fargo Investment Institute .
“ There is a tendency for markets to run with expectations , and those expectations are not met — and the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to the economic turmoil from the virus depends on the delicate distribution of the vaccine , which comes with numerous risks and challenges , Pfizer told NBC News .
For instance , the vaccine must be stored at below 94 degrees Fahrenheit , which requires specially designed refrigerators and vials .
“ There is too much risk of extrapolation here , ” said Christopher .
“ We prefer investors not drop all their chips in a market that might show some disappointment in the coming weeks and months.
” While the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine does signal a faster recovery than had previously been predicted by analysts , said Binky Chadha , chief U.S. equity and global strategist at Deutsche Bank Securities .
That bodes well for industries that depend on in-person services such as leisure and hospitality industries , which lost 7.7 million jobs at the height of the pandemic .
Retail lost about 1.9 million jobs to temporary or permanent layoffs at the beginning of the pandemic .
“ Our view is that the cyclical sector — financials , construction , retail — should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth has been stronger than expected , ” said Chadha .
“ The vaccine will help with that.
” As jobs rebound , consumers are likely to follow as people go back to dining out and shopping at malls , said Michael Arone , managing director of State Street Global Advisors .
About half of the consumers surveyed by Bain & Co. in October said they had not been to a mall since the beginning of the pandemic .
One-third of them said they are not comfortable shopping in malls or stores and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As more jobs are added , consumer confidence increases and consumer spending increases , ” Arone said .
“ That will be important to follow through on the economy.
” However , even when the economy does start to shows signs of recovery , it will still be weaker than it was before the pandemic .
“ [ The vaccine ] is a giant first step in developing a health solution to what is a health problem , ” Arone said .
“ What is ultimately going to be the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vaccine and consumer behavior .
Those are key milestones to keep an eye on moving forward .
”

The stock market surged Monday on promising news that Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine candidate had proved 90 percent effective in late-stage trials, signaling that some relief is on the horizon for the country's pandemic-stricken economy. But as investors sell off tech stocks for investments in beleaguered leisure or hospitality companies, market strategists and analysts warn that the economy still faces a long path toward recovery.
"The news is encouraging, but it's important to have a little bit of humility," said Ryan Sweet, a senior director of economic research with Moody's Analytics. "I think markets are looking a year ahead from now — if [the vaccine] is widely distributed, the economy will be healing more quickly."
Despite news of a promising vaccine candidate, the U.S. is still on track for a slow and grueling economic recovery, economists said. Moody's still forecasts that the country will not fully recover the 22 million jobs lost to the pandemic until 2024. The economy is still on course to contract by about 2.9 percent this year, according to estimates from Deutsche Bank. Meanwhile, about 13 million consumers reach a financial cliff in December when federal pandemic unemployment benefits expire.
"What we're seeing" in Monday's stock market rally "is a hope that a vaccine will return life to normal enough to favor those industries that have been heavily sold off," said Paul Christopher, head of global market strategy with the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. "There is a tendency for markets to run with expectations, and those expectations are not met — and the same is true for the vaccine."
An end to the economic turmoil from the virus depends on the delicate distribution of the vaccine, which comes with numerous risks and challenges, Pfizer said. For instance, the vaccine must be stored below 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which requires specially designed refrigerators and vials.
"There is too much risk of extrapolation here," Christopher said. "We prefer investors not drop all their chips in a market that might show some disappointment in the coming weeks and months."
While the country is not out of the woods, the prospect of a vaccine does signal a faster recovery than analysts had predicted, said Binky Chadha, chief U.S. equity and global strategist at Deutsche Bank Securities. That bodes well for industries that depend on in-person services, such as the leisure and hospitality industries, which lost 7.7 million jobs at the height of the pandemic. Retail lost about 1.9 million jobs to temporary or permanent layoffs at the beginning of the pandemic.
"Our view is that the cyclical sector — financials, construction, retail — should fare well, and that is simply because growth has been stronger than expected," Chadha said. "The vaccine will help with that."
As jobs rebound, consumers are likely to follow as people go back to dining out and shopping at malls, said Michael Arone, managing director of State Street Global Advisors. About half of the consumers surveyed by Bain & Co. in October said they had not been to a mall since the beginning of the pandemic. One-third of them said they are not comfortable shopping in malls or stores, and most are not comfortable with air travel.
"As more jobs are added, consumer confidence increases and consumer spending increases," Arone said. "That will be important to follow through on the economy."
However, even when the economy does start to shows signs of recovery, it will still be weaker than it was before the pandemic.
The possible vaccine "is a giant first step in developing a health solution to what is a health problem," Arone said. "What is ultimately going to be the most important is the follow-through on the market and vaccine and consumer behavior. Those are key milestones to keep an eye on moving forward."


msnbc--2020-11-10--Republicans back Trump's resistance to concede

As Trump refuses to concede , a look back at how it 's done

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


msnbc--2020-11-10--Rep. Adam Schiff: Bill Barr has ‘decided to be Donald Trump’s personal lawyer’

Rep. Adam Schiff: Bill Barr has ‘decided to be Donald Trump’s personal lawyer’
Rep. Adam Schiff, (D-CA) Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, joins Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss how Attorney General William Barr will not “do what’s in the best interest of the American people” after releasing a memo giving prosecutors the authority to investigate “specific allegations” of voter fraud.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Trump appointee hinders transition with refusal to acknowledge Biden victory

Denise Turner Roth, former GSA administrator, talks with Ali Velshi about the role of the GSA administrator in a presidential transition and how the refusal of Donald Trump's appointee to GSA administrator to ascertain Joe Biden's election victory hinders the new administration's transition.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Why Trump's reign of Twitter terror is almost over

In the midst of all the impromptu jubilation Saturday , it hit me just how much of our brain space we 're going to be able to recover when the Trump administration finally concludes .
No more sitting around wondering what President Donald Trump will do or say , or type , next .
For four years , we have n't known true peace of mind so long as the world 's most important iPhone remained in the hands of the most dangerous tweeter , a man with the impulse control of a 3-year-old .
Imagine it : a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tweet just hangs there in the digital ether before being lost to the endless churn of the timeline .
It felt like punishment for my hubris when Trump went ahead and punctured that lovely daydream Monday afternoon when , as predicted , he tweeted out that Defense Secretary Mark Esper was being booted from the Pentagon .
Esper will be replaced not by the deputy secretary of defense but by Christopher C. Miller , `` the highly respected director of the National Counterterrorism Center , '' Trump announced .
Esper joins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been fired in 280 or fewer characters .
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was the first high-ranking staffer to learn about his removal from Twitter .
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin , White House counsel Don McGahn , Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen , national security adviser John Bolton — all of them saw the end of their service plastered online before it appeared anywhere else .
For now , let 's set aside the particulars of Esper 's tenure — including this exit interview with Military Times that serves as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finger to the administration all at once .
Instead , let 's focus on how good it will feel when Trump 's Twitter feed is no longer something that can move markets and alter the course of geopolitics .
Trump and his Twitter feed are a single organism in a way that 's true for no other major politician , except maybe — maybe — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
Most professional political accounts are run by staffers or at least have a few barriers between the principle 's brain and the Twittersphere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of communications strategy .
Trump , though , has resisted any attempt to hamstring his direct access to his 88 million hangers-on to his every tweet .
The closest anyone has come is his social media director , Dan Scavino , who is reported to have access to Trump 's account and is the best at approximating his boss 's unique stylings .
Like many of my peers , I was a Twitter skeptic in its earliest days .
I changed my mind and joined in 2009 when the Green Movement swept Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became a life-changing way to meet people and gave me my start as a journalist .
I even argued for years that social media was clearly a net good for governments , allowing them to more directly connect with constituents .
But after four years of being chained to the site to keep track of the president 's whims ( I have a TweetDeck column solely for monitoring his feed , the only person for whom this is the case ) , the idea of blessed , blissful freedom is creeping up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC News called the election for President-elect Joe Biden , I found myself spending hours less of my day on Twitter .
I even ... read a book !
I 'm not alone .
`` I have a confession to make about the Trump tweets , '' ABC News correspondent Jon Karl said Sunday on CNN 's `` Reliable Sources . ''
`` I have turned off the notification on my phone for Trump tweets .
...
They 're less effective when there are so many and when they are filled with so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined him in doing so , live on air .
For years , Trump 's been allowed to say almost anything he wants in his feed .
Twitter has bent and twisted itself in knots to justify this special treatment , falling back on the `` newsworthy '' nature of the president 's outbursts .
He is , after all , the head of state of the world 's most powerful country .
As the election approached , and with Covid-19 misinformation flowing , Twitter and Facebook began putting warning labels on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very rarely removed his posts .
Even in his post-election rampage , with nearly a dozen tweets hidden from the public for their misleading nature , Trump is still being handled with kid gloves — no suspension , no Twitter jail , nothing .
But come January , Bloomberg News reported Wednesday , that will no longer be the case .
Instead , Trump could be put on notice for breaking the rules , which `` would increase the severity of punishment issued from the company , and could lead to temporary account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban . ''
As a spokesperson told Reuters , the company 's policy on world leaders `` applies to current world leaders and candidates for office , and not private citizens when they no longer hold these positions . ''
If Trump and his acolytes are screaming about media censorship now , just wait until his Twitter account is permanently deleted in what can only be described as a victory against misinformation and a salve for the country 's frazzled nerves .
Who knows ?
Maybe he 'll find a happier home on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app that conservatives have flocked to since Election Day .

In the midst of all the impromptu jubilation Saturday, it hit me just how much of our brain space we're going to be able to recover when the Trump administration finally concludes. No more sitting around wondering what President Donald Trump will do or say, or type, next. For four years, we haven't known true peace of mind so long as the world's most important iPhone remained in the hands of the most dangerous tweeter, a man with the impulse control of a 3-year-old.
Imagine it: a world where Trump tweets — and nothing happens. The tweet just hangs there in the digital ether before being lost to the endless churn of the timeline.
For four years, we haven't known true peace of mind so long as the world's most important iPhone remained in the hands of the most dangerous tweeter.
It felt like punishment for my hubris when Trump went ahead and punctured that lovely daydream Monday afternoon when, as predicted, he tweeted out that Defense Secretary Mark Esper was being booted from the Pentagon. Esper will be replaced not by the deputy secretary of defense but by Christopher C. Miller, "the highly respected director of the National Counterterrorism Center," Trump announced.
...Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020
Esper joins a long list of top officials who've been fired in 280 or fewer characters. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was the first high-ranking staffer to learn about his removal from Twitter. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, White House counsel Don McGahn, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, national security adviser John Bolton — all of them saw the end of their service plastered online before it appeared anywhere else.
For now, let's set aside the particulars of Esper's tenure — including this exit interview with Military Times that serves as a mea culpa, CYA exercise and middle finger to the administration all at once. Instead, let's focus on how good it will feel when Trump's Twitter feed is no longer something that can move markets and alter the course of geopolitics.
Trump and his Twitter feed are a single organism in a way that's true for no other major politician, except maybe — maybe — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Most professional political accounts are run by staffers or at least have a few barriers between the principle's brain and the Twittersphere, often in the form of some kind of communications strategy.
Trump, though, has resisted any attempt to hamstring his direct access to his 88 million hangers-on to his every tweet. The closest anyone has come is his social media director, Dan Scavino, who is reported to have access to Trump's account and is the best at approximating his boss's unique stylings.
Like many of my peers, I was a Twitter skeptic in its earliest days. I changed my mind and joined in 2009 when the Green Movement swept Iran. Over the next half-decade, it became a life-changing way to meet people and gave me my start as a journalist. I even argued for years that social media was clearly a net good for governments, allowing them to more directly connect with constituents.
But after four years of being chained to the site to keep track of the president's whims (I have a TweetDeck column solely for monitoring his feed, the only person for whom this is the case), the idea of blessed, blissful freedom is creeping up on me. Already in the hours after NBC News called the election for President-elect Joe Biden, I found myself spending hours less of my day on Twitter. I even ... read a book!
Even in his post-election rampage, with nearly a dozen tweets hidden from the public for their misleading nature, Trump is still being handled with kid gloves.
I'm not alone. "I have a confession to make about the Trump tweets," ABC News correspondent Jon Karl said Sunday on CNN's "Reliable Sources." "I have turned off the notification on my phone for Trump tweets. ... They're less effective when there are so many and when they are filled with so much disinformation." Host Brian Stelter joined him in doing so, live on air.
For years, Trump's been allowed to say almost anything he wants in his feed. Twitter has bent and twisted itself in knots to justify this special treatment, falling back on the "newsworthy" nature of the president's outbursts. He is, after all, the head of state of the world's most powerful country. As the election approached, and with Covid-19 misinformation flowing, Twitter and Facebook began putting warning labels on his most outlandish tweets, but they still very rarely removed his posts.
Even in his post-election rampage, with nearly a dozen tweets hidden from the public for their misleading nature, Trump is still being handled with kid gloves — no suspension, no Twitter jail, nothing. But come January, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, that will no longer be the case. Instead, Trump could be put on notice for breaking the rules, which "would increase the severity of punishment issued from the company, and could lead to temporary account freezes, suspensions or even a permanent ban." As a spokesperson told Reuters, the company's policy on world leaders "applies to current world leaders and candidates for office, and not private citizens when they no longer hold these positions."
If Trump and his acolytes are screaming about media censorship now, just wait until his Twitter account is permanently deleted in what can only be described as a victory against misinformation and a salve for the country's frazzled nerves. Who knows? Maybe he'll find a happier home on Parler, the "pro-free speech" app that conservatives have flocked to since Election Day.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Kornacki explains why Arizona and Georgia are still undecided

Steve Kornacki is back in front of the Big Board to take a look at Arizona and Georgia, and explain why those two states are going to be so close.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Exciting Covid-19 vaccine news comes with challenging caveat

Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, talks with Ali Velshi about exciting news from Pfizer about the development of a coronavirus vaccine and the logistics of producing and distributing a vaccine with tricky storage requirements.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Chris Hayes: Biden won—and it wasn’t close

“Our perception of what happened has been colored by the trickling vote counts. But take a step back. Biden's probably going to win with 306 electoral votes—when all is said and done—flipping five states in the process. That's huge,” says Chris Hayes.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Mary Trump: A Trump pardon will be a ‘crime against the United States’

Mary Trump: A Trump pardon will be a ‘crime against the United States’
Mary Trump tells Lawrence O'Donnell that Donald Trump is "prolonging his own agony" by refusing to concede the election because he will be irrelevant, which is "a fate worse than death for him."Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-09--Team Trump's Four Seasons Fiasco will be tough to forget

Ordinarily , the important parts of a press conference are its participants and their comments .
But every once in a while , the location of a press conference is what stands out .
On Saturday , for example , Donald Trump 's political/legal operation announced that Rudy Giuliani would deliver remarks at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia to discuss his latest schemes .
Indeed , the president tweeted to his followers , `` Lawyers News Conference Four Seasons , Philadelphia .
11:00 a.m. '' To be sure , the Republican 's lawyer did , in fact , appear before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories .
They were , however , easily overlooked -- not just because Giuliani 's claims were foolish , but also because of the unusual venue for his nonsense .
Those who saw Trump 's tweet and assumed the former mayor would appear at an upscale hotel in Philly were mistaken .
Giuliani instead spoke at Four Seasons Total Landscaping .
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported : If it appeared in fiction , it 'd be dismissed as implausible .
Alas , it was all too real : Giuliani addressed reporters from a landscaping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island Adult Books and Novelties and across the street from the Delaware Valley Cremation Center .
I can only assume the writers of `` Veep '' were jealous they had n't come up with this first .
Those who assumed that the press conference would be at a hotel were reminded otherwise .
`` To clarify , President Trump 's news conference will NOT be held at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia , '' the hotel 's management announced on Twitter .
`` It will be held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping -- no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump staffers `` could not account for '' the decision , and to no one 's surprise , there 's been no public admission of responsibility .
Which is a shame , really , because this has quickly become the stuff of legend .
`` Literally anywhere else would have conveyed more legitimacy on the enterprise , '' a Washington Post report noted , `` but legitimacy did not seem a high priority for one of the last battles of a lost war . ''
Update : In case this story were n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` The first person Rudy Giuliani , the attorney for President Donald Trump , called up as a witness to baseless allegations of vote counting shenanigans in Philadelphia during a press conference last week is a sex offender who for years has been a perennial candidate in New Jersey . ''

Ordinarily, the important parts of a press conference are its participants and their comments. But every once in a while, the location of a press conference is what stands out.
On Saturday, for example, Donald Trump's political/legal operation announced that Rudy Giuliani would deliver remarks at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia to discuss his latest schemes. Indeed, the president tweeted to his followers, "Lawyers News Conference Four Seasons, Philadelphia. 11:00 a.m."
To be sure, the Republican's lawyer did, in fact, appear before the cameras and peddle some strange conspiracy theories. They were, however, easily overlooked -- not just because Giuliani's claims were foolish, but also because of the unusual venue for his nonsense.
Those who saw Trump's tweet and assumed the former mayor would appear at an upscale hotel in Philly were mistaken. Giuliani instead spoke at Four Seasons Total Landscaping. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
What began five years ago with the made-for-TV announcement of Donald Trump's presidential ambitions from the escalator of his ritzy Manhattan high-rise ended Saturday with his aging lawyer shouting conspiracy theories and vowing lawsuits in a Northeast Philadelphia parking lot, near a sex shop and a crematorium.
If it appeared in fiction, it'd be dismissed as implausible. Alas, it was all too real: Giuliani addressed reporters from a landscaping company's parking lot, alongside Fantasy Island Adult Books and Novelties and across the street from the Delaware Valley Cremation Center.
I can only assume the writers of "Veep" were jealous they hadn't come up with this first.
Those who assumed that the press conference would be at a hotel were reminded otherwise. "To clarify, President Trump's news conference will NOT be held at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia," the hotel's management announced on Twitter. "It will be held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping -- no relation with the hotel."
Multiple Trump staffers "could not account for" the decision, and to no one's surprise, there's been no public admission of responsibility.
Which is a shame, really, because this has quickly become the stuff of legend.
"Literally anywhere else would have conveyed more legitimacy on the enterprise," a Washington Post report noted, "but legitimacy did not seem a high priority for one of the last battles of a lost war."
Update: In case this story weren't quite enough, Politico reported this morning, "The first person Rudy Giuliani, the attorney for President Donald Trump, called up as a witness to baseless allegations of vote counting shenanigans in Philadelphia during a press conference last week is a sex offender who for years has been a perennial candidate in New Jersey."